Overreaction Monday: Chiefs Not A Super Bowl Contender? Steelers Are Legit?

With each passing week, are the so-called overreactions starting to become reality? That might be the case after Sunday's slate of games. Week 7 brought us some more exciting finishes around the NFL, but we also got some pretty strong statements. The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks showed that they shouldn't be doubted in their decisive win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Elsewhere, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns continue to tack on wins, while the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens had losses that could show some cause for concern. What should we make of the biggest statements from Week 7, though? Let's overreact (or not) to Sunday's slate. In their first real test of the season, the Kansas City Chiefs looked like they were not ready for prime time. The league’s leading rusher and reigning Super Bowl MVP, Kenneth Walker III, was held to a season-low 36 yards in his return to Seattle in the Chiefs' blowout 20-3 loss to the Seahawks. And, maybe more notably, Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes was held to a career-low three points. The Chiefs finished with just 257 yards and failed to reach the red zone in eight offensive possessions. They totaled just 11 first downs and finished 3 of 11 on third down. Like the New England Patriots last year, who used one of the easiest schedules in the league to propel themselves to the Super Bowl, the Chiefs have one of the easiest schedules this season due to their 6-11 record last year. And just like the Patriots last year, they were hit with a reality check when they faced the Seahawks. Conclusion: Not An Overreaction It's simple: If Kansas City wants to make a deep playoff run, the Chiefs must prove they can beat the top teams in the NFL, like the Seahawks. Unless you think highly of the Denver Broncos, the Chiefs haven't gotten that win yet. The Chiefs were playing without key pieces on offense, including both starting offensive tackles Josh Simmons and Jaylon Moore, plus wide receivers Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton. Still, players like tight end Travis Kelce failed to pick up the slack and provide an option in the passing game for Mahomes, who struggled with 165 passing yards and an interception. Mahomes has now thrown an interception in two straight games and three in his last four. He also doesn't have any touchdowns in the last two weeks after the Chiefs' bye. Defensively, the Chiefs had no answer for reigning Offensive Player of the Year Jaxson Smith-Njigba, who finished with nine receptions for 165 yards and a score. That allowed Sam Darnold to arguably have his best game of the season after some struggles in recent weeks. Jordan Love completed 60% of his passes for 274 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on Sunday, but it wasn’t enough to put the Green Bay Packers on his back and carry them to a victory against the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Even with running back Josh Jacobs being active for the first time this season after missing the first six games due to an offseason arrest, the Packers still could not effectively run the football, totaling 60 yards on the ground. And Love’s pass-catching group also let him down, with three drops, per Pro Football Focus. Defensively, the Packers couldn’t slow down Jared Goff, who’s playing at an MVP level this season. The Cal product threw for 303 yards and two scores. Green Bay’s defense also allowed Jahmyr Gibbs to run for 115 yards on 29 carries. Conclusion: Not An Overreaction Love was the fourth-leading passer in the NF entering Sunday and is playing at an elite level, but he still needs help. The Packers have one of the worst kicking situations in the league, with rookie Trey Smack missing two field goals in this one, including a 34-yard attempt that could have won the game that was blocked by the Lions. Smack’s 68.8% field goal percentage is among the worst in the NFL. However, even with the struggles on offense with running the football and drops, along with the kicking game, help for Love is on the way in the form of edge rusher Micah Parsons, who should be returning soon from knee surgery that prematurely brought an end to his 2025 season. The return of Parsons gives Green Bay a true alpha to lead the defense. And led by defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, the Packers have shown they can play stifling defense by shutting down one of the best offenses in the league in the Dallas Cowboys two weeks ago. But for Love and the Packers to win the NFC North, Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur must figure out how to elevate them to his franchise quarterback’s level. J.J. McCarthy led the New York Giants to an overtime victory on the road in what was supposed to be one of the best defenses in the NFL at the start of the season: the Houston Texans. McCarthy didn’t put up "wow" numbers, but he was efficient. He finished 20 of 28 for 252 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. Five of those completions went for at least 20 yards and he led seven New York drives into Houston territory. With the victory, the Giants lead the NFC North at 4-2-1. The Giants matched their win total from the 2025 season when they finished 4-13. Last season they did not get their fourth win until Week 18, a 34-17 win over the Dallas