NFL Week 7 Recap: Ravens Abuse Lions, Eagles Beat Dolphins

Week 7 again showed that the 2023 NFL season has not emptied its chamber of surprises and confounding results. Heading into this slate of games, we at the Xchange were held in thrall by the same questions that gripped most NFL observers:

Can the Lions — so close to reaching the peak of the NFC — go on the road and beat a mercurial Ravens squad? Would the Browns’ season, boosted by their upset of San Francisco, take off in Indianapolis with the return of QB Deshaun Watson? And, of course, would Nick Saban show up at Lincoln Financial wearing a Tua-Hurts split ‘Bama uniform?

Let’s take a closer look at this weekend’s results:

— WEEK 7 RECAP —

Byes: Panthers, Bengals, Cowboys, Texans, Jets, Titans

Minnesota 22, San Francisco 17 (MNF)

Fans, the big word following tonight's Monday Nighter is "small."

You might think I'm referring to the fractions of an inch that meant the difference between Charvarius Ward getting his second INT and Vikings rookie wideout Jordan Addison getting his second TD. Maybe you think it has something to do with Brock Purdy's hand size or Joe Buck's level of resistance to getting another round of hairplugs.

Good guesses all, but we'll be applying the word to the San Francisco 49ers defense — as in, yet again, it came up so darn small. You have heard of this celebrated group, right? All-Pros at every level. It has the defending DPOY (Nick Bosa), a middle linebacker in the running for the award this season (Fred Warner) and a front seven that is supposedly as good as anyone in the NFL.

Despite this smattering of talent, what it does not appear to have are two things that all truly elite defenses bring to the table: the ability to consistently get off the field on third down and the resolve to make much-needed stops in the fourth quarter.

The league's most overrated defense was disassembled tonight by Kirk Cousins and a Minnesota offense missing its greatest playmaker (WR Justin Jefferson) and entering the game with a sketchy offensive line and a weak rushing attack.

True to form, Minnesota's running game didn't make much of an impact, which made the Niners' inability to mount a rush in obvious passing situations confounding. Bosa tonight brought so little force when rushing Cousins that it appeared he thought a screen or draw was coming on almost every pass play. But he was hardly the only culprit. What was supposed to be a strength of the team has taken on a deadbeat-dad reliability when it comes to getting after the quarterback.

The numbers tell the story: zero sacks, 425 yards of total offense allowed, and Minnesota converted 8-of-13 third-down opportunities. At one point Cousins was a perfect 8-of-8 on throws traveling 10 or more yards beyond the line of scrimmage. He had time to push the ball down the field and push it he did.

The primary beneficiary to that aggressiveness was Addison, who is having a terrific first year (400 yards receiving, six TD catches) and is embracing the spotlight with Jefferson sidelined. He caught seven passes for 123 yards and two first-half touchdowns, the most notable being the pass he tore out of "Burn" Ward's hands before racing to the end zone with less than 10 seconds remaining. 

For some reason, defensive coordinator Steve Wilks had his team in an all-out blitz with no safety help on that play. Head coach Kyle Shanahan seemed to bristle and bite his lip in the postgame when asked about it. Perhaps he was thinking less about his DC coming up small than about the stellar play of Cousins — the one who got away.

The 49ers' Purdy made some great throws and posted some nice numbers (21-of-30, 272 yards), but he failed to come up big when it mattered most. Two fourth-quarter drives ended in interceptions by Vikes safety Camryn Bynum; both turnovers took place in Minnesota territory and kept the Vikings' five-point lead intact. Now with two losses on his resume — and both with the young QB not cashing in on game-winning-drive opportunities — Purdy faces another week of growing scrutiny.

Christian McCaffrey's oblique injury healed enough that the star San Francisco RB played almost all of the team's snaps on offense. He had 95 all-purpose yards, but his fumble deep in Minnesota territory on the 49ers' first drive set the tone for a frustrating evening.

At least the Niners return home, where they host the Bengals in Week 8.

Philadelphia 31, Miami 17 (SNF)

The game did not quite live up to the hype but it was an interesting, at times entertaining matchup. The action through the first half and most of the third quarter seemed to hold promise of a classic, especially after Miami LB Jerome Baker intercepted a Jalen Hurts pass deflected by a blitzing Kader Kohou and returned it 22 yards to knot the game, 17-17. 

