Analysis
10/23/23
16 min read
Everything You Need to Know from NFL Week 7
After an exciting slate of Sunday action in Week 7, The 33rd Team breaks down key plays, stats and insights from around the NFL.
>>READ:Â Biggest Winners, Losers From Week 7
Giants 14, Commanders 7
Key Inactives
Giants: QB Daniel Jones, CB Adoree’ Jackson, T Evan Neal, T Andrew ThomasÂ
Commanders: DE Efe Obada, DE K.J. HenryÂ
Commanders Struggle Against Blitz-Heavy Giants
The New York Giants overwhelmed Sam Howell and the Washington Commanders' offense by bringing a lot of pressure throughout the game. This pressure was part of the reason why the Commanders went one of 15 on third down. Howell completed 22 of 42 passes, throwing for 249 yards with one interception. New York sacked Howell six times as well. Dexter Lawrence got two of the six sacks after not recording a single sack in Weeks 1 through 6.
Deonte Banks' First INT Sets Up Giants TD
Howell threw his only interception while under pressure from the Giants' defensive line. Howell failed to see CB Deonte Banks, who undercut WR Jahan Dotson for the easy interception. The Giants took possession at the Commanders' 48-yard line, scoring in two plays, which took all of 38 seconds, and putting the Giants up 14-0.
Giants Offense Looks Much Improved
While the Giants offense did not have an elite performance, it took a step in the right direction, posting 385 total yards (279 passing, 106 rushing). Backup QB Tyrod Taylor played well. In addition to his passing yards, he went 18 of 29 with two touchdowns and no interceptions, posting a 116.9 passer rating. Darren Waller has his best game as a Giant thus far, catching seven balls for 98 yards and one touchdown. Jalin Hyatt made two big catches for 75 receiving yards, the longest for a 42-yard gain.
Commanders Fail to Tie Game Late in Fourth
The Giants stopped the Commanders on their 7-yard line, forcing a turnover on downs with 56 seconds remaining in the game. The Commanders were only down seven points, so scoring on the drive and adding an extra point could have forced overtime, or they could have gone for the two-point conversion to win. The final Commanders drive went 85 yards on 17 plays and consumed 6 minutes and 50 seconds.
Patriots 29, Bills 25
Key Inactives
Patriots: OL Riley Reiff, DL Keion White, LB Josh Uche
Bills: TE Quentin Morris, DT Ed Oliver
Patriots Beat the Streak
QB Mac Jones led the New England Patriots to victory after a tough three-game losing streak. The Patriots (2-5) had recorded the two worst losses in coach Bill Belichick's history this season, a 38-3 loss against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4 and a 34-0 defeat against the New Orleans Saints in Week 5.
Patriots' Offense Stayed Consistent
The Patriots started strong and built a quick 10-point lead over their first two drives. That was their first lead since Week 3 against the New York Jets. QB Mac Jones was extremely consistent and did not have a turnover after committing seven turnovers during the three-game losing streak. Jones finished the game 25 of 30 for 272 yards and two touchdowns. Kendrick Bourne and rookie Demario Douglas were Jones' go-to targets. Bourne had six receptions, 63 receiving yards and one touchdown. Douglas finished with four receptions and 54 receiving yards.
Ezekiel Elliott ran for a 2-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Jones did a good job overall staying calm in the pocket, getting the ball out quickly and ending the game strong on a high note. The Patriots were down by a field goal with less than two minutes to go in the game. Jones led the offense in a 75-yard drive, which included a 34-yard catch and run by RG Rhamondre Stevenson, and Mike Gesicki's winning 1-yard touchdown reception with 12 seconds remaining. Â
Belichick Wins His 300th Game
Belichick won his 300th regular-season game, making him the third coach in NFL history to reach that plateau after Don Shula and George Halas. Including playoffs, Belichick has won 331 games, just short of Shula, who holds the record at 347.Â
Buffalo Bills' Struggles
The Buffalo Bills' offense started slowly, scoring only three points in the first two quarters. QB Josh Allen started the game with an interception, which set the tone. The Bills struggled to get the ball moving, and the offensive line did not properly combat an aggressive New England defense. Allen was 27 of 41 for 265 yards, two TDs and one interception. The Bills struggled on third down and scored touchdowns on only two of their four red-zone opportunities. New England held WR Stefon Diggs to 58 receiving yards and one touchdown. The Bills also struggled with penalties, taking nine. Allen had 12 seconds left in the game to potentially lead the Bills to victory, but he fumbled and the Patriots’ Brenden Schooler recovered it to end the game.