Cowboys. McCarthy’s performance followed a 243-yard, one-touchdown passing effort in a loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 6 — and that was in only in one quarter of action. McCarthy subbed in for Jameis Winston in mop-up duty last week, playing well enough that head coach John Harbaugh named him the starting quarterback this week. With last year’s first-round selection Jaxson Dart suffering a season-ending knee injury that required surgery, McCarthy is another former first-round pick with good movement skills that gives the Giants an opportunity to compete for a postseason berth this season. McCarthy should be part of the conversation for starting quarterback beyond this season if he can continue to stay healthy. Conclusion: Overreaction McCarthy has not shown in the NFL at this point that he can stay on the field for any length of time, so we should pump the brakes on him being the long-term starter in New York … for now. Besides, New York’s success on offense was really about Cam Skattebo and the running game. Skattebo finished with 127 rushing yards, including a 42-yard burst that helped seal the game in overtime. Fellow running back Devin Singletary put the game away with a 30-yard run for the winning score in the extra period. The Giants finished with 188 rushing yards as a team. The Giants also held Houston’s offense to just 237 total yards. However, McCarthy’s off to a good start, and it will be interesting to see if he can stay healthy, keep the solid play going and not throw the ball to the other team. Don’t look now, but 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers has the Steelers tied atop the AFC North — again. The defending division champs held on for a 16-10 victory over the New Orleans Saints in the NFL’s first game in Paris. Rodgers achieved yet another big accomplishment in his storied career, eclipsing Payton Manning (539) on the all-time touchdown passes list with 540. Rodgers is now third on the list, trailing only Tom Brady (649) and Drew Brees (571). Accolades aside, Rodgers looks more comfortable finding Pittsburgh’s playmakers in the offense. He finished 19 of 30 (63%) for 212 yards, with a touchdown pass and no interceptions. Rodgers completed passes to seven different pass catchers. Also, Rodgers joins Brady (68) as the only quarterbacks in the NFL with at least 20 wins at age 40 or older, according to FOX Sports Research. The Steelers have now won three games in a row, and four of their last five. Rodgers’ reunion with Pittsburgh head coach Mike McCarthy has been rocky at times, but has also exceeded expectations for a team few NFL observers expected to compete for a postseason berth. Conclusion: Not An Overreaction While Rodgers has been good, it’s been running back Jaylen Warren and the return of a dominant Pittsburgh defense that have paved the way to consistent winning for the Steelers. Warren had another strong performance for Pittsburgh, finishing with 101 yards rushing on 18 carries. With Rico Dowdle healthy, he has combined with Warren to form a potent 1-2 punch out of the backfield as a safety valve for Rodgers in the passing game. The two combined for 10 catches and 81 yards on Sunday. But Warren has been the catalyst and deserves mention among the best backs in the league. Warren’s 718 scrimmage yards entering this weekend’s games were fifth in the NFL. Along with a dynamic playmaker in Warren, Pittsburgh’s defense is back to playing good football. The Steelers held New Orleans to 11 rushing yards on 14 designed runs (0.8 yards per carry), the fewest yards per designed run by any team in a game this season, according to Next Gen Stats. Over Pittsburgh’s three-game winning streak, the Steelers held opposing offenses to 17 points a game, with eight sacks and three takeaways. Baker Mayfield led a Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense that was responsible for 34 points in a 30-point win over the Carolina Panthers in a 30-point victory in his first game back from a broken thumb. The Buccaneers have defeated the Panthers in 13 of their past 16 games. The Buccaneers scored 33 first-half points against the Panthers. It’s the third-most Tampa Bay has scored in the first half since 1991, according to FOX Sports Research. Mayfield only threw for 64 yards and a touchdown. But with the Bucs totaling 258 yards on the ground, all Mayfield had to do was turn around and hand the ball off. Defensively, Tampa Bay forced two turnovers and sacked Bryce Young five times. Conclusion: Not An Overreaction The Bucs have won two of their last three games and, at 2-5, sit just 1.5 games back of the division-leading Panthers at 3-3. And Tampa Bay still has five NFC South division games left, including two each against the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints. A healthy Mayfield gives the Bucs one of the most talented quarterbacks in the division. Head coach Todd Bowles has the defense playing better over the last month. The Bucs also should get right tackle Luke Goedeke (calf), do-everything receiver Emeka Egbuka (concussion/foot) and defensive back Antoine Winfield (ribs) back at some point this season. Tampa Bay only plays three teams with a winning record over the last 10 games, so an easier record and a healthy Mayfield should help the Bucs make things interesting in the NFC South. As I preached a few weeks ago in this column, things should be OK in Tampa as long as the Buccaneers continue to right the ship.

