NFL Week 7 Takeaways: Top Takeaways for Every Game
We didn't even have to wait for the games to start in Week 7 for the drama to begin—the blockbuster trades that sent wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills and Davante Adams to the New York Jets sent shockwaves through the NFL.
One made a difference. The other didn't. And that was just the appetizer for what became another wild week of NFL action.
The week kicked off in New Orleans, where an injury-ravaged Saints team fell flat against the Denver Broncos. It ended with a Monday night doubleheader featuring the Baltimore Ravens, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Chargers.
There was plenty to follow in between.
The Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings delivered an NFC heavyweight fight, while the Kansas City Chiefs won their Super Bowl LVIII rematch to remain undefeated. The Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles may have masked underlying issues with their victories.
With so many big games, Week 7 shook up the NFL in a major way. Bleacher Report NFL analysts Gary Davenport, Kristopher Knox, Maurice Moton and Brent Sobleski were here to break down what it all means, with the biggest takeaways from every game.
Baltimore Ravens 41, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31
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Ravens Have Reestablished Themselves as AFC Contenders, Must Be Buyers at Trade Deadline
The Ravens started the season 0-2, and their defense was a major liability early in the season. While Baltimore's defense wasn't consistently great against Tampa Bay, it didn't really matter because the offense was rolling.
Star running back Derrick Henry wasn't heavily utilized early, but he certainly made his presence felt with an 81-yard third-quarter run and with some late production—he finished with 182 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 16 touches.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson (281 passing yards, 5 TDs, 52 rushing yards) was spectacular and repeatedly torched a Bucs secondary that didn't have starting corner Jamel Dean (injured reserve, hamstring). Wide receiver Rashod Bateman (121 yards, 1 TD) had himself a night, while tight end Mark Andrews fully returned to fantasy relevance with a pair of touchdown grabs.
It seemed that Baltimore's offense could do no wrong, and the way this unit has evolved in coordinator Todd Monken's second season is impressive.
By extending their winning streak to five games—and beating good teams like Tampa, the Buffalo Bills and the Washington Commanders along the way—the Ravens have firmly established themselves as Super Bowl contenders.
On a negative note, cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who had a pair of interceptions on Monday, was ruled out with a knee injury.
Now, the Ravens need to follow Buffalo's lead and try making a marquee acquisition before the November 5 trade deadline. Humphrey's injury looms large. The Ravens, who entered the week ranked 24th in points allowed, can use defensive help even if their top corner doesn't miss significant time.
Evans, Godwin Injuries More Significant Than Buccaneers' Loss
Humphrey wasn't the only notable player to exit Monday's game with an injury. Buccaneers receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin both exited with injuries—and Godwin's could be season-ending.
Evans aggravated a hamstring injury while trying to catch what would have been his second touchdown of the night. He appeared to be in a lot of pain on the field, and he was quickly ruled out of the game.
With Evans out, Tampa's offense stalled before padding the score in garbage time—Baltimore led 34-10 at the start of the fourth quarter. Baker Mayfield threw his first interception immediately after Evans exited, and after an extremely hot start, the quarterback struggled to find a rhythm without his top security blanket.
Mayfield wasn't the only one affected by Evans' absence. The Bucs were able to find running room with Rachaad White, Sean Tucker and Bucky Irving early—a surprising development against Baltimore's top-ranked run defense—but running lanes closed with the Ravens clamping down on the pass.
With Evans out of the lineup, the Ravens were able to put most of their focus on taking away Godwin. Unfortunately, Godwin suffered what appeared to be a very significant leg injury with less than a minute remaining in the game.
"According to Todd Bowles, it's a dislocated ankle for Chris Godwin, an injury that would knock him out indefinitely," NFL Media's Ian Rapoport posted on X.
These injuries could change the complexion of Tampa's season. The Buccaneers have gotten to 4-3 thanks largely to their offensive prowess—their defense came in ranked 27th in yards allowed—and they're facing a pivotal stretch of games before the Week 11 bye.
Up next for Tampa will be a rematch with the Atlanta Falcons, a visit to the Kansas City Chiefs and a home game against the San Francisco 49ers. The Buccaneers are now in danger of falling far behind the 4-3 Falcons, who won the first meeting in overtime, in the NFC South race.
Arizona Cardinals 17, Los Angeles Chargers 15
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Win Provides Hope, but Cardinals Must Find Consistency, Creativity
Arizona earned a hard-fought win over a good-not-great Chargers team on Monday night. The victory gives the 3-4 Cardinals some hope heading toward midseason. For what it's worth that's the same record as San Francisco.
There were certainly some bright moments in the game itself. Arizona's defense, which came in ranked 28th in total defense and 29th in points allowed, played a physical game and kept L.A. from ever finding a rhythm.
