Week 7 has featured a historic comeback, a Battle for the Aged between two 40-plus quarterbacks and the defending champs chickening out in a get-right recreation. And that is earlier than my No. 1 workforce, the Buccaneers, takes the sector on Monday evening.
Heading into two Monday evening video games, let’s have a look at the place everybody stands after some thrilling Week 7 motion.
The Baker Mayfield-for-MVP marketing campaign continues to achieve momentum, however the Buccaneers face a stiff check at Detroit on Monday evening. If the offense continues to look practically unstoppable below the path of the previous No. 1 total decide, the Bucs could possibly be essentially the most feared workforce within the league when all of their perimeter playmakers return to motion.
It’s time to give Daniel Jones critical consideration as a league MVP front-runner, main his workforce on a title run. The Colts proceed to knock off AFC heavyweights, taking part in the type of complementary soccer that results in confetti showers in February. Although the season has not reached its midpoint, the spectacular play of the Colts and their QB1 ought to have the soccer world buzzing concerning the rise of a brand new contender within the AFC.
Simply when the NFL thought the defending champs had been down and out, the Eagles bounced again with a powerful efficiency in opposition to the Vikings that showcased their expertise, depth and schematic versatility. After sputtering with their passing recreation for many of the season, the Eagles appeared like a well-oiled machine with Jalen Hurts discovering A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith early and sometimes this week. With every of the co-WR1s topping the 100-yard mark, the Eagles reminded opponents that they need to respect the run and cross when taking over the champs.
A win is a win, however the Packers haven’t appeared just like the contender many envisioned when Micah Parsons joined the squad. Regardless of the All-Professional’s efforts as a disruptive power off the sting, Inexperienced Bay is struggling in opposition to inferior opponents, such because the Cardinals on Sunday. Though they deserve credit score for locating numerous methods to win, the Packers’ playoff run could possibly be a brief one if they don’t learn to knock out punchless opponents.
It has not taken Mike Vrabel lengthy to place his stamp on the Patriots as an rising powerhouse within the AFC. With Drake Maye taking part in with surgical precision from the pocket, New England possesses the offensive sizzle wanted to hold with the juggernauts within the postseason match. Because the protection continues to forge its id as a throwback outfit constructed on physicality, toughness and grit, Vrabel is constructing the Patriots within the picture of New England’s championship squads of the 2000s.
The Rams deal with enterprise like champions below Sean McVay. Regardless of coping with accidents and less-than-ideal circumstances, the workforce all the time performs its finest soccer when it issues most. With few groups able to matching the Rams’ toughness and techniques, count on the workforce from Hollywood to make a deep playoff run at season’s finish.
Sean McDermott and his teaching employees will take full benefit of the bye week to get the Payments again on monitor. If they’ll repair their defensive woes, whereas including new and inventive methods to unleash the reigning MVP down the stretch, the AFC favorites could possibly be the final workforce standing on the finish of the postseason match.
It is good that fashion factors don’t matter within the NFL, as a result of the Broncos have mastered the artwork of successful ugly. After successful a clunker abroad in Week 6, the Broncos wanted a 33-point fourth quarter in opposition to the New York Giants to chalk up their fifth win of the season. Though the Broncos usually are not taking part in to their potential, their grit and resilience might make them a tricky out within the playoffs.
After successful their fourth recreation with QB2 Mac Jones on the helm, the 49ers creep again into the Prime 10. The collective resilience of a squad taking part in with out three of its stars (Brock Purdy, Nick Bosa and Fred Warner) speaks volumes concerning the “no excuses” mentality that exists inside the franchise.
The Bears deserve some love for reeling off 4 straight wins to climb again into rivalry within the NFC North. Ben Johnson has labored wonders with the offense, reworking the unit right into a scoring machine below Caleb Williams. With the protection creating turnovers like loopy, the Bears have an opportunity to sneak into the playoffs as a Cinderella workforce.
Bucky Brooks is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports activities. He additionally breaks down the sport for NFL Community and as a cohost of the “Shifting the Sticks” podcast. Comply with him on Twitter @BuckyBrooks.
Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports activities account, comply with leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a personalised publication every day.
