NFL Top 10 Trends: Week 7 Takeaways From the 2026 Season
Week 7 of the 2026 NFL season delivered surprises, from the Browns and Giants leading their divisions to the Bengals' second-half rout of the Ravens. Key stats from Sunday's games.
The NFL top 10 conversation is focused on Week 7 of the 2026 season, when a run of surprising results reshaped several divisions on Sunday. The Cleveland Browns and New York Giants are both in first place in their divisions, while the Baltimore Ravens suffered a late collapse against the Cincinnati Bengals. The games produced a number of notable statistical marks.
Surprise Division Leaders
CBS Sports noted that the Browns sit atop their division, with quarterback Deshaun Watson leading a game-winning drive in each of Cleveland's five wins this season. Next Gen Stats data showed the Browns posted a rushing success rate of 53.6% in Sunday's win, a sharp improvement on the 34.2% mark that ranked in the bottom five entering the day.
The Giants are also first in the NFC East. They beat the Houston Texans with J.J. McCarthy starting at quarterback. Malik Nabers finished with seven receptions and 111 receiving yards, his fourth straight game with at least 100 receiving yards, the longest such streak in the NFL.
Ravens Collapse and Other Standout Performances
The Ravens led the Bengals 13-0 at halftime but lost 35-13, according to CBS Sports. NFL Research noted that Cincinnati outscored Baltimore 35-0 in the second half. Derrick Henry managed just four carries for 13 yards after halftime and finished with 17 carries for 45 yards, a 17.6% success rate.
Michael Penix Jr. threw three or more touchdown passes without an interception in a win over an undefeated opponent, a feat NFL Research said has been matched only by Andrew Luck in 2013 and Drew Brees in 2018. Penix faced pressure on just six of his 35 dropbacks against San Francisco.
In Pittsburgh's game against New Orleans, Jaylen Warren gained 71 of his 101 rushing yards after contact. The two teams combined for eight drives of 11 or more plays, the most in a non-overtime game since at least 2000, according to NFL Research.
Bo Nix produced a 62-yard scramble touchdown for Denver against Arizona, the longest touchdown on a quarterback scramble in the Next Gen Stats era, which dates to 2016. Nix also became the fifth quarterback to record a 50-plus-yard passing touchdown and a 50-plus-yard rushing touchdown in the same game.
Scoring and Team Records
The Minnesota Vikings scored 125 points through six games, the second-fewest by any team through a 6-0 start since 1950, according to NFL Research. Minnesota also blitzed on 85.2% of Daniel Jones' dropbacks against Indianapolis, the highest blitz rate by any defense in a game in the Next Gen Stats era.
Tampa Bay rushed for 258 yards against Carolina, the second-most by any team this season. Bucky Irving gained a season-high 73 yards after contact in that game. The Miami Dolphins scored a season-high 28 points against the New York Jets.
CBS Sports gave Atlanta an "A" grade for its win and Carolina an "F" in its weekly grades, though the grades reflect that outlet's own assessment.
What We Know So Far
Week 7 left several divisions with new leaders and gave the Ravens a costly loss. The statistical highlights from Sunday's games will be closely watched as the season moves into November. Further detail on each game is available in the full game recaps and Next Gen Stats data.