Running back James Conner and quarterback Kyler Murray both had some massive plays that helped put enough points on the board.
However, the game was another example of Arizona's offense again struggling to find its own rhythm. Outside of a few big plays, the Cardinals did next to nothing for much of the game.
The Cards were just 2-of-8 on third and fourth downs, while Murray finished just 13-of-24 for 112 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Consistency has been an issue for Arizona all season. The offense racked up 41 points against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2 and 24 points in Week 5 against San Francisco. In four of their last five games, however, the Cardinals have scored 17 or fewer.
Part of the problem seems to be a lack of creativity. Despite having dynamic playmakers in Murray, Conner, tight end Tre McBride and receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., the Cardinals offense feels extremely bland far too often. If not for Murray's stunning 44-yard touchdown scramble, Arizona probably would have lost to a Chargers team with a serious lack of offensive firepower.
There's no excuse for a team with this much talent to have such a feast-or-famine offense. Coordinator Drew Petzing has to find ways to get his playmakers going if the Cardinals hope to establish themselves as NFC West threats.
Chargers Need to Find Receiver Help to Make a Postseason Run
Thus far, new head coach Jim Harbaugh has used his tried-and-true strategy of building around a strong offensive line, a quality running game and stout defense. That formula has helped L.A. hold a winning record in late October, but the Chargers need more if they hope to be a playoff team.
Specifically, Los Angeles needs to find another reliable wide receiver.
The Chargers offense runs through JK Dobbins and the ground game, but there will be times when the team needs to rely on Justin Herbert and the passing game. That was a challenge on Monday with second-year receiver Quentin Johnston sidelined by an ankle injury.
The Cardinals defense showed up to slow the run, and while Herbert (27-of-39 for 349 yards) was far from a disaster, he was done few favors by his receivers. Jalen Reagor had a particularly painful moment when he caught a 41-yard pass and then promptly fumbled into the end zone.
The lack of potent pass-catchers is, at least, an issue that the Chargers seem to recognize. According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, Los Angeles has "been calling" about reacquiring Mike Williams from the New York Jets.
Williams was released early in the offseason and signed with New York as a free agent.
While Harbaugh may want to grind out games and win ugly, 15 points won't be enough to win many games down the stretch. The Chargers defense hasn't allowed more than 20 points in a game this season, but L.A. is now 0-3 in games when scoring 15 or fewer points.
Jacksonville Jaguars 32, New England Patriots 16
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Patriots Defense Must Do Its Part to Help Drake Maye
Last week, New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo called out his defense for a poor performance, saying the unit should "feel like crap" for letting down rookie quarterback Drake Maye in his debut as a starter.
Well, Mayo needs to find a stronger word than "crap" after his defense put together another subpar performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. Maye threw for 276 yards and two touchdowns, but New England trailed for the entire second half.
The Patriots allowed 32 points and 364 total yards in a loss to a struggling Jaguars squad in desperate need of a victory. Over the last two weeks, New England has allowed 73 points.
At this stage in Maye's career, he's not ready to put a depleted offensive personnel group on his back and win scoring shootouts. If the defense continues to allow 32-plus points, Maye, no matter how well he plays in stretches, will struggle to go drive-for-drive with most teams.
Tank Bigsby, Brian Thomas Jr. Can Salvage Jaguars Season
Averaging just 18.8 points per game coming into Week 7 and scoring more than 20 points in one contest, the Jaguars needed an offensive spark. Running back Tank Bigsby and rookie first-round wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. provided the much-needed push on that side of the ball.
Bigsby led the Jaguars on the ground, rushing for 118 yards and two touchdowns, while Travis Etienne nursed a hamstring injury on the sideline. Thomas caught five passes for a team-leading 89 yards and a touchdown.
Bigsby opened the campaign as a backup, and Thomas had no pro experience, but they may be the playmakers who could turn Jacksonville's season around.
The Jaguars face a brutal four-game stretch following two weeks in London. They are set to play the Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions before their Week 12 bye. Jacksonville will need all the offensive firepower possible to compete with those opponents.
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Philadelphia Eagles 28, New York Giants 3
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Eagles Must Keep Winning to Mask Issues with HC Nick Sirianni
We won't hear much about Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni's immaturity from the previous week because his team flexed its muscles in a blowout win over the New York Giants.
Saquon Barkley's revenge game took over the headlines for the Eagles' matchup with the Giants. When Philadelphia heads into a game without a dominant storyline, the media's attention will likely shift back to Sirianni.
Sirianni apologized for his actions during the Eagles' Week 6 home win over the Cleveland Browns. He exchanged words with fans at the end of that game.
Following Sirianni's sideline outburst, many question whether he's mature enough for his position.
