Week 7 of the NFL sees the Cowboys rout the Eagles 38-21, while former Purdue Boilermakers shine. Tyrone Tracy Jr. scores a rushing TD for the Giants in a 27-21 win over the Texans, adding a reception and 53 kickoff return yards. Derrick Barnes records six tackles in Detroit’s 20-17 victory over Green Bay, and George Karlaftis notches a tackle‑for‑loss and two QB hits as the Chiefs fall 20-3 to Seattle. Baker Mayfield returns for Tampa Bay, which dominates Carolina 43-13, though Payne Durham remains unused. The 49ers lose 29-20 to Atlanta despite Jalen Graham’s solo tackle, and the Raiders are beaten 35-21 by the Rams.
Week 7 sees 11 Maryland alumni on NFL fields, highlighted by Raiders right tackle DJ Glaze, who posted his best blocking grade of the season (76.9% overall, 83.7% in pass protection) despite Las Vegas’ 35-21 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Glaze allowed no pressures on 53 passing plays, marking his cleanest performance since Week 3. The Raiders fall to 3-4 and head to New York for a Sunday showdown with the Jets. The roundup also notes other Terp contributors, practice‑squad moves, and several bye‑week updates.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford credits former Lions teammate Calvin Johnson with sparking his signature no‑look throw. On The Pat McAfee Show, Stafford explained that trying to hide his target from defenses while still delivering the ball to Johnson inspired the move, which he now uses with the Los Angeles Rams. He highlighted a recent play where the trick helped score a touchdown, and noted the Rams’ 35‑21 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 7, improving their record to 3‑4. The story blends the throw’s origin with the Rams’ latest victory.
Myles Garrett remains sidelined for the Los Angeles Rams, with star edge rusher missing every game since Week 1. Coach Sean McVay says he won’t decide on Garrett’s return for the upcoming Chargers matchup until after a meeting with senior VP of sports medicine Reggie Scott. The same uncertainty applies to tight end Terrance Ferguson. The Rams sacrificed a first‑round pick, Jared Verse and more for Garrett, yet he has recorded no sacks or tackles this season, putting the team’s defensive firepower and playoff hopes in doubt.
The 49ers dissect their first loss to the Falcons, with LB Fred Warner, coach Kyle Shanahan and TE George Kittle blaming turnovers, penalties and sloppy play, while noting the team stays healthy heading into the bye. Meanwhile, the Rams bounce back from a 2‑4 start, blasting the Raiders 35‑21 after a dominant 28‑6 first half and emphasizing a revived ground game led by Blake Corum and Kyren Williams. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald reports positive early signs on WR Rashid Shaheed’s knee injury, awaits imaging on OT Charles Cross, and holds off on status updates for RB Jadarian Price and Zach Charbonnet. The piece offers a snapshot of NFC teams’ recent challenges and adjustments.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford, fresh off becoming the Rams' all‑time passing leader in a 35‑21 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, praised the versatility of his backfield duo on The Pat McAfee Show. He said he’s never seen a tandem like Kyren Williams and Blake Corum—both able to run, block and catch—so the Rams can build their entire offense around them. Together they posted 199 rushing yards, with Williams finishing one yard shy of 100 and scoring on a 17‑yard run, while former Michigan champion Corum gained 93 yards on 17 carries and added a late touchdown. Stafford even joked the backs look alike, highlighting their impact on the ground game.
The Rams’ 35-21 win over Las Vegas highlighted a worrying lack of depth at wide receiver beyond Puka Nacua. In the game, only two targets went to Konata Mumpfield, who caught a single 15‑yard pass, while other in‑house candidates—Tutu Atwell, Jordan Whittington, Alex Bachman and CJ Daniels—saw minimal snaps and catches. Across the season, the trio of potential WR2s accounted for just 10% of the team’s 879 pass attempts, underscoring the need for a reliable secondary threat to complement Nacua and keep the offense explosive. With Matthew Stafford operating an efficient short‑yard passing game, the Rams must develop another deep‑downfield weapon to stay playoff‑relevant.