But that was Miami’s lone score of the second half. As good as Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown were Sunday night, the Eagles’ defense gets the most credit for the win. Miami (5-2) came into the matchup averaging some ridiculous numbers, and Philadelphia (6-1) held all that speed and explosiveness largely in check. The Eagles’ D limited Miami to 244 yards — the Dolphins had been averaging nearly 500 yards per game — and 199 yards passing (down from Miami’s 300+ per-game clip) thanks to four sacks of QB Tua Tagovailoa (two by DE Josh Sweat). They also did a good job containing Tyreek Hill. The incendiary wideout tied a season high with 11 catches but those totaled just 88 yards. That 8.0 average was more than half off his yards-per-catch average on this season. 

Hurts led the way for the Eagles’ offense, throwing for 279 yards on 23-of-31 passing and two TDs, one to TE Dallas Goedert (seven catches). He also threw a touchdown pass to his favorite target A.J. Brown, whose 137 receiving yards kept up his remarkable roll of games with at least 125 yards receiving, one of only three receivers ever to reach that mark in five consecutive contests. Next week, Brown will try to stand alone in NFL history against the Commanders.

Jacksonville 31, New Orleans 24 (TNF)

Christian Kirk’s 41-yard catch and run for a go-ahead score with 3:10 left helped Jacksonville (5-2) fight off a big fourth-quarter comeback by the Saints. It was Jacksonville’s fourth straight win.

New Orleans trailed 24-9 at the beginning of the fourth. Then QB David Carr, booed by Saints fans and frustrated with his receivers and coaches, caught fire, going 10-16 with two TDs to tie the game at 24. Following Kirk’s TD reception, Carr led another drive that should have again tied the game. However, his 3rd-and-goal pass into the back corner of the end zone was dropped by Saints tight end Foster Moreau. The subsequent fourth-down pass was knocked down by Jags’ corner Montaric Brown, sealing the win.

Despite the impressive comeback, the Saints (3-4) again struggled to convert third downs on offense: 1-of-12 at one point in the fourth, finishing a dreadful 3-of-18. Before the final period, Carr again looked harried, this time by an active Jacksonville defense, which scored the first points in the second half when inside LB Faye Oluokon picked off a deflected Carr pass and returned it 24 yards to give the Jags their biggest lead of the game.

For Jacksonville’s offense…Trevor Lawrence’s left knee looked fine. Though he wore a brace, the athletic QB was able to escape pressure and make a handful of big gains with his legs (59 yards on eight rushes). RB Travis Etienne Jr. scored two more rushing touchdowns — that’s six in his last three games — but the Jacksonville offense bogged down repeatedly in the second half until Kirk’s late-game heroics.  

New England 29, Buffalo 25

To parody a famous folk song : “I dreamed I saw Mac Jones last night, alive as you and me.” Even if you’re a hater, you almost had to feel something warm and fuzzy for the embattled third-year QB. A one-yard Jones TD pass to TE Mike Gesiki rescued a game that New England (2-5) had absolute control of before squandering horrifically in the later stages of the fourth. 

The Pats were enjoying a 22-10 lead, following Kendrick Bourne’s four-yard TD catch. Then things fell apart. WR Stefon Diggs kept Buffalo (4-3) alive when, with under six minutes left, he made a sliding catch of a Josh Allen throw, stood up and sprinted into the end zone. On the ensuing possession, Bourne fumbled and Buffalo’s recovery set up the Bills’ go-ahead score to make it 25-22 with under two minutes remaining. 

Then Mac Jones and the Patriots much criticized offense uncorked its game-ending magic and Bill Belichick registered  his 300th career win. Finishing 25-of-31 for 272 yards, Jones conducted a 75-yard game-winning drive, finished off by the scoring pass to Gesicki.

For Buffalo, the season-ending absences of injured defensive starters Matt Malano, Tre’Davious White, DaQuan Jones (and Ed Oliver, sidelined for this game) seemed to really be felt in Foxboro. But on the other side of the ball, Josh Allen and the offense continue to labor. 

Allen put up a nice stat line, with 269 passing yards and two TD throws. But the running game (89 yards), which was supposed to be an area of improvement, continues to disappoint. 