After Philadelphia's big win and all the hoopla around Barkley's return to MetLife Stadium, some will forget about Sirianni's poor showing last week. However, skeptics concerned about his leadership will circle back to him when the Eagles lose their next game.
Daniel Jones Benching Could Be the Beginning of the End for Him in New York
In the fourth quarter of a blowout loss to the Eagles, the Giants pulled quarterback Daniel Jones. Drew Lock took over the offensive huddle.
Entering the 2024 campaign, Jones sat on a hot seat with his starting job after an underwhelming injury-riddled 2023 term.
In all likelihood, the Giants will continue to start Jones for the foreseeable future, but if they're on the wrong end of a few more blowout losses, Jones may go from starter to spectator toward of the season. He hasn't thrown a touchdown pass in two weeks.
Green Bay Packers 24, Houston Texans 22
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Joe Mixon Is the Engine of Texans Offense Until Nico Collins Returns
As wide receiver Nico Collins recovers from a hamstring injury on injured reserve, running back Joe Mixon is the focal point of the Houston Texans offense.
Last week, Collins missed his first game of the season, and Mixon racked up 132 scrimmage yards and scored two touchdowns in a 41-21 win over the New England Patriots.
In Sunday's loss to the Green Bay Packers, Mixon racked up 124 scrimmage yards and scored twice on the ground.
After quarterback C.J. Stroud threw for 192 yards, three touchdowns and an interception last week, he threw for just 86 yards in the loss to Green Bay.
The Texans will miss Collins' explosiveness in the passing game for the next two weeks, but they can make up for that loss by featuring Mixon on the ground.
Jordan Love Must Make Better Passing Decisions Before It Becomes a Big Problem
Houston kicked a field goal and scored a touchdown after snagging interceptions on Sunday. Because they capitalized on those turnovers, the Texans nearly edged the Packers in a tight game.
Love has thrown at least one interception in all five of his outings and multiple in two contests, including Sunday.
Entering Week 7, Love had a 4.1 percent interception rate, a notable increase from his 1.9 percent rate last season, and a 58.7 percent completion rate.
For now, Green Bay doesn't need to worry about Love's inefficiencies following a victory, but in a tight NFC North race, he must tighten up on his decision-making down the stretch.
Buffalo Bills 34, Tennessee Titans 10
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Amari Cooper Trade Will Yield Big Dividends for the Bills
The Buffalo Bills made some midweek headlines when they acquired receiver Amari Cooper from the Cleveland Browns. It was fair to wonder just how involved the four-time Pro Bowler would be in his first week with Buffalo.
"We want to get him in here and get him up to speed on our terminology and our system and see how he fits in," head coach Sean McDermott told reporters on Tuesday.
It turned out that Cooper was quite involved, catching four passes for 66 yards and a touchdown.
Just as importantly, he helped open things up for other pass-catchers like Khalil Shakir, Dalton Kincaid and rookie Keon Coleman. Coleman had a particularly impressive day, snagging four passes for 125 yards.
The result was arguably the best passing performance we've seen from quarterback Josh Allen this season—he finished 21-of-33 for 323 yards and two touchdowns with no turnovers. The Tennessee Titans, it should be noted, entered Week 7 ranked second in net yards per pass attempt allowed and first in passing yards allowed.
Cooper is the sort of No. 1 receiver who can command defensive attention, and his arrival has already been felt. It'll be fun to see how much more he can boost the offense once he's fully acclimated, and fans should expect more positive results.
No QB Controversy in Tennessee, but It's Time for the Titans to Seek Their QB of the Future
When the Titans won their first game of the 2024 season, it felt like a quarterback controversy could be brewing. That victory came against the injury-hampered Miami Dolphins, but it also came with backup Mason Rudolph under center for Tennessee.
The Titans went back to Will Levis after their Week 5 bye and promptly blew a winnable game against the Indianapolis Colts. Levis (16-of-27 for 95 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) again underwhelmed in that loss. He's hurt the Titans with at least one turnover in every game in which he's appeared this season.
Levis didn't appear in Sunday's game against the Bills because of a shoulder injury. With Rudolph back under center, it was more of the same for Tennessee's offense.
Rudolph wasn't a complete disaster against the Bills, but he did turn it over with a fumbled snap and had what appeared to be a sure interception dropped by the defender. There should be no QB controversy in Tennessee after this one, but it's time for the Titans to start considering new options.
Tennessee has a terrific defense—it came into Week 7 ranked first in yards allowed—and a serviceable ground game (15th in yardage). With even average quarterback play, the Titans could easily be a factor in the AFC South.
Miami's Cam Ward, for what it's worth, is the top-ranked quarterback prospect on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's early 2025 big board.
