NFL Week 7 takeaways: What We Learned from Sunday's 12 games

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• REWATCH: Rams-Jaguars on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Rams' Stafford throws five TD passes in London rout of Jags

Jeremy Bergman's takeaways:

1. Rams adapt without Puka Nacua, roll in London. No Puka Nacua, no problem. Without Nacua, the NFL's receptions leader and 36.6% of Los Angeles' passing offense who was sidelined by an ankle sprain, the Rams under Sean McVay made the unorthodox decision to lean on the tight end. L.A. utilized 13 personnel (1 RB, 3 TEs) on 24 of 59 non-kneel plays, per Next Gen Stats; the Rams ran just six such plays from 2021 through 2024. As a result, Matthew Stafford spread the ball around more than he had all year with 10 players recording receptions; three tight ends caught passes on Stafford's three first attempts, and the other one, Terrance Ferguson, reeled in his first career touchdown in the fourth quarter to salt the game away. L.A. moved the ball with ease in the first half, reaching inside the 10-yard line on three of its four drives and finishing those marches with TD tosses to Stafford targets obvious (Davante Adams, at home in the end zone with three short scores on the day) and surprising (Konata Mumpfield, reaching pay dirt on his second career catch). Stafford (21 of 33, 182 yards) finished with his fifth career five-TD day and his first for Los Angeles. The Rams were briefly slowed in the second half but still rumbled into their bye on a high, dominating an AFC opponent for the second straight week (by a combined score of 52-10) and securing at least a tie for first in the NFC West through seven weeks.
2. Lawrence, Jags offense limp into bye. Jacksonville spent an entire week in London, re-acclimating to the familiar United Kingdom atmosphere ahead of Sunday's game. So how on Earth did the Jags, London's "home team," look so lost at Wembley? Trevor Lawrence's attack was awful from the jump, with the quarterback missing easy passes, receivers dropping the ones that found them and the run game left in Duval. Jacksonville's offensive line, which welcomed back center Robert Hainsey, let the Rams' front run wild. Seven players had at least three QB pressures -- Braden Fiske had eight! -- and six had at least one sack of Lawrence; that's two straight games that the Jags have given up seven sacks. Travis Hunter was a non-factor in the first half -- as was Brian Thomas Jr. for the entirety of the game. Hunter broke out in the final two frames, punctuating his international debut with his first career TD, albeit down four scores in the fourth quarter. Too little, too late for the 2025 No. 2 pick. Hunter's encouraging finish was the lone highlight for a Duval attack stuck in a soggy pitch. After their galvanizing win over Kansas City in Week 5, the Jaguars enter their bye losers of two straight and completely lost on offense. Life comes at you fast in the NFL, stateside or worldwide. Can the Jags rejigger their attack during the break, or will they let a competitive AFC South slip away?
3. Master pummels protégé. Liam Coen was the latest Sean McVay disciple to parlay his time as an assistant to the Rams wunderkind into a head coaching job when the Jags hired him this offseason. In their first head-to-head meeting, the Jacksonville skipper was thoroughly outclassed. Trevor Lawrence, Coen's project, was off all afternoon. After promising to get dual-threat rookie Travis Hunter more involved, Coen's offense barely went to him in the first half; Hunter didn't play a single defensive snap in the first half (12 on the day) and only awoke on offense when the Jags were already down three scores. The Jags reached Rams territory on six straight drives on either side of halftime and scored zero points; a missed field goal was followed by three straight turnovers on downs. It didn't help that Jacksonville was also undisciplined, incurring 13 penalties for a season-high 119 yards, including one that wiped out a potentially game-changing punt-return TD. With the win over Coen's Jags, McVay moved to 5-7 against his former assistants as head coaches (5-2 if you don't count his awful record against Matt LaFleur). 

Next Gen Stats Insight for Rams-Jaguars (via NFL Pro): Travis Hunter caught eight of his 13 targets for 101 yards and a touchdown, all career highs, against the Rams. From the slot, Hunter caught seven of eight targets for 90 yards, including his 34-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. Hunter was more efficient against zone coverage, catching six of 10 targets for 51 yards, but more explosive against man coverage, catching two of four targets for 50 yards and a touchdown. Playing 12 snaps on defense, Hunter had one pass defensed while matched up against Davante Adams.

NFL Research: Matthew Stafford had five passing touchdowns in London, the most in an international game all time. Sunday's win was also Stafford's second career game with five passing TDs and zero interceptions (Week 12, 2015 versus Eagles with Lions) and his first career such game on the road. Meanwhile, Davante Adams became the first WR with at least three receiving TDs in an international game.

