Full Transcript for Power Rankings Post NFL Week 4: The Tom Brady Mouth Kiss Episode

opening to the NFL season. 00:04:34.720 --> 00:04:35.759 Mike, I'll go to you first. 00:04:36.319 --> 00:04:41.519 Which one of these teams, if you gun to your hat to cross off, would you do it? 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:42.720 And do you think it's possible? 00:04:42.879 --> 00:04:46.240 Could we possibly cross have five teams crossed off after week four? 00:04:46.639 --> 00:04:49.120 Yeah, I would absolutely cross off the Chargers. 00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:51.199 Um, you know how I feel about Justin Herbert. 00:04:51.519 --> 00:04:52.879 Unsurprised that he said that. 00:04:53.279 --> 00:05:02.079 It feels like Harbaugh is cooked, like he just he he's not the coaching guru that everyone thought um that he was. 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:10.399 And my thing with Tampa Bay, they're owing four, but they're only two games back of first place in that division. 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:14.319 So I I'm just not willing. 00:05:14.560 --> 00:05:23.759 Uh knowing what we know about Baker and really what we know about the uh the Saints and the Falcons, um, I'm not ready to write them off just yet. 00:05:23.839 --> 00:05:30.720 But I'd be 1000% willing, ready and able to write off the Chargers. 00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:32.399 Okay. 00:05:32.720 --> 00:05:34.560 I mean, I guess I get it. 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:36.319 It's not my first instinct. 00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:38.959 If you look at the numbers, it's a little damning. 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:46.879 The Chargers have scored 14 points, 14 points, 16 points, and then miraculously 23 points across their four losses this season. 00:05:47.120 --> 00:06:03.920 The completion completion percentage crowd, I mean, mostly Jordan Love fans, very quiet all of a sudden this year, um, would be up in arms at his 59.7%, 816 yards across four games, four touchdowns, six picks, and a 70.6 passer rating. 00:06:04.079 --> 00:06:05.920 He's been sacked 12 times. 00:06:06.240 --> 00:06:10.480 Seattle got three turnovers from him, two picks and a fumble. 00:06:10.639 --> 00:06:12.800 I there are a lot of penalties. 00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:19.120 There's no angle, Zach, where you can sort of say secretly these guys are playing great, right? 00:06:19.199 --> 00:06:24.560 Like they're minus 39, the quarterback's playing badly by his standards, by anybody's standards. 00:06:24.720 --> 00:06:28.879 They're three games behind Kansas City, and Vegas is three and one in that division. 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:31.279 The AFC wildcard route is crowded. 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:35.279 All right, do you support Mike's position here on this these Los Angeles Chargers? 00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:38.079 As surprising as this situation we find ourselves in is. 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:40.800 Yeah, and and I will piggyback on that too. 00:06:40.959 --> 00:07:05.199 In terms of the NFC South has just always been garbage, and you're gonna have a team with a losing record when it feels like the AFC West has just been so competitive and so dominant from top to bottom for years that if you have a rough start like this, you're kind of out of it already, just by default, because you know the other three teams are gonna be fighting for um not just the division, but even the other two wildcard spots. 00:07:05.279 --> 00:07:08.959 So to write off the chargers, I would uh I'd go ahead and do so. 00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:10.160 Um with Mike, though. 00:07:10.319 --> 00:07:11.839 Not ready to do that with the Bucks. 00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:14.879 Matt, I I mean they're they're your rankings. 00:07:14.959 --> 00:07:16.879 Are we are we putting these fuckers out to pass here? 00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:17.839 Uh no. 00:07:17.920 --> 00:07:20.319 If I were to pick a team done in my head, it'd be the Steelers. 00:07:20.399 --> 00:07:20.879 I hate them. 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:22.399 I hate the quarterback. 00:07:22.560 --> 00:07:23.839 Uh I hate their last coach. 00:07:24.079 --> 00:07:25.279 This new coach is okay. 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:27.920 Um but yeah, no, I'm not ready to cross off the Chargers. 00:07:28.079 --> 00:07:37.199 I just I I just have this earnest belief that Herbert has something in his arm that he can turn this around if the offensive line turns around, if the running steps it up. 00:07:37.759 --> 00:07:42.000 There's just not that many ifs that change this team from a disaster to something competitive. 00:07:42.639 --> 00:07:46.240 Matt, he's got a lot of things in his arm, he's just got nothing in his pants. 00:07:46.399 --> 00:07:47.759 You can write this fucking team off. 00:07:48.399 --> 00:07:54.000 Okay, so that feels like we're crossing off a whole gender of players for quarterback. 