10 NFL Observations From Week 7

Welcome to Players View’s breakdown of Sunday’s most definitive NFL moments.  The Monday Morning Hangover takes a look at the largest chunk of the seventh week’s action.

#10 Jonathan Vilma Is A Non-Issue

Based on his play in his return to the field against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma is some time away from being the beast that he once was.

He failed to register a single tackle during his field time.  Vilma’s knee issues can be overcome as he eases his way back into the swing-of-things.

But at 30-years-old, will Vilma be able to do enough to overcome the memory of him being the face of Bounty Gate?

#9 Arizona Was Not For Real

After starting 4-0 the Cardinals have sunk to 4-3 after an emotional blowout win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

With Blaine Gabbert down in Jacksonville, their four wins may have played them out of the Matt Barkley sweepstakes.

Defensively they are solid yet they need a quarterback and a running game in the worst way.

#8 Cam Newton May Be Right

Cam is struggling to become a leader. Cam is struggling with his ego. Cam is struggling with trying to do it all by himself.

One thing that Cam is not wrong about however is his post-game statement that the Carolina Panthers need a suggestion box so that they can some ideas on how to get their situation back on course.

The team took a major step forward when they fired their general manager Marty Hurney on Monday morning.

The coaching staff needs to be the next to go.

After watching that mess of a game that Ron Rivera’s group called against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, changes need to be made.

The Panthers do not have the personnel to limit the touches of their feature back DeAngelo Williams. This was a close game and the coaching staff treated like it was a playground special.

#7 The Champs Are The Champs

The Giants talked the trash but their defense did allow Robert Griffin III to have a nice game despite the turnover he generated.

RG3 completed 20-out of-28 pass attempts for 258 yards and two touchdowns during the Redskins defeat.

However, when it was all said and done, once again the calmest demeanor in football, Eli Manning put it on his closer Victor Cruz to deliver the deathblow.

#6 Joe Flacco Is Not Elite

There are a lot of things suddenly wrong with the Baltimore Ravens.  After the whipping that they took from the Houston Texans on Sunday one thing is front and center.

Joe Flacco is a good quarterback but he is not the elite quarterback that he claims to be.

After the Ravens defense lost key pieces against the Cowboys, Flacco had one week to wrap his head around the concept of if he took over his team the golden ticket that he desires so badly would be his.

Instead, his opportunity to step into greatness swallowed him whole. Flacco was skittish, inaccurate and he failed to elevate those around him to another level.

In short, he was not elite.

#5 Dallas Is Still A Mess

The Cowboys got the win over the Carolina Panthers yet they looked ugly doing it. At every point of that game save some nice play from rookie cornerback Morris Claiborne, it looked as if the wheels could fall off the Cowboys’ wagon at anytime.

#4 The Jets Are Not Going To Go Out Without A Fight

As soon as it looked the worst for the Jets, Rex Ryan dusted them off and stuck a heart into that team.

The playoffs most likely won’t be in their future but after taking the Patriots to overtime yesterday, it became clear that we can say what we want; they are going to fight until the last second ticks off the scoreboard of the last game.

It will take another game or two to be sure of this statement, but it looks like the Jets’ offense is clicking better without star wide receiver Santonio Holmes.

#3 Patriots Defense Needs Help

They got the big overtime stop after Tom Brady led the offense down the field for what proved to be a game-winning field goal in overtime, but the Patriots defense still looks suspect.

New England’s two minute offense is still good to drive the field and eat up yards but their days of putting up obnoxious scores could be over.

Their defense has to start getting off the field on third down and start playing their opponents with more bite.

#2 The Packers Offense Is Back On Track

Aaron Rodgers has issued a memo that states that Randall Cobb is the new Greg Jennings. Cobb’s two touchdowns on Sunday sealed the deal on his sophomore year’s breakout party.

Barring another rash of injuries, the Packers’ offense is ready, willing and able to push out 30 points a game on unwilling participants.

#1 The Houston Texans Stayed Hungry

When teams get off to fast starts, they often crash and burn when they get smacked in the face with a little bit of adversity.

The Texans responded to their test by humiliating the Baltimore Ravens on both sides of the ball.

The Ravens defense may be an M.A.S.H. unit but their offense is pretty much 100-percent and they for the most part rendered them helpless.