Seven weeks of the 2023 NFL season are nearly within the books. And the most recent spherical of motion introduced with it loads of drama, from the Patriots beautiful the Payments in Foxborough and the Ravens rolling over the Lions to the Browns outlasting the Colts in a high-scoring shootout. Now which gamers, coaches and groups deserve our highest reward — or harshest critiques — for his or her Week 7 work?
This is a roundup of a few of this weekend’s largest winners and losers:
Winner: Invoice Belichick
Simply whenever you thought his reign could be nearing its finish, Invoice Belichick’s one-win Patriots annoyed and upset Josh Allen and the Payments hours after a report surfaced about him quietly touchdown a profitable multiyear contract extension this offseason. Perhaps he isn’t liable to dismissal in spite of everything. Both method, to get a clutch outing from Mac Jones and an opportunistic one from his protection, dropping Buffalo to 4-3 on the 12 months, he is bought cause to rejoice, even when New England stays extra of a spoiler than contender.
Loser: The Lions hype prepare
You would possibly’ve argued earlier than Week 7 that Detroit was the NFL’s most balanced contender this aspect of the 49ers. However all their momentum got here to a screeching halt in Baltimore, the place Jared Goff’s offensive line lastly folded and Lamar Jackson cruised his method to a three-touchdown efficiency in a 38-6 Ravens blowout. Each group within the NFC has now been humbled, with the Eagles, 49ers and Lions dropping their first or second video games of the season in consecutive weeks.
Loads of of us wrote off the Bears after Justin Fields exited Week 6 with an damage, leaving an already-shaky offense in murky water. They did not account for Tyson Bagent, the undrafted rookie out of Division II Shepherd, bringing veteran-level swagger to make mild work of the Raiders. Making his first profession begin towards a Las Vegas “D” that stifled the Packers per week earlier, Bagent managed the ball and in addition moved it along with his legs, contributing to Chicago’s greater than 170 speeding yards.
Loser: The NFC South
The Falcons edged the Buccaneers of their afternoon slugfest, however did anybody actually win? Desmond Ridder fumbled not as soon as however thrice contained in the pink zone, Baker Mayfield begged Atlanta to make late-game picks till they lastly did, and the rivals at the moment are a mixed 7-6 after seven weeks, completely unwilling — extra like unable — to transcend ugly game-flow. This after Derek Carr and the Saints did too little, too late in a loss to the Jaguars on Thursday. The 0-6 Panthers most likely fared the perfect of all of the South groups, contemplating they did not have an opportunity to lose whereas on their bye.
Winner: Browns
It is robust to crown them after watching their $230 million QB keep sidelined with one other damage that, by all indications, should not have stored him sidelined. Their protection additionally allowed Gardner Minshew and the Colts to make this a barn-burner. However wins are wins, and Jim Schwartz’s unit as soon as once more got here by when it mattered to seal a 39-38 resolution. Meaning, even with Deshaun Watson out and in of the lineup, this group is 4-2 in a troublesome AFC North — about nearly as good as they could’ve hoped for.
Loser: Payments
We already credited Invoice Belichick above, however Buffalo deserves simply as a lot flak for failing to coast previous what had been an atrocious Patriots offense. Josh Allen’s early decide set them again, however Sean McDermott’s protection was much more culpable late, maybe underscoring their want for secondary reinforcements. As a substitute of holding tempo with the Dolphins by advancing to 5-2, this roller-coaster contender is now 4-3, beforehand squandering very winnable contests towards the Jets and Jaguars.
Winner: The Mahomes-Kelce combo
Welcome again, boys! We all know Brandon Staley’s protection cannot be counted on for, you already know, a lot protection. However the Chiefs’ superstars have been in full stride towards their rival Chargers on Sunday. Patrick Mahomes had properly over 300 yards by the air by halftime, ending with 4 scores whereas feeding Travis Kelce in entrance of you already know who. The latter began 2023 on a little bit of a slower be aware whereas battling accidents, however he made 12 catches for 179 yards and a TD look informal whereas skating previous Los Angeles.
The Rams kicker entered Week 7 tied for second in subject objectives made (16), however he left with a number of misses for the third time this season, dropping his season conversion share to 74, one of many worst within the NFL. His final miss specifically was a crucial one, crusing huge left with L.A. up 17-10; the Rams would go on to lose 24-17 to an unpleasant however gritty Steelers squad.
Winner: Sean Payton
It took every kind of scratching and clawing for the Broncos to outlive the Packers at house and safe their second win of the 12 months, however it occurred. Which isn’t nothing, contemplating the turmoil Denver’s been by. It will not assist groups hoping to purge expertise from their roster forward of the deadline, since technically they’re now inside one sport (!) of the Chargers within the AFC West. However it’s a win for Payton, who badly wanted any type of constructive momentum in Mile Excessive Metropolis.
