Jared Goff has taken the top spot in the NFC North quarterback rankings, and right now it’s hard to argue against it.
The Lions quarterback is putting together the kind of season that forces a rethink. Through 2026, he has thrown for 1,788 yards with 14 touchdowns and no interceptions, while posting a passer rating of 112.
He also leads the NFL in one especially telling area: no quarterback has been better against the blitz in EPA. And then there’s the historical marker - Goff is the only quarterback in NFL history to open his team’s first six games with at least 200 passing yards, one passing touchdown, and no interceptions in each one.
That kind of run is why he’s ahead of the pack, including Jordan Love, who drops a spot for now. Love still brings the spectacular on a weekly basis, but the consistency pieces around him aren’t all in place.
The Packers are creating big plays almost as a matter of routine, but the concern from Sunday’s game in Detroit is whether the offense is becoming too dependent on them. The line needs cleaner play.
The run game needs more life. Drops are piling up.
Missed kicks matter, too. That’s the pressure that comes with MVP-level expectations.
Love’s production has been explosive, but the numbers from Warren Sharp after Sunday were revealing. He averaged 10.2 air yards per attempt, the deepest mark of any quarterback this week, yet only 18% of his throws gained 10 or more yards, the lowest rate of any QB. His early-down attempts averaged 4.0 yards per attempt, also the worst in the league for the week.
Caleb Williams is making his case as well, and he may not be far from another jump in these rankings. A lot of the noise around his game against Atlanta focused on him as more of a distributor, but the response against the New England Patriots carried more weight, especially on a short week.
He posted his second straight 300-yard passing game, and while his sample size is smaller than the top names in the division, the eye test keeps pushing him upward. Williams can still have the rough outings, but he’s also one of the league’s best quarterback playmakers right now, and the talent that made him the No. 1 pick is showing up.
At the bottom, Kyler Murray remains there after Week 7 against the Indianapolis Colts. He completed 14 of 24 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown, without an interception, and added 39 rushing yards with no fumbles.
It was clean, but not enough. The Vikings have been winning in a way that feels “old-school Big Ten,” but that kind of offense won’t hold up if the quarterback play stays that limited.
Murray is still working his way in, and for now he remains the lowest-ranked quarterback in the division.
In Other News...
Packers Face A New Receiver Concern Ahead Of Thursday Night
The Packers went into the week with the usual short-week injury anxiety, but the concern around their receiver room stands out as Thursday night approaches in Carolina. Center Sean Rhyan and linebacker Zaire Franklin are already ruled out, and while several other players were limited in practice, the offense now has to account for another potential absence at a position where timing matters even more on a compressed schedule.
Matthew Goldens status is still being worked through and his availability against Carolina is uncertain, which leaves Green Bay with one more decision to sort out before kickoff. If Golden cant go, the Packers may need to turn to Isaiah Neyor from the practice squad for the first time this season, a reminder that even a routine injury report can quickly reshape the depth chart on a Thursday night. [Read more 🡒]
Matt LaFleurs Micah Parsons Update Gives Packers Fans Real Hope
Micah Parsons still has not returned to practice as he works his way back from the major left knee injury that has kept him on the sideline, but there is at least some optimism coming from the Packers sideline. Matt LaFleur said he hopes Parsons can get back onto the field soon, which is the sort of update Green Bay has been waiting for as it tries to piece together its pass rush without one of its most disruptive defenders.
For now, though, the timeline remains cautious. Parsons has already been ruled out for Week 8, leaving Week 9 against the Patriots as the earliest possible return if his progress in practice keeps moving in the right direction. Until he gets that first full practice under his belt, the Packers can only treat this as encouraging news rather than a true comeback date. [Read more 🡒]
Micah Parsons Just Gave One AFC Contender A Ton Of Hype
Micah Parsons used his podcast to put a surprising spotlight on Cincinnati, saying he believes the Bengals can climb all the way to the AFC's top spot and earn the conferences first-round bye. It was the kind of public vote of confidence that tends to travel fast in the NFL, especially when it comes from a player with Parsons profile and when the team in question has already built a rsum that suggests it belongs in the conversation.
Cincinnati has been stacking up results behind an offense that stays dangerous and a defense that has taken a noticeable step forward. Joe Burrow has been efficient from the pocket, Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase keep giving the Bengals a pair of high-end targets, and the overall profile is strong enough that Parsons saw a team capable of finishing among the leagues best on both sides of the ball. For a contender still trying to separate itself from the pack, that kind of outside belief only adds to the intrigue. [Read more 🡒]