After enduring some rough handling from Ndamukong Suh on our Sky Sports NFL Week 7 preview show on Sunday night, Jason Bell finally got to sit down and watch a series of intense games unfold. At one moment, he commented on the league’s unpredictability, suggesting that it’s precisely why teams strive to make it to the playoffs, because once they’re there, anything can happen!
I wholeheartedly agree. Predicting the outcome of this league has never been more challenging and it seems like with each passing Sunday, it’s becoming increasingly unpredictable. This applies both on and off the field.
On Sunday morning, many of us were pondering if Bill Belichick was truly on the verge of being dismissed in New England. However, by the time his team with a 1-5 record hit the field to compete against the Buffalo Bills, it was already reported that Belichick had secured a profitable contract extension with the Patriots during the offseason, effectively putting that discussion to rest for the time being.
Had it really? As Sunday’s kickoffs approached, I was left pondering whether Belichick might be dismissed due to a continued poor performance, regardless of the financial consequences. However, unpredictability was evident in the Foxboro forecast, and surprisingly, New England triumphed over the Bills with a 29-25 win.
The win’s style was as unexpected as the outcome itself. During most of the game, New England managed to keep Josh Allen under control. However, they finally gave in towards the end, with Allen scoring a one-yard sneak with only 1:58 left on the clock. The Patriots required a field goal to level the scores and a touchdown to claim victory. Unfortunately, the person tasked with leading them down the field, quarterback Mac Jones, had been performing poorly in the preceding month.
Despite the challenge, he successfully marched them, completing passes to Rhamondre Stevenson, Hunter Henry, DeVante Parker, and Demario Douglas. He then hit Mike Gesicki from one yard out for the winning game with only 12 seconds left.
Considering Jones’ recent performance, even the most enthusiastic Patriots supporters would have likely lacked confidence before that last drive. It served as yet another example that nothing is a given in the NFL.
The night wasn’t short of tense finishes. Cleveland triumphed over Indianapolis due to a touchdown run from Kareem Hunt with just 15 seconds left on the clock. Meanwhile, Younghoe Koo’s last-second kick led Atlanta to victory over Tampa Bay. The New York Giants also managed to secure a 14-7 win against the Washington Commanders, thanks to a late stand near their own end zone.
As NFL fans, we live for the thrilling drama that unfolded on Sunday night, where six out of the 10 games were nail-bitingly close, decided by just one score. This kind of excitement is set to continue throughout the rest of the regular season and, very possibly, into the playoffs. So, all you need to do is tune in, because then, literally anything can happen!
Who’s Hot…
The Baltimore Ravens… In what is shaping up to be a wide-open league, the Baltimore Ravens are coming together very nicely indeed. Their defense was excellent in their London win, recording six sacks against the Tennessee Titans and the only concern was their red zone inefficiency. The defense balled out again during Sunday’s 38-6 thrashing of the Detroit Lions and the scoring woes were emphatically put to bed. Lamar Jackson led from the front, throwing for 357 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for a score. The defense is a swarming, brooding unit perfect for Baltimore. On the day the great Terrell Suggs was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor, the Ravens recorded five more sacks in a defensive masterclass as they moved to 5-2. It was an emphatic win from a talented team. Why not them in a competitive AFC?
Myles Garrett… It wasn’t a classic Cleveland Browns performance on the defensive side of the ball, allowing Gardner Minshew to put up 38 points one week after San Francisco could only muster 17 against the same defense. Go figure! But Myles Garrett had himself a difference-making day, as he usually does. He was everywhere, wrecking plays on defense and on special teams. Garrett became the first NFL player since at least 1991 to have two sacks, two forced fumbles (one was recovered in the end zone for a touchdown) and a blocked field goal in the same game. He also passed Hall of Famer Reggie White for the most sacks by a player before turning 28 years old with 82. It’s a rather obscure stat, but any time you’re passing a legend like White; you’re doing something right.
