The NFL Roundup 2022: Week 7 Recap

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Another week and another strange showing from the NFL. For not only were we treated to more off kilter games that really didn’t offer much in the way of scoring, but the juggernaut quarterbacks continue to falter and there is cause for concern with the new guard as well. Which means that Week 7 in the NFL was rife with juicy stories, the kind that have been on our minds for days now and well... let’s take a moment and discuss some of those revelations and moments before we look ahead to next week’s slate of games.
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The NFL needs to do something about the product on the field.
Look, it’s not time to hit the panic button or anything like that… but there needs to be concern about the quality of football being played right now. Because it… isn’t good. There’s a lot of sloppy play and a lot of dropped balls and just not what we expect from professional football. It could be related to the new CBA and the amount of time that players aren’t spending practicing their craft or it could just be a crazy fluke. But the league needs to look into it and address it, so it doesn’t become the norm. Because that’s the stuff that gets us to tune out and that’s the last thing the NFL needs since it is the most popular sport in America.
 
Something is very wrong with the Green Bay Packers.
Normally, teams get better the longer they have a head coach in place. Because everyone gets comfortable with the schemes and that’s why so many preach patience with new coaches. Which means the Packers should be firing on all cylinders since Matt LaFleur has been the coach since 2019 and this team has improved since he took over. But instead, they’re awful. They’re 3-4, the defense is a mess, and the vaunted offense is nothing special right now. They’re just plain a shoddy team and it really doesn’t make sense as to why. They have a good coach, an MVP caliber quarterback and other key players that took them to the playoffs last year. But clearly, something is amiss. It could be Rodgers is in decline, it could be they’re in their own heads and bought into the hype. But one way or another, this team has to figure it out, before the season slips away.
 
Has Father Time finally caught up with Tom Brady?
Tom Brady has oft been called the ageless wonder and with good reason. The kind we won’t rehash here because you’ve heard it all. But this season, something is amiss with the man. He isn’t just willing his team to wins and while his stats are okay, they’re not the fantasy numbers we’ve come to expect from him and some of his throws… look off. So… is this it? Did Father Time just find TB 12 and unleash a decline on a world-famous QB? The answer is… maybe? Because there are other problems in Tampa Bay as well. For the offense is a mess, and some of the players are struggling to execute. So, in many ways it is a team effort right now when it comes to why the Bucs are losing. But there is a chance that the drop off is near for Brady because that’s just what happens, and his play is indeed worth keeping an eye upon as the season rolls along.
 
Turns out, coaching is the real problem with the Denver Broncos.
For weeks now, the talk in the Mile High City and around the nation… has been Russell Wilson and how he may be in decline and not the player the Broncos traded heavy for, and so on. Well as it turns out… we came to learn this weekend that Russ isn’t the entire problem in Denver. Yes, he is having his struggles, but when Brett Rypien took the field this week in an injured Wilson’s stead… the Broncos still stunk, and the play calling was exposed as were the many dubious decisions of Head Coach Nathaniel Hackett. Which means, the coaching and play calling are the real problems here and well… simply put, Hackett needs to fix that and fast. Because the season is slipping away and if ownership doesn’t see improvement, they won’t have a problem sending a coach they didn’t hire, packing. 
 
Did the Steelers make a mistake with Kenny Pickett?
You often expect growing pains from rookie quarterbacks. Simply because they’re new and don’t know jack about playing in the NFL. But there is something different about Kenny Pickett’s play as a rookie. He constantly seems flustered or panicked on the field, and he is making some boneheaded decisions with the ball that most rookies avoid since they’re common-sense mistakes. Which does leave one to wonder, if Pittsburgh made the wrong call in drafting this kid. Which sadly only time will tell, but if we don’t see improvement soon… the worries will persist and the word ‘bust’ will come up often and it will be fascinating to see if Pickett can learn on the job or if Pittsburgh did indeed, muff the punt here by drafting the wrong guy for the franchise.

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