Archives for October 19, 2025

Week 7 Game Capsules

By Field Level Media

Philadelphia Eagles (4-2) at Minn Vikings (3-2)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Betting Hero odds: Eagles -2.5, Total 43.5
Series Rewind: The home team has taken five of the past six meetings. The last time the Eagles defeated the Vikings in Minneapolis was in a wild-card playoff game at the Metrodome on Jan. 4, 2009.

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni is 8-0 against the NFC North, including wins in Philadelphia against Kevin O’Connell’s Vikings in 2022 and 2023. Things have gone south lately for the defending champs. Consecutive lackluster losses to the Broncos and Giants ignited questions and critiques from every direction. The Eagles’ offensive stars largely have sputtered to this point — even All-Pro tackle Lane Johnson wants them to be “less predictable.” Despite being outgained in every game, Philadelphia still is playing winning football with only three turnovers through six games and touchdowns on 14 of 16 trips to the red zone. But with only a modest threat of a vertical passing game, RB Saquon Barkley enters this week last in the league in yards after contact and has been stuffed on 28 percent of his carries according to Inside Edge. The Vikings return to Minneapolis after games in Dublin and London with a quarterback quandary. Ex-Eagle Carson Wentz will make his fourth straight start, with J.J. McCarthy assessing his ankle is “getting there” but not 100 percent this week. He is listed as questionable. In his only previous start against Philly, Wentz was sacked nine times in a 24-8 loss with Washington in Week 3 of 2022. Either quarterback should benefit from a determined running game. First-year Vikings RB Jordan Mason leads the NFL in EPA — expected points added — on first-down running plays this season. If Philadelphia can stuff the run on early downs, the pocket won’t be safe. The Vikings are 31st in the NFL in sacks allowed per pass attempt, permitting a QB takedown on nearly 15 percent of dropbacks.

New Orleans Saints (1-5) at Chicago Bears (3-2)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Betting Hero odds: Bears -4.5, Total 46.5
Series Rewind: The Saints have won seven straight games in the series. The first ever meeting between the franchise was in 1968. Bears RB Brian Piccolo had 112 rushing yards in Chicago’s 23-17 win.

It could be a good day for the quarterbacks given the defenses combine to allow a combined average of more than 54 points per game. Saints QB Spencer Rattler was the starter at Oklahoma when a hotshot freshman showed up and took the job. Caleb Williams, who would eventually transfer to Southern California on the tail of coach Lincoln Riley, has the Bears on a three-game winning streak with a chance to get four in a row at Rattler’s expense. The Bears last won four consecutive games under Matt Nagy in 2018. Chicago has evolved offensively and asked less of Williams in a Monday win at Washington. RB D’Andre Swift, who is questionable this week, racked up 175 yards from scrimmage last week and WR Rome Odunze had a TD catch in four of five games this season. Rattler has only one interception this season. His top target is WR Chris Olave, who has at least six receptions in every game this season, and RB Alvin Kamara is on the verge of joining the 600-catch club. He has 595 and caught nine passes in his only career game against the Bears in 2020. New Orleans has three one-score losses among five defeats. Kicker Cairo Santos (thigh) was ruled out, meaning Week 6 hero Jake Moody remains on the active roster.

Carolina Panthers (3-3) at New York Jets (0-6)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Betting Hero odds: Panthers -1.5, Total 42.5
Series Rewind: The Panthers have won four of the past five meetings, most recently a 19-14 victory in Charlotte, N.C., in the 2021 season opener. The Jets’ last win in the series was on Nov. 29, 2009.

The good news for the Jets is that they’re less than halfway to matching their 0-13 start in 2020. Three of New York’s losses have been by two points, including last Sunday’s 13-11 dud against Denver in London. The Panthers have won three of their last four, the last two by three-point margins, but still are hunting for their first road win of the season. Carolina running back Rico Dowdle has been unstoppable in October with 473 yards from scrimmage and two TDs against the Dolphins and Cowboys. He’ll be sharing the ballcarrier workload with Chuba Hubbard, who is back after a two-game absence. The tandem has to deal with Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood, who has 218 tackles in 23 games since the start of last season. Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall pick in 2023, is looking for his 10th win as a starter. Jets QB Justin Fields, the No. 11 pick two years earlier, is looking for his 15th. New York head coach Aaron Glenn’s defense only has one takeaway. He’s looking for Fields to make plays after sputtering last week. A rebound could happen, but Fields is searching for a new primary target. Top WR Garrett Wilson is dealing with a knee injury and is listed as doubtful.

Washington Commanders (3-3) at Dallas Cowboys (2-3-1)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Commanders -1.5, Total 54.5
Series Rewind: This is the 131st meeting in one of the league’s marquee division rivalries (Dallas leads 79-49-2). They settled for a split last season, each team winning at home in one-score games.

