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A Vince Lombardi Trophy-winning coach returns to his previous stomping grounds, a Super Bowl rematch and a possible preview at a future championship match-up are just some of the underlying storylines in Week 7 of the 2024 NFL season.
There’s also the final game in London this season to begin Sunday’s slate of action as the New England Patriots take on the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Here are five things to know for Week 7.
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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel makes a catch during his team's
36-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle on Thursday, October 10. Samuel
became the first wide receiver in NFL history with 20 touchdown receptions and 20 touchdown runs after scoring on a 76-yard touchdown catch.
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Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch, center, celebrates an interception with his teammates during a game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, October 13. The Lions trounced the Cowboys 47-9.
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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs dives for a touchdown in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on October 13. The Packers beat the Arizona Cardinals 34-13.
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Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II stands for the national anthem ahead of the Broncos' 23-16 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Denver on October 13.
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Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson stops Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku in Philadelphia on October 13. The Eagles won 20-16.
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Carolina Panthers linebacker Claudin Cherelus pressures Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins in Charlotte, North Carolina, on October 13. The Panthers lost 38-20.
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Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams walks down the tunnel after his team
beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 35-16 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on October 13. Williams completed 23 of his 29 pass attempts and throwing for 226 yards and four touchdowns.
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San Francisco 49ers cornerback Isaac Yiadom and safety Ji'Ayir Brown break up a touchdown pass intended for Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf in Seattle on Thursday, October 10.
Ed Zurga/AP
New Orleans Saints linebacker Willie Gay Jr. signs autographs for a young Kansas City Chiefs fan before the start of the game between the teams in Kansas City, Missouri, on Monday, October 7. Gay played for the Chiefs for four seasons before signing with the Saints during the offseason.
The Chiefs beat the Saints 26-13.
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Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum celebrates after a play during a game against the New York Jets in London on Sunday, October 6. The Vikings extended their win streak with a 23-17 victory.
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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman scores on a 49-yard touchdown reception during the Bills' 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans in Houston on October 6.
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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence eats a cupcake to celebrate his birthday after his team beat the Indianapolis Colts 37-34 at home in Jacksonville, Florida, on October 6. It was the Jaguars' first win of the season.
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Green Bay Packers punter Daniel Whelan grabs a high snap during a game against the Los Angeles Rams in Inglewood, California, on October 6. The Packers won 24-19.
Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Indianapolis Colts running back Trey Sermon runs with the ball during the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Florida, on October 6.
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Houston Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn celebrates with teammates after kicking a 59-yard field goal on the last play of his team's victory over the Buffalo Bills in Houston on October 6.
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San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir runs for a touchdown after a blocked field goal during a game against the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, California, on October 6. The Cardinals came back to narrowly upset the 49ers 24-23.
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Denver Broncos cornerback Riley Moss celebrates after an interception in Denver on October 6. The Broncos beat the Las Vegas Raiders 34-18.
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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels passes in the first half of the team's 42-14 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday, September 29.
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Denver Broncos cornerback Tremon Smith celebrates as a field goal attempt by New York Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein misses in the fourth quarter in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on September 29. The Broncos won 10-9.
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Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders fights off the tackle attempt by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 29. The Bengals beat the Panthers 34-24.
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Houston Texans safety Eric Murray celebrates after sacking Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence during the Texans' 24-20 victory in Houston on September 29.
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San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle catches a touchdown pass in the end zone in Santa Clara, California, on September 29. The 49ers beat the New England Patriots 30-13.
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New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton bobbles the ball as he runs against Dallas Cowboys linebacker Eric Kendricks during the Giants' 20-15 loss to the Cowboys in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Thursday, September 26.
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Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills celebrates an interception during the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Orchard Park, New York, on Monday, September 23. This was his first career interception and latest milestone since he suffered from a cardiac arrest on the field in early 2023.
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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III runs with the ball for a touchdown during the Steelers' 20-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in Pittsburgh on Sunday, September 22.
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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold throws the ball to tight end Johnny Mundt in Minneapolis on September 22. The Vikings beat the Houston Texans 34-7.
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Kadeem Telfort of the Green Bay Packers takes a selfie with a fan after the Packers beat the Tennessee Titans 30-14 on the road in Nashville on September 22.
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Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones lands in the end zone for a touchdown in Minneapolis on September 22.
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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescotts sits on the field after a play during the team's 28-25 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Arlington, Texas, on September 22.
Brad Penner/USA Today Sports/Reuters
New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard runs past New England Patriots cornerback Alex Austin for a touchdown in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Thursday, September 19. The Jets won 24-3.
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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney scores a touchdown during the team's 22-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Philadelphia on Monday, September 16.
Jay Biggerstaff/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes runs the ball against Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Dax Hill during the Chiefs' 26-25 victory in Kansas City, Missouri, on Sunday, September 15. The defending Super Bowl champs moved to 2-0 on the season.
