The Rams are in serious trouble, a showdown in Seattle and a trip to Paris: Here’s what to watch in the NFL’s Week 7

Six weeks into the NFL season, some preseason Super Bowl favorites are already fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive, while a few divisions are making a strong case for being the worst in football.

With the Los Angeles Rams approaching panic mode, the NFC East in complete disarray and the Kansas City Chiefs preparing for their biggest test yet, there’s no shortage of drama heading into Week 7.

Here are the five things to know for the games ahead.

This season certainly hasn’t gone according to plan for the Rams.

Sunday’s shocking loss to the Arizona Cardinals dropped Los Angeles to 2-4, and, suddenly, a team that entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations is fighting to stay in the playoff picture.

Last week , I said it wasn’t time to panic just yet. Well, we’re getting dangerously close to sounding the alarm.

The Rams’ next four games are at the Las Vegas Raiders, home against the Los Angeles Chargers, and away at both the Washington Commanders and the Cardinals. On paper, that’s a favorable stretch, but LA has almost no room for error. The Rams may need to run the table because the schedule gets considerably tougher after that.

With the San Francisco 49ers off to a perfect 6-0 start and threatening to run away with the NFC West, the Rams may already be playing for a wild card spot. If 10 wins is the target, Los Angeles would need to go 8-3 over its final 11 games. That’s certainly possible, but the Rams haven’t shown much through six games to suggest they’re capable of that kind of run.

The Rams entered the season as the Super Bowl favorites at +500. Those odds have since slipped to +1200, although they’re still among the top five favorites to win it all.

History hasn’t exactly been kind to overwhelming preseason favorites. Teams that have been that favored at +500 or better to start the season are 0-20 over the last 30 years when it comes to winning it all. So far, that stat looks like it’s going to continue to hold up.

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Remember when the NFC East was considered one of the NFL’s premier divisions? Those days feel like a distant memory.

Right now, the NFC East is battling the NFC South for the title of worst division in football, and the last two weeks have been particularly ugly.

The NFC East became the first division in NFL history to have all four teams play in a two-week span and nobody win. The New York Giants and Commanders even played each other!

Perhaps the most telling sign of how bad things have gotten is that the 2-4 Dallas Cowboys are currently favored to win the division. Yes, the same Cowboys who have looked downright awful in their four losses.

The Philadelphia Eagles, meanwhile, are expected to be without quarterback Jalen Hurts for the rest of the season as he deals with a serious medical issue involving blood clots.

Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl LIX MVP Jalen Hurts is expected to miss the rest of the 2026 season due to possibly life-threatening blood clots found in his lungs. CNN's Andy Scholes breaks down the timeline of what happened to Philly's star QB.

Then there are the Giants, who are turning to JJ McCarthy in hopes of providing a spark at quarterback.

McCarthy was thrown straight into the fire against the Saints and managed to throw for 243 yards in just 11 minutes of action. Now, he’ll get his first start Sunday in Houston, where New York enters as a 10-point underdog against a Texans team that’s just 2-4 itself.

The good news? Somebody in the NFC East is guaranteed to avoid a loss this week when the Eagles host the Cowboys on Monday Night Football.

Of course, they could always tie. And that might be the most fitting outcome for this division.

Mike Carlson/Getty Images

Set those alarms early again Sunday because the NFL is headed overseas for another international showdown. But this time, we’re trading London for Paris.

For the first time ever, the NFL is scheduled to play a regular-season game in the City of Light, with the Pittsburgh Steelers taking on the New Orleans Saints at 9:30 a.m. ET.

League officials say heightened security measures will be in place following recent civil unrest in Paris.

The matchup is part of the NFL’s expanded international schedule, which features nine games outside the United States this season.

And the league’s global tour is far from over.

November will bring three more international matchups: The Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid, Spain; the Detroit Lions and New England Patriots in Munich, Germany; and the 49ers and Minnesota Vikings in Mexico City.

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Are the Kansas City Chiefs really as good as their undefeated record suggests?

We’re about to find out.

Patrick Mahomes and company are taking their perfect record to Seattle for a Sunday Night Football showdown against the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks. And this will easily be their biggest test of the season.

That’s because Kansas City’s five victories haven’t exactly come against a murderer’s row of opponents.

The Chiefs have beaten a Denver Broncos team that was still finding its footing, the 2-4 Indianapolis Colts, the winless Miami Dolphins, a respectable Raiders squad and the 0-6 Chargers.

Combined, that’s not exactly an intimidating résumé.

Unfortunately for Kansas City, they are catching an angry Seahawks team.

Mike Macdonald’s squad is coming off back-to-back losses to the Niners and Broncos, their first consecutive defeats since December 2024.

For Seattle, this is a chance to remind everyone why it’s the defending champion. For Kansas City, it’s an opportunity to prove that its perfect start is about more than a favorable schedule.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Four teams have the week off: the Buffalo Bills, Commanders, Chargers and Jacksonville Jaguars.

