2024 NFL season, Week 7: What We Learned from Sunday's games

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• RE-WATCH: Patriots-Jaguars on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Mayo: Pats played like 'soft football team' in London loss

Jeremy Bergman's takeaways:

1. Thomas and the Tank engine take off. After running just five plays in the first quarter, Jacksonville quickly seized back control of Sunday's game starting with a dominant 22-point second quarter. Trevor Lawrence's efficient afternoon was bolstered by solid showings from Tank Bigsby and Brian Thomas Jr., the former filling in for the injured Travis Etienne and the latter enjoying his latest breakout game as QB1's go-to wide receiver. Bigsby bullied New England's front seven to the tune of 118 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries (all career highs), picking up a number of first downs and extending the Jags' clock-killing marches; he was the workhorse on Jacksonville's 17-play, 11:24 point-less drive straddling the third and fourth quarters. Thomas continued his hot run of play with 89 yards and a score on five catches and as many targets, piling on to his already team-leading totals. With Malik Nabers and Marvin Harrison Jr.'s setbacks, Thomas has reliably been the top rookie WR in the NFL this season. Owner Shad Khan wasn't wrong when he said this offseason that Jacksonville's roster was the most talented in its history. On days like Sunday, when the franchise QB is in control and the youngsters are making plays, it's all the more evident that the Jags have all the pieces -- even if at times their quality of play remains a puzzle.
2. Maye's day marred by supporting cast. In his second NFL start, Drake Maye displayed greater comfortability and poise in the pocket, dishing dimes at every level with confidence and avoiding interceptions. That the green rookie signal-caller is already the most reliable piece in New England's offense, though, is a troubling sign. Rhamondre Stevenson, typically the heartbeat of this Pats offense, was a non-factor (25 yards on nine touches) coming off a foot injury. The offensive line, in its seventh iteration in as many games, lost another starter when Layden Robinson was sidelined, and it wilted in the shuffle. As for New England's pass catchers, Maye found a lot of them, but none with more frequency than Hunter Henry (eight catches, 92 yards). The wide receivers were more of a mixed bag. Ja'Lynn Polk dropped three more passes and slipped on a crucial two-point conversion before exiting with a head injury. Demario Douglas had just two grabs while dealing with an illness. Maye dropped a few beauties to K.J. Osborn and Kayshon Boutte -- and his 26-of-37, 276-yards, two-TD line is all you can ask of a rookie -- but there remain too few dependable difference-makers in the Pats' attack.
3. The Doug Pederson regime lives to fight another day. A loss sinking Duval to 1-6 could have spelled the end of the head coach's tenure in Jacksonville; the Jaguars have underperformed this season and losing twice in London, their home away from home, is a non-starter. But the Jags will return to the States after a two-week stay in the U.K. still in it at 2-5, two games behind the rival Colts (second in the AFC South). It won't get any easier for Jacksonville upon landing. Next up is the rest of the NFC North (vs. GB, vs. MIN, at DET) and a prime-time trip to Philly, Pederson's last place of employment. By the Week 12 bye, the Jags will know what they have. What they need before then are at least two more wins.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Patriots-Jaguars (via NFL Pro): Nearly all of Trevor Lawrence’s passing production against the Patriots came on in-breaking routes (159 of 193 passing yards); his +15.2 EPA targeting in-breakers is the highest mark by a QB in a game this season. Lawrence’s average time to throw of 2.41 seconds was his quickest in a game this season, leading to a season-low three pressures against and zero sacks (14.3% pressure rate).

NFL Research: Parker Washington’s 96-yard punt return touchdown was the longest TD in an international game and the first-ever special teams TD in an international game.

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• RE-WATCH: Seahawks-Falcons on NFL+ Premium
• READ: RB Walker III leads Seattle to win over Atlanta in 'flu game' 

Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Geno Smith delivers in the clutch. Though not spectacular, Smith's final passing line was solid (18 of 28, 207 yards, 2 TDs). The tape was better. Smith found himself in a duel of veteran quarterbacks and came through in key spots all afternoon, finding DK Metcalf on a beautiful strike down the middle of the field for an important touchdown just before halftime, then capitalized on an Atlanta roughing the passer penalty by lofting a pass to Kenneth Walker III for a fantastic touchdown connection on the very next play. As he has for most of the season, Smith steadied Seattle's ship offensively and avoided the crushing mistakes that cost the Seahawks dearly in their last three games (all losses). I won't say this is a turning point, but it certainly was an encouraging performance from Smith and the Seahawks.
2. Kirk Cousins, Falcons melt down. Atlanta made a strong statement with its second half-opening drive, covering 79 yards on a balanced 14-play drive that saw Cousins complete all seven of his attempts and finish with a touchdown pass to Drake London to answer Seattle's half-ending touchdown drive. The 17-14 score suggested the Falcons were very much in this game -- until they weren't. A Cousins fumble produced a Seahawks touchdown, and when London dropped an on-target throw from Cousins (resulting in an interception), the pressure mounted. It officially overwhelmed them a drive later, when Cousins missed his mark for an ugly interception, ending both his day and the Falcons' hopes of fighting back into a game that was, for a time, very winnable. Prior to Sunday, the Falcons had proven themselves as a scrappy bunch that refused to go down easily. They'll need to study this tape closely to understand how to avoid wasting a strong day from Bijan Robinson (21 attempts for 103 yards and one touchdown) and stay in the fight for four quarters.
3. Seattle's defense is coming around. After giving up 35 points per game in their three consecutive losses from Weeks 4-6, the Seahawks morphed into an aggressive and opportunistic defense Sunday, forcing three turnovers. All three came in succession and took a 10-point game and blew it open, starting with Boye Mafe's strip sack of Cousins, which Derick Hall returned 64 yards for a touchdown. The next two possessions ended in Cousins interceptions, helping the Seahawks stymie a Falcons comeback attempt and push their lead out to 20, effectively ending Atlanta's hopes with half of a quarter left to play. It was a dramatically different performance on the scoreboard because of these turnovers, and despite allowing Atlanta to rack up 385 yards of offense, the Seahawks stiffened in the key moments, forcing the Falcons to settle for field goal attempts. In total, it wasn't a shut-down performance, but it certainly was encouraging for Mike Macdonald's group.

