Sunday’s Best: Breakouts, comebacks and big-man history in Week 3

Sunday’s Best is a weekly column highlighting the NFL’s top five performers. Each week, the players who are spotlighted not only put up big numbers, but also set the tone for their teams and shaped the storylines of Sunday

Week 3 of the NFL season delivered breakout performances, wild comebacks and even history from the unlikeliest of places. to a dominant Eagles duo, here are the standouts who defined Sunday.

1. Caleb Williams | QB | Chicago Bears

USC’s own, come on down!

Sunday brought the former Heisman winner’s best performance of his young career.

Williams scorched the Dallas Cowboys, throwing for four touchdowns and 298 yards with a 142.6 passer rating in the Bears’ 31–14 victory. He engineered scoring drives on five of the Bears’ first seven possessions and now leads the league in passing touchdowns through three weeks.

It wasn’t just the numbers, though — it was the way he did it. Williams finally connected on the deep shots that had stalled the offense in previous weeks, highlighted by a 65-yard flea-flicker touchdown that showed off his arm strength and touch. Just as importantly, this marked his first career game without taking a sack.

Is this the turning point that solidifies his transition from college star to NFL franchise quarterback? It’s too early to tell. But Sunday was a reminder that the USC quarterback who once lit up Saturdays can still light up Sundays.

2. Luther Burden | WR | Chicago Bears

The Bears’ first-round pick delivered the kind of breakout performance Chicago has been waiting for. Burden caught all three of his targets for 101 yards and a touchdown, making the most of every opportunity.

The 65-yard touchdown thrown by Willams was Burden’s first career touchdown. The play not only gave Chicago breathing room but also showcased Burden’s trademark speed and separation that made him a star at Missouri.

Burden wasn’t done there, he added a 29-yard grab later in the game to set up another scoring drive and even chipped in a 7-yard rush. For a rookie still learning his role behind wide receivers DJ Moore and Rome Odunze, Burden showed he can be more than a complementary piece.

That kind of production gives Williams a dangerous third option in the passing game and forces defenses to account for another explosive weapon in Chicago’s offense, something the Bears have lacked for years.

3. Jalen Hurts | QB | Philadelphia Eagles

For six years, Jalen Hurts has built a reputation as one of the NFL’s most resilient quarterbacks. Sunday may have been his finest example yet.

Hurts struggled through a miserable first half, managing just 17 passing yards before the break. In the second half, he completed 21 of 32 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions to lead the Eagles to a comeback win over the Los Angeles Rams at Lincoln Financial Field.

The comeback was dramatic. The Rams had built a 19-point lead early in the third quarter and looked in control. But Hurts ignited the Eagles’ offense, delivering explosive plays — including deep connections to wide receiver A.J. Brown (38 yards) and tight endDallas Goedert (33 yards) in quick succession as Philadelphia chipped away.

Then, with under two minutes remaining and the Eagles trailing 27-26, Hurts led a 91-yard drive that ended with a 4-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver DeVonta Smith.

With that victory, Hurts extended his personal unbeaten streak to 17 straight games, tying the longest such stretch by a starting QB since Peyton Manning’s 2008-09 run.

4. Jordan Davis | DT | Philadelphia Eagles

Rumble, Big Man, Rumble!

Leading by just one point in the closing seconds, the Eagles needed one last stop and they got it … and then some.

Defensive tackle Jordan Davis swatted down Rams kicker Joshua Karty’s 44-yard attempt and rumbled 61 yards the other way for a game-sealing touchdown.

At 6-foot-6 and 336 pounds, Davis became the heaviest player in NFL history to return a blocked field goal 50-plus yards for a touchdown. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, he also clocked the fastest top speed by any player over 330 pounds since tracking began in 2017.

Not bad for a defensive tackle usually tasked with plugging running lanes.

The season is just getting started, and the next round of heroes is waiting to step forward. If Week 3 proved anything, it’s that no lead is safe and no big man too slow to change a game.