Cincinnati Bengals 21, Cleveland Browns 14
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Bengals Are Creeping Back Into Playoff Picture But Still Carry Concerns
The Cincinnati Bengals got off to a fast start when Charlie Jones returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown.
The Bengals offense, however, didn't really get going until the second half. It found enough big plays to produce a fairly convincing win over the Cleveland Browns, but this wasn't the sort of victory that instilsl a plethora of confidence.
For the second straight week, Cincinnati's defense performed well. However, for the second straight week, it was up against one of the league's more lackluster offenses. The New York Giants were without star rookie receiver Malik Nabers last Sunday night. Cleveland spent much of Sunday playing with its backup quarterback.
Offensively, pass protection was a problem, and the Bengals weren't efficient on third downs. They scored 14 offensive points, went 2-of-13 on third downs and allowed three sacks.
Cincinnati's offense also struggled in last week's 17-7 win over the Giants.
The good news is that the win gets Cincinnati to 3-4 heading into a road game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The playoffs are still a possibility, and we know that Joe Burrow and Co. can be postseason-relevant if they get in.
The bad news is we've yet to see the Bengals play well on both sides of the ball in the same game this season. There's still plenty that Cincinnati needs to clean up if it hopes to punch its playoff ticket in 2024.
Deshaun Watson Injury Officially Starts Browns' Next QB Search
On a positive note for Cleveland, Nick Chubb made his return from last year's devastating knee injury and found the end zone for the first time since last January.
Little else went well for Cleveland, which is now playing for 2025 and beyond.
The Browns thought they were trading for their long-term answer at quarterback when they acquired Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans. However, he never looked like the same quarterback in Cleveland that he was in Houston.
On Sunday, Watson likely suffered his second season-ending injury in as many years. According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, Watson "is feared to have suffered a torn Achilles injury."
If Watson did indeed suffer a torn Achilles, he could potentially be out until 2026, the final year of his contract. There's a chance he never starts for the Browns again. It's officially time for Cleveland to begin its latest quarterback search.
It had already felt like Cleveland could be targeting a quarterback in the 2025 draft because of Watson's poor play and his contract. Watson is set to carry a cap hit of $72.9 million next season, meaning the Browns will likely need to start rebuilding around budget free agents and rookie contracts.
Cleveland began the process of stockpiling draft picks when it sent Amari Cooper to the Bills early in the week. It may wind up with a shot at the No. 1 overall pick, and drafting a new quarterback of the future (again) could make plenty of sense.
The big question is whether Cleveland, which is projected to be $41 million over the cap in 2025, can afford to put a quality supporting cast around their next signal-caller.
Seattle Seahawks 34, Atlanta Falcons 14
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Seahawks Not Ready To Give Up Playoff Hopes, Will Hold Breath on DK Metcalf
A week ago, the Seattle Seahawks were handed a decisive 36-24 loss by the rival San Francisco 49ers. That marked their third consecutive loss and seemed to expose the Seahawks' 3-0 start as fraudulent.
However, Seattle stormed back with a playoff intensity on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. Cross-country road trips are never easy, and the Seahawks clearly looked like the better team on both sides of the ball.
Geno Smith (207 yards, 2 TDs) had a bounce-back performance after tossing a pair of picks against San Francisco. Running back Kenneth Walker III (93 scrimmage yards, 2 TDs) and wide receiver DK Metcalf (99 receiving yards, 1 TD) delivered big performances, while Seattle's much-maligned defense had its first good outing since 3.
While the Falcons tallied 385 yards of total offense, they were held to 14 points and turned the ball over three times. Seattle's defense even added points when Derick Hall returned a fumble 84 yards for the score.
Arguably the only negative for Seattle was the fact that Metcalf exited the game with a knee injury and was taken on a cart to the locker room. Metcalf is a massive catalyst in the passing game, so his situation obviously bears watching.
Head coach Mike Macdonald said that the injury "doesn't look too bad," according to ESPN's Brady Henderson.
Overall, though, this was a statement win for the Seahawks. Their first three wins came against the Broncos in Bo Nix's first start, the listless Patriots and the injury-hampered Dolphins.
Seattle now has a quality win on its resume and is right back in the playoff mix.
Falcons Must Consider Trading for Defensive Help
The Falcons were beginning to build some buzz with their own three-game winning streak. However, Sunday's loss shows that while Atlanta is a good team, it might not be a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
Landing Kirk Cousins did give Atlanta a quarterback upgrade, and the Falcons are loaded with offensive playmakers. However, their defense hasn't been great—or even as dependable as it was a year ago, when it ranked 11th overall.
Specifically, the Falcons have struggled to pressure opposing quarterbacks with any consistency. The late-offseason trade for Matthew Judon was supposed to address the issue, but Judon hasn't made a massive impact.
