NFL Week Seven’s Sunday slate has concluded, and there is plenty to speak of. The week featured a couple of firsts. The Miami Dolphins got their first win of the season, while the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs suffered their first losses. Those are the major stories. I’m going to focus on some that are flying under the radar a little bit.
Turning Point For Bo Nix?
It’s no secret that the 2026 NFL season has been a tough one for Bo Nix. He is averaging under 200 passing yards with a below-average passer rating. He’s been criticized harshly by media members such as Ryan Fitzpatrick, who called his play “disrespectful” to the quarterback position.
There was a lot of pressure for Nix heading into NFL Week Seven against the Arizona Cardinals. It was against a defense that was much worse than the first six opponents he faced. It was his opportunity to get it right.
The game started off a bit slowly. The Broncos offense could only muster up six points in the first 26 game minutes. Nix had less than 70 yards passing, and the offense looked sluggish.
One play changed everything. With 3:58 left in the second quarter in a 6-6 ballgame, Denver faced second and seven on their own 38-yard line. Nix took the ball and dropped back, seeing no receiver open downfield. Seeing an opening, Nix stepped up through the pocket and sprinted 62 yards untouched for the touchdown. It was a moment that Broncos Country yearned for because everyone was concerned about that ankle.
Earlier in the week, Nix admitted that there were some mental hurdles involved in coming back from the injury. For a quarterback who acknowledged the mental hurdles of returning from injury, a play like that could be an important confidence boost. After that point, Nix did look marginally better.
The third-year QB didn’t statistically dominate as he completed just 15/29 passes, but Nix’s play passed the eye test. He began hunting with the football as he threw a couple of 20+ yard passes to Marvin Mims and Jaylen Waddle. He began trusting the pocket and took some chances on deeper throws and finished with 222 yards.
In addition, Nix threw a 50-yard screen-pass touchdown to RJ Harvey. That play made him the first quarterback ever to have a 50-yard rushing touchdown and a 50-yard passing touchdown in the same game.
Was it truly a turning point? We’ll find out next week when the Broncos take on Kansas City. That was my first takeaway from NFL Week Seven.
Jared Goff Deserves More Flowers
Through the first seven weeks of this NFL season, plenty of players have gotten major love. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Kenneth Walker, and Brock Purdy come to mind, and rightfully so. This one player, however, has been flying under the radar.
The play of Jared Goff this season has been incredible. He has 14 touchdowns and no interceptions. He is the first-ever NFL quarterback to throw at least 14 touchdowns with no interceptions through his first six games.
If we’re discussing early MVP candidates, Goff deserves to be part of that conversation. The Detroit Lions are now 4-2 and came off an impressive win over a red-hot Green Bay Packers team, 20-17. He threw for 303 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions on 68.8% completion with a passer rating of 119.7.
In every game, Goff has posted at least a passer rating of 90. This season, he has a 112.5 passer rating. That is second among quarterbacks who have thrown over 100 passes this year.
It feels like the major story of this Detroit team has been how bad their defense has been. The spotlight should make some room for Goff’s performance. That’s my second NFL Week Seven takeaway.
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End Of My NFL Week Seven Rant
NFL Week Seven featured a lot of surprises, as mentioned in the opening statements. Those are stories that the media will certainly cover on Monday. What makes the NFL great, though, is the stories within the stories.
That is where Nix and Goff’s stories stand. What other NFL Week Seven headlines do you think aren’t getting enough attention?
