On paper, the San Francisco 49ers most likely should not be 5-2 proper now. The membership’s lengthy record of accidents must be sufficient to take down even the most important contender: no Brock Purdy, Ricky Pearsall or Brandon Aiyuk up entrance; no Fred Warner or Nick Bosa main the protection; and the staff’s trenches are a continuing puzzle.
And but right here they’re, nonetheless atop the NFC West, tied with the LA Rams and ready to see if Seattle will be part of them on Monday night time in what’s already a stalled divisional race.
Sunday night time in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons, it was working again Christian McCaffrey who powered San Francisco to a 20-10 victory with a rush of 129 yards on the bottom and 72 extra via the air.
His receiving yards had him main all gamers on the sphere Sunday night time — together with his opponents — within the class, and naturally, his dashing numbers, which included a pair of TDs, converse for themselves. McCaffrey’s sensational all-around efficiency accounted for 62 % of his staff’s whole offensive yards.
This is a set of our different key takeaways from Sunday’s Week 7 motion:
Broncos and Giants current traditional filled with drama
For 3 quarters, Sunday’s matchup between the Giants and Broncos seemed like a failure for the visiting underdogs, as Jackson Dart & Co. put up 19 unanswered factors in opposition to a Denver staff that might do nothing on offense.
The offensive considerations have been actual, contemplating {that a} week earlier they’d scored simply 13 factors in opposition to a listless Jets staff and per week earlier than that, they have been held out of the top zone by the Eagles for the primary 45 minutes of the sport. Sure, they received each video games, and their comeback in Philadelphia served because the defining sport of the season to that time. However certainly this time, their early-game offensive woes would get the higher of them, proper? Definitely, a 19-point deficit was an excessive amount of to beat.
Improper. As a substitute of seeing their successful streak snapped at three, Bo Nix and the Broncos’ offense got here to life. The QB accomplished 16 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns within the closing body, scoring 33 factors to come back again and win with a walk-off subject purpose. This can be a traditionally glorious quarter.
Now the query is, can they do it within the first three quarters? A date with Dallas’ sensational offense subsequent week presents a serious problem. Fall behind in opposition to the Cowboys, who simply scored 44 factors with a wholesome CeeDee Lamb again within the combine on Sunday in opposition to Washington, and there is likely to be no restoration… proper?
The Rams’ purple zone offense is on fireplace in opposition to the Jaguars
By means of the primary third of the season, the Rams’ offense supplied an fascinating puzzle: The membership ranked third in scoring makes an attempt within the purple zone, averaging 4.3 per sport via six weeks of play, however was unsuccessful as soon as there. The membership turned solely half of their 26 purple zone journeys into precise touchdowns, with their 50% TD charge rating them twenty fourth within the class.
These struggles have been on the Rams’ minds as they headed throughout the pond for his or her Week 7 matchup in opposition to Jacksonville, particularly after a microphone-in Puka Nacua was heard rallying his teammates and urging them to money in on one thing apart from a subject purpose as soon as in enemy territory:
With Nacua sidelined with an ankle damage this week, all eyes have been on Davante Adams to take excessive job.
He did simply that in Sunday’s 35-7 defeat of the Jaguars, trying proper at residence within the purple zone with three short-pass landing receptions on the day for a complete of 4 yards value 18 factors. Adams was Stafford’s high goal that day, catching 5 passes.
Whereas Nacua’s big-play potential was noticeably absent within the win, the staff’s skill to reshape the offense with a by-committee strategy made the Rams seem like the actual deal heading into their bye week.
After struggles originally of the season, Philly begins the passing sport
It could have been Carson Wentz’s revenge sport, nevertheless it was his Eagles alternative who shined on Sunday, as Jalen Hurts and the Eagles outscored the backup-led Vikings 28-22. It was a vital victory for Philadelphia, which entered Week 7 coming off back-to-back losses, sparking a lot hypothesis in regards to the dysfunctional passing sport and basic lack of late-game offense.
Hurts put to relaxation any doubt and drama along with his 326-yard outing, which noticed him join on 19 of 23 passes for 3 touchdowns — together with an unimaginable 79-yard aerial to Devonta Smith within the third quarter.
