This might be the most competitive NFL season in recent memory with no true standout team across the league and everyone appearing beatable.
Week 7 was a wonderful illustration of the parity across the league, although it was also a harsh reminder that there is plenty of room to improve across the board.
Plenty of teams are also facing major quarterback questions with the Jets, Raiders and Dolphins all facing the very real prospect of needing to replace their signal caller.
That problem does not extend to places like Chicago and New England whose second year guys in Caleb Williams and Drake Maye have gone to another level.
Check out our full Week 7 recap of all the action in the NFL.
1 – A Solution To The Kicking “Problem”
Depending on your perspective, the sudden increase in field goal distance across the board this year has been one of the best or worst things with the NFL.
Now anytime a team moves inside the opponent’s 45 yard line they are in range to try for three points and get something when a drive stalls.
Although with the new kickoff rules moving the starting position closer to halfway, now teams are one or two plays away from having a shot at scoring on any given possession.
It seems like the change in guidelines to the kicking balls has allowed the guys to add a good 10 yards to their range in ideal conditions.
Needless to say, there has been plenty of opposition from coaches, players, fans and media outlets over this change since it seems to cheapen the achievement of bombing one from 50+ yards.
Of course it is all about the footballs and not at all to do with the fact we’re now seeing the generation of guys coming through who have spent their whole damn lives training to be NFL kickers from drills to strength training increasing their range as well.
But in the interests of being constructive, instead of suggesting something stupid like shrinking the field goal posts, there’s an easy alternative solution that comes from our own back yard.
Get rid of the specialised kicker role and make them actual position players who have to kick for points.
It’s an easy rule to write: Any field goal or extra point kick must be attempted by a player who was on the field for the previous play from scrimmage.
That way, if teams want to trot out the kicker on third and goal from the one, that’s fine but there’s no guarantee they’ll contribute.
Or you get situations like in Houston a couple of years ago when the running back took over kicking duties.
It would add another layer of strategy for coaches as well, working out how many players can take a kick in a pinch.
2 – Cincinnati Can Tread Water With Flacco And Chase
Barely a week ago the Bengals looked done and dusted but Friday’s win over the Steelers on the back of a herculean effort from Ja’Marr Chase.
Joe Flacco was brought in to hold down the fort until Joe Burrow got back from injury and he worked out the best way to do that was to get the ball in the hands of his top receiver over and over again.
Despite facing a strong Steelers defence, Chase dominated the game and was the main reason the Bengals were able to pick up their third win of the season.
Most importantly though, that win moved them one game behind the division leading Steelers and ensured the head to head tiebreaker would be at least a split ahead of the rematch in Week 11.
Before then though the Bengals have the 0-7 New York Jets on the schedule, then the hot and cold Chicago Bears to conclude a three game home stand heading into their Week 10 bye.
At worst they will be 4-5 heading into the Pittsburgh game and potentially 5-4, then you start to wonder how quickly Burrow can get back.
But for the time being, Flacco is good enough so long as he knows to keep throwing it to the currently uncoverable Chase.
3 – Oh No, Kansas City Is Good Again
It was fun while it lasted, but the reigning AFC Champions are ready to go on another run as their offence gets healthy.
Sure, beating the hapless Raiders wasn’t a huge surprise, but bludgeoning them into submission given their previous struggles with that team was an ominous warning.
After serving a six game ban for his failed audition to lead the Fast and Furious franchise, Rashee Rice re-introduced himself to the Arrowhead crowd with two touchdowns on seven catches.
But the most worrying thing to come out of that game happened on the first play of the second quarter.
Facing a 4th and 1 from just on their side of halfway, the Chiefs set up on the ball and Mahomes deployed the hard count to try and get the defence to jump offside.
At best the play has a 1% success rate across the league with defenders opting to stay disciplined and Mahomes sold his role in the fake perfectly.
The Chiefs are at their most dangerous when Andy Reid and his players are coming up with creative tweaks like this.
And they will be digging further into their bag of tricks now that they have the personnel available to do this sort of stuff again.
4 – Indianapolis Passes Its West Coast Test
If your first reaction to the AFC South standings was one of shock that the Colts were 6-1 to start the season, you would not be alone.
Let’s be honest, they have some good players on this roster but they also had Daniel Jones at quarterback as well as the incredibly forgettable Shane Steichen.
But lo and behold, the Colts just kept on winning and Jones just keeps on making plays.
We’ve seen flashes from Jones in the past, most notably the Giants 2022 season where he took his team to the Divisional Playoffs and he’s landed in a good environment for 2025.
His stats are not exactly gaudy, with 1790 passing yards 10 touchdowns and just the three picks as well as 83 yards and four touchdowns with his legs.
But he has engineered two game winning drives, avoided critical turnovers and got the ball into the hands of the Colts’ playmakers.
Jonathan Taylor leads the NFL in rushing yards and touchdowns through seven games, recording his third game with three touchdowns this season.
Michael Pittman and Josh Downs are solid receivers and rookie tight end Tyler Warren is getting better with each passing week.
They already have a two game lead in the AFC South and there is a real chance they could get to their Week 11 bye at 9-1 if they can navigate their next three games against Tennessee, Pittsburgh and Atlanta.
Even if they lose one, that would have their record at 8-2 and at the absolute worst on level terms with the rest of the AFC’s top seeds.
Maybe they don’t have the true top end talent to compete for a Super Bowl, but in what is a very average NFL right now, they might just be a team to watch out for.
5 – The Giants Showed Some Fight, Denver Showed Some Quality
Hands down the game of the week came to us from Denver as the Giants and Broncos played out an epic finish.
It looked like the Giants were on their way to a statement win, leading 19-0 heading into the fourth quarter and the Broncos were not doing a whole lot.
Then all hell broke loose with a wild fourth quarter.
It’s always hard to say something was a good loss for the Giants, especially after holding such a big lead but they have to feel good about certain elements of their performance.
Above all else they have a guy to build around in Jaxson Dart who has been a strong performer through his first four starts.
Against one of the best defensive units in the league, Dart had an impressive 283 yards and three touchdowns, although his one interception is something that will have to be coached out of him.
Running back Cam Skattebo is going to have a great career for about three seasons until his hard nosed style catches up with him.
Enjoy him while we can because that is not a recipe for a lengthy NFL career.
Meanwhile on Denver’s side of the ball, there were three quarters of utterly hopeless play, but the fact they produced a historic fourth quarter comeback.
Bo Nix helped rally the comeback with his arm and legs, responsible for all four Broncos touchdowns.
Sean Payton has something cooking in Denver and they are going to be fun to watch over the next few weeks as they try to keep the lead in the AFC West.