Who's up, who's down, what's next for each team?

Welcome to the best week of football we've had so far in the 2024 NFL season.

While last Sunday's slate was pretty monotonous, Week 7 is full of fascinating encounters. At the start, the Minnesota Vikings (5-0) host the Detroit Lions (4-1) and lead the NFC North. Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers (4-2) welcome the Houston Texans (5-1), with both teams fielding two of the league's best young quarterbacks.

The late window features a Super Bowl rematch between the San Francisco 49ers (3-3) and the Kansas City Chiefs (5-0) at Levi's Stadium. Kyle Shanahan is hoping to beat the Chiefs for the first time as a head coach after losing their last four games, including two Super Bowls.

Then on Sunday night, Davante Adams makes his debut with the New York Jets (2-4) as they visit the Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2), who start Russell Wilson in place of Justin Fields.

But we start in London, where the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5) concluded their two-week stay with a win over the New England Patriots (1-6).

SUNDAY

My opinion: Jacksonville (2-5) might have saved Doug Pederson's job for now. The Jaguars defeated New England (1-6) on Sunday morning in London, ending their two-game trip abroad. Now Jacksonville has five games remaining against the Packers, Philadelphia Eagles, Vikings, Lions and Texans. As for the Patriots, Drake Maye's development is the only thing to worry about right now, and he's looking good. Maye threw two touchdowns and rushed for 276 yards. It wasn't a stellar performance, but it was solid for his second career NFL performance.

Create stock: Brian Thomas Jr. is one of the few consistent bright spots in an otherwise dismal year for the Jaguars. A first-round pick out of LSU, Thomas caught five passes for 89 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. This season he has showcased his outstanding skills, recording 30 receptions for 513 yards and four scores.

Inventory reduced: It's still very early in his coaching career, but an early return isn't exactly great for Jerod Mayo. What exactly does New England do well? The Patriots were troubled by good offenses (think San Francisco and Houston). Conversely, their own offense was terrible. On Sunday, the Patriots couldn't throw or run against one of the league's worst units on a Jacksonville team that started the morning ranked 31st.

Next: Jets at Patriots, 1 p.m. ET, October 27; Packers at Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET, October 27

THURSDAY

My opinion: New Orleans (2-5) must conduct a fire sale. Regardless of what they do, the Saints have been devastated for years thanks to the most irresponsible salary cap management we've ever seen in North American sports. In the meantime, general manager Mickey Loomis should start collecting draft picks for a generational move. After the loss to Denver (4-3), it is clear that the Saints have no future in 2024. And considering how they've handled their finances by repeatedly putting guaranteed money on the back burner, there's only hope for a semi-quick turnaround leading to players being sold at the November 5 trade deadline.

Create stock: Denver’s defensive front deserves a lot of credit. The Broncos recorded six sacks on Thursday night, giving them a league-best 28 sacks of the season. Only the Giants are less than seven sacks away from that total. While Denver is extremely limited offensively, their defense gives them a chance in almost every game.

Inventory reduced: Dennis Allen. Yes, the Saints have been hit by injuries, particularly on offense. But New Orleans has fallen absurdly short in its five-game losing streak. At least 450 yards were allowed in three of those games, and against the Broncos, 389 yards were given up at 6.4 yards per play.

Next: Panthers at Broncos, 4:25 p.m. ET October 27; Saints at Chargers, 4:05 p.m. ET, October 27