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Seattle Suffocates Patrick Mahomes: 4 Takeaways From The Seahawks' Win Over The Chiefs

Lumen Field (SEATTLE) – The defending Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks finally looked like the dominant team that ran through the playoffs last season, manhandling the previously undefeated Kansas City Chiefs 20-3 in a nationally televised game on Sunday night. The win moved Seattle to 4-3 on the year, two games behind the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West (6-1), who like the Chiefs (5-1) also fell from the ranks of the unbeaten with a 29-20 road loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The Seahawks snapped a two-game losing streak with the victory and now get an extra day to prepare for another tough game at home against the Chicago Bears (5-2). The Chiefs will try to rebound on the road against their AFC West rivals, the Denver Broncos (5-2) in Week 8. Here are my takeaways: With running back Kenneth Walker III serving as the engine of the offense, Patrick Mahomes has been playing good ball in his return from a season-ending knee injury. Entering Sunday’s contest, Mahomes had a 103.1 passer rating, which was his highest passer rating since his MVP season of 2022 (105.2). However, with Seattle shutting down Walker and the running game, Mahomes struggled. He finished 19-of-33 for 165 yards, with no touchdowns and an interception. Mahomes also had a fumble that Kansas City managed to recover in the second half. The Chiefs averaged 414 total yards a contest entering Sunday’s game but finished with just 213 total yards. Kansas City did not get the ball into the red zone. The Seahawks lead the NFL in total defense (237.3 total yards allowed), pass defense (141.3), yards per play allowed (4.0) and takeaways (11). Mahomes fell to 4-4 in his career in games against the top total defense entering the week (including postseason). In his return to Lumen Field, Walker became the first Super Bowl MVP in league history to face the team he won the award with the following year. But in his homecoming, the Seahawks seemed to benefit from their familiarity with their former running back. Walker entered Sunday’s contest leading the league in rushing with 665 yards. He had more rushing yards than 19 NFL teams through six weeks of the NFL season and rushed for 100 yards in four of his first five games this year. But Seattle swarmed to the football when Walker got the ball, making sure to cover up the cutback lanes and not allowing the Michigan State product to bounce outside. The result was Seattle limiting Walker to 36 yards on 14 carries, forcing other players on offense to beat them. Walker’s replacement for the Seahawks, Emanuel Wilson, rushed for 100 yards. The Ohio State product entered Sunday’s contest leading the league in receptions (49), receiving yards (717) and receiving touchdowns (7). But for some odd reason, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo decided to cover Jaxon Smith-Njigba on the perimeter in press coverage with rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane. It was predictably not a successful strategy to slow down Smith-Njigba, who finished with a game-high nine receptions for 150 receiving yards and a score. According to Next Gen Stats, Delane allowed four receptions for 85 yards and a score as the nearest defender on JSN in coverage on six targets. The last player to win the receiving triple crown was Ja’Marr Chase in 2024, and the defending NFL Offensive Player of the Year has a chance to achieve that lofty mark if teams continue to cover him like the Chiefs. Like last season, Darnold had struggled at the start of this season. Since returning from a glute injury, Darnold has seven interceptions, tied for second-most in the league. Darnold had as many touchdowns (seven) as interceptions (seven) entering Sunday’s contest. And Seattle’s 12 giveaways was tied for the third-most in the league. But against the Chiefs, Darnold focused on not taking sacks, being decisive and getting the ball out quick, with good results. Darnold completed 20-of-28 passes for 257 yards, including a touchdown to Smith-Njigba. However, Darnold also had an awful decision at the end of the first half, when he forced a pass into the back of the end zone into coverage to Rashid Shaheed that was intercepted by Nohl Williams, who almost took it back for a touchdown. Fortunately for Darnold, left tackle Charles Cross got Williams on the ground, and Harrison Butker missed a 58-yard field goal. Butker also missed from 45 yards. With Drew Lock nursing a right elbow injury, the Seahawks have little choice but to stick with Darnold, and hope that his solid performance against the Chiefs is a sign of things to come.