Browns 39, Colts 38
Key Inactives
Browns: LB Sione Takitaki
Colts: TE Kylen Granson, OT Braden Smith
No Watson No Problem
After the Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson left the game after throwing just five passes, P.J. Walker stepped in and did just enough to help the Browns move to 4-2. Walker didn’t have a great game, passing for just 178 yards on 46.9 percent completion percentage and throwing an interception. However, the offense scored 17 points off of turnovers forced by Cleveland's defense. The Browns also had 150 yards on the ground, averaging 4.5 yards per attempt, including a 69-yard rushing touchdown by Jerome Ford and two rushing touchdowns by Kareem Hunt. The offense put up 32 points, its highest total this season. Â
Josh Downs Rookie Success
Josh Downs has become a top offensive threat for the Indianapolis Colts' offense. The rookie led the team in targets and receptions, hauling in five of his six catches for 125 yards — his most in a game this season — along with a touchdown. Downs has found the end zone in back-to-back weeks.
Jonathan Taylor is back
After being limited to just 37 rushing yards on 14 rush attempts his first two weeks back from injured reserve, Jonathan Taylor ran for 75 yards on 18 attempts (4.2 yards per attempt). He also impacted the passing game, hauling in three catches for 45 yards.
Myles Garret Makes His DPOY Case
Myles Garrett completely dominated the Colts' offensive line. He had nine tackles, one TFL, one blocked kick, two forced fumbles and two sacks — one resulting in a touchdown.
Hopkins continues his hot start to the seasonÂ
Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins is the first player in NFL history to have at least one 50-plus-yard field goal in five consecutive games, including two 54-yard field goals and a 58-yarder.
Bears 30, Raiders 12
Key Inactives
Bears: RB Roschon Johnson, QB Justin Fields, S Eddie Jackson
Raiders: QB Jimmy Garoppolo, CB Jakorian Bennett, CB Nate Hobbs
Raiders' Rushing Attack Continues to Struggle
Coming into the week, the Las Vegas Raiders were ranked 31st in the league in rushing yards per game (73.5) and tied for last at just three yards per rush attempt. Josh Jacobs and the rest of the rushing attack were held to 39 yards on the ground, averaging 2.8 yards a rush.
Bears' Defense Steps Up Big
Without their starting quarterback in Fields, the Chicago Bears' defense stepped up. They won the turnover battle 3-0 and held Las Vegas to its lowest yardage total this season (235). LB Tremaine Edmunds had his first interception as a Bear, and CB Jaylon Johnson had two, including one he returned for a touchdown.
Bears' Offense Does Their Job
Without Fields, this offense isn’t nearly as dangerous. However, Tyson Bagent and the rest of the offense were able to control the game. Bagent completed 72.4 percent of his passes, averaging 5.6 yards an attempt. The Bears also won the time of possession battle (34:06 to 25:54) and did not turn the ball over. Without running back Johnson, D’Onta Foreman stepped up, accounting for 120 yards and two touchdowns. The Bears ran all over the Raiders' defense, rushing 38 times for 173 yards, averaging 4.6 yards per attempt.
Raiders Against Rookie QBs
The Raiders have lost their past four games against starting rookie quarterbacks, losing to Bagent this week, Fields in 2021, and Brock Purdy and Kenny Pickett in 2022.Â
Bagent is just the third undrafted rookie quarterback to start an NFL game within the first seven weeks of the season since 1992. The other two were Max Hall with the Arizona Cardinals (2010) and Devlin Hodges with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2019).
Ravens 38, Lions 6
Key Inactives
Lions: RB David Montgomery, S Jerry Jacobs, WR Marvin Jones Jr. LG Jonah Jackson
Ravens: S, Marcus Williams, CB Â Kevon Seymour
Ravens' Offense Explode
The Baltimore Ravens offense got into a groove early, scoring four touchdowns on their first four drives, and the Detroit Lions (5-2) could not slow them. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense racked up 503 total yards, dominating through the air (357 yards) and on the ground (146 yards). Jackson went 21 of 27 for 357 yards and three touchdowns, rushed for 36 yards and one touchdown and finished with an almost perfect passer rating of 155.8. The Ravens' offense had 11 explosive plays. Eight came on receptions that went 20 yards or more, and three came on rushes that went 10 yards or more.Â
Red-Hot Lions Hit a WallÂ
The Detroit Lions (5-2) came into this game on a four-game win streak, winning those games by at least 14 points, and they were 13-4 in their past 17 games. The Lions' defense had no answer for Jackson and the Ravens (5-2), giving up 38 points on 55 plays and allowing 5.4 yards per rush and 12.8 yards per attempt, both the highest they have allowed this season. Â Jared Goff (33 of 53, 284 yards, one interception) was sacked a season-high five times and never got into a rhythm. Rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs (11 carries, 68 yards and one TD) scored the first touchdown of his NFL career.
