Week 7 scoring is heating up through Sunday's early window. The leaders are putting up numbers that separate contenders from pretenders at the halfway point.
Specific scorelines and individual performances matter here. Teams winning shootouts stay in playoff position. Teams getting outscored fall behind fast. The early games Sunday set the tone for the afternoon slate.
Offenses executing efficiently dominate the leaderboard. Defense struggles show up in the totals. Backup quarterbacks stepping in either deliver or get exposed. Running backs getting volume pile up points regardless of average yards per carry.
Weather plays a factor in some regions. Wind affects passing games. Rain slows ground attacks. Dome games stay predictable.
The scoring leaders through Sunday's 4 p.m. kickoffs reflect which teams came prepared and which ones didn't show up. Playoff positioning shifts based on these numbers. Teams chasing wild card spots cannot afford another loss. Contenders pulling away build confidence heading into the second half.
Check the box scores. The gap between first place and fifth place in the AFC or NFC widens after games like these.