Week 3’s Narrow Margins

Washington, Denver and Pittsburgh turned Week 3 into a lesson in finishing games.

Updated September 29, 2026

Washington’s second chance

The Commanders beat Seattle 33–31 despite being outgained. Three defensive takeaways helped create the openings Marcus Mariota needed. The lesson was about taking the opportunities a favored opponent offered.

Denver’s final drive

The Broncos trailed the Rams 26–23 before Bo Nix scored with 47 seconds remaining. The late finish changed the meaning of Los Angeles’s earlier offensive success.

Pittsburgh’s response

The Steelers edged Cincinnati 30–27 in another tight divisional contest. Week 3’s headline was not one universal formula: turnover swings, late drives and defensive stops all shaped the margins.

Three endings, three different lessons

Washington’s win was built partly on turning Seattle’s mistakes into possessions. Denver had to execute after falling behind and finish its final scoring drive. Pittsburgh’s narrow divisional result asks a different question: how often can a team win the moments that decide a three-point game? Treating these endings as the same “clutch” story would erase what each team actually did.

The common thread is preparation for a possession that cannot be wasted. Coaches can examine the decisions that came before the final play: protecting the ball, preserving time, and giving the offense or defense the situation it can manage. That is a more useful Week 3 takeaway than assuming every close-game winner has discovered a permanent formula.