The Pats running game finally made an appearance and contributed mightily to the win. Ezekiel Elliott put the Pats up 10-0 in the first quarter on a TD run after New England’s Jabrill Peppers intercepted Josh Allen’s first pass of the game, in Buffalo territory. The significance? It was New England’s first points of the season after its defense or special teams forced a turnover. (Last year, the Patriots led the league in taking advantage of opposing teams’ miscues).

A reminder that, despite the win, 2023 is a season the Patriots will want to quickly put behind them. 

Baltimore 38, Detroit 6

Same old Lions, right? In an outcome that no soothsayer worth his or her salt could foresee, the Ravens (5-2) rode a blistering start to thrash a Detroit team (5-2) riding high and a four-game winning streak. Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson featured his ability to run and extend plays early, often and later. Jackson’s first TD throw came after he avoided a sack, scrambled for several seconds before finding WR Nelson Agholor in the back of the end zone for a spectacular 12-yard touchdown. In a scorching first quarter, the Baltimore QB had 18 yards rushing and went 10-of-13 for 156 yards. Helping out Jackson was the impressive rookie receiver Zay Flowers, who had two catches for 68 yards in that opening 15-minute blitz. 

Unfortunately, for the Lions, the onslaught continued after the two teams changed directions. How dominant was Baltimore in the first half? In a stat that seems more in keeping with a Division 1 rout of a junior college program, the Ravens, with 7:30 remaining in the second quarter, had outgained Detroit by a preposterous 325 yards to 13.

The Ravens let up in the second half, but not before a Jackson dump-off to RB Gus Edwards turned into a 80-yard catch and run. (Edwards also had 64 yards rushing.) After his first-half assault, Jackson’s game-ending total of 357 yards on a crisp 21-of-27 passing seems...almost disappointing.

After intermission, quarterback Jared Goff did his best to get the Lions back in it, but he really did nothing more than pad his stats (33-53, 284 yards) and those of his fave receiver, Amon-Ra St. Brown, who caught 13 passes for 102 yards.

What does this wholly unpredictable result say about the two teams? Tonight, Baltimore and its fans envision a deep playoff run led by the seemingly new-and-improved Lamar Jackson, thankful they didn’t trade the dual-threat weapon during the offseason. Tonight, Detroit coaches and players are framing their pratfall as a one-off, a necessary learning experience. Detroit fans, however, will revisit 1980s newspaper clippings of the collapse of the auto industry…some for a bit of perspective, some for solace. 

Chicago 30, Las Vegas 12

The Raiders (3-4) came into this Week 7 contest with a chance to win a third straight game and get above .500. Instead, the Silver and Bleak fell behind early and showed a resolve that would disintegrate in the Calmest of Breezes City. Chicago’s backup QB Tyson Bagent bested Vegas’ backup veteran QB Brian Hoyer, costing the Raiders a chance at sole possession of second place in the AFC West. 

Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy implemented a game plan that seemed designed to protect the young Bagent, utilizing a short passing game intent on slowing down the voracious Maxx Crosby. Bagent’s stats — 21-of-27 for 159 yards — reflect the young backup’s fierce determination to play within himself and that conservative approach.

Whether conservative, progressive or freedom caucus cockeyed, Hoyer needs a new ideology but quick. His 17-of-32, 159-yard, two-INT performance recalled his devastation of the quarterbacking profession in a 2015 postseason start for the Houston Texans. Why Aidan O’Connell didn’t get the call to replace the injured Jimmy Garoppolo is surely on minds and lips of Raiders fans from Oakland to Sin City. To show Hoyer some love, his TD throw to Josh Jacobs was a thing of beauty. But then came his fourth-quarter throw that Bears QB Jalen Johnson picked off and took to the house to stifle any Raiders hopes for a massive comeback. 

What to make of this game worthy of a nationwide blackout? The Bears (2-5) actually might feel good about themselves after Week 7. The Raiders? Unfortunately, what happens in Chicago won’t likely stay there.