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• REWATCH: Saints-Bears on NFL+ Premium

Eric Edholm's takeaways to come:

1. Bears defense sets tone with four-takeaway game. Early this NFL season, the Jaguars were the takeaway kings, with 13 in their first four contests of the season. But the Bears have now upped the ante, forcing four Saints turnovers on Sunday and bringing Chicago’s four-game total to a stunning 15 takeaways. The Bears strip-sacked and picked off Spencer Rattler in the first 20 minutes, helping build a 20-0 lead. The Saints rallied to make it a one-score game in the third quarter, but the Bears’ defense picked off Rattler twice on New Orleans’ final three drives to preserve their fourth straight victory. Chicago’s defense also had four sacks and nine passes defended. It allowed two long TD drives to make things interesting, but the overall performance was strong, even with Bears defensive back Tyrique Stevenson (shoulder) missing the entire second half.
2. Rattler took a step back. One of the more intriguing elements of the Saints’ season entering Sunday had been the respectable play of Spencer Rattler, who had only one turnover on the season so far. That number quadrupled against the Bears in Week 7. Rattler was strip-sacked on the opening drive, leading to a Bears field goal, and he threw three interceptions. All three picks were arguably on the QB, too. Rattler threw behind Mason Tipton on the first, overthrew Rashid Shaheed on the second and threw into traffic on the third. He had some success on some downfield shots to Chris Olave, but most of the game felt like a struggle. Rattler never got in a true rhythm as a passer and was constantly evading pressure and throwing from tough body angles. It didn’t help that the run game was stuck in neutral and that they all but abandoned it late in the third quarter, but Rattler’s struggles can’t be dismissed. 
3. Bears run game helped pick up the slack. Caleb Williams never truly found a groove as a passer Sunday, hitting on less than 60 percent of his passes and averaging only 6.6 yards per attempt. He threw a first-quarter pick that stalled the offense, and Williams and center Drew Dalman had all kinds of issues with snaps. One of those snap mishaps actually saved the Bears on fourth-and-goal because there was a false start, allowing them to kick a fortunate field goal. It was that kind of day. But the Bears’ run game helped fill the void, with D'Andre Swift continuing his hot streak and rookie Kyle Monangai having his best day as a pro. They scored the Bears’ two offensive TDs, combining for 205 yards on the ground and 232 yards from scrimmage. On a day when Williams was misfiring and doing little as a scrambler, Swift and Monangai were the heroes – along with a Bears offensive line that opened nice running lanes. This game wasn’t a Ben Johnson showcase, but it did show that the Bears have a Plan B when the pass game is sluggish.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Saints-Bears (via NFL Pro): Caleb Williams completed 7 of 8 passes for 102 yards against Saints blitzes, as they brought extra rushers on 28.6% of his dropbacks. Williams was significantly less effective when not blitzed, completing only 8 of 18 attempts for 70 yards, with an interception.

NFL Research: The Bears won four consecutive games within the span of a single season for the first time since 2018.

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• REWATCH: Dolphins-Browns on NFL+ Premium

Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Browns deliver old-fashioned beatdown. Cleveland's defense has followed a consistently effective first-half playbook throughout most of this season but has failed to receive the same contributions from the offense, leading to second-half disintegrations and a collection of bitter losses. That changed Sunday thanks to an explosive touchdown run and the Browns' relentless defense, which capitalized on an ugly outing from Tua Tagovailoa, forcing three turnovers via interception (including one returned by Tyson Campbell for a touchdown). Statistically, this wasn't an overwhelming victory for the Browns but the tape doesn't lie. They dominated the Dolphins, exerting their will over Miami's offense and capitalizing on the takeaways to build an insurmountable lead in a runaway triumph.
2. Dolphins descend to new low. After losing a heartbreaker in Week 6, Miami had a chance to bounce back against a struggling club in Cleveland on Sunday. Instead, the Dolphins played the role of doormat. Tagovailoa accounted for three interceptions for a second straight week, but the fashion in which he produced those giveaways was vastly different and typified the direction of these Dolphins. On Sunday, all three picks were the fault of the quarterback, each came in Dolphins territory, each preceded a Browns touchdown and each buried Miami deeper into a hole that appears increasingly inescapable. Whether it was penalties (11 for 103 yards), errant throws resulting in turnovers or poor discipline on defense, Miami couldn't get out of its own way all afternoon. Even worse, the Dolphins appeared to lose interest as the game grew more lopsided. Mike McDaniel was already on the hot seat entering Week 7; that seat might not exist by Monday afternoon.
3. Have a day, Quinshon Judkins. Cleveland's season has been filled with struggles but Quinshon Judkins has enjoyed some bright spots in the first month and a half. Sunday represented a new peak for the rookie. Judkins' 46-yard touchdown run through the middle of Miami's defense injected life into what was a sleepy game and gave the Browns an early advantage to build upon. They did so by leaning almost exclusively on the Ohio State product, turning to him twice inside Miami's 5-yard line for two more scores, giving Judkins three touchdowns on the day and making him the face of the Browns' triumphant day offensively. While he averaged just 3.4 yards per carry -- a product of an unusual outing in which he was cut down for losses on multiple occasions but also ran hard enough to balance things out with positive gains -- Judkins paced the Browns' offense on a windy, rainy day in Cleveland.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Dolphins-Browns (via NFL Pro): Quinshon Judkins rushed 15 times for 69 yards and three touchdowns from jumbo sets (six-plus offensive linemen) in the Browns’ Week 7 win over the Dolphins. The Browns used an extra lineman on 22 of 52 plays overall (40.9%), the highest rate by any team in a game this season. Judkins became the first player since the start of 2022 to score three rushing touchdowns from jumbo in a game and gained the third-most rushing yards from jumbo of any player this season.

