Almost halfway through the season, and the team with the best record is the Indianapolis Colts?

*All stats and standings are provided by ESPN via NFL, NFL Record Predictor, PFF via NFL and NFL Stats.*

What a surprise the Colts have been this season, from quarterback Daniel Jones’ career reborn to the defense turned around from one of the worst to one of the best. In week eight of the NFL, the games include two powerhouses of the 1990s in Denver and a mentor versus mentee matchup on Sunday Night Football. The uniform matchup for this week is an NFC East showdown in Philadelphia. 

Unstoppable Dallas Cowboys offense versus the immovable Denver Broncos defense in Denver

The Broncos will wear their famous “Orange Crush” throwbacks this game. Funnily enough, the last time the Cowboys had beaten the Broncos–1995–the Broncos wore these uniforms. Could they be a curse, or will the Broncos’ streak be kept alive? 

The Cowboys offense has clicked. The Cowboys came into the season with the expectations–from fans and analysts–that they were set to be a bad team. So far, the Cowboys have gone past that expectation. While the defense has had its struggles, the offense has more than made up for them. 

Quarterback Dak Prescott has made an argument for the Most Valuable Player (MVP). Prescott has continued to churn out elite performance after elite performance. Now, it did take him a moment, but since week four against the Green Bay Packers, Prescott has thrown for an average of 270.25 passing yards and 3.25 touchdowns each game. That is impressive when you realize that in only one of those games did he have his superstar wide receiver Ceedee Lamb–week seven, 44-22 win over the Commanders. 

In Lamb’s absence, the primary wide receiver target has been offseason acquisition, former Pittsburgh Steeler George Pickens. Pickens has stepped up and shown how far he can take his game with a great quarterback after several terrible years of quarterback play in Pittsburgh. In this recent four-game stretch–week four to seven–Pickens has averaged these stats per game: 5.75 receptions, 108.75 receiving yards and a touchdown. 

The Cowboys’ other offseason acquisition, former Denver Bronco Javonte Williams, has also “revived” his career. Williams has already hit a single-season career high in touchdowns–was four, currently has six–and is on pace to surpass his single-season career high in rushing yards–currently at 592, career high was 903 in 2021. This game could serve as a chance for Williams to get “revenge” against his former team and prove they made the wrong decision. 

How will this Cowboys offense be stopped? In comes the Broncos’ elite defense. 

To kick things off, the Broncos also feature an NFL Honors candidate–edge rusher Nik Bonitto. Bonitto currently is third in sacks (eight) and is tied for third for pass rush win rate (25%). Bonitto has made a strong case for Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY). 

It is not just Bonitto on the front seven that has caused havoc, though, as fellow edge rusher Baron Browning is tied for fourth in sacks (six), and interior defensive linemen Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers each have three sacks. Together, the Broncos defense has combined for a league-leading 34 sacks–with the next team at 26, the Los Angeles Rams. 

Things do not get easier from here, though, as the Broncos post one of the best, if not the best, secondaries in football. In the cornerback room, the featured stars are the reigning 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, Pat Surtain, rookie first-round pick Jahdae Barron and “veteran” Riley Moss. 

Surtain has technically had a down year at 167 passing yards and a passer rating of 69.6 allowed, but that is compared to the high standard of his 2024 season. Note that his 2025 season so far is still a very good cornerback season, as he is also second in batted down passes (seven). Barron has been the weak link of this group and has not had the best season at a passer rating of 108.5 allowed, but cornerback is considered one of the hardest rookie positions to play–and positions in general. Moss has been the biggest surprise of them all, though, as through seven games this season, he has allowed a low passer rating of 39.6 when targeted–which is the lowest a quarterback can have without an interception thrown. 

In a chess match between an elite offense and defense, it falls on who can avoid or force turnovers. The Cowboys offense gives them the edge, and they upset the Broncos. 

