The Detroit Lions have not lost back-to-back games since Oct. 30, 2022.
That's 50 games without losing consecutive contests under head coach Dan Campbell. So normally, with the Lions coming off a disappointing loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6, they'd seem like a sure bet to bounce back with a win this week.
But Monday's matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is far from a sure bet for Detroit, as not only are the Bucs 5-1, they are also led by a surprising MVP frontrunner — Baker Mayfield.
If you look at the odds, Mayfield's performance through the first six weeks of the season has shot him up to the third favourite to win the award behind Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes.
But the NFL MVP is a narrative-driven award, and the story Mayfield is writing this year is a great one.
Cast out by the Cleveland Browns after the team selected him No. 1 overall in 2018, Mayfield bounced around before finally landing in Tampa as Tom Brady's successor.
He's led the Bucs to back-to-back NFC South titles, but has now taken his play to a new level this season.
Mayfield has thrown for 1,539 yards and 12 touchdowns this season with just one interception to his name. Not only that, but he's become the QB that no team wants to see have the ball with the game on the line. His four game-winning drives through six weeks lead the NFL this season.
Coming through in the clutch? Another very good argument for an MVP case.
All the signs are there for Mayfield to win the first MVP award in Buccaneer history.
And a big performance on Monday against the Lions could go a long way to making that a reality.
Here are some other key storylines to keep an eye on in Week 7:
Vrabel's revenge game
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel heads back to where his head-coaching career began on Sunday.
Vrabel was hired by the Tennessee Titans in 2018 and led the team to a 56-48 overall record and three playoff berths over six seasons. He was also named NFL Coach of the Year in 2021.
But on Jan. 9, 2024, after the Titans had just lost 18 of their past 24 games, Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk made the call to fire Vrabel.
Strunk said in a statement that it was a decision “as difficult as any I’ve made.”
And the move was met with some backlash, including from several Titans players who all said they wanted to keep Vrabel as their coach.
Fast forward to today, and Vrabel is the new leader of the 4-2 Patriots while the Titans just fired Vrabel's successor, Brian Callahan, midway through his second season with the team.
So with the two teams trending in opposite directions, it's easy to see why Vrabel is downplaying his return to Tennessee.
"He's not treating it like a big deal, so it's kind of bleeding into us," Patriots quarterback Drake Maye said. “We’re treating it like another week, another opponent, and treating it the same. The way he’s handling it is the right way.”
But a win on Sunday would put the Vrabel's Patriots in sole possession of first place in the AFC East, and it would probably taste extra sweet coming against his former team.
Can Eagles and Barkley find their footing?
The Philadelphia Eagles have had some extra time to stew on their shocking loss to the New York Giants.
Sunday's matchup with the Minnesota Vikings will have been 10 days since that humbling defeat, and according to head coach Nick Sirianni, the Eagles have been doing some serious soul-searching over that time.
“There was a little bit of rest and relaxation, and then there was a lot of trying to figure things out,” coach Nick Sirianni said. “We have a lot of thoughts, a lot of things that we want to put into action.”
The biggest thing the defending Super Bowl champs need to figure out is an offence that ranks third-worst in the NFL in total yards through six weeks.
And while much of the conversation around the Eagles' dormant offence has revolved around the passing game, the key to turning things around could be Saquon Barkley.
After rushing for over 2,000 yards last season, Barkley has been kept in check in 2025. Philadelphia's rushing attack ranks 25th in yards per game, and Barkley hasn't come close to a 100-yard game.
The Eagles are at their best when Barkley is the focal point of the offence, so expect to see them make a concentrated effort to get No. 26 involved early and often against a Vikings defence that ranks 24th in success rate against the run.
Game to watch: Los Angeles Rams (4-2) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2) — Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET
Sunday's action kicks off bright and early with a matchup between two 4-2 teams in London.
Hopefully, the Rams and Jaguars can make up for what was a dreadful showing in London last week from the New York Jets and Denver Broncos.
Each team used different methods to adjust for the long trip, as the Jaguars went over on Tuesday, while the Rams stayed in Baltimore to avoid an even longer trip from the West Coast.
The Rams even got in a practice at Camden Yards.
But other than adjusting to the new time zone, what this game could really come down to is which team can adjust better to the loss of one of its stars.
Star receiver Puka Nacua won't suit up for the Rams due to an ankle injury, while the Jags will be without linebacker Devin Lloyd, who leads the league with four interceptions this season.
Can passing yards leader Matthew Stafford make do without his No. 1 weapon, or will the Jacksonville defence rally without one of their leaders?
Whichever team answers that question better will most likely be sitting pretty at 5-2 heading into a Week 8 bye.
Forrest's Favourites (Season record: 10-5 — All odds courtesy of BetMGM):
Colts @ Chargers — Pick: Colts +1.5: The Chargers barely scraped by a bad Dolphins team last week and are expected to be without both starting tackles again. Take Daniel Jones and the 5-1 Colts.
Packers @ Cardinals — Pick: Cardinals +7.5: Even if Cardinals QB Kyler Murray doesn't play, Jacoby Brissett looked more than capable last week. And that's a lot of points for a home team.
Buccaneers @ Lions — Pick: Buccaneers +5.5: It's hard to bet against Mayfield and the Buccaneers right now, especially when you can get 5.5 points.
Full Week 7 Schedule (All times ET)
Thursday, Oct. 16
Cincinnati 33, Pittsburgh 31
Sunday, Oct. 19
LA Rams vs. Jacksonville in London, 9:30 a.m.
New England at Tennessee, 1 p.m.
Miami at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
Las Vegas at Kansas City, 1 p.m.
Carolina at NY Jets, 1 p.m.
New Orleans at Chicago, 1 p.m.
Philadelphia at Minnesota, 1 p.m.
NY Giants at Denver, 4:05 p.m.
Indianapolis at LA Chargers, 4:05 p.m.
Washington at Dallas, 4:25 p.m.
Green Bay at Arizona, 4:25 p.m.
Atlanta at San Francisco, 8:20 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 20
Tampa Bay at Detroit, 7 p.m.
Houston at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Byes: Baltimore, Buffalo
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