Week 7 of the 2022 NFL season is upon us, and it’s already brought two things we don’t often get: mid-season star-studded trades, and touchdowns on Thursday Night Football.
Parity continues to reign as we near the midway point of the season. None of this weekend’s matchups feature two clubs with winning records. The league’s three best teams — the Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills, and Minnesota Vikings — are off this week, as are the Los Angeles Rams, who could use a week to reset if they’re to rebound from a lacklustre start.
Here’s a storyline we’re watching ahead of each Week 7 matchup this week.
Browns (2-4) @ Ravens (3-3) | Sunday 1 p.m.
The story of Baltimore's season is late-game meltdowns:
Late-game meltdowns, you say? The Browns know a thing or two about those.
So far, no one appears quite up to the task of grabbing hold of the AFC North's division lead — or a winning record, for that matter. The heat will be on Cleveland these next two weeks. Losers of three straight games, a bounce-back win against Baltimore this Sunday could potentially set them up to rise to the top of the division at the midway point next Monday against the Bengals.
Back-to-back divisional losses, however, would be incredibly tough to recover from.
Buccaneers (3-3) @ Panthers (1-5) | Sunday 1 p.m.
Sideline drama stole the spotlight for both of these clubs last Sunday, but that feels like ancient history considering the blockbuster deal that just went down Thursday night in Carolina, sending star running back Christian McCaffrey to San Francisco.
The deal came just a few days after the Panthers sent wide receiver Robbie Anderson to Arizona.
Just six games in, and the season is already over for the Panthers. But what’s next for Tampa Bay?
Falcons (3-3) @ Bengals (3-3) | Sunday 1 p.m.
Between the underestimated Falcons and the underachieving Bengals, neither club was expected to be at an even 3-3 approaching the mid-season mark. Is the tide turning for the Bengals? Joe Burrow looked right at home last week at the Superdome – a win that, should Cincinnati find itself back in playoffs, could be viewed as the turning point of the season.
Lions (1-4) @ Cowboys (4-2) | Sunday 1 p.m.
The return of franchise quarterback Dak Prescott against the 1-4 Lions will totally put an end to all the Cooper Rush comparisons and silly Dallas QB debates, right?
... right?
Also: What’s the over/under on thumb close-ups in a single game?
Giants (5-1) @ Jaguars (2-4) | Sunday 1 p.m.
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson: "I tell you this, you don't go to sleep on Daniel Jones."
Vegas, still listing the Giants as three-point underdogs this Sunday: Not sleeping on Trevor Lawrence, apparently.
Packers (3-3) @ Commanders (2-4) | Sunday 1 p.m.
Aaron Rodgers was clearly sending a message following the Packers’ loss to the Jets when he told reporters he felt the offence needed “to simplify things.”
What’s not clear is for whom that message was intended — head coach Matt LaFleur? His young fleet of receivers? Management?
Meanwhile, Washington’s got much bigger issues — and a win this Sunday won’t fix them.
Colts (3-2-1) @ Titans (3-2) | Sunday 1 p.m.
The Titans entered their Week 6 bye on a three-game win streak that had them looking like they’d figured out their issues on offence. That trio of wins included a 24-17 victory over the Colts, which marked their fourth consecutive win over Indy dating back to November 2020.
Texans (1-3-1) @ Raiders (1-4) | Sunday 4:05 p.m.
The biggest difference between these one-win teams? Expectations. With both clubs coming off bye weeks, all eyes are on the Raiders to right the ship going forward.
Jets (4-2) @ Broncos (2-4) | Sunday 4:05 p.m.
Chiefs (4-2) @ 49ers (3-3) | Sunday 4:25 p.m.
This Super Bowl LIV rematch just got a whole lot more interesting with the arrival of Christian McCaffrey in the Bay area.
Looks like we might get a glimpse of the Shanahan-CMC playbook this Sunday, too.
Could this be a Super Bowl preview?
Seahawks (3-3) @ Chargers (4-2) | Sunday 4:25 p.m.
Monday’s low-scoring win over Denver marked just the second time in 38 career starts that Justin Herbert didn’t throw a touchdown pass — a particularly wild stat considering he had 37 completions on the night.
Steelers (2-4) @ Dolphins (3-3) | Sunday 8:20 p.m.
Tua Tagovailoa, cleared from concussion protocol on Oct. 15, will get his first start since being stretchered off the field following what was a really scary scene in Cincinnati in Week 4.
Sunday’s game against the Steelers also sees another notable return: Brian Flores, now Pittsburgh’s linebackers coach, makes his return following a tumultuous exit from Miami that saw him file a civil lawsuit alleging tampering and tanking by the Dolphins.
Bears (2-4) @ Patriots (3-3) | Monday 8:15 p.m.
The solid play of Bailey Zappe, 2-0 in two starts in relief of Mac Jones, has a potential QB situation brewing. Jones is expected to return from his ankle injury Monday night. How long is his leash?
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