Final Score: Cowboys 27 – Broncos 21

Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love–mentor and mentee–face off on Sunday Night in Pittsburgh

The NFL knew what they were doing when they made this schedule. One very good storyline here–the classic student against his former master–Love against Rodgers. 

After winning 2019-20 MVP, the Packers decided they needed a backup plan for Rodgers. In the 2020 NFL Draft, the Packers shocked the world and took Utah State Aggies quarterback Jordan Love with the 26th overall pick. Rodgers responded with another MVP in the 2021-22 season.

Little did the world know, but the Packers already knew about Rodgers’ fall from grace for the following season and traded him to the New York Jets in the 2022-23 offseason–the end of an 18-season run with the Packers for Rodgers. Rodgers and the Jets would go on to miss the playoffs both years he was there, while Love and the Packers have made the playoffs in those two seasons. 

Now with the Steelers, Rodgers has a chance at “revenge” against a team that “betrayed” him. Rodgers has not exactly gotten back to his elite or even great QB form we saw in Green Bay, but he has been the best thing the Steelers have seen at the QB position since 2020 Ben Roethlisberger. 

The Steelers recently had a disappointing loss to the divisional rival Cincinnati Bengals in week seven, but that was not Rodgers’ fault. In that game, Rodgers threw for 249 passing yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions–one of which he was counted as non-fault for. Rodgers did what he could to keep the Steelers in the game, but the defense did not account for Bengals QB Joe Flacco to turn back the clock–to an extent. 

On the mentee side of things, things have been mostly positive so far for the Packers. Love has been in the MVP conversation with impressive games against the Commanders, Cowboys and Bengals–while they may not pop on the stat sheet, he has kept the ball out of harm’s way. His best game of the season came against the Cowboys with a statline of 337 passing yards, three touchdowns and zero turnovers. 

One could make the argument that the defense has been the reason the Packers have won football games. Offseason acquired edge rusher Micah Parsons has not lost a step in the scheme change as he sits as the highest double-teamed edge rusher in football and still has 5.5 sacks and 41 pressures–second to only Detroit Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson at 48. 

In what many thought would be the team’s weakest, the cornerback room has been their strength. Keisan Nixon and Carrington Valentine have been great surprises. On the negative side of things, though, free agent acquisition Nate Hobbs has underperformed–compared to standards–and has continued to battle injury concerns. In the Packers’ most recent win, the defense was what won them the game, as Parsons had three sacks along with a team total of six sacks.

Love or Rodgers, who comes out on top? Rodgers will get not only his revenge, but the Steelers defense will force a few turnovers against Love. 

Final Score: Packers 24 – Steelers 31

UMOTW: New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is undefeated when he has worn the team’s throwback uniforms. Will that stay true here? There is a trend of the best uniforms in the league, throwbacks; the Eagles are no different with their “Kelly Green Throwback.” The Giants, on the flip side, will not wear their throwbacks but continue to have some of the best base uniforms in football.

Here, the Giants’ away uniforms feature a base color of white with red accents with a blue helmet.

The Eagles–as mentioned–are set to wear their “Kelly Green Throwback” uniforms that feature a base color of “Kelly Green” with white and gray accents, with a “Kelly Green” helmet. 

After the Giants pulled off the upset in a blowout in the previous matchup, the Eagles get their get-back in another blowout game.

Final Score: Giants 17 – Eagles 34

Remaining Games:

Thursday Night Football | Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Chargers: The Chargers offense rolls over all a struggling Vikings team. Final Score: Vikings 17 – Chargers 34

Miami Dolphins at Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons put the nail in the coffin for the Mike McDaniel Dolphins tenure. Final Score: Dolphins 14 – Falcons 30

Chicago Bears at Baltimore Ravens: The Bears defense is elite again in a blowout win. Final Score: Bears 27 – Ravens 17

New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Flacco moves the Bengals back to .500 in the team’s second straight win. Final Score: Jets 13 – Bengals 24

Buffalo Bills at Carolina Panthers: The Bills get a much-needed win in a game where the Panthers let Bryce Young rest. Final Score: Bills 35 – Panthers 20

