Minnesota is the NFL’s only unbeaten team after Week 7, but the Vikings’ 6-0 record will face its sternest test yet over the next month. The 49ers lost a lead in Atlanta, the Chiefs were handled 20-3 in Seattle, and Minnesota survived Indianapolis 16-10 behind another overwhelming performance from Brian Flores’ defense.
Vikings stand alone at 6-0
The Colts found out how difficult it has become to operate against Flores’ pressure packages. Minnesota sent extra rushers after Daniel Jones on 85.2% of his dropbacks, the highest single-game blitz frequency recorded by Next Gen Stats since 2016. The Vikings generated pressure on 60.9% of those blitzes, and each of their four sacks came with a blitz on.
Jones’ final throw was intercepted by safety Harrison Smith, sealing the Minnesota victory. The Vikings have built their perfect start on defense, special teams and an offense that has made enough timely plays, though it remains a concern heading into a much more demanding stretch.
- Minnesota has scored 125 points through six games, tied for the second-lowest total by a 6-0 team since 1950.
- Only the 1978 Rams, with 116 points, had scored fewer through a 6-0 opening.
- The Vikings match the 1973 NFC champion Vikings at 125 points.
- Kyler Murray has produced flashes, including difficult sideline throws, but the offense has lacked steady rhythm and consistency.
Coach Kevin O’Connell said he believes the unit is close to finding that consistency. “Our players are confident that we’re close,” O’Connell said. “What ‘close’ means can change as the season goes on, but I’m extremely confident that we’ll get it going.”
The next four weeks bring games against the 4-2 Lions, 5-1 Bills, 4-3 Packers and 6-1 49ers. Minnesota’s defense will be tested by a run of high-level offenses, and O’Connell’s group may need to deliver more than its current complementary role.
Giants rise while Jets unravel
The New York Giants took a major step forward in Houston, where J.J. McCarthy made his first start for the club and helped preserve the NFC East lead. Coach John Harbaugh opted not to wait until after the Week 8 bye, choosing McCarthy over another start for Jameis Winston.
The 2024 first-round pick played with poise and decisiveness, showing far more accuracy and command than he had earlier in his career in Minnesota. He took three sacks and the Giants still had too many long-yardage situations, but McCarthy repeatedly connected downfield and handled a road matchup against a Texans team coming off two straight wins.
Right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor said McCarthy never appeared overwhelmed.
“The stage wasn’t too big for him,” Eluemunor said. “I’m sure there was pressure on his shoulders, but it never showed in the huddle. He was in command from the opening snap through the last one.”
The Giants improved to 4-2-1, and Harbaugh said, “We’re going to be in this race all the way to the end now.”
New York’s defense also continued its turnaround under coordinator Dennard Wilson. Cornerback Deonte Banks, the 2023 first-round selection who had once appeared close to losing his roster spot, has developed into a shutdown presence. The Giants’ defense outplayed Houston’s unit, an outcome that would have been difficult to predict before the season.
Running back Cam Skattebo responded after receiving no touches in Week 6, rushing for 124 yards on 17 attempts and producing four explosive runs against the Texans.
Dolphins earn first Hafley victory
The Jets, meanwhile, fell to 2-5 after losing at home to Miami, handing first-year Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley his first victory. Miami rushed for 156 yards, repeatedly getting to the perimeter against a Jets defense that had trouble setting the edge.
- Jets quarterback Geno Smith threw for 287 yards, but New York’s offense again lacked consistency.
- A fourth-quarter first-and-goal possession from the 1-yard line ended in a field goal.
- Garrett Wilson received only three targets.
- Aaron Glenn used no timeouts late in the second quarter as Miami drained the clock and scored with six seconds remaining, taking a 21-7 halftime edge.
- The Jets have been outscored 107-6 during the final two minutes of the first half under Glenn.
Glenn said he remains convinced his team is moving in the proper direction despite the record. “I know what our record says,” he said. “But I know how I feel about these players and how they compete. We aren’t where we need to be, but I completely believe we’re on the right track.”
Miami’s young roster had competed hard without producing a win before Sunday. The result ensured the Dolphins will not enter November still searching for their first victory.
