Week 7 of the NFL regular season featured plenty of thrilling finishes, quarterback injuries, and questionable coaching decisions.
Amid this week’s chaos, the Minnesota Vikings suffered their first loss of the season in a thriller, while the Buffalo Bills snapped a two-game winning streak thanks to a recent trade acquisition. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Browns likely lost their starting quarterback for the season. Maybe forever.
Here’s a knee-jerk reaction to Week 7 of the NFL season.
Giants owner John Mara won’t be able to sleep well for a while.
Before the free agency period last offseason, Mara I told Giants GM Joe Schoen he wouldn’t be able to sleep if Saquon Barkley signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. Of course, the two-time Pro Bowler joined the Eagles on a three-year, $37.75 million contract, and after watching him play on Sunday, it’s fair to say Mara probably won’t sleep well for a while.
Barkley insulted his former team along the way. 28-3 In a road win, they had more total yards (187) than the Giants offense (119) along with a touchdown. Barkley would have set a career-high in rushing yards had he not been pulled early in the fourth quarter after the game turned into a blowout. Considering Barkley’s age and the state of the Giants, it makes sense why they decided to part ways with him this offseason, but they’re learning the hard way that even rational decisions have consequences.
Brock Purdy is saving the 49ers a lot of money in upcoming contract negotiations.
Purdy is eligible for a contract extension this offseason, and heading into the regular season, he appears to have a chance to finally become one of the highest-paid players at his position. After all, he led San Francisco to a Super Bowl LVIII appearance and the quarterback market is booming. Dallas Cowboys signal caller Dak Prescott recently became the NFL’s first $60 million player.
But Purdy has struggled greatly this season. Mainly because of his best weapon dealing with injuries. This played a major role in Sunday’s broadcast. 28-18 The Pro Bowler finished 17 of 31 passing for 212 yards and three interceptions in a home loss to Kansas City. Purdy has proven he can be an effective game manager when the 49ers offense is fully healthy, but his lackluster production without his typical supporting cast likely prevents him from getting a deal worth $50 million per year.
The Lions and Vikings prove to be the best teams in the NFC.
The Lions returned as kings of the NFC North after defeating the previously undefeated Vikings. 31-29 It’s on the road as an early contender for Game of the Year. Despite the loss, the Vikings proved that their outstanding start was no fluke and that only the Lions should be considered first when naming the best team in the NFC.
Sunday’s matchup was surprisingly even, with the Lions recording 391 yards of total offense compared to Minnesota’s 383 yards. Each team also had eight penalties and committed one turnover. Neither team dominated time of possession, with Detroit holding the ball for 29:03 and Minnesota for 30:57. A Week 18 rematch between these teams can’t happen anytime soon.
The Browns’ quarterback decision is an easy one.
Cleveland will have a new starting quarterback going forward after Deshaun Watson suffered what the team believes to be a season-ending Achilles tear. 21-14 Home loss to Cincinnati on Sunday. With Watson out, the Browns will have to insert Jameis Winston, who was strangely demoted to third-string on Sunday, into the starting lineup ahead of the team’s newly appointed No. 2 QB, Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Thompson-Robinson was ineffective in relief of Watson, completing 11 of 24 passes for 82 yards and two interceptions before exiting with a finger injury. Meanwhile, Winston was solid in limited reps and threw for 67 yards and one touchdown (along with a successful two-point conversion attempt). There’s a chance Thomspon-Robinson develops into a quality backup in the future, but Winston undoubtedly gives the Browns their best chance to win this season.
WR Amari Cooper is a game-changer for the Bills.
Shortly after the AFC East rival New York Jets traded for six-time Pro Bowler Davante Adams on Tuesday, the Bills made a blockbuster deal to acquire Cooper from Cleveland. It didn’t take long for Cooper to make an impact on his new team, scoring a touchdown on his first reception and 66 yards on four catches in Sunday’s home win over Tennessee.
It’s only a one-game sample size, but the addition of Cooper appears to have changed the Bills offense for the better. Cooper’s presence on the field opened up opportunities for the QB. Josh Allen His fellow Buffalo wideouts, as evidenced by Allen’s season-high 323 passing yards and WR Keon Coleman’s career-high 125-yard performance. Considering how dominant Allen has been this season, having a true No. 1 receiver in Cooper might be just what he needs to not only earn MVP honors but also get Buffalo over the hump.
Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel’s lack of adjustment will put him in a hot position.
There is no doubt that winning games with a backup quarterback is difficult. Still, considering how many talented skill position players the Dolphins have, there’s no reason their offense should struggle as badly as it did with McDaniel. Since QB Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion in Week 2, Miami has averaged 10 points per gameFewest in the NFL.
Considered an offensive specialist, McDaniel did not properly plan the plays of star wideouts Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle in Tagovailoa’s absence, especially during Sunday’s 16-10 road loss to Indianapolis. Hill and Waddle had just two receptions and four catches for 19 yards against the Colts, a coaching flaw from McDaniel. The 41-year-old should be on the hot seat, and if the offense doesn’t improve dramatically after Tagovailoa returns, it may be best for Miami to move on from McDaniel this offseason.
The Panthers are wasting everyone’s time by starting Andy Dalton at quarterback.
QB Bryce Young may not be the solution, but it’s clear he’s far from the Panthers’ biggest problem. After scoring a season-high 36 points in a Week 3 win over the Raiders in Dalton’s first start, Carolina’s offense was a complete mess. Veteran Dalton took a step back from Sunday’s embarrassment. 40-7 In a road loss to Washington, he completed 11 of 11 passing for 93 yards and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.
Regardless of who starts at quarterback, Carolina won’t be able to win many games with this woeful defense for the rest of the season. However, the team should consider returning to Young. The Panthers are quickly moving toward another top draft pick. They’d better see if Young shows enough signs to be considered a bridge quarterback, and if so, could potentially address one of their numerous other needs early in the 2025 draft.
