Week 7 opens Thursday night with Chicago hosting New England, while the NFL’s first regular-season game in Paris headlines a Sunday slate packed with divisional pressure, quarterback uncertainty and major injury concerns. The Kansas City Chiefs enter the week as the AFC’s lone unbeaten team, and Monday night’s Cowboys-Eagles matchup could reshape an increasingly open NFC East.
Thursday night: Bears look to exploit a shorthanded Patriots roster
Chicago is positioned to challenge a New England team dealing with mounting injuries on a short week. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has been on a strong run, but leading receiver Romeo Doubs is unavailable, while A.J. Brown is trying to regain form after a drop-heavy return from injury.
New England also has depth-chart concerns up front, with its third-string right guard and second-string left guard expected to play. Starting cornerback Carlton Davis III will miss his third consecutive game.
The Bears remain without Kyle Monangai, but their offense regained control of the clock last week against a sturdy run defense. Chicago will need another efficient outing from Caleb Williams, especially after its defense showed vulnerability against the pass in Green Bay.
- New England must overcome injuries at receiver, along the offensive line and in the secondary.
- Chicago will try to control possession and limit Maye’s opportunities downfield.
- The Bears are favored to protect home field against a fellow contender working on limited preparation time.
Sunday: Paris debut and pivotal conference games
Pittsburgh and New Orleans will make history in Paris, where two inconsistent teams arrive after dramatically different Week 6 finishes. The Steelers erased a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit before winning in overtime. The Saints built a 24-point lead in the final period, then nearly let a third-string quarterback complete the comeback.
Turnovers could define the matchup. Pittsburgh ranks third in defensive takeaways, while New Orleans is 28th in offensive giveaways. The Steelers also have an opportunity to lean on Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle against a Saints run defense ranked 30th, even after New Orleans limited the Giants’ running backs to 34 yards last week.
San Francisco travels across the country on a short week to face Atlanta, a game that could offer the Falcons a chance to stop a three-game home losing skid. But Atlanta has allowed more than 30 points in each of its past two games, while Bijan Robinson had only 11 touches last week, including a season-low 61 rushing yards and negative receiving yardage. Rookie returner Zachariah Branch also lost two fumbles.
The 49ers are relying on MVP candidate Brock Purdy to play more cleanly than Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr., while Defensive Player of the Year contender Fred Warner is tasked with keeping Robinson from taking over the game.
Cincinnati heads to Baltimore after its bye with the Ravens’ running game presenting the central concern. The Bengals rebuilt their defensive front around Dexter Lawrence, acquired in a trade involving the No. 10 overall pick, and added Boye Mafe, Jonathan Allen and Cashius Howell.
After finishing last season with the league’s worst run defense, Cincinnati began 2026 with an NFL-best 23 percent stuff rate. A 217-yard rushing performance by Miami, led by Malik Willis and Ollie Gordon II, dropped the Bengals from eighth to 23rd in run defense, underscoring how quickly early-season rankings can move.
Baltimore is still third in rushing despite Lamar Jackson missing the last two and a half games. Jackson returned to limited practice Wednesday and could start, but Derrick Henry remains a major threat even if Tyler Huntley is under center.
Quarterback health and offensive momentum
Carolina hosts Tampa Bay with Baker Mayfield likely to return after missing three games because of a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand. The Buccaneers may not have No. 1 receiver Emeka Egbuka, who is dealing with both a concussion and a foot injury.
The Panthers enter Week 7 with the NFL’s fourth-highest scoring offense at 29.2 points per game. Bryce Young leads the league at 309.8 passing yards per game, and Tampa Bay’s pass rush has struggled: the Bucs have the second-lowest quarterback pressure rate, 29.6 percent, despite blitzing on the third-highest share of defensive snaps, 43.8 percent.
Three of the past four Panthers-Buccaneers meetings were decided by three points or fewer, setting up another close NFC South contest.
Houston returns home against the Giants with C.J. Stroud playing at a high level and New York turning to J.J. McCarthy for his first start. McCarthy, acquired about a month ago, replaced Jameis Winston last week and gave the NFC East leaders a chance, but now faces a Texans defense that has improved sharply since DeMeco Ryans took over defensive play-calling.
- Houston started 0-4 while scoring 21 points per game and allowing 27.3.
- The Texans have won their past two games, averaging 30 points while surrendering 17 per outing.
- Stroud has thrown only one interception this season and has excelled under pressure, especially when Nico Collins is available.
- Houston’s ground attack remains limited at 84.8 rushing yards per game, but Stroud and Marvin Harrison Jr. are expected to become a more dangerous pairing.
The Giants have questions at running back, where ball security has been an issue, and McCarthy enters the game with concerns over accuracy and turnovers.
Coaching changes, division games and struggling offenses
Minnesota visits Indianapolis after the Colts fired general manager Chris Ballard following a loss to the previously winless Titans. Indianapolis won its next game after replacing head coach Frank Reich with Jeff Saturday in 2022, but the Vikings present a much tougher opponent.
Minnesota ranks fifth against the run and third against the pass. That defense can force Daniel Jones to carry the Colts’ offense if it contains Jonathan Taylor. Jones has thrown four touchdown passes and six interceptions, while also losing four fumbles, after returning from last season’s Achilles injury.
