NFL Week 7: Aaron Rodgers Leads Pack, Tim Tebow Rallies, Carson Palmer Struggles

Cam Newton was kind of a wildcard heading into his rookie season in the NFL, but the quarterback of the Carolina Panthers has lived up to -- and maybe even surpassed -- all expectations through the first seven weeks of the NFL season.

Newton continued to show the moxie that made his the Panthers No. 1 pick in the most recent NFL Draft on Sunday as he completed 18 of his 23 passing attempts for 256 yards and a touchdown and carried the ball 10 for 59 yards and an additional touchdown to lead Carolina to a 33-20 victory over the Washington Redskins.

Newton is also on his way to setting records. His seven rushing touchdowns has tied Vince Young as quarterbacks with the most rushing touchdowns in their rookie season -- and Newton has nine games left in his rookie season. Along with that, Newton already held the record most passing yards as a rookie when he threw for 422 yards in his debut before topping himself with 432 yards through the air the following week.

Those that have watched Newton the most during his professional career think Newton might be able to get even better, too, according to the experts at SB Nation's Cat Scratch Reader.

It isn't often that a rookie quarterback can step into the NFL and perform from Day 1, but that's exactly what Newton's been able to do. If the Panthers are able to put together their first win streak of the season with a victory over the Minnesota Vikings next week, expect quite a bit more Newton hype heading into the Panthers' bye week.

And, if the first few weeks of Newton's play is any indication, the hype might just be worth it.

Tim Tebow led the Denver Broncos to an 18-15 overtime victory over the Miami Dolphins. He accomplished his offensive performance in the final five minutes of regulation. In the other 55 minutes, Tebow was playing in the territory we saw Donovan McNabb was in earlier this season and even Kyle Orton before he was benched two weeks ago.

While the popular story might be to concentrate on those final five minutes of regulation and then Matt Prater's game-winning field goal in overtime, more attention should be paid to Tebow's performance before then. As Sports Illustrated's Jim Trotter points out, Tebow was 4-of-14 for 40 yards in the first 55 minutes or so. After that he was 9-of-13 for 121 yards and two touchdown passes. If we return to the former starts for a second, at one point Tebow was even worse than that. He had two net passing yards as a result of numerous sacks, a total of seven by the end of the game.

The Broncos can't live and die by Tim Tebow showing up in the final couple minutes of the game to bail them out. He and his coaches will need to work on making him a better quarterback earlier in the game.

For more on the Broncos, head to SB Nation's Mile High Report; for more on the Dolphins, head to The Phinsider. For Week 7 NFL scores and news, Week 7 NFL videos and highlights, and Week 7 fantasy stats and updates, visit our comprehensive StoryStreams.

Breathless breaking news update, courtesy of Green Bay Packers offensive lineman T.J. Lang:

If you're wondering why TJ Lang is updating us on the condition of his genitalia, watch this video. It's Lang taking an intentional boot to the goodies during the Packers' Sunday afternoon game.

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford left Sunday's loss to the Atlanta Falcons in the waning seconds of the contest. He threw to Brandon Pettigrew on fourth down and was hit by Curtis Lofton on the play, limping toward the sideline shortly thereafter.

After the game, neither Stafford nor coach Jim Schwartz commented on the particular nature of the leg injury (via mlive.com):

"We're going to check him out," Schwartz said. "(We'll) look at his knee and his ankle. We'll see where he is this week."

Stafford, however, planned to attempt a return to the field had the Lions controlled the ball one more time. That might have sent deep chills down Lions fans' backs given the quarterback's long history of injuries. Stafford played just three games last year and 10 as a rookie in 2009.

The Lions visit the Denver Broncos on Oct. 29 and Stafford surely wants to play in that game.

For more on the Lions, check out Pride of Detroit, and get all your Falcons news and talk at The Falcoholic. For more NFL news and notes, visit SB Nation NFL.

It wasn't quite the scene last week's near-rumble between Jim Harbaugh and Jim Schwartz was, but we were treated to another cold post-game handshake on Sunday after the Kansas City Chiefs throttled the Oakland Raiders. As Todd Haley and Hue Jackson headed to the center of the field, it was clear the Raiders' head coach wasn't happy. By the time they did connect to exchange pleasantries, Jackson could be seen gesturing and saying something to Haley, though nobody is quite sure what.

