The 2021 NFL season is taking its true shape, in ways both expected and unexpected.
The Buccaneers and Bills would be as good as they were hyped up to be, although the latter got to spend Week 7 on their bye week. The Jets and Texans were expected to be bad, and definitely so.
But there was a lot that was unexpected.
The Bengals are looking like true contenders, rising above the Ravens, Steelers, Seahawks and Chiefs.
After a Week 7 where the Bengals snagged the biggest statement win of the season, we go to the power rankings, where the top of the rankings remains the same, but a new team is now at the bottom.
#32: Houston Texans
Week 7 @ ARZ: L, 5-31 | Record: 1-6
Previous Rank: #31
It first appeared as if the Texans would give the undefeated Cardinals a challenge. It aged like milk. They scored the game’s first five points but remembered their tank. This was the 4th time in the last five games the Texans lost by at least 15 points and the 3rd time in the last four games that they scored less than 6 points. The Texans are not a good team, but head coach David Culley told reporters that you won’t see any quit from the players. “We are going to stay together,” said Culley. “There is a process we are going through. We don’t like where we are at right now.” Said “process” now stands at six straight losses. They had just 160 yards against the Cardinals, and only two teams are averaging fewer yards per game in 2021, with the Jets being one of them. With the Rams coming to town, expect nothing to change. Despite having veteran talent on the roster, they are undermanned and have been undisciplined, with a lot of costly penalties. They have not scored a touchdown on the road since the 4th quarter of Week 2 and were outscored 102-8 in their last three road games. That Week 1 win has some serious “NOT SATISFIED WITH 1-0” energy right now.
On another note, Tyrod Taylor returned to practice, but he’s not the Texans QB garnering headlines. Deshaun Watson is expected to be moved before the trade deadline. Multiple suitors are reportedly interested, which goes to show how much some teams are willing to overlook if it means landing a Pro Bowl QB in his prime. If they trade Watson now, it would be a best-case scenario for the Texans. They would get a boatload of premium draft picks while moving on from the toxicity of their former franchise QB.
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Davis Mills
RB: David Johnson
WR: Brandin Cooks, Nico Collins, Danny Amendola
TE: Jordan Akins
OL: Geron Christian Sr. (LT), Tytus Howard (LG), Justin Britt (C), Max Scharping (RG), Charlie Heck (RT)
DE: Jonathan Greenard (LDE), Jacob Martin (RDE)
DT: Maliek Collins (LDT), DeMarcus Walker (RDT)
LB: Zach Cunningham (WLB), Christian Kirksey (MLB), Kevin Pierre-Louis (SLB)
CB: Vernon Hargreaves III (LCB), Terrance Mitchell (RCB)
S: Eric Murray (SS), Justin Reid (FS)
ST: Ka’imi Fairbairn (K), Cameron Johnston (P), Jon Weeks (LS)
RS: Tremon Smith (KR), Desmond King III (PR)
#31: New York Jets
Week 7 @ NE: L, 13-54 | Record: 1-6
Previous Rank: #27
You can’t really know how deep the floor goes for the Jets. When you think that things can’t get worse for them, they do. They came out of their bye week and got blown up by their big brother. While getting embarrassed by the Patriots isn’t new for the Jets, it was at least understandable when Tom Brady was in New England. But getting scorched 54-13 by a Patriots team led by MAC JONES is a new level of dysfunction heading into the realm of the indefensible. This was the Jets’ most lopsided loss since 2010 and the most points they have allowed since 1979. Injury was added to insult when Zach Wilson was forced out of the game with an injured PCL, as he told reporters, but the extent of the damage won’t be known until further testing on Monday. Wilson is now projected to miss a month, which prompted the Jets to send a draft pick to the Eagles for the return of Joe Flacco. Regardless of if it’s Flacco or Mike White starting, an already depressing 2021 season is going to get even more depressing. Robert Saleh was brought in to change the culture of a losing franchise. So far, not so good. They were expected to improve based on an offensive scheme emphasizing strong rushing attacks under Kyle Shanahan, but the Jets are proving that schemes don’t matter as much as players. The O-line desperately needs Mekhi Becton back for the outside zone scheme. Hence why no running back in Gang Green has a run longer than 17 yards. How did the Jets even beat the Titans, anyway?
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Mike White
RB: Michael Carter
WR: Jamison Crowder, Keelan Cole, Elijah Moore
TE: Tyler Kroft
OL: George Fant (LT), Alijah Vera-Tucker (LG), Connor McGovern (C), Greg Van Roten (RG), Morgan Moses (RT)
DE: John Franklin-Myers (LDE), Shaq Lawson (RDE)
DT: Sheldon Rankins (LDT), Quinnen Williams (RDT)
LB: Del’Shawn Phillips (WLB), CJ Mosley (MLB), Quincy Williams (SLB)
CB: Brandin Echols (LCB), Bryce Hall (RCB)
S: Ashtyn Davis (SS), Marcus Maye (FS)
ST: Matt Ammendola (K), Thomas Morstead (P), Thomas Hennessy (LS)
RS: Braxton Berrios
#30: Detroit Lions
Week 7 @ LAR: L, 19-28 | Record: 0-7
Previous Rank: #32
The Lions are not a talented team, but they play with heart, and they leave it all on the field every week for Dan Campbell. The last remaining winless team threw everything they had at the Rams. After scoring first, they made the Rams look like fools with a surprise onside kick. They even made TWO fake punts! All three trick plays ended with a successful outcome. They were hanging in tough for four quarters against a Super Bowl contender. But a lack of ability to make stops and an ill-timed interception in the red zone by Jared Goff led the Lions to yet another loss. To have their three trick plays go right and still lose is frustrating, and even though their schedule may be tough and that they are going through a rebuild, they are not a hopeless 0-7. Four of their losses were by single digits, and they gave the Ravens and Rams everything they can handle. Don’t expect the Lions to join their 2008 counterparts in the “winless teams” group. There is a good chance that they can knock off a flawed Eagles team at home. If not, there will still be fans coming to Ford Field on Thanksgiving still wanting to see Detroit win their first game of the 2021 season.
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
RB: D’Andre Swift
WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Kalif Raymond, KhaDarel Hodge
TE: TJ Hockenson
OL: Penei Sewell (LT), Jonah Jenkins (LG), Evan Brown (C), Halapoulivaati Vaitai (RG), Matt Nelson (RT)
DL: Michael Brockers (LDE), Alim McNeill (NT), Nick Williams (RDE)
EDGE: Trey Flowers (WLB), Charles Harris (SLB)
ILB: Alex Anzalone (LILB), Jalen Reeves-Maybin (RILB)
CB: Amani Oruwariye (LCB), Jerry Jacobs (RCB)
S: Will Harris (SS), Tracy Walker III (FS)
ST: Austin Seibert (K), Jack Fox (P), Scott Daly (LS)
RS: Godwin Igwebuike (KR), Kalif Raymond (PR)
#29: Miami Dolphins
Week 7 vs. ATL: L, 28-30 | Record: 1-6
Previous Rank: #29
The Dolphins headed into the 2021 season with some momentum after they narrowly missed the playoffs and winning 10 games last season. They were expected to be a playoff team with a supposedly improved offense and largely the same defense. Fast forward to today, where they lost on the final play for the second straight week and lost their 6th straight game. Any momentum they had coming into the season has been lost. Their playoff chances have virtually vanished before the season reaches the midway point. Perhaps the most disappointing letdown was the defense. They finished top 10 last season, but this year, they rank 31st in scoring, yards, allowed, and 3rd down play. Playoffs are out of the question, and it’s now Evaluation Time in Miami. And that starts with Tua Tagovailoa. As the Deshaun Watson trade rumors continue to flow around the Dolphins, Tua put up another solid performance against the Falcons, his second straight promising showing since coming off the IR. Yes, he had two picks against the Falcons, but he also threw four touchdowns and gave the Fins the lead. It’s not his fault the defense allowed 397 yards and out-Falconed the Falcons. But Chris Grier and Brian Flores’ jobs are on the hot seat and they could be gone after the year by how things are going as of now. But the bigger question is do the Fins offer a large trade package for Watson?