Burrow sparks Bengals comeback as Ravens collapse again
Joe Burrow struggled through the opening half in Baltimore, completing 6 of 12 throws for 43 yards, taking a sack and posting a 58.7 passer rating. The Bengals quarterback turned the game completely after halftime.
Burrow finished with 292 passing yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions, making it two consecutive games with four touchdown passes and zero picks. He completed 16 of 18 attempts for 249 yards and all four scores in the second half as Cincinnati rolled to a 35-10 win.
“I thought I played very well,” Burrow said. “The first half was what it was, and there are plays I’d like back, but we didn’t turn it over. That was important. In the second half, I felt like I was pretty lights out.”
Burrow said he approaches each snap independently, processing what the defense is showing and adjusting quickly when the picture changes during a play.
Baltimore’s latest breakdown was especially severe. Its win probability reached 87.5% with 1:37 left before halftime, but the Bengals scored the game’s final 35 points. It was the Ravens’ 10th loss across the last three seasons in a game where their win probability had climbed to at least 80%, two more than any other team in that span.
Lamar Jackson missed his third consecutive game, but coach Jesse Minter pointed to a larger defensive problem.
“It was a game of two halves,” Minter said. “Right now, we’re too dependent on momentum. When it’s good, we ride it, and when it turns bad, we ride that too.”
Colts face decisions as Seattle’s receiver surges
Indianapolis fired general manager Chris Ballard on Oct. 19, but the front-office shakeup did not change the Colts’ result against Minnesota. Jones could not consistently punish Flores’ aggressive calls, and his late interception ended Indianapolis’ chance at a comeback.
Coach Shane Steichen said Sunday and again Monday that he has not considered replacing Jones.
“I haven’t considered changing quarterbacks,” Steichen said. “I have a lot of faith in Daniel. Our plan was to run the football, and at the end he threw an interception. Those things happen in football.”
- Jones has a minus-0.20 EPA per dropback, third worst among players with at least 150 pass attempts.
- Only Cam Ward and Justin Herbert rank lower in that group.
- He has thrown four touchdown passes and seven interceptions.
- His passer rating is 69.4, with a minus-2.1 completion percentage over expected and 5.8 yards per attempt.
- Indianapolis was without receiver Alec Pierce and tight end Tyler Warren against Minnesota.
The Colts could become trade-deadline sellers as they attempt to rebuild their draft capital after Ballard’s tenure. Quenton Nelson, DeForest Buckner and Jonathan Taylor have all been mentioned as potential trade candidates. Taylor’s wife posted on social media about the possibility of him joining a contender, though the running back downplayed it.
“It was already out there, so her adding to it doesn’t really change anything,” Taylor said. “Everybody is on TikTok now. You have to come to work and stay focused.”
The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. ET.
Smith-Njigba outshines Walker in Seattle
Seattle’s Sunday night win over Kansas City became a showcase for Jaxon Smith-Njigba rather than Kenneth Walker III’s return to Seattle. Walker was held to 36 rushing yards on 14 carries, a 2.6-yard average, while adding four receptions for 21 yards.
Smith-Njigba, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, caught nine passes for 150 yards and a touchdown in the 20-3 victory. He now has 867 receiving yards, the third-highest total through a team’s first seven games in the Super Bowl era. Only Tyreek Hill in 2023, with 902, and Lance Alworth in 1968, with 871, had more.
At 123.86 receiving yards per game, Smith-Njigba is tracking for 2,106 yards over a 17-game season. That pace would surpass Calvin Johnson’s single-season record of 1,964 yards, set in 2012 over 16 games. Smith-Njigba is also ahead of Johnson’s 16-game rate of 122.8 yards per game.
He has topped 120 receiving yards five times in seven games and has been held below 100 yards only once, finishing with 76 against the Chargers. During his record-setting season, Johnson had four games below 75 yards.
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald praised Smith-Njigba for handling a difficult week before producing in prime time. “He’s tremendous,” Macdonald said. “I’m proud of him as a person, a competitor and a teammate. You have to respect and love the way he goes about his business.”
