5 Major NFL Week 7 Takeaways

It's still too early in the season to make absolute statements about any team, especially when there are as many surprises as there are in this season, but this past NFL week brought some very interesting takeaways. Here are some of those NFL Week 7 takeaways and what they could mean to the league.

Even with the previous weekend's loss against the Browns, many NFL critics (myself included) had the 49ers as the No. 1 best team in the league. I might change that assessment now. They're still great, but now, they've lost two weekends in a row, this time to the Minnesota Vikings. It was a surprise win, albeit in Vikings territory. It could also mean that it's not that the 49ers aren't that good, it's that the Vikings are finally hitting their stride this season. As a Kirk Cousins fan, I approve this message.

The Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs are the only two teams in the NFL who have just one loss this season. Does this mean we could see a repeat Super Bowl with these two? It's certainly possible.

We already knew Lamar Jackson was good, but he was at his best on Sunday against the Detroit Lions. And, boy, did they suffer for it. Jackson rivals Patrick Mahomes when he's at his best, and it seems like he just keeps getting better. Jackson could help take Baltimore all the way.

This isn't a new revelation, but the Carolina Panthers are the only team in the NFL right now that hasn't won a game. Hey, as a Lions fan, I've been there. Hopefully they'll win some games this season and start thinking smart draft picks to turn things around going forward.

Less of a takeaway, but still important: Here are the current NFL standings for each conference. No. 1 in the NFC West is the 49ers. No. 1 in the NFC South are the Falcons. Then, No. 1 in the NFC North are the Lions. And, No. 1 in the NFC East are the Eagles. Find the NFL Week 8 schedule here. Listen to NFL talk on "The Squad with Anne Erickson" below.

Well, my choices have certainly changed for the strongest quarterbacks in the NFL since the season's start. Of course, the major change was Aaron Rodgers being out for the entire season. I didn't see that coming. Who did? But, that's football. You never know what's going to happen and, unfortunately, injuries are all too common.

Here we are, almost into NFL Week 6, following Monday Night Football (Oct. 9). So, who are the best quarterbacks in the NFL right now? Let's look at some of the top players. Now, you might not agree with some of my picks, and that's okay. We're all entitled to our own opinions. But, I'm looking at a few things when I come up with my rankings. For one, the stats. Are these guys delivering on stats this year? I'm also looking at consistency and winning. Finally, I'm looking at the intangible factor. Do these guys have the heart and desire to really win? All of these factors go into being a great quarterback and leader. That's why they were all part of my decision.

I will say that No. 1 is staying the same for me. It's not a big surprise. You'll see who I picked at the end of this list, and while he hasn't had the best start to the season, he's still the strongest quarterback out there, in my opinion. I kept my No. 2 guy the same, too. But, everything else has changed.

Also, I'm a sports podcaster and host a podcast about NFL and Detroit Lions called "The Squad with Anne Erickson." Even if you aren't a Lions fan, check it out, as this season, we're talking about all the NFL teams and trends. Find my podcast here, listen below and reach out to me on socials here with your NFL thoughts and opinions.

I'm not just saying this because I'm a Detroit Lions fan, but Jared Goff is the real deal. Goff has helped turn this team around, after decades of losses. He's really found his stride in Detroit, and the Lions are loving him. He's delivered a near perfect record so far, which is fantastic. Darn those Seahawks.

The Cincinnati Bengals have struggled this year, but Joe Burrow's stats are still among the best in the league. Fans should look at this team in the long-term, and Burrow is a big piece of their future.

I left the Buffalo Bills off my list of the best NFL teams right now, and boy, did I get some listeners disagreeing with me. I agree that the Bills are strong. But, they've had some troubles lately. Still, Josh Allen is still a star quarterback.

You know I'm a big Jalen Hurts fan. He, literally, is one of the strongest quarterbacks, and he's also brilliant. He has a heart for this game, a strong will to fight and wisdom beyond his years. He's one of the best, and boy, the Eagles need him.

Patrick Mahomes got off to a rocky start with the Kansas City Chiefs, losing to the Detroit Lions. They've also struggled more in games than expected. But, Mahomes is still the best, when you look at stats and consistency. It'll be interesting to see what the rest of this season brings.