NFL Week 7 Recap: Seahawks Smother the Chiefs, Plus Our Week 8 Power Rankings
The Screenplay Podcast — Week 7 Recap
Hosts Evan Grenus and Andrew Novak (checking in from the Mexico Open in Puerto Vallarta, fresh off a
weather-shortened week in Bermuda) broke down a wild Week 7 slate headlined by one of the most
dominant defensive performances either host said they’d ever seen. They covered the Cowboys-Eagles
and Bears-Patriots primetime games, a historic Seahawks shutdown of the Chiefs, a chaotic Lions-
Packers finish, the Giants surprising NFC East lead behind JJ McCarthy, updated power rankings,
fantasy boom/bust recaps, Week 8 starts and sits, betting picks, and a Survivor Pool down to its final two
entrants.
NFL Week 7 Recap
Cowboys 38, Eagles 21 (Monday Night)
Dallas beat Philadelphia behind a 25-carry, late-touchdown game from Javonte Williams and a defense
both hosts called the real story — not because it played well, but because it continues to struggle badly
despite having talent on the roster, including rookie standout Caleb Downs and new addition Quinnen
Williams. Both hosts said the issues look schematic rather than personnel-based, and debated whether
Dallas should lean more on the run to keep its defense off the field rather than letting Dak Prescott throw
40-plus times a game. On offense, both hosts noted tight end Jake Ferguson fading out of the passing
game in favor of blocking specialist Brevyn Spencer-Ford and emerging depth receiver Jonathan
Flournoy. For Philadelphia, backup quarterback Tanner McKee looked respectable against a shaky
Dallas defense, but the Eagles have now lost five straight games for the first time since 2016.
Bears 30, Patriots 24 (Thursday Night)
Chicago beat New England in a matchup of 2024 draft classmates Caleb Williams and Drake Maye, with
both hosts crediting the Bears ability to control the ball and a defense that looked like it was borrowing
pressure concepts from Minnesota. Rookie receiver Luther Burden exploded for 130 yards and a
touchdown on four catches in the first half before going targetless the rest of the game, a usage question
both hosts couldn’t fully explain. New England’s receivers managed just 7 catches for 87 yards combined,
with Drake Maye instead piling up 320 yards and two touchdowns largely through tight ends and running
backs; both hosts said AJ Brown still isn’t fully explosive while working back from his ankle injury. Patriots
rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson continued to struggle in pass protection, a problem both hosts
expect to push more work toward Rhamondre Stevenson.
Seahawks 20, Chiefs 3 (Sunday Night)
Seattle delivered what both hosts called one of the greatest defensive performances they’ve ever
watched, holding Patrick Mahomes to career lows across the board: 3 points, 213 passing yards, 11 first
downs, and zero red-zone trips, on just one sack and three tackles for loss all game. Kansas City’s wide
receiver corps combined for only 6 catches on 13 targets for 39 yards. On the other side, Sam Darnold
posted a 138 passer rating and went 11-for-16 on third down, leaning heavily on Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Both hosts argued the Seahawks — who have turned the ball over in all three of their losses this season
— are unbeatable as long as they protect the football.
Lions 20, Packers 17
Detroit escaped Green Bay in a game both hosts called poorly officiated, with a controversial fourth-and-
one decision by Dan Campbell to go for it near his own 20-yard line late in the fourth quarter — a call that
worked out in part because Green Bay’s kicker missed two field goals inside 30 yards. Both hosts also
pointed to a Green Bay team that currently leads the NFL in drops, led by Matthew Golden (7 drops on 38
catchable targets) and Tucker Kraft. Josh Jacobs returned from injury with 11 carries for 36 yards and 5
catches for 55 yards and a touchdown, while Detroit leaned heavily on Jahmyr Gibbs (29 carries, 5
catches) with almost no work for the backup behind him. Jordan Love’s late interception also loomed
large in the final, low-scoring result.
Other News: Giants Riding High Behind JJ McCarthy
JJ McCarthy threw for 252 yards on 20-of-28 passing as the Giants — 10-point underdogs — beat the
Texans in overtime to move to 4-2-1 and the top of the NFC East, McCarthy’s fifth straight win as a
starter. Both hosts credited New York’s increased commitment to the run game for taking pressure off
their young quarterback, and said the Giants offensive line, anchored by Andrew Thomas and rookie
interior lineman Marcus Mbow, gives the run-first approach real staying power. Working through New
York’s remaining schedule, the hosts projected a roughly 8-7-1 finish — plausibly enough to win a weak
division, with Philadelphia already in a tank and Washington expected to move on from its coaching staff
before the season ends.
NFC North Check-In: Are the Undefeated Vikings Legit?
