Week 7 of the 2024 NFL season featured several highly anticipated matchups between contenders, and these games did not disappoint. Two of these contests came down to the wire and were decided by three points or fewer.
As Week 7 comes to a close, let’s examine the current NFL standings and playoff picture, and then we’ll break down the top games on the slate.
NFL Playoff Picture As Week 7 Wraps Up
AFC Playoff Picture
1. Kansas City Chiefs, 6-0 (beat the 49ers on Sunday)
2. Houston Texans, 5-2 (lost to the Packers on Sunday)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers, 5-2 (beat the Jets on Sunday night)
4. Buffalo Bills, 5-2 (beat the Titans on Sunday)
5. Baltimore Ravens, 4-2 (play the Buccaneers on Monday)
6. Los Angeles Chargers, 3-2 (play the Cardinals on Monday)
7. Indianapolis Colts, 4-3 (beat the Dolphins on Sunday)
In the Hunt
8. Denver Broncos, 4-3 (beat the Saints on Thursday)
9. Cincinnati Bengals, 3-4 (beat the Browns on Sunday)
10. Miami Dolphins, 2-4 (lost to the Colts on Sunday)
11. Las Vegas Raiders, 2-5 (lost to the Rams on Sunday)
12. New York Jets, 2-5 (lost to the Steelers on Sunday night)
13. Jacksonville Jaguars, 2-5 (beat the Patriots on Sunday)
14. Tennessee Titans, 1-5 (lost to the Bills on Sunday)
15. Cleveland Browns, 1-6 (lost to the Bengals on Sunday)
16. New England Patriots, 1-6 (lost to the Jaguars on Sunday)
NFC Playoff Picture
1. Detroit Lions, 5-1 (beat the Vikings on Sunday)
2. Washington Commanders, 5-2 (beat the Panthers on Sunday)
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4-2 (play the Ravens on Monday)
4. Seattle Seahawks, 4-3 (beat the Falcons on Sunday)
5. Minnesota Vikings, 5-1 (lost to the Lions on Sunday)
6. Green Bay Packers, 5-2 (beat the Texans on Sunday)
7. Chicago Bears, 4-2 (on BYE)
In the Hunt
8. Philadelphia Eagles, 4-2 (beat the Giants on Sunday)
9. Atlanta Falcons, 4-3 (lost to the Seahawks on Sunday)
10. Dallas Cowboys, 3-3 (on BYE)
11. San Francisco 49ers, 3-4 (lost to the Chiefs on Sunday)
12. Arizona Cardinals, 2-4 (play the the Chargers on Monday)
13. Los Angeles Rams, 2-4 (beat the the Raiders on Sunday)
14. New Orleans Saints, 2-5 (lost to the Broncos on Thursday)
15. New York Giants, 2-5 (lost to the Eagles on Sunday)
16. Carolina Panthers 1-6 (lost to the Commanders on Sunday)
Chiefs Defeat 49ers in Rematch of Super Bowl LVIII
The Chiefs defeated the 49ers, 28-18, improving to 6-0. Despite plenty of ups and downs and significant injuries, Kansas City is the lone undefeated team remaining in the NFL this season.
The Chiefs did the majority of their damage on the ground, as Kareem Hunt rushed 22 times for 78 yards and two touchdowns, while Mahomes added 39 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.
Kareem Hunt adds another TD 💪
📺: #KCvsSF on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/xzeSCYKg3l— NFL (@NFL) October 20, 2024
Mahomes and Brock Purdy both struggled passing the ball on Sunday afternoon, combining for zero touchdowns and five interceptions.
Mahomes was 16-of-27 for 154 yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions, while Purdy was 17-of-31 for 212 yards, zero touchdowns, and three interceptions.
It was a quiet game for both teams’ wide receivers, as both teams’ leading receiver was a tight end: George Kittle (six receptions and 92 yards) for San Francisco and Noah Gray (four receptions for 66 yards) for Kansas City.
Next up, the Chiefs will travel to Las Vegas to face the Raiders, while the 49ers will take on the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.
Lions Hand Vikings Their First Loss of the Season
The Lions defeated the Vikings, 31-29, handing Minnesota their first loss of the 2024 season. Lions kicker Jake Bates drilled a 44-yard field goal with 15 seconds left to lift Detroit to victory in this NFC North showdown.
Jahmyr Gibbs had a monster performance, rushing 15 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns, plus catching four passes for 44 yards. David Montgomery briefly exited the game with a knee injury, so Gibbs received more touches than usual and made the most of his opportunities.
JAHMYR GIBBS
3 receptions
112 total yards
2 TDs
26.2 fantasy pointsIt’s only halftime 😱 pic.twitter.com/xafDYtkEpY
— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) October 20, 2024
Amon-Ra St. Brown also went off in the Lions’ fourth-straight win, catching eight passes on eight targets for 112 yards and a touchdown. Jared Goff went an impressive 22-of-25 for 280 yards and two touchdowns.
For the Vikings, Aaron Jones rushed 14 times for 93 yards and a touchdown while adding 23 receiving yards, while Justin Jefferson contributed seven catches for 81 yards and a touchdown. However, it wasn’t enough to remain undefeated. The Lions and Vikings are both 5-1, making the NFC North standings very interesting going forward.
Next week, Detroit will host the Tennessee Titans, while the Vikings will travel to Los Angeles to take on the Rams.
Packers Take Down Texans in Battle of Contenders
Brandon McManus was the hero in his Green Bay Packers debut, kicking a 45-yard field goal as time expired and doing a Lambeau leap to celebrate the game-winner.
Jordan Love won the battle of up-and-coming star quarterbacks, going 24-of-33 for 220 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. Meanwhile, C.J. Stroud struggled all afternoon, going 10-of-21 for just 86 yards and zero touchdowns.
Josh Jacobs rushed 12 times for 76 yards while adding five receptions for 16 yards and a touchdown through the air (the first of his NFL career). Dontayvion Wicks and Tucker Kraft each caught a touchdown as well, while Romeo Doubs caught eight passes for 94 yards.
Josh Jacobs gets his first career receiving TD!#HOUvsGB pic.twitter.com/3JfXEuwbk7
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) October 20, 2024
The majority of Houston’s offensive production came from Joe Mixon, who carried the ball 25 times for 115 yards and two touchdowns.
The Packers improve to 5-2, and they’ll travel to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars in Week 8. Meanwhile, the Texans drop to 5-2 and will try to bounce back next week at home against the Indianapolis Colts.