What we realized in NFL Week 7: Chiefs flip the script, Steelers’ guess pays off

After the Patriots misplaced their sixth in a row, first-year coach Jerod Mayo known as his group delicate.

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Barkley in his return to MetLife Stadium — one signal even learn “TRAITOR” — the Eagles’ star working again torched his outdated group.

And after one other tumultuous week within the endless cleaning soap opera that’s the New York Jets, the top consequence — a 37-15 loss to the Steelers on Sunday night time — regarded and felt acquainted. At 2-5, this group 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’ll win with out the deadly passing sport they’ve constructed their dynasty on.

In Washington, rookie standout Jayden Daniels performed simply 12 snaps earlier than leaving with a rib damage. Regardless of. The Commanders rolled 40-7 over a Panthers group that’s as soon as once more making a compelling case for the title of worst group in soccer.

In an NFC North conflict between two of one of the best 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 sport 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 subsequent time they see one another — Week 18 — may very properly include a division title and residential area benefit hanging within the steadiness. Goff is quietly enjoying a number of the best soccer of his profession: he’s now the fourth QB in NFL historical past with a passer score of 140 or larger in three straight begins, becoming a member of Aaron Rodgers (2011), Kurt Warner (1999) and Roger Staubach (1971).

Nevertheless it’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 thrice. Inexperienced Bay has been glorious on protection of late and held Texans QB C.J. Stroud to simply 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, someway discovered themselves trailing 10-0 early to a Titans group that was enjoying backup quarterback Mason Rudolph. By sport’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 report within the AFC.

In Atlanta, the Seahawks gained for the primary time in practically 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 12 months by beating a reeling Raiders group that’s dropped three straight and 4 of 5.

Right here’s what we realized throughout Week 7 within the NFL:

Steelers’ guess 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.

This can be a franchise in fixed chaos, and it reveals. New York is a poorly run, poorly coached soccer group. The Jets are 2-5 for the season, trailing a Miami group 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 an enormous disappointment.

Adams’ much-discussed arrival netted little in Sunday night time’s loss. He completed with three catches on 9 targets for 30 yards. Outdoors 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 rapidly because the Steelers scored 31 unanswered factors, taking management of the sport late within the second quarter and by no means wanting again.

As for Pittsburgh, Mike Tomlin’s daring gamble paid off, at the least for one week. He slid Justin Fields to the bench regardless of Fields main the group to a 4-2 begin, and Russell Wilson, making his first begin since Christmas Eve — when he was nonetheless with the Broncos — obtained his likelihood. The 12-year veteran delivered, throwing two touchdowns and giving the Steelers’ offense the downfield menace that Tomlin felt had been lacking.

Pittsburgh’s protection was glorious after halftime, and the particular groups unit blocked a area purpose try for the third straight sport. 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 group remaining, and it’s the identical group that’s hoisted the Lombardi Trophy every of the final two years. Regardless of how unimpressive the Chiefs have checked out instances this season, they’re nonetheless the group 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 complete 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’ll scratch out wins regardless of a mediocre passing sport, unusual as that sounds, as a result of that is such a well-constructed, veteran roster and since Andy Reid stays pretty much as good as another coach in soccer at giving his group one of the best likelihood to win each Sunday.

Kansas Metropolis’s run sport carried the load, ending with 184 yards (a 4.7-per-carry common) and 4 speeding touchdowns, probably the most for the group 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 thrice and stifling the 49ers offense all sport lengthy.

It didn’t assist San Francisco that its roster wasn’t near full energy. Already down Christian McCaffrey and Jauan Jennings, the 49ers misplaced Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel throughout the sport. It’s been the story of their season. The accidents hold 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 group coming off a bye after being embarrassed the final trip.

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 throughout the second quarter of the Browns’ 21-14 loss to the Bengals — the league’s messiest quarterback state of affairs obtained an entire 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 totally assured $92 million.

The concern 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 attributable to damage.

“Let’s get the assessments first, however that’s what it seems like,” coach Kevin Stefanski acknowledged.

The Browns have time earlier than making a choice, however no choice at this level seems promising: chopping 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 in opposition to the cap in 2025, nonetheless the second-highest ever for a participant who wouldn’t even be on the roster. One other route could be a commerce, nevertheless it’s onerous to fathom one other group taking up 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 absolutely assured deal. If this damage spells the top of Watson’s time in Cleveland — and it very properly may — 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 “Arduous Knocks” cameras, felt prescient Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium. “I’m going to have a tricky 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 one of the best participant in a foul period of Giants soccer. Dropping him was one factor. However shedding him to a divisional rival? Akin to pouring salt within the wound of a broken, at instances 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 greatest, 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 actual fact, Barkley’s 761 scrimmage yards this season are probably the most of any participant in his first six video games with a group 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 instances. 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 stick to him.

“Daniel would be the quarterback going ahead,” Daboll mentioned after the loss. However for 2025? That’s wanting 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 might be within the working for the highest decide in April’s draft.

Up to now, 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? Up to now, Panthers followers have little purpose for optimism. Because the hedge fund billionaire purchased the group in 2018, Carolina is 32-74 and headed for a seventh straight shedding season.

The Patriots have dropped six straight and, just like the Panthers, are 1-6. However at the least with Drake Maye, there may be hope on the quarterback place.

The Browns are additionally 1-6 and can both flip to Jameis Winston or Dorian Thompson-Robinson to switch Watson.

The Titans are 1-5 and their younger quarterback, Will Levis, has turned the ball over 10 instances 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 photograph: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Pictures)