NFL Research: Miami's six points were the fewest allowed by the Browns since Week 9 of the 2023 season, a shutout win over Arizona. Cleveland also snapped its 11-game streak of scoring 17 or fewer points. 

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• REWATCH: Raiders-Chiefs on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Chiefs trick play underscores embarrassing day for Raiders



Eric Edholm's takeaways:

1. Rice led Chiefs’ impressive offensive surge. Rashee Rice celebrated his return to action following a six-game suspension with two first-half touchdowns to highlight a strong offensive outing by the Chiefs. We’ve now seen what an offense with Marquise Brown, Xavier Worthy and Rice playing together looks like, and the results were impressive. The Chiefs ran 42 first-half plays (to the Raiders’ 14) and built a 21-0 lead, scoring on three drives of 84 yards or longer. Patrick Mahomes threw for 206 yards in the first half alone -- more than he did in five entire games last season. Impressively, he was still able and willing to spread the ball around to nearly all of his targets and make it an offense that looked very tough to defend. Mahomes’ day was done before the third quarter was over, allowing Gardner Minshew to get some snaps versus his former team. The only potential negative was an injury to Jawaan Taylor (shoulder), who replaced the absent Josh Simmons at left tackle.
2. Raiders looked inept in all phases. This felt like one of the most lopsided games of the 2025 NFL season. The Raiders were pretty non-competitive out of the chute, running only 14 offensive plays and allowing 21 first downs in the first half alone. Losing defensive tackle Adam Butler (back) and defensive end Maxx Crosby (knee/back) only worsened the suffering. Knowing their only real shot of winning was getting a first-drive stop to open the third quarter, down 21-0, the Raiders allowed the Chiefs to march 65 yards for another TD. They then went three-and-out on offense. Vegas’ first real “stop” was holding the Chiefs to a short field goal late in the third quarter. The offense also shared the blame readily. Geno Smith completed a 6-yard pass to Jack Bech with 3:49 left in the first quarter … and Smith's next completion, a 4-yarder, didn’t come until the 2:09 mark of the third quarter. Smith was benched for Kenny Pickett, who fumbled on his first snap. The afterglow of last week’s win faded pretty quickly for the wayward Raiders. Don’t be shocked if Pete Carroll burns this game tape, using highly flammable accelerants. 
3. Chiefs’ defense gave Reid his first regular-season shutout. Hard to believe but true: Sunday was Andy Reid’s first-ever regular-season shutout win. The Chiefs shut out the Texans, 30-0, in the 2015 postseason, and they allowed only a safety in Reid’s Chiefs debut in 2013, but this was Reid’s first regular-season blanking -- in his 427th regular-season game. Reid has had some of the best defensive minds in recent history coordinating his units, with Jim Johnson in Philadelphia and Steve Spagnuolo, which makes the achievement all the more surprising. Shutouts are rare (only five since the start of the 2024 season), but the sentiment holds up. Kansas City’s defense certainly deserves praise for its dominant showing, even with it coming against an inept Raiders offense. The Raiders netted 27 yards on their first two drives and didn’t have another first down until the fourth quarter, netting 93 for the game. Pure dominance. If the Chiefs play this well in all three phases, they’re absolutely title contenders again.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Raiders-Chiefs (via NFL Pro): Patrick Mahomes only attempted one pass longer than 28.5 air yards on Sunday, a 40.3-air-yard completion to Tyquan Thornton.

NFL Research: The Raiders had only three first downs in the game, the fewest in the NFL since the Raiders had three in a Week 9 loss to the Falcons in the 2008 NFL season.

