NFL Week 7: Top 5 storylines from the weekend
The NFL Week 7 slate is behind us. These five storylines are the main topics going forward as we move towards Halloween.
5. Raiders continue to roll, lead AFC West
Two weeks ago, Jon Gruden quit in disgrace. As a result it appeared the Raiders, losers of two straight, were set for a disastrous finish. Then they rebounded with a 34-24 win over the Denver Broncos before coming back to Las Vegas and handling the Philadelphia Eagles. At 5-2, Derek Carr and Co. lead the AFC West by a half-game over the Los Angeles Chargers and two full games over Denver and the Kansas City Chiefs. The Raiders are playing great football.
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4. Bears need to face reality and be sellers at deadline
After being blown out by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Bears are 3-4 and only ahead of the winless Detroit Lions in the NFC North. If Chicago is going to make any noise in the near future, the smart move for general manager Ryan Pace would be trading away veteran stars on expiring deals before the trade deadline on Nov. 2. Both receiver Allen Robinson and defensive tackle Akiem Hicks make sense, even if the return is a few Day 2 and 3 picks. It’s time to face the reality Chicago has long been avoiding; it needs a rebuild.
3. Cardinals dominate, stay undefeated at 7-0
The Arizona Cardinals have long been the last threat to the ’72 Dolphins, and they kept it that way on Sunday with a 31-5 victory over the one-win Houston Texans. Arizona is playing phenomenally, ranking in the top three of both points for and against. With both sides of the ball humming along, Arizona now enters a Thursday night affair with the 6-1 Green Bay Packers.
Read: NFL Power Rankings, Week 8 – Chiefs Take A Nosedive
2. Titans beat Chiefs, Bills in six-day span
No team has gone from afterthought to leading contender faster this year than the Tennessee Titans. After starting the year at an uneven 3-2, the Titans welcomed in the Buffalo Bills and Chiefs to Nashville over the past week, Â and beat them both. At 5-2, Tennessee now seems like a real threat to represent the conference in the AFC come Super Bowl LVI. It’s a long road, but the Titans made a huge move over six days.
1. Bengals show they’re up for fight in North
The Cincinnati Bengals didn’t beat the Baltimore Ravens. They humiliated them. A 41-17 win on the road against Lamar Jackson and friends vaulted Cincinnati from fun story to serious contender, putting them atop the AFC North. The Bengals have been a doormat for the better part of three decades. Suddenly, they’re a bully.
