Week 7 of the NFL season featured a Super Bowl contender getting back on track and a thrilling divisional showdown in the NFC North, plus another comeback win for one of the NFL’s most surprising teams.
Here’s what you need to know about from Sunday.
The Lions won a wild one at home
What a game between the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers in the late window. The Lions won 20-17 on a walk-off field goal after a drama-filled affair that included controversial calls, plenty of offense and even an offensive lineman running a drag route.
Both quarterbacks were dealing. Detroit’s Jared Goff completed 27 of 45 passes for 274 yards in the win, while Green Bay’s Jordan Love was 22 of 32 for 303 yards. Love could have had an even bigger day, but his receivers had multiple drops in big moments.
The game was also filled with miscues. The Packers missed two field goals, both of which were shorter than 40 yards. Detroit, meanwhile, had two turnovers after not having given the ball away even once since Week 1.
The fourth quarter was especially intense. The Lions went for it on fourth-and-1 from their own 24 but were stuffed on a run.
Green Bay couldn’t take advantage on its ensuing possession, however. After they picked up only 5 yards, the Packers lined up for a 35-yard field goal, but Trey Smack’s kick was deflected.
Detroit’s offense finally finished the job from there, going 71 yards and running out the clock for a game-winning kick by Jake Bates. The Lions improved to 4-2, while the Packers fell to 4-3.
Can the Browns keep getting away with this?
Cleveland improved to 5-2 after a last-minute, 27-24 victory over the Tennessee Titans.
The Browns are not only one of the NFL’s most surprising teams; they are the league’s comeback kings so far this season. Quarterback Deshaun Watson has led a game-winning drive in each of the team’s five wins this year, and those five game-winning drives are the most by any Cleveland quarterback in a single season this century, per ESPN.
The Browns got a breakout game from rookie wide receiver KC Concepcion, who had eight catches for 129 yards. Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. made a huge play late with a 36-yard catch and run to set up a game-winning field goal.
Can Cleveland keep this up? All five of its wins have come by four points or less. The Browns have a negative-13 point differential despite their winning record. Cleveland keeps winning, but the margins are super thin.
J.J. McCarthy gets his first win for the Giants
A week after he threw 243 yards in relief of Jameis Winston, J.J. McCarthy got the start for New York and led the Giants to a 27-21 win over the Houston Texans in overtime.
McCarthy played a clean game, completing 20 of 28 passes for 252 yards. He improved to 7-4 in his career as a starter, and New York is now 4-2-1 — and atop the NFC East. McCarthy got a huge boost from his rushing attack, as Cam Skattebo ran for 124 yards and a score, while former Texan Devin Singletary ran for the winning touchdown in the extra period.
The Rams have a get-right game
It’s been a frustrating season for Los Angeles, which entered Week 7 with a 2-4 record. The Rams’ last three losses came by a combined nine points, a sign the team was closer to the preseason favorite most assumed it would be.
Los Angeles finally lived up to its potential in a 35-21 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. The Rams scored 28 points in the first half alone, thanks in large part to a rushing attack that averaged 5.2 yards per rush en route to 199 yards. Reigning MVP Matthew Stafford was efficient, finishing the game with 195 yards on 23 of 29 passing.
Los Angeles’ next three games are against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Washington Commanders and the Arizona Cardinals — an opportunity for the 3-4 Rams to get back over .500.
Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers keep winning
After quarterback Aaron Rodgers looked every bit his age in a sluggish start to the season, the 42-year-old four-time MVP has led Pittsburgh to a 4-1 record in its last five games. The Steelers squeaked out a 16-10 victory over the New Orleans Saints in Paris in a game played without incident amid protests in France.
Rodgers has completed at least 60% of his passes in each of the last three weeks, all of which were Pittsburgh wins. On Sunday, he even dialed back the clock to pick up a key first down late with his legs, effectively icing the game.
The Steelers are tied with the Browns atop the AFC North, though Cleveland is in first place by virtue of a head-to-head tiebreaker.
An undefeated falls, and a defeated rises
The San Francisco 49ers fell to 6-1 in a 29-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The 49ers entered injury-depleted (particularly at receiver) and then lost running back Christian McCaffrey during the game. Brock Purdy threw two interceptions, but it’s far from panic time in the Bay.
Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins picked up their first win of the season and the first career win for head coach Jeff Hafley. The Dolphins outlasted the New York Jets 28-25, and it’s possible losing to a previously winless Miami team puts Jets coach Aaron Glenn on a seat too hot to come back from.
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