Scouting the OL/DL Matchups: Week 7

Who had Brian Callahan as the first coach to be fired this season? Tennessee wasted no time letting the second-year head coach go after a 1-5 start and an uninspired (except against Arizona) first six games of Cam Ward’s career. For me, the final straw was Jeffery Simmons saying the team had its worst week of practice leading up to the 20-10 loss to Las Vegas. The record was bad enough, but no owner wants one of their best players to air dirty laundry.

Immediately after Week 6 seems like a quick trigger to me. Callahan didn’t do much to save his job, but he was saddled with a roster devoid of talent in many areas. Ward’s slow start didn’t help Callahan’s case either. The first overall pick has thrown three touchdowns and four interceptions, averaging just 183.5 yards in six games. Callahan walked into a bad situation, made things worse, and ultimately didn’t show enough signs of improvement this season. That’s life in the NFL.

So the Titans are 0-1 in head coaching hires post-Mike Vrabel, and they get a visit from their old friend this week. I’m not breaking down the trench matchup for that game, but I think it’s easy to predict that the Patriots will put a hurting on the Titans.

Week 7 features multiple games between likely playoff teams and a Miami-Cleveland matchup where something has to give. This week also includes the final London game and the final Monday night doubleheader. Hopefully, you’re in the thick of your league’s playoff race!

Enjoy Week 7!

WEEK 7 OL/DL MATCHUPS

IND @ LAC — COLTS OL vs CHARGERS DL — MATCHUP TO EXPLOIT

Is this a playoff preview in Week 7? Indianapolis has gone from the league’s biggest early surprise to a bona fide threat in the AFC thanks to Jonathan Taylor and Daniel Jones. Meanwhile, Los Angeles needed late-game heroics from Justin Herbert and Ladd McConkey to get by the hapless Dolphins and stop a three-game skid. This game has the makings of an old-school slugfest.

Stop me if I’ve said this before, but Taylor and the Colts’ rushing attack is a wagon. The league’s leading rusher comes off 123 yards and draws the Chargers’ struggling run defense. With Khalil Mack and Da’Shawn Hand on IR, Teair Tart leads a very young Los Angeles defensive line. This unit has been below average against both man and zone concepts, and I’d expect a heavy dose of direct runs facing Indianapolis. Not much has changed for the Colts’ run game since I highlighted them a couple of weeks ago, and a good ground game typically travels. Keep betting on Taylor until someone stops him.

Despite not having Mack since a Week 2 elbow injury, the Chargers have a consistently effective pass rush. The passing game will be the more interesting aspect of this trench matchup, as Jones has been sacked just five times. Tuli Tuipulotu will have his work cut out against LT Bernhard Raimann and RT Braden Smith, but the Chargers have other pieces that can cause chaos for Jones.

TLDR: Keep riding Jonathan Taylor and the Colts’ run game against a weak Los Angeles run defense. Daniel Jones has been on fire this season, thanks to only taking five sacks through six games, but the Chargers’ better-than-expected pass rush could cause some issues. I like the Colts’ ground game to travel this week.

GB @ ARI — PACKERS OL vs CARDINALS DL — MATCHUP TO EXPLOIT

The Packers didn’t blow the doors off the now Joe Flacco-led Bengals, but were firmly in control of their first game back from the bye. Arizona got its best quarterback performance of the season (from Jacoby Brissett), but still fell to the Colts last week. I like Green Bay to keep rolling, although playing on the road should keep things interesting.

Jordan Love has been excellent for the Packers through the team’s first five games. However, Josh Jacobs is the engine that makes Green Bay’s offense run. While he hasn’t lit up the stat sheet every week, Jacobs has been a consistent, balanced producer who can grind out meaningful yards to keep the Packers on schedule. His man vs. zone scheme yardage totals are virtually equal, but Jacobs has thrived with Green Bay’s downhill rushing attack. Running behind RT Zach Tom has been particularly effective, and I don’t see Arizona’s veteran defensive line slowing Jacobs down.

Back to Love. Green Bay’s passing game has come alive with the emergence of Matthew Golden. The rookie adds a layer of speed at all three levels the Packers haven’t had in a while, and Love has developed trust with his new weapon. This is all possible, thanks to Green Bay’s offensive line keeping Love upright. Watching the tape, Love gets himself into trouble just as much, if not more than, his OL does, but Arizona has been sneaky good at generating pressure this season. Josh Sweat and the ageless Calais Campbell lead this unit; however, the group is in the bottom third for sacks. Love will have to move around some this week, but he should be able to function.

