The tenth month of the year is rapidly closing in on its conclusion, and daylight hours are diminishing. As the season progresses, professional American football teams are beginning to assess their positions as potential participants or sellers as the trade deadline approaches in the coming weeks, based on their performance in games.
The initial games of the day on Sunday were relatively uneventful, but the later matchups provided excitement. The Miami Dolphins suffered a significant defeat against the Cleveland Browns, and the New York Jets experienced another loss. The Los Angeles Rams are demonstrating their competitiveness for the Super Bowl, while the Philadelphia Eagles returned to their victorious form. The Kansas City Chiefs are also presenting themselves as strong contenders for the championship once more.
Numerous developing narratives are resulting in various interpretations. Which assessments are justifiable, and which are exaggerated? The early games delivered the initial impact.
Brian Daboll’s dismissal should follow Giants’ downfall
Assessment: Justified
In an unexpected turn, the Giants were defeated by the Broncos. The Broncos, trailing 19-0 at the start of the fourth quarter, managed to score 33 points in the final quarter-hour. The Giants, holding a 26-8 lead with six minutes remaining, conceded 25 points and ultimately lost.
This qualifies as one of the most remarkable comebacks in the history of professional American football, with Bo Nix contributing four touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The Broncos accumulated 291 offensive yards in the fourth quarter, marking one of the most significant collapses in league history. The Giants even regained the lead in the final minute.
Daboll, known for his offensive coaching background, appointed Shane Bowen as the defensive coordinator. He also employs Jude McAtamney, who missed two extra-point attempts in the game. The Giants seem to have a culture of losing under Daboll’s leadership, which was evident in this dramatic failure.
Jaxson Dart’s talent as a quarterback should not be a reason to retain Daboll. Rather, it further supports the argument for a change.
The Commanders occupy the lowest position in the NFC East
Assessment: Exaggerated
This perspective arises from having the league’s most seasoned roster and a defense that ranks 27th in yards allowed per game and 23rd in points surrendered per game. The Commanders’ defense struggled significantly against the Cowboys, with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens dominating an overmatched secondary in Dallas’s decisive victory.
While the Cowboys might possess the most dynamic offense in the sport, that doesn’t invalidate the existing narrative. If Jayden Daniels, who sustained a hamstring injury, faces an extended absence, the Commanders could potentially finish at the bottom of their division. Their chances of reaching the playoffs are slim without Daniels, particularly considering the consistent health issues of Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel.
This is an experienced team that secured numerous narrow victories last season. Such success is challenging to maintain, and the limitations in talent are becoming apparent. The Eagles and Cowboys outperform the Commanders, and the Giants may also be superior with Jaxson Dart leading as quarterback.
Washington is likely to miss the postseason and conclude with a losing record.
Assessment: Justified
McCaffrey is a primary reason for the 49ers’ 5-2 record, delivering his strongest performance of the season in Sunday’s win against the Falcons. He recorded 31 touches for a total of 201 yards (129 rushing, 72 receiving) and two touchdowns, carrying the 49ers’ offense against the Falcons. The 49ers’ offensive strategy has centered on McCaffrey, who leads the league with 185 touches through seven games (averaging 26.4 per game).
While the 49ers have capitalized on McCaffrey’s abilities, they also risk injury to a player with a history of injuries. McCaffrey is on track to accumulate 449 touches this season, exceeding his previous career high by 46 touches. Can they sustain this level of reliance on McCaffrey?
San Francisco doesn’t fully utilize its wide receiver options, despite the capabilities of Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings, and Kendrick Bourne. George Kittle has returned, but the 49ers primarily used him as a blocker for McCaffrey on Sunday instead of involving him in the passing game.
Excessive use of McCaffrey results in wins, but how much risk can San Francisco afford? An injury to McCaffrey due to overuse would jeopardize the 49ers’ Super Bowl aspirations. This is an injury they cannot afford, so San Francisco needs to prioritize McCaffrey’s preservation.
