Detroit Lions Roaring

Detroit Lions Off to a Roaring Start

The Detroit Lions Look to Continue Their Hot Start

The DETROIT LIONS (5-1) have won four consecutive games and 10 of their last 12 overall. Since beginning the 2022 season 1-6, Detroit has compiled a 13-3 record.

DETROIT (5-1) travels to BALTIMORE (4-2) in a matchup of first-place teams on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX). Since Week 9 of the 2022 season, only San Francisco (14-1) and Kansas City (14-2) have better records than the Lions (13-3). In that span, only the 49ers (458) have scored more points than the Lions (448). Baltimore, meanwhile, is tied with Buffalo for the NFL lead this season with 24 sacks. What's more, the Lions and Ravens are two of the seven NFL teams who have held a lead at some point in each of their first six games this season.

With a win at Baltimore, The Lions will be off to their best start since 1956 and will become the second team in the past 10 years to begin a season 6-1 the year after beginning a season 1-6, joining San Francisco in 2019.

The Lions have won each of their past four games by at least 14 points. The Lions can become the fifth team since 2000 to win five consecutive games within a season by at least 14 points, joining the 2019 Baltimore Ravens, 2009 New Orleans Saints, 2007 New England Patriots and 2005 Indianapolis Colts.

Quarterback JARED GOFF ranks fifth in the league with 1,618 passing yards this season and last week recorded his 17th-career game with at least 350 passing yards since entering the NFL in 2016.

With his next 350-yard performance, Goff will tie Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (18 games) and MATTHEW STAFFORD (18) for the second-most such games by a player in his first eight seasons in NFL history. Only PATRICK MAHOMES (21 games, currently in his seventh season) has more.

The Lions have a long history of futility. They have not won a playoff game since 1991 and have not won a division title since 1993. The Lions are also one of the most losing teams in NFL history, with a losing record in 60 of their 93 seasons.

Week 7 Features Two Matchups Of First-Place Teams

The offense still sells tickets, but defense wins the close games.

That's important because close games are in abundance in today's National Football League. Six times since the beginning of last season, an NFL week has seen at least two-thirds of its games decided by eight points or less. Last week,10 of 15 games fell into that edge-of-your-couch category.

As the league enters Week 7, every team has now played at least one game separated by five points or less. DAK PRESCOTT and the Cowboys joined that club Monday night.

"This is what the NFL is about," Prescott said after Dallas' 20-17 win. "We've got to get used to this. We've got to stay confident in this, understand that these close games, one-score, field-goal games, touchdown games, we've got to believe in ourselves, finishing it on our terms with the ball in our hands and thankful for our defense right there getting us that ball."

That defense delivered a critical sack from MICAH PARSONS and a game-sealing interception by STEPHON GILMORE on consecutive plays in the final two minutes.

Timely defensive performances figure to be the difference in the late-season standings as playoff dreams either become realities or remain dreams.

Dreaming confidently is CLEVELAND (3-2), only half a game behind the lead in the AFC North thanks to a two-point triumph over previously undefeated SAN FRANCISCO. This season, the Browns have allowed only 1,002 yards, the third-fewest by a team in its first five games of a season since the 1970 merger. Only the 1971 BALTIMORE COLTS (836) and 1970 MINNESOTA VIKINGS (945) allowed fewer.

Eight points or less have decided all six of Minnesota's games this season. When the Vikings host the 49ers this week on Monday Night Football (8:15 PM ET, ESPN/ABC), could San Francisco's defense be the difference? The 49ers lead the NFL in fewest points allowed per game (14.5) and opponent passer rating (67.2). No question, they'll need that defense in a tough road test against the Vikings, whose offense is second in the NFL with 14 touchdown passes and ranks third with 263.7 passing yards per game.

JACKSONVILLE (4-2) also has a tough road test this week, at NEW ORLEANS (3-3) on Thursday Night Football (8:15 PM ET, Prime Video). Led by their opportunistic defense, the Jaguars lead the NFL with 15 takeaways. And if Jacksonville can win this week, the team will improve to three games above .500 for the first time since Dec. 31, 2017, when the Jaguars finished 10-6 before advancing to the AFC Championship Game.

The NEW YORK JETS (3-3), playing without their injured starting cornerbacks, had four takeaways in last week's six-point win over previously undefeated Philadelphia. The Jets are suddenly just two games out of first in the AFC East thanks to a stingy defense that has stymied some of the league's best quarterbacks.