TLDR: Green Bay’s offense is rolling, and the Cardinals are on a four-game losing streak. Look for Josh Jacobs to keep grinding out meaningful yards against an Arizona front that’s weak against direct runs. The Cardinals have been good at generating pressure this season, but haven’t been able to finish that often. Jordan Love should stay hot.

CAR @ NYJ — PANTHERS OL vs JETS DL — MATCHUP TO EXPLOIT

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I like the Panthers’ offensive line again this week. This preview will focus heavily on the run game, as Carolina and Rico Dowdle have put on a masterclass over the last two weeks. Dowdle is arguably the hottest player in the NFL, and I’m riding with him and his OL against a New York defense that’s lost much of the bite it once had.

Dowdle is coming off 239 scrimmage yards (183 rushing), and draws a Jets’ run defense that’s been flat-out awful against zone runs. Carolina has succeeded most with direct runs in 2025 (where New York is significantly better), but Dowdle actually has a higher success rate running laterally. I don’t see why Carolina wouldn’t start the game with a healthy dose of Dowdle downhill runs, then adjust if the Jets stiffen up. I think New York’s roster is getting close to quitting time, so I’m not expecting much from the defensive front. LT Ikem Ekwonu anchors the line that is athletic enough to be effective zone blocking. However, the unit lost veteran RT Taylor Moton to an elbow injury in Week 5. Yosh Nijman did well filling in last week, but we’ll see if the play calling changes at all against a (slightly) better run defense. Keep betting on Dowdle.

New York’s pass rush has fallen off further than its run defense this season. The Jets only have eight sacks through six games and a bottom-quarter pressure rate. Quinnen Williams and Jermaine Johnson still anchor the unit, but the days of Robert Saleh’s “All Gas, No Brakes” defense are gone. This sets up well for Bryce Young, who is making just enough plays to hold onto his job. This week will be a tougher test on the road, but a steady dose of the Dowdle-led rushing attack should loosen things up for Young in the passing game.

TLDR: The Carolina Panthers, Rico Dowdle specifically, are hot and travel to a beleaguered Jets team this week. Keep starting Dowdle until a defense stops him (it won’t be this week). Bryce Young isn’t great on the road, but New York’s pass rush isn’t close to what it once was.

TB @ DET — BUCCANEERS OL vs LIONS DL — SPLIT MATCHUP

Will this be the week that Baker Mayfield finally looks human? The MVP front-runner has been on a tear since the 2025 season began, but Tampa Bay faces a tough Detroit defense on the road. Tampa’s offensive line has been beat up all season and is still without RT Luke Goedeke and RG Cody Mauch. Meanwhile, Detroit is dealing with secondary injuries again, but the front seven have remained relatively healthy and aggressive. This should be the best game of the weekend.

Tampa Bay’s patchwork offensive line was below-average through the first four games, but Mayfield’s heroics pulled multiple wins from the jaws of defeat. The Bucs have had a middling run offense all season. Missing Mauch, Goedeke, and Tristan Wirfs for three games will do that. However, they have been great with direct, man-scheme runs, which is where Detroit has (very slightly) struggled. Aidan Hutchinson and D.J. Reader should have something to say about that this week. Tampa Bay will likely grind out some yards on the ground, but Detroit’s DL will control the ground game.

The Lions should also have the pass-rush edge, but I’m split on this part of the matchup because of Mayfield. He’s been one of the league’s best under pressure through six games, and having the same starting five (albeit not the intended group) for the last three weeks should make Mayfield more comfortable in the pocket. I’d expect Hutchinson to be lined up across from RT Charlie Heck often this week, but Tampa Bay will likely have a plan to help its backup tackle. Detroit will create chaos for Mayfield, but I think his OL will give him just enough time to operate and make things interesting on Sunday Night Football.

TLDR: Detroit and Tampa Bay should be the game of the weekend as both teams look to assert their dominance in the NFC. Tampa’s rushing attack hasn’t been good overall, but has found success with man-scheme runs. However, Detroit’s front should control the ground game. Baker Mayfield’s MVP start to the season has been fun to watch, and I’m giving him and the patchwork Tampa OL the benefit of the doubt this week. That said, the Lions’ pass rush should cause some chaos.