Here's the video of the interesting handshake.

It would appear Jackson was upset with Haley's decision to throw deep late in the fourth quarter, just before the Chiefs took a knee to end it. Or it could've just been sour grapes -- Carson Palmer and Kyle Boller combined to throw six interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns, and the Raiders offense never got into gear.

Seems like these handshakes are a recipe for disaster. At some point, a coach is going to deck his opponent in a heated moment.

For more on Oakland, check out SB Nation's Raiders blog Silver And Black Pride. For the latest on KC, check out Chiefs blog Arrowhead Pride.

Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray broke the franchise record for the most rushing yards in a single game. Murray, a rookie, has 253 rushing yards with just over four minutes left to play in the fourth quarter on 25 carries. The highlight of Murray’s day was a 91-yard touchdown early in the game that gave Dallas their first score.

Murray broke the Dallas Cowboys record for rushing yards in a game previously held by none other than Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith. That record was established in 1993 when Smith rushed for 237 yards on Halloween in a win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

This is only the third time in Dallas Cowboys history that a player has topped 200 rushing yards in a single game.

Murray was a third-round draft pick by the Cowboys. He played his college ball at Oklahoma.

Dallas travels to Philadelphia for a prime time game next week.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder is a rookie making his first start in the NFL against the Green Bay Packers, the defending Super Bowl Champions. Despite his two earlier interceptions, Ponder hasn't seemed phased by the Packers defense mentally and has been hitting some critical throws, including this touchdown pass that pulled the Vikings within a score, 33-27.

Ponder hit wide receiver Michael Jenkins in the endzone for a 24-yard touchdown, which also had Ponder stepping up into the pocket knowing he'd get drilled. Ponder hit the pass and took the shot, showing he wasn't phased. Ponder hit a few other key throws on third down on the drive to keep it alive. He certainly doesn't look like a rookie right now.

For more on the two teams, check out Green Bay Packers blog Acme Packing Company and Minnesota Vikings blog Daily Norseman. Follow the rest of Week 7 at SB Nation NFL.

Dallas Cowboys rookie running back DeMarco Murray topped 200 rushing yards against the St. Louis Rams today. With several minutes left to play in the fourth quarter, Murray is close to topping the team’s single-game rushing record.

With just over nine minutes left to play in the game, Murray has 235 rushing yards and one touchdown. Granted, the Rams are the league’s worst run defense, which helps. His totals include a breakaway 91-yard touchdown that put Dallas on the board in the first quarter.

The franchise record for rushing yards in a single game is 237 yards, set by Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith in 1993.

Running back Phillip Tanner took over rushing duties on the Cowboys’ last scoring drive, scoring a touchdown and picking up 25 yards on three carries. It was reminder of just how bad the Rams’ defense really is.

Murray was a third-round pick this year, out of Oklahoma.

The wiley Green Bay Packer veteran Charles Woodsoon is starting to make life difficult for rookie quarterback Christian Ponder, intercepting him twice on the day in his first start. Ponder started off looking good, going 5 for 8, for 108 yards and a touchdown but has since cooled off in the second half.

Woodson, one of the most decorated cornerbacks in professional football, has a clear advantage over Ponder in the experience department. Ponder was looking to step in after Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier decided to bench Donovan McNabb for posting a losing record in the first 6 games of the season.

Frazier understands Ponder is likely the future of the Vikings franchise and that he will have to learn to beat the Green Bay Packers if they expect to get anywhere since they both reside in the NFC North. Had McNabb been starting today, the Vikings would likely be in way worse shape than they are now. It's time for Ponder to find his sea legs.

It's been a downright terrible day for the Oakland Raiders quarterbacks. In fact, it might be a good idea to just use running backs out of the wildcat and cut out the middle man. You see, Kyle Boller started the game and it was about as predictable as could be. Boller came out and immediately threw an pick-six.

