What We Learned From Week 7

Added on Oct 23, 2012 by Scott in

NFL

Parity once again reared its ugly head in Week 7 with only the Texans staging a crushing blowout. Each of the other 12 games were decided by 10 points or less, including a one-point nail-biter in Buffalo and a pair of overtime thrillers decided by kickers. Houston and Chicago still look dominant, while Green Bay and New England continue to make things interesting. Here’s what we learned in Week 7 of the 2012 season.

Hasselbeck’s heroics – It’s not as if Matt Hasselbeck has done anything particularly awesome since stepping in for injured Jake Locker, but the team seems to be energized the last two weeks. Especially maligned running back Chris Johnson, who has racked 286 yards and two scores in his last two starts. With Indy next on the schedule, three wins in a row is possible.

Desert heat – The honeymoon for the once 4-0 Cardinals is over. Losses to the Rams, Bills and Vikings has left Arizona reeling. The worse news is they’re next three games are against the 49ers, Packers and Falcons. Was Kevin Kolb really the magic elixir? Who knows, but he isn’t expected to be healthy anytime soon.

AP is back – Up until this past Sunday, Adrian Peterson had looked relatively pedestrian in his comeback from ACL surgery. However, the signature powerful leg drive and quick cutting that made him the best pure back in the league returned versus the Cardinals when he rushed for 153 yards on 23 carries. If this is a sign of things to come, the Vikings will be a playoff team.

Manning is still the Man – Eli Manning can be such an enigma through three quarters of a game. Against the Redskins, he tossed two awful interceptions and missed badly on a handful of other throws. Then the fourth quarter hit and once again the littlest Manning went to work and vanquished the upset minded Skins with a 77-yard touchdown strike to Victor Cruz. Just Eli being Eli.

Saints surge – Back-to-back victories for the previously winless Saints has the Cajuns thinking rebound. A trip to Denver followed by home tilts with Philly and Atlanta is brutal, but as long as Drew Brees keeps eviscerating defenses, the bounty boys will be a tough out. Getting Jonathan Vilma back helps too.

Bear down – The Bears defense is the league’s best and was oh so close to shutting out the Lions on Monday night. A garbage time Matt Stafford touchdown drive spoiled their efforts, but did little to tarnish what has been a suffocating unit. Charles Tillman did what few others cannot: limited Calvin Johnson to only three catches for 34 yards. As long as Jay Cutler isn’t asked to win games, da Bears will be in the hunt for home field advantage in the NFC.