Each Smith, who celebrated with 183 yards on 9 catches, and AJ Brown, who averaged 30 yards per catch on 4 catches, two of which resulted in touchdowns, have been pleased with this pass-first effort from Hurts, who accomplished all 5 of his makes an attempt on throws of 20-plus yards.
These nice performs stood out much more compared to the membership’s mediocre ends in the working sport. Philly totaled simply 45 dashing yards, 44 of which got here from Saquon Barkley on 18 carries.
The Chiefs offense is then to return
Just like the Eagles, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs additionally made an announcement with their very own dominant offensive effort as they exploded – and shut up – the lifeless Raiders on Sunday. Whereas Kansas Metropolis’s protection was impeccable, holding Las Vegas to 95 whole yards, it was the offense that stole the present on this one.
We have been ready some time to see what a completely wholesome, totally accessible, totally intact Chiefs offense will seem like. We lastly noticed it on Sunday and it was definitely worth the wait.
Particularly, it was the return of Rashee Rice, who spent the primary six weeks of the season suspended after spending most of final yr sidelined with a torn ACL, that made this offense actually stand out. Rice’s season debut noticed him lead the staff in receptions (seven) and touchdowns (two), and his insertion into the playbook opened up the offense.
Mahomes related with 9 totally different go catchers on Sunday, his offense in traditional Mahomes style — a warning to the remainder of the league that the Chiefs are the Chiefs once more.
Drake Maye impresses with near-perfect passing sport
Contemplating the Titans’ teaching change final week, with the firing of Brian Callahan and the return of Mike Vrabel to his previous stomping floor of Tennessee, teaching was the story forward of Sunday’s matchup between the Patriots and Titans.
It did not take lengthy for Drake Maye to steal the present. What else is new? The second-year QB is proving his value week after week and now has New England 5-2 forward of the AFC East and second in all the convention because of 4 straight wins, together with the final three on the highway.
Maye was practically excellent on Sunday, finishing all however two of his 23 passes for 222 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. An early belief in working again Rhamondre Stevenson helped hold Tennessee’s protection buzzing all through the sport, with Maye selecting them aside on each passing play and incomes a fairly cool place in franchise historical past: His 91.3 % completion charge is healthier than some other Patriots QB (sure, even higher than Brady). He additionally joins elite firm relating to nice younger defenders:
Dolphin season goes from unhealthy to worse
Contemplating the climate report in the course of the Cleveland sport – rain, wind, repeat – Sunday’s matchup between the Dolphins and Browns was by no means going to be fairly. However Miami reached a complete new degree of ugly soccer in a 31-6 loss, leaving the Dolphins at 1-6 on the season.
Tua Tagovailoa accomplished simply 12 of his 23 go makes an attempt, recording 100 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions – all revealing poor decision-making by QB1, who has now thrown three INTs in consecutive matchups and totaled 10 for the season. He posted a deep-basement passer score of 24.1. The truth that his efficiency got here after per week spent in scorching water after criticizing teammates within the media made his efficiency much more complicated.
And now? One thing wants to alter in Miami, whether or not it is the person at middle or the sideline — or each — as Tagovailoa and coach Mike McDaniel, who has been on the new seat all season, each face unsure futures.
Bears protection clicks for fourth consecutive victory
Apparently this was the defensive coordinator revenge sport we did not know we would have liked. Bears offensive coordinator Dennis Allen – former Saints head coach – took issues personally and guided his staff right into a defensive masterclass because the Bears defeated New Orleans 26-14 with their greatest defensive effort of the season.
Chicago posted 4 scores on Sunday, beginning with a first-half strip-sack and an interception to place the ball in Caleb Williams’ palms and assist the offense get going early. The unit additionally got here in late, snatching two interceptions from Spencer Rattler on the Saints’ closing three drives to delay any comeback efforts.
Chicago now leads the league in takeaways, and do not look now, however this staff is beginning to click on. 4 straight wins, and each has offered a constructing block — a powerful offensive displaying in opposition to Dallas in Week 3, a pair of shut wins that adopted and now a defensive showcase that ought to make Bears followers really feel good.
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