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Tua Tagovailoa
RB: Myles Gaskin
WR: DeVante Parker, Jaylen Waddle, Preston Williams
TE: Mike Gesicki
OL: Liam Eichenberg (LT), Austin Jackson (LG), Greg Mancz (C), Robert Hunt (RG), Jesse Davis (RT)
DL: Christian Wilkins (LDL), Emmanuel Ogbah (RDL)
EDGE: Andrew Van Ginkel (WLB), Brennan Scarlett (SLB)
ILB: Elandon Roberts (LILB), Jerome Baker (RILB)
CB: Xavien Howard (LCB), Byron Jones (RCB), Justin Coleman (NB)
S: Eric Rowe (SS), Jevon Holland (FS)
ST: Jason Sanders (K), Michael Palardy (P), Blake Ferguson (LS)
RS: Jaylen Waddle
#28: Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 7 Bye | Record: 1-5
Previous Rank: #30
The Jaguars headed into the bye week with a feeling they haven’t experienced since Week 1 of last year: The feeling of winning a game. Trevor Lawrence hasn’t taken the NFL by storm since coming into the NFL as the most touted rookie quarterback since Andrew Luck, but things are trending upward for the 1st overall pick. He made some big plays to lead the Jags to their first win of the season two weeks ago in London, and has shown improvement by the weeks. His gains against the pass rush were evident against the Fins: He threw for 117 yards when pressured in Week 6, per NFL Next Gen Stats. He had just 276 yards in total when under pressure in the Jags’ first five games. He told reporters that while getting the monkey off their back was good, pulling off more wins could be better. “It’s been tough, we hate losing,” said Lawrence. “So to get a win, especially in that fashion, it feels good. We’re getting better every week, and I love the momentum we have right now. It’s exciting for sure.” But it won’t be easy. Beginning with their visit to Seattle in Week 8, the Jags will play three straight games against teams that made the playoffs last year, and the Jags have the 27th ranked scoring offense and the 26th ranked scoring defense in the league. The Seahawks game is winnable, however, given that Seattle is in a freefall without Russell Wilson.
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Trevor Lawrence
RB: James Robinson, Jamal Agnew (RB/WR)
WR: Marvin Jones Jr., Laviska Shenault Jr.
TE: Dan Arnold
OL: Cam Robinson (LT), Andrew Norwell (LG), Tyler Shatley (C), Ben Bartch (RG), Jawaan Taylor (RT)
DL: Malcom Brown (LDE), DaVon Hamilton (NT), Dawuane Smoot (RDE)
EDGE: Josh Allen (WLB), Jihad Ward (SLB)
ILB: Damien Wilson (LILB), Myles Jack (RILB)
CB: Tyson Campbell (LCB), Shaquill Griffin (RCB)
S: Rayshawn Jenkins (SS), Andrew Wingard (FS)
ST: Matthew Wright (K), Logan Cooke (P), Ross Matiscik (LS)
RS: Jamal Agnew
#27: Washington Football Team
Week 7 @ GB: L, 10-24 | Record: 2-5
Previous Rank: #26
After losing their 3rd straight game in Week 7—their 4th in 5 weeks—Jonathan Allen was not in the mood for excuses. “We’re such a better football team than what our record says,” said Allen. “But at the end of the day, you can only go by what we’ve done. We’re what, 2-5? That’s just who we are. Losing teams find ways to lose games, and winning teams find ways to win games.” He’s not wrong. Washington had 430 yards of offense—126 more than the Packers. They faced one of the worst red zone defenses in the league, with four trips inside the Packers’ 20, and came up with a touchdown ZERO times. Taylor Heinicke supposedly scored a touchdown, but he was short of the marker by half a yard. But there was no excuse for back-to-back 4th down failures near the goal line which spelled doom at Lambeau. The abysmal defense, which ranked 29th in yards and last in points allowed, had a strong game against the Packers and the line started to look better. But the defensive issues haven’t just stemmed from facing superior quarterbacks; a lack of adherence to the details, leading to poor rushes and blown coverage, plagued the team. The offense, on the other hand, has continued to come up short in pressure situations. When this all comes together, you get the most disappointing team of the 2021 season. And there is little reason to think that a turnaround will come. And as good of a run that Heinicke had, it’s time to bench him when Ryan Fitzpatrick comes back.
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Taylor Heinicke
RB: Antonio Gibson
WR: Terry McLaurin, Cam Sims, Adam Humphries
TE: Ricky Seals-Jones
OL: Charles Leno Jr. (LT), Ereck Flowers (LG), Chase Roullier (C), Brandon Scherff (RG), Saahdiq Charles (RT)
DE: Chase Young (LDE), Montez Sweat (RDE)
DT: Da’Ron Payne (LDT), Jonathan Allen (RDT)
LB: Cole Holcomb (WLB), Jamin Davis (MLB), Khaleke Hudson (SLB)
CB: Kendall Fuller (LCB), William Jackson III (RCB)
S: Landon Collins (SS), Kamren Curl (FS)
ST: Chris Blewitt (K), Tress Way (P), Camaron Cheeseman (LS)
RS: DeAndre Carter
#26: Philadelphia Eagles
Week 7 @ LV: L, 22-33 | Record: 2-5
Previous Rank: #25
The Eagles are in a freefall now. After their loss to the Raiders, they have lost five of six ever since blowing out the Falcons in Week 1. The game wasn’t as close as the final score suggests. While Jalen Hurts scored 43.4% of his fantasy points in the 4th quarter this season, per NBC Sports Edge, the data gives us an idea about what is happening with the offense beneath the counting stats for the second-year QB. This is an offense sleepwalking through the first three quarters of games before making things respectable in the 4th. The offensive inconsistency should not be placed on Hurts alone, but it would be shocking if Nick Sirianni turned to newly elevated backup Gardner Minshew to juice the offense if the outcome is still undecided. Part of it is because of the play calling, and the defense was torched by the Raiders to the tune of 442 total yards. Hurts does not have the draft pedigree or the organizational support to remain as the QB1. The D-line has not been dominant at all—Brandon Graham’s injury seemingly impacted the organization. Fletcher Cox is not happy with the way defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon is utilizing him. Ryan Kerrigan has not looked like his old self. The only player meeting expectations is Javon Hargrave. Offenses are gashing the Eagles, and it’s mostly to do with the D-line. Now at 2-5, the Eagles are in a three-way tie for last place in the NFC East with Washington and the Giants. At the rate things are going, Nick Sirainni’s first year as the Eagles’ head coach may be his last.
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Jalen Hurts
RB: Kenneth Gainwell
WR: DeVonta Smith, Jalen Reagor, Quez Watkins
TE: Dallas Goedert
OL: Jordan Mailata (LT), Landon Dickerson (LG), Jason Kelce (C), Jack Driscoll (RG), Lane Johnson (RT)
DE: Josh Sweat (LDE), Derek Barnett (RDE)
DT: Javon Hargrave (LDT), Fletcher Cox (RDT)
LB: Alex Singleton (WLB), Eric Wilson (MLB), Genard Avery (SLB)
CB: Darius Slay Jr. (LCB), Steven Nelson (RCB)
S: Rodney McLeod Jr. (SS), Marcus Epps (FS)
ST: Jake Elliott (K), Arryn Siposs (P), Rick Lovato (FS)
RS: Jalen Reagor
#25: New York Giants
Week 7 vs. CAR: W, 25-3 | Record: 2-5
Previous Rank: #28
The Giants are not a good football team, nor will their playoff drought be ending this year. But it still felt good for them to blast the Panthers on both sides of the ball. Daniel Jones continues to be a hard quarterback to figure out, as he regularly produces at a mundane level stats-wise, and he didn’t post eye-popping stats with 203 passing yards and a touchdown. But he didn’t turn the ball over, and made plays when needed, both as a passer and runner. And even once as a receiver: His acrobatic one-handed catch in the 3rd quarter on a trick play, which was easily the biggest highlight of the 25-3 win. The defense easily had their best effort of the season, holding the Panthers to 173 yards of total offense. Jones told reporters that he is hopeful that the win will serve as momentum for a possible turnaround. “You know, we’ve had some tough games and some close games, but you know, we believe in who we are as a team, and what we’re doing as a team and where we’re going,” said Jones. But building on the win won’t be easy. They face a desperate Chiefs team next, followed by a home match with the AFC West-leading Raiders. When the Giants are healthy, they can be a better-than-average team. This is a team seemingly headed for a hard reboot, but moving on from Jones by this point is a move that is going to backfire.
