Above-average QB play typically will keep a team in a game. If your team gets below-average QB or worse, that's a recipe for disaster.
Ahead of the Week 7 schedule, Yardbarker NFL writers project ugly play from Titans QB Will Levis and Browns QB Deshaun Watson. Here are predictions for each AFC team:
BUFFALO BILLS (4-2) | QB Josh Allen finishes with more rushing TDs than passing TDs | The two-time Pro Bowler scored his first rushing touchdown since Week 1 during Monday's road win over the New York Jets and he should continue to rely on his legs in Sunday's home contest against the Tennessee Titans. Tennessee's formidable defense has only allowed two passing touchdowns in the red zone, so it wouldn't be surprising if Allen called his own number often, scoring twice on the ground and throwing for another TD.
MIAMI DOLPHINS (2-3) | WR Tyreek Hill leads in rushing yards |Since the injury-plagued Dolphins will still be without starting QB Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) during Sunday's road clash with the Indianapolis Colts, it's unlikely Hill (156 receiving yards in his last four games) will contribute much as a receiver. Expect Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel to scheme up designed runs for Hill to get him more involved and take advantage of a Colts defense that has allowed the most rushing yards through six games (931).
NEW YORK JETS (2-4) | WR Davante Adams finds the end zone in Jets debut | The Jets swung a blockbuster deal Tuesday, acquiring Adams in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders, reuniting the six-time Pro Bowler with his former Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers. Adams, who missed his past three games with a hamstring injury, will play in Sunday's road contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. His connection with Rodgers should be on full display, with the wideout racking up 70 yards and a touchdown.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-5) | QB Drake Maye builds on promising first start | Despite three turnovers in a 41-21 Week 6 home loss to Houston — his first career start — Maye flashed potential, throwing for 243 yards and three touchdowns. Considering the Jacksonville Jaguars have allowed the second-most passing yards (1,789) and the most passing touchdowns (14) in the NFL this season, Maye is well-positioned for another productive outing in this London matchup on Sunday. He'll pass for at least 250 yards and two TDs. — Colum Dell
DENVER BRONCOS (3-3) | HC Sean Payton regains play-calling wizardry in return to New Orleans | Payton — New Orleans Saints HC from 2006-21 — will prove he’s still an offensive mastermind in Thursday night’s road game. In a 51-27 Week 6 home loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2), New Orleans (2-4) allowed 594 yards, the second most in franchise history. Expect Denver to cross the 300-yard mark on offense for the third time this season.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (5-0) | DT Chris Jones finishes with two-plus sacks | Jones — who ranks fifth in the NFL in pressures (28 in five games), per Pro Football Focus — will keep dominating in Sunday’s Super Bowl LVIII rematch in San Francisco. The 49ers (3-3) have allowed two or more sacks three times this season.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2-4) | Rookie TE Brock Bowers has 100-plus receiving yards | Vegas will target Bowers more in Sunday’s road game against the Los Angeles Rams (1-4) after trading wideout Davante Adams to the New York Jets on Tuesday. Although Bowers hasn’t surpassed 100 receiving yards in a game this season, he should be able to dismantle an L.A. Rams defense which is 18th in passing yards allowed (216.2).
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (3-2) | QB Justin Herbert has 250-plus passing yards | Herbert had a season-high 237 passing yards in a 23-16 Week 6 win over the Broncos and will keep rolling in Monday night’s road game against the Arizona Cardinals (2-4). Over its past three games, Arizona has allowed 240.6 passing yards per game. — Clark Dalton
BALTIMORE RAVENS (4-2) | WR Zay Flowers has third straight 100-yard receiving performance | It took Flowers a little bit to warm up this season (17 catches for 158 yards through the first four weeks), but the second-year WR has rocked in the past two games (16 catches for 243 yards). On “Monday Night Football” against Tampa Bay, Flowers has a good chance to have his third straight 100-yard receiving performance. The Buccaneers are allowing the fifth-most passing yards per game (252.3) in the NFL.
CINCINNATI BENGALS (2-4) | Chase Brown has first career 100-yard rushing game | Brown started taking the starting job from running back Zack Moss in Week 6 against the Giants, rushing for 53 yards on 10 carries (5.3 yards per carry) and a touchdown. Moss, meanwhile, ran for just 13 yards on six carries (2.2 yards per carry) and lost a fumble. Cincinnati will likely continue leaning on the hot hand against the Cleveland Browns, which are allowing the 12th-most rushing yards per game (137.3) in the league. Brown has yet to rush for 100 yards in a game in his NFL career, but that will change Sunday.
CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-5) | QB Deshaun Watson benched |Watson has not played well, passing for 1,020 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions in six games. However, on Monday, head coach Kevin Stefanski reiterated Watson will remain the starter, noting he gives the Browns “the best chance to win.” If Watson struggles at home against the Bengals — which seems likely after Cleveland traded wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Bills — the team will be forced to finally admit Watson is the problem.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (4-2) | QBs Russell Wilson, Justin Fields play | The Steelers QB competition seems to be heating back up as head coach Mike Tomlin has revealed that Wilson is “in consideration” to start against the Jets at home on “Sunday Night Football.” However, Tomlin acknowledged Wilson doesn’t have the same ability to escape the rush as Justin Fields, which must be considered as Pittsburgh has dealt with several injuries to its offensive line. That’s why Tomlin said there’s “certainly” a scenario that both QBs play this week. — Aaron Becker
HOUSTON TEXANS (5-1) | QB C.J. Stroud will thrive against lackluster pass defense | Stroud is off to a solid start, ranking sixth in passing yards (1,577) and fifth in touchdown passes (10). He has found success taking on four defenses that rank among the bottom 10 in defending the pass. That trend will continue Sunday on the road against the Packers (4-2), who've allowed the sixth-most passing yards (1,372) this season.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (3-3) | WR Josh Downs will record nine or more targets and 80-plus yards | After missing the first two games of 2024, Downs has become more involved in the passing game. Over the past three weeks, he's averaging 10 targets, seven receptions and 72 yards per game (and scored two TDs). With Michael Pittman Jr. (back) still not 100%, the 2023 third-rounder should see plenty of opportunities Sunday at home against the Miami Dolphins (2-3).
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-5) | Pass defense has another rough outing | The Jaguars rank 32nd in the NFL against the pass and there isn't a lot of hope for a rebound, especially with safety Andre Cisco admitting after Week 6's loss to the Chicago Bears that he saw "a lot of quit" from the team. Look for more of the same Sunday in London against the New England Patriots (1-5) and rookie QB Drake Maye, who is set up nicely for a career day versus a defense that's allowed three quarterbacks to surpass 300 yards passing in a game in six weeks.
TENNESSEE TITANS (1-4) | QB Will Levis continues to regress | The second-year QB posted arguably his worst outing as a pro in Week 6 against the Colts, throwing for only 95 yards (16-of-27) and things aren't going to get better on the road Sunday against the Buffalo Bills (4-2). The Bills are tied for seventh in the NFL with 16 sacks and Levis has endured 15 sacks in just five games. He'll probably have to throw more than the Titans would like to keep up with Josh Allen and Co. — Mike Santa Barbara
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The Pittsburgh Steelers made a bunch of aggressive moves in the 2025 offseason. One of those moves was General Manager Omar Khan’s decision to trade away former All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to acquire tight end Jonnu Smith and cornerback Jalen Ramsey from the Miami Dolphins. The Steelers clearly viewed Ramsey as a cornerstone piece to elevate their defense to an elite level in 2025. As training camp has come and gone, Ramsey has quickly reminded those in Latrobe, PA, just how dominant he can still be. Following a practice session, Ramsey sat down with Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor, and Channing Crowder for an episode of The Pivot podcast to share his early impressions of life in the Steel City. During the conversation, Ramsey spoke about the culture he has experienced since joining the Steelers, expressing admiration for the way the organization operates. He pointed to the smooth handling of TJ Watt’s contract negotiations as an example of how the Steelers take care of their own. "Probably so," Ramsey said on The Pivot podcast when asked if his career would have been different if the Steelers would have drafted him. "Yeah, 100 percent... If I would've started my career here, it probably would've been different. My focus may have been a little bit different at times. I may have been here my whole career. This is like a place where I feel like, one, they take care of they own. I truly believe that they take care of their own. Two, guys really want to be here." Ramsey explained that such mutual commitment between player and team is not common across the league, making Pittsburgh stand out. He also noted how much players genuinely want to be part of the organization, praising the coaching staff, fan base, and the team’s tradition of winning. To him, it is a football environment built for long-term success and player happiness. "I've heard them say it when they were going through TJ [Watt's] contract, I was watching Mike [Tomlin's] interviews," Ramsey said. "He's like, 'Both sides want to get it done, so it's gonna get done. That's not always the case where you at everywhere. But here, it is like, 'I want to be here. Let's figure it out. Let's do it the right way!' They handle business the right way. Fans are amazing here. Coaching staff is amazing here. They're always winning here. It's not much to not be happy about if you truly love football." Ramsey went further by admitting that if he had been drafted by the Steelers earlier in his career, things might have turned out much differently. He suggested that his mindset and focus could have been even sharper and that he might have spent his entire career in Pittsburgh. Steelers' Jalen Ramsey Really Loving His Time In Pittsburgh For Ramsey, the Steelers represent the kind of stability, respect, and winning culture that players strive for. His comments not only highlight his high regard for the organization, but also serve as a reminder of the unique culture that has made Pittsburgh one of the most respected franchises in the NFL. Ramsey was drafted in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He arrives in Pittsburgh at the age of 30, aiming to help the team build the best defense in the league. His career has included stops in Jacksonville, with the Los Angeles Rams where he won a Super Bowl, and with the Dolphins. Now he is enjoying his time in the Steel City. Do you believe Ramsey's career would have been a lot different had Pittsburgh originally drafted him in that 2016 NFL Draft?