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• REWATCH: Eagles-Vikings on NFL+ Premium

Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Hurts divebombs Vikings. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts played his best game of the season. Whenever Philadelphia needed a play, the QB made a spot-on deep shot to put a dagger into an aggressive Vikings defense. The Super Bowl MVP made play after play out of the structure, keeping things alive for splash plays. Hurts might struggle with intermediate passing, but he thrives with one of the prettiest deep balls in the league. He threw a 37-yard TD to A.J. Brown, a 79-yarder to DeVonta Smith, a 26-yarder to Brown again. On Sunday, he went 5 of 5 for 216 yards and three TDs on passes of 20-plus yards. With Saquon Barkley and the Eagles running back still stuck in the next, Philly needed every one of Hurts' deep shots. It was apropos that Hurts iced the game with a 45-yard bomb to Brown. Sunday was the type of game that was a reminder of the upside of a bombs-away Eagles offense.
2. Wentz stumbles way to two-pick day. Facing his former club, Carson Wentz' brutal second quarter had Minnesota scrambling. Wentz rushed a throw, leading to a pick-six. Then things got really wacky. On his next attempt, Wentz threw it backward for an 8-yard loss. The following snap, he got flushed from the pocket and threw a prayer that was intercepted. Wentz put up 313 passing yards, picking up chunk gains, repeatedly picking apart Philly cornerbacks with out routes, but the offense stumbled in scoring range. Kevin O’Connell’s crew went 1 of 6 in the red zone, the worst RZ TD rate for Minnesota in a game with six or more red zone drives since at least 2000. On a day the Vikings only punted once on nine possessions, the turnovers and settling for field goals were the difference. The loss isn’t all on Wentz’ shoulders, but it also wasn’t a performance that would make O’Connell reticent to turn to J.J. McCarthy if he’s healthy.
3. Hunt’s pick-six leads Eagles defense. Young linebacker Jalyx Hunt dropped into coverage, snagged a pass seemingly thrown right to him, and sprinted to paydirt. It was a brilliant call from Vic Fangio that spun Wentz’ head. Hunt became the second Eagles defensive player at 250-plus pounds to score a TD this season. The rest of the NFL has had one such player (Cardinals linebacker Zaven Collins). A banged-up Eagles defense needed Sunday’s five-pressure performance from Hunt. Jalen Carter's return to action made a world of difference for Philly. The game-wrecking defensive tackle earned a game-high six QB pressures and owned the middle of the Vikings' offensive line. It’s a completely different Eagles D when he’s on the field. Elsewhere on defense, Quinyon Mitchell allowed just one catch for 10 yards on three targets against Justin Jefferson (20 snaps). The Eagles' defense still has holes at pass rusher and corner, but Sunday, they got the job done.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Eagles-Vikings (via NFL Pro): DeVonta Smith recorded a career-high 183 receiving yards and a touchdown on nine receptions, with most of his production coming on downfield passes (10-plus air yards). Smith was targeted six times downfield, catching five of those targets for 163 yards and a touchdown; 107 of those yards came on deep receptions (20-plus air yards).

NFL Research: Hurts generated the third perfect passer rating game in Eagles history (minimum 10 attempts). Others were Nick Foles in 2013 at Oakland and Donovan McNabb in 2007 versus Detroit. 

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• REWATCH: Panthers-Jets on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Jets bench QB Fields after ineffective first half in loss
• READ: Panthers QB Young suffers second-half ankle injury

Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Horn’s two INTs propel Panthers over Jets. With the offense sputtering even before Bryce Young left with an injury, Carolina’s defense stood tall. The defensive line, led by Derrick Brown controlled things up front, stuffing the run and pestering Gang Green quarterbacks. Brown generated two sacks and seven tackles. Surging rookie Nic Scourton earned 1.5 sacks and added a team-high six pressures. His improved play has been a big part of the Panthers' turnaround. Carolina generated six sacks after having five entering the week. The crown of the defensive performance goes to Jaycee Horn, who made a spectacular one-handed interception in the end zone. He added another INT in the fourth quarter, squelching a Jets comeback attempt. After last season’s dismal output, Ejiro Evero has improved immensely during the Panthers' three-game win streak. On tap next week: Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.
2. Fields benched, but Jets offense still can’t get off the ground. Aaron Glenn pulled the plug on Justin Fields after another inefficient first half -- 6-of-12 passing for 46 yards with three sacks, 22 yards rushing. The issues remain the same for the QB: He holds it too long, struggles to read defenses post-snap, makes unforced errors and takes bad sacks. Tyrod Taylor took over in the second half. The passing offense perks up with the veteran, who can stay in rhythm in the short game. However, Taylor repeatedly missed deep, underthrowing several balls on which New York receivers beat defenders. Taylor went 1 of 7 for 35 yards with two INTs (8.3 passer rating) on passes of 20-plus yards, per Next Gen Stats. The reality is that there is no long-term answer at QB on the Jets roster.
3. Panthers lose Young to injury. Panthers starting quarterback Bryce Young exited the game deep in the third quarter, slowly walking to the locker room. He was ruled out with an ankle injury. Before the injury, it was an up-and-down game from Young, who made an excellent improv play to find Xavier Legette for a TD but also missed a few layups. Andy Dalton entered, and the offense didn’t do much, generating four first downs with two three-and-outs on four fourth-quarter drives. However, the veteran ended the game with a nice lob to Legette. Young’s status will be one to keep an eye on during the week. Sidenote: With Chuba Hubbard return, the Panthers split carries between him and Rico Dowdle. Dowdle was the more productive, generating 79 yards on 17 carries to Hubbard’s 31 on 14 totes. The question is whether the Panthers will ride Dowdle, clearly the better back at this point, or continue to lean on both and hope Hubbard’s 2.2 yards per carry this week was a product of knocking off rust. 

