2019 NFL Week 7 Recap

By Rob Woodfork
October 21, 2019 | 1:19 AM

New England Patriots' Terrence Brooks (25) intercepts a pass to New York Jets' Demaryius Thomas (18) during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 21, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. — <b><i>Patriots 33</i></b> <b><i>Jets 0</i></b> I know we're <a href="https://deadspin.com/its-neat-to-think-of-the-patriots-someday-playing-again-1838959982?utm_medium=socialflow&utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_facebook&utm_source=deadspin_facebook&fbclid=IwAR1RAs3CsXoHe1wNlNdRvgZWjBdY9luEwZJx4QWnzy9zpgh_DcmqIl8H9yg ">still awhile from seeing New England play someone good</a> ... but two 30-point road shutouts in the same season for the first time in 77 years and the second-highest scoring differential (+175) through seven games in nearly a century is too rare to just pass this off as getting fat off of crappy teams. This Patriots defense is historically great.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Randall Cobb (18) is stopped shy of the end zone after catching a pass by Philadelphia Eagles running back Boston Scott (38) in the first half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019. — <b><i>Eagles 10</i></b> <b><i>Cowboys 37</i></b> So much for that <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/27844616/coach-doug-pederson-says-eagles-control-own-destiny-beat-cowboys" target="_blank" rel="noopener">victory guarantee from Doug Pederson</a>. His Eagles got dusted in Dallas, allowing back-to-back 30 points games for the first time in his coaching career to leave the Cowboys standing alone atop the NFC East. This division isn't very good.

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters (24) runs for a touchdown after he intercepted a pass intended for Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaron Brown (18) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in Seattle. — <b><i>Ravens 30</i></b> <b><i>Seahawks 16</i></b> As bad as the 'Skins were in the rain, Baltimore was great. The Ravens continued their <a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/10/14/ravens-on-pace-to-break-all-time-record-for-rushing-yards-in-a-season/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">torrid pace running the ball</a> (thanks in part to <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/1186076026125897728?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a wardrobe change</a>) and the defense scored more touchdowns (2) than the Seahawks' offense to make Earl Thomas a winner is his return to Seattle. This win was impressive, but I'll be really impressed if they can come out of their bye to knock off New England in primetime.

Michael Thomas #13 of the New Orleans Saints catches a pass as Kyle Fuller #23 of the Chicago Bears defends him during the second half at Soldier Field on October 20, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. The New Orleans Saints defeated the Chicago Bears 36-25. — <b><i>Saints 36</i></b> <b><i>Bears 25</i></b> No Drew Brees, no Alvin Kamara ... yet New Orleans rode the hot hand of Latavius Murray and <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/1186064741518757890?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the league's greatest underdog</a> to blow out the Bears in the Windy City. The Saints just feel like something special.

Tevin Coleman #26 of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball against the Washington Redskins during the first half in the game at FedExField on October 20, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. — <b><i>Niners 9</i></b> <b><i>Redskins 0</i></b> Last year, Redskins Homecoming Weekend yielded a loss and a heinous broken leg for Alex Smith. This year, the homecoming game featured the NFL's first scoreless first half in two years, a sloppy eyesore of a game in the rain, and an ugly-yet-delicious helping of <a href="https://wtop.com/washington-redskins/2019/10/kyle-shanahan-honors-dad-mike-after-49ers-beat-redskins/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revenge for Mike and Kyle Shanahan</a> in a place <a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/10/16/kyle-shanahan-makes-clear-he-didnt-enjoy-working-for-dan-snyder/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">they clearly still hate</a>. Oh, did I mention the Redskins botched their own celebratory tickets? As long as this organization does homecoming weekend like a college team, they'll keep playing like one. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Redskins are a bit fuzzy on their championship history. Flipped Theismann and Williams Super Bowl years on their own game tickets. <a href="https://t.co/ufyzRWkqG4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pic.twitter.com/ufyzRWkqG4</a></p> — Chris Lingebach (@ChrisLingebach) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisLingebach/status/1185963009795072000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Arizona Cardinals' Chase Edmonds (29) runs the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. — <b><i>Cardinals 27</i></b> <b><i>Giants 21</i></b> While the Giants were preparing for <a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/10/16/giants-preparing-for-kyler-murrays-playstation-speed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kyler Murray's PlayStation speed</a>, they apparently forgot to account for Chase Edmonds' Xbox One quickness. Up this man's Madden rating!

