NFL Week 7 Performance Recap
New England Patriots at Chicago Bears (Thursday Night)
Chicago covered as a 3-point home favorite and the game cleared the 50.5 total in a 30-24 win that moved the Bears to 5-2. Caleb Williams threw for 308 yards and two touchdowns on 22 of 33 passing with no turnovers, his second straight 300-yard game since returning from a hamstring injury, and Luther Burden III did most of his damage early, catching four passes for 130 yards and a touchdown by halftime. The Bears finished with 405 total yards and 116 on the ground. New England hung around behind Drake Maye, who went 24 of 31 for 321 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another, including a 30-yard touchdown to Eli Raridon that cut it to 27-21 and a 48-yard check-down score by Rhamondre Stevenson as time expired in the first half. But Maye threw an end-zone interception, the Patriots missed 16 tackles and were hurt by a string of penalties, and an offensive line already down Alijah Vera-Tucker and Ben Brown was hampered again with Morgan Moses banged up. Cairo Santos then hit a career-long 58-yard field goal with 1:34 left, after Ben Johnson chose to kick on fourth-and-15, to make it 30-21, and Chicago recovered the onside kick after a late New England field goal. The Patriots' three-game winning streak ends at 4-3.
Pittsburgh Steelers at New Orleans Saints (Paris)
Pittsburgh covered as a 3.5-point favorite (some books had it at 3) and the game stayed well under the 44.5 total, grinding out a 16-10 win in Paris. Aaron Rodgers hit DK Metcalf on a 51-yard pass and Darnell Washington on a 4-yard touchdown, and Jaylen Warren ran 18 times for 101 yards as the defense held New Orleans to just 18 rushing yards. Tyler Shough completed 30 of 38 passes for 278 yards and a touchdown, but he threw an interception to Payton Wilson in the red zone and was sacked by Patrick Queen late, and he appeared to be dealing with problems in both hands. Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller combined for 11 yards on 14 carries. The Steelers move to 5-2 with Cleveland coming to town next, while the Saints fall to 2-5 and head into a bye week, with Travis Etienne and Jordyn Tyson possible debuts when they return.
San Francisco 49ers at Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta won outright as a 3-point home underdog (the line ranged from 2.5 to 3.5) and the game stayed under the 50.5 total, handing San Francisco its first loss of the year, 29-20. Michael Penix Jr. went 25 of 34 for 213 yards and three touchdowns, was pressured on only 3 of his 34 dropbacks, and did not throw an interception, with Drake London scoring from 21 yards out, Kyle Pitts finding the end zone for a third straight game, and Nick Muse catching his first career touchdown. The Falcons forced four turnovers, with Kendal Daniels and Jessie Bates intercepting Brock Purdy and Maason Smith forcing a Kaelon Black fumble. San Francisco actually outgained Atlanta 400-295, but two interceptions, two fumbles and a run of penalties undid it, and Christian McCaffrey left with a thigh injury. Atlanta improves to 3-4, and the 49ers fall to 6-1 heading into their bye, with Nick Bosa, Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel expected back soon after.
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens
Cincinnati covered as a short underdog (the line ranged from Bengals -1 to Ravens -2.5) and the game stayed under the 48.5 total in a 35-13 win built entirely in the second half. The Bengals trailed 13-0 at halftime, then outscored Baltimore 35-0 after the break as Joe Burrow went 22 of 30 for 292 yards and four touchdowns, all four of them in the second half, when he was 16 of 18 for 249 yards. Tee Higgins had six catches for 148 yards and a touchdown and Ja'Marr Chase added a score. With Lamar Jackson out with an ankle injury, Tyler Huntley went 8 of 13 for 62 yards with a fumble and an interception, was sacked four times, and Derrick Henry managed 45 yards on 17 carries. Demetrius Knight Jr. sealed it with a fourth-quarter interception. Cincinnati climbs to 4-2, and Baltimore falls to 4-3 and is 0-2 in the AFC North.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers
Tampa Bay won outright as a 3-point road underdog and the game flew over the 44.5 total in a 43-13 rout that was never close. Baker Mayfield returned from a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand to go 7 of 11 for 64 yards and a touchdown to Tez Johnson, and he barely had to do more than that because the Buccaneers ran for 258 yards. Bucky Irving had 106 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries, Kenneth Gainwell added 88 yards, and Sean Tucker scored from 46 yards out. Bryce Young threw two interceptions, to Tykee Smith and Zyon McCollum, and lost three turnovers overall, and special teams miscues, including a muffed punt and a blocked extra point returned for two points, handed Tampa Bay more. Calijah Kancey scored on a fumble return after an Al-Quadin Muhammad strip-sack, and the Bucs sacked Young five times. Carolina pulled its starters with 10:21 left. Tampa Bay moves to 2-5, while the Panthers drop to 3-3.
