NFL Week 7 Grades: Cowboys Earn High Marks, Panthers Flop

Welcome to our report card for Week 7!

We have inexplicably arrived at October’s last Sunday, and scanning the NFL leaderboard reveals several unexpected developments. Most notably, the Cleveland Browns hold top spot in their division. To be clear, Cleveland currently leads the pack. It’s truly happening. A major driving force behind the Browns’ surprising surge has been Deshaun Watson. 

  • In Cleveland’s 27-24 victory against Tennessee, Watson guided yet another fourth-quarter comeback drive on Sunday, bringing his total to five this year. Consequently, he becomes only the third quarterback since 1970 to execute a game-winning drive in all of his club’s first five victories in a single season. 

Matching that surprise, the New York Giants currently command the NFC East, AND they managed to secure a victory with J.J. McCarthy starting under center. Had anyone predicted back in August that a division-leading Giants team would claim a Week 7 win with McCarthy calling plays, online football fans would have mocked the claim. Nobody is mocking them now. 

  • New York has now achieved victories behind three separate signal-callers this campaign (McCarthy, Jameis Winston, and Jaxson Dart). This accomplishment marks them as the initial franchise since the 2016 Patriots to record minimum three wins featuring three distinct starting quarterbacks prior to November. 

At the bottom of the table, the Baltimore Ravens reside in last position following one of the most stunning collapses in league memory. Baltimore held a 13-0 advantage over the Bengals at the break, only to fall 35-13 at the final whistle. 

  • This stands as the third-highest margin of defeat in league history for any squad possessing a lead of 13 or more points at halftime. 
  • Since the 2020 campaign, Baltimore has dropped 17 contests after holding a double-digit buffer, leading all NFL teams over that duration. Furthermore, every single one of their three defeats this year occurred after establishing a double-digit lead. 
  • For the second consecutive week, they held their rival without points in the opening half, only to get blanked themselves while surrendering the game in the final two quarters. 

Adding insult to injury for Baltimore, the aforementioned teams—the Giants and Browns—are currently led by head coaches whom the Ravens let go following last season (John Harbaugh and Todd Monken). 

Regarding Harbaugh, Dallas sits merely a single game back of his Giants within the NFC East following their Monday night triumph over the Eagles. Considering that backdrop, let’s delve into the performance marks, beginning with Dallas’s crucial success. 

Cowboys (3-4) defeat Eagles (2-5) 38-21

Bengals (4-2) triumph over Ravens (4-3) 35-13

Seahawks (3-4) beat Chiefs (5-1) 20-3

Lions (4-2) edge Packers (4-3) 20-17

Rams (3-4) top Raiders (3-4) 35-21

Broncos (5-2) down Cardinals (2-5) 30-16

Falcons (3-4) upset 49ers (6-1) 29-20

Vikings (6-0) handle Colts (2-5) 16-10

Giants (4-2-1) beat Texans (2-5) 27-21

Buccaneers (2-5) blow out Panthers (3-3) 43-13

Browns (5-2) edge Titans (1-6) 27-24

Dolphins (1-5) outlast Jets (2-5) 28-25

Steelers (5-2) defeat Saints (2-5) 16-10 in Paris

Bears (5-2) surpass Patriots (4-3) 30-24