Mahomes and Kelce… It has not been a vintage start to the season for the Kansas City Chiefs offense, but what we saw last night from Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce was everything we have come to expect from that dynamic partnership. Their connection is uncanny and so often made up on the fly. They get on the same page when plays break down and neither can explain quite how they did it afterwards. Mahomes was red hot in the first half and ended the game with 424 passing yards and four touchdowns. Kelce was, as is so often the case, his primary target; reeling in 12 for 179 yards and a touchdown. The Chiefs have played well on defense all season long. If their offense is now revving into high gear, this team that has won six straight can make a fourth Super Bowl appearance in the last five years.
Who’s Not…
The Detroit Lions… The Lions were the talk of the NFL heading into Baltimore in Week 7. They were owners of the best record in the league at 5-1, they were chasing a 6-1 start for the first time since 1956 and their offense was considered one of the best in the game. That said, there were just a few whispers about the fact that four wins in a row by at least 14 points (a first for Detroit since 1934) had come against Atlanta, Green Bay, Carolina and Tampa Bay – none of whom would be confused with an NFL powerhouse. The manner of Detroit’s one-sided loss suggests that there is work to be done before they can be considered a true contender. There was little offensive balance, especially early on as the game got away from them, and Jared Goff really didn’t handle the pressure very well as he skipped too many passes off the turf, threw one interception and posted a quarterback rating of 68.4. He had gone into the game as the third-highest passer in the league with a rating of 105.1 but he was mostly terrible. Back to the drawing board for the Lions.
The Miami Dolphins… Much like the Lions, the Miami Dolphins were creating headlines and a multitude of feel-good stories heading into Week 7. Their offense was operating at a higher level than any other unit in the league and a 5-1 start had Fins fans dreaming of the Super Bowl appearance for the first time since the 1984 season. But it had been noted that their wins came against teams with a combined record of 5-24 and their lone loss came against a good team in Buffalo. So, here came a significant test on the road against the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles. Miami couldn’t handle the physicality of the Eagles in a 31-17 loss. The Dolphins rushed for just 45 yards, Tua Tagovailoa was sacked three times and threw a pick and Tyreek Hill was held to 88 receiving yards on 11 catches – and one of those went for a 27-yard touchdown. Take out that one play and the other 10 Hill catches were good for just 61 yards. Back to the drawing board go the Dolphins.
The Fast Five…
- At times, it’s unclear how they manage it, but the Pittsburgh Steelers consistently find ways to win. Their record stands at a notable 4-2 after defeating the Los Angeles Rams 24-17 on Sunday. Despite rushing for only 86 yards, Kenny Pickett not throwing a touchdown pass and the defense only recording two sacks, the Steelers still came out on top. T.J. Watt played a significant role as usual, making a key interception that led to a second half touchdown.
- The Jacksonville Jaguars have been on a winning streak, claiming their fourth consecutive victory against the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night. Significantly, the Jags seem unaffected by their extended time in London, substantiating their two UK victories with consecutive wins upon returning to America. This could potentially set the stage for more two-game trips to London for the Jaguars in the future.
- Despite their 39-38 defeat to Cleveland, which left the Indianapolis Colts at 3-4, I remain optimistic about this team’s future. They exhibit a strong work ethic, and this persists even without rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson, who’s out for the season. Head coach Shane Steichen is proving instrumental, and I appreciate his offensive strategies. There’s something enticing about this novice leader. He and his team have caught my interest, even though they’re not quite perfect yet.
- Reaching the pinnacle of the football world and playing the most challenging position – quarterback in the NFL – is tough. It’s even tougher if you didn’t play college football in the SEC or another top Division I school. Thus, it was an extraordinary Sunday night for Tyson Bagent, an undrafted rookie from Shepherd University, as he guided the Chicago Bears to a 30-12 triumph over the Las Vegas Raiders. Quarterbacks from a Division II school in West Virginia, where home attendance hardly exceeds 5,000, aren’t expected to perform at such a high level. However, Bagent seemed comfortable, completing 21 of 29 passes for 162 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions. While his performance wasn’t flashy, it wasn’t disastrous either. The length of Bagent’s time in the limelight is uncertain. Regardless, he can always proudly claim, even if it’s for one match: “I was a starting quarterback in the NFL.” Quite remarkable.