And while Buffalo and Jacksonville can use the break to rest and recharge, fans in Washington and Los Angeles are hoping a week away might somehow fix what’s gone wrong.

For Commanders coach Dan Quinn and Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, the pressure is mounting.

Both coaches appear likely to survive the bye week, which hasn’t always been a guarantee for struggling NFL teams. The midseason break has historically been a convenient time for organizations to make a coaching change, giving an interim replacement extra time to prepare.

Washington at least has one thing working in its favor: The NFC East is so bad that the Commanders still have a realistic path back into the division race.

The Chargers? Well, things are looking considerably more bleak.

At this point, Chargers fans might want to spend their bye week firing up the mock draft simulator and figuring out how to fix this team next season.

New England Patriots @ Chicago Bears, 8:15 p.m. ET

Pittsburgh Steelers @ New Orleans Saints (in Paris, France), 9:30 a.m. ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. ET

Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets, 1 p.m. ET

New York Giants @ Houston Texans, 1 p.m. ET

Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. ET

Cleveland Browns @ Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m. ET

Indianapolis Colts @ Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. ET

San Francisco 49ers @ Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. ET

Denver Broncos @ Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m. ET

Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions, 4:25 p.m. ET

Los Angeles Rams @ Las Vegas Raiders, 4:25 p.m. ET

Kansas City Chiefs @ Seattle Seahawks, 8:20 p.m. ET

Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles, 8:15 p.m. ET

NFL赛季已经进行了六周，一些季前超级碗夺冠热门球队已经开始为保住季后赛希望而战，而一些分区则极有可能成为橄榄球界最差的分区。

洛杉矶公羊队濒临崩溃，国联东区一片混乱，堪萨斯城酋长队正准备迎接他们迄今为止最大的考验，第七周的比赛可谓精彩纷呈。

以下是接下来比赛需要了解的五件事。

对于公羊队来说，这个赛季显然没有按照计划进行。

周日洛杉矶队爆冷输给亚利桑那红雀队，战绩跌至 2 胜 4 负。这支赛季初怀揣超级碗梦想的球队，如今却不得不为保住季后赛席位而战。

上周我说过现在还没到恐慌的时候。好吧，我们距离拉响警报已经越来越近了。

接下来，公羊队将客场挑战拉斯维加斯突袭者队，主场迎战洛杉矶闪电队，以及分别客场挑战华盛顿指挥官队和亚利桑那红雀队。从纸面上看，这似乎是一段相对轻松的赛程，但洛杉矶公羊队几乎没有犯错的余地。他们或许需要全胜才能晋级下一轮，因为之后的赛程将变得异常艰难。

旧金山49人队以完美的6胜0负开局，势必轻松拿下国联西区冠军，洛杉矶公羊队或许已经只能为外卡席位而战了。如果目标是10胜，那么洛杉矶公羊队需要在最后11场比赛中取得8胜3负的战绩。这当然并非不可能，但公羊队在前六场比赛中并没有展现出足以支撑他们完成如此长距离连胜的实力。

洛杉矶公羊队赛季初被视为超级碗夺冠热门，赔率为+500。虽然此后赔率下滑至+1200，但他们仍然是夺冠热门前五名之一。

历史对赛季前被普遍看好的球队并不友好。过去30年里，那些赛季初赔率高达+500或更高的夺冠热门球队，最终的战绩是0胜20负。目前来看，这一数据似乎还将继续保持。

迈克尔·里夫斯/盖蒂图片社

你还记得NFC东区曾经被认为是NFL最顶级的分区之一吗？那些日子仿佛已经是遥远的回忆了。

目前，NFC东区和NFC南区正在争夺橄榄球界最差分区的称号，而过去两周的比赛尤其难看。

NFC东区成为NFL历史上第一个所有四支球队在两周内全部比赛却无一获胜的分区。纽约巨人队和指挥官队甚至还交手了！

或许最能说明情况有多糟糕的迹象是，目前战绩2胜4负的达拉斯牛仔队竟然被看好赢得分区冠军。没错，就是那支在四场失利中表现得极其糟糕的牛仔队。

与此同时，费城老鹰队的四分卫杰伦·赫茨预计将缺席本赛季剩余的所有比赛，因为他正在处理与血栓有关的严重健康问题。

费城老鹰队第59届超级碗MVP杰伦·赫茨预计将因肺部发现可能危及生命的血栓而缺席2026赛季剩余的所有比赛。CNN的安迪·斯科尔斯将为您详细解读这位费城明星四分卫的病情发展历程。

还有巨人队，他们希望JJ McCarthy能为球队的四分卫位置带来活力。

麦卡锡在对阵圣徒队的比赛中临危受命，仅出场11分钟就传球推进了243码。现在，他将在周日客场挑战休斯顿德州人队，迎来他的首发。纽约巨人队被视为10分劣势方，而德州人队目前的战绩也仅为2胜4负。

