Week 7 of the 2025 NFL season commenced Thursday with a clash between veteran quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers of the Steelers and Joe Flacco of the Bengals, culminating in a “Monday Night Football” doubleheader.
Flacco orchestrated a game-winning drive, punctuated by Evan McPherson’s 36-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining.
Sunday’s action began in London for the second consecutive week, with the Rams triumphing over the Jaguars. Matthew Stafford, the Rams quarterback, established an international series record with five touchdowns. Domestically, Drake Maye guided the Patriots to their fourth consecutive victory against the Titans, while the Chiefs blanked the Raiders in Rashee Rice’s season debut following a six-game suspension.
In the late afternoon games, the Colts dominated the Chargers, and the Cowboys’ offense surged in a decisive win over the Commanders. The Broncos staged a remarkable comeback against the Giants, scoring all 33 of their points in the fourth quarter.
Concluding Sunday’s games, the 49ers’ defense, unfazed by Fred Warner’s injury, supported Christian McCaffrey in their win over the Falcons.
On Monday, the Lions defeated the Buccaneers thanks to Jahmyr Gibbs’ standout performance, while the Seahawks employed a strong defense to fend off the Texans.
Here’s a breakdown of the key takeaways and lingering questions from each game, courtesy of our NFL Nation reporters:
Seattle Seahawks (27) vs. Houston Texans (19)
- Seahawks’ Defense at Full Strength: Seattle’s defense stifled C.J. Stroud, recording three sacks and contesting numerous passes, resulting in an interception and 12 passes defended. The Seahawks limited the Texans to 2-of-15 on third-down conversions and held them out of the end zone until late in the fourth quarter. This performance occurred despite injuries to Devon Witherspoon and Julian Love, both expected to return after the bye.
- Sam Darnold’s Performance: Darnold struggled, committing a strip sack recovered by Will Anderson Jr. and throwing an interception. He completed 17 of 31 passes for 213 yards and a touchdown to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, marking an atypical performance for the quarterback.
Detroit Lions (24) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9)
- David Montgomery’s Role: With Jahmyr Gibbs excelling, David Montgomery’s playing time may decrease. Coach Dan Campbell aims to balance Gibbs and Montgomery’s contributions.
- Lions’ Defense: Despite missing key defensive players, Detroit’s defense stepped up, forcing two turnovers in the first half and holding Tampa Bay’s offense to limited yardage.
San Francisco 49ers (20) vs. Atlanta Falcons (10)
- 49ers’ Defense Without Fred Warner: The 49ers’ defense performed well despite Warner’s absence, limiting Atlanta to 292 yards.
- 49ers’ Rushing Attack: The 49ers’ rushing attack found traction, posting season highs in rushing yards (174) and yards per carry (4.5).
Denver Broncos (33) vs. New York Giants (32)
- Broncos’ Comeback: The Broncos staged an improbable 33-point fourth-quarter comeback.
- Broncos’ Defense: After a strong performance in London, Denver’s defense struggled against the Giants, allowing multiple big plays.
Green Bay Packers (27) vs. Arizona Cardinals (23)