Saquon Barkley is finally cleared to play in the Eagles’ Week 7 Monday Night Football showdown against the Dallas Cowboys, after missing the first six games with a hamstring injury. The 29‑year‑old running back, who has logged just 182 yards on 36 carries (45.5 ypg) this season, replaces Dameon Pierce on the depth chart, with Elijah Mitchell moving to third string. Eagles injuries have plagued the team, and Barkley’s return gives Philadelphia a chance to boost a struggling offense against a questionable Cowboys defense.
Veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford says the Rams’ backfield this season is the best of his career, thanks to the interchangeable duo of Kyren Williams and Blake Corum. The pair combined for 192 yards on 33 carries in the Rams’ 35‑21 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, with Corum logging a career‑high 17 carries for 93 yards and a touchdown. Stafford told Pat McAfee that both backs can run, block and catch without requiring separate packages, giving Sean McVay a versatile offense while missing Davante Adams. With Williams leading in carries (96) and receptions (32) and Corum adding volume running, the balanced attack helped L.A. post 199 rushing yards and 187 passing yards in Week 6, a key step toward a playoff push.
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay gives a vague status update on pass‑rusher Myles Garrett and tight end Terrance Ferguson, who are eligible to return from injured reserve but may not be cleared until later this week. Garrett’s knee injury and Ferguson’s high‑ankle sprain have sidelined them as the Rams sit 3‑4 and face a win‑or‑lose stretch, including a matchup with 0‑6 Chargers. While the team can afford to wait a week, both players are expected to be crucial for the Rams’ November‑December run against the Commanders, Cardinals, Packers, Chiefs and 49ers.
Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak quashes speculation that rookie Fernando Mendoza will replace struggling quarterback Kirk Cousins, declaring Cousins "our quarterback" and affirming his confidence after a 28-3 deficit against the Los Angeles Rams. Despite the loss, Cousins posted 295 yards, two TDs and two sacks, and Kubiak says the team remains "in the hunt" as they sit 3-4 heading into a road game against the New York Jets and former Raider Geno Smith. Kubiak also hints Mendoza will see playing time eventually, but no timeline is set.
The Las Vegas Raiders have slid from a 3-0 start to 3-4, sparking debate over a major roster shake‑up. CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco urges the front office to trade star pass rusher Maxx Crosby before the trade deadline, arguing that his high value could fetch draft picks to aid a rebuild around young quarterback Fernando Mendoza and assets like running back Ashton Jeanty, tight ends Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer. Critics note Crosby’s recent poor performance against the Rams, while the team also struggles on the offensive line. A Crosby move could provide the draft capital needed to address the Raiders’ defensive and offensive woes.
Questions need to be asked about Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Leonard after another D- showing in Week 7 against the Los Angeles Rams.
Jalen Hurts is out for the season after a superficial calf clot turned into deep‑vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli, a condition that began with a cleat injury against the Rams. Though the NFL cleared the Philadelphia Eagles' initial treatment, league officials are "furious" over the team's poor messaging and lack of transparency, prompting the NFLPA to consider an independent probe. Eagles quarterback, now 2‑4, faces a bleak outlook as the controversy deepens.
The Green Bay Packers’ rookie kicker Trey Smack hurt the team’s 20‑17 loss to the Detroit Lions on Oct. 25, missing a 26‑yard field goal and having a 35‑yard attempt blocked. Drafted in the 216th spot, Smack is 11‑of‑16 (68.8%) this season, well below the league’s 84.2% average, and all five of his misses are from under 49 yards. He ranks among the few kickers under 70% accuracy, joining former Rams rookie Harrison Mevis, who was released after costly misses. While Smack’s 13‑of‑15 PATs show some reliability, his early performance is far from inspiring for a team already struggling with kicking woes.
The Jacksonville Jaguars may trade first‑round WR Brian Thomas Jr., and the Los Angeles Rams appear poised to win the bidding war over the San Francisco 49ers. Rams GM ties to former Jaguars scout James Gladstone give them a front‑office edge, while the 49ers have returning receivers and established targets like Mike Evans and George Kittle. Crucially, Los Angeles can likely offer a higher draft package—projected 14th overall and a No. 45 second‑round pick versus the 49ers’ No. 62 second‑rounder—making the trade more attractive to Jacksonville.
