Week 7 was, truthfully, a bit of a weird one. The Detroit Lions, one of the NFL’s best teams, fell apart. Kenny Pickett, statistically the league’s worst starting quarterback, played a wonderfully efficient game to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to a fourth-quarter comeback on the road in Los Angeles. The Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos both won.
This Sunday’s performances were split between things worth celebrating and things worth mocking. And, what do you know, so is this column. So let’s take a deeper look at all the things that were awesome, be it modest improvements or massive steps forward. And lets look at the things that were not, be they outliers in the midst of a great season or issues endemic to greater failures yet to come.
Best: Myles Garrett, eater of worlds
If the season ended today, the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year race would be a two-man showdown between AFC North rivals. T.J. Watt has been the chaos engine that gives the Pittsburgh Steelers’ impotent offense room to win. Myles Garrett is, well, the same exact thing, only with “Cleveland Browns” in the previous sentence.
MYLES GARRETT TAKING OVER.
📺: #CLEvsIND on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/iTs8HMaXlh pic.twitter.com/ADb433zw7j— NFL (@NFL) October 22, 2023
Garrett continued to be an absolutely impossible human being Sunday. He had nine tackles, two sacks and a tackle for loss. He knocked the ball out of Gardner Minshew’s hands in the end zone to create a Cleveland touchdown from thin air. He blocked the absolute hell out of a Matt Gay field goal attempt.
MYLES GARRETT IS UNREAL 🤯
pic.twitter.com/TEx184bTht— PFF (@PFF) October 22, 2023
He forced two fumbles in the first half alone. And even his more boring stats, like his single pass defensed, looked extremely cool.
Myles Garrett has Iverson’s crossover and Mutumbo’s block. I don’t know what to tell you. pic.twitter.com/SYKHSbaQvt
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) October 22, 2023
Garrett has 7.5 sacks, 16 quarterback hits and three forced fumbles through six games, putting him well on pace for career highs in just about every meaningful counting stat out there. That’s absurd, since this is already a player who has been an All-Pro across four different seasons. 2023 may be his finest year yet, and that’s saying *a lot.*
Worst: Sam Howell and the Washington Commanders' blocking
The New York Giants came into Week 7 as the league’s least effective pass rushers. Their five sacks through six games was by far the lowest total in the NFL.
Then, facing a Commanders offense that gives out pressures like mini Kit Kats at Halloween, this problem corrected itself. New York got to Howell fire times … in the first half alone.
Brought the heat 😤 pic.twitter.com/4vwfrK3gSs
— New York Giants (@Giants) October 22, 2023
Howell improved in the second half, but his general ability to adjust to blitzes and get rid of the ball remains a massive detriment in what’s an otherwise useful passing game. The second-year quarterback made few changes to his game, allowing an otherwise toothless defense to mash him into a fine paste.
Howell is on pace to take 97 sacks in 2023. The NFL record is 76, set by David Carr and an expansion-team offense from the Houston Texans in 2002. This would be remarkable for several reasons, not the least of which is that it would suggest Howell was able to stay healthy for a full season while cosplaying as the world’s least interesting pinata.
So how are the Commanders taking it? Uh, not well (audio is not safe for work. Huge cusses inbound).
Jonathan Allen is not happy after Commanders loss. "They whupped our ass, plain and simple." pic.twitter.com/7BaGsfkDWg
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) October 22, 2023
Best: Lamar Jackson, spiteful maniac
Just look at how beautiful this pass chart is. That’s an eight-for-eight performance on passes that traveled more than 12 yards downfield.
Somehow, that doesn’t do Jackson’s dominance justice, because it doesn’t consider how he was able to buy all the time needed to make those throws against a defense that had been peaking coming into Week 7.
LAMAR AND NELLY MAKE IT HAPPEN❗️❗️❗️
Tune in on FOX! pic.twitter.com/kO1C0eL4K2
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 22, 2023
That is ludicrous, and Jackson makes it look so damn easy. The Lions came into this game with the league’s third-best defense and Baltimore made them look like a bunch of uncoordinated goons.