But Boller wasn't done -- not by a longshot. In addition to the early interception that was returned for a touchdown, Boller added two more picks as the Raiders offense struggled to get anything going. It was only a matter of time before the Kyle Boller era ended.

In the second half, Boller's day came to a merciful end as Carson Palmer made his debut. Except things haven't gone so hot for Palmer, either. For example, Palmer joined the pick-six parade!

So there's that. Boller was 7-15 for 61 yards and Palmer is 7-14 for 83 yards so far, with the former throwing three interceptions and the latter one. Either way, the quarterback play hasn't been great and with Darren McFadden dealing with some kind of foot injury, the Raiders' offense is struggling.

UPDATE: As this was published, Palmer threw a second interception. If you're wondering what's on the line in this game, Jason LaCanfora lets you know:

Palmer promptly pulls a Boller and throws a pick six. Raiders AFC West win streak, dating back to Nov 2009, is dying

Hey, Kyle Boller! Congratulations on your first start. I know it was because Carson Palmer had no idea what was in the playbook, but at least you got some run! So how'd it go out there? Tear it up and fling the ol' pigskin around a bit? Shred some defenses?

Oh. Well, see ya later!

Percy Harvin has been nursing a sore rib all year long, but despite missing some practice this week, he was cleared to play. Unfortunately, he didn't last long, as the Vikings lost the dynamic wide receiver in the third quarter. From the team's official Twitter account:

That's not good, especially with the Vikings trailing the visiting Green Bay Packers 30-17 late in the third quarter. The Vikings actually led for much of the first half, but Green Bay has scored 20 unanswered points to take control of the game. Adrian Peterson is doing his usual thing (15 carries, 84 yards, TD) but Christian Ponder will likely be throwing a lot in the final quarter to catch up. But with Harvin on the bench, he'll be missing one of his top options.

Harvin tallied just 15 yards on two catches before leaving. Michael Jenkins leads the Vikings with 87 yards and two catches.

For more on Minnesota, check out Vikings blog Daily Norseman. For more on Green Back, check out Packers blog Acme Packing Company.

The Pittsburgh Steelers might have lost wide receiver Hines Ward for the game with an apparently ankle injury. According to multiple reports, Ward went down and was carted off the field with an injury to his ankle. The extent of the injury is not known at this time and his status to return to the game is questionable.

While Ward is one of the most recognizable Steelers wide receivers, his missing shouldn't hurt too, too much. Ward has fallen off a bit as a target since the emergence of Mike Wallace in the Steelers offense. Ward is still a factor over the middle and moving the chains, however. Before his injury, Ward had 3 receptions for 21 yards.

For more on the two teams, check out Arizona Cardinals blog Revenge Of The Birds and Pittsburgh Steelers blog Behind The Steel Curtain. Follow the rest of Week 7 of the regular season at SB Nation NFL.

Arizona Cardinals running back Beanie Wells left the game in the second quarter versus the Pittsburgh Steelers with a knee sprain. Before the injury, Wells had amassed 42 yards on 12 carries. This is a team that relies on the contributions from all over because Larry Fitzgerald is their last real remaining gamebreaker.

With Wells out, the Cardinals will be relying heavily on Alfonso Smith and LaRod Stephens-Howling for their ground attack. Kevin Kolb hasn’t exactly panned out to be the elite passer they thought he might be, but with the injury to Wells, more of the load might fall on his shoulders as well.

The Cardinals are still playing the Steelers close, only down 3 in a 17-14 game in Arizona. If Kolb can loosen up and play mistake free football, the Cardinals have a chance to get the upset. We’ll update you on the injury to Wells as they release more on his status.

Christian Ponder and Adrian Peterson have allowed the the Minnesota Vikings to assert themselves to a 17-13 lead over the Green Bay Packers at halftime. The Minnesota defense has been playing well enough, holding the Packers in check for the most part.

The Green Bay Packers have proven themselves to be one of the more potent offenses in the league but the Vikings are playing them close. As the defending Super Bowl champions, Green Bay understands there is a whole half of play left so they aren't going down without a fight.

