Week 7 Preview: Super Bowl Rematch, Bears' Defense Shines, and Jerry Jones' Radio Outburst

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Welcome to another episode of NFL Catch Up, a recap of the opinions and analysis from national experts across the NFL podcasting landscape -- delivering you a weekly catch-up of the most interesting takes from around the NFL. We drop NFL Catch-Up every Friday morning all year long across the major podcast platforms. You can find us on X at nfl underscore catch up. We're also available on YouTube and on the web at nflcatchup.com.

As we dive into Week 7 of the NFL season, there's no shortage of compelling storylines to discuss. From surprising team performances to individual player breakouts, the league continues to keep us on our toes. Let's kick things off by looking at one of the most anticipated matchups of the week - a Super Bowl rematch between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco Forty Niners.

Eight months after their thrilling overtime battle in Las Vegas, the Chiefs and Forty Niners are set to face off once again, this time at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. While many of the key players remain the same, including Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Chris Jones for the Chiefs, and Brock Purdy, George Kittle, and Nick Bosa for the Forty Niners, both teams have undergone significant changes since February.

For the Chiefs, injuries have forced them to adjust on the fly, particularly at the wide receiver position. Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown, who were expected to be top receiving options alongside Kelce, might not play another snap this season. As a result, Kansas City has brought back JuJu Smith-Schuster for his third stint with the team. They're also looking to integrate speedy rookie receiver Xavier Worthy more into the offense as the season progresses.

On the offensive line, rookie Wanya Morris has taken over as the starting left tackle, replacing veteran Donovan Smith. This change in protection for Mahomes will be crucial against a formidable Forty Niners pass rush.

Speaking of the Forty Niners, their defensive line has undergone a major overhaul since the Super Bowl. Only Nick Bosa remains among the four starters from February. Arik Armstead now plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chase Young is with the New Orleans Saints, and Javon Hargrave is out for at least the regular season with a torn triceps. These changes could potentially lead to a trade before the deadline to bolster their defensive front.

Another significant factor for San Francisco is the absence of Christian McCaffrey, who has yet to play a snap in 2024. His unavailability has had a noticeable impact on the Forty Niners' offense, particularly in red zone efficiency, third-down conversions, and yards after catch totals.

As we look ahead to Sunday's game, both teams will be relying on some lesser-known players to step up. For the Chiefs, linebacker Leo Chenal could be an X-factor. In just his third season, Chenal has proven to be incredibly versatile, playing five different positions on defense. His ability to match up against tight ends and contribute in run defense could be crucial in limiting the Forty Niners' offensive options.

On the San Francisco side, keep an eye on rookie running back Isaac Guerendo. With starter Jordan Mason dealing with a shoulder injury, Guerendo could see an expanded role. He's a big-bodied back with surprising speed, and while he's still raw, he's shown improvement with each carry. If Mason is limited, Guerendo might be the Forty Niners' best bet for chunk yardage on the ground.

This rematch promises to be a fascinating chess match between two of the NFL's most innovative coaches in Andy Reid and Kyle Shanahan. It's a game that could have significant implications for the playoff picture in both conferences, and it's certainly one that no football fan will want to miss.

Shifting gears, let's talk about a team that's been making waves in recent weeks - the Chicago Bears. After a rough start to the season, the Bears have won three straight games and find themselves right in the thick of the playoff race. A big reason for their success has been the play of their defense, which has held opponents to 21 points or fewer in every game this season.

What's particularly impressive about the Bears' defensive performance is that they've managed to maintain this level of play despite some key injuries. They were without safety Jaquan Brisker and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson for their game in London, and then lost slot cornerback Kyler Gordon to a hamstring injury in the second half.

However, the Bears' depth has really shone through. Players like Elijah Hicks, Josh Blackwell, and Jaylon Jones have stepped up admirably in relief roles. This is a testament to the work general manager Ryan Poles has done in building a deep and talented defensive roster.

One player who's been absolutely crucial to the Bears' success is cornerback Jaylon Johnson. By almost every metric, Johnson is playing like an elite cornerback this season. He's only been targeted 16 times in 188 opponent passes, allowing just seven catches for 111 yards. Quarterbacks have a passer rating of just 27.9 when throwing his way - that's absolutely elite performance.

What's particularly impressive about Johnson is how he's responded to success. After earning a Pro Bowl nod last season and signing a four-year, 76 million dollar extension in March, there might have been concerns about complacency. Instead, Johnson has used those achievements as motivation to push himself even further. He's bringing a high-level competitive drive to every practice and every game, setting the tone for the entire defense.

As the Bears look ahead to the second half of the season, their biggest challenge will be maintaining their health. While they've shown they have quality depth, sustaining more injuries could test that depth to its limits. For a team with a thin margin for error in an incredibly tough division, health will be a major X-factor in determining how far this Bears team can go.

