There’s no better way to encapsulate the confusing nature of the NFL than the fact that the Los Angeles Rams are two wins short of the Cleveland Browns, who are expected to compete for the top pick in the 2027 draft. Rams It’s been a complete disappointment for six games and if they don’t turn their season around in the next few weeks, they won’t be named Super Bowl favorites.
With the Rams out of the top tier of contenders for now, the door is open for someone else to take command of the championship race. Perhaps the Chicago Bears could be that team, as Caleb Williams is healthy and leads a seemingly unstoppable offense.
The season is a month and a half in, so the early season buzz is starting to wear off. The real Super Bowl threats come from the rest.
Here’s how the championship race will shape up heading into Week 7.
Super Bowl odds enter Week 7
Odds, +2000 or higher via DraftKings
Stock ball: Caleb Williams puts Bears back in contention
Going 2-1 without Caleb Williams on offense was crucial for the Bears. Avoiding a dreaded early-season slump saved all of their goals, and upon their return, they’re poised to compete atop a crowded NFC North. A Week 5 struggle against the rival Green Bay Packers heightened the need for Williams to return to the lineup, and he responded sharply to that embarrassing loss after re-entering the offense with a monster individual performance in a 31-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
It was the Bears’ highest-scoring game since Week 1, and it showed just how much Williams has elevated this team. He completed his first 12 passes against a surprisingly competitive Falcons defense this season en route to his sixth career 300-yard effort. His above-expected +12.4% completion percentage was his second-best to date, and his 83.3% overall completion rate was both a career high and the best by any Bears player with at least 30 pass attempts in franchise history. Hamstring just looks good.
This seems to be a breakout season for Williams right now. He just needs to stay on the field. For as long as it has existed, Chicago has boasted a top-notch offense.
Stock down: Rams turn from disappointment to disaster
The season-opening loss in Australia was chalked up to a travel fluke. The loss in Denver was a tough battle between two playoff contenders. The shootout loss to the Buffalo Bills was a high-stakes game against perhaps the best team in the NFL. From the point of view of the example, each of these results is understandable. Annoying, yes. But it is understandable. Then in week 6 it was amazing. Dropping a home game to the Arizona Cardinals completely re-contextualized all previous losses. If the Rams can afford to lose to a team like this, then maybe they aren’t that good.
The most troubling part of this 2-4 start is that there is more cause for concern than room for optimism. Of course, the schedule ahead is more manageable than what the Rams faced in the first month and a half of the season. But dropping a game to the Cardinals means Sean McVay’s squad is capable of losing to just about anyone he sees on the softer side of his slate. The injury situation also makes it more likely that the Rams will suffer another devastating loss, as without Davante Adams, Poona Ford and Kobie Turner (all placed on injured reserve this week), the floor is completely depleted.
Special teams remain a complete disaster; the defense is solid, but clearly missing Myles Garrett, and Matthew Stafford’s regression from 2025 MVP form is hampering the offense. The Rams need wins against the Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Washington Commanders and Cardinals over the next four weeks to move out of last place in the NFC West. If they don’t, they could legitimately be in danger of missing the postseason altogether.
Long Shot of the Week: Browns (+20000)
The Super Bowl is wide open for the Browns, but should they really have the sixth-longest chance to win it? Given that they control the AFC North through six weeks (for the first time since 2014, no less), they’re more likely to make the playoffs than some of the other teams in that range. That 2014 squad finished 7-9 and finished last in the division, so if history is any indication, it makes sense why the market is still so low on this team. But at the same time, there’s reason to believe their 4-2 start is realistic.
First, they continue to play great defense in the post-Myles Garrett era. Cleveland ranks seventh in points allowed per game with second-year star Carson Schwesinger. On the other side of the ball, Deshaun Watson remains afloat, and his wide receiver tandem of Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion has the makings of a long-term dynamic duo. In his first year as coach, Todd Monken continues to make the most of all of those pieces and more.
“Who did they beat?” The argument is fair given the lack of elite opponents and Lamar Jackson’s absence from the Baltimore Ravens last week, but three of the four wins have come against teams with winning records. The Browns can only play teams on their schedule and don’t have too many tough road challenges ahead, so the wins can continue to add up. If this train keeps moving at its current pace, the playoffs are within reach.
Week 7 games to watch
Chiefs at Seahawks
Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC, Broadcast on Fubo
When the Seattle Seahawks line up against the Kansas City Chiefs on “Sunday Night Football,” will they wish Kenneth Walker III was still on their side instead of another? These teams are trending in opposite directions, and their trajectory changes coincide with the Seahawks refusing to re-sign Walker and instead watching him land in Kansas City. Zach Charbonnet could make his season debut for Seattle this week, which should be a boon for an offense that desperately needs an infusion of pass rush ability.
Bengals at Ravens
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS, Stream on Paramount+
If Lamar Jackson is unable to play with an ankle injury, the Ravens will be in danger of dropping their second straight divisional game. This is a great opportunity for the Cincinnati Bengals to get past their opponents, especially since they have extra weeks to prepare. In a division where three teams are 4-2 and the Bengals are just a half-game back at 3-2, every game is important.
Patriots in Bears
Thursday, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video
Week 7 opens with a gem. Williams vs. Drake Maye is a great battle between two elite young quarterbacks who are playing their best football of the season right now. This intra-conference clash gives several Super Bowl contenders a great opportunity to see how they fare against playoff-caliber competition. Chicago may be outmatched by injuries to New England’s offensive line and wide receiver, but Maye is in good enough shape to carry the Patriots to a few touchdowns regardless of the supporting cast. The Patriots have scored at least 26 points in each of their last three games and will likely need to keep that streak alive to keep up with Ben Johnson’s high-octane unit.