After the Patriots misplaced their sixth in a row, first-year coach Jerod Mayo referred to as his crew comfortable.
After the boos rained down on Saquon Barkley in his return to MetLife Stadium — one signal even learn “TRAITOR” — the Eagles’ star working again torched his previous crew.
And after one other tumultuous week within the endless cleaning soap opera that’s the New York Jets, the top outcome — a 37-15 loss to the Steelers on Sunday night time — regarded and felt acquainted. At 2-5, this crew can’t get out of its personal means, and the season feels misplaced earlier than the calendar flips to November.
In a rematch of February’s Tremendous Bowl, the champs flipped the script, and the Chiefs confirmed they will win with out the deadly passing recreation they’ve constructed their dynasty on.
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NFL Week 7 takeaways: Are the 49ers in too deep a gap? Who’re kings of the NFC North?
In Washington, rookie standout Jayden Daniels performed simply 12 snaps earlier than leaving with a rib damage. Irrespective of. The Commanders rolled 40-7 over a Panthers crew that’s as soon as once more making a compelling case for the title of worst crew in soccer.
In an NFC North conflict between two of the perfect groups within the league, the Lions handed the Vikings their first lack of the season, 31-29, after Jake Bates transformed a 44-yard area purpose with 15 seconds left. It was a recreation of runs — the Vikings scored the primary 10 factors, the Lions responded with 21 straight, then Minnesota ripped off 9 extra within the fourth quarter earlier than Jared Goff led Detroit 44 yards in eight performs to arrange Bates’ game-winner.
Each of those groups are 5-1, and each are for actual. The following time they see one another — Week 18 — might very properly include a division title and residential area benefit hanging within the steadiness. Goff is quietly taking part in a few of the best soccer of his profession: he’s now the fourth QB in NFL historical past with a passer ranking of 140 or increased in three straight begins, becoming a member of Aaron Rodgers (2011), Kurt Warner (1999) and Roger Staubach (1971).
But it surely’s removed from a two-team race within the NFC North. The Packers are 5-2 after edging the Texans at dwelling, 24-22, regardless of turning the ball over 3 times. Inexperienced Bay has been wonderful on protection of late and held Texans QB C.J. Stroud to only 86 passing yards on Sunday. Brandon McManus, whom the Packers signed on Tuesday, drilled the 45-yard game-winner with three seconds left.
One other Tremendous Bowl contender, the Buffalo Payments, in some way discovered themselves trailing 10-0 early to a Titans crew that was taking part in backup quarterback Mason Rudolph. By recreation’s finish it was a 34-10 victory for the Payments, who welcomed new addition Amari Cooper with a second-half landing. Buffalo is now 5-2, tied with Houston and Pittsburgh for the second-best file within the AFC.
In Atlanta, the Seahawks received for the primary time in almost a month, routing the Falcons 34-14 to enhance to 4-3 and keep in entrance of all others within the NFC West. And in Indianapolis, the Colts slogged out a 16-10 win over the Dolphins regardless of Anthony Richardson finishing simply 10 of 24 passes for 129 yards.
The Rams earned their second win of the yr by beating a reeling Raiders crew that’s dropped three straight and 4 of 5.
Right here’s what we discovered throughout Week 7 within the NFL:
Steelers’ wager pays off, Jets’ doesn’t
Throughout 11 days in October, the Jets have fired their head coach, demoted their offensive play-caller, traded for six-time Professional Bowl receiver Davante Adams, ended a seven-month holdout with Haason Reddick and dropped a pair of nationally televised video games.
It is a franchise in fixed chaos, and it exhibits. New York is a poorly run, poorly coached soccer crew. The Jets are 2-5 for the season, trailing a Miami crew in their very own division that has been with out Tua Tagovailoa since Week 3.
Perhaps the Tremendous Bowl hype was a bit a lot, however the Jets completely had their sights set on a playoff berth this season. As a substitute, they’ve been a large disappointment.