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Daniel Jones
RB: Devontae Booker
WR: Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton, Kadarius Toney
TE: Evan Engram
OL: Matt Peart (LT), Matt Skura (LG), Billy Price (C), Will Hernandez (RG), Nate Solder (RT)
DL: Dexter Lawrence (LDE), Austin Johnson (NT), Leonard Williams (RDE)
EDGE: Lorenzo Carter (WLB), Azeez Ojulari (SLB)
ILB: Tae Crowder (LILB), Reggie Ragland (RILB)
CB: James Bradberry (LCB), Adoree’ Jackson (RCB)
S: Julian Love (SS), Logan Ryan (FS)
ST: Graham Gano (K), Riley Dixon (P), Casey Kreiter (LS)
RS: Adoree’ Jackson
#24: Chicago Bears
Week 7 @ TB: L, 3-38 | Record: 3-34
Previous Rank: #22
Even if you squint at the TV, it is hard to find any positives from the Bears’ 38-3 loss to the reigning Super Bowl champions. The Bears were demolished in all facets. They could not slow down Tom Brady and a parade of Bucs playmakers, and the offense could not get anything going in a five-turnover showing. Justin Fields had a game to forget, with 184 passing yards, three interceptions, and two lost fumbles in the blowout loss. Yes, there was going to be growing pains for Fields, who has been sacked an NFL-high 22 times, but head coach Matt Nagy was right to keep the rookie under center for the duration of the blowout. The Bears are not Super Bowl contenders, and they’re not a playoff team. Somebody better give Fields help. He is clearly the team’s most talented option at QB, but the O-line is a disaster, and the receivers are not helping. Aside from the emergence of Khalil Herbert, the offense has been stuck in mud, frustrating the defense on every turn, and the coaching is not helping him with their approach in calling games. Changes need to be made, otherwise they’re going to end up ruining Fields the way they ruined Mitch Trubisky.
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Justin Fields
RB: Khalil Herbert
WR: Allen Robinson II, Darnell Mooney, Marquise Goodwin
TE: Cole Kmet
OL: Jason Peters (LT), Cody Whitehair (LG), Sam Mustipher (C), James Daniels (RG), Elijah Wilkinson (RT)
DL: Akiem Hicks (LDE), Eddie Goldman (NT), Bilal Nichols (RDE)
EDGE: Trevis Gipson (WLB), Robert Quinn (SLB)
ILB: Roquan Smith (LILB), Alec Ogletree (RILB)
CB: Jaylon Johnson (LCB), Kindle Vildor (RCB)
S: Tashaun Gipson Sr. (SS), Eddie Jackson FS)
ST: Cairo Santos (K), Pat O’Donnell (P), Patrick Scales (LS)
RS: Khalil Herbert (KR), Jakeem Grant (PR)
#23: Carolina Panthers
Week 7 @ NYG: L, 3-25 | Record: 3-4
Previous Rank: #17
Last Thursday, Panthers head coach Matt Rhule told reporters that he was 100% committed to Sam Darnold as the team’s quarterback despite losing three straight games after a 3-0 start. In Week 7, he benched Darnold in favor of PJ Walker in a game where the Panthers had the fewest total yards and points during Rhule’s tenure as head coach. Granted, Darnold is hardly the one to blame for the Panthers’ recent woes. But after throwing one pick over the first three games of the season, he was seeing ghosts again, throwing seven over the last four. He was also flagged for intentional grounding in his own end zone. It now looks as if he is more of a stopgap starter than the answer for the Panthers’ passing game. Just when we all thought the Jets were the problem, it’s now looking more of “You can take him off the Jets, but you can’t get the Jets off of him.” This team was a phony when they were 3-0, and not even Christian McCaffrey’s return in Week 9 will do anything to save them. And after this loss, reports surfaced that the Panthers are “evaluating their pursuit of a franchise quarterback,” and they are expected to be involved in trade discussions for Deshaun Watson. The legal issues with Watson will keep him out of action no matter where he is employed, but the Panthers are looking for a major push for a hard-reset QB.
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Sam Darnold
RB: Chuba Hubbard
WR: DJ Moore, Robby Anderson, Alex Erickson
TE: Ian Thomas
OL: Cam Erving (LT), Michael Jordan (LG), Matt Paradis (C), Dennis Daley (RG), Taylor Moton (RT)
DE: Brian Burns (LDE), Morgan Fox (RDE)
DT: Derrick Brown (LDT), DaQuan Jones (RDT)
LB: Shaq Thompson (WLB), Jermaine Carter Jr. (MLB), Haason Reddick (RILB)
CB: Donte Jackson (LCB), Stephon Gilmore (RCB)
S: Sean Chandler (SS), Jeremy Chinn (FS)
ST: Zane Gonzalez (K), Lachlan Edwards (P), JJ Jansen (LS)
RS: Chuba Hubbard (KR), Alex Erickson (PR)
#22: Seattle Seahawks
Week 7 vs. NO: L, 10-13 | Record: 2-5
Previous Rank: #21
The Seahawks are done. It’s not just a matter of another loss at home, where they are now 0-3 for the first time since 1992. Or that at 2-5, they sit four games back of second place in the NFC West. Or that they are looking at least one more game against the Jaguars before the bye (and the potential return of Russell Wilson from a broken finger). It’s the fact that with Geno Smith under center, they might not beat the Jaguars. They can’t get going offensively. They had just 219 yards of offense against the Saints, with 84 of the yards coming from the first pass of the game—a touchdown pass to DK Metcalf. Smith’s first 84 passing yards of the game came from that pass alone. Every other completion went for 83 yards combined. Geno Smith was basically a rollercoaster that was about to go off the rails. It’s a shame, given that the defense actually matched up well against the Saints. While the defense was doing everything they can to keep the team in games, they are not good enough to carry the team. The bigger question is what is next for the Seahawks, assuming they miss the playoffs after an uneasy season between team and QB. And one that Seahawks fans didn’t expect to be asking before Halloween.
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Geno Smith
RB: Alex Collins
WR: DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Freddie Swain
TE: Gerald Everett
OL: Duane Brown (LT), Damien Lewis (LG), Kyle Fuller (C), Gabe Jackson (RG), Brandon Shell (RT)
DE: Rasheem Green (LDE), Kerry Hyder Jr. (RDE)
DT: Poona Ford (LDT), Al Woods (RDT)
LB: Jordyn Brooks (WLB), Bobby Wagner (MLB), Benson Mayowa (SLB)
CB: DJ Reed (LCB), Sidney Jones IV (RCB)
S: Jamal Adams (SS), Quandre Diggs (FS)
ST: Jason Myers (K), Michael Dickson (P), Tyler Ott (LS)
RS: DeeJay Dallas (KR), Freddie Swain (PR)
#21: Denver Broncos
Week 7 @ CLE: L, 14-17 | Record: 3-4
Previous Rank: #18
With each passing week, it becomes harder and harder to believe the Broncos went 3-0. It now has given way to four consecutive losses after their loss to the Browns’ B-team, and it gives the belief that the Broncos are a middling team no closer to serious contention than they were last season with Drew Lock under center. Injured QB Teddy Bridgewater (quad) had another bad game, struggling to throw the ball, and the Broncos managed just 223 yards of offense. He’s not the sole reason the Broncos had a month-long slump, but he is proving once again that he is not a dynamic presence under center. If the Broncos need a game manager, he would be the perfect fit. But with the defense not living up to expectations, they need a difference-maker at QB, and Bridgewater is not that guy. Head coach Vic Fangio and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur are to blame as well. Shurmur called running plays 14 times throughout the game. The play calls were equal parts of boring and predictable. Shurmur ran the offense last season and averaged 20.2 points per game, the 5th-lowest average in the NFL. This year, not much has changed: 21.0 points per game. The players deserve some of the blame, but when the play calling is questionable and the scheming is underwhelming on a weekly basis, it falls on the coaching staff. It’s hard to dispute this, and even harder to dispute it when you watch the games.
