Week 7 of the NFL season kicked off on Thursday with Sean Payton’s Denver Broncos (4-3) dominating his former team, the New Orleans Saints (2-5). On Sunday, the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5) grabbed a much-needed win over the New England Patriots (1-6) in the final NFL game from London this season.
Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything else you need to know for every team. Let’s get to it.
Jaguars
Did this prove the Jaguars haven’t quit? Safety Andre Cisco made waves last week after he said he saw players quit during the loss to the Bears. That mentality didn’t show up in the second quarter, when they scored 22 unanswered points to erase a 10-0 deficit. Doug Pederson hasn’t lost the locker room after starting 1-5, which is a good thing because the Jaguars have a tough stretch ahead: Green Bay, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Detroit and Houston. At 2-5, the Jaguars still have slim playoff hopes, but there’s no margin for error.
Describe the game in two words: Getting Tanked. With Travis Etienne Jr. sidelined with a hamstring injury, Tank Bigsby delivered the best game of his career. He set career highs in carries (26) and yards (118) with two TDs, and his physical style really set the tone for the offense. At one point the Jaguars ran the ball on 19 consecutive plays in the second half.
Eye-popping stat: Parker Washington‘s 96-yard punt return was the first special teams touchdown in an international game. That was the 266th touchdown scored in those games: 150 passing, 102 rushing, seven interception returns, six fumble returns and Washington’s punt return. It was also the longest punt return in Jaguars history, surpassing the 91-yard TD that Keelan Cole scored against Green Bay in 2020. — Mike DiRocco
Next game: vs. Packers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Patriots
How much heat should be on coach Jerod Mayo for the Patriots’ disappointing play? Growing pains were expected in Mayo’s first season, but the way the Patriots have regressed since a season-opening win has been concerning. Mayo is a self-proclaimed “defensive coach,” and the defensive performance Sunday — other than a fourth-quarter stop on fourth down — was alarming after they jumped out to a 10-0 lead. The Patriots had trouble stopping the run again and the Jaguars owned the line of scrimmage, which is supposed to be the Patriots’ strength. While they are missing key defenders DT Christian Barmore (blood clots), LB Ja’Whaun Bentley (torn pectoral muscle) and S Jabrill Peppers (commissioner exempt list), that isn’t an excuse for a team that prides itself on the “next-man-up” mentality.
Describe the game in two words: Sudden change. After talking all week about the importance of a fast start, the Patriots got what they wanted in taking a 10-point lead and then collapsed in epic fashion on offense (couldn’t run), defense (couldn’t tackle consistently and was often blown off the line of scrimmage) and special teams (allowed a 96-yard punt return for a touchdown late in the second quarter).
Biggest hole in the game plan: No running game. The Patriots’ inability to run put rookie QB Drake Maye in a tough spot. It’s hard to be one-dimensional and win, and Maye still gave them a fighting chance with his strong passing performance. Instability along the offensive line, with the Patriots playing with their seventh different starting unit in seven games, seems to be the root of the issue. Maye went 26-for-37 for 276 passing yards, two touchdowns and was sacked twice. — Mike Reiss
Next game: vs. Jets (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Thursday
Broncos
Have the Broncos found the best formula to help rookie quarterback Bo Nix? After some early bobbles in the passing game, the Broncos settled Nix into the game by using him as a runner more often and by getting him some more of the run-pass options he is comfortable operating in. The result was 225 rushing yards on 35 carries — the Broncos’ season high in both — with 75 of those yards coming from Nix. It was Nix’s second consecutive game with at least 61 rushing yards and — when the Broncos went a little more run-first — Nix settled in and the team scored on six consecutive possessions. With the real meat of the Broncos’ schedule waiting in November, it should give them pause.
Most surprising performance: LB Cody Barton. Barton had a sack, a forced fumble and returned another Saints fumble 52 yards for a touchdown. He also had another touchdown on a scoop-and-score called back because of a Broncos penalty. He is the 12th player to have at least half of a sack for the Broncos this season.
Describe the game in two words: Power up. It’s become clear the Broncos are at their best when they play a more blue-collar brand of football. Their defense continues to make the lives of opposing QBs difficult — they have 28 sacks in seven games and have scored two defensive touchdowns and two safeties. And when coach Sean Payton commits to the run, they control tempo and win the line of scrimmage more often than when they try to keep Nix in a bevy of three-wide receiver sets. Thursday’s 225 rushing yards in a runaway win — over a battered Saints team or not — is plenty of proof of that. — Jeff Legwold
Next game: vs. Panthers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)
Saints
Is Dennis Allen on the hot seat? Saints general manager Mickey Loomis defended Allen on a radio show after last week’s loss and said they have to look at all the reasons they aren’t winning (including injuries). But the Saints turned in another bad performance, losing their fifth straight game and causing the home crowd to leave by the fourth quarter. Allen is now 18-23 in his three years as Saints head coach.
Biggest hole in the game plan: Protection. Starting a rookie quarterback isn’t easy, and it’s even worse with three offensive linemen out, but the Saints struggled to protect Spencer Rattler, who was sacked six times and had multiple strip sacks. Rattler was able to make plays with his legs, or that number likely would’ve been higher.
Eye-popping stat: The Saints’ defense allowed 225 rushing yards Thursday, making it a total of 502 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns in the past two games — and 332 of those yards came before first contact. The Saints went 55 games between 2017 and 2020 without allowing a 100-yard rusher, but they have been on the decline in that category since 2022 and are now one of the worst run defenses in the league. — Katherine Terrell
Next game: at Chargers (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)