Atlanta had recorded just five sacks through six games, and while it did get to Smith once on Sunday, it didn't do nearly enough to pressure him throughout the afternoon. The sack was reported by linebacker James Smith-Williams, who, unfortunately, suffered what appeared to be an upper-body injury later in the game.
The Falcons were already playing without linebacker Troy Andersen (knee) and linebacker Lorenzo Carter (concussion).
At 4-3, the Falcons are in a position to be buyers at the December 5 trade deadline—and they should be. Adding additional defensive depth would be beneficial, and adding a capable pass-rusher is a must if Atlanta hopes to make a deep postseason run.
Indianapolis Colts 16, Miami Dolphins 10
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Colts' QB Anthony Richardson Isn't Good Enough, But He Can Be
Anthony Richardson returned to the Indianapolis Colts' lineup after missing the previous two contests with a hip injury. Richardson's play created a situation where many openly wondered if veteran Joe Flacco should be reinserted into the lineup.
Instead, head coach Shane Steichen kept his second-year signal-caller behind center and adjusted his play-calling.
To be completely clear, Richardson's 10-for-24 passing effort is unacceptable, especially in today's NFL where quarterbacks regularly complete over 70 percent of their passes because rules favor the offense and defenses tend to play soft coverages. Richardson already entered Sunday's contest against the Miami Dolphins with the league's worst completion percentage. That 50.6 number will only decrease despite the Colts' 16-10 victory.
The Colts also benefited from the timing of their meeting with Miami since quarterback Tua Tagovailoa still isn't in the lineup and the Dolphins couldn't muster any offensive consistency.
Still, this season has always been about Richardson's development.
When Steichen saw Richardson struggle throughout the first half, the realization came to the coach that he can rely on a physical offensive front and an athletic quarterback, who should be used as a runner. The weaponization of Richardson's running ability creates a constant threat and a floor to the offense's capabilities even if he's not connecting in the passing game. By the end of the contest, the quarterback tied for the team lead with 14 carries, and his 56 yards led the squad.
Eventually, running back Jonathan Taylor will return from his high-ankle sprain, which will make the ground attack even more difficult to defend. Richardson, meanwhile, can be given opportunities to build confidence as a passer, with the potential to attack defenses downfield via the play-action game.
The Colts are 4-3. Flacco is a large part of the reason why. Richardson needs to play better, of course. But the latter is the future of the franchise. The entire goal for the rest of the season is to continue his development by discovering what he can and cannot do.
All of the Miami Dolphins' Offensive Weapons Don't Matter Without QB Tua Tagovailoa
Miami is playing the waiting game. Mike McDaniel's offense can only be maximized when his starting quarterback is behind center.
Right now, Tagovailoa remains on injured reserve after suffering another concussion. With his absence, the tandem of Tyler Huntley and Tim Boyle completed 57.7 percent of their passes for 149 yards against Indianapolis.
Miami's weapons don't matter nearly as much without a competent distributor. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle combined for two catches that resulted in 19 yards. Neither has managed more than 69 yards in any game since Tagovailoa has been absent.
Instead, tight end Jonnu Smith proved to the squad's best target Sunday, with seven receptions for 96 yards. Running backs De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert combined for 127 yards. But the downfield threat proved to be non-existent against a Colts defense that has been gashed this season.
Tagovailoa is eligible to return from injured reserve for the Dolphins' upcoming contest against the Arizona Cardinals. Whether the team will be eager to immediately place him in the lineup has yet to be seen.
At 2-4, the Dolphins are now 2.5 games behind the AFC East-leading Buffalo Bills. They need their quarterback, as long as he's cleared to play.
Detroit Lions 31, Minnesota Vikings 29
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Road Through NFC Goes Through Detroit and the Lions
The Minnesota Vikings entered Sunday's contest against the rival Detroit Lions with an undefeated record and aspirations of claiming the title as the NFC's best. Dan Campbell and Co. had other plans.
Detroit has now won four in a row after its 31-19 handling of the Vikings in Minnesota. The outcome reinforces that the Lions are the team to beat in the NFC. With the San Francisco 49ers starting slowly, the 5-1 Lions haven't taken a step back after falling just short of the franchise's first Super Bowl berth.
It's a tremendous statement considering the team could have let Aidan Hutchinson's broken leg create a lag for the rest of the team. Not many squads can lose their best player and immediately turn around to beat a previously undefeated opponent.
"I don't want to say must win, but we needed that in a big way," Campbell told reporters after the contest.
Quarterback Jared Goff led the way with a superb performance. Detroit's offensive leader completed 88 percent of his passes against an aggressive defense. At times, he looked like Peyton Manning orchestrating his unit to be in the best possible play. More importantly, he delivered accurately and in-rhythm to execute with near perfection.
