NFL 2022: Grades, aftermath for teams coming off Week 7 bye
For the most part, the positives have outweighed the negatives for the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, and Philadelphia Eagles. The shockers just keep on coming. The Buccaneers were humbled in Week 7 at Carolina. The Green Bay Packers have dropped three in a row. And the Chicago Bears went to Foxborough on Monday night and throttled the Patriots.
Talk about a bunch of heavyweights? This past week, three first-place teams and one defending Super Bowl champion got some time off. You can find the Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings, and Philadelphia at or near the top of most NFL Power Rankings. As for the Rams, they appear to be a work in progress.
What have we seen from these talented clubs this season? They’ve all been assigned a grade. And what happened in each of their respective divisions in Week 7.
NFL 2022: Grades for teams coming off Week 7 Bye
Buffalo Bills (5-1)
Save for a late loss to the Dolphins at Miami, Sean McDermott’s club has had its way with the rest of the league. There have been blowout wins over the Rams (31-10), Titans (41-7), and Steelers (38-3) and comeback victories over the Ravens and Chiefs – those latter two on the road.
Their five wins have come against teams that reached the playoffs in 2021. Buffalo has allowed the fewest points in the NFL but needs to cut down on the turnovers (10).
Grade: A
Los Angeles Rams (3-3)
It has been a very sloppy start for the reigning Super Bowl champions. Sean McVay’s struggling club has split its first six games, this after compiling a 16-5 overall record (including playoffs).
Only three teams in the league have committed more turnovers (13) – 11 of those by quarterback Matthew Stafford – and only three clubs in the NFL are averaging fewer points per game. Aaron Donald is still…Aaron Donald. But the defense misses Von Miller.
Grade: C
Minnesota Vikings (5-1)
Kevin O’Connell’s club won’t wow you statistically. But this is the only team in the division above .500 and the team owns a 3-0 divisional record. The Vikings are 18th in total offense (25th in rushing) while only five teams in the NFL have allowed more total yards per game.
But the club is giving up just 19.7 points per outing. Led by Za’Darius Smith (5.5), the Purple Gang has totaled 17 sacks. And the team is winning the close games this season.
Grade: A-
Philadelphia Eagles (6-0)
The league’s lone undefeated team seven weeks into the season hasn’t done much wrong in its first six outings. The Eagles currently rank fourth in the league in points per game and points allowed per contest. There are an NFL-high 14 takeaways and a league-low two turnovers.
Nick Sirianni’s squad is fifth in total offense and fourth in total defense. The lone blemish of sorts is that the Birds are a mediocre 12th in the league against the run.
Grade: A
Aftermath
The Bills remained in first place in the AFC East but the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins inched a bit closer to the top spot with wins over the Broncos and Steelers, respectively. Meanwhile, the Patriots were unexpectedly thumped at home on Monday night by the Bears.
As for the Rams, both the Cardinals and Seahawks survived wild games vs. the Saints (42-34) and Chargers (37-23). Seattle now sits alone in first place in the NFC West with a 4-3 mark. The 49ers were thumped at home by the Kansas City Chiefs, 44-23.
Elsewhere, the Vikings remained at the top spot in the NFC North as the Packers and Bears lost their third and fourth straight games, respectively. Chicago did post a 33-14 win at New England.
And the NFC East continued to make news as the Giants, Cowboys and Commanders all came away with victories in Week 7. All told, New York and Philadelphia are the only teams in the league with six wins.