Now, let's turn our attention to a player who's been making headlines for all the wrong reasons - Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns. The quarterback, who signed a fully guaranteed 230 million dollar contract with the Browns, has been struggling mightily this season. Through Weeks 1 to 6, Watson has generated minus 66.2 EPA on dropbacks, which is the worst performance by a quarterback in that span since JaMarcus Russell in 2009.

This puts the Browns in an incredibly difficult position. They've invested heavily in Watson, both financially and in terms of draft capital, but he's simply not producing at anywhere near the level they expected. Some analysts are already suggesting that the Browns need to start looking for a way out of Watson's contract.

One potential path forward for Cleveland would be to convert 44.8 million dollars of Watson's deal into a signing bonus next offseason, then designate him as a post-June 1 release. This would spread the future dead-cap hits to 83.1 and 89.6 million dollars over the next two years, respectively. It's not an ideal solution by any means, but it might be the only way for the Browns to move on from what's looking like one of the worst trades in NFL history.

The situation in Cleveland serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in making such massive investments in a single player. It also highlights the importance of thorough due diligence, both in terms of on-field performance and off-field concerns, before committing to such a significant contract.

Let's switch gears and talk about a team that's been flying under the radar a bit this season - the Detroit Lions. The Lions are off to a 4 and 1 start and are looking like legitimate contenders in the NFC North. A big part of their success has been the play of quarterback Jared Goff, who's thrown five touchdown passes and zero interceptions in his last two games.

The Lions' offense will face a tough test this weekend when they travel to Minnesota to take on the Vikings. This game could go a long way in determining the balance of power in the NFC North. The Vikings have historically had Detroit's number, but the Lions have won three straight in this matchup.

One player to keep an eye on for Detroit is wide receiver Jameson Williams. While Amon-Ra St. Brown is the undisputed number one option in the passing game, Williams has been quietly productive, scoring 14 or more fantasy points in five out of six games this season. His big-play ability could be a key factor against a Vikings defense that has struggled at times this year.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Lions will have to find a way to slow down Justin Jefferson, who has absolutely torched them in the past. In eight career games against the Lions, Jefferson has totaled 1,073 receiving yards - the most by any player in his first eight games versus an opponent in NFL history.

This divisional matchup promises to be one of the most exciting games of the week, with potential playoff implications down the line. It's a testament to how far the Lions have come under head coach Dan Campbell that they're now viewed as favorites in a game like this.

Now, let's talk about a team that's been in the news this week for reasons they'd probably rather avoid - the Dallas Cowboys. Owner Jerry Jones found himself in hot water after a contentious radio interview following the Cowboys' embarrassing 47 to 9 loss to the Detroit Lions.

During his regular appearance on Dallas sports station KRLD FM, Jones took umbrage at questions about his offseason moves, particularly the decisions to re-sign quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to huge contracts. Jones became so upset that he insinuated he would have the hosts fired for having the audacity to ask tough questions about the team's performance.

This outburst has created quite a stir in the NFL media landscape. Many have come to the defense of the radio hosts, arguing that they were simply doing their jobs by asking pertinent questions about a team that had just suffered its worst home loss in Jones' 3 and a half decades of ownership.

The incident highlights the unique position Jones occupies as both owner and general manager of the Cowboys. His hands-on approach and willingness to engage with the media on a regular basis is rare among NFL owners, but it also opens him up to criticism when things aren't going well.

The Cowboys currently sit at 3 and 3, with all of their losses coming at home. They're allowing an average of 39.7 points per game at AT&T Stadium, a startling statistic for a team with playoff aspirations. Jones' reaction to criticism suggests a level of frustration that's boiling over, and it will be interesting to see how this situation develops in the coming weeks.

As we wrap up this week's episode, let's take a quick look at some of the other stories making waves around the league. The New England Patriots have named rookie quarterback Drake Maye their new starter, signaling a clear shift towards the future. Maye showed promise in his first start, throwing for 243 yards and three touchdowns against the Houston Texans.

Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Raiders made headlines by trading away star receiver Davante Adams to the New York Jets. This move signals a potential rebuild for the Raiders, who have struggled to find consistency this season.

And finally, the Tennessee Titans released three-time Pro Bowl safety Jamal Adams, honoring his request to find a new home in 2024. Adams saw limited playing time with the Titans, but his track record suggests he could still be a valuable addition to a contending team in the right situation.

As always, the NFL continues to provide us with no shortage of drama, both on and off the field. From crucial divisional matchups to front office shake ups, there's never a dull moment in the league. We'll be back next week to break down all the action from Week 7 and look ahead to what promises to be another exciting slate of games.

Thank you for listening today. We would kindly ask that you rate, review, share and subscribe to NFL Catch-Up. Remember we drop every Friday morning all year long across the major podcast platforms. You can find us on X at nfl underscore catchup. We're also available on YouTube and on the web at nflcatchup.com.