Five worst NFL Week 3 performances: Second-year pros flounder in Falcons, Cardinals losses

Panthers corner Mike Jackson also jumped a route on Penix's second interception, although wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III slipped during the play, so that was somewhat defensible.

Afterward, Penix discussed an alarming stat provided by Falcons.com senior reporter Tori McElhaney, who noted that Atlanta hasn't completed a touchdown pass to a wide receiver or tight end through three weeks. 

"I've gotta find my guys that are open," Penix said.

While Penix's struggles aren't surprising for a player making just his Xth career start, it's a tad more jarring considering he's already 25, the same age as Trevor Lawrence and two years older than fellow second-year pros Caleb Daniels and Drake Maye. Through six starts, he's only completing 58.3 percent of his passes, far below what a top-tier quarterback should produce.

When the Falcons (1-2) handed the keys to the first-team offense to Penix last season, they likely weren't expecting to need Cousins again so soon.  But as bad as the veteran quarterback was last season, at least he never got shut out.

New Orleans Saints punt unit

With their 0-3 record, New Orleans has plenty to fix to escape from the NFL's cellar, but a good place to start would be on its punt unit. The Saints had a nightmare first quarter against the Seattle Seahawks (2-1) in a 44-13 loss, first allowing a 95-yard punt return touchdown to rookie fifth-rounder Tory Horton. At the end of their next possession, the Seahawks blocked Kai Kroger's punt and took over at the New Orleans 10-yard line.

The Saints have significant deficiencies across the board, and Sunday's special teams display illustrated that there isn't a thing they do well.

Dallas Cowboys pass defense

It was only a matter of time, we suppose, that the Chicago Bears (1-2) figured things out on offense. It's likely no coincidence that it just so happened when the Cowboys (1-2) came to town. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams had his best game as a pro in the 31-14 win, going 19-of-28 for 298 yards (10.6 yards per attempt) and four touchdowns. He had four completions of at least 30 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown to second-year wideout Rome Odunze, who badly beat Cowboys corner Trevon Diggs at the line of scrimmage, and a 65-yard touchdown to rookie Luther Burden III on a flea flicker.

Trading Micah Parsons was always going to make the Cowboys defense worse, but the unit might be even more hapless than we thought.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

Year 2 isn't looking any better for Harrison Jr. than his underwhelming rookie season after another frustrating performance in a 16-15 loss to the San Francisco 49ers (3-0).

The highly-touted prospect out of Ohio State was largely a non-factor in defeat. Outside of one 32-yard reception, Harrison Jr. gained 12 yards on his five other targets. He also had an inexplicable drop after being left wide open, wiping out what would have been a huge gain.

As the No. 4 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, Harrison Jr. has been a huge disappointment. Without him taking a leap, the Cardinals (2-1) are left without any meaningful outside weapons, severely limiting the offense's potential.

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson

We don't think anyone in the greater New England area would be upset if Week 3 was the last time Stevenson took a carry in the Patriots' backfield.

He only had four attempts in a 21-14 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1), but fumbled twice, including on the third play from scrimmage and later from the Steelers' 2-yard line.

After the game, Stevenson didn't shy away from the horrific game; instead bluntly told reporters, "If I don't hold onto the ball, they don't need me."

For a player with 16 fumbles (both lost and recovered) since entering the league in 2021, the second-most among running backs during that span, the Patriots (1-2) have given Stevenson an enormously long leash, but Sunday might have been a tipping point. If not, then Stevenson isn't New England's biggest problem.