好消息是？本周一晚，老鹰队将在主场迎战牛仔队，届时国联东区肯定有一支球队不会输球。

当然，他们也有可能打成平局。而这或许才是这个赛区最合适的结果。

迈克·卡尔森/盖蒂图片社

周日记得早点设好闹钟，因为NFL又要移师海外，上演另一场国际焦点大战。不过这次，比赛地点从伦敦移到了巴黎。

NFL 历史上首次计划在“光之城”新奥尔良进行一场常规赛，匹兹堡钢人队将于美国东部时间上午 9:30 对阵新奥尔良圣徒队。

联盟官员表示，鉴于巴黎近期发生的骚乱，将采取更严格的安保措施。

这场比赛是 NFL 扩大国际赛程的一部分，本赛季 NFL 将在美国境外进行九场比赛。

联盟的全球巡回赛远未结束。

11 月还将有三场国际比赛：亚特兰大猎鹰队和辛辛那提猛虎队在西班牙马德里进行比赛；底特律雄狮队和新英格兰爱国者队在德国慕尼黑进行比赛；旧金山 49 人队和明尼苏达维京人队在墨西哥城进行比赛。

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

堪萨斯城酋长队真的像他们不败的战绩所显示的那样强大吗？

我们马上就会知道了。

帕特里克·马霍姆斯和他的队友们将带着全胜战绩前往西雅图，在周日晚的橄榄球比赛中挑战卫冕超级碗冠军海鹰队。这无疑将是他们本赛季面临的最大考验。

那是因为堪萨斯城取得的五场胜利并非是面对一众强敌所致。

酋长队先后击败了仍在寻找状态的丹佛野马队、2胜4负的印第安纳波利斯小马队、未尝胜绩的迈阿密海豚队、实力不俗的突袭者队以及0胜6负的闪电队。

综合来看，这算不上是一份令人印象深刻的简历。

对堪萨斯城来说不幸的是，他们将迎战一支怒气冲冲的西雅图海鹰队。

迈克·麦克唐纳的球队刚刚接连输给了49人队和野马队，这是他们自2024年12月以来首次遭遇连败。

对西雅图来说，这是一次向世人证明自己为何是卫冕冠军的机会。对堪萨斯城来说，这是一次证明自己完美开局不仅仅得益于有利赛程的机会。

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

本周有四支球队轮空：布法罗比尔队、指挥官队、闪电队和杰克逊维尔美洲虎队。

虽然布法罗和杰克逊维尔可以利用这段休息时间休息和恢复，但华盛顿和洛杉矶的球迷希望一周的休赛期能够以某种方式解决目前出现的问题。

对于指挥官队教练丹·奎因和闪电队教练吉姆·哈博来说，压力越来越大。

两位教练似乎都有可能顺利度过轮空周，但这对于战绩不佳的NFL球队来说并非总是板上钉钉的事。历史上，赛季中期的休赛期一直是各队更换教练的良机，能让临时主教练有更多的时间做好准备。

华盛顿至少还有一件对他们有利的事：NFC东区整体实力太弱，指挥官队仍然有现实的途径重返分区冠军争夺行列。

闪电队？嗯，情况看起来要糟糕得多。

此时此刻，闪电队的球迷们或许应该利用轮空周的时间，启动模拟选秀工具，思考一下下赛季如何才能解决球队的问题。

新英格兰爱国者队客场挑战芝加哥熊队，美国东部时间晚上8:15

匹兹堡钢人队客场挑战新奥尔良圣徒队（法国巴黎），美国东部时间上午9:30

坦帕湾海盗队客场挑战卡罗莱纳黑豹队，美国东部时间下午1点

迈阿密海豚队客场挑战纽约喷气机队，美国东部时间下午1点。

纽约巨人队客场挑战休斯顿德州人队，美国东部时间下午1点

辛辛那提猛虎队客场挑战巴尔的摩乌鸦队，美国东部时间下午1点。

克利夫兰布朗队客场挑战田纳西泰坦队，美国东部时间下午1点

印第安纳波利斯小马队客场挑战明尼苏达维京人队，美国东部时间下午1点。

旧金山49人队客场挑战亚特兰大猎鹰队，美国东部时间下午1点。

丹佛野马队客场挑战亚利桑那红雀队，美国东部时间下午 4:05

绿湾包装工队客场挑战底特律雄狮队，美国东部时间下午 4:25

洛杉矶公羊队客场挑战拉斯维加斯突袭者队，美国东部时间下午 4:25

堪萨斯城酋长队客场挑战西雅图海鹰队，美国东部时间晚上8:20。

达拉斯牛仔队客场挑战费城老鹰队，美国东部时间晚上8:15