Kyler Murray enters the game after a bye, having posted his best Vikings numbers in Week 5 against New Orleans: an 80 percent completion rate and a 109.6 passer rating. He now faces a bottom-10 Indianapolis defense.
The Jets meet winless Miami with an opportunity to handle another opponent short on explosive offense. New York has already beaten Tennessee and Cleveland, and its defensive front can focus on Ollie Gordon II if the Dolphins cannot establish a passing threat without injured running back De’Von Achane.
Geno Smith’s interception hurt the Jets in last week’s loss at New England, but the receiving group is nearing full strength. Adonai Mitchell is close to returning alongside Garrett Wilson, Omar Cooper Jr. and Kenyon Sadiq.
Tennessee, coming off an encouraging win, hosts Cleveland in a matchup of offenses near the bottom of the league. The Browns average 17.7 points per game, tied for 28th, while the Titans are tied for last at 14. Cleveland is one of only five teams over the past 20 seasons to win at least four of its first six games while averaging fewer than 18 points.
Cleveland had 13 players listed on Wednesday’s injury report, including linebacker Carson Schwesinger, the leader of its defense, with an ankle issue. Tennessee will count on Jeffery Simmons and the defensive line against the NFL’s most-sacked quarterback. The game also features uncertainty over whether Deshaun Watson or Tennessee’s Cam Ward reaches the end zone first, with rookie Carnell Tate expected to be a prominent part of the Titans’ offense.
Late-window tests for contenders
Denver faces Arizona after the Cardinals used a familiar formula to beat the Rams in Week 6: take advantage of offensive mistakes and create enough scoring against a good defense. The Broncos have leaned on their defense all season, but their offense has been even less consistent than Los Angeles’.
Bo Nix is completing a career-low 60.3 percent of his passes despite attempting a career-low 5.8 air yards per throw. Arizona still ranks 31st in points allowed, even after holding the Rams to 16 points, making this a critical opportunity for Nix and an offense now being called by Sean Payton.
Detroit and Green Bay meet in a key NFC North game. Jordan Love has connected on deep throws to Matthew Golden and Christian Watson, while Josh Jacobs is nearing his return. The Lions counter with Jahmyr Gibbs’ explosive production and Jared Goff’s 12-to-0 touchdown-to-interception ratio under offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.
Petzing faces Green Bay defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, his former boss in Arizona. Gannon joined the Packers after being dismissed by the Cardinals in January, replacing Jeff Hafley. Green Bay ranks 10th in both yards and points allowed outside of its Week 3 loss to Atlanta, despite Micah Parsons still being sidelined by a knee injury suffered last December.
Detroit has the personnel edge, particularly with center Cade Mays expected to make his Lions debut. The Lions are trying to open divisional play with a victory after going 2-4 against NFC North opponents last season.
The Raiders host a Rams team battered by mistakes and injuries. Los Angeles has had four possessions end on either a blocked or missed field goal, tied for the most in the league. It has also turned the ball over on downs five times and seen Matthew Stafford throw interceptions on six drives.
Receiver Davante Adams will miss at least six weeks with a hamstring injury, and defensive tackle Kobie Turner has joined injured reserve with a groin injury. Las Vegas has its own concerns, including limited production from Ashton Jeanty, but the Raiders are generating takeaways, Kirk Cousins is playing his best football since his 2023 Achilles injury, and Brock Bowers remains among the league’s elite tight ends.
Matt Gay has converted all but one field-goal try, missing from 48 yards in Week 5, and has made all 14 extra points. That reliability could matter late against a Rams special-teams unit in turmoil.
Chiefs-Seahawks rematch of changed fortunes
Seattle won the second Lombardi Trophy in franchise history last February after the best regular season the club has ever produced. Kansas City, meanwhile, was coming off its first losing season under Andy Reid as Patrick Mahomes recovered from major knee surgery.
Eight months later, the Chiefs are unbeaten and lead the AFC West. Seattle is the NFC’s only .500 team and sits three games behind in the NFC West.
Kenneth Walker III’s move from Seattle to Kansas City has been central to the reversal. The Chiefs, who had never fielded a top-15 rushing offense during Mahomes’ tenure as starting quarterback, are second in the league at 159.8 rushing yards per game. Walker leads the NFL with 665 yards despite playing one fewer game than Bijan Robinson, James Cook III and Derrick Henry because Kansas City had its Week 5 bye.
The Seahawks have not produced a 100-yard rusher in any game, placing more responsibility on Sam Darnold. He has thrown seven interceptions over the past four weeks. Seattle re-signed Rashid Shaheed for three years and $51 million in free agency, while Walker joined Kansas City for three years and $43.05 million.
Monday night: Cowboys seek reset against depleted Eagles
Dallas and Philadelphia close Week 7 with both teams desperate for a division win. The Cowboys have struggled for two weeks but enter healthier than the Eagles, who have lost four straight and will be without Jalen Hurts because of blood clots.
Philadelphia’s problems have continued to build throughout October. Offensive lineman Jordan Mailata described Week 5 as the “week from hell,” then said he may have spoken too soon as the team’s difficulties continued.
Tanner McKee is set to face Dak Prescott, and Dallas will count on Prescott to rebound behind a deep collection of offensive weapons. With Washington on a bye and the Giants facing Houston, the NFC East’s winless run could extend from Oct. 5 through Oct. 25 unless the Cowboys break it in prime time.