San Francisco 49ers at Houston Texans: The Texans defense gets the team back in the win column with two defensive touchdowns. Final Score: 49ers 17 – Texans 28

Cleveland Browns at New England Patriots: The Browns give the Patriots a scare but cannot finish in a last-second missed field goal. Final Score: Browns 21 – Patriots 23

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints: The Saints offense plays well but Baker Mayfield puts himself right back in the MVP conversation. Final Score: Buccaneers 40 – Saints 20

Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts: Cam Ward and the Titans offense continue to have “some” life but the Colts dominate yet again another AFC opponent. Final Score: Titans 17 – Colts 47

Monday Night Football | Washington Commanders at Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs take advantage of an injury-riddled Commanders team on national television. Final Score: Commanders 10 – Chiefs 27 

Teams on bye and their next opponent: 

Arizona Cardinals | travel to the Cowboys

Detroit Lions | host the Vikings

Jacksonville Jaguars | travel to the Raiders

Las Vegas Raiders | host the Jaguars

Los Angeles Rams | host the Saints

Seattle Seahawks | travel to the Commanders

Standings after week seven: Conference Rankings | Overall Record | Divisional Record

AFC South

1 Colts 6-1 | 1-0

7 Jaguars 4-3 | 1-0

10 Texans 2-4 | 1-1 

15 Titans 1-6 | 0-2

AFC East

2 Patriots 5-2 | 2-0

5 Bills 4-2 | 2-1

14 Dolphins 1-6 | 1-2

16 Jets 0-7 | 0-2

AFC West

3 Broncos 5-2 | 0-1

6 Chargers 4-3 | 3-0

8 Chiefs 4-3 | 1-1

11 Raiders 2-5 | 0-2

AFC North

4 Steelers 4-2 | 1-1

9 Bengals 3-4 | 2-0

12 Browns 2-5 | 0-3

13 Ravens 1-5 | 1-0

NFC North

1 Packers 4-1-1 | 1-0

5 Lions 5-2 | 1-1

8 Bears 4-2 | 0-2

12 Vikings 3-3 | 1-0

NFC West

2 49ers 5-2 | 3-0

6 Seahawks 5-2 | 1-1

7 Rams 5-2 | 0-1

14 Cardinals 2-5 | 0-2 

NFC East

3 Eagles 5-2 | 1-1

11 Cowboys 3-3-1 | 2-1

13 Commanders 3-4 | 1-1

15 Giants 2-5 | 1-2

NFC South

4 Buccaneers 5-2 | 1-0

9 Panthers 4-3 | 1-0

10 Falcons 3-3 | 0-2

16 Saints 1-6 | 0-0

Power rankings after week seven: 

1. Colts | +1 | 9. Patriots | +1 | 17. Steelers | -6 | 25. Browns | +3 | 
2. Lions | +2 | 10. Broncos | -1 | 18. Cowboys | +6 | 26. Saints | -3 | 
3. Seahawks | N/C | 11. Bears | +4 | 19. Vikings | -3 | 27. Cardinals | -1 | 
4. Rams | +2 | 12. Packers | N/C | 20. Falcons | -2 | 28. Ravens | +1 | 
5. Chiefs | +2 | 13. 49ers | +7 | 21. Commanders | -2 | 29. Raiders | -4 | 
6. Bills | -1 | 14. Jaguars | -6 | 22. Giants | -1 | 30. Titans | N/C | 
7. Buccaneers | -6 | 15. Chargers | -1 | 23. Bengals | +4 | 31. Dolphins | N/C | 
8. Eagles | +5 | 16. Panthers | +1 | 24. Texans | -2 | 32. Jets | N/C |

N/C: No Change

Biggest Risers: 49ers 20 → 13 | Cowboys 24 → 18 | Eagles 13 → 8

Biggest Fallers: Buccaneers 1 → 7 | Jaguars 8 → 14 | Steelers 11 → 17