Week 7 of the NFL is nearly within the books, with simply two video games left to play. Several gamers had unimaginable performances, together with stunning outcomes from a number of groups.
Arguably probably the most spectacular efficiency of the week got here from Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, who defeated the 49ers in a rematch of final season’s Super Bowl.
This was the tenth common season rematch of the earlier season’s Super Bowl, and with Kansas City’s win, the defending Super Bowl champion is now 7-3 in these video games. Mahomes additionally improved to 5-0 in his profession in opposition to the 49ers, with three common season victories and two Super Bowl victories.
The two-time MVP didn’t play his finest sport, actually he recorded the worst passer ranking of his profession with 44.4. He now has six landing passes and eight interceptions on the 12 months, which places him in unusually uncommon firm. Since 1985, he joins Peyton Manning (2015) as the one quarterbacks in that span to throw extra interceptions than touchdowns, main his staff to a 6-0 begin.
Manning would go on to steer the Broncos to the Super Bowl title that season. An indication of issues to return, maybe? The Chiefs are the second staff ever to begin 6-0 after profitable back-to-back Super Bowls, becoming a member of the 1990 49ers.
Kansas City’s dominant efficiency wasn’t the one spectacular factor that occurred this weekend. FOX Sports Research has damaged down ten extra eye-opening nuggets for you. Let’s have a look.
1. Jordan has energy
Jordan Love has been actually excellent this season, throwing a number of landing passes in each sport he has performed. Going again to final 12 months, he recorded 9 straight video games with a number of landing passes — the longest energetic streak within the NFL. Aaron Rodgers (13 in 2011) and Brett Favre (12 in 1994-95) are the one Packers quarterbacks to ever document longer streaks. If you embody the postseason, he is achieved it in 11 straight video games, which is the second-longest streak of any participant during the last 5 seasons, behind solely Tom Brady (13 straight from 2020-21).
Since the beginning of final season, Love additionally leads the league in video games with three or extra landing passes with eight.
Take away:
The solely factor preserving Love from becoming a member of the dialog as one of many prime 5 quarterbacks within the league is the variety of interceptions he throws. If he can decrease that quantity, the remainder of the NFC North will probably be in hassle.
2. Hurts’ heroism
In Week 7, the Eagles grew to become the primary NFC staff with 0 factors scored within the first quarter within the first six video games of the season for the reason that Lions went 0-16 in 2008. But Jalen Hurts put factors on the board quickly after.
He completed the sport with three whole touchdowns, throwing one and operating for 2. This was his twentieth profession sport with each passing and speeding factors, the third-most in a participant’s first 5 seasons in NFL historical past, behind solely Cam Newton (31) and Josh Allen (25). But bear in mind, Hurts had achieved it two scores on the bottom. This was his sixth profession sport with a landing cross and a number of speeding touchdowns, tied with Allen for the second most all-time, behind solely Newton (eight).
Take away:
Hurts should proceed to be a risk on the sector if the Eagles need to return to the Super Bowl. Sunday was a step in the fitting path.
3. Super Saquon
Before Sunday, Saquon Barkley mentioned enjoying in opposition to the Giants would not be a “revenge sport” for him.
But he positively ran the way in which he was.
He completed the day with 176 speeding yards, the second-most in NFL historical past for a participant in opposition to his former staff. The solely participant with extra was Cedric Benson in 2009 in opposition to the Bears (189 yards). He now has 658 speeding yards this season, surpassing LeSean McCoy (630 in 2013) for probably the most in a season’s first six video games in franchise historical past. After Sunday evening, he’s third within the league in speeding behind Derrick Henry (704) and Jordan Mason (667).
Take away:
Barkley is among the finest operating backs within the league. Despite the Commanders’ stellar play, their play makes them the favorites within the NFC East.
4. I am unable to cease Goff
This was a extremely anticipated assembly that delivered outcomes. It was the primary Lions-Vikings sport of all time during which the 2 groups had eight or extra mixed wins and one or fewer mixed losses. Jared Goff continued his unimaginable play, ending with a passer ranking of 140.0 – his third consecutive sport topping that mark. Since the 1970 merger, he joined Aaron Rodgers (2011), Kurt Warner (1999), and Roger Staubach (1971) as the one gamers to document a passer ranking of 140 or greater in three consecutive video games. For perspective, Rodgers and Warner each received the MVP award within the seasons they did so.