New York Giants at Houston Texans
New York won outright as a 9.5-point road underdog (some books had it at 10) and the game flew over the 42.5 total, with the Giants beating Houston 27-21 in overtime for one of the biggest upsets of the season. J.J. McCarthy made his first start and went 20 of 28 for 252 yards, Cam Skattebo ran for 124 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, including a 42-yard run in overtime, and Devin Singletary ended it with a 30-yard walk-off touchdown. Malik Nabers had seven catches for 111 yards, and Deonte Banks limited Nico Collins to two catches for 6 yards. The Giants missed a couple of field goals before overtime, but Houston had no takeaways, ran for only 3.4 yards per carry and has now allowed 27 or more points in four games this season. New York improves to 4-2-1, and Houston falls to 2-5 with its playoff chances down to around 31 percent.
Indianapolis Colts at Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota won by six as a 6-point home favorite, a push at most books and a Colts cover at the 6.5 some had, and the game stayed far under the 41.5 total in a 16-10 slog that moved the Vikings to 6-0. Kyler Murray went just 4 of 11 for 67 yards, though his 35-yard fourth-quarter scramble kept a key drive alive, and Minnesota failed to score a touchdown for the third time this season. Brian Flores' defense blitzed Daniel Jones on 85.2 percent of his dropbacks, the highest rate by any defense in a game in the Next Gen Stats era, and Blake Cashman had two sacks, four pass breakups and 12 tackles. Jones went 13 of 22 for 108 yards and was hit 10 times, and Harrison Smith's late interception sealed it after Spencer Shrader missed field goals from 56 and 48 yards. Aaron Jones left in the fourth quarter with an injury. Indianapolis, which fired general manager Chris Ballard last week, falls to 2-5.
Miami Dolphins at New York Jets
Miami won outright as a 4.5-point road underdog and the game flew over the 39 total in a 28-25 win that gave the Dolphins their first victory of the season. Malik Willis had his best game of the year with multiple passing touchdowns and a rushing score, Caleb Douglas scored on a 63-yard catch and run, and Ollie Gordon II ran for 103 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries while filling in for De'Von Achane. Miami led 21-7 at halftime, the first time all season it had led a game. Geno Smith threw an interception for the second straight week, Mason Taylor had two touchdowns and Omar Cooper Jr. had two catches of 50-plus yards, but Chop Robinson had five pressures and a key red-zone sack. The Dolphins improve to 1-5, and the Jets fall to 2-5, are 0-8 in the AFC East under coach Aaron Glenn, and face the Raiders next.
Cleveland Browns at Tennessee Titans
Cleveland covered as a 1.5-point road favorite (some had it at 2.5) and the game flew over the 38.5 total in a 27-24 win that came down to the final seconds. Deshaun Watson threw for 308 yards, scored on a 9-yard run and led the game-winning drive, which ended with Andre Szmyt's 32-yard field goal as time expired. Quinshon Judkins ran for 96 yards and two touchdowns, KC Concepcion set a career high with eight catches for 129 yards, and Cleveland ran for 183 yards. Tennessee led 14-0 early and tied it at 24 in the final minute behind Tony Pollard, who ran for 129 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries, but it could not hold on. The Browns move to 5-2 and the Titans fall to 1-6 after squandering a 14-point lead.