Adams’ much-discussed arrival netted little in Sunday night time’s loss. He completed with three catches on 9 targets for 30 yards. Exterior of Breece Corridor, who had 141 all-purpose yards and a landing, the Jets couldn’t maintain something on offense. An early 15-6 lead disappeared shortly because the Steelers scored 31 unanswered factors, taking management of the sport late within the second quarter and by no means trying again.
Russell Wilson handed for 2 touchdowns in his Steelers debut. (Justin Berl / Getty Pictures)
As for Pittsburgh, Mike Tomlin’s daring gamble paid off, at the very least for one week. He slid Justin Fields to the bench regardless of Fields main the crew to a 4-2 begin, and Russell Wilson, making his first begin since Christmas Eve — when he was nonetheless with the Broncos — received his likelihood. The 12-year veteran delivered, throwing two touchdowns and giving the Steelers’ offense the downfield risk that Tomlin felt had been lacking.
Pittsburgh’s protection was wonderful after halftime, and the particular groups unit blocked a area purpose try for the third straight recreation. With the win, the Steelers (5-2) inch forward of the Ravens within the AFC North.
Chiefs are final unbeaten
Seven weeks into the season and there’s only one undefeated crew remaining, and it’s the identical crew that’s hoisted the Lombardi Trophy every of the final two years. Irrespective of how unimpressive the Chiefs have checked out occasions this season, they’re nonetheless the crew everybody’s chasing.
Sunday’s 28-18 victory over the 49ers spoke to why. Patrick Mahomes threw for simply 154 passing yards — the third-fewest whole of his profession — and tossed two interceptions, and Kansas Metropolis nonetheless beat the defending NFC champs by double-digits. The Chiefs (6-0) have proven they will scratch out wins regardless of a mediocre passing recreation, unusual as that sounds, as a result of that is such a well-constructed, veteran roster and since Andy Reid stays nearly as good as another coach in soccer at giving his crew the perfect likelihood to win each Sunday.
Kansas Metropolis’s run recreation carried the load, ending with 184 yards (a 4.7-per-carry common) and 4 dashing touchdowns, essentially the most for the crew for the reason that 2019 season opener. Sunday’s onslaught included one by Mahomes, who trucked 49ers security Malik Mustapha on the purpose line. Steve Spagnuolo’s protection was stellar, intercepting 49ers QB Brock Purdy 3 times and stifling the 49ers offense all recreation lengthy.
It didn’t assist San Francisco that its roster wasn’t near full power. Already down Christian McCaffrey and Jauan Jennings, the 49ers misplaced Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel through the recreation. It’s been the story of their season. The accidents preserve piling up, and San Francisco (3-4) hasn’t discovered its typical rhythm. With out all of his top-tier weapons wholesome, Purdy hasn’t regarded like the identical participant. Up subsequent: a Dallas crew coming off a bye after being embarrassed the final day out.
Deshaun Watson ran onto the sector Sunday in Cleveland to a smattering of boos, a sign of the place the beleaguered quarterback stood with disgruntled Browns followers. He left it on a cart earlier than halftime with tears in his eyes.
And with one non-contact damage — Watson’s proper leg buckled through the second quarter of the Browns’ 21-14 loss to the Bengals — the league’s messiest quarterback state of affairs received a complete lot messier.
Now not is Watson merely a struggling, overpaid QB. Now he’s a struggling, overpaid quarterback who’ll be coming off a significant damage at any time when he’s capable of return in 2025, due a whopping $92 million over the subsequent two seasons. Reminder: that’s a completely assured $92 million.
The worry is that Watson ruptured his Achilles tendon, which might sideline him for the remainder of the season and maybe into 2025. It’d be the third time in 5 years Watson has had a season finish prematurely as a consequence of damage.
“Let’s get the assessments first, however that’s what it seems like,” coach Kevin Stefanski acknowledged.