The Colts stand out as the premier team in the AFC
Assessment: Justified
Currently, this is an indisputable assessment. The Colts possess the conference’s best record at 6-1 and dominated the Chargers in a clash of division leaders leading into Week 7. Indianapolis established a 23-3 lead early and never relinquished it, overwhelming Los Angeles.
Jonathan Taylor contributed three rushing touchdowns and doesn’t even need to carry Daniel Jones, who threw for two scores himself and finished with a 113.4 passer rating. The Colts seemed to be facing a potentially disastrous season with Jones taking over in August but have instead emerged as the conference’s top team through seven weeks.
Indianapolis boasts the second-ranked offense in yards per game (380.3), leads in yards per play (6.4), and tops the league in offensive points per game (32.1). This arguably constitutes the league’s most potent offense, and the Colts appear to be on course to secure the AFC South title.
Are the Colts legitimate Super Bowl contenders? This will be determined as they face more challenging opponents, but they currently stand as the AFC’s best team through seven weeks.
Tua Tagovailoa’s tenure with the Dolphins concludes
Assessment: Exaggerated
Tua Tagovailoa’s poor performance against the Browns’ defense warrants scrutiny, as the Dolphins’ quarterback appeared overwhelmed until he was replaced by Quinn Ewers. He completed 12 of 23 passes for 100 yards with three interceptions and a 24.1 passer rating, marking the third Dolphins quarterback since 1970 with three interceptions in consecutive games and the first since Dan Marino in 1986.
The Dolphins’ offense struggled to gain momentum, with Tagovailoa averaging 4.3 yards per attempt. Tagovailoa has 11 touchdowns to 10 interceptions and is averaging 6.4 yards per attempt with an 82.8 rating. He’s struggled without Tyreek Hill and a poor offensive line.
Without Hill, Tagovailoa has six interceptions and a 69.2 rating in three games. Perhaps the Dolphins are contemplating a change, signaling the end of Tagovailoa’s time in Miami. While this is unlikely, the Dolphins’ potential move may be under consideration, but it’s premature to act (and Tagovailoa has three years remaining on his $1212.4 million extension).
The Dolphins are unlikely to bench Tagovailoa and absorb the financial repercussions, giving him an opportunity to recover with a new coach in place.
Cover 32: Jets officially on 0-17 watch after Justin Fields benching, plus games balls and gaffes from Week 7
Tyler Sullivan
The Eagles have rectified their offensive issues
Assessment: Exaggerated
The Eagles’ offense demonstrated notable improvement on Sunday, with Jalen Hurts and the passing game delivering their most impressive performance in recent memory. Hurts completed 19 of 23 passes for 326 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions, achieving a 158.3 passer rating against the league’s top-ranked pass defense.
Hurts completed 4 of 4 passes for 189 yards on throws exceeding 25 air yards, as the Eagles successfully executed the deep pass. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith each made two catches on these throws and combined for 54 yards after the catch. Hurts completed 9 of 12 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns on passes beyond 10 air yards, resulting in a 156.3 rating and 23.7 yards per attempt. On third and fourth down, Hurts completed 7 of 8 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown (158.3 rating). In the second half, he completed 10 of 12 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns.
Is the offense completely restored? The running game still struggled, totaling only 23 carries for 45 yards (2.0 yards per carry), and Saquon Barkley finished with just 44 yards and 2.4 yards per carry. Barkley has accumulated 369 rushing yards through seven games and is averaging 3.3 yards per carry. Communication appears to be lacking up front, and Barkley has struggled to generate significant gains.
If the passing offense can facilitate the running game, the Eagles will pose a significant threat. While the unit wasn’t flawless on Sunday, it represented a step in the right direction.
Assessment: Exaggerated
Trevor Lawrence’s performance on Sunday warrants substantial criticism, as he completed just 23 of 48 passes for 296 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions (74.7 rating) in Jacksonville’s one-sided defeat. Lawrence’s statistics should have been less favorable, as he completed 7 of 12 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter, when the Jaguars were trailing by a significant margin.