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Detroit Holds Onto Valuable Win: 3 Takeaways From The Lions' Win Over The Packers

Ford Field (DETROIT) – During the pregame festivities, the big screen inside Ford Field showed a hype video of a pack of Lions tearing at a Packers jersey. The home crowd roared. By the time the game wrapped up, the Lions’ faithful were indeed happy — even if it wasn’t as dramatic as the video suggested it would be. Detroit hit a chip-shot field goal in the final second to top the Green Bay Packers 20-17 on Sunday. The game had a little bit of everything. Two quarterbacks playing at a high level, some controversial calls, and elite playmakers delivering in the clutch, as Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs did with 37 of his 116 rushing yards on their final drive of the game. Here are my takeaways: Yes, Brock Purdy and Josh Allen are on a tier of their own in the MVP race at the moment. Jared Goff deserves to at least be in the conversation. He’s been that good. Against Green Bay, he completed 22-of-32 passes for 303 yards and two touchdowns to continue a stellar start to the season. Through seven games, he has 14 touchdowns to zero (!) interceptions. That's tied for the most touchdown passes thrown without an interception in a team's first six games of a season in NFL history, per FOX Sports Research, showing that Goff’s operating in a flow state in first-year coordinator Drew Petzing’s offense. Goff certainly benefits from having a superstar running back in Jahmyr Gibbs and one of the league’s top wide receiver tandems in Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, but he consistently puts Detroit’s top playmakers in a position to succeed, keeps the offense on schedule and delivers timely chunk plays. The Lions had the NFL’s worst pass defense through six weeks, and the expectation in Detroit is that the secondary play will get better with the return of Brian Branch. The 2024 Pro Bowl safety/nickel made his 2026 debut Sunday after missing the first six games of the season while on PUP, recovering from an Achilles injury suffered in December. It wasn’t perfect, but we saw signs of progress from the Lions’ back end against the Packers. Early in the fourth quarter, Branch picked off a deep pass from Jordan Love intended for Christian Watson in the middle of the field. The interception immediately followed an impressive pass breakup from backup cornerback Khalil Dorsey on a Love deep shot to Bo Melton. Detroit left much to be desired in pass defense, though. The Lions gave up several chunk plays on third and fourth down. Green Bay turned a fourth-and-5, fourth-and-2 and fourth-and-3 into completions of 22, 27 and 28 yards, respectively. On a third-and-long in the final minute of the first quarter, Jordan Love also hit a wide-open Tucker Kraft in the end zone. But Sunday was a step in the right direction. It was a sign that plays could be made by the secondary to help out an Aidan Hutchinson-led pass rush and one of the league’s best offenses. And remember, Week 7 marked Branch’s first game in 10 months. He was on a snap count. It could only get better for him and the Lions’ defense. With Josh Jacobs off the commissioner exempt list, the Packers’ hope is that their run game — which has been the NFL’s worst through six weeks — can finally get going. His season debut did nothing to support those dreams. The three-time Pro Bowl selection had 11 carries for just 36 yards, including eight rushing yards at halftime, as part of a Green Bay rushing attack that went nowhere once again with just 60 rushing yards. Through seven games, the Packers have yet to reach 100 net rushing yards. Of course, Jacobs wasn’t expected to light it up in his return. He couldn’t even practice during his stay on the commissioner's exempt list, so this past week marked his first team work since training camp. So this could just be a short-term thing as Jacobs gets his legs under him. A big-time positive was his 25-yard catch-and-run touchdown, where he broke a couple of tackles near the sideline to reach the end zone. But if Jacobs’ rushing performance wasn’t a blip, the Packers’ upside will continue to be limited. Between a lackluster running game and coach Matt LaFleur’s recurring game mismanagement issues, which showed up again Sunday (going for a touchdown on fourth-and-4 at the Lions’ 7 late in the second quarter and turning the ball over on downs when a chip-shot field goal would’ve tied the game), Green Bay can’t be seen as an elite offense. NFC North play continues next week for the Lions, who’ll host the Minnesota Vikings next Sunday. Minnesota remained undefeated with a 16-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7, but it has three quality teams on its tail in the division. The Packers, meanwhile, will have a quick turn, returning home to Green Bay to host the Carolina Panthers (3-3) on Thursday Night Football.

