Clash of the unbeatens highlights Steelers’ idle week as Indianapolis Professional Football Team prepares for long trip
The Pittsburgh Steelers will not play this weekend. NFL Research on Steelers.com provided a capsule of games Steelers fans may want to monitor. The report highlights a clash between two unbeaten AFC West clubs and a cross-Atlantic trip for the Indianapolis Professional Football Team ahead of its visit to Pittsburgh on Oct. 11.
The Kansas City Chiefs (3-0) face the Las Vegas Raiders (3-0) in what NFL Research called a meeting of unbeaten teams. Running back Kenneth Walker leads the league with 360 rushing yards and has four scrimmage touchdowns, though he totaled a season-low 70 rushing yards on 20 touches in Kansas City’s most recent game. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has recorded passer ratings of 86.0, 114.0 and 119.8 in his last three starts and sits at a 108.9 passer rating for the season; NFL Research noted that if Mahomes wins the next two games after the Chiefs’ bye in Week Five he would tie Tom Brady for the fewest career starts to reach 100 wins (131).
The Raiders’ start is notable, NFL Research said, because Las Vegas is the fourth team since the 1967 Common Draft to begin 3-0 after holding the first overall pick in the prior draft and the first to do so without using that first-overall selection. Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins has thrown an NFL-high nine touchdown passes (tied with Brock Purdy), and No. 1 selection Fernando Mendoza has not yet appeared in a game. Rookie tight end Brock Bowers returned from a knee issue and recorded 10 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown in Week Three while running back Ashton Jeanty had 102 rushing yards and two TDs in the opener but just 104 combined yards and no rushing scores in the following two games.
NFL Research pointed out that the Indianapolis Professional Football Team is scheduled to return from London before visiting the Steelers on Oct. 11. Quarterback Daniel Jones has posted a sub-90 passer rating in each of his three starts this season. Tight end Tyler Warren ranks third among NFL tight ends with 18 receptions but has totaled only 89 receiving yards, producing a 4.9-yard average that NFL Research identified as the lowest among wide receivers and tight ends with at least five catches.
The Washington Commanders, also playing in London, used Marcus Mariota at quarterback in a 33-31 win over Seattle, and NFL Research noted Mariota completed three touchdown passes and had a 110.0 passer rating in that game. In two appearances this season Mariota has four touchdown passes, no interceptions and a 109.7 passer rating, the sixth-best mark in the league. NFL Research also observed Washington has allowed 92 points through three games, the second-most in the NFL and the second-most by a team with Dan Quinn serving as head coach or defensive coordinator at this stage of a season.
NFL Research included additional game notes of interest to Steelers followers. Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love has the second-most pass attempts in the NFL (124) but a 52.4 completion percentage, and the Packers rank last in the league in carries, rushing yards and average yards per carry through three games. Tampa Bay has opened 0-3 in close losses and expects quarterback Baker Mayfield to miss approximately three weeks with a dislocated thumb; undrafted rookie Jaylon Daniels replaced Mayfield and went 0-for-3 with an interception on a late Hail Mary attempt.
In the AFC East, Drake Maye’s 58.6 passer rating drew NFL Research’s note that it is the worst in the Super Bowl era for a quarterback the season after he led the league in passer rating. The report also said Josh Allen became the first player in NFL history with at least five passing touchdowns and five rushing touchdowns through his club’s first three games. Running back James Cook ranks third in the NFL with 346 rushing yards and leads the league in yards per carry (6.0) and rushes of 10 or more yards (12).
NFL Sports Blog Take
With the Steelers on a bye, NFL Research’s capsule highlights factors that could influence Pittsburgh’s coming opponents and the AFC landscape. Kansas City’s and Las Vegas’ strong starts, driven by Mahomes’ efficient passing and Cousins’ touchdown production, underscore the value of offensive balance, while the Indianapolis Professional Football Team faces logistical challenges after a London trip and continues to manage inconsistent production from its quarterback and receiving corps. Washington’s defensive struggles and Buffalo’s dual threat in Josh Allen are additional storylines that may affect playoff seeding and matchup planning when the Steelers return to action.