Ravens' Defense is Legit
The Ravens' defense is one of the best games this season. Here is how they rank after seven games in 2023: 13.9 opponent points per game (No. 1), 4.1 yards per play (No. 1), 271.7 yards per game (No.1), 23.5 percent red zone efficiency (No. 2), and have only allowed six offensive touchdowns this season (No. 1).
Lamar Jackson Dominates the NFC
Jackson is 16-1 vs. NFC opponents, including 8-0 at home. This .941 win percentage is the best by any NFL quarterback against the opposing conference since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger with at least five starts, per ESPN Stats & Info.
Falcons 16, Buccaneers 13
Key Inactives
Falcons: N/A
Buccaneers: N/A
Falcons Overcome Turnovers
Despite losing three fumbles in the red zone, QB Desmond Ridder and the Atlanta Falcons (4-3) beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3) on a last-second, 51-yard field goal by Younghoe Koo, which was his third field goal of the game. The Falcons snapped an eight-game road losing streak and lead the NFC South by a half-game over the Bucs. RB Bijan Robinson had only one carry for three yards and hardly saw any action due to a headache. With the rookie on the sideline, fellow running backs Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson combined for 31 carries and 156 yards.
Bucs’ Offense Falls Short
Baker Mayfield went 27 of 42 for 275 yards with one touchdown and an interception. Entering Week 7, the Bucs offense ranked No. 31 in yards per rush (3.1). They were only slightly better against the Falcons, carrying 20 times for 73 yards and 3.7 yards per rush. Mike Evans (six receptions for 82 yards) hauled in a 40-yard TD pass in the first quarter for the Bucs’ only touchdown.
Atlanta’s Silent Streak
The Falcons’ defense has held opponents to 25 points or fewer in 14 consecutive games, dating to Week 11 of the 2022 season.
Steelers 24, Rams 17
Key Inactives
Steelers: N/A
Rams: RB Kyren Williams Â
Steelers Dominate Fourth Quarter
The Pittsburgh Steelers outscored the Los Angeles Rams 14-0 in the fourth quarter to propel them to their 24-17 win. Pittsburgh totaled 190 yards in the fourth quarter, while the Rams’ only sign of offense in the quarter was a total of 20 yards rushing. QB Kenny Pickett finished the game strong, going 7 of 7 for 138 yards passing, Matthew Stafford threw four incompletions.Â
Steelers’ Secondary Contains Cooper Kupp
Cooper Kupp had his least productive game of the 2023 season, securing only two catches for 29 yards on seven targets. Kupp missed the first four games due to a hamstring injury, then totalled 266 yards and one TD on 15 catches in Weeks 5-6. Kupp’s two receptions against the Steelers were his fewest in a game since Week 12 of the 2020 season.Â
Puka Nacua Continues OROY Campaign
Rookie WR Puka Nacua continued his dominance against a Steelers secondary that put much of its focus on Kupp. Nacua tallied eight catches for 154 yards receiving on a team-high 12 targets and accounted for more than half of Stafford’s meager 14 completions. Nacua is building a strong case for Offensive Rookie of the Year with his league-leading 58 receptions and 752 yards receiving through seven weeks. The rookie trails only Tyreek Hill in receiving yards, all as a 2023 fifth-round draft pick.