But how you finish matters more than how you start, and as close games become as common as RAHEEM MOSTERT touchdowns, look for defenses to stand out when margins are tight.

Dolphins vs Eagles: Top Offenses & Top Receivers Meet on SNF

For the first time in six years, every NFL team has at least one loss this early in a season, entering Week 7. The field is wide open. That's why both MIAMI (5-1) and PHILADELPHIA (5-1) need a win to preserve their respective division leads when they meet at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC).

The MIAMI DOLPHINS (5-1) and PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (5-1) tie for the best record in the NFL entering Week 7, while owning the top-two offenses in the league. Miami ranks first with 498.7 yards per game, with the Eagles ranking second with 395.0 yards per game.

When the two teams meet in Philadelphia on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC), it will mark the first game since 2016 to feature the top-two offenses in the league in Week 7 or later, when the Falcons hosted the Saints in Week 17 of that season.

Philadelphia looks for its sixth straight win at home, including the postseason.

Miami quarterback TUA TAGOVAILOA leads the NFL in both passing yards (1,876) and passer rating (114.1). He also enters Week 7 tied for the league lead with 14 touchdown passes. This week, he'll face a secondary that includes the only two NFL players with at least 100 passes defensed since 2016 -- Eagles cornerbacks JAMES BRADBERRY (103) and DARIUS SLAY (102).

The Dolphins' potent ground attack -- led by RAHEEM MOSTERT's NFL-leading nine rushing touchdowns -- ranks first in the league with 181.8 rushing yards per game. Philadelphia's rushing defense ranks second in the NFL, allowing only 65.8 yards per game.

Each defense ranks among the NFL's top five in sacks (Miami is tied for third with 21 while Philadelphia ranks fifth with 20). The Eagles' HAASON REDDICK had a season-high 2.5 sacks last week.

Miami's offense continues on a historic pace, as its 2,992 total yards are the second-most by a team through its first six games of a season in NFL history. With 282 yards on Sunday night, the Dolphins will move into the top-three for the most total yards of offense ever by a team through its first seven games of a season.

Sunday night's matchup also features the top-two receiving leaders in the league this season -- Miami's TYREEK HILL (814 receiving yards in 2023) and Phialdelphia's A.J. BROWN (672).

With 86 receiving yards on Sunday, Hill will become the first player in 62 years and fourth player in NFL history to reach 900 receiving yards through his team's first seven games of a season, joining CHARLIE HENNIGAN (1,044 receiving yards in 1961), and Pro Football Hall of Famers ELROY "CRAZY LEGS" HIRSCH (961 in 1951) and DON HUTSON (915 in 1942).

Hill has totaled at least 150 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in four games this season (Weeks 1, 3, 5 and 6) and became the first player ever to record 150 receiving yards in four of his team's first six games of a season.

On Sunday, Hill can become the first player in NFL history with 150 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in five games within a season and the fourth player since 1970 to record 150 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in three consecutive games, joining JOSH GORDON (2013), Pro Football Hall of Famer JAMES LOFTON (1984) and ANDRE RISON (1990).

Hill can also become the fifth player ever with 150 receiving yards in five games within a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers TIM BROWN (1997) and JERRY RICE (1995) as well as ANTONIO BROWN (2017) and ROY GREEN (1984).

Since entering the NFL in 2016, Hill has 15 career games with 150 receiving yards. With another 150-yard performance, he will tie JULIO JONES -- who signed with Philadelphia this past week and can make his Eagles debut on Sunday -- for the fourth-most such games all-time. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers JERRY RICE (30 games), LANCE ALWORTH (17) and TERRELL OWENS (17) have more.

A.J. BROWN has totaled over 125 receiving yards in each of the past four games, the longest streak within a season in franchise history. With 125 receiving yards on Sunday night, Brown will become the third player in NFL history to reach 125 receiving yards in five consecutive games, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer CALVIN JOHNSON (2012) and PAT STUDSTILL (1966).

Both Brown and Hill were acquired by their current teams prior to the 2022 season and Sunday night will mark their 24th regular-season game with their respective club. Each player has among the most receiving yards by a player in his first 25 games with a new team in the Super Bowl era.