Cleveland 39, Indianapolis 38

A wild one in Indianapolis. What so far is the game of the year featured what so far is the best individual performance by an NFL defender. But first a recap of a topsy-turvy fourth quarter that saw four lead changes. Trailing 33-31, the Colts (3-4) bolted into the lead on Michael Pittman Jr.’s 75-yard catch and run. An exchange of punts, and then QB P.J. “Kid Dyn-o-mite!” Walker drove the Browns into the red zone. He and the Browns caught a huge break when the refs flagged Indy’s Darrell Baker Jr. on back-to-back plays, the first of which wiped out a Walker fumble and turnover. The second call — a very questionable interference call in the end zone — set the ball at the Colts 1-yard line. Three anguished plays later, RB Kareem Hunt banged it in for the Cleveland game-winner.

All season we’ve been touting Maxx Crosby as our favorite for DPOY (with a nod to T.J. Watt). Then Myles Garrett happened in Week 7. Garrett had two strip-sacks of QB Gardner Minshew (one in the Colts’ end zone) and a special teams special-effects extravaganza when the DE hurdled the middle of the Colts line and blocked point blank a Matt Gay field goal try. For good measure, Garrett was credited with seven tackles and a batted pass. Our advice to the DE is that he create a highlight package of this performance and meet first thing Monday morning with the Browns’ front office. 

Unfortunately for Indianapolis, Garrett’s wing-spanned brilliance intersected with “Miscue” Minshew’s penchant for error. The Colts signal-caller compounded the two Garrett-forced mistakes by throwing a third-quarter interception to Denzel Ward, which set up a Cleveland score. To Minshew’s credit, he finished 15-of-23 for 305 yards against the NFL's No. 1 defense, a unit you would think is the best since the 2000 Ravens the way some observers gush over it. RB Jonathan Taylor had by far his best outing since returning two weeks ago, gaining 120 total yards and scoring a rushing TD. Rookie wideout Josh Downs had five catches for 125 yards and a score. 

For Cleveland, QB Deshaun Watson was hurt with three minutes left in the first quarter after he threw an interception. He passed concussion protocol but did not re-enter the game. Head coach Kevin Stefanski’s decision not to reinsert Watson will be a talking point this week but the play that injured Watson was unsettling to watch. Walker, as he did against San Francisco, had an up-and-down day (15-of-32, 178 yards) replacing Watson, but he won for the second week in a row.

And that’s all that matters.

New York Giants 14, Washington 7

This is a tough loss for the Commanders (3-4), who, with a win, would stay within a game of Dallas for second place in the NFC East. The Giants' defense, much maligned this season, came up with a big red-zone stop to secure New York’s second victory of the year. A 4th-and-goal pass by Washington QB Sam Howell, which would have resulted in a 1st-and-goal at the 1-yard line, was dropped by WR Johan Dotson with less than 20 seconds remaining.

The return of RB Saquon Barkley (77 yards rushing) seemed to energize a New York offense that entered today averaging a meager 12 points per game. But, as it did last week against Buffalo, New York (2-5) relied on its defense to make this game winnable. Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale’s unit has done an impressive about-face, allowing a total of 21 points in the past two weeks.

Backup QB Tyrod Taylor did nothing to cost him his job — even when Daniel Jones is physically able to return. The vet threw for 278 yards and two TDs. One touchdown went to TE Darren Waller, whose seven catches and 98 yards receiving was a reminder of the combination of skill and athleticism that made him such a high-value get in the offseason.

For the Commanders, the offense couldn’t get untracked. Howell had 249 yards passing, and wideout Terry McLaurin caught six balls for 90 yards and a score, but Washington was a dreadful 1-of-15 on third down. When your punter gets more kicks (10) than your top RB gets carries, you can bank on it being a long day for the offense. 

Atlanta 16, Tampa Bay 13

Though there was a lot on the line, this penalty and turnover-scarred game was tough to take in. Each team committed nine penalties and the Falcons lost three fumbles.

Still, when all is said and done…more late-game success for Atlanta quarterback Desmond Ridder and Falcons placekicker Younghoe Koo. Ridder engineered the fifth game-winning drive in 11 career starts and Koo blasted through a 51-yarder with no time remaining, his second game-winning kick in the last three weeks. The Atlanta (4-3) victory gives them sole possession of the lead in the NFC South, thanks to New Orleans loss on Thursday.

Ridder continues to show signs of a maturing signal-caller — and problems with ball security. A 19-of-25, 250-yard day and another game-winning drive can convert skeptics of the young QB willing and give him more chances. He did have one play, however, that he wished to have back.