What could have spurred such a monster game from the former MVP? Our former scribe Steven Ruiz, now writing at The Ringer, has a theory to which Jackson himself appears to subscribe:
https://t.co/70hbVo1x31 pic.twitter.com/63b6kFI3dq
— Steven Ruiz (@theStevenRuiz) October 22, 2023
Worst: The Detroit Lions' shocking implosion
If any team in the NFL deserves a mulligan, it’s a Lions team that’s outstripped expectations en route to the best record in the league through six weeks. Detroit’s draft picks and offseason acquisitions had punched up a defense that surprisingly rose to a spot amongst the elite. A showdown with Baltimore had the promise of a rock fight, a low-scoring slog defined by defensive stands.
Instead, the Ravens smacked Dan Campbell’s team in the mouth. By the time Detroit knew what had happened, this game was effectively over. Baltimore’s first four drives resulted in 315 yards and four touchdowns. Its win probability hit 95 percent five minutes into the second quarter. The final 40 minutes of this game were effectively garbage time.
TOUCHDOWN @Lj_era8 ON FOURTH DOWN!!!!
Tune in now on FOX! pic.twitter.com/cyAFhehzyb
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 22, 2023
This was a painful throwback to a seemingly never-ending era of football Detroit had hoped was in its rear view. And there’s only one word that truly describes it, the typo that sums it all up.
LOINS.
Best: Mac Jones' incremental improvement in a scheme based on movement
The Patriots utilized motion and movement to create space for Jones despite an injury-riddled offensive line. The Bills’ defensive front, notably missing DaQuan Jones, only pressured him once in the first half as New England took a 13-3 halftime lead over its division rival.
Demario Douglas put one hell of a move on Dane Jackson to create 15+ bonus yards, my word pic.twitter.com/I6y5ZDStUn
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) October 22, 2023
Mac thrived in this space and the open wideouts it created. Without the pressure of having to fit balls in tight windows with laser-beam throws, he was able to cycle through his reads and find the right targets in true Cyndi Lauper fashion: time after time. This meant bludgeoning his short targets with precision to open up longer targets over time.
Jones only threw five passes that traveled at least 10 yards downfield but he completed all of them (his average target distance was four yards downfield, second-lowest of Week 7). That includes an absolutely clutch soft lob to Hunter Henry with the game on the line en route to a fourth quarter comeback win over a hated division rival.
holy moly Mac Jones third-and-long two-minute drill composure pic.twitter.com/nalbaBBpiA
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) October 22, 2023
That’s not proof Jones can be a franchise quarterback, but it suggests there’s an offense that can work for him buried inside New England’s playbook. Even if that’s just for the final 10 games of 2023, it’s a silver lining on an otherwise grey season.
Worst: Mac Jones and whatever the hell this was
Yeah I dunno, man.
i'm not sure what's funnier, Mac Jones planting this pass squarely into Rhamondre Stevenson's back or him picking it up and trying to run with it after pic.twitter.com/llS9C1UOHJ
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) October 22, 2023
Best: Tyson Bagent, DII superstar and undefeated starting NFL quarterback
It wasn’t pretty. In fact, it was mostly an affront to the forward pass.
56 total air yards produced on 33 dropbacks for ole T Bag and Da Bears today.
Average depth of target of 2 yards. 35% of targets went to the RB position. pic.twitter.com/wUwOub5SdL
— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) October 22, 2023
But Tyson Bagent (please don’t call him T-Bag) piloted the Bears to a comfortable win by taking all the checkdown goodness the Las Vegas Raiders’ deficient defense put on his plate. There’s only one Bagent highlight from Week 7 on Chicago’s official Twitter account, and it’s a slightly boring 11-yard scramble.
.@tysbagent is getting the Chicago crowd going 👀
📺: #LVvsCHI on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/iTs8HMaXlh pic.twitter.com/GEIWYieWIA— NFL (@NFL) October 22, 2023
Still! The Bears got a win, even if it came against Brian Hoyer and the NFL’s worst head coach (more on that later). At this point one year ago, Bagent was busy throwing passes against West Chester University in a battle of teams whose logos give off amazing “you can copy my homework, just change it up a little so we don’t get caught” vibes.