Browns Look To Continue Historic Pace On Defense

The CLEVELAND BROWNS lead the league in total defense this season, allowing 200.4 yards per game. Their 1,002 total yards allowed in their first five games this season are the fewest in 52 years and the third-fewest yards allowed by a team in its first five games of a season since 1970.

By allowing 198-or-fewer yards at Indianapolis on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Cleveland will become the fourth team since 1970 to allow fewer than 1,200 yards through its first six games of a season, joining the Baltimore Colts in 1971 (989 yards allowed), Minnesota in 1970 (1,045) and Washington in 1974 (1,176).

Defensive end MYLES GARRETT leads the team with 5.5 sacks this season and ranks second in the NFL with 80 sacks since entering the league in 2017.

With a sack on Sunday, Garrett, who turns 28 later this season, can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer REGGIE WHITE (80 sacks) for the most NFL sacks by a player prior to his 28th birthday since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic.

Diggs Dominating Through Six Games

Buffalo wide receiver STEFON DIGGS ranks tied for second in the NFL with five touchdown receptions this season, third with 620 receiving yards and tied for third with 49 receptions. He has at least six receptions in each of his first six games and over 100 receiving yards in five of six games.

With 100 receiving yards at New England on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Diggs will become the fourth player during the Super Bowl era to record 100 receiving yards in six of his team's first seven games of a season, joining ADAM THIELEN (first seven games in 2018) and Pro Football Hall of Famers MARVIN HARRISON (six games in 2000) and MICHAEL IRVIN (six games in 1995).

With six receptions, Diggs will become the sixth different player in the Super Bowl era to record at least six catches in each of his team's first seven games of a season, joining JIMMY SMITH (2001), STEVE SMITH (2006), ADAM THIELEN (2018), HINES WARD (2004) and WES WELKER (2008 and 2009).

McCaffrey Can Extend Historic Touchdown Streak

San Francisco running back CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY leads the NFL with 553 rushing yards this season and ranks second with nine scrimmage touchdowns and seven rushing touchdowns. He is the only player in the league with a touchdown in each of the first six weeks.

Dating back to Week 13 of the 2022 season and including the postseason, McCaffrey has recorded at least one scrimmage touchdown in 15 consecutive games. With a touchdown on Sunday, he would become the first player in NFL history to score a scrimmage touchdown in 16 consecutive games. He can also join Pro Football Hall of Famer LENNY MOORE (17 consecutive games from 1963-64) as the only players all-time with a touchdown of any kind in 16-or-more straight games, including the postseason.

Kelce Moving Up Touchdown List, Jones Looks To Extend Sack Streak

Last week, Kansas City tight end TRAVIS KELCE recorded his 36th-career game with 100 receiving yards, the most such games by a tight end in NFL history. Since entering the league in 2013, Kelce ranks second among all players with 850 receptions and fourth with 10,690 receiving yards and 72 touchdown receptions.

With two touchdown receptions against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, CBS), Kelce will tie JASON WITTEN (74 touchdown receptions) for the fifth-most touchdown receptions by a tight end in NFL history.

Defensive tackle CHRIS JONES has recorded a sack in each of his five games this season and in each of his past eight regular-season games overall.

With a sack on Sunday, Jones will become the first player since CLAY MATTHEWS in 2019 to record a sack in each of his first six games of a season. It will also mark the fifth occurrence since 2000 in which a player has recorded a sack in nine-or-more consecutive games in which he appeared. Jones recorded a sack in 11 consecutive games in 2018, the longest such streak within a season since 1982.

Watt Can Reach Several Marks With 2+ Sacks

Pittsburgh linebacker T.J. WATT enters Week 7 tied for the league lead with eight sacks this season. He has recorded a sack in four of five games in 2023, with multiple sacks in three games.

With two sacks at the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday (4:05 PM ET, FOX), Watt will become the third player to record at least two sacks in four of his team's first six games of a season since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, joining ELVIS DUMERVIL (2009) and Pro Football Hall of Famer KEVIN GREENE (1998).

With two sacks, Watt will also become the first player since Dumervil in 2009 and the fourth since 2000 to total at least 10 sacks through his team's first six games of a season.

Since entering the league in 2017, Watt leads all players with 85.5 sacks in 92 games. With two sacks on Sunday, Watt will tie his brother J.J. WATT (87.5 sacks) for the second-most sacks by a player in his first 100 career games since 1982. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer REGGIE WHITE (105) has more.