The Vikings have set this game up to be a very exciting second half in Minnesota, when most predicted a blowout by the Packers given the Ponder-McNabb quarterback change. We're going to find out what Christian Ponder is really made of and how good of a coach Leslie Frazier is by the end of this one.

For more on the Green Bay Packers, visit the Acme Packing Company

For more on the Minnesota Vikings, visit Daily Norseman

After a very serious head/neck injury to St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Jason Smith, the Rams watched another one of their players hit the ground with a head and neck injury late in the second quarter of their game against the Dallas Cowboys. Defensive tackle Darell Scott was injured on a kick return following a Dallas field goal.

Scott is a backup defensive tackle and special teams player for the Rams. Aout five minutes after the injury, Scott was seen sitting up as trainers tended to him.

Earlier in the game, Jason Smith injured his head and neck trying to make a tackle on a Dallas defender who recovered a Rams turnover. Smith’s injury looked very serious as trainers had to remove his facemask and cart him off the field on a stretcher. Smith was later sent to a Dallas area hospital for further evaluation. No word on Scott or Smith’s status.

The Green Bay Packers were trailing the Minnesota Vikings 14-7, driving down the football field. The Packers drive wound up stalling out and the Packers had to kick a field goal. It was good, cutting the Vikings lead to 14-10, but after the field goal there was some extra curricular activity.

Vikings defensive end Brian Robison kicked Packers offensive lineman T.J. Lang square in the groin. It was like a mixed martial arts up kick, but this is football not the UFC. Robison was flagged for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and no doubt will be fined by the league later this week. To Lang's credit, he fought the urge to retaliate and draw an off setting penalty for the Packers.

For more on the two teams, check out Green Bay Packers blog Acme Packing Company and Minnesota Vikings blog Daily Norseman. Follow the rest of Week 7 at SB Nation NFL.

St. Louis Rams starting right tackle Jason Smith left the field on a stretcher in the first quarter of a game against the Dallas Cowboys today. Smith injured his head and neck while trying to make a tackle after a Cadillac Williams fumble resulted in a turnover. Smith dove and hit his head on the thigh of a Dallas defensive player. The video of the incident is here.

It is now being reported that Smith has been taken to a hospital in the Dallas area for further evaluation of his injury.

He will not return to the game, and based on how things looked on the field following the play, Smith’s season has to be in doubt. The injury was serious enough that the training staff had to remove the facemask of his helmet.

Smith was the Rams’ first-round pick, second overall, in the 2009 NFL Draft. He has had an up and down season as part of a struggling Rams offensive line.

One of the many quarterback changes was the replacement of Donovan McNabb for rookie first round pick Christian Ponder. Ponder is off to a great start, making the Vikings team as a whole look much better. The Vikings have a 14-7 lead over the defending Super Bowl champions, but it may not last long.

Ponder is 5 for 8, 108 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Minnesota seems to have struck the balance between passing and rushing with Adrian Peterson that they were expecting from McNabb. If this first quarter is any indication of Ponder’s future, McNabb may not be wearing purple after this season.

The one thing the Vikings have lacked besides employing a mistake free secondary, has been a consistent signal caller. If Ponder continues to develop positively, this could be the start of something great for the Vikings who find themselves in a fierce NFC North division.

Early in the match-up between the Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs, Darren McFadden had to leave the game due to an undisclosed injury. McFadden, a major reason for Oakland’s 4-2 start has been in the Raiders locker room, leaving Michael Bush to carry the load versus the Chiefs.

In 6 games this season, McFadden has amassed 610 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns, as one of the more dangerous running backs in the NFL in 2011. Having added Carson Palmer to the mix, the Raiders were preparing for a playoff run where they could both run and pass the ball efficiently.

The severity of McFadden’s injury is still unclear but the Raiders know that they cannot afford to lose him for any significant amount of time. But the location of the injury is said to be to his foot. We’ll update you as soon as we know more.

For more on Oakland, check out SB Nation's Raiders blog Silver And Black Pride. For the latest on KC, check out Chiefs blog Arrowhead Pride.