Minnesota improved to 6-0 behind the NFL’s No. 2 scoring defense (12.3 points allowed per game)
despite a historically bad offense that ranks 29th in yardage, with kicker Will Reichard accounting for a
large share of their points. Andrew voiced some caution, comparing the situation to a recent Indianapolis
team that put up gaudy offensive numbers early before its schedule caught up with it, though both hosts
ultimately said they trust Minnesota’s defense and coaching staff more than that comparison suggests.
Working through the Vikings remaining slate, the hosts projected a 12-5 finish — a near-lock for the
playoffs, in a division that also includes Chicago (5-2), Detroit (4-2), and Green Bay (4-3).
Screenplay Podcast Power Rankings — Week 8
1. Seattle Seahawks (4-3) 2. Chicago Bears 3. San Francisco 49ers (6-1) 4. Buffalo Bills (5-1) 5.
Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2) 6. Kansas City Chiefs (5-1) 7. Denver Broncos (5-2) 8. Detroit Lions (4-2) 9.
Minnesota Vikings (6-0) 10. New England Patriots (4-3)
Evan put the Seahawks at No. 1 regardless of record after their shutdown of Kansas City, and noted
Seattle just added guard Quenton Nelson from the Colts. Both hosts agreed San Francisco needs its
upcoming bye badly after a loss at Atlanta left CMC banged up and Brock Purdy throwing to a depleted
receiver room. Andrew pushed back on the Broncos sitting as high as No. 7 but let the Patriots spot
stand; just outside the top 10, Evan had the Bengals, Rams, Steelers, and Giants rounding out his 11-14.
Fantasy Football: Week 7 Boom and Bust
Boomed: Tony Pollard (155 total yards, 3 touchdowns), Bucky Irving (110 yards, 2 touchdowns vs.
Carolina), Jameson Williams (5 catches, 91 yards, 2 touchdowns), Tampa Bay’s defense (rostered in just
5% of leagues, 25 points), Omar Cooper Jr. (22.5 points, 44.8 points over his last two games), Tee
Higgins (season-high 148 yards, a touchdown, 26.8 points), and Zay Flowers (season-high 130 yards,
27.7 points, even in a loss). Busted: AJ Brown (still working back from his ankle injury), Derrick Henry (17
carries, 45 yards), Kenneth Walker III (14 carries, 36 yards against a brutal Seattle matchup), Garrett
Wilson (4.6 points), Sam LaPorta (a tough matchup against a Packers defense that limits tight ends), and
Nico Collins (2.6 points in the overtime win).
Week 8 Fantasy Football Starts
Michael Wilson (vs. Dallas, in what both hosts called a get-right spot after a slow start following the
preseason Marvin Harrison Jr. hype), TJ Hockenson (vs. a Lions defense that struggles against tight
ends), Bhayshul Tuten (vs. a Colts run defense that just traded away DeForest Buckner), Keenan Allen
and Josh Downs (vs. Jacksonville, which can't be run on but is allowing the most air yards in the NFL),
Stefon Diggs (vs. an Eagles defense that ranks near the bottom of the league against wide receivers),
Rhamondre Stevenson (vs. a weak Miami run defense), and several Arizona Cardinals skill players —
Jacoby Brissett, Tyler Allgeier, and Michael Wilson among them.
Week 8 Fantasy Football Sits
Quinshon Judkins (vs. a tough Steelers run defense, with Dylan Sampson’s return eating into his pass-
game work), Jameson Williams (expected to come back to earth against a stingy Minnesota defense),
D’Andre Swift (Monday night vs. Seattle's elite defense), Jonathan Taylor (vs. Jacksonville, which is
allowing just over 51 rushing yards per game), Tony Pollard (vs. Cincinnati’s No. 4 fantasy run defense),
and Rashee Rice, if active, given his track record in Denver.
Week 8 NFL Betting Picks
Evan went 1-6 last week (Bengals the lone hit) and is now 10-9-2 on the season (54% all-time); Andrew
also struggled and is now 8-13 on the season (54.35% all-time).
Andrew’s picks: Jaguars −9 vs. Colts; Raiders +1.5 at Jets; Chiefs −1.5 at Broncos.
Evan’s picks: Jaguars −9 vs. Colts; Patriots −7 at Dolphins; Browns +3.5 vs. Steelers.
Screenplay Podcast Survivor Pool Update
The pool is down to its final two entrants heading into Week 8, out of 200 who started. One of the three
Week 7 survivors went down with the Texans in overtime, while the two who took the Vikings both
advanced. $250 cash is on the line for whoever outlasts the other.
Listen to the Full Episode
New episodes of The Screenplay Podcast drop every Wednesday at 8 a.m. wherever you stream
podcasts, hosted by Evan Grenus and PGA Tour winner Andrew Novak, running from now through the
Super Bowl. The show is also now livestreaming Monday Night Football on YouTube with a live
scoreboard overlay. A full written recap with fantasy starts/sits, bets, and more is also posted to the site’s
blog every week.