2026-2027 NFL Season: Week 7 Review, Week 8 Picks - We've Reached the Halfway Mark

Most teams have now played seven games of the 2026 NFL schedule and we are in week eight which is about the halfway point of the season. At this point there are some teams that are surprises and other teams we simply knew would not be very good. Perhaps the most surprising team is the Cleveland Browns as they sit atop the AFC North with a 5-2 record and facing a showdown for first place this weekend with the also 5-2 Pittsburgh Steelers.

Miami was supposed to be improved but is 1-5 and to no one’s surprise the Bills are in first at 5-1. The Baltimore Ravens, AFC favorites to contend for the Super Bowl have seen yet again injuries to star quarterback Lamar Jackson and they find themselves in last place in the AFC North despite having a record of 4-3. The Tennessee Titans we knew were in for a long season and they are headed down that exact path at 1-6.

Maybe one of the biggest surprises and disappointments is that of the Los Angeles Chargers who have yet to win a game and are in dead last with six losses. The Chiefs appear to be back in top form with just one loss at 5-1 so the ‘Bolts are buried in last and must look forward to next season. The Philadelphia Eagles plagued with injuries are 2-5 and their division is being led by the John Harbaugh coached New York Giants. 

The Vikings remain the NFL’s only unbeaten team but they have their naysayers everywhere. The worst division in football? The NFC South where no one wants to win that division. On top are the 3-3 Carolina Panthers. The best team in the NFL? Arguably the San Francisco 49ers at 6-1. Many thought the Los Angeles Rams would either go undefeated or cruise through their schedule. That has not happened. They are in third place with a 4-3 record. 

What happened in week seven? Let’s find out.

• Bears 30 Patriots 24. A solidly played game by both teams here but the Bears proved they are one of the NFC’s and NFL’s best this season. 
• Vikings 16 Colts 10. Indianapolis loses again and then started dumping players with trades to other teams. I suppose they are packing it in at the halfway mark. Minnesota? They are going to lose at some point and many believe they are not as good as their undefeated record.
• Giants 27 Texans 21. This is a big win for the Giants even though Houston does not seem to be as good as they were when they made the playoffs in 2025. 
• Dolphins 28 Jets 25. How embarrassing for the New York Jets to lose at home to a team that hadn’t won. But we are talking about the J-E-T-S here. Perhaps it is time again for “J-ust E-nd T-his S-eason.
• Browns 27 Titans 24. Cleveland is 5-2 but look who they defeated and had to struggle to win the game. Their big test comes Sunday afternoon. 
• Buccaneers 43 Panthers 13. No one saw this coming. Baker Mayfield returns and Tampa blows out Carolina on the road. 
• Bengals 35 Ravens 13. Baltimore an AFC favorite? Giving up all those points in the second half that had nothing to do with the missing Lamar Jackson. Cincinnati’s offense can score at any time and at will. 
• Falcons 29 49ers 20. The biggest upset of the day. However, no team is going to be undefeated so a loss was bound to come for San Francisco. 
• Broncos 30 Cardinals 16. How good are the Denver Broncos? This game was certainly not one to gauge how good they are.
• Rams 35 Raiders 21. Las Vegas began the season well winning the first three now it’s four straight losses. How much longer with Kirk Cousins taking snaps? The Rams are three games behind the Niners but we still have a long way to go. 
• Lions 20 Packers 17. One week after an impressive victory Green Bay falls here and lands in last place in the NFC North which is the most competitive division in the NFL. The Packers are 4-3 but Chicago is not too far ahead at 5-2 ahead of the Lions who are 5-2.
• Seahawks 20 Chiefs 3. The mighty have fallen. Kansas City could not manage any offense and the defending Super Bowl champions take it to the Chiefs.
• Cowboys 37 Eagles 21. No one could have believed the Eagles would be on a five-game losing streak. But they are. Two wins to open the season and a loss in every game since. This week they are in Washington where they will probably lose. Then they host the Giants and a Pennsylvania showdown at home with the Steelers. No chance is this team making the postseason. As for Dallas, it has been a roller coaster ride.

Who wins and who loses this week? Here is how I see games playing out.