This was additionally the primary time the Lions beat a staff 5-0 since October 20, 1974…that is precisely 50 years in the past Sunday! And what’s much more unimaginable is that the win in ’74 got here in opposition to none apart from the Vikings.
Take away:
Simply put, the Lions are critical Super Bowl contenders.
5. BTJ joins uncommon firm
With gamers like Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze getting all of the shine among the many rookie receivers, Brian Thomas Jr. is quietly having a stellar season for the Jaguars. As of Sunday evening, he ranks fifth within the league with 513 receiving yards on simply 30 receptions. He is the primary participant with 500+ receiving yards on 30 or fewer receptions in his first seven profession video games since none apart from Randy Moss in 1998.
Take away:
Jacksonville has discovered its new No. 1 choice. It will probably be very fascinating to see how his numbers have a look at the tip of the season in comparison with these of the opposite receivers taken within the first spherical of the 2024 NFL Draft.
6. The difficulties of Daniel Jones
It’s been a troublesome season for Daniel Jones. He is 2-5 and has a touchdown-to-interception ratio of six to 4. His struggles had been particularly evident when enjoying at dwelling, as he didn’t throw a landing cross in his final six video games as a starter at MetLife Stadium. He is simply the fourth quarterback since 2000 to go 5 or extra consecutive dwelling video games with out scoring a landing, becoming a member of Lamar Jackson (2022-23), Colt McCoy (2014-22) and Brett Hundley (2017).
He has additionally misplaced six straight dwelling video games (relationship again to final season), one shy of the franchise document he additionally holds (misplaced seven straight from 2019 to 2020). Jones is the one quarterback since no less than 1950 to lose six consecutive dwelling video games and never rating a single landing in that stretch. This is barely the fifth time in Giants historical past that they’ve began 0-4 at dwelling, and solely the third time this has occurred within the twenty first century (2018, 2017).
Take away:
Drew Lock bought some motion within the loss to the Eagles final week. If Jones continues to battle, we may see much more of him.
7. Green Bay goes wild
The Packers pulled off a powerful win in opposition to the Texans on Sunday, however what was much more spectacular is that they did it regardless of a -3 turnover differential. After video games performed Sunday, groups with a turnover differential of -3 or worse are 1-12 this season, with the one win coming from the Packers. When you return to early 2023, groups are 5-60 when shedding the turnover battle by three or extra, and should you return to early 2022, they drop dramatically to 6-97. It was a uncommon victory for Matt LaFleur’s staff.
Take away:
Given the above numbers, the Packers should commit fewer turnovers to proceed profitable. Sunday was an exception.
8. Russ cooks
There was a variety of dialogue about whether or not or not Mike Tomlin was making the fitting name by benching Justin Fields in favor of Russell Wilson, however after Sunday evening’s dominance on show in opposition to the Jets, it looks as if the fitting name (no less than for now). Wilson had 264 passing yards in his first begin as a Steeler, probably the most in a debut in franchise historical past. He threw two landing passes and added one on the bottom, his seventeenth profession sport with two passes and a number of on the bottom. That’s tied with Steve Young for fourth-most in NFL historical past, behind solely Cam Newton (22), Josh Allen (21) and Aaron Rodgers (20).
Take away:
Can Russ stick with it or will Fields return to motion? Only time will inform.
9. Tough occasions in Carolina
The 2024 Panthers are the primary staff all-time to path by 20+ factors at halftime in 4 of their first seven video games. They are permitting 34.7 factors per sport, which might be the worst for a staff for the reason that 1966 Giants, who allowed 35.8 factors per sport.
Take away:
The Panthers will possible be searching for a top-three choose in subsequent 12 months’s draft except there’s a drastic change of their play.
10. Brown’s offensive issues
With Deshaun Watson’s harm, the Browns grew to become the primary staff to have three totally different gamers have 10+ cross makes an attempt in a sport for the reason that Chiefs in Week 7 of 2008.
They failed to attain 20 factors in every of their first seven video games, turning into the primary staff to take action for the reason that 2009 Commanders. Only 4 groups since 2000 have failed to attain 20 factors in every of their first seven video games of the season (2024 Browns, 2009 Washington, 2005 Ravens, 2004 Washington).
Take away:
With Watson possible out for the 12 months, it will likely be an uphill battle for the remainder of the season.
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