Next Gen Stats Insight from Seahawks-Falcons (via NFL Pro): Despite facing his highest pressure rate this season (50 percent), Geno Smith thrived amid the chaos, completing 7 of 13 attempts for 123 yards and two touchdowns.

NFL Research: After finishing with the third-most such games from 2022-23, Geno Smith had multiple passing touchdowns in a game for the first time in 2024 in Sunday's win.

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• RE-WATCH: Titans-Bills on NFL+ Premium

Eric Edholm's takeaways:

1. Amari Cooper turned around his Bills debut at halftime. It took a half for Cooper to get comfortable, but when he did he made his impact felt following last week’s trade from the Browns. Cooper had one first-half target, and it was a third-down drop on what should have been an easy grab. He was also seen grabbing his left hamstring and trying to get loose on the sideline in the first half. But Cooper would not go quietly in his Buffalo debut. He got loose for a TD on his first catch as a Bill, exploiting a great matchup in the red zone versus a safety with the Titans bringing an all-out blitz. He then came back on the next series with a 19-yard catch that led to a field goal, and Cooper started the next series (which led to a TD) with a 27-yard grab. Cooper and the Bills started slowly offensively, going three-and-out on their first three drives, but they found a little rhythm before halftime and then cranked it up in the second half, ripping off 34 straight points to take control of the game.
2. Backup QB Mason Rudolph gave Titans early boost, but pass protection broke down. Stepping in for an injured Will Levis, Rudolph was sharp early Sunday at Buffalo. He completed 18 of 23 first-half passes for 155 yards and a TD, which was impressive given how the Bills were generating consistent pressure. Rudolph coughed up a fumbled snap on the third series, and though the Bills couldn’t cash in on it, their pass rush eventually couldn’t be contained. Rudolph was pressured on more than half of his attempts and was 7-of-17 passing for 60 yards with two sacks and an interception after halftime. The Titans had trouble giving him clean pockets for most of the game until the Bills were protecting a big lead. Jaelyn Duncan became their third starting right tackle of the season, but he left the game early with a hamstring injury, giving way to Nicholas Petit-Frere, who allowed a game-high eight pressures. The Titans were limited in this one, with only two active running backs (Tony Pollard and Julius Chestnut), and they again struggled to get the ball to their two best receivers. Calvin Ridley caught three passes for 42 on nine targets, letting a few balls slip through his hands, and DeAndre Hopkins ran 22 routes but caught only one pass (his only target) for minus-2 yards.
3. Greg Rousseau-led Bills defense to strong finish. The Titans led, 10-0, as both the Bills’ offense and defense slumbered through the start of Sunday’s game. Tennessee’s first turnover was a pure giveaway on Rudolph’s second-quarter fumble, but it woke up Buffalo’s defense, which finished with a strong effort overall. Rousseau had an early offsides penalty but finished the game with a game-high 11 pressures and a half sack. DaQuan Jones and Ed Oliver also helped with strong interior pressure, and Dawuane Smoot made a pair of tackles for loss. The Bills stopped the Titans on fourth down at the Tennessee 44-yard line, leading to a Buffalo touchdown that started the ball rolling for them. The Titans totaled only 11 yards on 11 third-quarter plays. If there was one negative on the defensive side for Buffalo, it was that Terrel Bernard suffered two injuries that caused him to leave the game -- first with a head injury and later with an ankle. Before that, he was all over the field, and the Bills are hoping for good news on his status.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Titans-Bills (via NFL Pro): Bills WR Keon Coleman caught four of his seven targets for a career-high 125 yards, with all his production coming lined up out wide (24 of 28 routes). Coleman generated a team-leading 62 yards after the catch, including +43 yards after the catch over expected.

NFL Research: With his 68th victory, Josh Allen tied Aaron Rodgers and Hall of Famers Joe Montana, Brett Favre and Terry Bradshaw for the sixth-most wins in a quarterback’s first 100 starts.