Broncos 19, Packers 17
Key Inactives, Injuries
Broncos: S JL Skinner, CB Riley Moss
Packers: CB Jaire Alexander, LB De’Vondre Campbell; DE Devonte Wyatt and WR Christian Watson left with apparent knee injuries, TE Luke Musgrave went into concussion protocol
Packers’ Offensive Struggles Continue
Jordan Love is in his first season as the full-time starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers – taking over for Aaron Rodgers – and the 2020 first-round pick has had his ups and downs in 2023. Among 32 qualified quarterbacks, Love ranks 28th in passer rating and is dead last with a completion percentage of 57.5 percent. Green Bay likely expected more success than scoring just 17 points against a Denver Broncos defense that had allowed the most points and yards in the NFL through Week 6. Outside of their 38-20 victory in Week 1 against the Bears, the Packers have not been able to move the ball consistently. Green Bay ranks 28th with just 282 yards of offense per game from Weeks 2-7.Â
Jordan Love’s Costly Turnover
Green Bay trailed by two points with less than two minutes remaining and was knocking on the door of field goal range at its 46-yard line. Needing just a couple of first downs to get into manageable range for the potential winning kick, Love threw a costly interception to P.J. Locke with 1:40 left. That put Denver into victory formation.Â
Broncos Finally Close Out a Halftime Lead
Heading into the game, the Broncos had lost 10 consecutive games when leading at halftime. QB Russell Wilson and the Broncos’ offense took care of the football in the second half, helping them finally close out a game. Wilson was 7 of 9 for 75 yards passing and connected with Courtland Sutton for a touchdown. RB Javonte Williams found his stride in the second half, rushing nine times for 50 yards, averaging 5.9 yards per carry.
Chiefs 31, Chargers 17
Key Inactives, Injuries
Chargers: S Alohi Gilman, TE Tre’ McKitty; RB Austin Ekeler limped off in the first half but returned, TE Gerald Everett left the game due to a quad injury
Chiefs: WR Justin Watson; LB Nick Bolton hurt his wrist in the fourth quarter
Patrick Mahomes Returns to MVP Form
After a rocky start to the season for Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs offense, at least by their standards, they returned to form in this AFC West game. The Los Angeles Chargers’ defense, which has struggled most of the season, proved no match for Mahomes or TE Travis Kelce. The Chiefs pair connected 12 times for 179 yards and a score (with Taylor Swift in attendance). Mahomes finished with 424 yards and four TDs, including three TDs and more than 300 yards on 80 percent passing in the first half.
Justin Herbert, Chargers Hang for First Half
The Chargers (2-4) kept up with the explosive Chiefs offense in the first half, attacking their defense in the run and pass games, including big days from WR Josh Palmer (5/133/1 TD) and RB Josh Kelley (7/75/1 TD). However, the Chargers could not replicate their first-half performance after halftime. Their five second-half possessions ended with an interception, three punts and another interception. Justin Herbert was under non-stop pressure, as he was sacked five times and completed 17 of 30 passes for 259 yards, one TD and two interceptions.
Chiefs Defense Steps Up Again
The Chiefs' defense has played well up to this point, consistently keeping them in and at times winning them games. The Chiefs (6-1) have won 6 consecutive, and their defense came to play again. After surrendering 17 first-half points, the Chiefs shut the Chargers out in the last two quarters. Their pass rush took center stage, sacking Herbert five times. Arguably the game’s biggest play was a tipped pass at the line that resulted in a red zone INT by Herbert.Â
Seahawks 20, Cardinals 10
Key Inactives Â
Cardinals: WR Zach Pascal, LB Jesse Luketa, CB Antonio Hamilton, S Jalen Thompson, OL Elijah Wilkinson
Seahawks: WR DK Metcalf, RB Zach Charbonnet, LB Devin Bush, CB Artie Burns, OG Phil Haynes, OC Evan Brown, OT Raiqwon O’Neal
Rookies Spark Seahawks’ Offense
Rookie WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a breakout game with Seattle Seahawks (4-2) No. 1 receiver DK Metcalf out due to injury. Smith-Njigba made four receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown. Fellow rookie Jake Bobo also caught his first touchdown. The duo helped QB Geno Smith go 18 of 24 for 219 yards and the two first-half scores. RB Kenneth Walker III augmented the passing attack with a season-high 105 yards on 26 carries.Â
Seattle Survives Three Turnovers
Seattle’s offense struggled in the second half, turning the ball over three times (two fumbles, one interception), matching its season total through Week 6. Still, the Seahawks managed two field goals. In all, Seattle went 7 for 13 on third downs.Â
Cardinals’ Offense Stalls
The Arizona Cardinals (1-6) couldn’t capitalize on the Seahawks’ second-half mistakes to overcome a 14-10 halftime deficit. Seattle’s defense had a lot to do with that. The Cardinals had two punts, turned the ball over on downs twice and missed a field goal in the final 30 minutes. Seahawks LB Boye Mafe extended his sack streak to four games.