That was en route to a 13-2 season at Shepherd University, a Division II school in West Virginia. Now he’s 1-0 as a starting NFL quarterback. He got the game ball in the locker room, but he should probably have D’Onta Foreman (two rushing touchdowns) and Jaylon Johnson (two interceptions, one a pick-six) sign it for him.
Worst: Josh Allen's frustrating inconsistency
Allen finished Sunday’s loss with 14.3 expected points added (EPA) and a pair of touchdown passes. But his afternoon wasn’t as encouraging as advanced stats suggest.
first damn play from scrimmage for the Bills pic.twitter.com/jFMF4bIFVH
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) October 22, 2023
While the perennial Pro Bowler and occasional MVP candidate led Buffalo back from a 12-point fourth quarter deficit to take a late lead, the Bills probably shouldn’t have been in that position in the first place. His ability to escape pressure and make the right reads downfield persisted. Allen’s problem was that he frequently missed open targets with inaccurate throws.
the Pats tried to bracket Stefon Diggs and it made no difference (and then Josh Allen overthrew him, but this should have been a TD) pic.twitter.com/DkrttFfsaS
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) October 22, 2023
Instead of playing like the absolute game-changer the Bills hoped he could be, Allen was merely “pretty good” against the Pats. He was able to inch to the precipice of a back-breaking play against New England, but unable to broach the tipping point to make it happen.
not saying this is an easy throw by any means, and credit due for finding an open Diggs, but this feels like a pass Josh Allen hits on his better days pic.twitter.com/iPQBcVuHyQ
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) October 22, 2023
That makes it two straight weeks where the Buffalo offense has underwhelmed against an opponent it was supposed to have little trouble rolling over. Allen is on pace to set a career high in interceptions (17) despite what’s also been a career high in completion percentage (70.7 percent). Things are good, but they could be better — and we know this because they were back in 2020 and 2022.
Best: Devon Witherspoon, coming for that rookie of the year award
Witherspoon was wide receiver cling wrap at Illinois, but injuries kept him from making an immediate impact as a rookie with the Seattle Seahawks. But since Week 2 he’s played every defensive snap for Pete Carroll, notably showing out in Week 6 with a pick-six and two sacks against the New York Giants.
On Sunday, he proved he remains a do-everything, hurt-everyone missile.
DEVON WITHERSPOON 💥
MY GOODNESS #Seahawks pic.twitter.com/syIliCSCe5
— ᴅᴏxx ⚡️ (@new_era72) October 22, 2023
Witherspoon finished the game with four tackles and a pass defensed. The Seahawks beat the Arizona Cardinals, 30-20.
Worst: Josh McDaniels' game management
Facing fourth-and-goal in the fourth quarter of a 21-3 game, McDaniels opted for … three points.
Down 18 points in the fourth quarter, the Raiders kick a field goal on 4th-and-goal.
No surprise here: our model saw that as a clear go. https://t.co/uB1xbp2f4E pic.twitter.com/E0PVbzJlQS
— Seth Walder (@SethWalder) October 22, 2023
OK, fine. That decision turned a three-score game into a two-score one. There’s at least some logic there. But what doesn’t jive is the fact he opted to go for it on fourth-and-four from the Bears’ red zone just three plays earlier.
This is, incredibly, not the first time McDaniels opted for a field goal when he needed a touchdown this season. When given multiple chances, he’s decided to trust a thoroughly untrustable defense to do his dirty work and create extra chances for an offense that’s similarly gross.
But maybe he was utterly demoralized after seeing his star wideout drop what should have been an easy touchdown on third down.
oh my god Davante Adams pic.twitter.com/mrbD7XHf6Y
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) October 22, 2023
Best: Jayden Reed's tip-drill go-ahead touchdown
First, Romeo Doubs bailed out Jordan Love by turning a Patrick Surtain II interception into a (controversial) Green Bay Packers touchdown. Then Reed bailed out Doubs when he couldn’t reel in a well-placed sidearm toss on fourth down deep in Denver Broncos territory.
