NFL week 7: four key takeaways

By Alex Merson

The season is already seven weeks in, and things are beginning to shape up as we see teams move closer towards a spot in the playoffs.

Week 7 had plenty of action to shout about, including the rematch from last years Super Bowl…. here are four key takeaways from this past weeks games:

Lions @ Vikings was everything we expected and more

The undefeated Vikings welcomed the Lions to Minnesota, as two of the most in-form teams came head to head on Sunday. The NFC North matchup went back and forth all game long, as the Lions sneaked a win thanks to a Jake Bates field goal as time expired in the fourth quarter. 

The Vikings started fast, fresh off their bye week. Aaron Jones ran in a 34-yard touchdown before the Vikings added three more points on their next drive to lead 10-0 in the first quarter. The second quarter was the opposite, however, as the Lions scored three unanswered touchdowns, two from Jahmyr Gibbs and one from Amon-Ra St. Brown. The Lions would take a 21-10 lead into the half. 

Superstar receiver Justin Jefferson caught a 25-yard touchdown pass in the early opening of the second half, but the Lions would score another touchdown, pushing the lead to 11 points going into the fourth quarter. 

Two field goals for the Vikings bought the game to one score, and it all changed when the Vikings forced a fumble and took it back for a touchdown with less than six minutes left on the clock. 

The Vikings forced a punt, and a few first downs would win them the game, but they couldn’t convert and gave the Lions one last drive to win the game. Goff and Gibbs combined multiple times to help push the Lions into field goal range, and Bates kicked the game-winner to end the Viking’s unbeaten run. 

The matchup certainly delivered, and there will be many eyes on the rematch in the final week of the season, which could have some big implications on the playoffs. 

 

Ravens continue to show they are contenders

The Ravens’ season didn’t exactly get off to the perfect start, losing to the Chiefs by a matter of inches, and then to the Raiders which shocked many. However, since then, they have looked like a different team, winning five in a row against some of the NFL’s top teams. 

This week’s matchup came on the first game of the Monday night football doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have beaten the likes of the Philadelphia Eagles and the Buffalo Bills so far this year. 

The Buccaneers got off to a hot start, scoring a touchdown on their opening drive, and then kicked a field goal to take an early 10-0 lead to end the first quarter. From there though, the Ravens scored 34 consecutive points in the second and third quarter.

The Buccaneers fought back late on in the fourth quarter, scoring three touchdowns to get the game within 10, however it wasn’t enough as the Ravens took their win streak to five games. 

Lamar Jackson put up five touchdowns in the air, and Derrick Henry provided on the ground in the second half, rushing for over 150 yards. In a game against a very tough Buccaneers team, the Ravens certainly showed they are good enough to finally reach a Super Bowl. 

Mike Tomlin’s gamble pays off

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Many heads were turned around the NFL when the Steelers announced that Russell Wilson would be there starting quarterback in week 7. Justin Fields had led the team to a 4-2 record and looked good whilst doing so. But, on the first opportunity Pittsburgh got to play Wilson after his injury, he was given the nod ahead of Fields. 

That certainly paid off, as on Sunday Night Football, the Steelers comfortably beat the Aaron Rodgers-led New York Jets to a 37-15 victory. Wilson himself looked like the Russell Wilson we all knew from his Seahawks years, as he threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns, as well as a rushing touchdown. 

Wilson’s connection with George Pickens, who had struggled so far this season, was exactly what Steeler fans would’ve hoped for, as he caught five passes for 111 yards and a touchdown. 

Next up for the Steelers is a struggling New York Giants team at home, and if they can continue to keep their winning form going, they will head into the bye 6-2. This will give them a good shot at getting into the playoffs, as they search for a first playoff win since 2016. 

Can the Chiefs go all the way unbeaten... even without Mahomes at his best?

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The repeat of last year’s Super Bowl was a tightly fought battle between the Chiefs and the 49ers, as the Chiefs repeated what they did in the Super Bowl and won. Neither team was at their best, and the two star quarterbacks struggled to get the ball consistently to their targets. 

Purdy started the game with an interception on his first throw and would go on to throw two more, without throwing a touchdown pass. Mahomes threw two interceptions and no touchdowns also, aswell as only managing 154 yards. 

Even when Mahomes hasn’t been able to produce his magic, which has been the case for most of this season, the rest of the Chiefs have stepped up, and are now the only remaining undefeated team. Mahomes has thrown just six touchdown passes this year in the six games they’ve played, and been intercepted eight times.

This isn’t the Mahomes we are used to seeing on a yearly basis, as he looks to become the first quarterback to lead a team to three successive Super Bowls. However, Chiefs fans won’t be complaining, especially if they continue to stay undefeated. 

ALEX MERSON

NFL ANALYST

Previously writing for Ninety-Nine Yards, Alex is a sports content creator and Football Journalism Student at the University of Derby. Follow him on Twitter at @AlexMerseJourno.

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