A clash of undefeated Titans, bad guts and a nod to “Iron Man 2.” The NFL Week 7 Recap is straight trippin’.
2020 NFL Week 7 Recap
1/14
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Troy Hill (22) tips a pass in the end zone intended for Chicago Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney, right, during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 26, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. The tipped pass was intercepted by Rams safety Taylor Rapp (24) for a touchback.
(AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Bears 10
Rams 24
Khalil Mack filled the box score better than Aaron Donald, but Donald’s Rams further exposed the Bears as a mediocre team with a good record. But don’t laugh L.A. — this is your first win against someone who doesn’t play in the NFC East so I’ll reserve judgement on the Rams until they face Brady’s Bucs in three weeks.
2/14
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 25: Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals dives into the end zone for a touchdown while avoiding tackles by Bobby Wagner #54 and Quandre Diggs #37 of the Seattle Seahawks during the third quarter at State Farm Stadium on October 25, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona.
(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
Seahawks 34
Cardinals 37 (OT)
Two things were on display in this primetime affair: Kyler Murray is a stud, and Seattle’s historically-bad defense will both clinch Russell Wilson’s first MVP award and be an impediment to a Seahawks championship run.
3/14
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 25: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 throws a 4-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mike Evans #13 against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of their game at Allegiant Stadium on October 25, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Buccaneers defeated the Raiders 45-20.
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Bucs 45
Raiders 20
As if Jon Gruden wasn’t already sour about seeing his former team led by his former adversary, he walked away pissed off he didn’t get more time to prepare for the game. Maybe put (and keep) a mask on and you’d be in better position to hold Tom Brady to two touchdowns passes instead of five, and lose close like you usually do.
Speaking of Brady, he and Drew Brees are now in an unprecedented arms race that will serve as a backdrop to every week this season and I’m so here for it. Though this drew a different baseball parallel, I think it has the potential to be football’s answer to the Mark McGwire-Sammy Sosa home run race in 1998.
4/14
New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton, center, passes under pressure from San Francisco 49ers linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (51) and defensive end Dion Jordan, right, in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass.
(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
49ers 33
Patriots 6
New England’s worst home loss of the Bill Belichick era not only took Jimmy G off the hook for his unimpressive return to his old stomping grounds, but it also was the latest chapter in the Patriots’ worst passing season in nearly a half century. While it’s easy to revel in what is shaping up to be the Pats’ worst season in 18 years, it’s equally as easy to point out they followed up that 7-9 season in 2002 with back-to-back Super Bowls. I’m not counting this king dead until I’ve seen the autopsy.
5/14
DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 25: Tyrann Mathieu #32 of the Kansas City Chiefs intercepts a pass intended for K.J. Hamler #13 of the Denver Broncos in the fourth quarter during a game at Empower Field at Mile High on October 25, 2020 in Denver, Colorado.
(Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
Chiefs 43
Broncos 16
How good is Kansas City? Patrick Mahomes looked human and the offense was historically ineffective on third down, but the Chiefs still frequently made snow angels in Denver’s end zones. Sorry, Drew Lock — you’re still light years from a rivalry with the champs.
6/14
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) runs against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif.
(AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Jaguars 29
Chargers 39
If Justin Herbert is a force to be reckoned with, Jacksonville is forced to reckon with Gardner Minshew. It’s time for another Jaguars rebuild.
7/14
LANDOVER, MARYLAND – OCTOBER 25: Ryan Kerrigan #91 of the Washington Football Team sacks quarterback Ben DiNucci #7 of the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth quarter of the game at FedExField on October 25, 2020 in Landover, Maryland. The Washington Football Team won 25-3.
(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Cowboys 3
Washington 25
You know my gut feeling? Whatever went right with Washington on Sunday had more to do with what’s wrong with Dallas. A good team wins this game 42-0, maybe 52-0 given how bad the Cowboys are on defense. If the NFC East is manna from heaven, both of these teams will find a way to finish the season hungry.
