NFL WEEK 7 CAPSULES
CAROLINA (3-2) AT EAGLES (3-3) Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
OPENING LINE: Eagles by 4
SERIES: Eagles, 7-4
LAST MEETING: Eagles, 28-23, 2017 PANTHERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (22), RUSH (4), PASS (26)
PANTHERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (14T), RUSH (15), PASS (15)
EAGLES OFFENSE: OVERALL (18), RUSH
(14), PASS (20)
EAGLES DEFENSE: OVERALL (12), RUSH
(2), PASS (23)
FANTASY TIP: Christian McCaffrey might not pile up a ton of yards rushing vs. Eagles but he should catch plenty of passes and pile up total yards.
ETC.: Panthers coach Ron Rivera was Eagles linebackers coach 1999-2003.
... Panthers WR Torrey Smith started for Eagles last season . ... Panthers face third straight NFC East opponent . ... QB Cam Newton has been sacked only eight times. Newton leads NFL with 115.7 passer rating in red zone to go with five TDs passing and three TDs rushing . ... McCaffrey has 587 scrimmage yards but only one TD . ... LB Luke Kuechly has 67 tackles, sack, forced fumble, fumble recovery and two interceptions, including 49-yard TD return, in last eight vs. NFC East . ... LB Thomas Davis plays second game after serving four-game suspension for violating league’s policy on performance enhancers . ... DE Mario Addison has seven sacks in his past eight road games . ... Eagles are 17-4 at home since 2016 . ... Eagles have ranked first in time of possession since coach Doug Pederson arrived . ... Eagles rank first in opponent red-zone TD efficiency at
34.8 percent . ... Carson Wentz has thrown at least one TD in last 19 games played, longest streak in franchise history and secondlongest active streak behind Andrew Luck
(28) . ... Wentz has thrown 133 consecutive passes without a pick. His longest streak is
135 passes . ... RB Darren Sproles expected to return after missing five games with hamstring injury . ... Zach Ertz ranks second in receptions (48) behind Adam Thielen (58) and leads all TEs in yards (480).
DETROIT (2-3) AT MIAMI (4-2) Sunday, 1 p.m.
OPENING LINE: Lions by 1 SERIES: Dolphins, 7-4
LAST MEETING: Lions, 20-16, 2014
FANTASY TIP: Frank Gore could have big day against Lions’ shaky run defense, especially if they tire in 90-degree subtropical sunshine.
ETC.: Lions’ coverages rank last in NFL on punts and sixth worst on kickoffs. Dolphins rank second in kickoff return average and third in punt return average . ... Lions’ Matt Stafford is trying for fifth game in row with at least two TD passes and 100 passer rating . ... Dolphins are tied for AFC East lead even though they’ve been outgained by 398 yards.
HOUSTON (3-3) AT JACKSONVILLE (3-3) Sunday, 1 p.m.
OPENING LINE: Jags by 5 SERIES: Texans, 19-13
LAST MEETING: Jags, 45-7, 2017
FANTASY TIP: Texans WR Keke Coutee worth starting against Jaguars’ defense. Rookie has 20 catches for 193 yards and TD in three games.
ETC.: Houston’s DeAndre Hopkins needs 120 yards receiving to break own franchise mark for most yards (776) through first seven games. Hopkins also goes for third straight on road with at least 100 yards and TD . ... QB Blake Bortles has thrown for at least 300 yards in four of last six home games. He has 13 TD passes and two INTs in those six games. NEW ENGLAND (4-2)
AT CHICAGO (3-2) Sunday, 1 p.m.
OPENING LINE: Patriots by 3 SERIES: Patriots, 9-4
LAST MEETING: Patriots, 5123, 2014
FANTASY TIP: Rob Gronkowski figures to be more involved after catching just three passes against Kansas City. Bears don’t have height in the secondary to handle 6-foot-6 Gronkowski. ETC.: Tom Brady is 4-0 vs. Bears, one of five teams he has yet to lose to. Others are Atlanta (5-0), Dallas (4-0), Minnesota (4-0) and Tampa Bay (4-0) . ... Gronkowski has 381 yards receiving in his past four road games . ... Bears RB Tarik Cohen is aiming for third straight game with at least 100 yards from scrimmage.