Next Gen Stats Insight for Panthers-Jets (via NFL Pro): The Panthers defense generated season highs in total pressures (16), pressure rate (36.4%) and sacks (6).

NFL Research: Carolina (4-3) is .500 or better through seven games for the first time since 2019 (also 4-3). The 2019 Panthers started 4-3, finished 5-11 (last in the NFC South) and Ron Rivera was fired mid-season.

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• REWATCH: Patriots-Titans on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Vrabel gets 'emotional' win against former team
• READ: NFL milestones: Maye breaks Brady’s franchise record

Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Patriots overwhelm Titans in runaway win. Mike Vrabel brought his team to Nashville with a clear intent on Sunday: Win the physical battle. The Patriots set the tone on their very first drive, repeatedly handing the ball to Rhamondre Stevenson for hard-earned rushing yards and moving into Tennessee territory before settling for a field goal. That brief limitation was not indicative of what was to come. New England regained the lead just before halftime, then exploded for two touchdowns in 11 seconds of game time midway through the third quarter, following up a 12-play, 88-yard touchdown drive with a fumble recovery and return for a score. In seemingly a flash, the Patriots took total control of this game and cruised to victory in emphatic fashion, sacking Cam Ward five times while delivering a statement to Vrabel's former team and moving forward with their fifth win of 2025.
2. Struggles continue for Titans despite coaching change. Tennessee made the decision to fire Brian Callahan early in the week and entered Sunday hoping for a boost in performance with Mike McCoy serving as interim coach. Unfortunately, this game followed a familiar script. After competing and keeping things close for almost two quarters, the Titans lost Jeffery Simmons to a hamstring injury and watched their resilience leave with him. Tennessee surrendered a touchdown pass in the final minute of the first half, then melted down in the third quarter, losing all hope of a comeback before the fourth quarter arrived. Ward fumbled away possession in unfortunately familiar fashion, losing the ball while winding up to throw, and despite an impressive first half from the rookie, it was clear the Titans lacked the strength to overcome their sudden 18-point deficit. Tennessee isn't going to improve overnight regardless of who is coaching, and Sunday was a painful reminder of this.
3. Maye continues to dazzle. Patriots second-year quarterback Drake Maye has been on a heater and compiled another fantastic outing in Nashville on Sunday, completing 21 of 23 passes that included some beautifully layered passes, perfectly placed and timed tosses and his latest majestic touchdown pass to Kayshon Boutte. Perhaps even more impressive, Maye took a hard hit to the back of his head, exited briefly and then returned in time to toss a touchdown pass to Austin Hooper that capped a key 11-play, 93-yard touchdown drive to tie things up at 10. Maye rolled from there, directing a well-balanced offense that acted like a boa constrictor in the second half, squeezing the life out of the Titans and earning yet another win for these ascending Patriots.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Patriots-Titans (via NFL Pro):  Drake Maye recorded career highs in completion percentage (91.3%) and completion percentage over expected (+24.4%) on Sunday. Maye was particularly efficient on passes over 10 air yards, completing 7 of his 9 attempts for 149 yards and two touchdowns. Maye also added 62 rushing yards on eight scrambles, giving him 193 scramble rush yards this season, third in the NFL entering the Week 7 afternoon window.

NFL Research: With 222 passing yards and a 135.9 passer rating, Drake Maye became the third player under the age of 24 with 200-plus passing yards and a 100-plus passer rating in six consecutive games.

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• REWATCH: Giants-Broncos on NFL+ Premium

Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Broncos accomplish the unfathomable. Denver was largely lifeless offensively through two and a half quarters, even drawing boos from fans after going three-and-out midway through the third quarter in a game that appeared to be on the verge of getting out of hand. The fourth quarter produced enough magic to make most forget about the frustrating first three quarters, though, because the Broncos awoke from their slumber and remembered they have the talent necessary to move the ball and put points on the board. Invigorated by a sense of urgency, Bo Nix exploded in the fourth, completing 16 of 25 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns while running three times for 46 yards and another score. He threw the ball without fear, firing missiles toward receivers with the hopes they'd make the 50/50 plays to preserve their hopes of a comeback (they did). It took some luck (see: Troy Franklin's touchdown catch off a deflection in the end zone) and a timely takeaway, plus two more big completions in the final minute and a 39-yard field goal as time expired to pull off the comeback, but it all counts the same.
2. Giants will rue how they handled the fourth quarter. New York had control of this game and appeared poised to pull off the upset when coach Brian Daboll (understandably) decided to get conservative, calling two run plays up the middle that gained a combined total of five yards before asking Jaxson Dart to throw for a first down. Dart instead tossed a very regrettable interception, opening the door for a Denver comeback. That sequence could have explained New York's eventual meltdown if not for a courageous (and penalty-assisted) final possession that saw Dart score to take the lead inside the final minute -- and yet, the Giants then immediately managed to allow the Broncos to move into very makeable field goal range in short order. Daboll tossed his headset as soon as Wil Lutz' kick passed through the goal post and while the frustration was understandable, it's hard to not think it was avoidable.
3. It would be nice if Denver didn't wait until the 11th hour to wake up. As the Broncos drove toward the Giants' end zone to close the third quarter, I joked via social media that Denver was just lulling us to sleep before firing off another 21-point comeback as it did in Philadelphia in Week 5. I never thought it would end up being a 33-point explosion. This is the duality of the 2025 Broncos through seven weeks: They're a team with a defense that is good enough to keep them in every game (if not outright dominate an opposing offense), but the Broncos' offense is still searching for the consistency they often displayed a season ago. Often, their likelihood of success depends on whether they can run the ball effectively, but it wasn't a great predictor on Sunday given they'd broken 100 yards through three quarters yet remained scoreless. Much of their struggles resulted from another up-and-down game from Nix, who missed open targets downfield a few times in the first three quarters and had just as many of his passes batted down at the line of scrimmage. Denver's offense appeared disjointed and only earned one quality scoring opportunity, which was stuffed on the goal line. There's something about the fourth quarter that just wakes up this team, though, and it certainly did in an unbelievably frantic final period. Broncos fans would prefer their team not wait until the fourth to roll out of bed, but they'll take the wins however they come.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Giants-Broncos (via NFL Pro): Bo Nix completed 16 of 25 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter of the Broncos' Week 7 win, generating +8.0 expected points added on his dropbacks. Nix also executed two designed runs for touchdowns, the first two touchdowns on designed runs in his 24-game career, gaining 25 yards and +4.98 EPA on those carries.

NFL Research: The Broncos became the first team in NFL history to score 33-plus points after being shut out through the first three quarters.

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• REWATCH: Colts-Chargers on NFL+ Premium

Kevin Patra's takeaways to come:

1. Colts' offense unstoppable, steamrolling Chargers on the road. Shane Steichen is in his bag, and every single Indianapolis player is thriving. Once again, Daniel Jones led a seamless operation that scored on six of its first seven possessions, including three touchdowns to open the contest. The quarterback was calm in a good pocket, dishing the ball off to seven different targets. If Jones threw a bad ball Sunday, it wasn’t memorable. The offense consistently gets wide-open targets on every level. Tyler Warren in the flat. Michael Pittman over the middle. Alec Pierce deep. A balanced offense with MVP candidate Jonathan Taylor ripping off runs and dashing for another three-TD day makes the Colts seemingly impossible to stop. We shouldn’t discount an impressive offensive line, which opens big holes on the ground and gives Jones plenty of time to survey. Enough with questioning Indy. This is a legit AFC contender.
2. Chargers get things going far too late. L.A. put up just 141 yards in the first half. Add in two Justin Herbert interceptions, including one in the end zone, and the 20-point halftime deficit was too big to overcome, particularly with the defense unable to get any stops. Herbert missed a few balls behind his targets as he constantly played in a muddy pocket behind an injury-riddled offensive line. Herbert got things going in the second half, finding rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II (seven receptions for 164 yards and a touchdown) and Keenan Allen (11/119/1) for big plays. The Chargers QB put up a career-high 421 passing yards with three TDs. With the turnovers and a defense that couldn’t get stops, it wasn’t nearly enough to avoid a third loss in four games.
3. Colts' injured defense steps up when needed. Big man Grover Stewart swatted a ball high in the air in the second quarter and corralled it for his first career INT with the Chargers in scoring range. On the next possession, safety Nick Cross made an excellent play on a Herbert pass to swipe another ball in the end zone. Those two plays taking potential points off the board allowed the Colts to build an insurmountable lead. With an already banged-up secondary, Indy’s defense lost two linemen Sunday with Tyquan Lewis and Samson Ebukam exiting with injuries. With the Chargers threatening to make it a game, DeForest Buckner came up with two big sacks, the second to help force a late turnover on downs. The injuries are a concern moving forward, but Indy showed they can overcome.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Colts-Chargers (via NFL Pro): Justin Herbert faced a career-high 57.4% pressure rate against the Colts in Week 7. Despite constant duress, Herbert completed 19 of his 31 pass attempts under pressure for 252 yards, all three of his touchdowns and one interception. His 252 passing yards under pressure are the third-most by a quarterback since 2018.