Terry McLaurin remains out — missing his fourth consecutive game — and fellow Commanders WR Deebo Samuel is banged up. But expect fireworks in a clash of offenses ranked in the top seven in the NFL in scoring against defenses that both rank in the bottom seven of the NFL in yards allowed. The Cowboys’ Dak Prescott looks to become the third QB since 2000 (Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson) with at least three TD passes and a 120 rating in four straight games. The return of CeeDee Lamb after a three-game absence due to an ankle injury gives Prescott another weapon. Counterpart Jayden Daniels has a 104.0 rating and a 13-to-2 TD-to-INT ratio in 10 career road games. It’s the first rivalry game for head coaches Dan Quinn and Brian Schottenheimer, who worked together on the Jets’ coaching staff from 2007-08 and again with the Cowboys from 2022-23 and remain good friends. Tight ends continue to play vital roles for both teams. Jake Ferguson, on pace for more than 120 receptions this season, has four TDs in his last three games for Dallas, while Zach Ertz has seven career scores against the Cowboys.

Miami Dolphins (1-5) at Cleveland Browns (1-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Betting Hero odds: Browns -2.5, Total 36.5
Series Rewind: Miami leads the all-time series 11-9 and has won four of the last five games against the Browns.

After calling out teammates for lack of attendance at players-only meetings after last week’s loss, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa apologized this week. He has a chance to atone to the fanbase and his teammates if he’s able to lead Miami to a win in a battle of two of the six teams that have one or fewer wins entering the seventh week of the season. Miami’s defense, which ranks 30th in total defense (389.3 yards per game) and 29th in scoring defense (29.0 points per game), could potentially benefit from going against a Cleveland offense that ranks dead last in scoring offense (13.7). Rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel has not been the answer so far for the Browns. He was sacked six times in last week’s loss and is averaging 4.8 yards per pass attempt, the lowest among all starters. The chances for rainy and windy conditions might render the forward pass worthless. Cleveland has a “mudder” at running back in rugged rookie Quinshon Judkins, a 222-pounder and one of the many rookies bringing optimism to the Browns during another down season.

Las Vegas Raiders (2-4) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (3-3)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Betting Hero odds: Chiefs -11.5, Total 45.5
Series Rewind: The Chiefs have dominated the series with 13 victories in the past 15 meetings.

Kansas City hasn’t been above .500 this season but the club has recovered from a shaky 0-2 start. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes erased the king-is-gone narrative by accounting for 10 touchdowns over the past three weeks, including four (three passing, one rushing) in last week’s 30-17 win over the Detroit Lions. Mahomes has thrown for 1,514 yards and 11 touchdowns against two interceptions and now will see top target Rashee Rice on the field for the first time this season. Rice just completed a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal-conduct policy. Hollywood Brown (30 catches) and star tight end Travis Kelce (28) are Kansas City’s reception leaders. First-round rookie LT Josh Simmons (excused for a family matter) was scratched for the second game in a row. Las Vegas is looking for improved ball-protection measures from quarterback Geno Smith, who has been intercepted a league-worst 10 times while passing for 1,350 yards and seven touchdowns. It remains to be seen whether star tight end Brock Bowers (knee) can return after practicing Friday for the first time since Oct. 1. Rookie RB Ashton Jeanty (424 rushing yards) had 75 in last week’s 20-10 win over the Tennessee Titans for his second-highest output of the season. He has scored five touchdowns (three rushing, two receiving).

New England Patriots (4-2) at Tennessee Titans (1-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Betting Hero Odds: Patriots -7, Total 42.5
Series Rewind: Current Patriots coach Mike Vrabel was head coach of the Titans when Tennessee beat the Patriots in the 2019 postseason. In the regular-season series, the Titans have won three of the past four meetings, including a 20-17 overtime home victory last season.

Vrabel instantly is turning around the Patriots, who bring a three-game winning streak into the clash. Tennessee is now seeking a new coach after firing Brian Callahan following last week’s 20-10 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders that continued a dreadful start. Anyone want to remind Titans’ brass who coached the franchise to the 2019 season AFC Championship Game? Oh yeah, Mr. Vrabel, who spent six seasons in Nashville before being dismissed following the 2023 season. New England is on the rise and second-year quarterback Drake Maye is displaying he’s the real deal with 1,522 yards and 10 touchdowns against two interceptions. Linebacker Harold Landry was a Vrabel favorite in Tennessee and he is thriving with a team-high 4.5 sacks in his first season with the Patriots. Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward is struggling with 1,101 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions and the franchise is hoping interim head coach Mike McCoy can jumpstart an offense that ranks 31st in scoring (13.8 points per game) and last in total offense (232.3 yards per game). It will have to happen without top receiver Calvin Ridley (hamstring), who is out this week. RB Tony Pollard is shining on the ground with 362 yards and two touchdowns. Star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons has a team-high 4.5 sacks and the three-time Pro Bowler has a solid chance of surpassing his career-best 8.5 in 2021.