Lakers governor Jeanie Buss is supposed to remain in charge of the team for years even after the sale. Given what just happened with the Boston Celtics, it might only be months. When the Grousbeck family sold the Celtics for $6.1B in March, ESPN reported that Wyc Grousbeck would stay on as the Celtics CEO and governor through the 2027-28 season. Now, new owner Bill Chisholm will take over once the sale is final. That should concern current Lakers team governor Jeanie Buss, whose family sold a majority interest in the Los Angeles Lakers to investor Mark Walter. Buss is supposed to stay on as team governor for "at least a number of years," according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, but new NBA owners haven't been keen on waiting to take control of teams recently. Mark Cuban thought he would continue running the Dallas Mavericks when he sold a controlling interest to the Adelson family in November 2023. Before the end of that season, when Dallas advanced to the NBA Finals, new team governor Patrick Dumont, the son-in-law of Miriam Adelson, was firmly in charge. General manager Nico Harrison reported directly to Dumont, which is how Luka Doncic ended up traded to the Lakers despite Cuban's objections. It might be different with the Lakers. Walter has owned a minority share in the Lakers since 2021, so he's had a working relationship with Buss. Her role as team governor may be a condition of the sale itself. With the team preparing for a long-term future with Doncic, Walter and his fellow owners might opt for continuity in the team governor role. But in general, people do not spend billions of dollars on a professional sports team so that someone else can be in charge. Buss is in charge of the Lakers now. Recent history says she won't be for long.
Dolphins fans can breathe a collective sigh of relief with the latest update on the injury to pass rusher Chop Robinson. The second-year defender had to be carted off the practice field Wednesday during a joint practice with the Detroit Lions. Robinson posted an update on social media a couple of hours later to let fans know he is “good” and the injury is “nothing serious.” It sounds like he avoided anything that would cause him to miss significant time, and the carting off the field was simply a precautionary measure. As a rookie, Robinson played in all 17 games for the Dolphins, starting one. He finished with 26 tackles, eight tackles for loss and six sacks. He finished fifth in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. Robinson was the No. 21 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Penn State. He played two seasons for the Nittany Lions after starting his career at Maryland. Over the course of his collegiate career, Robinson finished with 60 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, three pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles. Robinson had a career high 5.5 sacks in 2022. As a member of the Class of 2021, Robinson was a four-star recruit out of Gaithersburg (M.D.) Quince Orchard, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. He was the No. 1 overall prospect in the state, the No. 5 EDGE in the class and the No. 62 overall prospect in the class. The Dolphins have their next preseason game on Saturday against the Lions. We might not see Chop Robinson play in that contest, but it doesn’t mean the injury is a serious one and would likely only be a precautionary measure from the team as it prepares for the regular season. Tyreek Hill trade rumors Multiple NFL teams reportedly monitoring future with Dolphins In addition to Robinson, there’s been drama with the Dolphins lately. There are now rumors that Tyreek Hill could fetch some trade requests from other teams. “So his status is uncertain, with an oblique injury right now, as for when he gets back in the lineup, is still up in the air,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said on SportsCenter. “Right now, I have talked to a few teams that are at least monitoring his future a little bit. Could he be a potential trade target? Now, I know the Dolphins earlier this summer were telling teams, no, we’re not trading Tyreek Hill, but they just, you know, wonder, is he going to be available? It could be wishful thinking. “Maybe they want him to be available, but he’s a player that when I bring up the teams and say, who’s sort of a trade target you’re watching? They bring up Tyreek Hill, so we’ll see. He’s a big option for Tua and that’d be a major move if they did move away from him.” On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this report.
The Los Angeles Lakers believe that they can win the championship next season after finishing as the third seed in the Western Conference this past year. Bringing in Luka Doncic midway through the year gives them the confidence that they can score with anyone in the league. They also brought in some help at the center spot by signing Deandre Ayton. While LA feels good about the improvements that they made to the roster this offseason, one NBA insider doesn't believe that they addressed one concern enough for them to win a title. More news: Lakers Criticized for Passive Approach to Trade Market by Anonymous NBA Executive NBA insider claims the Lakers are too bad at center to win a title According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, he believes that the Lakers' biggest concern is at the center spot. "Nothing the Lakers do is under the radar, so this potential pitfall might seem more obvious than the other contenders' concerns. But until proved otherwise, L.A. is soft in the middle." Ayton doesn't have a lot of fans around the league after the Portland Trail Blazers paid him to go away. This is the second team that has cast him aside due to effort issues. Ayton played with the Phoenix Suns when they made the NBA Finals in 2021, so it's not like he hasn't been playing in competitive games. To see him not care at multiple stops is alarming. If the Lakers can get him to try harder when he's on the court, this signing might work out for them. If they can't get him to improve his effort, the Lakers aren't going to win a title. More news: Lakers Hiring Former Mavericks Award-Winning Coach The Lakers need the center spot to be better in order to win the title Jaxson Hayes clearly wasn't a good enough starter last season once Anthony Davis was traded away, but they are hoping he is a great backup. He had the best season of his career last year. It still all comes back to Ayton and his ability to finish better around the rim and block shots. The defense got shredded in the playoffs, especially in the paint. If Ayton plays up to his potential, this Lakers team has a real shot to win it all. If he's the same guy he was in Portland, he might be released at the end of next year. Latest Lakers News For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.