- On Sunday, Bagent took over as quarterback for the Bears, replacing Justin Fields, while Brian Hoyer took over for the Raiders. Josh Dobbs continued his stint as the starter for Arizona in place of Kyler Murray, with P.J. Walker stepping in for the injured Deshaun Watson for Cleveland. Meanwhile, Gardner Minshew replaced Richardson in Indianapolis, and Tyrod Taylor subbed in for Daniel Jones for the New York Giants. The next time you see penalties designed to protect quarterbacks, remember that these players are the NFL’s biggest stars and their prolonged absence doesn’t benefit anyone.
Fact of the Week
Bill Belichick secured his place as the third coach in NFL history to attain 300 regular season victories, following Sunday’s triumph over Buffalo. He now ranks behind only two iconic figures of the sport, Don Shula (328 wins) and George Halas (318 wins).
Finish That Sentence
Every week, I use this platform to invite my readers to submit the beginning of a sentence through X. Similar to what we used to do during our NFL Live stage show tours, I’ll complete the sentence with the first thought that crosses my mind. Let’s get started…
From Finn Reynolds (@FinnReynolds2) If the Super Bowl were to be played tomorrow it would be between… the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers. I think Miami can still be dangerous on their day, it’s hard to write off Joe Burrow and the Bengals and the Ravens have the defense to stifle the Chiefs in a one-off showdown. But I would just back Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and Travise Kelce to figure it out. Pedigree and experience count large come playoff time and I think that would put KC in a strong position to get back to the big game. Even though they lost for the first time last week, I would still say San Francisco from the NFC. There are two powerhouses in that conference and I just trust the 49ers more than Philadelphia. The Eagles are still turning the ball over too often. Jalen Hurts has 10 turnovers already (eight interceptions and two fumbles) having committed just eight all of last season. Those mistakes can be devastating and season-ending in knockout games in January.
From John McLellan (@JohnMcLellan82) The team who have disappointed me so far is… the Buffalo Bills, because I think they have a chance to be a really good football team and they should have a better record than 4-3. Or should they? They could easily have lost to the New York Giants in Week 6 and that would see them sat at 3-4 right now. Either way, they’re only marginally better than middle of the pack at the moment and need to up their game across the board. They are very frustrating because there is too much reliance on Josh Allen to serve up his magic at quarterback. And if he cannot produce at the highest of levels, there are not many who step up in his absence and pull off the win. There are very few Steelers-like victories in Buffalo. For the most part, they tend to be inspired by Allen or they just don’t happen.
From Peter (@bdlpeter) The problem with the Los Angeles Chargers is…_ not just one thing. I would say there is pressure building on head coach Brandon Staley because at times this season he has made some bizarre decisions and a team that is not devoid of talent is 2-4 after Sunday’s loss in Kansas City. Offensively, they cannot protect Justin Herbert – they just allow too much pressure on their quarterback. And a lot of that pressure in the second half at Arrowhead – 30 minutes of play in which the Chargers failed to score a single point – came without blitzing from the Chiefs. That is a worry and it’s holding back a truly talented passer in Herbert. And the defense is still far too leaky, ranking 31st in the NFL in yards allowed. Again, that puts pressure on the offense to do the bailing out. This team should be better, but it’s the same old story with the Chargers. Staley’s seat is warming.
Final Thought…
To conclude today’s column, let’s circle back to the ‘Any Given Sunday’ theme that initiated our discussion. This past Sunday, the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, and New York Giants battled to achieve their second victories of the season. The media incessantly discusses the concept of deliberately losing games to secure top players like USC quarterback Caleb Williams. This is reminiscent of the ‘Tank for Tua’ and ‘Suck for Luck’ movements. Such campaigns, to be frank, are a disgrace to the competitive athletes who devote their Sundays to playing on NFL fields. Even the least successful teams occasionally triumph, and this past Sunday bore witness to this fact.