Running back Jahmyr Gibbs also deserves credit for providing an explosive component to the run game. Fellow ball-carrier David Montgomery got dinged and Gibbs responded, with 15 carries for 115 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown scamper.
The lesson learned is that Lions are talented and deep. As good as Hutchinson is, his injury isn't the end of Detroit being the NFC's best team.
Despite Loss to Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings Remain Legit Contenders
The floor hasn't fallen out from under the Vikings despite their first loss of the season. In fact, that first loss proves Minnesota is ready to go punch-for-punch with the NFL's best.
Yes, the Lions ultimately found a way to win Sunday's meeting. At the same time, the Vikings held a 10-0 lead through the first quarter. Even with Detroit started rolling on offense, Minnesota didn't back down. The Vikings continued to throw counters in the Lions direction.
Sam Darnold didn't shrink against premium competition. He played particularly well in the second half and finished an 81.8 completion percentage and two touchdown passes. Aaron Jones continues to be an exciting runner in Kevin O'Connell's offense. The weapons on the outside are obvious. The defense, meanwhile, is opportunistic, as seen Ivan Pace Jr.'s 36-yard scoop-and-score.
The Vikings have a favorable upcoming schedule against the Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans before reentering the NFC North fray against the Chicago Bears. Otherwise, another heavyweight fight against the Lions awaits in Week 18.
Washington Commanders 40, Carolina Panthers 7
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Washington Commanders' Impressive Win Marred by Jayden Daniels Injury
A collective sigh of relief could be heard around the NFL when this year's favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year came back onto the field for the second half of the Washington Commanders' 40-7 dismantling of the Carolina Panthers.
Granted, Daniels was in sweats after suffering a rib injury during the Commanders' initial offensive possession. But by all indications, he escaped a significant injury.
"He's good," a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler when asking about the quarterback's X-ray results.
According to the Washington Post's Nicki Jhabvala, the standout rookie will undergo further testing on Monday.
The Commanders didn't need Daniels to return to the lineup after building a 27-0 halftime lead. One, they were playing the woeful Panthers. Two, Marcus Mariota played quite well in Daniels' absence.
No one will come out this game and say that Mariota is as good as Daniels. However, Kliff Kingsbury is cooking this season with this play-calling. As The 33rd Team noted, Daniels and Mariota are the only two teammates to lead their offense to at least 40 points in a game this season.
Next weekend's showdown between the first and second overall picks may not occur. The Commanders need to be careful regarding any injury to Daniels. If he's cleared, full speed ahead.
Ja'Tavion Sanders Continues to Grow as Weapon in Carolina Panthers Offense
Any signs of life are the primary goal for the Panthers after a 1-6 start. The team is looking for anyone who can be part of the long-term solution as building blocks toward the future. Rookie tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders is growing into one.
Sanders set new career highs in consecutive weeks as his usage grows in the Panthers offense.
Last week, this year's 101st overall draft pick caught five passes for 49 yards. Seven days later, Sanders snagged six passes for 61 yards. More importantly, Carolina's quarterbacks targeted him six times and he caught all six passes.
The tight end is quickly emerging as a security blanket for whomever is behind center because of his ability to create separation.
"Just my ability to create mismatches, wherever I'm at on the field," Sanders said after being drafted when asked what he brings to Carolina's offense. "Having the ability to do that, just putting in the defenses mind, they've always got to know where I'm at."
Sanders' emergence certainly helps the Panthers since Tommy Tremble is a pending free agent. If Tremble returns, the two mesh well together. The rookie is more of a threat in the passing game, while the veteran excels as an in-line option.
Whatever happens, Sanders should be a continuing threat for the rest of this season and beyond.
Kansas City Chiefs 28, San Francisco 49ers 18
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Undefeated Chiefs Have to Weigh Receiver Options Ahead of November 5 Trade Deadline
The Chiefs will remain among the AFC's favorites this season as long as Andy Reid is on the sideline and Patrick Mahomes stays healthy. Their ability to lean on their defense and adapt offensively can carry them far. If they want to ensure they're playing for a third straight Super Bowl, though, they need receiver help.
However, Kansas City must examine the receiver market closely before next month's trade deadline.
Marquise Brown (shoulder) might return for the postseason. Rashee Rice (knee) will not. The Chiefs lost JuJu Smith-Schuster to a hamstring injury against San Francisco, and the passing game was unsurprisingly inefficient.
Mahomes made the occasional wow play, but he finished 16-of-27 for 154 yards and two interceptions.
Despite the injuries at receiver, Kansas City appears poised to win far more often than not this season. However, the Chiefs have a chance to make history, and making a play for an experienced pass-catcher could help them do it.