Though it looked like he might, Tim Tebow did not disappoint the Florida fans who turned out to see him play against the Dolphins in South Florida today. Trailing by a score of 15-0, Tebow put the Broncos on the board with a touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas in the fourth quarter. One recovered onside kick later, Tim Tebow and the Broncos tied the game and sent it to overtime.

With less than a minute left on the clock, Tebow hit tight end Daniels Fells on a short pass to his right, which Fells ran in for the touchdown. That made the score 15-13, and Denver went for the two-point conversion.

For some odd reason, the Dolphins defense seemed to have no idea that Tebow might run the ball on the two-point conversion play. He did, and the Broncos tied the Dolphins to send the game to overtime.

Denver missed two field goals earlier in the game.

Here’s video of Tebow’s second touchdown and the two-point conversion.

After disappointing for most of the afternoon, Tim Tebow picked things up in the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins. Tebow connected on a five-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas, cutting the Dolphins lead to 15-7 with just over three minutes to play in the game. Here is the video of Tebow’s touchdown pass.

That touchdown came after Tebow hit Broncos wide receiver Matt Willis for a 42-yard pass to put Denver inside the red zone, trips inside the 20-yard line being something of a rarity in this game.

Tebow is eight for 19 with 111 passing yards and a touchdown in this game. He has 61 yards rushing on seven carries so far.

This is Tebow’s second passing touchdown of the season. Prior to this game, Tebow was four for ten with 79 yards and a touchdown, in very limited work this year. He replaced Kyle Orton in Denver’s week 5 game against San Diego.

Redskins running back Tim Hightower had to be helped off the field following a leg injury in the third quarter vs. the Panthers on Sunday. Hightower appeared to hurt his left knee while cutting back on a run.

The Redskins will replace Hightower with Ryan Torain. The pair has split carries in the backfield this season for Mike Shanahan.

Here's more background from SB Nation DC's Mike Prada:

Hightower had been struggling with a shoulder injury this season, but he returned to have a strong game in this one before getting hurt. Hightower had already posted 88 rushing yards in this game, reclaiming the starting job he lost when he got hurt. However, two players needed to help Hightower off the field, so the injury appears serious. It happened when his knee buckled while trying to make a cutback run.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan injured his knee on a play in the third quarter. As you can see from the video below, it looks like a pretty nasty injury. Stepped on by his own lineman, Ryan writhed in pain on the field for awhile after the injury. He did manage to leave the field, limping, but the status of his injury is unknown.

Falcons tackle Will Svitek is the one who stepped on Ryan’s foot. Chris Redman will replace Ryan at quarterback for Atlanta. Ryan’s ankle looked as though it was bent sideways, making it that much more surprising that it is being called a knee injury at this point.

Ryan was taken to the locker room for further evaluation of the injury. His status for a return today is questionable. The severity of his injury is unknown at this point in time. Stay tuned for further updates. Atlanta had a 17-9 lead. 

Benjamin Watson's day has gone from bad to worse. The Browns tight end finished the first half with just one catch for five yards, and it looks like that will be all she wrote. From the Browns' official Twitter account:

Watson was averaging 42 receiving yards a game with 208 receiving yards on the season and 2 touchdowns through his first six games of the 2011 NFL season. Watson's receiving yards per game are down nearly 5 yards per game from last season.

Watson was ranked by Yahoo! as the 14th ranked tight end heading into Week 7 taking on the Seattle Seahawks who rank 23rd against the pass.

For more on Watson and his matchup with the Seahawks, check out SB Nation's Browns blog, Dawgs By Nature, and our Seahawks blog Field Gulls. For more on fantasy football, check out Fake Teams. Follow @sbnationfantasy on Twitter.

The Cleveland Browns lost guard Lauvao to injury on Sunday vs. the Seahawks. His return is questionable, according to the Browns official Twitter feed.

For more on this matchup, check out our Browns blog Dawgs By Nature and our Seahawks blog, Field Gulls.

Things are turning downright ugly in South Florida. The Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins are locked in a battle of the barely competent, with Miami maintaining a slight lead on the scoreboard. Tim Tebow did offer a little something for the highlights today, breaking off a 21-yard run, breaking a few tackles in the process.

