PFF Grades and Data: Key insights for every NFL Week 7 game

Nick Herbig has emerged as a key force: Herbig matched both his season and career high with six pressures in Week 6 against the Browns. Herbig will look to continue that momentum against a Bengals offensive line that has allowed pressure on 37% of dropbacks, the fourth-highest rate in the NFL.

With Puka Nacua’s status uncertain, Davante Adams becomes an even more critical piece of the Rams’ passing attack: Adams is tied for the league lead with 32 targets of 10-plus yards downfield, accounting for 328 of his 396 receiving yards and all three of his touchdowns. He may see an advantageous matchup against newly acquired cornerback Greg Newsome, whose 28.9 coverage grade on downfield throws ranks 47th out of 57 qualifying corners.

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NFL Week 7 is here, and with it comes a fresh wave of advanced data and analysis.

PFF’s media research team has been hard at work this week, preparing for kickoff — pulling data-driven insights and talking points for our broadcast partners around the league. Now, we’re sharing those same nuggets with you. So, whether you’re looking to win your fantasy matchup, hit on your bets or just get smarter about the game, these are the key storylines to know for every Week 7 contest.

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Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals

Nick Herbig has emerged as a key force on the Steelers’ defense, leading the team with 20 total pressures this season. He matched both his season and career high with six pressures in Week 6 against the Browns. Herbig will look to continue that momentum against a Bengals offensive line that has allowed pressure on 37% of dropbacks, the fourth-highest rate in the NFL.

On the other side of the ball, DJ Turner II has been a standout in Cincinnati’s secondary to start the 2025 season. His 10 forced incompletions lead all defenders through six weeks. Turner’s Week 6 performance against Green Bay was his best yet, as he tallied five forced incompletions, tying Quinyon Mitchell (Week 4 vs. Tampa Bay) for the most in a single game this season.

Los Angeles Rams at Jacksonville Jaguars

Trevor Lawrence attempted a season-high five deep passes in Week 6 against Seattle but completed just one, continuing a season-long struggle with downfield efficiency. Among 32 qualifying quarterbacks, Lawrence ranks last in deep passing grade (44.7) and fourth-lowest in completion rate (22.0%) on throws of 20-plus yards. After connecting with Brian Thomas Jr. for eight completions, 325 yards and three touchdowns on deep passes last season, the duo has managed just two completions for 55 yards on eight attempts in 2025. It won’t get any easier in Week 7 against a Rams defense that ranks third in coverage grade (70.8) and has allowed a 46.0 passer rating on deep throws.

With Puka Nacua’s status uncertain, Davante Adams becomes an even more critical piece of the Rams’ passing attack. Adams is tied for the league lead with 32 targets of 10-plus yards downfield, accounting for 328 of his 396 receiving yards and all three of his touchdowns. He may see an advantageous matchup against newly acquired cornerback Greg Newsome, whose 28.9 coverage grade on downfield throws ranks 47th out of 57 qualifying corners.

New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears

Spencer Rattler has quietly added value on the ground, both on scrambles and designed runs. His 15 combined rushing first downs and touchdowns ranks third among quarterbacks this season, trailing only Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes.

For Caleb Williams, accuracy remains a concern — particularly on throws between the numbers. Among 33 quarterbacks with at least 30 such attempts, Williams ranks last with a 56.3% accuracy rate. Still, he’s found ways to be effective in that area, ranking 13th in yards per attempt and posting a 109.7 passer rating, also 13th among qualifiers.

Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns

The Dolphins' early-round draft picks have struggled to make an impact through six weeks. On offense, second-round pick Jonah Savaiinaea has allowed 19 pressures — tied for sixth-most among offensive linemen — and has been beaten by his defender 17 times, tied for third-most. His 5.0 PFF pass-blocking grade ranks as the lowest in the NFL. On defense, first-round pick Kenneth Grant has also underwhelmed. His 28.3 PFF run-defense grade is the second-lowest among interior defensive linemen with at least 50 snaps.

Meanwhile, Myles Garrett continues to shine on both sides of the ball. While long known for his elite pass-rush ability, Garrett has been equally disruptive in the run game this season. His nine run stops are tied for fourth-most among edge defenders, and his 86.4 PFF run-defense grade is on pace for a career high.

Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs

The Raiders have used zone coverage on 79% of their defensive snaps this season, the sixth-highest rate in the league. If that trend holds, Patrick Mahomes may look to take off more frequently. He leads all quarterbacks with 18 scramble attempts against zone and has scrambled on 12% of his dropbacks versus zone, second only to Jayden Daniels (16%).