With Tampa Bay up three and with the ball inside Atlanta's 10-yard line, Ridder was heading for a rushing TD when he appeared to slow down. He fumbled into and out of the end zone after Tampa’s Antoine Winfield Jr. punched the ball out inches shy of the goal line. It was one of three Ridder fumbles on the day, making it six turnovers over in the last two games. 

The touchback kept the score 13-10, and gave QB Baker Mayfield and the Bucs offense a couple of chances to tie or take the lead. One subsequent Bucs advance ended when Atlanta’s Richie Grant intercepted Mayfield in Falcons territory. On Tampa’s final drive, Mayfield ran for 32 yards, setting up a game-tying 36-yard field goal by Chase McGlaughlin. 

Mayfield had an up-and-down day. He passed for 275 yards and delivered a 40-yard TD strike to Mike Evans (six catches, 82 yards) but had the interception late and seemed tentative at times in the red zone. It continues to be a problem for Mayfield and the Bucs offense that they get so little from their 29th-ranked running game, which netted just 73 yards against Atlanta. That issue, combined with all the penalties and wobbly pass protection, will make any QB’s job that much harder.

Pittsburgh 24, Los Angeles Rams 17

You likely heard us moan about the Steelers offense’s inability to start off games on the right foot. And while that didn’t really improve today, Pittsburgh (4-2) needs to bottle its fourth quarter against the Rams. QB Kenny Pickett and the Pittsburgh offense racked up a gluttonous 11 first downs in the final period, with Pickett going a perfect 9-of-9 through the air. (Meanwhile, his Rams counterpart, Matthew Stafford went 0-of-6). The decisive play was a 13-yard touchdown run by Pittsburgh RB Jaylen Warren to put the Steelers up for good.

The Pickett-to-Pickens combination showed up big again today. The uber-talented George Pickens recorded five catches for 107 yards, production that was complemented by Diontae Johnson’s seven catches and 78 yards in his return to action. Their play offset the continued brilliance of Rams’ rookie wideout Puka Nacua, who sliced through the Pittsburgh secondary for eight catches and 154 yards. 

Pickett finished a commendable 17-of-25 for 230 yards passing, and added a rushing TD. Pittsburgh RB Najee Harris also scored a rushing TD, in addition to his team-leading 53 yards rushing.

With the win, Pittsburgh stays atop the AFC North. The Rams (3-4) again failed today to win consecutive games in 2023. But this loss is particularly a downer, as it came at home against a beatable opponent and prevented them from keeping pace with victorious Seattle in the NFC West.

Seattle 20, Arizona 10

The Seahawks (4-2) handled their business at home and beat an Arizona team (1-6) that seems close to understanding just how bad it actually is. The Cardinals were limited to 249 total yards of offense, and Josh Dobbs had a rough go of it, finishing 19-of-33 for 146 yards. Seven penalties didn’t help Arizona’s cause. 

Seattle QB Geno Smith had a bounce-back performance (18-of-24, 219 yards), despite not having stud receiver D.K. Metcalf (held out because of a hip injury suffered in Week 6). Rookie wideouts Jake Bobo and first-round pick Jackson Smith-Njigba each caught TD passes — for JSN, his NFL first ever score. Bobo, a free-agent rook, was impressive in picking up the slack for the absent Metcalf, and never more so than on his superb contested one-handed catch on a fade route in the back of the end zone. In the run game, RB Kenneth Walker was Seattle's workhorse, carrying 26 times for 105 yards. 

The Seahawks offense still committed three turnovers, a matter they must clean up if they want to beat quality teams ahead on their schedule. 

Denver 19, Green Bay 17

The Green Bay offense showed signs of life in the second half in coming back from a 16-3 deficit to take a one-point lead midway through the fourth quarter. The sudden in-game resurrection of QB Jordan Love and the Packers’ passing game was a bit reminiscent of the turnabout in Week 3 versus New Orleans. Love finished 21-of-31 for 180 yards and threw two TDs, one a 16-yard strike to Romeo Doubs late in the third quarter for Green Bay’s first touchdown. But it seems clear the Packers (2-4) miss a healthy Aaron Jones, who played today but carried only eight times for 35 yards. 