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Will The Rams Be Able To Turn It Around? What NFL Execs, Scouts Make Of L.A.'s 2-4 Start

This year's Dream Team hasn't had a dream start. After entering the season as the overwhelming Super Bowl favorite, the Los Angeles Rams are 2-4 and lagging well behind the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West race. Los Angeles' latest loss was its most disappointing yet, with the Rams being on the wrong side of the biggest upset of this NFL season when they lost to the Arizona Cardinals last week. So, what in the world is happening in Los Angeles, and will the Rams be able to snap out of it? We asked people around the league that question, plus their thoughts on Jalen Hurts' health situation as the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback is out for the year with blood clots. Here's what we learned. Eric D. Williams: League sources I spoke with were not necessarily surprised by the struggles of the Rams to start the year. However, those folks I talked to also believe that the Rams are built to rebound because of the person leading them: head coach Sean McVay. "Everyone loved their roster construction this summer!" an NFL front office executive told me. "They were the Dream Team. I’m not overly critical of it, though. There are pros and cons to doing it that way. They are older and therefore more susceptible to injury or a steep decline in performance. "They had some bad luck in a couple of games. Now they’ve got the Kobie Turner injury. They have never had depth and that is the reason for the poor special teams play. I still think they will be OK. They have an elite coaching staff." Three of L.A.’s four losses came in the final moments of the game, including an overtime loss to the Buffalo Bills where kicker Harrison Mevis had a game-winning field goal attempt blocked and then was released. So, the Rams are close. But they also have the fourth-oldest roster in the league, so injury concerns were an issue when the season started, and the Rams have lost a handful of foundational players to the injured reserve, including Myles Garrett, Davante Adams and Turner. "It’s a combination of bad luck and relying on an older roster," a league source who has seen the Rams in person this season told me. "They easily could have won the last two games. … They should be 3-3 or 4-2, but they’re 2-4. The roster isn’t amazing, but it’s not bad at all. "Missing kicks is missing kicks. They got a bad call in Denver. The most surprising thing to me is they couldn’t score more this past game [against the Cardinals]. Aside from that, it’s nothing shocking. The margins are small. And they have mostly played some good teams." The schedule does get easier. Three of L.A.’s four losses came against playoff teams from last season (49ers, Broncos and Bills). Over the next four games, Los Angeles faces teams with a combined record of 6-17-1. A longtime scout told me he’s concerned with McVay’s long-term prospects for the rest of the year, though. "The pressure of going all in for the Super Bowl like they did in the past with the ‘F’ them picks’ and winning in that year is intensified by themselves, the fans and the media," the scout told me. "Also, the sportsbooks! Couple that with the Myles Garrett trade and injury, Puka Nacua’s offseason antics and the unretiring of Aaron Donald and that added to the pressure. "Now you’ve got the unforeseen injuries and bad FG protection. Plus, throwing the ball so much and not establishing an offensive identity by an offensive guru head coach. Just a perfect storm for a coach to fight his way out of it. I’d like to know who Coach McVay turns for guidance. Who’s his Football Muse?" Ralph Vacchiano: A lot of questions still remain about how the Philadelphia Eagles handled quarterback Jalen Hurts after he was diagnosed with a blood clot in his calf two weeks ago, and why they let him play the next day. But one thing seemed clear to many around the NFL, even after tests discovered more blood clots in Hurts’ lungs: The Eagles weren’t going to willingly risk their quarterback’s life for a game. "I find it impossible to believe that if doctors told the Eagles it was too risky for Hurts to play, that they would’ve let him play," an NFL executive told me. "Even if Hurts insisted, they wouldn’t have taken that kind of risk. We’re not talking about a sprained ankle here. It’s serious stuff. "We all want to win, and we’ll do almost anything to win, but we’re not monsters." By all accounts, the Eagles aren’t either. Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer, said on Tuesday that "I have great confidence … and believe that everyone acted with an abundance of caution." And when the Eagles announced on Monday that the additional clots were discovered and Hurts was headed to injured reserve, it came in a joint statement from the team and Hurts’ agent, Nicole Lynn. That’s not necessarily a sign that the Eagles did everything right. But it was a strong signal that Hurts’ camp didn’t have a problem with how things were handled. "You don’t think she’d be screaming bloody murder if the Eagles somehow screwed this up?" another NFL executive told me. "She’s aligned with the team on this. And from everything I’ve heard, they really are comfortable with how [Eagles general manager] Howie Roseman and all the doctors handled it. Trust me, if they weren’t, we’d all know." That doesn’t mean mistakes weren’t made, though, which is why the NFLPA is calling for a "full investigation" even after the NFL has apparently exonerated the Eagles. Even some outside doctors, who notably weren’t part of Hurts’ evaluation, have gone on record questioning how he was allowed to play after the first clot was discovered. "I’m not a doctor, so maybe they’re right," the first executive told me. "But Howie didn’t make the medical decision on his own. There’s no way he overruled his medical people. So if doctors and specialists say he can play, and he wants to play, what are you supposed to do?"

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How to Watch Broncos vs. Cardinals: TV Channel, Live Stream, Time - October 25, 2026

The Denver Broncos travel to Glendale to face the Arizona Cardinals in an NFL Week 7 regular-season matchup at State Farm Stadium on Sunday, October 25, 2026, with kickoff set for 4:05 p.m. ET. The Cardinals enter Week 7 at 2-4, sitting third in their division and holding the 13th seed in the conference. Arizona has dropped six of its first six games with just two wins to show, though the team arrives having snapped a skid with a win last week to carry a one-game winning streak into this contest. The Cardinals are averaging 21.0 points per game while allowing 29.7 per game, a gap that reflects the uphill battle they have faced through the early part of the season. One mitigating factor is a turnover margin of plus-2, meaning the offense has protected the ball reasonably well even as the defense has been tested. Denver brings a 4-2 record and a two-game winning streak into this road trip, sitting second in its division and holding the sixth seed in the AFC. The Broncos have been defined this season by their defense, allowing just 20.8 points per game, and their turnover margin of plus-4 is among the better figures in the league through six weeks. Denver has been dominant at home with a 3-0 record inside their own stadium, though this game tests a road unit that stands 1-2 away from home. The Broncos average 19.0 points per game on offense, a modest output that their defense has made sufficient in a 4-2 start. Below are the details on how to watch. How to Watch Broncos vs. Cardinals Players To Watch Denver enters this matchup trying to extend its winning streak, and Nix sits at the center of whether the Broncos can turn a modest offense into enough production on the road. Through six games, he leads Denver with 1049 passing yards and 6 passing touchdowns, and the Broncos have protected the ball well enough overall to post a plus-4 turnover margin. This is a favorable spot because Arizona has allowed 29.6 points per game through six games, which ranks 31st in the league. Denver has only averaged 19 points per game and ranks 28th in passing yards per game at 168, so Nix does not need a huge volume day as much as he needs an efficient one. IF he keeps Denver on schedule and avoids the mistakes that feed Arizona's takeaway total, the Broncos can control the shape of the game. For Arizona, this game runs through Brissett's ability to answer a defense that has created pressure and takeaways all season. He leads the Cardinals with 1328 passing