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• RE-WATCH: Bengals-Browns on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Watson will miss rest of season after tests confirm torn Achilles

Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Bengals claw their way to gritty divisional win. Cincinnati's offense went scoreless in the first half and didn't light up the Browns, but the unit made a handful of plays that proved to be the difference Sunday. Those plays were the product of Joe Burrow's excellent rapport with his top two targets. Burrow hit Ja'Marr Chase on a perfect back-shoulder completion for a touchdown to make it 14-6, and after a few perimeter passes and runs, he turned to Tee Higgins on a quick slant for an almost effortless touchdown pass. That was largely it for the day, but thanks to Cincinnati's newfound complementary style, it was enough. With two straight wins in their pockets, the Bengals are going to start attracting attention as a favorite of those looking for unlikely playoff qualifiers. If they play like they did Sunday -- and find more success against defenses that aren't as good as Cleveland's -- they'll be right back in the postseason conversation before long.
2. Browns spin the QB carousel. Deshaun Watson exited Sunday in the first half after suffering an injury that is feared to be a season-ending torn Achilles. That opened the door for the Browns to get a look at their offense with someone else running it. On Sunday, that someone else was second-year passer Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who started with a few nice (and admittedly hazardous) runs, completed a handful of passes, but eventually showed the rust accumulated from not playing in a regular-season game since the middle of last season. Thompson-Robinson eventually exited too due to a finger injury, forcing the Browns to call on emergency third QB Jameis Winston. Unsurprisingly, Winston looked like the best of the three, leading a touchdown drive in the fourth quarter that will undoubtedly have folks wondering if Winston should be the Browns' starter going forward. It's déjà vu in Cleveland again, but this time, the optimism is lacking -- and Joe Flacco isn't walking through that door.
3. Cincinnati's defense has made a costume change. Burrow and the Bengals offense were tasked with carrying the entire franchise on their backs for the first five weeks of the 2024 season, putting up points in bunches just to give Cincinnati a chance to win while their defense struggled to get stops. That reality has shifted dramatically in the last two weeks. For a second straight game, the Bengals allowed 14 or fewer points in a win, marking the first time they've done so in back-to-back games since Weeks 11-12 of the 2021 season -- the same campaign that saw them reach the Super Bowl. Lou Anarumo's much-maligned bunch is suddenly playing with a ferocity -- and most importantly, a newly stout defensive front -- that is making life very difficult for opposing offenses. Cleveland learned about it Sunday, gaining 336 yards but averaging fewer than five yards per play and turning it over twice in the process. Trey Hendrickson remains a machine, and the Bengals' run defense is significantly better than it was in the first five weeks. That's helping the back end of the defense, making for a group that is suddenly playing well enough to potentially mount an unlikely comeback from a 1-4 start.

Next Gen Stats Insight from Bengals-Browns (via NFL Pro): Joe Burrow completed 15 of 25 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns, with most of his production coming in the quick passing game (12 of 17, 147 yards, 2 TDs). He faced plenty of zone coverage, finishing 12 of 20 for 133 yards, but made his mark when he threw both of his touchdowns against man coverage.

NFL Research: The Browns are the first team to have three different players have 10-plus pass attempts in a game since the Chiefs (Brodie Croyle, Damon Huard and Tyler Thigpen) in Week 7 of the 2008 season.

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• RE-WATCH: Texans-Packers on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Battista: 10 takeaways from four measuring-stick matchups

Eric Edholm's takeaways:

1. Brandon McManus hits game-winner in his Packers debut. The Packers have been dealing with kicking questions for multiple seasons now, but their latest attempt at a solution is now 1 of 1 on game-winning attempts. In a tight, back-and-forth game that saw eight lead changes, the recently signed McManus was called on for a 45-yard field goal -- his first attempt of the 2024 season -- with three seconds remaining. He made his first practice try (after the Texans called timeout) and nailed the redo (the one that counted), earning his first Lambeau Leap and helping the Packers move to 5-2. In fact, it wasn’t even a perfect snap; credit to holder Daniel Whelan, who got the ball down nicely in time for the game-winning kick. McManus also made all three of his extra-point tries, and the Packers needed every one of them. They scored on their first possession of the second half but went cold offensively prior to the final drive, trailing 22-21. Jordan Love drove Green Bay into range with four completions, the final two to Romeo Doubs. Doubs’ clutch catch with seconds remaining made it an easier attempt for McManus.
2. Texans have to solve their issues protecting C.J. Stroud. You have to tip your cap to Stroud, who endured a ferocious Packers rush all game yet still was able to put the Texans in a position to win. The 13-play, 45-yard field goal drive that gave Houston a 22-21 lead with fewer than two minutes remaining ate up more than six minutes of clock, but the Texans’ shorthanded defense couldn’t get one more stop. Frankly, it was a miracle the Texans were even in a position to win given how they pass blocked. Stroud completed only 11 of 20 passes for a career-low 86 yards. He was sacked four times and pressured on nearly half his dropbacks. He resorted to scrambling late in the game to get the Texans moving, but it wasn’t enough. Joe Mixon ran for 115 yards and two TDs, but four of his final five runs went for negative yards as the Packers finally adjusted defensively. But all game long, they flummoxed Stroud and the Texans’ offensive line with a kitchen sink’s worth of pressure looks, bringing the house one play and dropping everyone out on the next. The Texans seemingly fixed some of their protection concerns in recent weeks, but Sunday was a step backward.
3. Packers were inconsistent offensively but came through when needed. Love’s first two TD throws were things of beauty, scoring on back-to-back drives in the second quarter and giving Green Bay a 14-10 lead. But Love also threw two first-half interceptions -- both arguably his fault, too -- that led to 10 Texans points on a day when they struggled to move the ball through the air. A muffed punt also led to a Houston touchdown and a 19-14 halftime lead. Love led a strong third-quarter touchdown drive to give the Packers the lead again, and they delivered on the final, go-ahead possession. But in between were too many fits and stalls, even with a good game from Josh Jacobs that featured his first NFL receiving touchdown. It shouldn’t have been so difficult against a Texans defense that coming into the game was missing starters on every level -- DT Mario Edwards Jr., LBs Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To'oTo'o and DBs Jimmie Ward and Kamari Lassiter. The Packers nearly spoiled a strong defensive performance thanks to their three turnovers, but they had just enough for a big win.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Texans-Packers (via NFL Pro): Josh Jacobs totaled 76 rushing yards across 12 carries in Week 7 against the Texans, generating +21 rush yards over expected. Jacobs has now generated +79 RYOE in his first season with the Packers, eighth-most among running backs entering the Week 7 afternoon slate. Jacobs also added five receptions for 16 yards and a touchdown through the air, recording 32 yards after the catch.