HOW DID THIS WORK?! @Packers tie the game!
📺: #GBvsDEN on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/iTs8HMaXlh pic.twitter.com/5vsbhjCgIX— NFL (@NFL) October 22, 2023
Just like how the Packers drew it up. Unsurprisingly, that offense was unable to generate the power needed to score a last-minute touchdown and secure a road win.
Worst: Kareem Jackson, who cannot stop cheating (and hurting people)
There have been five player disqualifications in the NFL this season. Jackson is responsible for 40 percent of them. He’s been fined five times for illegal hits to an opponent’s head in seven games, a stat for which the league doesn’t keep records but what feels like a historic feat nonetheless.
The veteran cornerback-turned-safety used to be one of the most reliable players in Denver’s secondary. Instead he’s become a head-hunting liability to both his team and any wideout or tight end unfortunate enough to wind up in his sights downfield. On Sunday, that was Green Bay Packers rookie tight end Luke Musgrave.
Broncos S Kareem Jackson just did it again. He has been ejected. pic.twitter.com/SZ7R84ggh9
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) October 22, 2023
Musgrave had to leave this game for observation after the hit. Green Bay turned the extra 15 yards gained into a touchdown drive. The Broncos survived anyway, but that only raised more questions about the Packer offense than answered them about the Denver D.
Best: Mike Tomlin's uncanny ability to keep the Steelers winning
The last time the Steelers lost coming off a bye week was back in 2016. In the years since, they’ve been quarterbacked by late stage Ben Roethlisberger, early stage Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph-era Mason Rudolph.
That streak will persist until 2024 after a road win in Los Angeles as a 3.5-point underdog thanks to the continuing unsung excellence of head coach Mike Tomlin. The veteran playcaller, now in his 17th season at the helm in Pittsburgh — none of them losing — remains a master at divining more from less, particularly at the quarterback position. On Sunday, he created a game plan that spread his offense out without forcing Pickett into the kinds of throws he’s clearly not yet comfortable making.
The Steelers found ways for Pickett to shine in easy situations, keying a fourth quarter comeback to improve to 4-2 on the season — a half-game behind the AFC North leading Ravens, who they beat in Week 5. George Pickens and a returning Diontae Johnson combined for 10 catches and 186 yards. They even got both members of their maligned tailback rotation into the end zone when both Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren scored.
You've been warned 😏 @Nunless2
📲: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/T87FSng3KS pic.twitter.com/6KkLTQ4yF4
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 22, 2023
And, of course, T.J. Watt did T.J. Watt things, this time securing an interception that led to Pittsburgh’s first touchdown of the game. Pittsburgh keeps winning despite being the underdog in three of those victories. A large part of that is thanks to a smothering defense and Pickett’s ability to rise up to big moments. But the theme that runs through it all and ties it all together is Tomlin’s ability to build a team capable of playing above its talent level for long stretches.
Worst: The Eagles' red zone play calling
Jalen Hurts completed three of his first four passes to poke holes in the Miami Dolphins’ defense through the air and set up a scoring opportunity. Then, with Miami reeling, the Eagles … forgot all about that.
First and goal from the eight? Hurts run for negative-two yards.
Second and goal from the 10? One yard up the gut on a Kenneth Gainwell handoff.
Third and goal from the nine? QB draw.
WAIT, QB DRAW?
Dolphins defense baited the QB run from the Eagles on that last 3rd down.
Eagles motion to Empty, Dolphins show a Quarters shell. But watch the Dolphins Safeties signaling.
Hurts checks into a direct QB run – which makes sense against a light box. Dolphins instead bring Cover 0 pic.twitter.com/GOdb72V1LW
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) October 23, 2023
Yep, as pointed out by The Athletic‘s Nate Tice, Hurts checked into a QB draw, which was exactly what the Dolphins wanted to see. A swarming pass rush snuffed the play out immediately and Philly was forced to settle for three points in a game between two of the league’s most explosive offenses. Brutal.