8/14
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 25: Jayon Brown #55 of the Tennessee Titans tackles Eric Ebron #85 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half at Nissan Stadium on October 25, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee.
(Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
Steelers 27
Titans 24
This picture reminds me: Did you know Sunday was National Tight Ends Day? When did this become a thing? And why does everything under the sun have its own day? Let’s make today “Celebrate Rob Woodfork’s NFL Recap Day.” I accept checks and cash donations, please and thank you.
Anyway, this battle of undefeated titans lived up to its billing. Pittsburgh is 6-0 for the first time in 42 years thanks to Big Ben’s big first half, while Stephen Gostkowski’s shaky kicking finally caught up to Tennessee. Don’t be surprised if there’s a rematch between these two teams in January.
9/14
CINCINNATI, OH – OCTOBER 25: Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (11) catches what would be a game winning touchdown pass with 11 seconds left in the 4th quarter during the game against the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals on October 25, 2020, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, OH.
(Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Browns 37
Bengals 34
In the biggest back-and-forth fourth quarter in NFL history, Joe Burrow inched closer to breaking rookie passing records and Baker Mayfield had Cleveland’s first five-TD passing performance in 13 years to further the Browns’ best start since the days of Bill Belichick roaming the sideline in hoodies with actual sleeves. It’ll be interesting to see how Cleveland’s offense operates without Odell Beckham, who will likely be out of the Browns lineup for a while (assuming the deal he has with COVID doesn’t also apply to injuries in general).
10/14
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 25: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Houston Texans scrambles with the ball away from Za’Darius Smith #55 of the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at NRG Stadium on October 25, 2020 in Houston, Texas.
(Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
Packers 35
Texans 20
While everyone else marvels at the Aaron Rodgers Scorched Earth Tour, I’m still trying to figure out how a team with Deshaun Watson and J.J. Watt can be so bad. If Eric Bieniemy isn’t Houston’s head coach three months from now, something is devastatingly wrong with the Texans organization.
11/14
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – OCTOBER 25: Jared Cook #87 of the New Orleans Saints catches a touchdown pass while being guarded by Tre Boston #33 of the Carolina Panthers in the first quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on October 25, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Panthers 24
Saints 27
New Orleans is overcoming some real obstacles to stay close to Tampa in the division race, but this is now three straight games it feels like a team of the Saints’ caliber should win more handily. With road games at Chicago and Tampa Bay next on the schedule, we’re about to find out if this is even a playoff team.
12/14
ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 25: Quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) of the Detroit Lions passes under pressure during the week 7 NFL game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Detroit Lions on October 25, 2020 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Photo by David John Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Lions 23
Falcons 22
Matthew Stafford is the antithesis of the Falcons; the real Matty Ice now has 30 career fourth-quarter comebacks and 36 game-winning drives in his career thanks in part to Todd Gurley’s maddeningly ill-advised touchdown. But hey, at least Atlanta looked good blowing another game it should have won.
13/14
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Roberts (18) in action past New York Jets safety Matthias Farley (41) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J.
(AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Bills 18
Jets 10
How inept are the Jets, you ask? They recklessly undermined their own trade, and it’s considered progress that they lost a game they led at halftime by “only” eight points. Adam Gase should be so lucky he only lost playcalling duties — Christopher Johnson should roll up like Justin Hammer and take his shoes and his bird.
14/14
PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 22: Philadelphia Eagles running back Boston Scott (35) beats New York Giants strong safety Jabrill Peppers (21) for a touchdown reception during the game between the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles on October 22, 2020 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA.
(Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Giants 21
Eagles 22
Philadelphia’s quarterback was surprised the Eagles won their sixth straight Thursday night game, and New York’s quarterback literally tripped over his own two feet (or worse) on what should have been the longest touchdown run by a QB in at least five years. Such is the state of the NFC East.
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