NFL Week 7 Rankings: Patriots, Panthers, Browns Climb After Wins
WHO:
atlantafalcons.com - Panthers head coach Dave Canales credited the team’s offense, defense, and a punt block by practice-squad call-up Tre Tyus for helping Carolina win.
atlantafalcons.com - Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said the team needed to “learn [how] to finish ball games,” adding, “We have no more margins for error.”
atlantafalcons.com - Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said, “That's a disappointing one. I'm obviously proud of how we continue to fight,” and took responsibility for the team’s slow start, saying, “That's on me and our staff.”
atlantafalcons.com - Saints quarterback Tyler Shough threw for 144 yards, passed for three touchdowns, and ran for another score against the Giants.
atlantafalcons.com - Saints cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. intercepted Jameis Winston and J.J. McCarthy, finishing with seven tackles, four pass defenses, and two interceptions.
atlantafalcons.com - Buccaneers linebacker David Walker recorded two sacks and five tackles against Pittsburgh; his four season sacks were the third-most by a Buccaneers player through his first six career games since at least 1982, according to the team website.
chiefs.com - The Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers are listed first and second, respectively, in CBS Sports’ rankings; Kenneth Walker and Patrick Mahomes are named in a description of Kansas City’s approach.
Pro Football Mania - Caleb Williams, Bryce Young, Jalen Hurts, and Sam Darnold are named in the Week 7 power-rankings summary.
Pro Football Network - The Patriots, Panthers, and Browns are identified as among the biggest risers after wins.
WHAT:
chiefs.com - Kansas City improved to 5-0 with its victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
atlantafalcons.com - Carolina became the first NFC South team to reach three wins.
atlantafalcons.com - Bryce Young became the first NFL quarterback since 2013 to throw for at least 280 yards and a touchdown in each of his team’s first five games of a season; Peyton Manning and Drew Brees were the last to achieve the feat.
atlantafalcons.com - Tampa Bay is 1-5 and lost multiple close games despite strong defensive performances. Against Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay led 16-3 late in the third quarter, and Pittsburgh did not take its first lead until less than two minutes remained in regulation.
atlantafalcons.com - Carolina running back Chuba Hubbard averaged 4.3 yards per carry and had a 64.3% success rate, according to TruMedia; his 19-yard run on fourth-and-1 helped Carolina maintain its lead.
atlantafalcons.com - Falcons offensive tackle Jake Matthews allowed no pressure on 39 pass-blocking snaps against Chicago, despite blocking one-on-one nearly 80% of the time, according to Next Gen Stats.
atlantafalcons.com - Falcons defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus recorded a team-best five quarterback pressures and his first sack of the season against Chicago.
atlantafalcons.com - Atlanta ran 50 offensive plays against Chicago, compared with Chicago’s 73; Atlanta averaged 5.1 yards per play and Chicago averaged 5.0.
atlantafalcons.com - New Orleans tied the Giants with a touchdown after recovering a kickoff fumble following a field goal, then scored three consecutive times to take a 34-10 lead.
atlantafalcons.com - Tampa Bay’s defense recorded five sacks, intercepted Aaron Rodgers, and held Pittsburgh scoreless through the first quarter and most of the second half.
chiefs.com - Kansas City is ranked No. 1 by The Sporting News and No. 2 by CBS Sports, NBC Sports, Bleacher Report, The New York Times, Yahoo! Sports, Sports Illustrated, FOX Sports, and USA Today.
atlantafalcons.com - Carolina’s Chuba Hubbard ran 28 times for 120 yards and a touchdown against Philadelphia; Bobby Okereke recorded eight tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, and two pass defenses.
atlantafalcons.com - Bryce Young threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns against Philadelphia and set Carolina’s franchise record with 11 touchdown passes through five games.
atlantafalcons.com - Chicago held the ball for 40:08 against Atlanta and converted 9 of 17 third downs; Atlanta converted 3 of 12 and had possession for 19:52.
atlantafalcons.com - New Orleans scored 34 consecutive points after trailing 10-0 against the Giants.
atlantafalcons.com - Tampa Bay kicker Chase McLaughlin made field goals from 33, 43, 47, and 53 yards against Pittsburgh, improving to 14-for-14 on the season.
Pro Football Mania - Chicago moved into Pro Football Mania’s top four after Caleb Williams returned.
Pro Football Mania - Bryce Young won a game in Philadelphia.
Pro Football Mania - Arizona beat the Rams without scoring a touchdown.
Pro Football Mania - The Eagles lost Jalen Hurts to injured reserve.
Pro Football Mania - Jacksonville was unable to stop Houston in London.
Pro Football Mania - Sam Darnold’s turnovers cost Seattle another close game.
Pro Football Network - The article presents updated power rankings for all 32 NFL teams.
WHERE:
atlantafalcons.com - Carolina won 25-14 at Philadelphia; Atlanta lost 31-23 to Chicago; New Orleans won 34-27 at the New York Giants; Tampa Bay lost 26-19 to Pittsburgh.
Pro Football Mania - Bryce Young’s win took place in Philadelphia.
Pro Football Mania - Jacksonville played Houston in London.
WHY:
atlantafalcons.com - Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles said the Buccaneers’ loss to Pittsburgh came down to failing to finish the game and “all the little things in between.”
atlantafalcons.com - Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said the team’s poor start put it “in the hole” and that Atlanta “beat ourselves,” in addition to being beaten by Chicago.
atlantafalcons.com - Saints coach Kellen Moore attributed the team’s response to urgency after three consecutive losses, saying the players stuck together to find a way to win.
chiefs.com - CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco attributed Kansas City’s ranking to a formula of running the ball with Kenneth Walker and making timely throws by Patrick Mahomes.
Pro Football Mania - Chicago’s rise into the top four followed Caleb Williams’s return.
Pro Football Mania - Sam Darnold’s turnovers were cited as the reason Seattle lost another close game.
HOW:
atlantafalcons.com - Tampa Bay kicker Chase McLaughlin scored all but one of the Buccaneers’ points against Pittsburgh; Emeka Egbuka accounted for the exception with a 2-yard touchdown catch.
Pro Football Mania - Arizona beat the Rams without scoring a touchdown.
Pro Football Network - The rankings compare all 32 NFL teams, with the Patriots, Panthers, and Browns highlighted as major risers after wins.
Carolina beat Philadelphia 25 to 14, becoming the first NFC South team to reach three wins. Bryce Young threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns, setting a franchise record with 11 touchdown passes through five games, while Chuba Hubbard ran for 120 yards and scored. Carolina coach Dave Canales praised the team’s all-around effort and a blocked punt by practice-squad call-up Tre Tyus. New Orleans snapped a three-game losing streak with a 34 to 27 win over the Giants, scoring 34 straight points after falling behind 10 to 0. Quarterback Tyler Shough threw three touchdown passes and ran for another score. Atlanta lost 31 to 23 to Chicago; coach Kevin Stefanski blamed the slow start and said the Falcons beat themselves. Tampa Bay fell 26 to 19 to Pittsburgh despite five sacks and four field goals from Chase McLaughlin. Coach Todd Bowles said his team must learn to finish games.