Photo by Jennifer Buchanan from The Seattle Times
We began the week with 3 undefeated teams remaining.
We leave the week with 1.
And it’s the one that everyone thought it would be before the season started, obviously.
Here is what we learned from week 7.
Bears defeat Patriots 30-24
This was a great game between two of the top young QBs in the sport.
I could get used to this matchup, even though it won’t happen too often.
Steelers defeat Saints 16-10
Even though the Steelers won the AFC North last year, their defense, the most expensive in football, greatly underperformed.
This year, that defense looks back to what it should be, and it’s a huge part of why they’re 5-2.
Nice to see a return to form.
Falcons defeat 49ers 29-20
Wasn’t the best game from Purdy, but the running game for San Francisco was really underwhelming.
Huge win for Atlanta, who looks really good after a brutal start to the season and are now very much alive in the NFC South race.
Browns defeat Titans 27-24
I don’t know how they keep pulling it out of their behinds, but the Browns keep winning late and are 5-2.
Is it sustainable? My guess is no.
Is it a great building block for a young roster going forward?
Absolutely.
Vikings defeat Colts 16-10
This Vikings offense is just a mess, man.
It doesn’t matter right now, because the defense is elite and they’re 6-0, but man oh man it has to improve, right?
It can’t continue to be this lifeless.
Dolphins defeat Jets 28-25
Geno was good. Braelon Allen was good. They put up 25 points and were facing a Dolphins team that doesn’t have much going for them offensively and were 0-5.
Surely they won, right?
I think it’s time to move on from the Aaron Glenn experience…
Buccaneers defeat Panthers 43-13
Where the hell did this come from?
The Bucs are talented, sure, but this was 33-3 at halftime on the road against a decent Panthers team that had been playing well up to this point.
Could this be the start that fixes the Bucs season, or just a weird one off?
My guess is one off, but we’ll see.
Bengals defeat Ravens 35-13
Joe Burrow was absolutely horrendous in the first half.
He was absolutely unbelievable in the second half.
And with the Ravens having to start Snoop Huntley again, they weren’t able to take advantage of the Bengals slow start and pull away.
The Ravens are now dead last in the AFC North.
Even with the Lamar injury, I don’t think people would have guessed that.
Giants defeat Texans 27-21
I have absolutely no idea what is wrong with the Texans defense this year, but it’s not good.
J.J. McCarthy, in his first start with the Giants, had a fantastic game, and Cam Skattebo ran wild on them.
It’s starting to get into “inexcusable” territory for Houston.
Broncos defeat Cardinals 30-16
Both teams had no turnovers.
The yards margin was more or less the same.
Penalties as well.
Despite that, the Broncos won by 14 on the road because the Cardinals were 1 for 5 in the red zone.
You’re not going to win like that.
Lions defeat Packers 20-17
Everyone has been discussing the roughing the passer penalty that set up the Lions game winning field goal.
And I do get it. It was a bad call, even if it was in line with the rules.
But that play happened with 2:45 left on a play where Sam LaPorta gained 18 yards and put the Lions at midfield.
You want to know why the Packers lost this game?
Because Josh Jacobs can’t catch an easy touchdown. Because they missed a chip shot field goal. Because they had a chance to get the Lions to kick early and still have a chance to counter it, but jumped offsides meaning the Lions could drain the clock.
Spare me with the roughing the passer call.
Complete non entity in this game.
Rams defeat Raiders 35-21
Boy oh boy did the Rams need this game.
Sure, they’re significantly better than the Raiders, but they were significantly better than the Cardinals too, and they just lost that game.
A nice, easy, wire to wire win is just what the doctor ordered for a team going through some struggles.
Seahawks defeat Chiefs 20-3
The Chiefs were missing both of their starting tackles and both starting receivers, but I don’t think it would have mattered much in this game.
The Seahawks defense was dominant, as usual, and those injuries obviously helped things, but the real story of this game was the offense.
Apart from a very dumb interception, Sam Darnold looked good. Emmanuel Wilson was the better running back between him and Kenneth Walker, and JSN is the best receiver in football, full stop.
As long as the Seahawks offense doesn’t shoot itself in the foot over and over again, this team can absolutely win the Super Bowl again.
Cowboys defeat Eagles 38-21
Look, this Eagles season is probably in the dumpster regardless due to Jalen Hurts being out.
But the defense got torched by a Cowboys offense that hasn’t played well in back to back weeks.
That has to be worrisome.
