Week 7 opens with a heavyweight Thursday night meeting at Soldier Field and winds all the way to a Monday night NFC East matchup in Philadelphia, with both end points carrying real weight in the numbers column. The slate also brings back the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, and Minnesota Vikings, while the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs are coming off their Week 5 byes and both returned last Sunday with wins.
One of the clearest themes around the league right now is just how many teams are putting up points. Through six weeks, clubs have reached 30 or more points 54 times this season.
That is 10 more than in 2025, when it happened 44 times. The pace is ahead of 2024, when teams hit that mark 41 times, and 2023, when it happened 40 times.
Teams that score 30 or more in a game are 43-11 this year.
The conference race has tilted back toward the AFC in recent weeks. After four weeks, the NFC led the season series 13-9, but the AFC just went 5-0 over the last two weeks and now holds a 14-13 edge.
That sets the stage for a busy interconference week, with half of the 14-game schedule featuring AFC-NFC matchups. Thursday night has the Chicago Bears hosting the New England Patriots, and on Sunday in Paris the New Orleans Saints are the designated home team against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Arizona’s season has been defined by odd splits, and last Sunday was the latest example. Mike LaFleur’s Cardinals used six field goals to shock the Los Angeles Rams at Inglewood and improved to 2-4, with both wins coming at SoFi Stadium.
The first came in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers. In those two victories, Arizona has allowed a combined 30 points.
In its four losses, the Cardinals have been outscored 148-82, and each of those defeats came with the defense giving up more than 30 points.
The Rams, meanwhile, have had a strange ride of their own. Sean McVay’s team opened with a Week 1 loss to the 49ers in Australia, then blew a 16-0 halftime lead on Sunday night in Denver.
There was also the overtime loss to the Bills when a field goal was blocked in a 37-34 defeat. And despite ranking third in total defense, Los Angeles is allowing 127.0 rushing yards per game, a figure that leaves only six teams worse in the league.
Seattle’s losses have been razor-thin, but they are piling up. The Seahawks went 17-3 a year ago, winning their final 10 games and closing that run with a 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX.
Their third loss last season did not arrive until Week 11, a 21-19 defeat to the Rams at SoFi Stadium. This year, Mike Macdonald’s club has already dropped three games, and all of them have been by three points or fewer, including last Thursday night’s 17-14 overtime loss at Denver.
In Other News...
Cardinals Injury Report Raises A Real Week 7 Concern
The first injury reports for the Cardinals and Broncos have already added some uncertainty to Sundays Week 7 matchup at State Farm Stadium. Arizona is tracking a concern with Love, who is dealing with an ankle injury, while Denvers early list also points to possible absences on the other side of the ball. It is the kind of midweek update that can quickly reshape how both staffs approach the game plan.
LaFleur said Love will not be back until he is fully recovered, which puts his status in real doubt for a second straight game. The Broncos, meanwhile, opened the week with key names in Surtain and Hufanga on the report, and LaFleur also had praise for Denver defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and what his defense has done so far. With both teams waiting on more clarity later in the week, the injury picture may end up being as important as anything on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Momentum Suddenly Comes With One Big Jeremiyah Love Concern
The Cardinals momentum after a Week 6 win over the Rams comes with a familiar sort of wobble in the backfield. Jeremiyah Love was unavailable for that victory because of an ankle injury, and the team had to lean on Zonovan Knight and Tyler Allegier to carry the load at running back. For a club trying to build on a good result, the absence of one of its key playmakers is hard to ignore.
Love also missed Wednesdays practice to open the week, which only adds to the uncertainty heading into Sundays matchup with the Broncos. The injury came the week before, and Arizona now has to monitor his work over the next couple of days as it tries to get a better read on whether he can give it a go in Week 7. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Depth Chart Shows Where Roster Changes Could Matter Vs Broncos
The Cardinals Week 7 depth chart is in, and it arrives with a few roster tweaks that could ripple through Sundays matchup with the Broncos. Arizona made a handful of moves this week, claiming tackle Albert Reese off waivers, moving on from tight end Shawn Bowman and activating safety Kitan Crawford from injured reserve, all while laying out where players sit on offense, defense and special teams for the upcoming game.
The changes matter because they hint at where the Cardinals are trying to shore up depth without yet spelling out every detail. Reese is now part of a tackle group that includes five players, but his exact place in the pecking order is still unclear, leaving one of the more interesting questions on the roster heading into game day. [Read more 🡒]