NFL Research: Josh Jacobs scored his first career receiving touchdown in Week 7 after having 211 receptions and 1,556 receiving yards to start his career without one. Only Thomas Jones had more career receptions before getting his first career receiving touchdown in NFL history.

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• RE-WATCH: Dolphins-Colts on NFL+ Premium

Michael Baca's takeaways:

1. Richardson wills Colts to victory despite passing struggles. After missing the past two games due to injury, Anthony Richardson's return didn't offer much intrigue passing the ball, but the second-year quarterback was instrumental in powering his team to victory in a low-scoring affair. Richardson simply did it through his tremendous effort on the run, bowling over would-be tacklers to extend drives along consecutive field goal-scoring possessions in the fourth quarter to settle the score. After a first half that saw Richardson complete just four of 13 passes for 61 yards and fumble away a red-zone possession on a shotgun snap, the Colts seemed reticent to try to fix his passing struggles after halftime. Head coach Shane Steichen dialed up effective run plays for his big-boded QB and Richardson was keen to pick up positive ground yards on the few passing occasions afforded to him. He'd go on to lead the team in rushing (56 yards) while running backs Tyler Goodson (51 yards, touchdown) and Trey Sermon (36 yards) also pitched in on that game-winning effort. Richardson finished 10-of-24 passing for 129 yards with zero touchdowns or interceptions, but the inaccuracy and decision-making issues that precede him remain.
2. Dolphins' QB woes continue after solid start. Tyler Huntley showed improvement coming off the bye week, producing Miami's first TD pass since the first quarter of Week 2 on a well-designed play to tight end Jonnu Smith for the game's opening score. The Dolphins offense wasn't asking for much as it moved the chains with a healthy rushing attack that finished with 188 yards, but everything went downhill in the third quarter. A Raheem Mostert fumble, which resulted in the Colts' only TD, prompted the decline, and Huntley's right shoulder injury on the very next possession forced him out of the game. Still, Miami was able to run the ball with Tim Boyle under center, but Alec Ingold coughed up a crucial turnover in the red zone late in the third frame to further the slide. Boyle managed to get the Dolphins into field goal range midway through the fourth under a three-point deficit, but Jason Sanders' 54-yarder would hit the left upright. Without any timeouts in their final possession of a two-minute drill, the lack of a passing game caught up with the Dolphins as Boyle sailed his final pass out of bounds on a fourth-and-2 from the Indy 33-yard line. 
3. Colts' defensive backups comes through. Richardson's play got just enough points to win, but the play-making from Indy's defense was significant. They have non-starters to thank. Linebacker Segun Olubi, who's cut his teeth as a special teamer, saw plenty of defensive snaps and made the game-turning play in the third quarter, stripping Mostert and recovering the fumble. The turnover injected life into Lucas Oil Stadium and, of course, resulted in the Colts' only TD of the game four plays later. Grant Stuard, another special teamer who filled in for the injured E.J. Speed, led the team with 18 tackles and provided the energy necessary against a Dolphins team determined to run the ball. These little-known Colts certainly answered opportunity's knock, and their efforts shouldn't be overlooked as Indy managed to get over .500 on the season.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Dolphins-Colts (via NFL Pro): Jalen Ramsey recorded four pressures on five pass rushes on Sunday against the Colts, tied for the most pressures by a defensive back in a game this season. Ramsey’s four pressures and five blitzes are both career highs. In coverage, Ramsey was targeted four times, allowing one reception for just three yards across 20 coverage snaps.

NFL Research: Anthony Richardson's 41.7 completion percentage and 5.4 passing yards per attempt were the lowest of his career in a start. His 59.2 passer rating on Sunday was the third-lowest of his career in a start.

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• RE-WATCH: Lions-Vikings on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Battista: 10 takeaways from four measuring-stick matchups
• READ: Lions take over NFC North lead after gritty win over Vikes

Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Jared Goff spearheads Lions to NFC North lead. It's not how you start but how you finish. Goff and the Lions started horribly but sprinted to the finish in a roller-coaster division bout that lived up to the hype. Multiple penalties, a stuffed fake punt, a 34-yard TD allowed and a back-to-back three-and-out saw Detroit build a 10-0 deficit. After not earning a first down until the final play of the first quarter, the Lions got rolling. Detroit scored touchdowns on four consecutive possessions to flip a double-digit deficit on its head. Jahmyr Gibbs blazed his way for a 45-yard TD, and Goff divebombed the Vikings defense. The quarterback was sublime in the pocket, completing his first 15 passes and 22 of 25 for 280 yards and two TDs. He took four sacks but performed splendidly against Brian Flores' blitz-happy D. The Vikings blitzed Goff on a season-high 55.2% of his dropbacks. He completed 13 of 15 such passes for 163 yards and a touchdown (+11.2% CPOE), per Next Gen Stats. Stepping through a would-be Jonathan Greenard sack to drop a dime downfield was probably Goff's best play of the day. Pressure is usually the QB's kryptonite, but he didn't look bothered in the least in Minnesota. With the game on the line, the QB made the right reads and then ripped a ball to Amon-Ra St. Brown to set up the game-winning Jake Bates field goal. Goff has dominated for the third consecutive game after a wobbly start to the season. When he's on point, few can keep pace with the Lions.
2. Vikings offense took advantage early, but faltered late. Sam Darnold had his worst day in Minnesota. Mind you, it wasn't horrific, but the QB left yards on the field in a close game. He missed a wide-open Aaron Jones on an interception, took a sack that forced a field goal and missed high to Justin Jefferson on the final drive. The Vikings took advantage of the Lions' miscues early, jumping to a 10-point lead. But Kevin O'Connell's crew couldn't put the hammer down. Two punts and an INT flipped the first half from a celebration in Minnesota to nail-biting. Darnold battled back, making big-time throws in the third quarter, but Minnesota's offense stalled twice, settling for field goals. After the defense gave them the lead late with a strip-and-score, the Vikings failed to generate a first down that could have salted away most of the clock. For much of the season, Minnesota took advantage of opponents' mistakes and leaned on the defense. Facing the league's most high-powered offense, the Vikings came up just shy at home. They'll get a shot at revenge in Week 18 in Detroit. 
3. Lions defense survives sans Aidan Hutchinson. Aaron Glenn's D clearly missed the DPOY candidate's presence. At times, Darnold had all day to throw. But credit the secondary for playing well to force the QB to hold the ball. Given that their opponent boasts Jefferson, it's an encouraging sign for the duration of the season. In their first game without Hutchinson, the Lions blitzed on 20 of 35 dropbacks (57.1%), their highest rate in a game since defensive coordinator Glenn's first with the Lions (Week 1, 2021). The blitz failed to get home in the first three quarters (just four pressures on 14 blitzes), but the Lions generated three sacks and four pressures on six blitzes in the fourth quarter. Highlighting Hutch's absence, Detroit edge rushers generated just three pressures on 27 individual pass rushes when they didn't blitz. The Lions gave up 383 yards, but when it counted late, they got off the field to give their offense a chance. That's the formula Campbell's club will need the rest of the way. 

Next Gen Stats Insight for Lions-Vikings (via NFL Pro): Sam Darnold had most of his production when targeting slot receivers, completing 12 of 13 passes for 190 yards and a TD (a season-high 48.1% of attempts). The Lions linebackers allowed all 10 targets to be completed for 46 yards, while slot corner Amik Robertson allowed three receptions for 70 yards and a TD on his three targets in coverage.

NFL Research: Jared Goff posted a 140-plus passer rating for the third straight game on Sunday, tying Aaron Rodgers (2011), Kurt Warner (1999) and Roger Staubach (1971) for the longest-such streak since the 1970 merger (Rodgers and Warner won MVP in their respective seasons).

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• RE-WATCH: Eagles-Giants on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Barkley dominates in return to New York as Eagles blow out Giants
• READ: Daboll made in-game QB switch for 'spark,' but Jones will start going forward

Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Saquon Barkley runs wild against former club. Barkley insisted revenge on the Giants wasn't on his mind entering Sunday. What would it have looked like if he had been out for revenge??? On the first possession, Barkley caught a pass on third-and-long and bulldozed DB Dane Belton. It was on. The running back was the best player on the field, generating big play after big play. Barkley galloped for runs of 55, 41 and 38 yards en route to 176 rushing yards on 17 carries. The RB did all that damage in only three quarters, resting for all but one snap of the fourth. It marked the second-most rushing yards in a game in Barkley's career (189 in Week 16, 2019). Barkley's 10.4 yards per carry were the most in a game in his career with 15-plus carries. Even with the offensive line missing three starters, the running back has shown the ability to hit home runs. His three runs of 55-plus yards this season are the most in the NFL. The Eagles still couldn't score in the first quarter, and the offense was up-and-down Sunday, but leaning on Barkley was a cure-all.
2. Giants offense is in trouble without Andrew Thomas. If this is what Brian Daboll's crew looks like sans the starting left tackle -- yikes. The Giants couldn't generate a lick of offense. Daniel Jones was battered repeatedly by Philly's defensive front, the ground game was silent and Big Blue generated 119 total yards (or 68 fewer scrimmage yards than Barkley alone). Given the state of the Giants' offensive line, it was surprising that Daboll didn't lean on the ground game early, with just three total handoffs in the first half. The game plan got Jones knocked around, and the quarterback missed a host of throws when he did have time. Daboll benched Jones with more than 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter in favor of Drew Lock. The coach said after the game that he did so to create a "spark," but Jones remains the starter. Instead of creating a spark, Lock simply turned out the lights on a forgettable game. The backup missed throws badly, fumbled twice and the offense remained in the mud. If Jones continues to take a beating in bad losses, the Giants organization will have to decide how long they're willing to risk injury for the $40 million quarterback.
3. Eagles throw a sack party at MetLife. Philly entered the day with 11 total sacks in five games. Sunday, Vic Fangio's defense slammed the quarterback to the ground eight times, including seven on Jones. Everybody on the Eagles feasted. Nakobe Dean and Jalen Carter each generated two sacks. Getting production from those two critical young pieces will pace Philly's defense the rest of the way. Notably, Philly did the damage without bringing extra rushers. The Eagles recorded all eight of their sacks with a four-man pass rush, the most sacks and the highest sack rate (21.6%) with a four-man pass rush in a game this season. Even Bryce Huff got in on the fun. Huff generated five pressures on 18 pass rushes against the Giants, his first game with multiple pressures this season. It was the type of performance we expected when Fangio signed in Philly. Now, they need to continue against better offenses.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Eagles-Giants (via NFL Pro):  Dexter Lawrence recorded five pressures and two sacks on 17 pass rushes (29.4%) in Week 7, including his highest sack rate (11.8%) since Week 1, 2020.

