MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Byrnes

NFL Notes & Numbers

In a wild game between veteran quarterbacks, two former Super Bowl champions battled for AFC North bragging rights.

Week 7 started in Cincinnati:

Thursday Night:

*Pittsburgh (4-1) @ Cincinnati (2-4): Cin 33-31

In the “Just For Men Bowl”, recently acquired QB Joe Flacco (342 yds-3 tds) outdueled Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers, and did so by targetting Ja’Marr Chase, a lot!

Chase had a team-record 16 receptions (23 targets) for 161 yards and a score.

Rodgers (249 yds-4 td’s/2 int’s) made a game of it, throwing a 68-yard touchdown to TE Pat Freiermuth.

Pittsburgh took a 31-30 lead with 2:21 remaining, but Bengals kicker Evan McPherson (49, 23, 45, 36) hit his 4th field goal with :07 left to secure the win.

Sunday:

*LAR (4-2) @ Jacksonville (4-2): LAR 35-7 (London)

Among the lowest scoring 1st quarter teams in the NFL, the Rams scored on its first two possessions while limiting the Jaguars to a total of sixteen first quarter yards, and never looked back in the blowout win.

Jaguars coach Liam Coen made some unusual coaching decisions, that kept points off the board.

Jacksonville, down 21-0, went for it on 4th down on three consecutive series, spanning the 2nd and 3rd quarters, and even tried an onside kick with over nine minutes left in the game.

He seemed to coach most of the game like there was only a few minutes remaining to play and repeatedly ignored multiple field goal opportunities.

Rams QB Matthew Stafford’s five touchdown passes were his most since 2015, of which three went to WR Davonte Adams.

Stafford’s recent play has to put him in the MVP talk going into the Rams bye week.

*NYG (2-4) @ Denver (4-2): Den 33-32

Broncos QB Bo Nix put his team on his shoulders, throwing for two 4th quarter scores and running for two more, to help his team set an NFL record with 33 points in the final quarter.

The Giants rookies continued to shine in the loss, with QB Jaxson Dart’s 283 yards/4 total td’s and RB Cam Skattebo’s 94 total yards and a touchdown.

*Indy (5-1) @ LAC (4-2): Indy 38-24

Quarterback Daniel Jones (288 yrds-2 td’s) has found his home in Indy, leading the Colts to a surprising NFL best 6-1 record.

Jonathan Taylor ran for 94 yards and three touchdowns, to extend his league leading total to 697 yards on the ground.

Chargers QB Justin Herbert, the NFL’s leading passer, threw for a personal best 420 yards, on a team record 37 completions, in the loss.

Other week 7 scores:

KC 31 – LV 0

Cle 31 – Mia 6

NE 31 – Ten 13

Car 13 – NYJ 6

Chi 26 – NO 14

Phi 28 – Min 22

GB 27 – Ari 23

Dal 44 – Was 22

SF 20 – Atl 10

Sea 27 – Hou 19 (mon)

Monday Night:

*Tampa Bay (5-1) @ Detroit (4-2): Lions 24-9

The Lions took all of three minutes to open up the scoring, beginning with a Goff-to-St Brown touchdown pass.

Running back Jahmyr Gibbs has taken control of the position he has shared with teammate David Montgomery, and proved the decision sound with 136 yards rushing with two touchdowns and added another 82 receiving yards.

Tampa Bay managed just 10 yards on seven plays in the 1st quarter and never gained any real momentum.

They had a nice drive to start the second half but wasted an 18-play drive, turning the ball over on downs and ended any realistic comeback.

*Houston (2-4) @ Seattle (5-2): Seahawks 27-19

Key Injuries:

-TB WR Mike Evans (collarbone)

-LV DE Max Crosby (knee)

-Ten DT Jeffery Simmons (hamstring)

-Car QB Bryce Young (ankle)

-NO C Erik McCoy (bicep-out for yr)

-Phi C Cam Jurgens (knee)

-Phi CB Adoree’ Jackson (concussion)

-Ind DE Samson Ebukam (MCL)

-Was QB Jayden Daniels (hamstring)

Byrnes Picks:

*Week 7 Results:

(11-4) (70-37-1)

*Week 8 Picks:

LAC over Min

Cin over NYJ

Chi over Bal

Atl over Mia

Buf over Car

SF over Hou

Phi over NYG

NE over Cle

TB over NO

Ind over Ten

Dal over Den

Pit over GB

KC over Was