Winners/losers and what we learned from NFL Week 7
Week 7 of the 2023 NFL season is (almost) in the books, and last season's Super Bowl participants − the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles − are the NFL's lone 6-1 teams (the San Francisco 49ers can join them Monday night).
Here are some of the most important developments from Sunday:
- With the Patriots' shocking upset of the Bills, Bill Belichick joined Don Shula (328) and George Halas (318) as the only NFL head coaches with 300 or more wins. Andy Reid could reach that 300-win milestone, too. He collected victory No. 253 on Sunday.
- It got ugly early in Baltimore, as the Ravens scored a touchdown on each of their first four drives against the Lions. The Ravens are the first team to do that this season.
- An undrafted rookie quarterback from Division II Shepherd University, Tyson Bagent, led the Bears to their first home win since Week 3 of last season. A year ago Sunday, Bagent had three touchdown passes in the Shepherd Rams' 47-14 win over the West Chester Golden Rams in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference game.
- The Eagles' A.J. Brown recorded his fifth consecutive game with 125 or more yards receiving, tying Pro Football Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson (in 2012) and Pat Studstill (in 1966) for the longest such streak in NFL history.
- Myles Garrett was a one-man wrecking crew in the Browns' win over the Colts, becoming the first player since at least 2000 with multiple sacks, multiple forced fumbles and a blocked field goal in the same game.
NFL Week 7 key storylines
- Winners and losers of Week 7: While the Packers have a Jordan Love problem, the Chiefs appear to have found their groove.
- 32 things we learned in Week 7: The fourth Sunday of October marks "National Tight End Day," and while the Ravens' Mark Andrews tried to steal the spotlight early, it was Travis Kelce who snagged it against the Chargers.
- NFL's most explosive team left to explain why it fizzled out: The Dolphins boasted the NFL's most prolific offense entering Sunday, but Miami suffered another significant setback against a top contender.
- 'Sleeping giant' no more: The Ravens asserted their contender status in Sunday's rout of the Lions, Jarrett Bell writes.
- 'I wanted to protect him': Despite Deshaun Watson clearing concussion protocol, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski decided Watson would be better off on the sidelines for the rest of Sunday's thrilling win.
- Falcons' star rookie reveals why he barely played: Standout rookie running back Bijan Robinson only participated in six plays in the Falcons' win over the Buccaneers.
- Taylor Swift 'can stay around all she wants': Count Andy Reid as a fan of the Travis Kelce-Taylor Swift romance. Swift took in the win at Arrowhead Stadium once again, her fourth appearance at a Chiefs game in the past month.
- Suspensions, loss of draft picks could be punishment for fights: The NFL says it will significantly punish players or even teams for fighting.
➤ PHOTOS: Fans, mascots, cheerleaders and celebrities at NFL games
NFL Week 7 results
- Philadelphia Eagles 31, Miami Dolphins 17: Powered by Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, a timely interception by Darius Slay and the "Brotherly Shove," the Eagles rebounded in a big way.
- Denver Broncos 19, Green Bay Packers 17: Six starts into his NFL career and it's apparent Jordan Love still has a lot to learn.
- Kansas City Chiefs 31, Los Angeles Chargers 17: Is Taylor Swift a good-luck charm for the Chiefs? Head coach Andy Reid might be starting to think so.
- Pittsburgh Steelers 24, Los Angeles Rams 17: The surprising Steelers now are just a half game behind the division-leading Ravens.
- Seattle Seahawks 20, Arizona Cardinals 10: Josh Dobbs hasn't been as sharp as he was earlier in the season, and it cost the Cardinals in Seattle.
- New England Patriots 29, Buffalo Bills 25: The Patriots pulled off the upset of the season so far and delivered a 300th career head coaching victory to Bill Belichick in the process.
- Baltimore Ravens 38, Detroit Lions 6: What was one of Week 7's most-anticipated games turned into a rout very early in Baltimore.
- New York Giants 14, Washington Commanders 7: The Giants got a much-needed victory and ended a four-game losing streak behind a late-game goal-line stand.
- Cleveland Browns 39, Indianapolis Colts 38: In the wildest game of Week 7 (so far), the Browns pulled out a last-minute win behind backup quarterback P.J. Walker.
- Chicago Bears 30, Las Vegas Raiders 12: Justin Fields who? 😏 Rookie Tyson Bagent − an undrafted quarterback from Division II Shepherd University (West Virginia) - delivered a decisive win over the visiting Raiders.
- Atlanta Falcons 16, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 13: Younghoe Koo's game-winning field goal as time expired thrust the Falcons into first place in the NFC South.
- Jacksonville Jaguars 31, New Orleans Saints 24 (Thursday): Trevor Lawrence played, despite an ailing knee, and was efficient – if not effervescent – but made his biggest play when his team needed it most.
Coming soon in the NFL
Monday: Week 7 wraps up with the Minnesota Vikings hosting the San Francisco 49ers on "Monday Night Football" (ABC/ESPN and ESPN2). A day after National Tight End Day, the 49ers' George Kittle and Vikings' T.J. Hockenson will represent "Tight End University."
Tuesday: Paste BN Sports offers its power rankings for all 32 NFL teams after Week 7.
Thursday: Week 8 kicks off with the Buffalo Bills hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on "Thursday Night Football" at the Superdome (8:20 p.m. ET, Prime Video). Before the game, make sure to check out our expert picks for every Week 8 game.
NFL Facebook group: Talk some football!
Run a post pattern to our NFL Facebook Group📲, The Ruling Off the Field 🏈, to engage in friendly debate and conversation with fellow football fans and our NFL insiders 🏟. Not a member yet? Sign up today! ✍
If you enjoy reading 4th & Monday 📰, encourage your football fan friends to subscribe 📱. Follow the valiantly vibrant writer of this newsletter on X, formerly Twitter @jimreineking ✖ or on Threads @jimreineking.