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Sunday, October 28
Updated: October 30, 11:33 AM ET
 
Impressive win lifts Raiders

By Tom Jackson
Special to ESPN.com

Here's my quick review of everything we saw in Week 7 of the 2001 NFL season:

TJ'S TOP 10 W-L TJ SAYS
1. Raiders 5-1 Efficient win at Philly vaults Raiders into top spot.
2. Rams 6-1 Eight turnovers at home against the Saints.
3. Steelers 5-1 Most complete effort of season in rout of Titans.
4. Packers 4-2 Bye-week to rest before visit from Buccaneers.
5. Bears 5-1 Defense is more than Brian Urlacher.
6. Saints 4-2 Rebounded from loss to Falcons to stun Rams.
7. Chargers 5-2 Escaped with their football lives vs. Bills.
8. 49ers 4-2 Blew big lead at Chicago in stunning OT loss.
9. Browns 4-2 Week off to prepare for "Monsters of the Midway."
10. Eagles 3-3 First place in the dreadful NFC East.

Offensive player of the week:
Bengals running back Corey Dillon. Rushed for 184 yards and two touchdowns, plus caught a touchdown pass, in Cincinnati's win. His 96-yard touchdown run on the team's first play from scrimmage was the franchise's longest play from scrimmage.

Defensive player of the week:
Saints free safety Sammy Knight. Eight tackles, one sack and a pair of interceptions, two of New Orleans' eight takeaways in a 34-31 win at St. Louis.

Special team player of the week:
Redskins kick returner Eric Metcalf. Returned a punt for a touchdown, his NFL-record 12th kick return for a score, not bad for a guy who didn't play in 2000 and sat out half of this season.

Number of the week:
17. The number of turnovers the Rams have committed in their last three losses to the Saints (including playoffs) dating back to last season.

Surprise of the week:
Redskins over Giants. Jim Fassel’s team looked disinterested at FedEx Field after a pair of one-point losses to the Rams and Eagles.

Coaching move of the week:
Gregg Williams. The Bills look much better than during their 0-4 start and were game indeed against the Chargers, but Buffalo's special teams betrayed them in a 27-24 loss at San Diego.

Rising this week:
Oakland Raiders. Now the real test comes as the Silver and Black looks to snap a 7-game losing streak to the Broncos.

Falling this week:
New York Giants. Three straight losses as the defense and special teams failed to show up in Washington.

Store it away:
Bengals have not only equaled last year’s win total (4), but are ensured of their first non-losing first half since starting 5-3 in 1990, their last playoff season.

Tom Jackson is an NFL analyst for ESPN.







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