They've reportedly been interested. According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, Kansas City had been "monitoring" Davante Adams before he was traded to the New York Jets.
This past week, we saw New York acquire Adams, while the Bills traded for Amari Cooper. Those teams are chasing Kansas City. The Chiefs owe it to themselves to stay ahead of the curve and consider a receiver trade of their own.
The 49ers' Run of NFC Dominance Is at an End
San Francisco's game against Kansas City was, of course, a rematch of Super Bowl LVIII. It certainly doesn't feel like these two teams will face each other again in February. The 49ers have appeared in the last three NFC title games and in four of the last five. However, their streak of deep postseason runs is poised to end.
As has been the case for most of the season, injuries loomed over the 49ers on Sunday. Christian McCaffrey is still watching from the sidelines, Javon Hargrave is on injured reserve, and San Francisco's top three receivers were out by the end of the game.
Jauan Jennings missed the game with a hip injury. Deebo Samuel exited with an illness, while Brandon Aiyuk left with what appeared to be a significant knee injury.
However, injuries don't tell the whole story of San Francisco's 3-4 record. The defense has lacked efficiency and physicality. The offense has struggled mightily in the red zone, while miscues and turnovers have come in bunches.
The 49ers entered Week 7 with the seventh-worst red-zone touchdown rate (tied at 44.4 percent) in the NFL, according to Pro Football Reference. Against Kansas City, the 49ers settled for two early field goals and missed a point-after try. A fourth red-zone trip resulted in a Brock Purdy interception.
There's still hope, of course. The 49ers will reach their bye in Week 9, and they may still go on a run when and if they get healthier. Getting past the wild-card round, though, could be a struggle.
The Chiefs remain the top team in the NFL, and the 49ers were clearly outclassed on Sunday. And on a day that saw the Lions and Vikings battle in one of the most thrilling games of the season, San Francisco just doesn't feel capable of challenging for a Super Bowl this season.
Contending next year could be challenging too. Mccaffrey will be a year older, and the 49ers rank in the bottom half of projected 2025 cap space.
Los Angeles Rams 20, Las Vegas Raiders 15
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Brock Bowers Will Set More Rookie Records While on Historic Pace
The Raiders went into Week 7 without Jakobi Meyers (ankle), and they traded Davante Adams to the New York Jets, but the club has a gem in tight end Brock Bowers, who set a record for rookie tight ends in receptions through seven games.
In a loss, Bowers did everything he could to keep the Raiders in the game, hauling in 10 passes for 93 yards. None of his teammates had more than three catches or 36 receiving yards.
With 47 receptions, Bowers is on pace for 114 catches, which would break the franchise's single-season record for receptions set by tight end Darren Waller (107) in 2020.
The Raiders may not win many games this season, but they have a pass-catching tight end to build around for the long-term future.
Rams Desperately Need Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua Back for Playoff Push
The Rams escaped SoFi Stadium with a win on Sunday, holding on to a lead they almost lost in the final quarter, which should raise some concerns as wideouts Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Puka Nacua (PCL) recover from injuries.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, teams have called the Rams inquiring about Kupp's availability.
At 2-4, the Rams should retain Kupp and look forward to his return to help them make a run for the playoffs.
Despite a slow start, Los Angeles has plenty of time to make up ground in the NFC playoff picture.
Following a narrow victory over a depleted Raiders squad, the Rams clearly need more offensive firepower. Los Angeles has only scored more than 20 points once this season.
Denver Broncos 33, New Orleans Saints 10
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The Denver Broncos Could be a Playoff Team...If They Can Run the Ball
Had you asked Denver Broncos fans how they would feel about being 4-3 seven games into the season, the answers would have ranged somewhere between "elated" and "come on, man."
But here they sit after dismantling an admittedly overmatched, injury-ravaged New Orleans Saints team 33-10 in head coach Sean Payton's return to the Big Easy on Thursday night.
It's been an odd ride. Denver has won mostly with defense—it entered Week 7 fourth in total defense, fourth in scoring defense and second in sacks. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix has been...a rookie quarterback. He's made some plays and also some mistakes, including five interceptions.
One thing that hasn't been working is running back Javonte Williams and the ground game. Entering Thursday's contest, he was averaging 3.6 yards per carry and the Broncos were 23rd in rushing at 107.3 yards per game.
Against the Saints, that changed, and we got a glimpse of what the Broncos could be.
Williams had far and away his best game of the season, sailing past 100 total yards and finding the end zone twice. The entire team ran roughshod over New Orleans, Nix included. All told, Denver ran for 226 yards and gained a gaudy 6.6 yards per carry.
When the Broncos can grind away on the ground like that, they can control the tempo of the game. Play-action opens up for Nix. The pressure on Denver's first-year signal-caller is reduced.