Lawrence struggles to connect with his receivers, as Travis Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr. were open on numerous occasions throughout the game. When he directs the ball to Thomas, Hunter is open, and vice versa. Hunter should be more productive on offense, but Lawrence’s inconsistent quarterback play hinders his progress.
While Lawrence hasn’t performed as expected for a No. 1 pick in his five years, does that necessarily label him a failure? Not necessarily, as Lawrence has experienced three different play callers, three head coaches, and organizational instability during his tenure. He is still adapting to Grant Udinski’s offensive system, and the initial outcomes have been unpromising.
Lawrence is a starting-caliber quarterback in the league and is likely to have a lengthy career, but he doesn’t belong to the elite tier. While labeling Lawrence as “good” might be an overstatement, that doesn’t imply he’s a bust.
Assessment: Justified
Patrick Mahomes has been performing exceptionally well in recent weeks and recently welcomed back his top receiver, Rashee Rice, after the wide receiver completed his six-game suspension. Rice made an immediate impact with two touchdowns, as Mahomes completed 26 of 35 passes for 266 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions (126.6 rating) in a shutout victory over the Raiders.
Rice was targeted 10 times by Mahomes in his debut, and Mahomes recorded a 117.5 passer rating when throwing to him. Mahomes has been on a hot streak lately, completing 71.3% of his passes for 1,131 yards with 11 touchdowns to one interception and a 117.2 passer rating over his last four games, indicative of MVP-caliber performance.
The Chiefs, with a 4-3 record, are vying for the AFC West title after an 0-2 start, and Mahomes has been a significant catalyst. If Mahomes maintains this level of performance, he’ll contend for the MVP award as the Chiefs pursue another Super Bowl appearance. With Rice back in the lineup, Mahomes’ play is expected to improve further.
Drake Maye is currently delivering the most outstanding season for a QB in Patriots’ history
Assessment: Exaggerated
Drake Maye delivered another stellar performance in Sunday’s win against the Titans, completing 21 of 23 passes for 222 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 135.9 passer rating, establishing a Patriots’ single-game record by completing 91.3% of his passes.
This season, Maye has entered the MVP conversation as the Patriots lead the AFC East with a 5-2 record. He’s completed 75.2% of his passes for 1,744 yards with 12 touchdowns and two interceptions for a 116.4 passer rating. He has the third-highest completion percentage through seven games in NFL history (75.2%), and his 116.4 rating is the highest for any Patriots player since Tom Brady in 2007.
Is this the most outstanding season ever by a Patriots’ quarterback? While not definitively, it merits consideration. Brady threw 50 touchdowns and posted a 117.2 passer rating in 2007, as the Patriots achieved a 16-0 regular-season record. He led the league in completion percentage (68.6%), passing yards (4,806), passing touchdowns (50), and passer rating (117.2), representing one of the greatest seasons ever by a quarterback.
Maye’s presence in this conversation is noteworthy. If the Patriots hadn’t had Brady for two decades, this could be considered the best season for any quarterback in the franchise’s history. Remember, Maye is only in his second year.
Matthew Stafford is an obvious Hall of Fame quarterback
Assessment: Justified
Another game for Matthew Stafford, another standout performance. Stafford was dominant against the Jaguars defense in London, setting an international-game record with five touchdown passes in the convincing Rams victory. He finished 21 of 33 for 182 yards and five touchdown passes with zero interceptions — a 117.7 passer rating.
Stafford is having one of his best seasons at age 37, having 17 touchdown passes to just two interceptions through seven games. He was leading the NFL in passing yards entering Week 7 and his touchdown-to-interception ratio is 32 touchdown passes to just three interceptions over his last 16 games started (including playoffs).
Already with a Super Bowl championship (and the most touchdown passes in a season with 60, including postseason), Stafford is ninth all time in passing yards (61,675) and ninth in passing touchdowns (394). As the numbers keep going up and the wins keep coming with Los Angeles, Stafford has solidified his Hall of Fame case. He may be a first-ballot Hall of Famer as well.