Here’s the video of Tebow’s scramble.

Unfortunately for Tebow, he fumbled the ball three plays later. It was recovered by the Broncos, who promptly punted it away with the clock ticking on the first half.

Through two quarters, Tebow has 38 rushing yards on six carries. In the passing game, the Broncos quarterback is just three for five with 24 yards.

Miami leads the Broncos by a score of 6-0 at halftime. Tebow and the 2008 Florida national championship team was honored at the game today, in front of a winless Dolphins and very few fans in the stadium.

The San Diego Charges and Ryan Mathews fantasy owners can breathe a sigh of relief, as the running back has returned to the field. Mathews hurt his thumb earlier in the Chargers' game against the New York Jets. 

Since making a brief appearance, Mike Tolbert has continued to get carries, which does make us wonder just how healthy Mathews really is. Tolbert is having a pretty good game in Mathews place, too. He has 53 yards on nine carries and was given three straight shots from about 1-yard out before finally scoring the touchdown. It was his third touchdown of the season.

For the latest NFL updates, be sure to follow this StoryStream. For more on the two teams, check out San Diego Chargers blog Bolts From The Blue and New York Jets blog Gang Green Nation. Follow the rest of Week 7 of the regular season at SB Nation NFL.

UPDATE: Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss is out for the game vs. the Panthers in Carolina. Moss injured his left hand in the first half. News via The Washington Post's Mike Jones:

More details below.

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Washington Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss has a left hand injury and his return is questionable, according to the Redskins official Twitter feed.

Moss was looked at by trainers on the sideline before heading to the locker room. He returned to the sidelines to join his teammates, but has not entered the game. The Washington Post's Rick Maese has more details from the stadium via Twitter:

I can see Moss on the sidelines, and his left hand is heavily wrapped right now. Moss does not have his helmet and won't be coming in for this drive. If we see him again, it prob wont be til second half.

Moss entered the game with the most catches and third-most receiving yards on the team this season. The absence of Moss hurts quarterback John Beck, who is starting his first game of the season for Washington. He will have to look to Jabar Gaffney and tight end Fred Davis to pick up the slack.

Update: Good news! Mathews has returned to action.

San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews left the game with a thumb injury. He was seen heading to the Chargers locker room to get it checked out by team doctors. According to Jason La Canfora of NFL Network on his twitter feed, Mathews is questionable to return.

In Mathews place, the Chargers will turn to back up running back and goal line back Mike Tolbert to carry the load on the ground. Luckily the Chargers have Antonio Gates back, who's already scored a touchdown, so the Chargers may not need to rely on the ground game. If they do, Tolbert has proved he can carry the load when Mathews has been injured in the past. 

For more on the two teams, check out San Diego Chargers blog Bolts From The Blue and New York Jets blog Gang Green Nation. Follow the rest of Week 7 of the regular season at SB Nation NFL.

Injuries have kept San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates from turning in his regular level of productivity. On Sunday, he finally scored his first touchdown of the season. Gates caught a 2-yard pass from Phillip Rivers in the back of the end zone to give the Chargers a 14-3 lead over the New York Jets.

The Chargers will certainly be hoping this is a sign of things to come. Gates had not played in any of the past four games and had not made a catch since Week 1. So far in this game, he has three catches for 24 yards.

For the latest NFL updates, be sure to follow this StoryStream.

Cam Newton is just a rookie, but he's already one of the most electric players in the NFL. On Sunday vs. the Redskins, the Panthers quarterback flashed brilliance in the first quarter and could be on his way to a nice day for fantasy football stats.

In the video below, Newton picks up 25 yards on a ridiculous scramble -- dodging a sack, traversing the field, and shrugging off would-be tacklers in one absurd highlight. Words can't do it justice so watch for yourself.

The run set up a scoring drive that resulted for a field goal, and an early 3-0 lead for the Panthers. Carolina (1-5) is searching for a win against the Redskins.

Newton is averaging 307 passing yards and 34.5 rushing yards per game. His six rushing touchdowns are already just one behind Vince Young for most running TDs by a rookie quarterback in a season. This week, Newton is actually the more seasoned quarterback on the field. The Redskins are breaking in John Beck at quarterback, his first start this season.