New York Giants (2-4) at Denver Broncos (4-2)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Broncos -7, Total 40.5
Series Rewind: The all-time series is tied 7-7 dating back to 1972. The Broncos have won three of the last four, but the Giants took home the most important game between them, a 39-20 victory in Super Bowl XXI in 1987.

Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo have injected life into the moribund Giants, most recently leading them to a stunningly dominant win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Now coming out of a mini-bye, the Giants will have an even tougher test on their hands: a Denver team with not just postseason but Super Bowl aspirations. New York has won two of Dart’s first three starts but the only loss came on the road at New Orleans. The Broncos won’t make it easy and C John Michael Schmitz (concussion) is missing from the middle of the line and communication hub for the first-year pro. Denver had nine sacks in a 13-11 win over the Jets in London. Edge rusher Nik Bonitto leads the league with 8.0 sacks in six games. The Broncos might require a LB shuffle with ILB Dre Greenlaw (quad) participating in Friday’s practice and listed as questionable for Sunday’s game, which would require a roster move to add him to the 53-man active roster; OLB Jonah Elliss (shoulder) is out. The Broncos have been playing well and won three straight while quarterback Bo Nix still hasn’t quite found the gear he had a year ago as a rookie, marginally down in yards per attempt, completion percentage and passer rating. A Giants defense that ranks 26th in passing defense (242.0) could be just the fix.

Indianapolis Colts (5-1) at Los Angeles Chargers (4-2)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Chargers -1.5, Total 48.5
Series Rewind: Chargers have won eight of the past 10 meetings, including two postseason victories over Peyton Manning.

Indianapolis has scored well with quarterback Daniel Jones running the show as the Colts lead the NFL in scoring (32.3 points per game) and rank fourth in total offense (376.8 yards per game). Jones is completing 71.7% of his throws for 1,502 yards and eight touchdowns against just three interceptions. He also has been sacked just five times behind a solid offensive line led by seven-time Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson, who is on the fast track to Canton if he continues his high-caliber play for another four to five seasons. That same line is leading the way for Jonathan Taylor, who leads the NFL with 603 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. The Chargers came dangerously close to a third straight loss last week but Cameron Dicker’s 33-yard field goal with five seconds to go gave the squad a 29-27 road win over the hapless Miami Dolphins. Second-year running back Kimani Vidal was a virtual lifesaver with a career-best 124 rushing yards. He will again be counted on with Najee Harris (Achilles) out for the season and rookie Omarion Hampton (ankle) on the injured list. Elite pass rusher Khalil Mack (elbow) is questionable after four-game absence and LT Joe Alt (ankle) is doubtful.

Green Bay Packers (3-1-1) at Arizona Cardinals (2-4)
4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday
Betting Hero odds: Packers -6.5, Total 44.5
Series Rewind: The Packers stomped the Cardinals 34-13 in Green Bay last season and has a record of 46-24-4 against the franchise in the regular season. Aaron Rodgers hit Randall Cobb for a pair of second-half touchdowns in a 24-21 Packers victory in the most recent game in the series played in Glendale, Ariz., in 2021. The first ever game between the teams was in 1921, a 3-3 tie.

Four consecutive losses — by a total of nine points — and simmering doubt about the health of QB Kyler Murray (foot) cloud the Cardinals’ view from the bottom of the NFC West. Jacoby Brissett threw two TD passes and topped 300 passing yards at Indianapolis last week in a 31-27 loss to the AFC-leading Colts. Backfield issues go far beyond Murray. He’s the leading rusher for Arizona at 173 yards and the next three on the Cardinals’ list of top ground gainers — Trey Benson (160), James Conner (95) and Emari Demercado (81) — are all hurt. Benson and Conner are on IR and Demercado left last week’s game with an ankle injury. Marvin Harrison Jr. cleared concussion protocol on Friday and is no longer on the injury report. The Packers are the only NFC team to not lose a game (2-0-1) against a conference opponent this season. Packers coach Matt LaFleur is 11-1 against the NFC West during the regular season with 11 consecutive wins. He’s crossing his fingers the flight to Arizona includes a few more healthy offensive linemen, a lingering concern since Week 1. Green Bay’s defense held four of five opponents under 20 points. The exception was a 40-point outburst by the Dallas Cowboys. Takeaways are a focus for the group, which has only two interceptions but has successfully made most teams one-dimensional allowing 73 rushing yards per game. Missing for Green Bay on Sunday are WR Christian Watson (knee), defensive end Lukas Van Ness (foot) and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt (knee).

