Best And Worst of NFL Week Seven

Week seven of the NFL season is in the books, turning out to provide some pretty interesting storylines so far. Seattle falls short for the second week in a row, going down at the hands of the surprising St. Louis Rams. The Jets finally play a solid game, but it's not enough to overcome the Patriots. Jacksonville finally gets its first win of the season over the Cleveland Browns, while the New Orleans Saints still, for the life of them can't win on the road. Oakland is still winless, the Cowboys have won six straight games and the NFC South, which was a good division a season ago, is one of the weaker in the entire league. It's safe to say that the NFL has been turned on its ear this season. With all that in mind, here's some of the best and worst from the past week in the NFL.

Best:
Peyton Manning, Quarterback Denver Broncos
Heading into this matchup against the 49ers on Sunday Night Football, he needed three touchdown passes to set the all time record. By the time all was said and done, he finished with four touchdown throws, giving him 510 (and counting) for his career. He didn't have the best day, number wise, but it was a record setting day. It’s fitting that on the day he broke the career passing touchdown record, arguably the greatest quarterback ever played arguably the greatest game any quarterback could play. Manning was basically perfect against the 49ers, with Denver putting together their best team win of the season.

Worst:
Drew Brees, Quarterback New Orleans Saints
I know its strange to see his name here, but it has to be said. Sure Brees had a good week for the Saints, finishing the day 28 of 45 for 342 yards and a pair of touchdown passes. The yards were the 2nd best by a passer in week seven, but it wasn't enough to help the Saints, as they fell to the Lions 24-23 in Detroit. The Saints were in the game and had a chance to hold on to the victory, but Brees' interception with 3:10 to go led to the Lions' game-winning TD six plays later. New Orleans has lost seven consecutive regular-season games away from the Superdome and all four so far in 2014.

Best:
Sammy Watkins, Wide Receiver Buffalo Bills
When Buffalo took the wide out with the 4th overall pick in the draft back in June, they were expecting big things from their pick. So far I'd say that the Bills are getting a pretty good return on their investment. Through seven games, Watkins has put up solid numbers, but none better than what he did against Minnesota on Sunday. He set personal highs with nine catches for 122 yards and two TDs, including the game winner with 1 second left. Safe to say the Bills' new star is picking up rookie of the year momentum.

Worst:
Carolina Panthers Defense
Here is a team that has pulled a complete 180 for a season ago. Last year, Carolina had the second-stingiest team in terms of scoring defense. This year is completely different. The Panthers formerly stingy defense has now allowed at least 37 points in four games this season, including the 38 points given up to Aaron Rogers in the loss to the Packers Sunday. The Panthers have surrendered 195 points in seven games after permitting 241 in all of 2013. Yeah this team seems to have lost its way from a defensive perspective.

Best:
Golden Tate, Wide Receiver Detroit Lions
This guy was brought into the Motor City for a reason, and has shown that he has been worth the money and then some for the Lions. Tate has been spectacular while picking up the slack for injured Calvin Johnson. Over the past four games, Tate has 32 catches for 448 yards and two scores. He was huge Sunday with 73 of his 154 yards coming on a TD that helped spark Detroit's comeback. Yeah this guy is good and has been a big reason Detroit is on top of the NFC North.

Worst:
Kirk Cousins, Quarterback Washington Redskins
I know the Redskins came away with the two point victory over the Titans, and as the Redskins' starter, Cousins was credited with his first win since 2012, snapping a personal seven-start losing streak. But at the same time, Cousins had two more turnovers earned him a seat on the bench midway through the victory against the Titans and may have cost him any lingering hopes that he might be pursued by another team for big money and a starting job elsewhere during the offseason.

Best:
Denard Robinson, Running Back Jacksonville Jaguars
The former Michigan quarterback, deemed an "offensive weapon" by the Jaguars as a rookie last year, entered Sunday's game with 160 rushing yards in 22 NFL games. He added 127 and a TD against the Browns to offset poor play by rookie QB Blake Bortles as Jacksonville snatched its first win since last season.

Worst:
Bryan Hoyer, Quarterback Cleveland Browns
Things had seemed to start looking up for Hoyer as the Browns Starter. He had had a few good weeks and things appeared to be getting better, but then he had his worst day in two years as the Browns' starter. Hoyer went 16-for-41, couldn't find the back of the endzone, he threw a pick and lost a fumble. All of this was done in a blowout loss to the previously winless Jags. The door isn't yet cracked for rookie Johnny Manziel, but it's not locked, either.

Best:
St. Louis Rams
St. Louis came in as a desperate team, staring at a 1-4 record. To make things worse, they were playing the Seahawks, who were, and still are, one of the top teams in the NFC. St. Louis needed something to grab on to and they got it. Grasping for something, anything, in the running game, the Rams turned to rookie Tre Mason, who averaged 4.7 yards per carry against what had been the league’s best run defense. To make the day better, they were able to pull off two mighty fine trick plays to beat up on Seattle.

Worst:
Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears
Both teams looked really bad last week. Cleveland got embarrassed by the previously winless Jacksonville Jaguars. Meanwhile Chicago wasn't much better, making the Dolphins look great and Ryan Tannehill looked like a stud QB, which is something he really isn't.