The month of October is starting to near its end and the days are getting shorter. With fall in full swing, the NFL is starting to figure out which teams are going to be buyers and sellers for the trade deadline in a few weeks — based on the results on the field. 

The early Sunday slate didn’t have much drama, but the late games saved the day. The Miami Dolphins were blown out by the Cleveland Browns and the New York Jets lost again. The Los Angeles Rams look like Super Bowl contenders while the Philadelphia Eagles went back to their winning ways. The Kansas City Chiefs also look the part of a title team (again). 

Plenty of storylines mean plenty of overreactions. Which ones have merit and which are truly overreactions? The early games provided the punch. 

Brian Daboll should lose his job over Giants collapse

Overreaction or reality: Reality

Somehow, the Giants lost to the Broncos. Somehow it happened. The Broncos were trailing 19-0 entering the fourth quarter, and scored 33 points in the final 15 minutes! The Giants were up 26-8 with six minutes to go, and still allowed 25 points and lost! 

This is one of the most incredible comebacks in NFL history, as Bo Nix combined for four touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The Broncos had 291 yards of offense in the fourth quarter, making this one of the all-time collapses in NFL history — and the Giants took the lead in the final minute! 

Daboll is an offensive coach, but he hired defensive coordinator Shane Bowen. He also employs Jude McAtamney, who missed two extra points in this one. The Giants just have a losing culture under Daboll, and that was on full display in this epic meltdown. 

Jaxson Dart shouldn’t save Daboll because he’s a good quarterback. If anything, that’s another reason to move on. 

Commanders are the worst team in the NFC East

Overreaction or reality: Overreaction

This is a product of having the oldest roster in the NFL and a defense that’s ranked 27th in yards per game in 23rd in points allowed per game. The Commanders defense was horrendous against the cowboys, as CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens dominated an overmatched secondary in a Dallas blowout. 

The Cowboys may have the most explosive offense in football, but that doesn’t take away from the narrative. If Jayden Daniels, who left with an injured hamstring, is out an extended period of time, the Commanders may finish last in this division. They don’t have a chance at the playoffs without Daniels, especially since Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel just can’t stay healthy. 

This is an old team that won a lot of games at the buzzer last year. That recipe is hard to sustain and the talent level is showing. The Eagles and Cowboys are better than the Commanders, and the Giants may be better, too, with Jaxson Dart as quarterback. 

Washington will probably miss the playoffs and finish with a losing record. 

Colts are the best team in the AFC 

Overreaction or reality: Reality

Right now, this isn’t a debate. The Colts have the best record in the conference at 6-1 and steamrolled the Chargers in a battle of division leaders heading into Week 7. Indianapolis jumped out to a 23-3 lead and never looked back, completely outmatching Los Angeles. 

Jonathan Taylor rushed for three touchdowns and doesn’t even need to carry Daniel Jones, who threw for two scores himself and finished with a 113.4 passer rating. The Colts looked like their season could be heading for disaster going to Jones in August, but instead have emerged as the best team in the conference through seven weeks.

Indianapolis has the No. 2 offense in yards per game (380.3), No. 1 in yards per play (6.4), and No. 1 in offensive points per game (32.1). This is arguably the best offense in the NFL, as the Colts appear to be cruising to the AFC South title. 

Are the Colts Super Bowl contenders? That will be determined when the schedule gets tougher, but they are the best team in the AFC through seven weeks. 

Tua Tagovailoa’s time with the Dolphins is over 

Overreaction or reality: Overreaction

There’s little explanation for how poor Tua Tagovailoa was on Sunday against the Browns defense, as the Dolphins QB looked completely overmatched until he was removed from the game for Quinn Ewers. He was 12 of 23 for 100 yards with three interceptions and a 24.1 passer rating, the third Dolphins quarterback since 1970 with three interceptions in back-to-back games — and the first since Dan Marino in 1986. 

The Dolphins couldn’t get anything going offensively, as Tagovailoa averaged 4.3 yards per attempt. Tagovailoa has 11 touchdowns to 10 interceptions and is averaging 6.4 yards per attempt with an 82.8 rating. He’s struggled without Tyreek Hill and a poor offensive line.

Without Hill, Tagovailoa has six interceptions and a 69.2 rating in three games. Perhaps the Dolphins are thinking a change is needed, which would mean the end of Tagovailoa in Miami. While that isn’t likely the case, the Dolphins moving on may be in the conversation — but it’s too soon to move on (and Tagovailoa has three years left on his $1212.4 million extension).

The Dolphins won’t bench Tagovailoa and eat that money, giving him an opportunity to rebound with a new coach in place first. 

Cover 32: Jets officially on 0-17 watch after Justin Fields benching, plus games balls and gaffes from Week 7

Tyler Sullivan

Cover 32: Jets officially on 0-17 watch after Justin Fields benching, plus games balls and gaffes from Week 7


Eagles have their offense fixed

Overreaction or reality: Overreaction

The Eagles offense took a significant step in the right direction on Sunday, as Jalen Hurts and the passing offense had their best game in years. Hurts finished 19 of 23 for 326 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions, posting a 158.3 passer rating against the NFL’s No. 1 pass defense. 