yards and 9 passing touchdowns, and Arizona's offense has been more productive than Denver's overall at 307.3 yards per game and 21 points per game. The challenge is clear. Denver's defense has 18 sacks, 7 interceptions, and a 20.8 points-allowed average through six games, all signs of a unit that can change possessions quickly. Brissett has helped Arizona stay functional on third down with the Cardinals ranking 14th in third-down percentage at 39.3, and that part of his game matters here because Denver's offense has not been explosive. IF Brissett sustains drives and limits giveaways, Arizona gives itself a real chance to flip the pressure onto the Broncos at home. Arizona has thrown for 9 touchdowns and averages 222.5 receiving yards per game, so the passing game remains the cleanest path to stressing Denver's defense. What makes Wilson worth tracking in this matchup is the kind of coverage he is likely to see. Denver ranks second in defensive interceptions and has defended 34 passes through six games, so every target into tight windows carries extra weight. Arizona has still completed 66.8 percent of its passes as a team, which suggests there are chances to move the ball IF the timing is sharp. A productive afternoon from Wilson would give Brissett a needed outlet against one of the more disruptive secondaries on the schedule. This game could swing on whether Denver's defense keeps dictating terms the way it has through the first six weeks. The Broncos rank third in sacks with 18, second in interceptions with 7, and fifth in turnover margin at plus-4, which is a strong profile for a road team facing an offense that throws often. Arizona has attempted 235 passes in six games, an average of 39.1 per game, and has also taken 12 sacks while throwing 6 interceptions. That volume creates opportunity for Denver's rush and coverage to affect the game snap after snap. The Cardinals are coming off a win, so this is not a spot for passive football. IF Denver's front and secondary keep forcing long-yardage situations, the Broncos can make Arizona's offense feel crowded from the opening quarter.

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NFL DFS Week 7: Best Picks, Lineup Advice and Value Plays

Welcome back to our Daily Fantasy Football picks. Last week, we took Tyler Shough at a bargain price, and he paid off in a big way with four total touchdowns. We also found value at running back with Ashton Jeanty, who delivered for us as well. Let’s carry that momentum into Week 7. On FanDuel, you’ll have $60,000 to fill out your lineup, with each player assigned a salary based on factors such as recent performance, matchup and expected production. The goal is to find the right mix of stars and value plays while staying under the cap. Here are our favorite DFS plays for Week 7’s main Sunday slate. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Quarterback It hasn’t been the start to the season that Matthew Stafford and the Rams had hoped for, but we love them in a bounce-back spot after losing to the Cardinals at home as huge favorites. Over the last three weeks, the Raiders rank last in the NFL in total defense, allowing 426.7 yards per game, and 26th in pass defense, allowing 274.3 net passing yards per game. Stafford should feast in this matchup against Las Vegas. Running Back Bijan Robinson had only nine carries against the Bears last week. That is an absolute tragedy and should never happen again. He made the most of them, rushing for 61 yards, but the volume just wasn’t enough. That should change this week. The 49ers have been susceptible to running backs, especially catching passes out of the backfield. They’ve allowed an NFL-high 43 receptions to the position and 276 receiving yards, the second-most behind Buffalo. Tony Pollard at a cheap price is a solid play this week to balance out Bijan’s high salary in lineups. Pollard got plenty of work last week against the Colts, rushing 19 times for 76 yards. The volume is there, and the touchdowns should come, especially at home. He also gets a favorable matchup against a Browns defense that has allowed the 11th-most rushing yards in the NFL through the first six weeks. Wide Receiver Matthew Golden is having a breakout season, and that should continue in Week 7. The young wideout is sixth in the NFL in receiving yards and has topped 100 yards in two straight games. This week, Golden gets the worst secondary in all of football. Before their bye last week, the Lions had allowed the most receiving yards and