Week 7 in the NFL had its share of moments on both sides of the football. But as far as defense goes, the Ravens and Eagles were the most impressive units of the weekend.
Baltimore Ravens
In the league’s Sunday early slate marquee matchup of the day the Ravens absolutely smothered the previously 5-1 Detroit Lions in a 38-6 victory.
Equally as impressive was how all the analysts chose the Lions to win the matchup.
Boy, were they wrong, as the Ravens bullied them from the opening kickoff. It was so bad in Baltimore that they led 28-0 at halftime. The Lions did end the day with 337 total yards, but the bulk of that came in garbage time.
It was an absolute clinic by the Ravens defense with five sacks, while holding the Lions to 5-16 on third downs and a paltry 4.7 yards per play with QB Jared Goff attempting 53 passes.
Ravens All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith had this to say about his unit in the aftermath of their performance.
“From top to bottom, D-line, linebackers, secondary, I don’t really see any weaknesses,” Smith said. “If we’re all on our game, it’s really hard to move the ball on us.”
Philadelphia Eagles
In what was built up as the Jalen Hurts versus Tua Tagovailoa matchup, turned into an Eagles defense pretty much overwhelming a not-so-physical Miami Dolphins offense. The Fins offense came into Sunday’s battle averaging a league-leading 37.2 points per game and 498 yards per game before being held to 10 points on offense and 244 total yards.
Miami only mustered 12 first downs in the entire game and saw its vaunted rushing attack limited to 45 yards.
Kansas City Chiefs
For years it’s been all about the Chiefs offense, and with good reason when you have Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
But the defense under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has been getting better every week, and since Week 2 they’re allowing just 14 points per game including Sunday’s 31-17 win over AFC West division rival Los Angeles Chargers. The defense harassed Chargers QB Justin Herbert just about all day, forcing him into a 17-for-30 and two-interception day.
As the offense continues to find itself, the defense is making strides weekly and quickly becoming one of the better units in the league.
Minnesota Vikings
Crazy to see the Vikes here, but after beating the previously 5-1 San Francisco 49ers on “MNF,” giving them their second consecutive loss since (Weeks 6 and 7), you gotta give them some love. Minnesota held dynamic do-it-all back Christian McCaffrey to 45 yards rushing, and the Niners to 17 points and 325 total yards in an upset win.
They also intercepted Niners QB Brock Purdy twice, with both stalling scoring drives on their final two drives.
Atlanta Falcons
One week after giving up just 193 total yards in a loss to the Washington Commanders, the Falcons gave up 329 yards in a win at the division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
But they also tallied three big sacks and two forced turnovers. Where the Falcons defense really excelled was with their run defense, which held the Buccaneers to 73 yards rushing.
Defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen is making a name for himself, and if he keeps this up he’ll be a hot head coach candidate in 2024.