NFL Research: Saquon Barkley's 176 rushing yards are the second-most by a player versus a former team in NFL history (Bengals' Cedric Benson had 189 rush yards vs. Chicago in Week 7, 2009).

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• RE-WATCH: Raiders-Rams on NFL+ Premium
• READ: O'Connell out 4-6 weeks with fractured thumb, headed to IR

Eric Edholm's takeaways:

1. Antonio Pierce hurt the Raiders’ chances of winning. The Raiders were forced to make another quarterback change after Aidan O'Connell left Sunday’s game with a broken thumb. So the Raiders' QB wheel spun back to Gardner Minshew, who struggled early before rallying late. But even as the game’s pendulum swung back the Raiders’ way, Pierce’s lack of aggression in the final 20 minutes cost his team. They settled for field goals on their first two possessions of the fourth quarter, cutting the Rams’ lead to 20-12, and it looked smart when the Raiders intercepted Matthew Stafford. But after a time-consuming Raiders drive (7:25), Pierce chose to take the field goal rather than go for it on fourth-and-goal from the Los Angeles 9-yard line (after a false start pushed them back) with just under three minutes left. The Raiders still needed a touchdown to win after that, and they had all three timeouts and the two-minute stoppage. Instead down 20-15, Pierce waited way too long to use the timeouts, bleeding valuable clock. They needed to drive 89 yards in 78 seconds, and Minshew threw a late pick -- his third of the game -- to end it. The Raiders had a chance to win this game, but now they’re 2-5 heading into a tough matchup at Arrowhead Stadium next week. This was one they kind of needed.
2. Defense came up big for the Rams. The Rams defense roundly struggled through five games, making only incremental improvements after a bad start. But the post-bye week difference was much more noticeable, even if it came against a limited Raiders offense. The Rams defense stepped up in key moments, with three interceptions (two by Jaylen McCollough), a strip sack and a recovered fumble for a TD that helped put the Rams in control early. They also forced three field-goal tries in the final 17 minutes with big third-down stops in the red zone. The Rams’ two offensive touchdowns (both by Kyren Williams) each came after interceptions, and their longest offensive drive of the game (51 yards) ended in a missed field goal. Kicker Joshua Karty didn’t help matters with that miss, plus a missed extra point that kept the Raiders in the game and changed the strategy dramatically. The Rams were in a position they hadn’t been in much -- with a second-half lead -- and it showed. Entering Week 7, they led for only eight minutes in second halves this season, and they struggled to put the Raiders away, scoring only six second-half points. But the defensive showing, even while losing Coby Bryant mid-game, was the best of the Rams’ season and helped them earn their first win in nearly a month. 
3. Brock Bowers is a beast, but he needs help. Bowers caught 10 passes for 93 yards, which gave him the most receptions for any rookie tight end in NFL history through seven games. On a day when the Raiders struggled to sustain drives all game, Bowers was the one truly reliable option. Alexander Mattison ran hard, and Tre Tucker made a few big plays, but Bowers was a monster, converting eight first downs -- and he honestly deserved more than 14 targets. With the Raiders trailing, 20-12, in the fourth quarter, Bowers caught passes of 11, 10 and 8 yards, also delivering the lead block as a fullback on Mattison’s key fourth-and-1 conversion. But the Raiders kicked a field goal after Bowers was stopped for no gain on third-and-goal, and they never targeted him on the final drive. They also failed to throw his way on four straight drives between the second and fourth quarters. You can fairly debate whether the Raiders should have been QB buyers in the 2025 NFL Draft, but Bowers is a beast. Can they get him the ball even more? They might have no other choice. 

Next Gen Stats Insight for Raiders-Rams (via NFL Pro): Rams rookie edge rusher Jared Verse generated a career-high nine pressures on 36 pass rushes against the Raiders, tied for the most pressures by a rookie in a game this season. Verse generated four of his pressures on 22 pass-rush matchups against Raiders LT Kolton Miller, who allowed seven total pressures on the day, his most in a game this season.

NFL Research: Rams RB Kyren Williams has run for at least one TD in nine straight games, dating back to last season. That’s tied with Shaun Alexander (2005) and Ezekiel Elliott (2022) for the fourth-longest streak all time behind Priest Holmes (11 straight games, 2002), Jonathan Taylor (11 straight, 2021) and LaDainian Tomlinson (18 straight, 2004-05).

