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Coming into Week 7, home teams had a losing record this season. After the Raiders’ edge-of-your-seat win over the Chiefs on Thursday, that record was an even 46-46. The tie was broken Sunday, with home teams going 8-5 on the day.
In the early games, the Packers lost to the Saints in their first full game without Aaron Rodgers. Brett Hundley’s first NFL start was not the spark the Packers needed. The Vikings took the NFC North lead, but not before letting the Ravens get a meaningless touchdown to beat the total.
The Bears topped the Panthers in a otherwise boring game that could be summed up in two GIFs. The Browns had a chance to beat the Titans, but they lost in overtime because, well, Browns.
In the late afternoon, the Cowboys rolled over the 49ers behind a career day from Ezekiel Elliott. The Steelers dominated the Bengals again, and the Broncos were shut out for the first time since 1992.
On Sunday Night Football, the Patriots picked up right where they left off against the Falcons in the Super Bowl, blowing them out 23-7 in a foggy primetime matchup.
Here are all the big plays and major news from around the NFL on Sunday:
News
The Browns made ANOTHER quarterback change, benching DeShone Kizer and putting in Cody Kessler.
T.Y. Hilton doesn’t hold back, saying the Colts’ offensive line needs to block.
CBS cameras showed Doug Baldwin yelling at Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable on the sidelines.
Justin Timberlake was officially announced as the Super Bowl LII halftime performer.
Highlights
Bears safety Eddie Jackson scored TWO 75-yard defensive TDs in the first half against the Panthers. It happened on the one-year anniversary of the injury that ended his college career.
Kenny Stills made a circus catch from his back.
The Packers' fair catch interference call was correct, even if Ted Ginn Jr. bobbled the ball.
Referee in Colts vs. Jaguars forgot what to call a facemask penalty by saying it was “grabbing the helmet opening.”
Jets WR Robby Anderson celebrated his TD by sitting in the Dolphins stands.
Packers fans got extremely friendly with Aaron Jones on his Lambeau Leap.
Check out this mind-boggling one-handed catch by Christian McCaffrey.
The Buccaneers’ desperation last play had 10 laterals, took 43 seconds and went nowhere.
The Dolphins’ win over the Jets was ugly and beautiful and weird at the same time.
Vontaze Burfict kicked a Steelers player on the second play of the game.
Le'Veon Bell and JuJu Smith-Schuster's hide-and-seek TD celebration may be the best of the season.
The Seahawks ran 10 plays inside the Giants’ 11-yard line and scored 0 points.
Le'Veon Bell used a stiff arm to jackhammer Dre Kirkpatrick through the Earth's core.
Melvin Ingram blasted Trevor Siemian with a perfectly legal hit but got flagged anyway.
Jason Witten showed he’s still got it with this incredible one-handed catch.
Cowboys safety Jeff Heath, filling in for Dan Bailey, banged in an extra point off upright with loudest CLANG ever.
This Ben Roethlisberger reaction GIF is everyone’s new favorite meme.
The Seahawks scored on a flea flicker TD that looked exactly like the ‘“Fail Mary.”
The Steelers ran a beautiful fake punt with a double-digit lead to sink the Bengals.
Chris Hogan repped Penn State lacrosse during his Sunday Night Football intro.
The Patriots’ first touchdown against the Falcons was exactly the same play the Chiefs ran earlier this season.
It got really foggy on Sunday Night Football.
Falcons OC Steve Sarkisian is calling plays from the booth. Is the fog a factor?
Patriots copy a play from the Chiefs
Injuries
Ravens receiver Mike Wallace took a huge hit and got his helmet knocked off. He was almost immediately placed in concussion protocol and ruled out for the rest of the game.
Carson Palmer left the game against the Rams. It was later revealed Palmer had broken his arm and will have surgery. Drew Stanton is now the Cardinals’ starting quarterback.
The Colts lost three of their best defensive players to injury against the Jaguars: Malik Hooker (knee), John Simon (stinger), and Rashaan Melvin (concussion).
Oh no, Browns LT Joe Thomas was injured and missed the first snap of his career. His streak reached 10,363 snaps before he left with a triceps injury. He will not return.
Jay Cutler left with a chest injury and did not return. Matt Moore came in against the Jets.
Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey left with groin injury, so safety Jeff Heath starting handling kickoff duties.
Scores and schedule (all times Eastern)
Buffalo Bills 30, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27
Chicago Bears 17, Carolina Panthers 3
Tennessee Titans 12, Cleveland Browns 9 (OT)
New Orleans Saints 26, Green Bay Packers 19
Jacksonville Jaguars 27, Indianapolis Colts 0
Los Angeles Rams 33, Arizona Cardinals 0 (London)
Miami Dolphins 31, New York Jets 28
Minnesota Vikings 24, Baltimore Ravens 16
Dallas Cowboys 40, San Francisco 49ers 10
Los Angeles Chargers 21, Denver Broncos 0
Seattle Seahawks 24, New York Giants 7
Pittsburgh Steelers 29, Cincinnati Bengals 14
New England Patriots 23, Atlanta Falcons 7
Before the games
With the NFL getting close to its midway point, Week 7 is shaping up as a gut check for plenty of teams, as the line between contenders and pretenders starts to become more defined.
The Brett Hundley era officially begins in Green Bay, when he makes his first NFL start with Aaron Rodgers on injured reserve. Hundley had some great performances in the preseason, but this will be a tough test for him with the Saints’ defense playing better than expected. The Packers’ playoff hopes will live and die based on how well Hundley does.
We’re getting another London game this week, and it’s not in the early morning. Even the Brits want a primetime game once in a while. This time it’s the Rams and Cardinals squaring off as both teams try to make headway in the NFC West. The Cardinals’ offense got a significant boost with a rejuvenated Adrian Peterson, but how long can he hold up? The Rams need more from Jared Goff, who’s fallen into a slump after a hot start to the year.
One of the most important games of the 1 p.m. slot might be ... Jets vs. Dolphins? That’s not a typo — one of these teams will be over .500 at the end of the day. The Dolphins’ offense has been comically inept most of the year, but they keep pulling wins out of their hat. The Jets are getting it done with an underrated defense and some old-man grit by Josh McCown. Beating expectations is fun!
The late afternoon is headlined by an AFC North grudge match between the Steelers and Bengals. We’re still trying to figure out the Bengals, who got off to a terrible 0-3 start but rebounded under new offensive coordinator Bill Lazor. They could give headaches to a Steelers team that doesn’t always play up to its potential.
Finally, the Super Bowl rematch takes place on Sunday Night Football. Get all your 28-3 jokes ready and start preparing some 17-0 ones, because that’s the lead the Falcons blew last week. Neither them nor the Patriots have been as good as advertised this season, but it should still be a great atmosphere as the Falcons try to put some demons behind them.