Watt's 19 career games with at least two sacks are also the most in the NFL since 2017. With his next two-sack performance, he will tie JARED ALLEN (20 sacks) and Pro Football Hall of Famer BRUCE SMITH (20) for the fourth-most such games by a player in his first 100 games since 1982.

Nacua's First Seven Games & Donald Aims For 10 TFL

Los Angeles Rams rookie wide receiver PUKA NACUA ties for the NFL lead with 50 receptions this season and ranks fourth with 598 receiving yards. His 50 receptions (in six games) are already the most-ever by a player in his first seven career games, surpassing SAQUON BARKLEY (49 in 2018).

With 102 receiving yards against Pittsburgh on Sunday (4:05 PM ET, FOX), Nacua will become the second player in NFL history to reach 700 receiving yards in his first seven career games, joining JA'MARR CHASE (754 receiving yards in 2021).

Defensive tackle AARON DONALD ranks tied for fourth in the NFL with eight tackles for loss this season. With two tackles for loss on Sunday, he will become the second player since 2000 to record at least 10 tackles for loss in each of his first 10 seasons, joining JARED ALLEN.

Chargers' Ekeler Closing In On 400 Receptions, 7,500 Yards

Since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2017, Los Angeles Chargers running back AUSTIN EKELER has totaled 7,401 scrimmage yards, leads all running backs with 29 touchdown receptions and ranks third among running backs with 397 receptions.

With 99 scrimmage yards at Kansas City on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, CBS), Ekeler will become the fourth undrafted running back in the common-draft era to record at least 7,500 career scrimmage yards, joining PRIEST HOLMES (11,134 scrimmage yards), ARIAN FOSTER (8,873) and FRED JACKSON (8,643).

Ekeler also has 397 receptions in his first 91 career games. With three receptions, Ekeler will surpass LARRY CENTERS (94 games) as the fourth-fastest running back in NFL history to reach 400 career receptions. Only CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY (66 games), ALVIN KAMARA (79) and ROGER CRAIG (85) reached the mark in fewer games.

Ekeler has 29 career touchdown receptions and can also become the sixth running back in the Super Bowl era with at least 30 career touchdown receptions, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer MARSHALL FAULK (36 touchdown receptions), DARREN SPROLES (32), KEITH BYARS (31), JAMES BROOKS (30) and BRIAN WESTBROOK (30).

George Kittle, Tight End University

That's how San Francisco's playmaker introduced himself on NBC's starting lineups earlier this month. His school, Iowa, has more than earned that reputation. On Monday Night Football, two of the school's most productive tight ends -- Kittle and the Vikings' T.J. HOCKENSON -- meet at U.S. Bank Stadium (8:15 PM ET, ESPN/ABC). Hockenson ranks tied for first among tight ends this season in receptions (36) and third in receiving yards (304). Kittle has at least two touchdown catches in three of his past four primetime games.

Another Iowa product, Detroit's SAM LAPORTA, has registered the fourth-most receptions (29) by a rookie over his first six career games in NFL history.

Justin Herbert

JUSTIN HERBERT has 15,422 career passing yards since entering the league in 2020. In that time, only PATRICK MAHOMES (16,422) has more passing yards. Those quarterbacks meet again on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, CBS) when the KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (5-1) host the LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (2-3).

Both Herbert and Mahomes have completed passes to 14 different targets this season.

The Chargers have gone 3-2 in Kansas City since 2018. That's the best record (minimum three games) by a visiting team at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in that span.

Kansas City defensive tackle CHRIS JONES is one of four players to record at least one sack in eight-or-more consecutive games on multiple occasions since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. The only other players to do that are SIMON FLETCHER, ROBERT MATHIS and Pro Football Hall of Famer REGGIE WHITE.

Next Gen Stat Of The Week

The NEW YORK JETS were quite literally "jet-setters" after recording the highest average speed by a team in Week 6: 10.47 MPH. As a team, the Jets covered a total distance of 29,931.1 yards, second behind San Francisco (30,774.6 yards) last week. According to Next Gen Stats, Jets wide receiver IRVIN CHARLES had the team's fastest speed in Week 6 (20.74 MPH) when he covered a punt and made a key special-teams tackle, holding the Eagles to zero yards on the return.