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Teddy Bridgewater
RB: Melvin Gordon III
WR: Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, Kendall Hinton
TE: Noah Fant
OL: Garett Bolles (LT), Dalton Risner (LG), Lloyd Cushenberry III (C), Graham Glasgow (RG), Bobby Massie (RT)
DL: Shelby Harris (LDL), Dre’Mont Jones (RDL)
EDGE: Malik Reed (WLB), Von Miller (SLB)
ILB: Kenny Young (LILB), Justin Strnad (RILB)
CB: Ronald Darby (LCB), Pat Surtain II (RCB), Bryce Callahan (NB)
S: Kareem Jackson (SS), Justin Simmons (FS)
ST: Brandon McManus (K), Sam Martin (P), Jacob Bobenmoyer (LS)
RS: Diontae Spencer
#20: Atlanta Falcons
Week 7 @ MIA: W, 30-28 | Record: 3-3
Previous Rank: #24
The Matt Ryan-to-Kyle Pitts connection is official. When the Falcons took Pitts 4th overall, it was the earliest a tight end has ever been drafted in the modern era. In the past few weeks, Pitts showed why the Falcons made a hefty investment in him. The veteran quarterback and rookie tight end connected seven times for 163 yards last Sunday, including two completions to set up Younghoe Koo’s game-winning field goal in a 30-28 win over the Dolphins in Miami. Not often do you see a tight end average over 23 yards per reception in a game. On the 28-yarder that set the Falcons up in field goal range in the final minutes, Pitts lined up on the outside against Xavien Howard, an All Pro ballhawk who regularly shuts down top wideouts. Pitts beat Howard by a half step, then used his size to catch the ball. His performance in the last two games backs up the pre-draft generational hype that positioned the rookie out of Florida as a generational talent. The Falcons now have some momentum, winning two straight games after a 1-3 start to get back to .500. While it comes with limited praise because of how much of a mess the defense is, the offense is looking a lot better for Arthur Smith as everyone is clicking for Matty Ice. And with the Panthers up next, it’s possible that the Falcons could have a winning record for the first time since finishing their 2017 season 10-6. But before making any playoff plans, note that the Falcons’ wins came against teams that have combined for four wins this season.
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Matt Ryan
RB: Cordarrelle Patterson
WR: Calvin Ridley, Russell Gage, Olamide Zaccheaus
TE: Kyle Pitts
OL: Jake Matthews (LT), Jalen Mayfield (LG), Matt Hennessy (C), Chris Lindstrom (RG), Kaleb McGary (RT)
DL: Jonathan Bullard (LDE), Tyeler Davison (NT), Grady Jarrett (RDT)
EDGE: Steven Means (WLB), Adetokunbo Ogundeji (SLB)
ILB: Deion Jones (LILB), Foyesade Oluokun (RILB)
CB: AJ Terrell (LCB), Fabian Moreau (RCB)
S: Duron Harmon (SS), Erik Harris (FS)
ST: Younghoe Koo (K), Dustin Colquitt (P), Josh Harris (LS)
RS: Cordarrelle Patterson (KR), Avery Williams (PR)
#19: San Francisco 49ers
Week 7 vs. IND: L, 18-30 | Record: 2-4
Previous Rank: #16
The 49ers are in serious trouble. They entered the 2021 season with aspirations of shaking off last year’s injury-riddled mess of a season by going back to the playoffs. But after falling to the Colts on Sunday Night Football, they have now dropped four straight and have fallen way off pace in the NFC West. It’s fair to argue about the “bomb cyclone” affecting the game, where the weather forecast called for 1 to 2 inches of rain with 15 to 25 mph of wind, but it’s the results that matter the most. Now the Niners stand at 2-4 and 4.5 games behind the Cardinals before Halloween. Winning the division is already a pipe dream. Getting to the playoffs isn’t going to be easy. However, Jimmy Garoppolo isn’t going to panic. “The NFL is a crazy thing,” said Garoppolo after the loss. “One week, you’re on top. One week, you’re at the bottom of it. Every team has its ups and downs. We’re at the lower point right now. But we can fight back.” How does Kyle Shanahan fix this mess? It likely starts with a change at QB, a position the 2021 version of Garoppolo seems not able to play at a satisfactory level. He’s limited and doesn’t look like the playmaker that the Niners need for the offense to thrive. Shanahan didn’t really commit to Garoppolo after the loss either. It’s likely that Jimmy G starts in Week 8, but his starter status is now in jeopardy. When Trey Lance comes back healthy from a sprained knee, the Niners are likely going to switch to him.
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Jimmy Garoppolo
RB: Elijah Mitchell
WR: Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Mohamed Sanu Sr.
TE: Charlie Woerner
OL: Trent Williams (LT), Laken Tomlinson (LG), Alex Mack (C), Daniel Brunskill (RG), Mike McGlinchey (RT)
DE: Arik Armstead (LDE), Nick Bosa (RDE)
DT: Kentavius Street (LDT), DJ Jones (RDT)
LB: Marcell Harris (LILB), Fred Warner (RILB)
CB: Josh Norman (LCB), Emmanuel Moseley (RCB), K’Waun Williams (NB)
S: Tavon Wilson (SS), Jimmie Ward (FS)
ST: Joey Slye (K), Mitch Wishnowsky (P), Taybor Pepper (LS)
RS: Trenton Cannon (KR), Brandon Aiyuk (PR)
#18: Minnesota Vikings
Week 7 Bye | Record: 3-3
Previous Rank: #19
You’d be searching to find anyone calling the 2021 Vikings a good football team. But after consecutive wins before the bye, They’re now at 3-3 and on the fringes of the playoff hunt. Now the question is if they are any kind of legitimate playoff contenders. After the bye, they face the 5-1 Dallas Cowboys. That is followed by a trip to Baltimore to face the Ravens, a road game to LA against the Chargers, and then a home match with the NFC North-leading Packers. That’s a brutal stretch, but Dalvin Cook told reporters that people are looking at them the wrong way. “They’ve got to play us too,” said Cook. “That’s the thing when you look at it. Everybody is going to say, ‘What about the other teams?’ Well, what about the Vikings? ... We’re a good team, too.” We will see if Cook is correct on that. One thing of note during the season was the relationship between Mike Zimmer and Kirk Cousins. The tension between head coach and QB seemed evident at times, but any frustrations between the two are not present as of now. Cousins has been playing at MVP levels this season, completing over 69% of his 1,805 attempts for 104 touchdowns and 31 picks. His span of 103.9 in that span shows the production of a star QB, and more people need to see him in that light. But what the Vikings are doing is going towards a similar approach with what the Saints are doing: Defense, a strong running game, and a few big passing plays. They’re also looking to avoid falling into a post-bye hole.
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Kirk Cousins
RB: Dalvin Cook
WR: Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, KJ Osborn
TE: Tyler Conklin
OL: Christian Darrisaw (LT), Ezra Cleveland (LG), Garrett Bradbury (C), Oli Udoh (RG), Brian O’Neill (RT)
DE: Danielle Hunter (LDE), Everson Griffen (RDE)
DT: Michael Pierce (LDT), Dalvin Tomlinson (RDT)
LB: Nick Vigil (WLB), Eric Kendricks (MLB), Anthony Barr (SLB)
CB: Mackensie Alexander (LCB), Patrick Peterson (RCB)
S: Harrison Smith (SS), Xavier Woods (FS)
ST: Greg Joseph (K), Jordan Berry (P), Andrew DePaola (LS)
RS: Ihmir Smith-Marsette (KR), Dede Westbrook (PR)
#17: New England Patriots
Week 7 vs. NYJ: W, 54-13 | Record: 3-4
Previous Rank: #20
In Week 6, the Patriots took the one-loss Cowboys to overtime before coming up short. Last week, the Pats took out all their frustrations against the Jets. He’s never going to acknowledge it publicly, but nothing brings more joy to Bill Belichick than the team’s annual beatings of the Jets. They did this to break a four-game losing streak at Gillette Stadium. Led by Mac Jones, they scored on nine of their ten drives, not including kneel-downs, while also racking up 551 yards and pulled off chunk play after chunk play on the ground and through the air. The defense allowed less than 300 yards while adding two sacks and three takeaways. Jones liked the effort, but cautioned that the team overall needs to start putting up good performances together. While dropping 50 on any team is impressive, even if it’s the Jets, just one of the Pats’ wins did not come against the Jets—it was against the Texans. And knowing the Pats, they are all about stomping teams with limited offenses and weak run defenses. That takes the pressure off Jones and lets him do what is needed to win games. That has to happen more often against better teams, not just the Jets or Texans. It’s going to be hard to take the Pats seriously until they can beat someone that isn’t all that terrible.