For more on this matchup, check out our Panthers blog Cat Scratch Fever and our Redskins blog, Hogs Haven. And get the all the highlights on Sunday from our comprehensive NFL Week 7 StoryStream.

UPDATE: Earnest Graham reportedly tore his Achilles' tendon, according to ProFootballTalk.com.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Earnest Graham went down untouched with an ankle injury. He left the game and wound up going to the Buccaneers locker room for treatment. The Bucs are also without starting running back LeGarrette Blount who was inactive with a knee injury.  Without Blount or Graham, the Bucs will turn to back up running back Kregg Lumpkin who has played sparingly for the Bucs the past two years.

The Bucs offense will suffer now being down to their third running back and will put more of the Bucs offense on quarterback Josh Freeman's shoulders. The Bucs should be able to still run the football somewhat, but Freeman will need to limit his mistakes and hit some big plays in the passing game.

For more on the Bears head over to Windy City Gridiron. For more on the Buccaneers, check out Bucs Nation. Follow the rest of Week 7 at SB Nation NFL.

Donald Butler just stole Dustin Keller's lunch. The San Diego Chargers linebacker ripped the ball out of Keller's hands for an interception and the returned in 37 yards for a go-head touchdown. The score gave the Chargers a 7-0 lead over the New York Jets.

Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte got the Bears off to an early lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Lodon with a 32-yard touchdown run. The Bears scoring drive consisted of just three Forte runs, but they totaled in 58 yards on the ground. Earlier in the drive the Bears running back ripped off a 22-yard run, then capped it off with this 32-yard score.

The Bears hold the early lead over the Bucs in London, 7-0.

For more on the Bears head over to Windy City Gridiron. For more on the Buccaneers, check out Bucs Nation. Follow the rest of Week 7 at SB Nation NFL.

Marshawn Lynch was a late scratch from the Seattle Seahawks line up today, as he injured his back in warm ups according to Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times, via his Twitter feed.

RB Marshawn Lynch is out this game. He injured his back during warmups.

Marshawn Lynch played through an ankle injury in the Seattle Seahawks' victory over the New York Giants two weeks ago and he used the bye week to recuperate. He was a full participant in practice this week and was listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns.

In Lynch's absence, the Seahawks will turn to back up running back Justin Forsett against the Browns.

For more on Lynch and his match up with the Browns, check out SB Nation's Browns blog, Dawgs By Nature, and our Seahawks blog Field Gulls. For more on fantasy football, check out Fake Teams. Follow @sbnationfantasy on Twitter.

The San Diego Chargers are off to an atypical start under head coach Norv Turner, they're 4-1 out of the gate rather than their usual early struggles that require a late season rally. They've gone 4-1 without tight end Antonio Gates as well, who's expected to play against the Jets. "It hasn't been an easy 4-1 and I think that keeps you ... real critical of yourself and of different areas and allows you to know you've got areas to improve in because it hasn't just been a smooth few weeks," said Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers. The Chargers have an extra tough test today, traveling to the east coast and kicking off at 1:00 P.M.

The New York Jets are coming off a Monday night victory over the Miami Dolphins and running back LaDainian Tomlinson is going to get to face his old team in the Chargers."I'm not a guy who holds grudges or tries to prove anyone wrong," Tomlinson said. "I don't have time for that. It's nonsense. I had a great nine years there and I don't want to make it more than it is."

No doubt however that Tomlinson will play with a little extra fire and is expected to get some more touches as the Jets look to take advantage of the west coast team coming east, and improve to a 4-3 record to avoid falling under .500.

Game Date/Time: Sunday, October 23, 1:00 P.M. ET

Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

TV Schedule: CBS

Announcers: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms

TV Distribution Map: The506.com

Radio Schedule
Chargers: KIOZ San Diego 105.3 FM
Jets: 1050 ESPN    

For more on the two teams, check out San Diego Chargers blog Bolts From The Blue and New York Jets blog Gang Green Nation. Follow the rest of Week 7 of the regular season at SB Nation NFL.