The Los Angeles Rams, the Green Bay Packers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers all appeared to have clear paths to victories during Week 3 of the NFL schedule — only to be blocked.
Blocked field-goal attempts played majors role in shaping the outcomes of multiple games Sunday, none more stunningly than in Philadelphia, where the Eagles, trailing 26-7 during the second half, blocked kicks on the Rams’ final two drives to secure a comeback victory and improve to 3-0.
Both blocks came in the fourth quarter, the first with a little more than eight minutes to play and Philadelphia trying to hold its deficit to just 26-21.
Philadelphia had taken the lead, 27-26, with 1:48 left, but the Rams still had a chance to win. They were lining up for a potential game-winning field goal with three seconds left when the Eagles blocked the kick and returned it for a touchdown to seal their 33-26 win. It was the Rams’ first loss this season.
Meanwhile, the Jets, who were trailing 26-20 with two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter in Tampa Bay, returned their own blocked kick for a touchdown — the first time since 2024 and only the fifth time since 2000 that multiple field-goal attempts were returned for touchdowns. It appeared enough to lift the Jets to their first win of the season — and possibly hand Tampa Bay its first loss.
The Buccaneers (3-0), however, would get the last laugh after they made a game-winning field goal as time expired on a kick the Jets (0-3) could not get their hands on.
Even the previously winless Browns, one of the biggest underdogs of Week 3, got in on the action, blocking a kick en route to stunning the previously undefeated Packers, who were trying to take a lead with just 27 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Five plays later, Cleveland was able to get off its own kick from 55 yards for its first victory of the season.