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Mac Jones
RB: Damien Harris
WR: Jakobi Meyers, Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne
TE: Hunter Henry
OL: Isaiah Wynn (LT), Ted Karras (LG), David Andrews (C), Shaq Mason (RG), Mike Onwenu (RT)
DE: Deatrich Wise Jr. (LDE), Matt Judon (RDE)
DT: Lawrence Guy (LDT), Davon Godchaux (RDT)
LB: Ja’Whaun Bentley (WLB), Dont’a Hightower (MLB), Kyle Van Noy (SLB)
CB: JC Jackson (LCB), Jalen Mills (RCB)
S: Kyle Dugger (SS), Devin McCourty (FS)
ST: Nick Folk (K), Jake Bailey (P), Joe Cardona (LS)
RS: Gunner Olszewski
#16: Indianapolis Colts
Week 7 @ SF: W, 30-18 | Record: 3-4
Previous Rank: #23
There is life in Indy once again. They started the 2021 season 0-3, but their soggy victory over the 49ers was their 3rd win in four games. They play an ugly brand of football, especially in this game, where neither team managed 300 yards of offense, but they don’t mind rolling in the mud during the 30-18 win to remain within striking distance of the red-hot Titans in the AFC South, thanks to four takeaways and some timely plays by Carson Wentz, including a 28-yard 4th quarter touchdown strike to Michael Pittman Jr. that iced the Niners. Jonathan Taylor has now gone over 100 scrimmage yards in four straight games. The return of Quenton Nelson for their Week 8 game against the Titans is going to be a huge boost up front. This team is built from the defense along with the punishing play of Taylor. With Wentz getting healthier and playing well, the Colts can give the Titans a run for their money in the division.
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Carson Wentz
RB: Jonathan Taylor
WR: Michael Pittman Jr., TY Hilton, Zach Pascal
TE: Jack Doyle
OL: Eric Fisher (LT), Quenton Nelson (LG), Ryan Kelly (C), Mark Glowinski (RG), Braden Smith (RT)
DE: Kwity Paye (LDE), Al-Quadin Muhammad (RDE)
DT: DeForest Buckner (LDT), Grover Stewart (RDT)
LB: Darius Leonard (LILB), Bobby Okereke (RILB)
CB: Rock Ya-Sin (LCB), Xavier Rhodes (RCB), Kenny Moore II (NB)
S: Khari Willis (SS), Julian Blackmon (FS)
ST: Michael Badgley (K), Rigoberto Sanchez (P), Luke Rhodes (LS)
RS: Isaiah Rodgers (KR), Nyheim Hines (PR)
#15: Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 7 Bye | Record: 3-3
Previous Rank: #15
Normally, the Steelers would not be a hard team to figure out. For many years, people thought that the Steelers would be playoff contenders. This season, it is much more difficult. They went into their bye in playoff position with a 3-3 record and look like the epitome of a 9-8 team. Now they are centering the offense around rookie running back Najee Harris, who has been playing as advertised as a rookie, leading the team in receptions, is top 10 in the league in rushing attempts, and has handled his blocking assignments. He can make the conversation for Offensive Rookie of the Year should the O-line give him more room to operate—it is better than what most people expected, but it still is a work in progress. His play has allowed the Steelers to play better complementary football for the defense, which still remains a solid unit, if not quite as stout in the past two years, having been ranked 12th in both yards and points allowed. But rising above mediocrity is going to take Herculean efforts: Ben Roethlisberger is a shell of his former self and can’t challenge defenses down the field with consistency, so he is going to have to play better than game manager, while TJ Watt is going to have to play like the Defensive Player of the Year candidate he has been this year and the past two years. Like a lot of teams taking Week 7 off, the Steelers are going to face a season-defining stretch. Four of their next six games are against teams with winning records. They are within the division, and two games are going to be on the road, including their wild card game rematch against the Browns on Sunday.
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Ben Roethlisberger
RB: Najee Harris
WR: Diontae Johnson, James Washington, Chase Claypool
TE: Pat Freiermuth
OL: Dan Moore Jr. (LT), Kevin Dotson (LG), Kendrick Green (C), Trai Turner (RG), Chukwuma Okorafor (RT)
DL: Chris Wormley (LDL), Cameron Heyward (RDL)
EDGE: TJ Watt (WLB), Alex Highsmith (SLB)
ILB: Devin Bush Jr. (LILB), Joe Schobert (RILB)
CB: Joe Haden (LCB), Cam Sutton (RCB), Tre Norwood (NB)
S: Terrell Edmunds (SS), Minkah Fitzpatrick (FS)
ST: Chris Boswell (K), Pressley Harvin III (P), Christian Kuntz (LS)
RS: Ray-Ray McCloud
#14: Kansas City Chiefs
Week 7 vs. TEN: L, 3-27 | Record: 3-4
Previous Rank: #9
People seriously need to worry about the Chiefs. For just the second time in the Patrick Mahomes era, the team failed to score a touchdown in a game: Their Week 7 game against the Titans this season and Super Bowl LV. This game is filled with red flags and not the kind that the team races across the field after touchdowns. They were down 24-0 before the Chiefs got their first sack of the game. The Mahomes-led offense didn’t convert their first 3rd down until 12:46 remaining in the game. And then there was the most somber of scenes: Following a Denico Autry sack, the Chiefs faced 4th & 21, and Andy Reid decided to send out Harrison Butker for a 57-yard field goal. The 2nd-most accurate kicker in NFL history didn’t even come close. The defense is awful objectively. They can’t even cover receivers (26th in passing defense) and are tied for last in the NFL in sacks (8). The offense may be working at a pastry shop because they lead the league in turnovers after they committed three more in this game. They’re now 3-4, behind both the Chargers and Raiders in the AFC West. The question is not if they will make a deep playoff run. The question is if they will even make the playoffs at all. It’s fair to wonder if something is seriously wrong with the Chiefs, and if yes, it’s a problem that not even the coaching staff knows how to fix. They dug themselves into this hole and they don’t deserve top 10 recognition anymore.
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Patrick Mahomes II
RB: Darrel Williams
WR: Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson
TE: Travis Kelce
OL: Orlando Brown Jr. (LT), Joe Thuney (LG), Creed Humphrey (C), Trey Smith (RG), Mike Remmers (RT)
DE: Chris Jones (LDE), Frank Clark (RDE)
DT: Jarran Reed (LDT), Derrick Nnadi (RDT)
LB: Nick Bolton (WLB), Anthony Hitchens (MLB), Willie Gay (SLB)
CB: Charvarius Ward (LCB), L’Jarius Sneed (RCB)
S: Tyrann Mathieu (SS), Juan Thornhill (FS)
ST: Harrison Butker (K), Tommy Townsend (P), James Winchester (LS)
RS: Byron Pringle (KR), Mecole Hardman (PR)
#13: Cleveland Browns
Week 7 vs. DEN: W, 17-14 | Record: 4-3
Previous Rank: #13
The Browns know how to develop running backs. Thanks to 168 total yards from D’Ernest Johnson, with 146 on the ground, they were able to snag a win over the Broncos to get themselves to 4-3. He should remain in the mix even when Nick Chubb is coming back from injury. While injuries are part of the game in the NFL, it has gotten ridiculous in Cleveland. Chubb and Kareem Hunt both had calf injuries and were unavailable in Week 7. Case Keenum started at QB because Baker Mayfield’s left shoulder has a fractured humerus and a torn labrum. Odell Beckham Jr. was in and out of the game with a bad shoulder of his own. Jarvis Landry re-injured his knee in his first game back. Denzel Ward exited with a bad hamstring. All of these injuries are becoming too much. While Mayfield will start against the Steelers, he continues to be on the road to recovery with his shoulder. Don’t count out the Browns—even though it wasn’t the prettiest of all wins, it was because of all the injuries they were dealing with. What they did against the Broncos should be something of note. While the Browns aren’t going to win the AFC North, when they get fully healthy, they are dark horse Super Bowl contenders.