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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. catches a pass over Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum and linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. during a game in Minneapolis on September 15. The Vikings would go on to win the game 24-17.
Tim Heitman/USA Today Sports/Reuters
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara runs the ball during the Saints' 44-19 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, on September 15. Kamara had four touchdowns in the game.
Jasen Vinlove/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Miami Dolphins players attend to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa after
he took a hit to the head in the second half of a game against the Buffalo Bills in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Thursday, September 12. Tagovailoa was later ruled out with a concussion.
Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and teammates wait in a tunnel before a game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, California, on Monday, September 9. This is the first game back for Rodgers since tearing his Achilles tendon last year after his first game of the season.
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Los Angeles Chargers players and Las Vegas Raiders players clash after a play during the second half of their game in Inglewood, California, on Sunday, September 8.
Ken Blaze/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. breaks a tackle from Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker K.J. Britt in Tampa, Florida, on September 8. The Buccaneers beat the Commanders 37-20.
Al Diaz/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service/Getty Images
Miami Dolphins wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle celebrate a touchdown during a 20-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Miami Gardens, Florida, on September 8. Hill was
detained for a short time by police after a traffic incident earlier in the day. Miami-Dade Police Department Director Stephanie V. Daniels said Sunday that an investigation has begun into the incident and one of the officers involved is being placed on administrative duties.
Danny Karnik/AP
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields signals during the second half of a game against the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta on September 8. The Steelers defeated the Falcons 18-10.
David Banks/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Tennessee Titans tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo, right, and Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson tumble in the end zone in Chicago on September 8. Okonkwo made the catch for a touchdown, but the Titans ultimately fell 24-17 to the Bears.
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Rhamondre Stevenson of the New England Patriots runs the ball against Cincinnati Bengals defenders in Cincinnati on September 8. The Patriots beat the Bengals 16-10.
Vincent Carchietta/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, center, celebrates his interception return for a touchdown during the Vikings' 28-6 victory over the New York Giants in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on September 8.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP
Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars players pray together at the end of the game in Miami Gardens, Florida, on September 8.
Matt Slocum/AP
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir, top, dives for the end zone for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Justin Jones is unable to make the tackle in Orchard Park, New York, on September 8. The Bills won 34-28.
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Green Bay Packers quarterback
Jordan Love walks off the field after taking a hit in the final seconds of a game against the Philadelphia Eagles in São Paulo early Saturday, September 7. The Eagles won 34-29.
Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Brazilian and American flags are presented on the field at Neo Química Arena – also known as Corinthians Arena – in São Paulo ahead of the game between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles on Friday, September 6.
It was the first NFL game in South America.
Ed Zurga/AP
Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely catches a pass with his toe out of bounds as time expires at the end of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 5. The Chiefs won 27-20.
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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes scrambles during the game against the Baltimore Ravens in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 5.
Charlie Riedel/AP
Fans enter Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, ahead of the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens on September 5.
On Thursday night, the New Orleans Saints will host the Denver Broncos to kick off the week.
This will be the first time Broncos head coach Sean Payton will face his former team, having previously coached the Saints for 15 seasons and leading them to the playoffs nine times, including a Super Bowl title in 2010.
Payton said returning to the Superdome, a place where he had so much success, for the first time will certainly be an emotional game and he’s preparing his team for it.
“One of the things we talk about with our players is trying to handle all this stuff ahead of time. I have a great wife whose tickets are done with, family, my children,” he told reporters. “I think those around us know how challenging the short week is as compared to as if it was a full week.
“Certainly, there will be emotions going back there with players, but I do think that comes up quite a bit in our league. With players and, in this case certainly, the amount of time I was there, I understand it. We have to deal with the crowd noise. That place is loud, and you guys know that.”
It will be an extra special night in the Big Easy as New Orleans will also be honoring the team’s longtime quarterback Drew Brees at halftime, inducting him into the Saints Hall of Fame.
The combination of Payton and Brees was a successful one for years in the NFL, as New Orleans became a playoff regular.
For just the 11th time in NFL history, the previous year’s Super Bowl participants are squaring off in the following season.
Amazingly, this is the second year in a row the Chiefs are taking part in one of these clashes, after facing the Eagles last season in Arrowhead Stadium where Kansas City lost 21-17.
The team that won the Super Bowl is 6-4 all-time in rematches the following regular season.
Will the Chiefs fare better this time? Well, they are coming off a bye and that’s historically when head coach Andy Reid is at his best. Reid’s teams are 21-4 all-time after a bye, which is the best record in NFL history.
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The 49ers and Chiefs have faced each other in two recent Super Bowls.
On Thursday, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes spoke to the importance of facing the 49ers, a team they have twice beaten in recent Super Bowls.
“It’s as big as a regular season game (that) you can play in,” Mahomes told reporters. “They’re a great football team and I always like going up against the best and that’s what we’re going up against this week. We understand that it’s going to be a big game.