NFL Research: Jonathan Taylor has more three-plus rushing touchdown games in 2025 than the rest of the NFL combined (Others: Two-- both by rookies, Quinshon Judkins Sunday and Cam Skattebo Week 6). Taylor has 10 rushing TDs over his last five games (last player with 10-plus over a five-game span was Taylor himself in 2021). 

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• REWATCH: Packers-Cardinals on NFL+ Premium

Eric Edholm's takeaways:

1. Parsons led Packers’ second-half defensive stands. The Packers were swimming upstream most of the game Sunday, and neither the offense nor the defense was having much success. Needing a big-play spark, the Packers received several from the defense in the second half to spur them to a difficult big clutch win. Rashan Gary’s strip-sack got things going in the third quarter, leading to the game-tying touchdown for Green Bay. Then, after a long kick return and a Green Bay facemask, the Packers’ defense held Arizona to a field goal, spearheaded by Micah Parsons in arguably his biggest game for the Packers. He had three sacks, which more than doubled his season total entering the game, including another big one on Arizona’s final drive after they’d reached the Packers’ 26-yard line. The Cardinals never got any closer, with the Packers defense earning its second turnover on downs in the fourth quarter.
2. Another late, heartbreaking loss for Cardinals. For a second straight game, Jacoby Brissett replaced Kyler Murray and gave the offense a boost with mostly efficient play. But Brissett was strip-sacked in the third quarter, one of three sacks he took in the second half, and missed just enough late throws to come up a little bit short again. Fourth quarters have been nail-biting time for Cardinals fans, even in the team’s two wins. But that’s now five straight losses that came down to the final play of the game – three game-winning kicks by the opponent followed by two straight failed throws into the end zone, each more frustrating than the next. Brissett took several big hits Sunday and gamely captained an offense that had little run game, completing 14 straight passes at one point. But Brissett was stuffed on a fourth-and-1 from Arizona’s 48-yard line, giving the ball back to Green Bay, which took control of the game. Brissett offered as much as could have been hoped from him, but it wasn’t quite enough to end the skid.
3. After taking a few shots, Love delivered for Packers. The Packers still haven’t solved all their offensive issues, but their quarterback delivered some big plays under heavy pressure in the second half. Down, 20-13, late in the third quarter, Jordan Love took a shot from Budda Baker after a scramble and was hit a few plays later on a roughing call, but he stood tall and delivered a game-tying TD drive. Late in the fourth, Love made a huge third-down completion to Tucker Kraft under heavy pressure to keep the drive alive, then later floated a fourth-and-2 pass to Kraft, setting up Josh Jacobs go-ahead score. The Packers initially lined up to kick the game-tying field goal on that fourth down, but Matt LaFleur called timeout to set up a play for Love. That’s trust you like to see. It was a tough environment for the offense, with Jacobs limited, but Love found a way in the end. 

Next Gen Stats Insight for Packers-Cardinals (via NFL Pro): In addition to Micah Parsons’ three sacks, he also generated 10 pressures and had one stuff.

NFL Research: The Cardinals have lost three straight games after leading by seven or more points entering the fourth quarter.

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• REWATCH: Commanders-Cowboys on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Daniels exits Week 7 with hamstring injury

Christian Gonzales' takeaways:

1. Just another day at the office for the Cowboys’ offense. Heading into Sunday’s game, Dallas scored 40-plus points during its first two games at AT&T Stadium. The Cowboys extended that streak by scoring a season-high 44 points against former Dallas defensive coordinator, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn in Week 7. It was an impressive all-around performance from Dak Prescott and the playmakers in Dallas’ offense. Prescott found CeeDee Lamb for a 74-yard touchdown in the first quarter and connected with tight end Jake Ferguson for a pair of touchdowns in the red zone. George Pickens contributed some key plays, too. Whether it was making an impressive sideline catch to keep the drive alive or drawing penalties on Washington’s defense, Pickens was a problem for the Commanders. Prescott finished the afternoon completing 21 of 30 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns. The Cowboys certainly have one of the most lethal offenses in the NFL. 
2. Injury bug infecting Commanders’ offense. With Washington’s top three wide receivers Terry McLaurin (quad), Deebo Samuel (heel) and Noah Brown (groin; placed on injured reserve this week) missing Sunday’s game, quarterback Jayden Daniels did the most he could to keep up with Dallas’ offense. The injury bug followed the Commanders to Dallas in the third quarter. Daniels suffered a hamstring injury and did not return to action. In Marcus Mariota's first drive in relief, he escaped the pocket, avoiding multiple Cowboy defenders, but was intercepted by DaRon Bland, who returned it for a touchdown. The Commanders couldn’t recover after Bland’s 68-yard pick-six. Rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt struggled on the ground with Washington trying to play catch up. The Commanders will hope the news of Daniels’ injury isn’t too serious as he’s already missed two games this season due to a knee injury.  
3. Welcome back, CeeDee Lamb. After missing the last three games due to an ankle injury, CeeDee Lamb quickly appeared to be in midseason form. Dak Prescott didn’t shy away from targeting Lamb early and often Sunday afternoon. In the first half, Lamb was targeted eight times as he caught five passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. With the Cowboys leading, 27-15, at halftime, Lamb didn’t see a target in the second half as Dallas leaned on the running game to run the clock down. According to Next Gen Stats, Lamb played 48 out of 62 offensive snaps (77.4%) in Sunday’s win. With Lamb returning to the lineup, the Cowboys offense is rolling heading into next week’s game against the Broncos in Mile High.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Commanders-Cowboys (via NFL Pro): Cowboys cornerback Kaiir Elam allowed two receptions on seven targets for 31 yards in Week 7, after allowing zero receptions since Week 5 (seven combined targets). This marks a significant turnaround from Weeks 1-4, when Elam allowed a league-high 282 yards and four touchdowns in coverage.