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Baker Mayfield
RB: Nick Chubb
WR: Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins
TE: Austin Hooper
OL: Jedrick Wills Jr. (LT), Joel Bitonio (LG), JC Tretter (C), Wyatt Teller (RG), Jack Conklin (RT)
DE: Myles Garrett (LDE), Jadeveon Clowney (RDE)
DT: Malik Jackson (LDT), Malik McDowell (RDT)
LB: Mack Wilson (WLB), Anthony Walker Jr. (MLB), Sione Takitaki (SLB)
CB: Greedy Williams (LCB), Greg Newsome II (RCB)
S: Ronnie Harrison Jr. (SS), John Johnson III (FS)
ST: Chase McLaughlin (K), Jamie Gillan (P), Charley Hughlett (LS)
RS: Anthony Schwartz (KR), Demetric Felton (PR)
#12: New Orleans Saints
Week 7 @ SEA: W, 13-10 | Record: 4-2
Previous Rank: #12
Drew Brees sat with Peyton and Eli Manning on ESPN’s Manningcast, and the Saints legend didn’t have words to describe how Jameis Winston ran Brees’ old offense against the Seahawks. While Winston didn’t do all that good, he had Alvin Kamara to carry the load. He was the Saints’ best player that game, accounting for 179 of the Saints’ 304 total yards in a 13-10 win, with 10 receptions and a touchdown. They have never been so dependent on their star running back—take him out of the mix and everything falls apart. But these Saints are not like previous Saints teams. They play punishing defense. Entering the game, they surrendered the 2nd-fewest passing yards per game on the ground and the 4th-fewest points per game. Outside of the long touchdown pass to Geno Smith, the Seahawks did next to nothing. Now the Saints sit at 4-2 and one game back in the loss column of the Buccaneers, who visit the Superdome, followed by another home game against the Falcons and then a trip to Nashville to face the Titans. How this stretch goes will go a long way towards finding out if the Saints are just one of many teams hunting for one of three wild card spots or if they may be an actual threat to the Bucs in the division. But as they get healthier, they’re getting better.
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Jameis Winston
RB: Alvin Kamara
WR: Marquez Callaway, Tre’Quan Smith, Deonte Harris
TE: Adam Trautman
OL: Terron Armstead (LT), Calvin Throckmorton (LG), Erik McCoy (C), Cesar Ruiz (RG), Ryan Ramczyk (RT)
DE: Cameron Jordan (LDE), Marcus Davenport (RDE)
DT: Christian Ringo (LDT), Shy Tuttle (RDT)
LB: Kwon Alexander (LILB), Demario Davis (RILB)
CB: Paulson Adebo (LCB), Marshon Lattimore (RCB), CJ Gardner-Johnson (NB)
S: Malcolm Jenkins (SS), Marcus Williams (FS)
ST: Brian Johnson (K), Blake Gillikin (P), Zach Wood (LS)
RS: Deonte Harris
#11: Las Vegas Raiders
Week 7 vs. PHI: W, 33-22 | Record: 5-2
Previous Rank: #14
The Raiders have improved to 2-0 since Rich Bisaccia took over as interim coach, and you can argue that their two best games have come when Jon Gruden was sitting from the couch watching his TV. They were heading into their game short of their top passing option in Darren Waller, who was a late scratch. That didn’t matter. After their first possession ended in a red zone interception, the Raiders went on five straight scoring drives to earn an empathetic win to move to 5-2. Bisaccia credited Derek Carr for helping hold the team altogether. Carr was brilliant, completing 31 of 34 passes for 323 yards and two touchdowns, even more impressive considering Waller was scratched before the game with knee and ankle issues. Carr deserves to be in the MVP conversation, although it may be lousy with superstars having career years, but he has been one of the best players in the league this year. The locker room has rallied around Bisaccia. In a postgame interview, Carr said, “[Bisaccia] has the pulse, he has the heartbeat and he’s our leader. ... We would love for him to still be our head coach for the future.” They enter their bye week at 5-2, in first place in the AFC West and as one of the biggest surprises in the AFC this year.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Derek Carr
RB: Josh Jacobs
WR: Henry Ruggs III, Bryan Edwards, Hunter Renfrow
TE: Darren Waller
OL: Kolton Miller (LT), John Simpson (LG), Andre James (C), Alex Leatherwood (RG), Brandon Parker (RT)
DE: Maxx Crosby (LDE), Yannick Ngakoue (RDE)
DT: Johnathan Hankins (LDT), Quinton Jefferson (RDT)
LB: Cory Littleton (WLB), Denzel Perryman (MLB), KJ Wright (SLB)
CB: Nate Hobbs (LCB), Casey Hayward Jr. (RCB)
S: Johnathan Abram (SS), Tre’von Moehrig (FS)
ST: Daniel Carlson (K), AJ Cole III (P), Trent Sieg (LS)
RS: Kenyan Drake (KR), Hunter Renfrow (PR)
#10: Baltimore Ravens
Week 7 vs. CIN: L, 17-41 | Record: 5-2
Previous Rank: #5
This team confuses me. Fresh off of smothering the Chargers, the Ravens rode a five-game winning streak into their game against the Bengals. Beat them, and they will be up by two games for the AFC North lead. That didn’t happen. It was now the Ravens’ turn to get smothered, losing by the largest margin ever to the Bengals while falling on the losing side of a first-place tiebreaker. This should prompt questions. Are the Ravens, with their depth concerns and inconsistencies, vulnerable in a division that all of a sudden now has a powerhouse in Southwest Ohio? They were badly outmatched and outgained by the Bengals, who were the more physical team. It was ugly all around. Lamar Jackson completed less than half of his passes and was sacked five times. The defense was gashed for a staggering 520 yards and 41 points. It doesn’t help that the only player on the Ravens who can run the ball efficiently is Lamar Jackson, and he can only do so much. They need to get on the phone and go after a running back before the trade deadline. One suggestion: Marlon Mack. If the Ravens can’t run the ball well, it will be their own undoing. Lamar can only do so much, you know.
Week 9 Projected Starters
QB: Lamar Jackson
RB: Latavius Murray
WR: Marquise Brown, Rashod Bateman, Devin Duvernay
TE: Mark Andrews
OL: Alejandro Villanueva (LT), Ben Powers (LG), Bradley Bozeman (C), Kevin Zeitler (RG), Patrick Mekari (RT)
DL: Justin Madubuike (LDE), Brandon Williams (NT), Calais Campbell (RDE)
EDGE: Tyus Bowser (WLB), Justin Houston (SLB)
ILB: Josh Bynes (LILB), Patrick Queen (RILB)
CB: Anthony Averett (LCB), Marlon Humphrey (RCB)
S: Chuck Clark (SS), DeShon Elliott (FS)
ST: Justin Tucker (K), Sam Koch (P), Nick Moore (LS)
RS: Devin Duvernay
#9: Los Angeles Chargers
Week 7 Bye | Record: 4-2
Previous Rank: #8
The Chargers spent the bye week trying to wash off the woes of the 34-6 beatdown they got from the Ravens in Week 6 in a game to forget. The question now becomes this: Was it simply a bad week, or do teams now have a playbook to stop the Chargers? The offense can use some improvement on early-down situations. The most surprising part is that the defense needs more work, considering Brandon Staley’s pedigree on defense upon taking the head coaching job. They can still do damage with Justin Herbert leading the offense and with a solid pass defense, but the Bolts ranked 19th in DVOA heading into Monday Night Football and has the league’s worst run defense. After that loss, Staley told reporters that he is glad for the rest after a season start that saw them face five teams entering Week 7 .500 or better. Now they are going to face the Patriots at SoFi Stadium, and it’s going to be a fun match seeing Herbert do battle up against Bill Belichick’s defense. This is when things start to lighten up, as the Chargers don’t play another team with a winning record until Week 13. But opponents like the Pats, Vikings, and Steelers should not be taken lightly, either, and there is little margin for error in a competitive AFC West. They’re still a great team, but still remain under construction.
