Preview S7: Bijan Robinson Is Eyeing San Francisco… The 5 Things Not To Miss

What if the NFL was a huge Schrödinger's cat experiment? Every week, we open the box to see which team is strong or bad. And this year, it seems that there are many who are a bit of both at the same time, unless they are all bad, or all strong. This shows the lack of visibility of the league. The safest bets are currently the Colts in the AFC and the Buccaneers in the NFC. So science isn't always accurate. In this week 7, in addition to the reunion of Mike Vrabel and the Titans, Carson Wentz and Philadelphia, the Panthers will seek to go green and the Buccaneers to overthrow the Lions. Bijan Robinson and the Falcons have a chance to play against San Francisco.

The Ravens and Bills are rested.

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Bijan Robinson runs, San Francisco box

Kick-off Monday at 2:20 a.m.
San Francisco 49ers (4-2) – Atlanta Falcons (3-2)

In an NFL in full renewal this season, there are many surprising teams from which we are still awaiting confirmation. If the Colts, the Buccaneers have passed the milestone, if the Jaguars and the Patriots are still under observation, it is starting to be time to wonder about the Atlanta Falcons. It's simple, Atlanta remains on 3 victories in a row, offering itself last week the luxury of defeating the Buffalo Bills, led by a gala Bijan Robinson (170 yards and 1 TD rushing, 68 yards receiving).

The thing is that the Georgia franchise, subscribed to inconsistency, had also lost two weeks before against the Panthers in a 30-0 rout. As is often the case this season, the 49ers have a good standard head to gauge themselves against. Especially since, as is often the case in recent years, they are greatly reduced since Fred Warner has joined Nick Bosa in the infirmary, even if George Kittle should be back. How to stop the run and Bijan Robinson without Warner? This is the new challenge posed to Robert Saleh and his rookies on the defensive line. In any case, here are the Falcons and their runner ready to pounce on them.

Mike Vrabel, something from Tennessee

Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Tennessee Titans (1-5) – New England Patriots (4-2)

Mike Vrabel may have a little smile. Fired from the Titans in 2023 after 6 seasons as head coach, he bounced back this year at the Patriots. And it works well. Led by a promising Drake Maye, the Patriots are one of the good surprises of the start of the season. The same cannot be said for the Titans. If Cam Ward is neither convincing nor completely catastrophic, it is the entire team that completely underperforms, “ the heart in fever, the body demolished »as the other would say.

Bryan Callahan, Vrabel's replacement, paid the price. While waiting for a longer-term successor, he is replaced by interim Mike McCoy. Suffice to say that New England seems well placed to remind its coach of the good memories of Tennessee, which continues to restart its reconstruction. Unless the NFL has one of its umpteenth surprises in store for us.

Wentz to take flight

Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Minnesota Vikings (3-2) – Philadelphia Eagles (4-2)

In the reunion series, this weekend marks those between Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles. The Minnesota pitcher should once again lead the Vikings' offense while JJ McCarthy is still recovering from his sprained ankle. He would thus return to the franchise that drafted him second in 2016. This is the second time that Wentz will start against the Eagles against whom he largely lost with Washington in 2022.

Hit in the left shoulder, the pitcher will have work, but also reasons to believe in it. Already because two starters, Donovan Jackson and Brian O'Neill, should return to his offensive line. But also because the Eagles are one of the mysteries of the league at the moment. Losing to Denver was one thing, the rout against the Giants is another. And the attitudes of several players could lead to fears of an explosion like in 2023. It is therefore an important match for both teams to better situate their ambitions this season.

Offensive festival in NFC?

Kick-off Tuesday at 1:00 a.m.
Detroit Lions (4-2) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1)

Second week in a row where it is impossible to miss the Buccaneers and the Lions. If against San Francisco, Baker Mayfield and Tampa Bay converted the try, Detroit got tripped up against the Chiefs. It is therefore the Floridians who approach this shock in the position of leader of the NFC.

Enough to see them as favorites? It would be forgetting the absentees who bother Tampa Bay. The rookie Emeka Egbuka who found Chris Godwin in an infirmary from which Mike Evans should finally come out, but in what condition? Opposite, the Lions are also reduced in defense, but they have a fiery attack. This suggests an offensive festival between two teams who are both in the top 6 best attacks in the league in points scored and in the 16 teams having conceded the most points in defense.

Carolina facing her green ceiling

Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
New York Jets (0-6) – Carolina Panthers (3-3)

On October 17, 2021, the Panthers, led by Sam Darnold, lost to the Vikings, at home and in overtime, their third game in a row. They who had started 3-0 therefore found themselves in 3-3. What the men of Carolina did not know is that until today they would not find a strictly positive record in the league, accumulating failed seasons started with defeats, and bright red records.

Four years almost to the day later, the Panthers have a great opportunity to break through this glass ceiling. There is improvement in this team where Bryce Young is finally finding some marks. There is especially much worse facing the Jets side. New York's Green Team appears to have completely exploded. Last week, Justin Fields and the air attack accumulated a negative total of 10 yards against Denver, the worst total in franchise history and the worst in the league since at least 1998. The Jets' best weapon, Garrett Wilson, will not be there. What to dream of green in North Carolina.

And also

Great clash between the Jaguars and the Rams. Deprived of Puka Nacua, Los Angeles will have to find solutions in attack.
The Colts have favorite status to assume against the Chargers. The poster promises, and will especially be very important in the AFC.
In the top 5 in the majority of statistics, Sam Darnold has the opportunity with Seattle against the Texans to show that he can also perform against big defenses. The Jaxon Smith-Njigba – Derek Stingley duel is expected.

The list of matches

Kick-off Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2) – Los Angeles Rams (4-2) (in London)

Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Chicago Bears (3-2) – New Orleans Saints (1-5)
Cleveland Browns (1-5) – Miami Dolphins (1-5)
Kansas City Chiefs (3-3) – Las Vegas Raiders (2-4) (broadcast for free on M6+)
Minnesota Vikings (3-2) – Philadelphia Eagles (4-2)
New York Jets (0-6) – Carolina Panthers (3-3)
Tennessee Titans (1-5) – New England Patriots (4-2)

Kick-off Sunday at 10:05 p.m.
Denver Broncos (4-2) – New York Giants (2-4)
Los Angeles Chargers (4-2) – Indianapolis Colts (5-1)

Kick-off Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
Arizona Cardinals (2-4) – Green Bay Packers (3-1-1)
Dallas Cowboys (2-3-1) – Washington Commanders (3-3)