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• RE-WATCH: Panthers-Commanders on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Commanders QB Daniels suffers rib injury early vs. Panthers

Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Commanders roll, even without Jayden Daniels. The rookie sensation left the game with a rib injury before the end of the first quarter, and despite holding a 10-0 lead, Commanders fans were likely nervous about their offense for the first time since Week 1. Marcus Mariota didn't need to save the day, but he certainly kept the train on the tracks, appearing very comfortable executing Kliff Kingsbury's offense and leading six scoring drives in a runaway win. Mariota finished with an excellent line -- 18 of 23 for 205 yards and two touchdowns -- with one of those touchdowns coming on a beautifully improvised throw to fellow veteran Zach Ertz. Taking Daniels out of this offense surprisingly didn't slow the Washington attack, which continues to hum, racking up 421 yards and converting five of 10 third downs against the NFL's worst scoring defense (and one of the worst in terms of yards allowed per game). The hope is Daniels is back soon, especially because the going won't be this easy every week, but it sure was impressive to see Brian Robinson, Terry McLaurin and Co. thrive even without their young star quarterback.
2. Panthers descend to new low. The days of Andy Dalton lifting these Panthers to a competitive level are well in the past. Dalton dug his team a deep hole with two ugly interceptions, missing his target on a hurried screen attempt that ended in an early 67-yard Dante Fowler pick-six, then followed that up with another unsightly pass to Diontae Johnson -- whom Dalton expected to win leverage downfield and threw it accordingly -- that had so little of a chance of being completed, Johnson never even turned to look for the ball until after it was picked off. Though the second pick didn't hurt them on the scoreboard, Washington's machine of an offense ran out to a 20-0 lead by halftime, forcing the Panthers into a one-dimensional place they can't afford to enter. By the middle of the third quarter, Carolina was trailing, 34-0, and the only reason to keep watching was to see if Bryce Young would get some reps. He didn't until the final four minutes of the game, capping a dreadful afternoon with a 2-of-2 passing line for -4 yards. Talk about a forgettable Sunday.
3. Is Washington's defense figuring it out? The Commanders entered 2024 with a reputation for having the NFL's worst defense, which was undoubtedly a motivating factor when hiring veteran defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as their head coach. In the first month, the results weren't exactly inspiring, but Sunday marked the third time in four weeks in which the Commanders allowed 14 or fewer points and won handily. It was also the fourth straight game in which Washington's defense forced at least one turnover. After giving up nearly 500 yards to Baltimore last week, I'm not about to claim the Commanders are suddenly a defensive juggernaut, but they've proven to have a nose for the ball, which is a good start. This unit might become even more important if Daniels misses time with his rib injury, and their first test arrives next week when Caleb Williams and the Bears come to town. We'll see if they hold up.

Next Gen Stats Insight from Panthers-Commanders (via NFL Pro): The Commanders recorded an offensive success rate of 55.6 percent Sunday, their third game of the season with a success rate over 55 percent. No other team has more than one such performance. 

NFL Research: The Commanders have scored 20-plus points in each of their first seven games of 2024, marking the first time Washington has achieved the feat since the 1999 season.

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• RE-WATCH: Chiefs-49ers on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Shanahan: 49ers 'worried' WR Aiyuk suffered ACL injury in loss
• READ: Purdy struggles without top weapons in 49ers' loss
• READ: Battista: 10 takeaways from four measuring-stick matchups

Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Steve Spagnuolo's defense continues to dominate as Chiefs remain only unbeaten. The caveat of the Niners missing all their top weapons doesn't take away from the job the smothering Chiefs D -- which lost several players of its own on Sunday -- did to Kyle Shanahan's offense once again. Sunday marked the 27th consecutive game that the Chiefs allowed fewer than 28 points. On Sunday, they stymied the 49ers' run game, putting the ball in Brock Purdy's hands. Then Spags' D brought the pressure and forced three interceptions. Early, the Chiefs were suffocating, allowing just 56 total yards on the Niners' first six drives. When San Francisco threatened to make things interesting late, the Chiefs turned Purdy over twice to essentially seal the deal. As it did last year, K.C.'s defense continues to carry the load as the offense figures things out.
2. 49ers offense can't overcome injuries. It was a Super Bowl rematch, but the game could be summarized as two teams whose wide receiver corps have been decimated. The Niners' situation turned from dismal to disastrous on Sunday. Jauan Jennings (hip) was already out. Then Deebo Samuel played just three snaps due to an illness. And Brandon Aiyuk went down just before halftime with what is feared to be a serious ACL injury. Add in Christian McCaffrey's continued absence and Shanahan's offense is a shell of itself. When it can't run the ball like Sunday, everything is a struggle. After a first quarter that was a comedy of errors on both sides, the Niners never found consistency and turned it over. Purdy's lack of chemistry with the bottom of his receiver corps was evident -- particularly on a miscommunication INT to Ronnie Bell. Throwing to Bell, Chris Conley and rookies Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing isn't the same as Deebo, Aiyuk and Jennings. Without his top three wide receivers for a majority of the game, Purdy completed just five of 14 passes for 80 yards and three interceptions (one sack) against the Chiefs in man coverage, per Next Gen Stats. The Niners put up 310 yards of offense, but most were empty calories. Frustrations boiled over late with Trent Williams getting ejected for throwing a punch.
3. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs continue to find ways to win. It wasn't a pretty day for the K.C. QB. Mahomes completed 16 of 27 passes for 154 yards with zero TD passes and two INTs (one tipped, one the WR slipped). No. 2 tight end Noah Gray led the way for the Chiefs with 66 yards on four catches. Xavier Worthy led all Chiefs wide receivers with 19 receiving yards. With the pass attack grounded, the Chiefs turned to the running game. K.C. generated 184 yards and four rushing scores. Kareem Hunt led the way, plowing through arm tackles for 78 yards and two TDs on 22 attempts. Mahomes helped clinch the victory with a 33-yard run wherein he stuttered on the sideline, let a defender slide by, and galloped upfield. Mahomes capped the drive by putting his shoulder into safety Malik Mustapha for a touchdown. The Chiefs continue to stack wins despite playing ugly. Mahomes (6 TDs, 8 INTs) joined Peyton Manning (2015, Super Bowl 50 champion) as the only QBs in the last 30 years to throw more INTs than TDs while leading their teams to a 6-0 start -- 39-year-old Manning had seven passing TDs and 10 INTs in his 6-0 start in 2015. It makes sense that both Manning's Broncos and Mahomes' Chiefs were led by stout defenses.