Atlanta Falcons (3-2) at San Francisco 49ers (4-2)
8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday
Betting Hero odds: 49ers -1.5, Total 46.5
Series Rewind: The Falcons have won three of the past four games but San Francisco has a 48-33-1 edge in the all-time series. Atlanta took the most recent matchup, 28-14 in 2022.

Primetime is the place for the Falcons, who scorched the Bills last week on SNF, smacked the Vikings (22-6) in Week 2 and return to the Sunday primetime slot to test their “legit” status in the words of QB Michael Penix. Penix has picked up the pace with 20-plus completions in back-to-back games while RB Bijan Robinson makes a case for MVP consideration. He’s leading the NFL with 822 yards from scrimmage. No player has had a five-game start to the season with those numbers since Christian McCaffrey with Carolina in 2019. McCaffrey still is going strong and currently on pace for more than 2,000 total yards and 110 receptions. He had seven catches, 111 total yards at Tampa last week and has become the stabilizing presence for an offense forced to flip quarterbacks due to Brock Purdy’s toe injury while rotating a cadre of wounded wideouts. McCaffrey ranks No. 2 in the league behind Robinson with 780 total yards in 2025. Mac Jones produced a season-high 347 passing yards last week but was picked off twice by the Buccaneers in defeat. Atlanta is without rookie edge Jalon Walker (groin) and CB Clark Phillips III (triceps). The potential return of TE George Kittle would be well-timed for the Niners. He averages 103.3 yards per game in three career games against the Falcons. Besieged by injuries this season, San Francisco’s defense is already without DE Nick Bosa (knee) and subtracts All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner from the depth chart as it preps for Robinson. Warner underwent ankle surgery this week after a season-ending injury at Tampa Bay. Replacement Tatum Bethune posted 10 tackles against the Bucs.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1) at Detroit Lions (4-2)
Monday, 7 p.m. ET
Betting Hero odds: Lions -5.5, Total 52.5
Series Rewind: Former NFC Central rivals meet in Detroit for the third time in 22 months. They’ve split the past two meetings, both decided by one score: the Lions won 31-23 in the 2023 playoffs and the Buccaneers snuck out with a 20-16 victory in Week 2 last season. Bucs QB Baker Mayfield ran for a TD, threw for a TD, was sacked 4.5 times by Aidan Hutchinson and intercepted by safety Brian Branch.

The Lions can outscore teams when necessary and exploiting shorthanded defenses is a specialty of QB Jared Goff. Goff leads the NFL with a 120.6 passer rating, 14 touchdowns and pilots an offense averaging 31.8 points per game. Goff has multiple options at most positions and elite playmakers in RB Jahmyr Gibbs and WR Amon-Ra St. Brown. Both are over 460 yards from scrimmage this season and have a combined 11 touchdowns. The Bucs can score points, too, and Detroit’s secondary might look different with Branch serving a one-game suspension and Kerby Joseph (knee) fighting through a knee injury. CB Terrion Arnold is a candidate to return from the shoulder injury that pushed him to IR and surprisingly practiced Friday. Tampa has a similar issue at wide receiver. Mike Evans (hamstring) was plotting to play, but after a limited Thursday practice he didn’t take the field with the Bucs on Friday. If he’s out, as Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (fibula) are expected to be, QB Baker Mayfield would be without his top three wideouts and starting RB Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder). He’s tied with Goff for the most TD passes in the league (81) since 2023.

Houston Texans (2-3) at Seattle Seahawks (4-2)
Monday, 10 p.m. ET
Betting Hero odds: Seahawks -3, Total 41.5
Series Rewind: Seattle beat the Texans by 20 (33-13) in 2021 the last time these teams met. The Seahawks have won the past three meetings and four of five all-time.

QB Sam Darnold appears to be working out just fine in Seattle. He has 11 touchdowns passes and a passer rating over 110 in four consecutive games. The Seahawks are dynamic defensively when healthy and DT Lawrence Jackson in the middle holds the key to locking down Houston’s passing game and QB C.J. Stroud. Stroud and Darnold have matching 70.8 completion percentages, but Stroud was sacked 12 times in the first five games as the Texans search for a consistent spark in the running game. Rookie Woody Marks and relative greybeard Nick Chubb have combined for 94 carries and 368 yards with Joe Mixon on the non-football injury list. Seattle is trying to turn Lumen Field back into the place visitors don’t want to see on the schedule. But the Seahawks are 1-2 this season at home after going 3-6 last year at home in coach Mike Macdonald’s first season at the helm. Houston returned from the bye week and won at Baltimore in Week 5. Stroud had four TD passes. Darnold and WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba run into a talented secondary on Monday, but they’ve more than held their own this season. JSN is No. 1 in the NFL with 696 receiving yards in 2025, with a league-high four 100-yard receiving games.

–Field Level Media