fantasy points to wide receivers. Detroit also currently ranks last in total defense (404.4 yards per game) and pass defense (297.4 net passing yards per game), and 30th in scoring defense (29.6 points per game). Jalen Coker might be the most underrated receiver in the NFL this season. Despite missing a game due to injury, he has posted 138, 66 and 97 receiving yards in three of his four games. Last week against Philly, he drew 13 targets as his volume continues to be high. With a favorable matchup against a struggling Tampa Bay secondary, Coker is a great value option at wideout this week. Tight End No team in the NFL has given up more fantasy points to tight ends this season than the Lions. They’ve allowed 16 more than anyone else despite playing one fewer game than most teams. While the Packers’ receivers have taken over the offense, this could be a great spot for Tucker Kraft to get going. And he’s shown in past seasons what he’s capable of. Defense Another week, another punt option for us at defense. This strategy has paid off in five of six weeks this season. This week, the Titans defense offers value against a Browns offense that has allowed the most sacks in the NFL. At home in what should be a low-scoring game, they could force some turnovers, too. And who knows, maybe even get a defensive or special teams touchdown like they did last week.

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2026 NFL, College Football Odds: Best Bets For Indiana-Michigan, Colts-Vikings

If the New York Jets didn’t cover against New England last Sunday, I would’ve been swept away like a pile of Autumn leaves. Memphis turned the ball over six times, Wisconsin scored seven points and my BYU-Notre Dame Under died with two minutes left. These are not excuses — this is a therapy session. We know you’re here for informed wagers and I assure you I vet everything through multiple handicappers, oddsmakers and betting buddies who know what they’re doing. Those that do well in this racket know the "how, what and why" and that’s always my goal. Also, this will never be the place for a million picks or five-team parlays. These will always be the wagers I love the most and ones that I’m betting with my own money. Let’s go to work. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.(2026 Record: 15-17-2, -3.7 units) I love Kyle Whittingham as an underdog. When his teams are catching points, Whittingham is 38-21-2 against the spread (ATS). That’s 63%. Michigan already upset Oklahoma earlier this season as a 6-point home pup and that was when the Wolverines were playing Bryce Underwood at quarterback. Indiana has played two extremely physical games in a row against Nebraska and Ohio State, and I’m not sure how much juice the offense will have. Ah, the classic letdown spot. BYU is a much better football team than UCF, but if the Cougars were a stock, it would be through the roof after upsetting Notre Dame. Scott Frost is no stranger to an upset and I do believe the Knights' defense can do enough against Bear Bachmeier to make this interesting. This number opened BYU -6.5 and now that money has driven it through the key number of 7, you get the hook. Go for it. The wise guys love these unranked favorites taking on ranked teams. Tennessee wasn’t exactly a money magnet last Saturday against Alabama, but now the public wants to jump on the bandwagon this week. Because of course. The Volunteers opened as 1-point favorites in Las Vegas and despite most of the tickets on Tennessee, South Carolina is now a small favorite. The market movement certainly tells a story in this one. I’m getting my Wisconsin money back if it’s the last thing I do. We bet the Badgers +3 last week at UCLA and that spread got down to around +1.5/1. Spoiler: It didn’t matter. The Badgers were basically allergic to the end zone and mustered only one score in Westwood. Now they’re back at home as short underdogs against a USC team that isn’t very physical. Wisconsin tends to suck these finesse teams into rock fights and that’s the hope here. Undefeated Minnesota has covered four of five games this season and Indy just lost to Tennessee, the Titans' first victory of 2026. And the Vikings only have to win by seven! This feels like the scene in "The Simpsons" when Homer falls for the floor pie. We’re all aware how legit this Minnesota defense is under Brian Flores, but if the Colts can run the football with Jonathan Taylor, they’ll be able to stay inside the number.

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