Next Gen Stats Insight from Chiefs-49ers (via NFL Pro): The Chiefs called 23 designed runs between the tackles, their most in a game in the Next Gen Stats era (since 2016). Chiefs rushers gained 81 yards and scored two touchdowns on those runs, recording a 47.8% success rate. This season, the Chiefs have recorded a 55.2% success rate on designed runs inside the tackles, the second-highest rate in the NFL.

NFL Research: The 49ers are now 0-40 when trailing by eight-plus points at any point in the fourth quarter under Kyle Shanahan (including playoffs) -- they are the only team without a win in that scenario during that span.

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• RE-WATCH: Jets-Steelers on NFL+
• READ: Battista: 10 takeaways from four measuring-stick matchups
• READ: Tomlin: Wilson 'excellent' after knocking off rust in win

Bobby Kownack's takeaways:

1. Wilson hot and cold in Steelers debut. Head coach Mike Tomlin put all the pressure on quarterback Russell Wilson by surprisingly handing him the keys for Sunday Night Football despite a 4-2 record under Justin Fields. At first, especially after an early rut with three straight three-and-outs, Pittsburgh looked primed for a meltdown as the Acrisure Stadium crowd voiced their displeasure. But Wilson gutted it out, leading Pittsburgh to 37 points -- its most all season -- even if he wasn’t necessarily exemplary. He went 16 of 29 for 264 yards, two touchdowns and a 109.0 passer rating, again the highest for a Steelers QB this season. There were certainly plays on which Fields might have taken off for big gains and Wilson didn’t, and the veteran routinely missed low. More importantly, though, the offense looked potent by night’s end. Plus, Wilson unlocked George Pickens (five catches for 111 yards and one touchdown) by simply trusting him with some signature moonshots. Considering this was essentially his Week 1, Wilson more than earned another chance to start next week against the Giants.
2. Jets’ new addition isn’t instant fix. Aaron Rodgers' very first play from scrimmage was an errant pass to his newest teammate, Davante Adams, which set the tone for what ended up another disappointing night for Gang Green. Adams provided some balance in the passing game, as he and Garrett Wilson both saw nine targets, but he had a quiet debut with a goose egg in the second half to finish with 30 yards on three catches. Breece Hall found resistance on the ground (3.2 yards per carry) but did break out on six catches for 103 yards. The offensive positives ended there, and there were none delivered by the defense, which allowed a season-high 409 total yards and 31 unanswered points. Special teams, too, was a problem, allowing one blocked field goal and a blocked extra point that was luckily wiped away by a questionable leverage penalty. Two weeks ago, the Jets fired their head coach. This past week, they brought in an All-Pro wide receiver. Barring another big move in the days to come, there’s nothing to distract the Jets from what they are -- a 2-5 team already in a fight to save its season.
3. Unheralded player lifts Pittsburgh’s defense of stars. The Steelers’ usual names were largely held in check on defense. Alex Highsmith led the team with just three pressures and didn’t log a sack, while T.J. Watt managed one tackle, one pressure and one batted ball. The Jets had answers for them and other game wreckers like Patrick Queen and Minkah Fitzpatrick. However, Pittsburgh was able to capture momentum and a win thanks in large part to a massive performance from a lesser-known talent: undrafted defensive back Beanie Bishop. He flew around the field for six tackles (tied-second on the team) and he paired two interceptions with two passes defensed. The first was a beautiful one-hander with 1:21 remaining in the second quarter, turning a Jets’ two-minute drill into a Steelers TD and a 15-13 halftime deficit. On the second, a right-place right-timer, Bishop collected a doinked ball off Garrett Wilson’s chest and returned it to the 1-yard line to set up yet another score. In a game that New York once led, 15-6, those plays almost single-handedly turned the tide.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Jets-Steelers (via NFL Pro): T.J. Watt generated only one pressure across 39 pass rushes on Sunday night against the Jets, tied for the third-lowest pressure rate of his career (2.6%).

NFL Research: With 264 passing yards, Russell Wilson set the record for the most passing yards by a player in his Steelers debut, breaking Earl Morrall's mark of 249 (Week 1, 1957).