“We understand that it’s going to take our best to win, so you just have to have extreme focus and know that it’s going to be one play that decides the entire game.”
While the Chiefs and 49ers are the among favorites to reach the Super Bowl again, the Houston Texans and the Green Bay Packers are trendy picks to make the big game.
Through six weeks of the season, both teams are playing like Super Bowl contenders with their young quarterbacks leading by example.
The Texans are 5-1 and CJ Stroud has looked like a true MVP candidate in his second season after a historic rookie campaign.
It’ll be Stroud’s first time playing at Lambeau Field and the 23-year-old explained what’s the difference between winning on the road in the NFL and college after his successful career at Ohio State.
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Love missed two games for Green Bay with a knee injury but looks back to his best.
“Honestly, I would just say just winning on the road in college is more so chaos and just dealing with crazy fans and people just trying to like throw you off your game,” Stroud told reporters on Thursday. “And in the NFL, it’s like the other team is trying to throw you off your game instead of necessarily the crowd and their environment.
“In the NFL, it’s kind of a little bit of both. But I definitely feel like that was a big difference for me. I feel like every game is like you’re playing against Georgia or like Penn State or one of these top teams on the field and then, on top of that, you’re playing against the Penn State crowd, but this is the NFL, so everything is a little ramped up.”
The Packers meanwhile are 4-2 and Jordan Love looks like he’s recovered from the knee injury that caused him to miss two games – Green Bay was undefeated without Love in the line-up with back-up Malik Willis stepping up admirably.
Stroud vs. Love should be lots of fun at Lambeau Field.
The best division in the NFL so far this season has been the NFC North and it isn’t even close.
The Minnesota Vikings are 5-0, the Detroit Lions are 4-1, and the Packers and Chicago Bears are both 4-2 with all of them also boasting a scoring differential of at least +40.
Unfortunately for the four teams, they are going to all have to play each other twice.
This Sunday will see the undefeated Vikings hosting the Lions with Detroit coming off a convincing victory over the Cowboys.
Many have the Lions making the Super Bowl this season after coming up just short last year, and Jared Goff and Company could make a big statement on Sunday if they are the first to knock off Sam Darnold and the Vikings.
Matt Patterson/AP
The Detroit Lions are 4-1 after their convincing win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6.
Despite the emphatic win over Dallas in Week 6, Goff sees plenty of room for improvement on offense for the Lions.
“Man, a ton of places. I thought I did miss a couple things in that game,” he told reporters on Thursday. “I was able to hit some of the big ones, but missed a couple guys you normally feel like you do hit and sometimes that happens, but I was able to hit the big ones and make up for it.
“So yeah, just continuing to get sharp and more and more on the same page, especially with these new guys and feel good.”
The Monday night doubleheader is back this week as we get the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hosting the Baltimore Ravens at 7:15 p.m. ET with the Los Angeles Chargers traveling to the Arizona Cardinals at 8 p.m. ET.
There are four Monday doubleheaders this season after Disney increased its number of games from 17 to 23 in the latest media rights deal, with this being the third. The final Monday night doubleheader isn’t until Week 15, so enjoy this one!
Ravens vs. Bucs looks like the more appetizing game on paper with both teams entering with a record of 4-2. Monday nights have been good to Lamar Jackson as his record is 5-2 all-time.
The same can’t be said for Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield: he’s 1-5 on Monday nights.
Away @ home
Thursday
Denver Broncos (3-3) @ New Orleans Saints (2-4) – 8:15 p.m. ET
Sunday
New England Patriots (1-5) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5) – 9:30 a.m. ET
Seattle Seahawks (3-3) @ Atlanta Falcons (4-2) – 1:00 p.m. ET
Tennessee Titans (1-4) @ Buffalo Bills (4-2) – 1:00 p.m. ET
Cincinnati Bengals (2-4) @ Cleveland Browns (1-5) – 1:00 p.m. ET
Houston Texans (5-1) @ Green Bay Packers (4-2) – 1:00 p.m. ET
Miami Dolphins (2-3) @ Indianapolis Colts (3-3) – 1:00 p.m. ET
Detroit Lions (4-1) @ Minnesota Vikings (5-0) – 1:00 p.m. ET
Philadelphia Eagles (3-2) @ New York Giants (2-4) – 1:00 p.m. ET
Las Vegas Raiders (2-4) @ Los Angeles Rams (1-4) – 4:05 p.m. ET
Carolina Panthers (1-5) @ Washington Commanders (4-2) – 4:05 p.m. ET
Kansas City Chiefs (5-0) @ San Francisco 49ers (3-3) – 4:25 p.m. ET
New York Jets (2-4) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) – 8:20 p.m. ET
Monday
Baltimore Ravens (4-2) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2) – 8:15 p.m. ET
Los Angeles Chargers (3-2) @ Arizona Cardinals (2-4) – 9:00 p.m. ET