Judging greatest overreactions for NFL Week 7 video games

ARLINGTON, Texas — Week 7 has a weighty really feel to it. It not feels early within the NFL season. We’re within the thick of it now, with almost two months’ price of proof to help our opinions of those groups and these gamers. What might need felt like an overreaction in Week 2 feels much less like one now.

This can also be the purpose within the season when coaches get bored with underreacting. On Sunday, Jets coach Aaron Glenn appeared to have lastly grown bored with watching Justin Fields’ full lack of ability to sense or react to stress, as he benched Fields for Tyrod Taylor within the second half of New York’s newest lackluster loss.

Miami coach Mike McDaniel sat Tua Tagovailoa down for Quinn Ewers within the fourth quarter of a sport that noticed Tagovailoa throw three interceptions and the Dolphins lose 31-6 to a Browns workforce that hadn’t scored greater than 17 factors since final December. Trevor Lawrence, Spencer Rattler and Geno Smith did not get pulled from their video games, however it appears like there are truthful questions on them that their coaches must reply this week.

Yeah, Week 7 appears like the purpose when it begins to get actual. With that in thoughts, let’s begin the Overreactions column, the place we kind by way of the weekly overreactions to strive to determine which of them may maintain up and which of them are mirages.

Jump to:
Vikings ought to have introduced Darnold again?
Chiefs headed again to the Super Bowl?
Bengals can win AFC North?
Three NFC South groups in playoffs?
Chargers must commerce for OL assist?
Four fantasy-related overreactions

The Vikings ought to have re-signed Sam Darnold

Minnesota let Darnold go away in free company after he threw 35 landing passes and led the workforce to 14 wins as a result of it needed to provide the beginning QB job to 2024 first-round decide J.J. McCarthy. Darnold is crushing it in Seattle, rating third in QBR, passer score and passing yards coming into Sunday. Meanwhile, McCarthy performed two very shaky-looking video games to start out the season, acquired damage in the second and hasn’t performed since. His backup, Carson Wentz, threw two first-half interceptions in Sunday’s loss to the Eagles.

The solely different quarterback on the Vikings’ roster is undrafted rookie Max Brosmer. They’ve advised us they will not determine on whether or not McCarthy will get the beginning job again till his sprained ankle has healed sufficient for him to have the ability to play. But nothing we have seen from the Vikings’ 2025 quarterback room to this point has given us cause to really feel assured they’ve the reply. To make issues even worse, Daniel Jones, who completed the 2024 season as Darnold’s backup, is taking part in nice because the starter for the Colts.

Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION

This is a flip-flop, and I’ll personal it. I supported the Vikings’ determination to roll with McCarthy, the tenth decide in final 12 months’s draft, whereas letting each Darnold and Jones stroll and telling Aaron Rodgers no thanks. It was a wager on head coach Kevin O’Connell and his confirmed capacity to generate offense with quite a lot of completely different quarterbacks. I figured if O’Connell determined this was the way in which to go, he’d earned sufficient belief that we should always imagine him. And perhaps he’ll be proper ultimately.

But it is about time to cease predicting and begin understanding. The Vikings made six journeys to the crimson zone in Sunday’s sport in opposition to the Eagles and got here away with one landing and 5 discipline targets, serving to them lose a winnable sport. Darnold is fourth within the NFL this season in crimson zone QBR. The Vikings have 11 extra video games this season to show O’Connell’s determination proper. But the primary six have proven it to be price questioning.

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The Chiefs are going again to the Super Bowl

Remember when the Chiefs had been 0-2, could not rating factors and everybody was questioning if this was the tip of the dynasty? Yeah, me too. Feels prefer it was loads longer than 5 weeks in the past, too.

With high huge receiver Rashee Rice again from his six-game suspension on Sunday, the Chiefs annihilated the division rival Raiders 31-0 to enhance to 4-3. It was dominance on a degree we have not seen from the Chiefs in current seasons. They outgained Las Vegas 434-95. They had 30 first downs. The Raiders ran a complete of 30 offensive performs. Since that 0-2 begin, the Chiefs are 4-1 and are averaging 29.6 factors per sport. It appears like perhaps those that had been involved after Week 2 might need been … dare I say … overreacting?

Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION

Who else do you are feeling nice about within the AFC? The Bills have misplaced two in a row after a 4-0 begin and do not look nice. The Patriots look nice, however it additionally feels somewhat early for them. The Colts? Maybe. The Broncos and Chargers? Not precisely Greatest Show on Turf-type offenses. Anyone from the AFC North? Not proper now, that is for positive.

Always keep in mind that if Patrick Mahomes had been to lose this season’s AFC Championship Game in regulation, that will be the earliest a Chiefs season has ended since he grew to become the starter in 2018. There’s an extended solution to go, and nobody’s saying a victory over the Raiders makes you a Super Bowl workforce. But in a season through which it appears like we don’t know who one of the best groups are, the Chiefs have the observe document we will imagine in.

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The Bengals can nonetheless win the AFC North

The week kicked off with an enormous AFC North end result — a victory by Joe Flacco and the Bengals over the first-place Steelers on Thursday night time. It stopped a four-game Bengals dropping streak that adopted the harm to Joe Burrow, and it introduced the Steelers again nearer to a pack of division groups whose seasons have not gone as anticipated.

The 1-5 Ravens, who will possible get Lamar Jackson again from harm subsequent week after their bye and have each head-to-head matchups in opposition to the Steelers left to play, have some degree of hope now that Pittsburgh is 4-2 as a substitute of 5-1. As for the Bengals, whose offense has proven life within the two video games since they acquired Flacco to switch the struggling Jake Browning, being 3-4 and solely 1½ video games out of first place feels worlds higher than being 2-5 and 3½ video games behind Pittsburgh.

Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION

I nonetheless assume this Steelers workforce has performed means over its head. It ought to have misplaced to the Jets in Week 1 and it barely beat the Patriots in Week 3, when New England dedicated 5 turnovers. Pittsburgh’s protection has been horrible outdoors of 1 sport in opposition to the Browns. Rodgers is taking part in high quality, however the offense nonetheless feels prefer it has a ceiling and must be paired with an elite protection to be an actual contender.

That makes the Steelers susceptible, which provides the remainder of the division cause to hope, regardless of how poorly issues have gone to this point. And if the Bengals assume there’s any likelihood of Burrow returning earlier than the tip of the season, then they’ve as a lot cause for hope as anybody. All Flacco should do is maintain them afloat, and if Pittsburgh comes again to earth, this division might have a frantic end.

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Three groups from the NFC South will make the playoffs

The four-time defending division champion Buccaneers go into Monday night time’s sport with a 5-1 document and quarterback Baker Mayfield taking part in just like the league MVP. The Falcons enter Sunday night time’s sport with a 3-2 document and on a two-game win streak, with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. taking part in significantly better and the offense and protection each buzzing.

The Panthers are the story right here, although. After Sunday’s 13-6 victory over the woebegone Jets, Carolina is 4-3 and on a three-game profitable streak. It additionally has a really convincing 30-0 division victory over the Falcons in its pocket. It’s onerous to really understand how the Panthers are doing it, however they’re discovering methods to win video games round third-year quarterback Bryce Young (who left Sunday’s sport with an ankle harm, which might dampen issues) and an improved protection, and there is all the time a workforce that emerges which nobody noticed coming.

Verdict: OVERREACTION

Don’t we now have to see the Falcons truly end off certainly one of these seasons earlier than we totally purchase in? They beat Tampa Bay twice final season and nonetheless could not win the division. And Carolina nonetheless has street video games to play in Green Bay, San Francisco, Atlanta and Tampa in addition to residence video games in opposition to the Bills, Rams, Bucs and Seahawks. And even when he is wholesome, Young nonetheless hasn’t proven sufficient week-to-week consistency over the course of his profession that we’re prepared to purchase in on his probabilities to guide a workforce to the playoffs.

The Panthers deserve credit score for astonishing us to this point, however it’d be a a lot greater shock if they will maintain this going as soon as the schedule will get harder within the second half. Maybe they sneak in. Maybe that is the 12 months the Falcons get in. But each? In addition to Tampa Bay? Feels like an excessive amount of to ask.

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The Chargers really want to commerce for an offensive lineman

Quarterback Justin Herbert led a valiant comeback in opposition to the Colts within the second half on Sunday after a two-interception first half. The Chargers fell quick in opposition to a Colts offense they could not cease, however Herbert confirmed a robust reference to rookie tight finish Oronde Gadsden II and the offense regarded prefer it found one thing within the second half.

The drawback is, Herbert was pressured on 57% of his dropbacks and was hit 15 occasions. This is not a brand new drawback. Injuries to beginning tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt have left Herbert a sitting duck means too typically, and it is hurting the offense’s possibilities of working in rhythm.

Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION

Acquiring a top quality offensive lineman through the season is less complicated mentioned than executed, however the Chargers must strive. Alt could possibly be again quickly, however Slater is out for the season, and so they clearly want depth as they work to enhance Herbert’s safety. The Chargers opened the season with three straight division wins however at the moment are tied for second within the AFC West.

The Broncos are in first place following a seemingly unattainable comeback victory over the Giants on Sunday, and the Chiefs, as we mentioned earlier, are heating up. That 3-0 division document offers the Chargers a bonus, however they should persist with Denver and Kansas City to make that matter in the long run. Los Angeles must be aggressively on the lookout for assist, or else it is not going to get probably the most out of Herbert and this offense. And talking of the Chargers …

The Chargers ought to by no means put on these yellow uniforms once more

I imply … yuck.

Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION

They have such nice uniforms! Why put on ones that seem like you bought doused in mustard?

Quick-hitter fantasy overreactions

• Xavier Legette is a chief waiver pickup this week. OVERREACTION. Nine catches, 92 yards and a landing! Where has this been from the 2024 first-rounder? Problem is, the focus of the passing offense is 2025 first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan. And is that this actually a passing offense with a number of receiver choices price rostering? Legette is okay to have on the bench, however no must overbid.

• Rashee Rice is a WR1 the remainder of the way in which. NOT AN OVERREACTION. Chiefs individuals I’ve talked to have been giddy for the previous three to 4 weeks about having Rice again and what that will imply to the offense. Although he won’t rating two touchdowns each week as a part of a 31-point efficiency by the Chiefs, it is clear that Rice is a serious point of interest of an elite offense whose quarterback is taking part in in addition to any within the league. If you rode out the suspension, benefit from the reward.

• Quinshon Judkins goes to be on a ton of fantasy championship rosters. NOT AN OVERREACTION. Another dominant efficiency by the Browns’ rookie operating again on Sunday stamps him as a transparent RB1 going ahead and the form of participant who can win you matchups by himself. He was principally free in drafts, since he wasn’t signed to the roster till the season began due to his off-field authorized points. He might nonetheless find yourself going through a suspension, however typically these get pushed off into the subsequent season. Judkins is perhaps one of the best worth in fantasy this 12 months.

• The Cardinals’ fantasy stars want Jacoby Brissett to maintain beginning forward of Kyler Murray. OVERREACTION. I get it. I do. The offense seems to be higher with Brissett. But Murray’s absence additionally coincides with an easing of the fantasy schedule. Let’s let him get again in there and see if he can take benefit earlier than giving up.