Hurts went 4 of 4 for 189 yards on throws of 25-plus air yards, as the Eagles finally got the deep ball going. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith each had two catches on those throws and combined for 54 yards after the catch. Hurts was 9 of 12 for 284 yards and three touchdowns on passes of 10-plus air yards — good for a 156.3 rating and 23.7 yards per attempt. On third and fourth down, Hurts went 7 of 8 for 145 yards and a touchdown (158.3 rating). In the second half, he was 10 of 12 for 240 yards and two touchdowns.

The offense is back right? The run game still struggled, having just 23 carries for 45 yards (2.0 yards per carry) as Saquon Barkley finished with only 44 yards and 2.4 yards per carry. Barkley has 369 yards rushing through seven games and is averaging 3.3 yards per carry. The communication isn’t there up front and Barkley has struggled to have big gains. 

If the pass offense can get the running game going, the Eagles will be dangerous. The unit wasn’t perfect on Sunday, but this was a step in the right direction. 

Overreaction or reality: Overreaction

There’s a lot to criticize about Trevor Lawrence’s performance on Sunday, as he finished just 23 of 48 for 296 yards with a touchdown and zero interceptions (74.7 rating) in Jacksonville’s blowout loss. Lawrence’s numbers should have been worse, as he was 7 of 12 for 111 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter — when the Jaguars were down four scores. 

Lawrence struggles to get the ball to his receivers, as Travis Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr. were open multiple times throughout the afternoon. When he forces the ball to Thomas, Hunter is open — and vice versa. Hunter should be significantly better on offense, but Lawrence’s inconsistent play at quarterback holds him back.

While Lawrence hasn’t played like a No. 1 pick in his five years, does that mean he’s a bust? Not necessarily, as Lawrence has already been through three play callers, three head coaches, and an unstable organization in his five seasons. He’s still learning Grant Udinski’s offense, but the early returns haven’t been promising. 

Lawrence is a starting quarterback in the league and he’ll have a long career, but he’s not elite. Calling Lawrence good is a reach too, but that doesn’t mean he’s a bust. 

Overreaction or reality: Reality

Patrick Mahomes has been on fire in recent weeks, and only got his best wideout back in Rashee Rice after the wide receiver finished serving his six-game suspension. All Rice did in his first game back was have two touchdowns, as Mahomes finished 26 of 35 for 266 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions (126.6 rating) in a shutout of the Raiders. 

Rice was targeted 10 times by Mahomes in his debut, as Mahomes had a 117.5 passer rating when throwing to him. Mahomes has been hot of late, completing 71.3% of his passes for 1,131 yards with 11 touchdowns to one interception and a 117.2 passer rating over his last four games — MVP-type numbers.

The Chiefs are 4-3 and making their run at the AFC West after an 0-2 start, and Mahomes has been the driving force. If Mahomes keep playing like this, he’ll win the MVP as the Chiefs make a run at the Super Bowl again. With Rice back, Mahomes’ play will only improve.

Drake Maye is having best season for QB in Patriots history

Overreaction or reality: Overreaction

Drake Maye had another incredible performance in Sunday’s win over the Titans, finishing 21 of 23 for 222 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions for a 135.9 passer rating — setting a Patriots single-game record by completing 91.3% of his passes. 

This season, Maye has made his own MVP case as the Patriots lead the AFC East at 5-2. He’s completed 75.2% of his passes for 1,744 yards with 12 touchdowns and two interceptions for a 116.4 passer rating. He has the third-highest completion percentage through seven games in NFL history (75.2%) and his 116.4 rating is the highest for any Patriots player since Tom Brady in 2007.

Is this the best season ever by a Patriots quarterback? No, but it’s in the conversation. Brady threw 50 touchdowns and had a 117.2 passer rating in 2007, as the Patriots went 16-0 in the regular season. He led the NFL in completion percentage (68.6%), passing yards (4,806), passing touchdowns (50), and passer rating (117.2) — one of the greatest seasons by a quarterback ever. 

For Maye to even be in the conversation is impressive. If the Patriots didn’t have Brady for 20 years, this would be the best year for any quarterback in franchise history. Remember, Maye is just in his second year.

Matthew Stafford is a first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback

Overreaction or reality: Reality

Another game for Matthew Stafford, another standout performance. Stafford was dominant against the Jaguars defense in London, setting an international-game record with five touchdown passes in the convincing Rams victory. He finished 21 of 33 for 182 yards and five touchdown passes with zero interceptions — a 117.7 passer rating.

Stafford is having one of his best seasons at age 37, having 17 touchdown passes to just two interceptions through seven games. He was leading the NFL in passing yards entering Week 7 and his touchdown-to-interception ratio is 32 touchdown passes to just three interceptions over his last 16 games started (including playoffs).

Already with a Super Bowl championship (and the most touchdown passes in a season with 60, including postseason), Stafford is ninth all time in passing yards (61,675) and ninth in passing touchdowns (394). As the numbers keep going up and the wins keep coming with Los Angeles, Stafford has solidified his Hall of Fame case. He may be a first-ballot Hall of Famer as well.