Here are three takeaways from the Week 7 of the NFL season.

Magnificent Manning
Peyton Manning didn’t just shatter the NFL’s all-time passing touchdown record, he also did it in style by carving up San Francisco. His numbers won’t be the same as last year’s historic attack, but he looks no worse off and the defence has only gotten better around him.

Even the most devout Tom Brady supporter knows Manning is one of the top quarterbacks to ever play the game and arguably at the very top, but if he adds a second ring, it will be hard to argue there’s ever been anyone better. And no one understands that more than Manning.

Headache Harvin

Consider what the Seattle Seahawks gave up to acquire Percy Harvin from the Minnesota Vikings last season and how much of a problem he must have been for them to have bailed on him just five games into what was supposed to be his first full season in the northwest.

He’s an electric playmaker and Seattle did what they could to get the ball in his hands, but when your quarterback’s favourite target is the open man and defence is your strength, Harvin’s services aren’t worth three draft picks and the $19 million (Dh69.79m) you paid for eight games.

The New York Jets only had to give up a conditional sixth round pick to take a chance on Harvin and he adds a much-needed element, but Seattle were smart to move on rather than be stubborn. Now, the Seahawks have additional cap space to dedicate to Russell Wilson when he comes off his extremely cheap rookie deal this offseason, as well as the chance to develop their young receivers.

Rams pull out all the stops

St. Louis coach Jeff Fisher hasn’t been shy about being creative on special teams in the past and he definitely wasn’t this week. The Rams pulled off a really cool misdirection on a punt return that resulted in a touchdown, but that was only half of it.

After the Seahawks defence appeared to make a crucial stop in the final minutes to earn one more drive for their offence, St. Louis faked the punt and threw for a first down to (almost) ice the game.

Had they messed up at all, they would have surely lost with the ball deep in their own territory and Seattle needing only a field goal for the win. More teams and coaches should be that aggressive and less steadfast with typical, outdated conventions.