00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:54.879 I don't love that. 00:07:55.120 --> 00:07:59.839 Um I tried to write off the Jaguars week five last year. 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:01.439 Like advocated for it. 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:02.879 What do we do? 00:08:03.279 --> 00:08:11.120 Like I can't justify a 13-point loss to the reigning the Super Bowl champion doesn't feel like they deserved it this week. 00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:13.759 I I but I'll follow the lead. 00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:14.319 I'm a follower. 00:08:14.480 --> 00:08:16.319 I give into peer pressure, so whatever you guys think. 00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:29.199 Well, I also it doesn't help having it doesn't have help having Mike McDonald, and you're supposed to uh you know have a revamp offensive minded guru and uh you know looks even worse this year. 00:08:29.360 --> 00:08:32.559 It's just between that Harbor looks like he's a cooked coach. 00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:36.000 Uh it's yeah, Harbor's out there looking like Joe Biden during those last debates. 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:36.960 It's it's not good. 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:39.840 He looks like everything I always said he was. 00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:42.159 He's just uh he's a little brother and he sucks. 00:08:42.399 --> 00:08:42.720 Yeah. 00:08:42.960 --> 00:08:43.600 Yeah, but you know what? 00:08:43.679 --> 00:08:44.240 Let's keep

him. 00:08:44.320 --> 00:08:44.720 You're right. 00:08:44.799 --> 00:08:46.240 With great sales pitch, Matt. 00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:48.159 Oh he said he said he'd follow the leader. 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:49.279 He said he said he'd follow you. 00:08:49.679 --> 00:08:51.600 I'll smoke your cigarette down the garden path. 00:08:52.240 --> 00:08:54.799 Um all right, combined in the Los Angeles Chargers. 00:08:54.879 --> 00:09:01.200 Honestly, watching them is about as awkward as it was watching Tom Brady mouth kiss his son that time uh in that video. 00:09:01.279 --> 00:09:04.240 Uh, I don't know if you guys remember that when he was doing like a front massage. 00:09:04.480 --> 00:09:05.919 That was uh was that Tom vs. 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:06.720 Time it was called. 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:07.279 It was. 00:09:07.679 --> 00:09:09.360 That was Tom versus the allegations. 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:14.720 I so I immediately once I came out, I immediately tweeted out more like Tom versus Child Services. 00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:15.759 Yeah, yeah. 00:09:15.919 --> 00:09:17.200 It was it was weird. 00:09:17.519 --> 00:09:20.639 Did you guys see Tom in that game shitting on the Chargers? 00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:21.679 He really gave it to them too. 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:23.120 He kissed them right in the mouth as well. 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:23.919 Yeah, yeah. 00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:33.440 I feel like he should when they're doing those gimmicks, you know, it's like Tom's whatever, you know, he should be like, this is gonna be this week's Tom, Tom's awkward mouth kiss. 00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:37.519 Okay, and I'm giving my awkward mouth kiss to the Los Angeles Chargers, okay? 00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:40.480 Come on over here, Jimmy Harbs, plant one on me. 00:09:40.559 --> 00:09:41.200 What do I get? 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:42.000 What do I get? 00:09:42.159 --> 00:09:43.200 Front massage. 00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:43.679 Okay. 00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:45.919 That's not gonna be that's the second time I've brought that up. 00:09:46.799 --> 00:09:47.440 Spoiler alert. 00:09:47.759 --> 00:09:48.879 It won't be the last. 00:09:49.679 --> 00:09:50.879 It will be coming up again. 00:09:51.039 --> 00:09:55.360 I was I was unceremoniously served that video today, naturally on my algo. 00:09:55.759 --> 00:10:01.279 Uh, speak of that, which you will, but now everyone has to hear about it because I'd forgotten about it and it made me feel deeply uncomfortable. 00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:04.960 So um Miami Dolphins are crossed. 00:10:05.360 --> 00:10:07.679 The Texans, the Titans are crossed. 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:12.240 We have to have a conversation now about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Houston Texans. 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:17.039 I'm still, I'm still, I can't cross the Texans off. 00:10:17.120 --> 00:10:19.440 I I understand that it looks really fucking bad. 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:25.919 I I but they they looked like they had a little bit of a pulse for a second there uh this past weekend, right? 00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:28.960 I mean, it it's sort of the opposite of the Chargers situation. 