Deshaun Watson’s season seems to be over after what’s feared to be an Achilles damage. (Jason Miller / Getty Pictures)
The Browns have time earlier than making a call, however no choice at this level seems promising: reducing Watson earlier than June 1 would incur a seismic $172.7 million cap hit, an unprecedented determine in NFL historical past. A post-June 1 launch would imply solely $72.9 million towards the cap in 2025, nonetheless the second-highest ever for a participant who wouldn’t even be on the roster. One other route can be a commerce, nevertheless it’s onerous to fathom one other crew taking over this contract, regardless of the draft capital Cleveland is perhaps prepared to half with to get Watson off its books.
Bear in mind the unique haul: the Browns despatched the Texans three first-round picks, a third-rounder and two fourth-rounders for Watson in 2022, then signed him to a $230 million totally assured deal. If this damage spells the top of Watson’s time in Cleveland — and it very properly might — it’d be onerous to think about that commerce as something wanting the worst in NFL historical past.
Barkley runs roughshod in return to MetLife
The now-infamous quote, caught by HBO’s “Onerous Knocks” cameras, felt prescient Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium. “I’m going to have a troublesome time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philadelphia, I’ll inform you that,” Giants proprietor John Mara mentioned final spring, including that “he’s our hottest participant by far.”
No phrase but on how a lot sleep he misplaced after what he noticed Sunday. Saquon Barkley, the No. 2 decide within the 2018 draft who piled up 7,311 yards and 47 touchdowns in six seasons in New York, had been the perfect participant in a nasty period of Giants soccer. Dropping him was one factor. However dropping him to a divisional rival? Akin to pouring salt within the wound of a broken, at occasions directionless franchise.
Such was Barkley’s efficiency Sunday, his first at MetLife Stadium since signing with the Eagles within the offseason: 187 all-purpose yards and a landing within the Eagles’ dominant 28-3 win. Barkley was at his finest, a brutal reminder for Giants followers of simply how a lot expertise the group let go away: he accounted for 3 of Philly’s 4 longest performs, runs of 55, 41 and 38 yards.
In truth, Barkley’s 761 scrimmage yards this season are essentially the most of any participant in his first six video games with a crew since … Barkley’s rookie season with the Giants again in 2018.
The Giants, in the meantime, pulled starter Daniel Jones within the fourth quarter. He completed with fewer than 100 yards passing on 21 makes an attempt and was sacked seven occasions. New York is 2-5 and one other season feels prefer it’s slipping away. It’s truthful to surprise how lengthy coach Brian Daboll will persist with him.
“Daniel would be the quarterback going ahead,” Daboll mentioned after the loss. However for 2025? That’s trying much less and fewer probably.
Early race for No. 1 decide
It’s nonetheless early, however we’re beginning to get a way of which groups can be within the working for the highest decide in April’s draft.
Thus far, nobody’s regarded worse on a week-to-week foundation than the Panthers. The roster’s skinny, the offense is devoid of playmakers and the protection is being pressured to spend far an excessive amount of time on the sector. One has to surprise in the event that they’re prepared to commerce Bryce Younger, the 2023 No. 1 draft decide, earlier than subsequent month’s deadline.
That is going to get even uglier as we inch into winter. Will the David Tepper period ever look any completely different in Carolina? Thus far, Panthers followers have little motive for optimism. For the reason that hedge fund billionaire purchased the crew in 2018, Carolina is 32-74 and headed for a seventh straight dropping season.
The Patriots have dropped six straight and, just like the Panthers, are 1-6. However at the very least with Drake Maye, there’s hope on the quarterback place.
The Browns are additionally 1-6 and can both flip to Jameis Winston or Dorian Thompson-Robinson to interchange Watson.
The Titans are 1-5 and their younger quarterback, Will Levis, has turned the ball over 10 occasions in 5 begins earlier than sitting out with a shoulder damage.
The Saints, who misplaced to the Broncos 33-10 on Thursday night time, have dropped 5 straight after scoring 91 factors the primary two weeks of the season in a pair of eye-popping wins over the Panthers and Cowboys. New Orleans’ season has turned and turned quick.
(Prime picture: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Pictures)