The Raiders’ Week 7 loss to the Rams (35‑21) highlights mounting defensive woes, especially in coverage. Free‑agent linebacker Quay Walker allows six catches on six targets for 51 yards and a touchdown—the third straight game with a perfect completion rate against him—while also drawing a penalty. Defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway’s first sack comes from a stunt, and his overall pressure numbers remain low, contributing to a sub‑40 PFF run‑defense grade. Conversely, kick‑returner Dylan Laube shines with 78 yards on two returns, maintaining a 31.1‑yard average league‑wide. The article also critiques guard play, noting Caleb Rogers’ underwhelming blocking and Klint Kubiak’s questionable coaching decisions.
The Los Angeles Rams dismantled the Las Vegas Raiders' defense with a dominant 13‑personnel attack, running 38 rushes for 199 yards and scoring two touchdowns. Raiders coach Rob Leonard could muster only one sack and four QB hits on Matt Stafford, who set a franchise record with 155 career TD passes. The Rams tallied 35 points, 99 yards rushing from Kyren Williams and 93 from Blake Corum, while the Raiders managed two late‑game turnovers but couldn’t stop the onslaught. The loss marks the fourth consecutive 30‑plus‑point defeat for the Raiders as they head into a road clash with the New York Jets.
Corum and Williams combine for feat not seen since 2001.
After slipping from an early 3‑0 start to a 3‑4 record, the Las Vegas Raiders face mounting pressure to start rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The No. 1 overall pick has seen only one game, completing 6‑of‑8 passes for 48 yards and three first‑downs, but analysts like CBS’s Pete Prisco argue the team should give him a look as veteran Kirk Cousins, who led the recent 35‑21 loss to the Rams with 295 yards and two TDs, is not a long‑term solution. With four straight defeats, the Raiders must decide whether to stick with the 38‑year‑old or accelerate Mendoza’s development.
The Rams rally to a 35-21 win over the Raiders, posting their highest point total of the season thanks to a breakout rushing performance. Blake Corum leads the offense with an 87.4 PFF grade, rushing 17 times for 93 yards and a touchdown, while Kyren Williams adds 99 yards, a TD and a fumble. Puka Nacua shines with an 86.8 grade, catching 8 of 10 targets for 68 yards and a score despite Davante Adams’ injury. On defense, CB Jaylen Watson tops the unit with a 90.5 grade, limiting the Raiders to two catches for 17 yards. The article breaks down snap counts, line play, and highlights that the Rams still have work to do for a playoff push.
Las Vegas Raiders DE Maxx Crosby cannot disappear in the way that he did against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 7 of the 2026 NFL season.
The article questions whether the Los Angeles Rams saw red flags before trading former first‑round pick Jared Verse, now with the Cleveland Browns. After 7 games in his third season, Verse has recorded zero sacks and relies heavily on a bull‑rush style, lacking a diverse move set and drawing criticism for his predictability. The piece weighs his stalled development against the Rams' draft investment and the potential financial risk of a $45M‑plus contract, suggesting Les Snead’s decision to move on may have been prudent, especially with Myles Garrett’s return looming.
The Los Angeles Rams dominate the Las Vegas Raiders 35-21 on Sunday night, improving to 3-4 while the Raiders fall to the same record. Quarterback Matthew Stafford throws for 195 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, and Puka Nacua catches eight passes for 68 yards and a score despite a calf injury. The Rams build a 28-6 halftime lead with 148 passing yards and 103 rushing yards, highlighted by Kyren Williams' 17-yard TD run. Raiders rookie coach Klint Kubiak laments the slow start, though late‑game scores from Tre Tucker, Nakobe Dean and Ashton Jeanty spark a brief rally. Kick returner Dylan Laube adds 78 return yards for Las Vegas.
The Los Angeles Rams must win both remaining games before the November 10 trade deadline to keep playoff hopes alive. After a 35-21 victory over the Raiders, they face a winless 0-6 Chargers and a struggling 1-4-1 Commanders, teams whose combined 3-15-1 record offers little margin for error. Sitting 3-4, the Rams trail the 4-3 Packers, Seahawks and Falcons for the final NFC spots, and a loss could trigger a fire‑sale of stars like Matthew Stafford and Myles Garrett for future draft assets. Both the Rams and Chargers treat the upcoming clash as a de facto Super Bowl of 2026.