NFL Research: Dak Prescott has had three-plus pass touchdowns and zero interceptions in four straight games, setting a new Cowboys franchise record. 

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• REWATCH: Falcons-49ers on NFL+ Premium
• READ: CMC puts up historic 201-yard game vs. ATL

Grant Gordon's takeaways:

1. In CMC, 49ers trust. It was hardly easy going for the 49ers offense, but the sturdy legs of Christian McCaffrey drove San Francisco to victory. Dynamic as McCaffrey has been throughout a stellar career, he’s established himself as a true workhorse when needed in San Francisco. He was needed for just that against the Falcons, and he produced phenomenally by churning out a season-best 114 yards on 23 carries and a pair of touchdowns to go with a team-high seven receptions for 72 yards. CMC surpassed his 69-yard season-high rushing in the second quarter. With no Brock Purdy, no Ricky Pearsall, still no Brandon Aiyuk and tight end George Kittle ineffective in his first game back from injury (zero catches on two targets), McCaffrey was too much for Atlanta to handle. McCaffrey scored the game’s first touchdown on a 1-yard plunge and emphatically salted away the victory in the fourth quarter. Clinging to a three-point lead, Mac Jones sent a bullet McCaffrey’s way for a 17-yard gain on third-and-13. On the very next play, McCaffrey powered to a 4-yard score, pushing through the pile for six. In a ballyhooed matchup featuring McCaffrey and Bijan Robinson, both had their moments, but CMC was the do-it-all back who shined brightest on Sunday night. 
2. Bijan can’t do it all for Falcons. Six days after a sensational showing on Monday night, Bijan Robinson and Atlanta were back in prime time. The back who’s been at the center of best-in-the-league convos played well, but he was kept in check running the rock and simply couldn’t do it all himself offensively. Robinson had 40 yards on just 2.9 yards per carry, and 52 yards and Atlanta’s only TD on six receptions. To be fair, tight end Kyle Pitts also had a solid showing (seven receptions for 62 yards), but Drake London (four catches on 10 targets for 42 yards) was corralled and quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was absolutely abysmal under pressure. Rattled throughout by a 26.2 pressure rate from S.F., Penix was 0 of 9 under pressure. The Falcons looked rather uncreative in their approach and came away with just 292 yards (62 rushing). Less than a week after garnering notice with a win over the Buffalo Bills, the Falcons found themselves in a grind-it-out game against the Niners and couldn’t answer the bell. 
3. Defenders step up for banged-up Niners. In a curious setup, 49ers all-world linebacker Fred Warner was seen in a suite, seated sideways with his surgically repaired ankle propped up on Sunday night. What he looked down on was a defensive performance to be proud of, highlighted by a slew of step-up performances. Warner’s replacement in the starting lineup, Tatum Bethune, had a team-best 10 tackles. Bryce Huff had a sack, forced fumble, five tackles, two QB hits and a game-high six QB pressures. Cornerback Chase Lucas, filling in for an injured Upton Stout , had a massive pass breakup on a fourth down. There’s a lot season left and neither Warner nor Nick Bosa are going to be coming to the rescue. But throughout this season, the 49ers have been rescuing themselves, no matter how unfamiliar the names making the plays. Banged up on both sides of the ball, San Francisco rose to the occasion to keep pace with the Rams atop the NFC West in the process. 

Next Gen Stats Insight for Falcons-49ers (via NFL Pro): With no pressure, Michael Penix was 21 of 29 for 241 yards, a touchdown and 108.5 rating. Against pressure, he was 0 for 9 with a 39.6 rating. 

NFL Research: Christian McCaffrey had 100-plus rushing yards and 70-plus receiving yards in a game for the seventh time in his career. It’s the most all time, breaking a tie with Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk and Priest Holmes.