| Dates: 7 September 2023 – 7 January 2024 |
| BBC protection: Take heed to dwell commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports activities Additional and the BBC Sport web site each Sunday. |
Invoice Belichick loved a landmark win because the New England Patriots upset the Buffalo Payments, whereas the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs made it six in a row on one other entertaining Sunday within the NFL.
The Philadelphia Eagles received the massive sport of week seven as they slowed down the league’s finest assault to beat the Miami Dolphins 31-17 and be part of the Chiefs on six wins and one defeat.
The Detroit Lions suffered a blowout loss in Baltimore, whereas the Pittsburgh Steelers produced a fourth-quarter fightback to beat the Rams in Los Angeles.
In the meantime, the Cleveland Browns beat the Indianapolis Colts within the wildest sport of the day and the Atlanta Falcons beat divisional rivals Tampa Bay with the final kick of the sport.
Belichick brings up 300 with upset win
Solely teaching legends Don Shula (328) and George Halas (318) have received extra common season video games than Belichick – and after he not too long ago suffered the 2 worst losses of his profession, this three hundredth victory could have been his most vital.
The six-time Tremendous Bowl winner has been caught on 299 wins when struggling these file 38-3 and 34-0 defeats towards Dallas and New Orleans, however he lastly acquired to the milestone with an upset win over a Buffalo facet who had received the final 4 head-to-heads.
The Payments had been closely fancied once more, however Patriots quarterback Mac Jones helped clinch a 29-25 victory when he threw a landing cross to Mike Gesicki with 12 seconds left on the clock – mentioning the landmark Belichick win in type.
Usually, Belichick downplayed his achievement, saying: “It is nice, however I am actually extra centered on our group and this yr. Will fear about that later. Thanks.”
Eagles too robust for Dolphins
Within the huge sport of the weekend, two of the NFL’s huge weapons met in Philadelphia, each having began with 5 wins from six.
With the 2 finest assaults within the league in motion, some even steered it might be a Tremendous Bowl preview – however whereas the Eagles enhanced their claims, Miami nonetheless have inquiries to reply.
Quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa even have some historical past as each battled for the beginning spot in the identical faculty facet in Alabama – and whereas each had their moments, each additionally made some huge errors.
Hurts misplaced a fumble and had an interception returned for a landing that tied the sport within the third quarter – taking his variety of turnovers this season to 10, behind solely Atlanta’s Desmond Ridder.
However Hurts, who was additionally scuffling with a knee damage, confirmed his character by instantly responding and throwing a landing cross to AJ Brown earlier than a fourth-quarter interception thrown by Tagovailoa led to the Eagles’ clinching rating.
So whereas the Eagles moved to 6-1 and proved they’re nonetheless an enormous Tremendous Bowl contender, Miami might be labelled flashy flat-track bullies given their 5 wins have come towards groups with a mixed 8-25 file – they usually have now misplaced each video games towards higher sides fairly convincingly.
Chiefs make it six in a row
It’s now six wins in a row for the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs after Patrick Mahomes threw 4 touchdowns whereas Travis Kelce had 179 yards and a rating, as the most effective within the enterprise celebrated what was Nationwide Tight Ends Day within the NFL.
Not solely is Kelce the most effective in his place, his partnership with Mahomes is now formally the fourth finest in historical past after they mixed for his or her fiftieth common season landing throughout their 31-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Pretty much as good as that pair are although, it’s the Chiefs’ defence that has been powering the defending Tremendous Bowl champions, as they’ve nonetheless not allowed greater than the 21 factors they did of their opening night time loss to the Lions – which stays their solely defeat to date.
The Chiefs are trying higher as each week passes.
Lions humbled by blowout in Baltimore
Simply when the Detroit Lions had been being lauded as the most effective groups within the NFL, they had been introduced again down with a bump with a 38-6 defeat on the Baltimore Ravens.
Lamar Jackson confirmed why he’s a candidate for essentially the most worthwhile participant award with 357 passing yards, three landing throws and a speeding rating of his personal because the Ravens ran riot to guide 35-0 after three quarters.
Detroit, seeking to begin 6-1 for the primary time since 1956, now be part of Baltimore on 5-2 however charismatic head coach Dan Campbell was usually trying on the positives because the consequence serves as an enormous actuality verify.
“No person likes to look over there and watch them having a good time as a result of they kicked our [expletive],” stated Campbell. “No person thinks that is enjoyable, however I do know that motivates me for subsequent week, it motivates our group.”
Browns declare wild one-point win
The Cleveland Browns surprised the San Francisco 49ers final week because of their wonderful defence, however no one anticipated them to play out a wild high-scoring 39-38 victory on the Indianapolis Colts.
Gardner Minshew ran in two Colts touchdowns from quarterback and threw two extra, however his 4 turnovers gave Cleveland an enormous serving to hand – as did a few controversial penalties within the closing minutes as they looked for victory.
Kareem Hunt ultimately managed to punch in his second landing of the sport with 15 seconds left on the clock to pinch a hard-fought victory that thrilled head coach Kevin Stefanski.
“We would have liked moxie, we wanted grit, and we wanted toughness on the finish,” stated Stefanski. “We acquired all of that. We poured every thing we had into this sport, and we wanted each little bit of it.”
The Atlanta Falcons additionally left it late to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 16-13, with Younghoe Koo changing a 51-yard area aim with the final kick of the sport to place his group prime of the NFC South division.
The Pittsburgh Steelers earned an eye catching 24-17 victory on the Los Angeles Rams thanks to 2 fourth-quarter touchdowns, whereas the Seattle Seahawks joined them on 4-2 with a 20-10 house win over the Arizona Cardinals.
After dropping the final 10 instances they’d held the half-time lead, the longest such streak in NFL historical past, the Denver Broncos lastly transformed one as they edged the Inexperienced Bay Packers 19-17.
In the meantime, the New York Giants beat the Washington Commanders 14-7, and the Chicago Bears battered the Las Vegas Raiders 30-12 as each moved to 2-5 for the season.