Denver (2-5) came perilously close to blowing another lead and another game, but Russell Wilson drove his team 41 yards on nine plays to set up Will Lutz’ 52-yard go-ahead field goal. The key play on the drive was Wilson’s 16-yard pass to Jerry Jeudy that moved the ball into field goal position. Jeudy had six catches for 54 yards but again was held without a touchdown. The former first-round pick doesn’t have a TD catch this year — and none in his last 10 games. Courtland Sutton did find the end zone for the Broncos; his TD catch was one of six receptions on the day (for 76 yards).

Following Lutz’ field goal, the Packers had a chance to retake the lead. But, trying to move his team in field goal position, Love was intercepted by P.J. Locke on a pick on 3rd-and-20, sparing Denver from another brutal loss. For the second straight week, the Broncos defense played reasonably well. It allowed 331 yards and faltered in the second half, but it blanked Green Bay in the first 30 minutes. That meant the Broncos defense allowed just one TD drive over the previous six quarters — remember this is a unit that allowed 70 points to Miami and is dead last in the league in points allowed. 

Kansas City 31, Los Angeles Chargers 17

The matchup between two of the games premier quarterbacks started out competitive but turned into a lopsided affair, as Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes showed why he’s a two-time MVP and the Chiefs a Super Bowl favorite as long as he’s behind center. Kansas City’s explosive passing attack returned to form and overcame a rather anemic running game, just 68 yards. But it was buttressed by yet another top-notch effort by the Chiefs defense. Los Angeles QB Justin Herbert put up 259 yards but it was on an inefficient 17-of-30. The KC pass defense forced two interceptions and made one sack each from five defenders (none of them named Chris Jones). 

After a first half that saw the Chargers (3-4) pull even three times, the KC defense pitched a shutout in the second half, repeatedly stopping the Chargers when one TD drive was all they needed to again pull even. 

Kansas City’s offense, primarily in the first half, played more like itself, making big plays, converting third downs (6-of-11 for the game) and finishing drives. And Mahomes led the way with sparkling 32-of-42 day (76.2 percent), 424 yards, and four touchdowns — all season highs. His four scores went to four different receivers, including the usual suspect, TE and Tay-Tay S.O. Travis Kelce, who made Swifties all hot and bothered with a gargantuan afternoon: 12 catches, 179 yards and a TD, with a long of 53 yards. The CBS broadcasting gave statistical weight to how tight the connection is between Mahomes and Kelce by repeatedly pounding viewers with this undeniably remarkable number — over the past few weeks, Mahomes completed an astounding 29 consecutive targets to Kelce (a streak stopped yesterday).

The Chiefs (6-1) won six straight, and with the Chargers and Raiders losing, took the AFC West by the throat. The talented Chargers fall below .500 and are stuck in this pattern of losing games because they simply do not make plays when needed. They seemingly get a layup next week with the Bears coming to L.A., but with this Chargers team, you can bet they’ll find a way to make it uncomfortable.

Philadelphia 31, Miami 17

The game did not quite live up to the hype but it was an interesting, at times entertaining matchup. The action through the first half and most of the third quarter seemed to hold promise of a classic, especially after Miami LB Jerome Baker intercepted a Jalen Hurts pass deflected by a blitzing Kader Kohou and returned it 22 yards to knot the game, 17-17. 

But that was Miami’s lone score of the second half. As good as Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown were Sunday night, the Eagles’ defense gets the most credit for the win. Miami (5-2) came into the matchup averaging some ridiculous numbers, and Philadelphia (6-1) held all that speed and explosiveness largely in check. The Eagles’ D limited Miami to 244 yards — the Dolphins had been averaging nearly 500 yards per game — and 199 yards passing (down from Miami’s 300+ per-game clip) thanks to four sacks of QB Tua Tagovailoa, two by DE Josh Sweat. They also did a good job containing Tyreek Hill. The incendiary wideout tied a season high with 11 catches but those receptions totaled just 88 yards. That 8.0 average was more than half off his yards-per-catch average on this season. 

Hurts led the way for the Eagles’ offense, throwing for 279 yards on 23-of-31 passing and two TDs, one to TE Dallas Goedert (seven catches). He also threw a touchdown pass to his favorite target A.J. Brown, whose 137 receiving yards kept up his remarkable roll of games with at least 125 yards receiving, one of only three receivers ever to reach that mark in five consecutive contests. Next week, Brown will try to stand alone in NFL history against the Commanders.