Wide receiver Courtland Sutton spent this game on a milk carton (which was odd), and Denver still had arguably its best all-around performance of the season.
The Broncos are going to need their No. 1 receiver. Nix will still have to make plays. But if you combine this ground game with the team's stout defense, Denver could be a tough out.
The Saints are Circling the Drain, and Dennis Allen is Done
Remember when the New Orleans Saints were 2-0, had scored 91 points and people were legitimately asking if they were a Super Bowl contender?
That was this year. But it feels like it was a decade ago.
To be fair, Thursday night's loss to the Denver Broncos carries a caveat: Injuries have brutalized New Orleans on both sides of the ball. The team was down its top two wideouts and whatever Taysom Hill is on Thursday and were rolling out a Day 3 rookie at quarterback.
Things weren't going to end well, even against an inconsistent Denver Broncos team.
But there's a difference between losing and getting embarrassed at home, injuries or not. Entering Week 7, the Broncos were a bottom-10 rushing offense averaging less than 110 yards per game. They more than doubled that against New Orleans. On the opposite side of the ball, Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler was sacked half a dozen times then benched. They were dominated in every facet of the game—by an "OK" team.
Before Thursday's immolation, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said the organization didn't view the team's four-game losing streak as indicative of Dennis Allen's capabilities as a head coach.
"Results matter. They do," Loomis told WWL Radio. "But I think one of the things that good organizations do, is, man, you look beyond the results. What's the reasons for the result? How do you fix the reasons that keep you from winning?"
Now it's five games. There are several things keeping the Saints from winning. And after that dog of a performance, it's clear Allen is one of them.
Steelers 37, New York Jets 15
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Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin Makes Right Choice by Naming Russell Wilson QB1
Pittsburgh Steelers Mike Tomlin could have been content with a 4-2 start. He didn't need to make a change at quarterback after Justin Fields performed well enough to keep the job. Instead, Tomlin wanted an offensive spark to strive for a higher standard of play.
Tomlin told FOX Sport's Jay Glazer, "Look, if it doesn't work out, I'll take the heat, I'll shoulder the blame, no problem. The reason I did this, is I knew I had two quarterbacks going into camp that are very capable, but I wanted to see both of them before I made a long-term decision. Well, I haven't seen the other one [Wilson]. I want to see at least what I have from him, exhaust all options, and then make a decision down the stretch."
Wilson delivered during his debut, with Pittsburgh winning 37-15 over the New York Jets. The quarterback's performance proved to be a historical outing. Wilson set a franchise record with 264 passing yards in his debut.
Keep in mind everything the 13-year veteran has endured to reach this point.
The Seattle Seahawks cut bait after nine Pro Bowl appearances. Wilson joined the Denver Broncos, who had a new head coach completely in over his head, hence his firing before the end of his first season. Wilson and his next coach, Sean Payton, weren't on the same page. The Broncos benched Wilson, then took on the highest dead salary-cap hit in NFL history just to get rid of him. He signed a one-year, veteran minimum deal to join the Steelers. At the start of training camp, the quarterback endured a calf injury that lingered. He hadn't played in a game since Christmas. Some rust was expected but quickly shaken off.
"It feels like playoff baseball season, where I started 0-2, then I got hot," the 35-year-old quarterback told NBC Sports' Melissa Stark during the telecast.
The Steelers finally hit their stride, with 409 yards from scrimmage and the first time scoring 30 or more this season. The Steelers made sure to keep Wilson under center, where he excelled in the play-action game.
Said Wilson, "... We're capable of a lot together. We left a lot on the table. We know that. We believe that. We'll keep getting better."
Davante Adams' Addition Does Nothing for Spiraling New York Jets
The Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh and elevated Jeff Ulbrich to interim head coach. New York still lost to the Buffalo Bills the following week. As a team all-in with a 40-year-old quarterback, the Jets then traded for wide receiver Davante Adams to make Aaron Rodgers happy. They lost by three scores to the Steelers.
The Jets are not a good football team. They can continue to makes moves and changes, but the organization is just rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic after a 2-5 start.
Some may argue that certain moves take time to ensure a difference. For example, a new wide receiver needs to establish a comfort level working in a new system. In Adams' case, he knew exactly what he was entering after playing alongside Rodgers for so long with the Green Bay Packers.
Case in point. the Jets threw their newest addition into the fray and didn't look back. Adams played 96.4 percent of New York's offensive snaps during Sunday Night Football, per NFL Next Gen Stats. He tied for a team-high nine targets but finished with only three catches for 30 yards.
Rodgers and Adams are too good not to put up numbers. At the same time, the trade reeked of desperation for a franchise that doesn't know how to consistently win games.
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