Week 3 of the 2015-16 NFL season was filled with many highlight reels and big performances from marquee players. Some players even reached three touchdowns each. It was fantasy heaven for some owners and a fantasy nightmare for others. Five players exceeded 30 or more points. Eight teams scored over 30 points, and seven of the fourteen games were decided by ten points or less. Three games stood out above the rest, making this week one to remember.

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Cincinnati Bengals (28) vs. Baltimore Ravens (24)

How it Played Out: If you were waiting for offensive fireworks in Week 3, this matchup had exactly that. Both teams went away from the run, and instead resorted the tossing the rock. Cincinnati got off to the faster stasrt, with a 14-0 lead heading into the half due to two Andy Dalton touchdowns (one pass, one run). In the second half, the Ravens abandoned the run and soon established the Joe Flacco-Steve Smith Sr. connection with a 50-yard touchdown catch and run by Smith Sr.

The fourth quarter is where things got very interesting, as Baltimore continued to add to its run with 10 more unanswered points after a 41-yard fumble return for a touchdown by C.J. Mosley. A.J. Green and Andy Dalton weren’t phased by that, as they responded right back with an 80-yard bomb to regain the lead. Flacco and Smith Sr. answered back with a score of their own, but Baltimore’s defense still had no answer for Green as he and Dalton connected again for a 7-yard score. Credit still has to be given where it’s due, however, as the 35-year-old Smith Sr. finished the game with a big 13-reception 186-yard and 2 TD game.

Key Matchup That Decided the Game: Baltimore cornerbacks vs. A.J. Green. There was no stopping Green in this one. The Ravens had simply no answer for Green as he had a field day against the Ravens. Marvin Jones also got into a little bit of the action with 5 receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown. Although, it was A.J. Green’s dominance over the weak Baltimore corners that decided this one.

Player of the gjame: AJ Green. Andy Dalton could’ve been another candidate for this award, but Green was just too much of a monster. He finished the game with 10 receptions, 227 yards, and 2 TDs. Not only is that stat-line ridiculous, but not to mention Green’s 80-yard touchdown catch and run was something special. His speed is already very well-known among defenses, but his strength in breaking off two tackles was especially impressive.

Atlanta Falcons (39) vs. Dallas Cowboys (28)

How it Played Out: The biggest roller coaster game of the week had to be the one going down in Arlington, Texas. With no Tony Romo or Dez Bryant, many people were worried about the production coming from Dallas’ offense. Brandon Weeden and the rest of the offense had no issues early on against Atlanta, as Joseph Randle led the Cowboys to a great start, scoring on a 37-yard run on the opening drive. He added another score to take his total to two in the first quarter, and Dallas’ lead to 14-0. The Falcons finally came back with an answer on a Devonta Freeman run.

However, it was then Darren McFadden’s turn to get in the mix as he scored from two yards out to push the lead back up to double digits. Freeman didn’t let up, as the Falcons back scored his second touchdown of the day to bring the Falcons back in the game. Yet again, the Cowboys responded with another drive that finished with another running touchdown, Randle’s third of the day. At this point, it wasn’t even halftime. Atlanta had just enough time, however, to convert on a field goal to cut the lead to 28-17. The second-half was all Julio Jones and Devonta Freeman, as the two led Atlanta on a 22-0 run to finish the game, leaving Cowboys fans speechless. It was an uneventful second half offensively for Dallas, as Weeden struggled to throw the ball downfield, and Atlanta soon caught on to the dump-down strategy and stepped up defensively in the last two quarters.

Key Matchup That Decided the Game: Dallas defense vs. Atlanta offense. Dallas’ defense in the first two games was a big reason for why the Cowboys started off the year with a 2-0 record. This defense also hadn’t faced a high-powered offense as loaded as Atlanta’s offense. That showed on Sunday as Freeman and Jones especially had a field day on Big D’s defense.

Player of the Game: Julio Jones and Devonta Freeman. You simply can’t give this game ball to one or the other. Both Jones and Freeman were simply outstanding for Atlanta, and the main reason why they were able to go on that 25-0 run to close the game. Freeman finished the game with 30 carries for 141 yards and 3 touchdowns. Mr. Julio (No-One-Can-Stop-Me) Jones finished with 12 receptions for 164 yards and 2 touchdowns. If Atlanta wants to continue its success on the season, a lot of it will rest on the production coming from these two players especially.

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Indianapolis Colts (35) vs. Tennessee Titans (33)

How it Played Out: In a game full of runs (not actually running the football) and turnovers, the Indianapolis Colts came away with their first win of the season. The team opened up with a quick 14-0 lead thanks to a Frank Gore touchdown and Dwight Lowery tip-drill interceptions return for a touchdown. Then the tide turned and from 8:29 of the second quarter until halfway through the fourth quarter, it was all Tennessee. The Titans went on a 27-0 run that consisted of two Marcus Mariota touchdown passes, two Ryan Succop field goals, and a run from Antonio Andrews.

Down 27-14, the calm and collective Luck threw two straight touchdowns to regain the lead by 1 for his team. Gore found the endzone once again with 2:51 remaining, giving the Colts a 35-27 lead. However, Mariota wasn’t done yet. He led his team all the way down to the Colts one, where Jalston Fowler ran it in from one-yard out. However, Tennessee came away empty-handed in the two-point conversion, falling just short of a victory.

Key Matchup that Decided the Game: Tennessee running backs vs. Indianapolis running defense. Sankey who? The Colts defense shut down the Titans running game, especially setting Bishop Sankey out of the game, who only finished with 10 yards on 5 carries. Antonio Andrews took over duties, but his 49 yards on 12 carries wasn’t exactly that much more productive. On the other side, Gore had his best game as a Colt, which distinguished Indy from Tennessee in terms of running the football. In a high-scoring game, a balance of running/passing is key, both of which the Titans didn’t execute well enough.

Player of the Game: Andrew Luck. Despite his two interceptions, Luck finally found his late-game groove by bringing his team back with his two fourth quarter touchdowns. He proved that the old Luck is there, and not gone as many suspected. His performance still will cause worry among many, but the Andrew Luck of the fourth quarter was back in action and the main reason the Colts found their first win of the year.

Honorable Mention: Oakland Raiders (27) vs. Cleveland Browns (20)

Despite barely missing the cut for the top three games of NFL Sunday, this was more of a big win considering the team that is doing the winning. That’s the Oakland Raiders. These Raiders are now 2-1, and they have heads turning and wondering if this team is legit. Led by the young trio of Derek Carr, Latavius Murray, and Amari Cooper, Oakland handled the Browns relatively easily. Carr threw for two touchdown passes, but more importantly, did not throw one pick. His hot start gave Oakland a 17-3 at the half, and Latavius Murray’s fourth quarter touchdown run put the icing on the cake for the Raiders. Oakland finds themselves sitting at second place in the AFC West. Can they challenge the Broncos? It all rests on the shoulders of the offensive trio, for now.

Earning the starting spot over fan-favorite Johnny Manziel, Josh McCown did not play terrible but he didn’t show enough to solidify his place as the starting quarterback for the Browns. Manziel showed more big-play ability and success passing the ball and not turning the ball over as often as many would expect him to do so. This game now leaves the door open for the starting QB position for Week 4. Is it Manziel time again?