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Justin Herbert
RB: Austin Ekeler
WR: Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Jalen Guyton
TE: Jared Cook
OL: Rashawn Slater (LT), Matt Feiler (LG), Corey Linsley (C), Michael Schofield III (RG), Storm Norton (RT)
DL: Jerry Tillery (LDL), Christian Covington (RDL)
EDGE: Joey Bosa (WLB), Uchenna Nwosu (SLB)
ILB: Drue Tranquill (LILB), Kyzir White (RILB)
CB: Chris Harris Jr. (LCB), Michael Davis (RCB), Asante Samuel Jr. (NB)
S: Derwin James Jr. (SS), Nasir Adderley (FS)
ST: Dustin Hopkins (K), Ty Long (P), Matt Overton (LS)
RS: Andre Roberts (KR), Jalen Guyton (PR)
#8: Tennessee Titans
Week 7 vs. KC: W, 27-3 | Record: 5-2
Previous Rank: #11
Despite being first in the AFC South with a 4-2 record, the Titans weren’t seen as a real threat in the AFC heading into Week 7. After backing up their win over the Bills with a beatdown of the back-to-back AFC champions, that is set to change. For once, Derrick Henry didn’t carry the Titans to a win. Although he did throw a touchdown pass, he was limited to 86 yards on 29 carries. The heroes against the Chiefs was a defense ranking outside the top 20 in yards allowed. You wouldn’t know that from watching them against the Chiefs. Playing against one of the most explosive offenses in the league, the Titans allowed just three points and 334 yards while snagging three takeaways and sacking Patrick Mahomes four times, while Harold Landry leading the defense to making the Chiefs offense look like the Jets. Henry, Ryan Tannehill, and AJ Brown once again set the tone for the offense. When they play this well defensively and avoid turning the ball over, they can beat anyone. They have outscored the Jaguars, Bills, and Chiefs by 98-53. Tannehill is coming around after a tough start to the year, and Mike Vrabel is one of the best coaches in the league. They’re easily the best team in the AFC South, but for those who still doubt their validity as a true contender, there’s another prove-it game against the Rams in two weeks. They do have a shot, though.
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Ryan Tannehill
RB: Derrick Henry
WR: AJ Brown, Julio Jones, Chester Rogers
TE: Anthony Firkser
OL: Taylor Lewan (LT), Rodger Saffold III (LG), Ben Jones (C), Nate Davis (RG), David Quessenberry (RT)
DL: Jeffery Simmons (LDE), Teair Tart (NT), Denico Autry (RDE)
EDGE: Harold Landry (WLB), Bud Dupree (SLB)
ILB: David Long Jr. (LILB), Rashaan Evans (RILB)
CB: Janoris Jenkins (LCB), Elijah Molden (RCB)
S: Amani Hooker (SS), Kevin Byard (FS)
ST: Randy Bullock (K), Brett Kern (P), Morgan Cox (LS)
RS: Chester Rogers
#7: Cincinnati Bengals
Week 7 @ BAL: W, 41-17 | Record: 5-2
Previous Rank: #10
The marquee matchup was a battle for first place in the AFC North in Baltimore. The Ravens could open up a two-game lead in the division, while the Bengals had a change for a statement win. The Bengals’ win was not just a statement win. It was a Statement Win™. They went to Baltimore and sent thousands of overconfident Ravens fans to the exits by the 4th quarter in a 41-17 triumph. The 24-point margin is the biggest of wins against the Ravens and the first time they beat them since 2018. Now the Bengals sit at the top of the AFC North. Joe Burrow was phenomenal, throwing for 416 yards and three touchdowns. Ja’Marr Chase caught one of those touchdowns and piled up 201 receiving yards while setting a rookie receiving record with 754 yards through seven games. The defense did its part, keeping Lamar Jackson in check while sacking him five times. Don’t look now, but the Bengals are for real. They needed to past a real test after their first four wins came against mediocre or bad teams. The Ravens were the team to beat, and the Bengals manhandled them. The concerns with the roster, specifically with the O-line, have been mostly gone. To think that it ended up being the Dolphins that should have taken Penei Sewell...
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Joe Burrow
RB: Joe Mixon
WR: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd
TE: CJ Uzomah
OL: Jonah Williams (LT), Quinton Spain (LG), Trey Hopkins (C), Trey Hill (RG), Riley Reiff (RT)
DE: Sam Hubbard (LDE), Trey Hendrickson (RDE)
DT: DJ Reader (LDT), Larry Ogunjobi (RDT)
LB: Logan Wilson (LILB), Germaine Pratt (RILB)
CB: Eli Apple (LCB), Chidobe Awuzie (RCB), Mike Hilton (NB)
S: Vonn Bell (SS), Jessie Bates III (FS)
ST: Evan McPherson (K), Kevin Huber (P), Clark Harris (LS)
RS: Brandon Wilson (KR), Darius Phillips (PR)
#6: Green Bay Packers
Week 7 vs. WSH: W, 24-10 | Record: 6-1
Previous Rank: #7
The Packers have now won six straight after their Week 1 debacle. On a day where they had 57 rushing yards on 15 carries, Aaron Rodgers carried the offense, throwing for 274 passing yards and three touchdowns with a passer rating north of 125, giving his fair share of receivers the ball—Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, and Robert Tonyan all eclipsed 60 receiving yards, and each had a touchdown. They also got an opportunistic effort from the defense, which snagged two turnovers and four sacks while repeatedly shutting Washington down in the red zone. A solid performance for the Packers, but they still don’t look like a team firing on all cylinders. They were badly outgained in terms of total yards, and Washington could have pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season had they executed better in the red zone. Give credit to the defense for the stops, but Matt LaFleur’s team will have to be better when the competition tightens up. That comes against the Cardinals on the road, and it’s even more of a challenge given that Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling are all on the COVID list. But knowing Aaron Rodgers, don’t count him out, no matter the receiving core.
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Aaron Rodgers
RB: Aaron Jones
WR: Randall Cobb, Equanimeous St. Brown, Juwan Winfree
TE: Robert Tonyan
OL: Elgton Jenkins (LT), Jon Runyan (LG), Lucas Patrick (C), Royce Newman (RG), Billy Turner (RT)
DL: Dean Lowry (LDE), Kenny Clark (NT), Kingsley Keke (RDE)
EDGE: Preston Smith (WLB), Rashan Gary (SLB)
ILB: De’Vondre Campbell (LILB), Krys Barnes (RILB)
CB: Eric Stokes (LCB), Chandon Sullivan (RCB)
S: Adrian Amos (SS), Darnell Savage Jr. (FS)
ST: Mason Crosby (K), Corey Bojorquez (P), Hunter Bradley (LS)
RS: Kylin Hill (KR), Amari Rodgers (PR)
#5: Dallas Cowboys
Week 7 Bye | Record: 5-1
Previous Rank: #6
The Cowboys were playing as well as any team in the NFC entering the bye week. A lot have given them credit for their success, whether it be Dak Prescott, Trevon Diggs, or Micah Parsons. But in the opinion of offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, one person who doesn’t get enough credit is Mike McCarthy. “We’re so aligned as far as our approach and our system and the routine that we take each and every week that we’re in a really, really good place,” Moore told reporters. The Cowboys are now the runaway favorites to win the NFC East. They entered Week 7 leading the league in both yards per game and points per game, and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has done an excellent job of revamping a Cowboys defense that was dreadful last season. With three straight games against teams with .500 records or worse, they could be 8-1 before traveling to Kansas City in Week 11. The NFC East could be won already by that point. Prescott’s injury, however, presents a portentous cloud in the 214. Despite positive reports, concerns should still linger. Their backup QB is Cooper Rush, who has completed just one pass (for 2 yards) in five seasons in the NFL. Considering the nature of Prescott’s season-ending injury in 2020, the question is if they should have made a more aggressive push to sign Cam Newton after he got cut from the Patriots. If Prescott were to have a setback, could Newton be brought in?
