NFL Week 7 Winners and Losers: Lions Take Control of Fierce NFC North

It seems like no race for the division crown in the NFL is tighter than the one in the NFC North.

The Detroit Lions knocked off the division-topping Vikings, handing Minnesota their first loss of the season. Both teams are 5-1, although the Lions have the tiebreaker with the head-to-head victory. The 5-2 Green Bay Packers, however, aren’t far behind after their huge loss to the Houston Texans. While Jordan Love has shown some brilliance – amid occasional mental errors – it’s the Packers’ defense that makes the team look like an elite contender.

Here are the NFL Week 7 Sunday winners and losers.

WINNERS

The Chiefs continue to adapt and look like the best team in football

It seems like every time a key Chiefs player suffers an injury, they find a way to push their short-term replacement into becoming a regular contributor. Running back Isiah Pacheco is out? Enter Kareem Hunt, who was once on the team and could well help solve the offense’s red zone issues.

The Chiefs entered Sunday ranked 29th^th in red zone efficiency (38.89%). In a 28-18 win over the San Francisco 49ers, Hunt recorded two red zone rushing scores in the second quarter alone. In fact, Kansas City has scored touchdowns on four of its five trips in 20. The Chiefs, winners of the last two Super Bowls, continue to look like the best team in football, and it’s because of their balance. Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s defense flies under the radar, but Kansas City (6-0) has one of the smartest, toughest defenses in the NFL. The Chiefs held the Niners to 2-of-11 (18%) third-down conversions and intercepted Brock Purdy three times.

Jared Goff, Ben Johnson and the Lions take control of the NFC North

Coordinator Brian Flores and the Vikings entered Sunday with one of the NFL’s fiercest defenses, one that had baffled passers like CJ Stroud and Brock Purdy. All Lions quarterback Jared Goff did was complete 22 of 25 throws for 280 yards and two scores in a massive 31-29 victory.

Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, sure to become head coach in the next hiring cycle if he finds an opportunity he likes, has relied on his dominant offensive line to crack the running lanes, which has not does that unlock the play-action passing game. This is where Goff feels most comfortable. It also alleviated Minnesota’s pass rush and misdirection and disguises that Flores uses to generate pressure. Coach Dan Campbell, even after a disastrous fumble return gave Minnesota a one-point lead (5-1), managed the clock perfectly in two minutes. And now the Lions (5-1) have taken the lead in the division.

Packers D completely erase CJ Stroud, Texans passing attack

The Texans certainly miss star receiver Nico Collins, but they nevertheless have a dynamic passing attack behind quarterback CJ Stroud. The Packers completely shut him down. Green Bay, in an intriguing game, held Stroud to 10 of 21 completions for a career-low 86 yards. Stroud did not throw a touchdown.

Houston’s leading receiver was tight end Dalton Schultz (one catch, 28 yards). Stefon Diggs, who entered the game with Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander, caught five passes on seven targets for 23 yards, including 17 on one play. The defensive line deserves a lot of credit for exerting a constant pressure on Stroud, but first-year defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who spent six seasons in the NFL as a defensive backs coach, turned Green Bay’s (5-2) secondary into one. of the best units in the league.

The Eagles continue to do well and pass rush rolls on another opponent

Philadelphia’s defense entered Sunday having produced its best outing of the season with five sacks in a win over the Cleveland Browns. In the process, the Eagles terrorized Daniel Jones and the Giants, sacking New York eight times in a rout. The Giants were never able to find a solid base on offense and only scored three points. Due to passing yardage, New York finished with just 43 net passing yards.

It shows how dangerous Philadelphia can be, even though they only converted one third down on 13. While the pass rush was featured, so was Saquon Barkley, making his return to MetLife Stadium with 187 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown on 19 touches. The NFC East is wide open, but the Eagles (4-2), now healthy offensively, are trending upward.

LOSERS

Where do the Jets go from here?

It’s hard to see New York becoming true sellers at the trade deadline, considering their many efforts to get into this build with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. But it’s also hard to imagine the Jets not trying to build for the future and recoup some of the assets they gave up in acquiring many of their players, now that New York (2-5) is slipping even lower in the standings after Sunday evening’s 37-15. loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Rodgers turns 41 in December and is under contract for one more season. However, his play and his chemistry with his teammates have been extremely inconsistent. Even Davante Adams, Rodgers’ experienced ally, didn’t have a reception in the second half against Pittsburgh on three field goals. The Jets have lost four games in a row and need to correct their mistakes quickly; next they have the New England Patriots (1-6), and they should win. But this season has been a case study of what happens when a team superficially tweaks a deeply flawed and undisciplined roster: The problems persist.

A bad situation gets worse for the Browns

We’ve written in this space about how incredibly expensive Deshaun Watson’s fully guaranteed contract is. Now, facing a likely season-ending Achilles tear and a lengthy rehab, there’s not even a guarantee that Watson will be fully healthy for the start of next season.

Regardless, the Browns (1-6) still need to come up with a plan for their future franchise quarterback as it has become clear that Watson is not that player. Always, according to Spotrac.comthe Browns owe Watson $92 million in base salary in 2025 and 2026, and the potential dead cap space for an exit is almost comical given how oppressive it would be. The Browns look like a team that will go top-five — potentially even No. 1 overall — in the 2025 NFL Draft. Selecting a quarterback should be the priority. Regardless, Watson presents a sunk cost that will continue to set the team back for years to come.

Falcons’ flop shows how far they have to go

Atlanta entered Sunday on a three-game winning streak, facing a Seahawks team on a three-game losing streak. The Falcons outscored the Seahawks 385-339. They recorded two more first downs than Seattle. Atlanta converted 8 of 15 third downs (53%), compared to 4 of 11 (36%) for the Seahawks. Total offensive plays: Atlanta 71, 56. The Falcons lost by 20 points.

Atlanta was horrible at situational football. With 10 seconds left in the first half, on a third-and-15, the Falcons let Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith get into the pocket and deliver a 31-yard touchdown to DK Metcalf. They allowed Seattle to score the last 17 points of the game. They received nine penalties (72 yards) and lost the turnover battle 3-0. All three giveaways came in the fourth quarter. One of them was a fumble return for a touchdown. The Falcons (4-3) have plenty of talent but no pass rush. They are far from serious contenders.

This article was originally published on USA TODAY: NFL Winners, Week 7 Losers: Lions Take Control of NFC North