Denver Broncos at Arizona Cardinals
Denver covered as a 4.5-point road favorite and the game cleared the 43.5 total with a 30-16 win. Bo Nix went 15 of 29 for 222 yards and a touchdown and ran for a 62-yard score, the longest quarterback scramble touchdown in the Next Gen Stats era, and RJ Harvey added a 52-yard screen touchdown. Denver's defense did the rest, with Nik Bonitto recording 13 pressures and Alex Singleton piling up 19 tackles, and Jacoby Brissett was pressured on 50.9 percent of his dropbacks. The Broncos improve to 5-2, while Arizona falls to 2-5 after beating the Rams last week.
Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions
Detroit won by three as a 3-point home favorite (3.5 at some books), which is a push at 3 and a Packers cover at 3.5, and the game stayed far under the 53.5 total in a 20-17 finish decided by Jake Bates' kick as time expired. Jared Goff threw for 303 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions, while Jordan Love threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns but was picked off by Brian Branch. The Lions made it harder than it needed to be with a Jahmyr Gibbs fumble and a botched snap, and Green Bay's rookie kicker Trey Smack missed field goals from 26 and 35 yards. Cade Mays played his first game of the season. Detroit improves to 4-2, and Green Bay falls to 4-3.
Los Angeles Rams at Las Vegas Raiders
Los Angeles covered as a 4-point road favorite and the game cleared the 47.5 total in a 35-21 win. Matthew Stafford threw three touchdown passes and broke the Rams' career record for passing touchdowns with 155. Kyren Williams ran for 99 yards and a score on 16 carries, though he lost a fumble, and Blake Corum added 93 yards and a touchdown. Kirk Cousins threw two touchdown passes, to Tre Tucker and Ashton Jeanty, but Las Vegas converted just 3 of 14 third downs and has lost four straight. The Rams improve to 3-4 after last week's loss to Arizona, and the Raiders fall to 3-4.
Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks
Seattle covered as a 2.5-point home favorite and the game stayed far under the 42.5 total in a 20-3 win. Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught nine passes for 150 yards and a 28-yard touchdown and leads the league in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Emanuel Wilson ran for 100 yards on 24 carries, and Sam Darnold threw an interception before halftime but did not need to do much more. Kansas City's offense had just 96 yards at halftime, and Kenneth Walker III, back in Seattle for the first time as a Chief, saw little room to run. Seattle bounces back from its overtime loss in Denver to improve to 4-3, and Kansas City falls to 5-1.
Monday Night Preview: Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
Dallas is a 4.5-point road favorite at most books (some have it at 4) with the total at 44.5 and the moneyline around Cowboys -218 and Eagles +180 in a matchup of two 2-4 teams at the bottom of the NFC East. Philadelphia has lost four straight and is 1-5 against the spread, 0-3 at home, and the Eagles are now home underdogs without Jalen Hurts, who is on injured reserve with a blood clot in his calf, so Tanner McKee is under center. Saquon Barkley is dealing with a hamstring injury and is listed as questionable along with A.J. Epenesa, Jalyx Hunt, Michael Carter II and Nolan Smith, and the team is working through the loss of Lane Johnson to retirement. Dallas has lost two straight and scored just 13 points in each, and its defense ranks 31st in EPA per play, but the offense ranks eighth and Dak Prescott still has CeeDee Lamb, who has been quiet the last two weeks after his 189-yard game in Week 4. The Cowboys are 3-3 against the spread and just 1-3 when favored, with KaVontae Turpin and Dee Winters doubtful, and Philadelphia's defense has held up but tends to fade late, allowing about 10 points per fourth quarter. This looks like a game where Dallas winning has the stronger case, with the 4 as a key number and the under worth a look given how much the Eagles' offense has struggled.