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Cooper Rush
RB: Ezekiel Elliott
WR: Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, Cedrick Wilson
TE: Dalton Schultz
OL: Tyron Smith (LT), Connor Williams (LG), Tyler Biadasz (C), Zack Martin (RG), La’el Collins (RT)
DE: Randy Gregory (LDE), Micah Parsons (RDE)
DT: Osa Odighizuwa (LDT), Carlos Watkins (RDT)
LB: Leighton Vander Esch (WLB), Keanu Neal (MLB), Jabril Cox (SLB)
CB: Anthony Brown (LCB), Trevon Diggs (RCB)
S: Donovan Wilson (SS), Damontae Kazee (FS)
ST: Greg Zuerlein (K), Bryan Anger (P), Jake McQuaide (LS)
RS: Tony Pollard (KR), CeeDee Lamb (PR)
#4: Los Angeles Rams
Week 7 vs. DET: W, 28-19 | Record: 6-1
Previous Rank: #3
The Rams’ match against the Lions had no shortage of subplots, whether it was Jared Goff facing the team that drafted and traded him or if it was Matt Stafford squaring off against the team he led for a decade. Sean McVay was looking at a nightmare press conference until his big defensive stars got the Rams to victory. With the Lions driving for the lead late in the 4th, Aaron Donald broke through the O-line and forced Jared Goff to throw early, who was picked off by Jalen Ramsey to seal a 28-19 win. Before the play, McVay had to watch his Rams struggle to snag the win over a winless Lions team that was fearless in game strategy. They executed a surprise onside kick and two fake punts to perfection, but the Rams found a way, thanks to Donald and Ramsey. Stafford threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns without an interception in the win. He told reporters after the game that he was happy to get the game against his old team over and done with. “Am I happy it’s over with? Yeah,” said Stafford. “Got a lot of great friends, got a lot of people that I care about that are on that team or from that city, and just glad to have this one over with. Can put the storylines away and just go out and play football the rest of the year, and just enjoy it.” This win was closer than expected, but they need to keep the pressure on the Cardinals for the NFC West race. Their trip to Houston should be easy, but after that, the schedule tightens up. The 5-2 Titans and 6-1 Packers loom large over the next few weeks.
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Matt Stafford
RB: Darrell Henderson Jr.
WR: Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, Robert Woods
TE: Tyler Higbee
OL: Tremayne Anchrum Jr. (LT), David Edwards (LG), Brian Allen (C), Austin Corbett (RG), Rob Havenstein (RT)
DL: A’Shawn Robinson (LDE), Greg Gaines (NT), Aaron Donald (RDE)
EDGE: Terrell Lewis (WLB), Leonard Floyd (SLB)
ILB: Ernest Jones (LILB), Troy Reeder (RILB)
CB: Robert Rochell (LCB), Jalen Ramsey (RCB)
S: Jordan Fuller (SS), Taylor Rapp (FS)
ST: Matt Gay (K), Johnny Hekker (P), Matt Orzech (LS)
RS: Tutu Atwell (KR), Cooper Kupp (PR)
#3: Buffalo Bills
Week 7 Bye | Record: 4-2
Previous Rank: #2
When Josh Allen was stuffed at the line on 4th & Inches, the question about whether they should have kicked the field goal arose. Usually, that play works nine times out of ten, and it doesn’t take away that they are the best team in the AFC East. Even with that loss, they still have a good lead in the division. That decision, however, can factor into homefield advantage and a first round bye down the stretch. But there was a bigger question than the decision to go for it on 4th down. Why was the Bills offense, one of the most talented in the league, struggling to get touchdowns in the red zone? They’re scoring almost 34 points per game, but they are 26th in red zone touchdown conversions. No team in the league made more trips inside their opponents’ 20 in the season’s first 6 weeks, but they got it to the end zone on just 55.2% of their attempts. That’s down from their 62% conversion rate last season. They are still considered AFC co-favorites, but they have a lot of work to do down the road. They face the Dolphins in a division game in Week 8, which doesn’t have the same feel as originally thought at the beginning of the season.
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Josh Allen
RB: Zack Moss
WR: Emmanuel Sanders, Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley
TE: Tommy Sweeney
OL: Dion Dawkins (LT), Jon Feliciano (LG), Mitch Morse (C), Cody Ford (RG), Daryl Williams (RT)
DE: Gregory Rousseau (LDE), Jerry Hughes (RDE)
DT: Star Lotulelei (LDT), Ed Oliver (RDT)
LB: Matt Milano (LILB), Tremaine Edmunds (RILB)
CB: Tre’Davious White (LCB), Levi Wallace (RCB), Taron Johnson (NB)
S: Jordan Poyer (SS), Micah Hyde (FS)
ST: Tyler Bass (K), Matt Haack (P), Reid Ferguson (LS)
RS: Isaiah McKenzie
#2: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 7 vs. CHI: W, 38-3 | Record: 6-1
Previous Rank: #4
The Buccaneers are the defending Super Bowl champions and have one of the most dangerous offenses in the league. The Bears were lucky enough to not face Rob Gronkowski (ribs) and Antonio Brown (ankle), but they still had to face Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and the running game in the 38-3 blowout. Evans had three touchdowns, Godwin had 111 receiving yards and a touchdown, and the ground game combined for 182 yards and a score. Tom Brady didn’t even play a good game by his standards, but he still threw four touchdowns without an interception, becoming the first quarterback to throw 600 touchdown passes in NFL history. But thanks in a large part to injuries, the 22nd-ranked pass defense has struggled. Nothing like taking on a rookie QB to make things right. To say that Justin Fields had a bad day is an understatement. That the Bears managed 311 yards of offense doesn’t tell the whole story as to their five turnovers. The Bucs didn’t miss a beat. But in games where the defense plays at this level, they look to be the best team in the NFL. If they can get healthy defensively, the Tompa Bay Gronkaneers can absolutely win another Super Bowl. They might as well remain to be the favorites to come out of the NFC.
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Tom Brady
RB: Leonard Fournette
WR: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Tyler Johnson
TE: Rob Gronkowski
OL: Donovan Smith (LT), Ali Marpet (LG), Ryan Jensen (C), Alex Cappa (RG), Tristan Wirfs (RT)
DL: Ndamukong Suh (LDE), Vita Vea (NT), William Gholston (RDE)
EDGE: Jason Pierre-Paul (WLB), Shaquil Barrett (SLB)
ILB: Devin White (LILB), Lavonte David (RILB)
CB: Jamel Dean (LCB), Richard Sherman (RCB)
S: Antoine Winfield Jr. (SS), Jordan Whitehead (FS)
ST: Ryan Succop (K), Bradley Pinion (P), Zach Triner (LS)
RS: Jaelon Darden
#1: Arizona Cardinals
Week 7 vs. HOU: W, 31-5 | Record: 7-0
Previous Rank: #1
That the Cardinals trounced the Texans to move to 7-0 for the first time since 1974 isn’t surprising. That it took them a while to get going was somewhat surprising. But after spotting their 5 points, the Cardinals scored 31 unanswered to remain the last undefeated team in the NFL ahead of their match with the Packers. Offensively, they scored more than 30 points for the 6th time in seven games, with 172 yards on the ground while converting half of their 12 3rd down attempts. Their newest weapon, Zach Ertz, caught a 47-yard touchdown, a career-long score that showed that he still has it in his legs. Last year, the offense felt that it was Kyler Murray to DeAndre Hopkins or bust. This year, they are getting contributions from everyone, which includes Ertz, AJ Green, Christian Kirk, Rondale Moore, Chase Edmonds and James Conner. Defensively, a Cardinals team leading the league in 2nd half points allowed blanked the Texans after halftime, giving up just 160 yards total. They had a bit of a scare when Murray spent some time in the medical tent after taking a sack resulting in a safety. But so long as the leading MVP candidate is healthy and taking advantage of the offense complemented by a stingy defense that has forced 14 turnovers so far on the season, with a league-leading 11 forced fumbles and 19 sacks (5th in the league), they can beat anyone. But it won’t be easy when they face the Packers.
Week 8 Projected Starters
QB: Kyler Murray
RB: Chase Edmonds
WR: DeAndre Hopkins, AJ Green, Christian Kirk
TE: Zach Ertz
OL: DJ Humphries (LT), Justin Pugh (LG), Sean Harlow (C), Josh Jones (RG), Kelvin Beachum (RT)
DL: Michael Dogbe (LDE), Jordan Phillips (NT), Zach Allen (RDE)
EDGE: Chandler Jones (WLB), Markus Golden (SLB)
ILB: Jordan Hicks (LILB), Isaiah Simmons (RILB)
CB: Byron Murphy Jr. (LCB), Robert Alford (RCB)
S: Jalen Thompson (SS), Budda Baker (FS)
ST: Matt Prater (K), Andy Lee (P), Aaron Brewer (LS)
RS: Rondale Moore (KR), Christian Kirk (PR)
Comments