After what may have been the most surprising ending to a regular season in years, Week 7 of the 2025 NFL season brought many storylines worth discussing. Has Philadelphia’s offensive fortress returned, and are the New York Jets’ struggles persisting – a season with a balance between teams continues to deliver new stories.

Here are three main takeaways from Week 7 of the 2025 regular season.

Second-year quarterbacks enter the scene

Last season, Jaiden Daniels, selected second overall in the 2024 draft, burst onto the scene as a rookie sensation in Washington – the Commanders.

This season, two quarterbacks drafted near Daniels in last year’s draft are stepping into the spotlight – Caleb Williams (the first overall pick) and Drake Maye (the third). Williams and the Chicago Bears, after two losses, started a winning streak under the leadership of new head coach Ben Johnson. On Sunday his team defeated the New Orleans Saints 26-14: Williams completed 15 of 26 passes for 172 yards and no touchdowns, but overall trust in Johnson’s system is growing.

The 23-year-old quarterback arrived in the league as a consensus top pick of the 2024 draft, but faded from the radar early in his career – the Bears parted ways with head coach Matt Eberflus after a chaotic Thanksgiving loss.

Days like these are needed, given that they give you a little more to look back on and understand what is important.

– Williams

After a rocky start, Williams notes that such adventures are valuable experience on the path toward stability in Ben Johnson’s offensive system.

Meanwhile, Drake Maye is also flourishing in New England under a new head coach and with the experienced Mike Vrabel in the role of offensive coordinator. The Patriots also won their fourth straight game after a 31-13 victory over the Tennessee Titans. Maye nearly reached perfection: 21 of 23 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 62 yards on eight carries. His 91.3% completion rate eclipsed Brady’s 88.5% single-game mark from 2009 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Such numbers hint that Maye could become a key figure in filling the void after Brady.

He did a great job. I was a bit cautious with his number of snaps and everything else. I figured he would come out and perform at a high level, given such a long absence.

– Andy Reid

Maye and the Patriots also show their own four-game winning streak after beating the Titans; his performance fuels hopes of filling the vacancy at quarterback behind Brady and could justify doubts about the future starter.

Colts at a historic pace: Daniels, Taylor, and the seven-week story

No one could have foreseen how well the current Indianapolis Colts season would unfold. Quarterback Daniel Jones – after being released by the New York Giants and serving as a backup QB with the Minnesota Vikings – became the starter after the summer competition with the 2024’s fourth overall pick, Anthony Richardson. Yet the Colts are surprising with their level seven weeks into the 2025 season.

A 38-24 win over the Los Angeles Chargers allowed Indianapolis to stay atop the AFC and improve their record to 6-1. The productive offense, led by Jones and workhorse Jonathan Taylor, racked up 232 points – the league’s best scoring average (33.1 per game). 232 points is the Colts’ record through seven games since 1964. According to the NFL, Jones became the first player to complete two-thirds of his passes and throw for 200+ yards in each of his first seven games since 1950.

Taylor contributed significantly to this achievement – 94 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns on 16 carries; this is the third game this year with four rushing touchdowns. He leads the NFL in rushing yards (697) and rushing touchdowns (10) and sits second in attempts (131). Such numbers keep the Colts in the hunt for a deep playoff run with Jones and Taylor providing consistent performance.

He is the best back in the league right now, no doubt about it. He runs with confidence, with clear vision. Yes, he just wins games, game after game.

– Shane Steichen

In this form, the Colts remain unlikely playoff contenders. And if Jones and Taylor continue to perform at a high level, their deep playoff run may not be as unlikely as it seems.

Is the Chiefs offense returning to its best?

Since Patrick Mahomes burst onto the scene, discussions about how NFL offenses are changing have centered on whether Kansas City can regain its former sharpness. This season confirms that their offense is once again firing with renewed vigor.

After a slow start, the season finally took off: on Sunday the Chiefs crushed the Las Vegas Raiders 31-0. Kansas City has been scoring more than 30 points in four straight games – something that has happened only six times in the previous two seasons. Rashee Rice’s return from a six-game suspension added variety: Xavier Worthy has been progressing, Travis Kelce has become more active, and Isiah Pacheco adds resolve. In the game Mahomes threw three touchdowns – two to Rice, one to Marquise Brown – and Pacheco added another rushing score. It was Mahomes’ 28th career game with three TD passes and no interceptions, placing him among the best starts of the last ten seasons.

Additionally, this is Mahomes’ 93rd regular-season win – more than Peyton Manning had for the most regular-season wins by players under 31. After that, Reid emphasized the importance of Rice’s return to the lineup in supporting the offense.

He did a great job. I was a bit cautious with his reps. I figured he would come out and perform at a high level after such a long absence.

– Andy Reid

Although the Chiefs’ current record sits at 4-3 and they are not leading the AFC, their offensive revival challenges the competition. Whether they can climb back to the top remains to be seen.