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 so now.

That is additionally the purpose within the season the place coaches get bored with underreacting. On Sunday, Jets coach Aaron Glenn appeared to have lastly grown bored with watching Justin Fields' full incapacity to sense or react to strain, 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 crew 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 looks like there are truthful questions on them that their coaches should reply this week.

Yeah, Week 7 looks like the purpose when it begins to get actual. With that in thoughts, let's begin the Overreactions column, the place we type by the weekly overreactions to strive to determine which of them would possibly maintain up and which of them are mirages.

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

The Vikings ought to have re-signed Sam Darnold

Minnesota let Darnold depart in free company after he threw 35 landing passes and led the crew 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 getting into Sunday. In the meantime, McCarthy performed two very shaky-looking video games to start out the season, received 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 one different quarterback on the Vikings' roster is undrafted rookie Max Brosmer. They've informed 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. However nothing we have seen from the Vikings' 2025 quarterback room thus far has given us purpose 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 can be a flip-flop, and I am going to personal it. I supported the Vikings' choice to roll with McCarthy, the tenth decide in final yr's draft, whereas letting each Darnold and Jones stroll and telling Aaron Rodgers no thanks. It was a guess on head coach Kevin O'Connell and his confirmed skill to generate offense with quite a lot of totally 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 consider him. And perhaps he'll be proper ultimately.

But it surely's about time to cease predicting and begin understanding. The Vikings made six journeys to the crimson zone in Sunday's sport towards the Eagles and got here away with one landing and 5 subject 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 choice proper. However the first six have proven it to be price questioning.

The Chiefs are going again to the Tremendous Bowl

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

With prime 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 latest seasons. They outgained Las Vegas 434-95. That 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 looks 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're feeling nice about within the AFC? The Payments have misplaced two in a row after a 4-0 begin and do not look nice. The Patriots look nice, however it additionally feels a little bit early for them. The Colts? Perhaps. The Broncos and Chargers? Not precisely Best Present on Turf offenses. Anybody from the AFC North? Not proper now, that is for certain.

All the time do not forget that if Patrick Mahomes had been to lose this season's AFC Championship Recreation in regulation, that may be the earliest a Chiefs season has ended since he grew to become the starter in 2018. There is a lengthy technique to go, and nobody's saying a victory over the Raiders makes you a Tremendous Bowl crew. However in a season through which it looks like we don't know who the very best groups are, the Chiefs have the monitor document we will consider in.

The Bengals can nonetheless win the AFC North

The week kicked off with an enormous AFC North consequence — a victory by Joe Flacco and the Bengals over the first-place Steelers on Thursday evening. It stopped a four-game Bengals shedding 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 towards 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 suppose this Steelers crew has performed manner 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 towards the Browns. Rodgers is taking part in tremendous, 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 purpose to hope, irrespective of how poorly issues have gone thus far. And if the Bengals suppose there's any probability of Burrow returning earlier than the top of the season, then they've as a lot purpose for hope as anybody. All Flacco should do is hold them afloat, and if Pittsburgh comes again to earth, this division may have a frantic end.

Three groups from the NFC South will make the playoffs

The four-time defending division champion Buccaneers go into Monday evening's sport with a 5-1 document and quarterback Baker Mayfield taking part in just like the league MVP. The Falcons enter Sunday evening'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 successful streak. It additionally has a really convincing 30-0 division victory over the Falcons in its pocket. It is laborious to really understand how the Panthers are doing it, however they're discovering methods to win video games round third-year quarterback Bryce Younger (who left Sunday's sport with an ankle harm, which may dampen issues) and an improved protection, and there is at all times a crew that emerges which nobody noticed coming.

Verdict: OVERREACTION

Do not we've got to see the Falcons truly end off considered one of these seasons earlier than we absolutely 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 Inexperienced Bay, San Francisco, Atlanta and Tampa in addition to residence video games towards the Payments, Rams, Bucs and Seahawks. And even when he is wholesome, Younger 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 crew to the playoffs.

The Panthers deserve credit score for astonishing us thus far, however it'd be a a lot greater shock if they will hold this going as soon as the schedule will get more durable within the second half. Perhaps they sneak in. Perhaps that is the yr the Falcons get in. However each? Along with Tampa Bay? Seems like an excessive amount of to ask.

The Chargers really want to commerce for an offensive lineman

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

The issue is, Herbert was pressured on 57% of his dropbacks and was hit 15 instances. This is not a brand new downside. Accidents to beginning tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt have left Herbert a sitting duck manner too usually, and it is hurting the offense's possibilities of working in rhythm.

Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION

Buying a high quality offensive lineman in-season is less complicated mentioned than completed, however the Chargers have to strive. Alt might 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 keep on with Denver and Ok.C. to make that matter ultimately. Los Angeles must be aggressively searching 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've such nice uniforms! Why put on ones that appear to be you bought doused in mustard?

Fast-hitter fantasy overreactions

• Xavier Legette is a first-rate waiver pickup this week. OVERREACTION. 9 catches, 92 yards and a landing! The place's this been from the 2024 first-rounder? Drawback is, the focus of the passing offense is 2025 first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan. And is that this actually a passing offense the place there are a number of receiver choices price rostering? Legette is ok to have on the bench, however no have to 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 3-4 weeks about having Rice again and what that may imply to the offense. Whereas 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 significant focus of an elite offense whose quarterback is taking part in in addition to any within the league. In case you rode out the suspension, benefit from the reward.

• Quinshon Judkins goes to be on a ton of fantasy championship rosters. NOT AN OVERREACTION. One other dominant efficiency by the Browns' rookie working again on Sunday stamps him as a transparent RB1 going ahead and the sort of participant who can win you matchups by himself. He was mainly free in drafts, since he wasn't signed to the roster till the season began due to his off-field authorized points. He may nonetheless find yourself dealing with a suspension for these, however typically these get pushed off into the subsequent season. Judkins could also be the very best worth in fantasy this yr.

• The Cardinals' fantasy stars want Jacoby Brissett to maintain beginning forward of Kyler Murray. OVERREACTION. I get it. I do. The offense seems higher with Brissett. However 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.