J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans bats down a pass from Jacoby Brissett #7 of the Indianapolis Colts during the first quarter of the game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 20, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. — <em><strong>Texans 23</strong></em> <em><strong>Colts 30</strong></em> Jacoby Brissett tossed a career-high 4 TDs to outduel Deshaun Watson in a game that may have given Indianapolis a lead in the AFC South they seem just good enough not to relinquish.

Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in Green Bay, Wis. — <em><strong>Raiders 24</strong></em> <em><strong>Packers 42</strong></em> Aaron Rodgers had as many incompletions (6) as touchdowns notch the first perfect passer rating in Packers history and all I can think about is how we've been robbed of seeing him duel with Patrick Mahomes in primetime next week.

Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings reacts to a late fourth quarter touchdown run by Dalvin Cook #33 to seal the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on October 20, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. — <b><i>Vikings 42</i></b> <b><i>Lions 30</i></b> Kirk Cousins became the first player in NFL history to go three straight games with at least 300 passing yards and a 130 passer rating, and Danielle Hunter <a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/10/14/danielle-hunter-sets-nfl-record-for-most-sacks-before-25th-birthday/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">continued his dominance on defense</a> to help Minnesota its third straight win entering their "additional bye week" against the Redskins on Thursday. Vikings by 70.

Yannick Ngakoue #91 of the Jacksonville Jaguars returns an interception for a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on October 20, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. — <b><i>Jaguars 27</i></b> <b><i>Bengals 17</i></b> Jalen who? Jacksonville's defense HAHAHAHA just kidding, Cincinnati is awful. The Bengals need to deal A.J. Green and any player with trade value and reboot the whole damn thing because...

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods (17) makes the catch against Atlanta Falcons defensive back Kendall Sheffield (20) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in Atlanta. — <b><i>Rams 37</i></b> <b><i>Falcons 10</i></b> This is my 12th year doing these NFL Recaps. I've never been more wrong about anything than I was about <a href="https://wtop.com/nfl/2019/09/2019-nfc-south-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Atlanta Falcons before the season</a>. The new-look Rams defense punked the Dirty Birds in their own home, and it's looking like coach Dan Quinn's days in the ATL are numbered.

Matt Moore #8 of the Kansas City Chiefs hands off to Darrel Williams #31 in the second quarter of a game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on October 17, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. — <b><i>Chiefs 30</i></b> <b><i>Broncos 6</i></b> The only thing that matters about this game is the Patrick Mahomes injury. Kansas City <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/27873137/source-chiefs-get-best-case-scenario-mri-results-patrick-mahomes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">escaped disaster</a> but their pre-bye week slate (Packers, Vikings, at Titans, Chargers on MNF) isn't easy, so the Chiefs' season now depends on Matt Moore being a great game manager and the lackluster defense playing every week like they're in Denver. Good luck, KC.

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Important injuries, dominant debuts and rain on a homecoming parade highlight the NFL Week 7 Recap.

Quarterback Alex Smith’s grueling road to recovery chronicled in ESPN program

By CNN
April 28, 2020 | 10:34 PM

NFL quarterback Alex Smith suffered a gruesome leg injury that put his career in jeopardy and had him fighting for his life, and his long and grueling road to recovery is chronicled in an upcoming one-hour program from ESPN called "Project 11." The leg injury occurred Nov. 18, 2018, in the third quarter of a game between the Washington Redskins and Houston Texans. After being sacked by the Texans' J.J. Watt and Kareem Jackson, Smith suffered a spiral and compound fracture of the right tibia and fibula.

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