Week 3 of the 2026 NFL season has already come and gone, and like always, there were some former Iowa football stars that showed out for their respective NFL teams. 

The games weren't as dramatic as the Hawkeyes' win over Michigan on Saturday, but it was still an exciting Week 3 slate. 

Here were some of the top headlines from your favorite former Hawkeyes in the NFL this weekend: 

Yes, you heard that right. After finishing with the NFL's worst record in 2025 (3-14), the Las Vegas Raiders have already matched their win total from last season in Week 3. New head coach Klint Kubiak has Raider Nation believing again, and a 35-27 comeback road win over what some believe is the NFC South favorite in the New Orleans Saints was a great moment for this struggling franchise. 

Center Tyler Linderbaum played a huge part in Las Vegas' victory. Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for 248 yards and three touchdowns, while the rushing attack produced 113 yards. 

It hasn't always been pretty football in the Motor City this year, but the Lions are 2-1. Any success Detroit is going to have in 2026 will have to be on offense because of its shaky defense, and tight end Sam LaPorta is a big reason why the Lions held on for a 31-24 win over the Jets on Sunday. 

LaPorta finished with three catches for 44 yards, while his old Iowa teammate - linebacker Jack Campbell - tallied six tackles in the triumph. 

After losing quarterback Jayden Daniels to injury last week, a home opener against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks didn't look too promising for the then-0-2 Washington Commanders. 

But in typical NFL fashion, the Commanders stunned the Seahawks with a 33-31 win on Sunday afternoon. Backup Marcus Mariota played well, but Washington wouldn't have won the game without kicker Drew Stevens. Stevens, who earned the Commanders' starting kicking job in training camp after a great four-year run at Iowa, went 2-for-2 on field goal tries - including a career-best 57-yarder - in the win. 

Fourth quarter comebacks have been a theme in the Mile High City over the last few years, and Sunday was no exception. Denver looked dead in the water at halftime after trailing 16-0 against the Los Angeles Rams, but exploded in the second half for 30 points. 

The defense came through with some big plays in the frame. Cornerback Riley Moss tallied six tackles and one pass break-up in the victory to improve the Broncos to 2-1 on the young season. 

After losing star quarterback Caleb Williams to a hamstring injury in Week 2, things weren't looking good for the Chicago Bears against a talented Philadelphia Eagles squad on Monday Night Football.

Think again. Behind 38-year-old third-string quarterback Case Keenum, the Bears dominated the Eagles in every phase of the game en route to a 27-7 victory. Punter Tory Taylor booted two punts for 105 yards for the victors, while cornerback Cooper DeJean tallied six tackles and two pass break-ups in Philadelphia's defeat. 

Both teams are 2-1. 

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HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at [email protected]