When Las Vegas has the ball, its outside zone run game could pose problems for Kansas City. The Raiders have run outside zone on 37% of their rushing plays this season, the seventh-highest rate in the league — a figure that’s climbed to 45% over the past three weeks (third-highest overall). The Chiefs have struggled to defend the concept, allowing 5.4 yards per carry on 59 outside zone runs — the second-most faced by any defense and ranking 29th in efficiency.

Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings

One of the key matchups in this game will be how Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ offense handle Brian Flores’ aggressive blitz packages. Minnesota’s defense has been among the league’s most efficient when sending extra rushers, allowing just 3.7 yards per play, the second-lowest in the NFL. On pass plays, that number drops to 3.3 yards per play, the league’s best mark, while opposing quarterbacks have managed just a 68.8 passer rating against the blitz (third-best).

Hurts has shown notable improvement against the blitz this season, posting career highs in passer rating (101.5) and completion rate (67.0%) when blitzed. His improved pocket poise and quicker decisions have been key, though his 6.7 yards per attempt is a single-season low, a sign that explosive plays have been harder to come by against pressure. He’s also been sacked nine times already, putting him on pace to surpass last year’s career high of 17.

On the other side, Justin Jefferson will be looking to replicate his 2023 performance against the Eagles, when he caught 11 of 14 targets for 159 yards. This time, he’ll face a Vic Fangio-coached defense known for limiting big plays. Since the start of the 2024 season, Philadelphia has allowed explosive passes on just 10.6% of pass plays, the lowest rate in the league.

Carolina Panthers at New York Jets

The Panthers’ improved rushing attack over the past two weeks has opened the door for more play-action success. Since Week 5, Carolina has used play action on 35% of its dropbacks, the seventh-highest rate in the NFL and a significant jump from 20% over the first four games. The ground game has helped Bryce Young settle in as well, with 201 of his passing yards over the last two games (51% of his total production) coming off play-action concepts.

On the other side, the Jets are loading the box at one of the highest rates in the league, deploying eight or more defenders on 35% of defensive snaps. The strategy has paid off. New York has allowed a successful play on just 29% of those snaps (fourth-best) and a conversion rate of 26% (seventh-best).

New England Patriots at Tennessee Titans

Drake Maye’s development in Year 2 has been especially evident in his performance against the blitz. As a rookie, he completed 58% of his passes when blitzed, averaging 6.1 yards per attempt with a 75.4 passer rating. This season, he’s taken a significant leap, completing 75% of his throws against extra pressure, with 8.6 yards per attempt and a 130.1 passer rating, the third-best mark in the league.

Chig Okonkwo continues to emerge as a reliable playmaker in Tennessee’s offense. His 155 yards after the catch rank sixth among tight ends, and his nine missed tackles forced are second-most at the position. Since the start of the 2024 season, Okonkwo leads all tight ends with 21 missed tackles forced.

New York Giants at Denver Broncos

Jaxson Dart posted a season-best 89.8 offensive grade in the Giants’ Thursday night win over the Eagles, with his third-down playmaking proving crucial. Of New York’s 11 third-down conversions, Dart accounted for 10 — six through the air, two on scrambles and two on designed runs.

The Giants' 69% third-down conversion rate marked their best single-game performance since Week 12 of the 2014 season. That success will be tested in Week 7 against a Broncos defense that leads the league in third-down defense, allowing conversions on just 27% of attempts.

While Dart aims to solidify the Giants' future at quarterback, Abdul Carter is already adding to a defensive strength. New York is the only team in the NFL with three edge rushers — Carter, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux — who have each generated 20 or more pressures this season. However, they’ll face a major challenge against a Denver tackle duo that ranks first in pass-blocking grade (81.7), has surrendered a league-low 8.3% pressure rate and has yet to allow a sack.

Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Chargers

After a quiet start to the season, Ladd McConkey broke out in Week 6 with a season-high seven catches for 100 yards and a touchdown. He matched his season total entering the game with three explosive plays — all on in-breaking routes, where he racked up 86 of his 100 receiving yards. Since entering the league, McConkey has totaled 716 receiving yards on in-breaking routes, fifth-most among all pass-catchers. He now faces a Colts defense that has struggled in this area, allowing the most receptions (46) and sixth-most yards (488) on in-breakers this season.

Jonathan Taylor has been a nightmare to tackle all year, leading the NFL with 422 rushing yards after contact. He’s forced 24 missed tackles on the ground — third-most in the league — and is tied for the lead with eight runs gaining at least 10 yards after contact, generating explosive plays largely on his own. That’s a concern for a Chargers defense that has struggled to limit extra yardage, allowing 3.6 yards after contact per carry, fourth-worst in the NFL.

Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals

Pressure has had a dramatic impact on Jordan Love’s performance this season. Among qualifying quarterbacks, he ranks top two in completion rate (86.0%) and passer rating (137.7) when kept clean. But those numbers plummet to 38.0% and 41.1%, respectively, under pressure, both ranking bottom-five.

With a healthier offensive line coming off the bye, Love was pressured on just 27% of his dropbacks against Cincinnati, his fourth-lowest rate since the start of last season. This week’s matchup offers another favorable outlook, as Arizona ranks 27th in pass-rush grade (64.7) and 25th in pressure rate (32%).

With several key offensive injuries, Trey McBride has emerged as Arizona’s most dependable weapon. He ranks first or second among tight ends in receptions (37), receiving yards (347) and receiving conversions (20). McBride has been especially effective in the short game, where his 14 conversions on passes under 10 yards downfield rank tied for fourth among all pass-catchers. He’ll be tested by a Packers linebacker group that leads the league with 51 tackles short of the sticks in coverage — 10 more than any other unit.

Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys

With CeeDee Lamb sidelined, George Pickens is making a strong case to be paid like a No. 1 wide receiver, especially with his dominance against single coverage. Pickens leads the NFL with 369 receiving yards and four touchdowns versus single coverage, including 135 yards after the catch — nearly double the next closest player.

Among 67 qualifying cornerbacks, Commanders rookie Trey Amos ranks 13th with a 64.3 grade in single coverage, while Marshon Lattimore ranks 38th at 40.3. Amos has allowed 71 yards on six receptions; Lattimore has given up 159 yards on nine.

Though Jayden Daniels has seen a reduced rushing workload while managing a knee sprain, he remains a threat on scrambles. He leads the league with a 13% scramble rate on dropbacks and, since returning in Week 5, has rushed for a league-high 94 yards and forced five missed tackles on scrambles. That could be a concern for Dallas, as the Cowboys allowed 334 rushing yards on scrambles last season (sixth-most) and are on pace to exceed that total, having already given up 141 yards through six games (eighth-most).

Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers

With the 49ers battling a rash of injuries, Kendrick Bourne has become a crucial piece of their passing attack. Over the past two weeks, Bourne ranks second in the league with 284 receiving yards — trailing only Jaxon Smith-Njigba — and leads all players with seven explosive plays. He’s done most of his damage over the middle, totaling 187 receiving yards on targets inside the numbers since Week 5, 40 more than any other player. The Falcons’ defense has been inconsistent in that area, allowing the second-lowest completion rate on such throws (67%) but also the fifth-highest yards per catch (11.2).

On the ground, Atlanta continues to dominate with an outside zone-heavy scheme, running the concept on 58% of their rushing plays, easily the highest rate in the league (the 49ers rank second at 46%). Bijan Robinson has been a perfect fit, leading the NFL with 364 rushing yards and 22 missed tackles forced on outside zone runs, 115 and nine more, respectively, than any other player. His 150 rushing yards on outside zone in Week 6 marked his first 100-yard performance on that concept in a single game.

If the 49ers don’t clean up their league-worst 6.5 yards per carry allowed on outside zone runs, they could be in for a long afternoon.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions

Baker Mayfield’s play extension has been critical in keeping the Buccaneers' offense afloat amid a wave of injuries. On throws made after 2.5 seconds, Mayfield ranks second among 32 qualifying quarterbacks in passer rating (123.3). His aggressive style shows up in the numbers, as he ranks second in big-time throw rate (12.8%) and sixth in turnover-worthy play rate (7.1%) on those extended plays, making him the only quarterback to appear in the top six in both categories.

Jared Goff, meanwhile, has thrived against the blitz. He leads all quarterbacks in passer rating when blitzed (137.1) and ranks third in yards per attempt (9.6). One of his top weapons in those situations has been Sam LaPorta, whose 95 yards after the catch versus the blitz are fourth-most in the NFL. LaPorta’s 10.6 yards after the catch per reception against the blitz trails only Bijan Robinson and DK Metcalf.

Houston Texans at Seattle Seahawks

Sam Darnold is currently grading out as PFF’s top passer in 2025, with a 92.8 passing grade, a full 15.3 points higher than his previous career best (77.5 in 2024). One of the biggest improvements in his game has come under pressure. After being sacked on 21.7% of pressured dropbacks last season (23rd out of 32 quarterbacks), Darnold has cut that rate to just 11.3% this year, fourth-lowest among qualifiers.

He’ll face a major test this week against a Texans pass rush led by Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. Among edge defenders with 100 or more pass-rush snaps, Anderson ranks first in pass-rush win rate (32.0%), while Hunter isn’t far behind at third (25.9%).