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:34.720 When you go into the metrics, it's like some of these games might actually be able to go a different way. 00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:42.320 I mean, the they've three of these losses, five-point margin, three point two-point margin, and a four-point margin, it looks like. 00:10:42.559 --> 00:10:47.840 Stroud's over a thousand yards, five touchdowns, no interceptions in these losses. 00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:51.759 Um, he finally looked like himself, I think, against the Cowboys. 00:10:51.919 --> 00:10:55.759 21 to 31, 347, two touchdowns, 126.7. 00:10:56.399 --> 00:11:02.399 Houston led for the majority of the game before surrendering the winning TD with 40 seconds left. 00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:04.320 And you know, me and Matt discussed this last week. 00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:08.480 It's not as if the this Cowboys offense, as much as I'm sure Mike, you're loath to admit it. 00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:11.360 It's not it's not as if this Cowboys offense looks anemic in any way. 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:13.039 Like they're they look like they can score on anybody. 00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:28.639 So I think there is a case, Jacksonville already being three and one, they would really need a big like they need to go at 11-1, basically, for the remainder of the season, but it's still it's gotta be too early to cross them off, right, Zach? 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:32.720 I mean, is it is it is this uh is this a we we can't cross all these teams off. 00:11:32.799 --> 00:11:33.440 Sure, I will. 00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:34.480 I'll get fucking crazy. 00:11:34.559 --> 00:11:35.440 You want to get nuts? 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:36.399 Let's get nuts. 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:44.639 But if we're being shut up, Matt, if we're being reasonable, we gotta leave the Texans on the board. 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:47.360 I mean, if you want to be reasonable, sure. 00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:56.799 Um, but it's very hard to go from having this all-time defense last year and very elite defense, and rightfully so. 00:11:56.960 --> 00:11:59.440 They deserved all the praise in the world last year. 00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:04.720 Um, and then have this 0-4 star with a somewhat shaky looking defense. 00:12:04.960 --> 00:12:07.519 It's I'm I'm with you. 00:12:07.600 --> 00:12:09.600 I'm not quite sure I'm ready to write them off. 00:12:09.840 --> 00:12:11.840 There's another team in the division that's 0-4. 00:12:12.159 --> 00:12:16.559 I know we wrote them off, but again, that gives you hope to climb in the standings. 00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:20.639 AFC South has always been a uh kind of a dumpster fire as well. 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:33.679 So in terms of having a chance, I think they might have a chance, but um, but I also wouldn't blame anyone here if they wanted to write off the Texans either. 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:37.600 Does anybody have a case for for a

strong case for writing them off? 00:12:37.679 --> 00:12:41.200 Otherwise, I'm gonna give them another stay of execution, a week, another week. 00:12:41.519 --> 00:12:44.080 Um it's similar with the Bucks. 00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:47.919 Uh, I mean, they're the weirdest, I think, of the teams we've talked about so far. 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:50.879 They all four losses have been by seven points or fewer. 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:56.639 They're minus 20, which is uh is survivable if you compare it to like Miami. 00:12:56.879 --> 00:13:01.440 Um, they held Green Bay to 283 yards, but like that's not really an impressive feat. 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:02.960 Uh Baker's out. 00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:07.200 Jalen Daniels, uh yeah, he looked bad. 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:11.519 Like, to be honest, it doesn't look like that's gonna really be anything. 00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:15.759 Antoine Winfield Jr.'s out for two to four weeks with a fractured rib, it looks like. 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:17.840 Close losses are still losses. 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:20.879 Um, their offense is moving in the wrong direction. 00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:25.440 You know, it's not as if they're building any sort of momentum that we could really make a case for. 00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:28.240 I mean, what's the best case scenario for a playoff win? 00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:35.840 Like nine and four was would be the minimum uh over the course of the next uh uh 13 weeks to finish this season off. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:38.159 So, I mean, they've been competitive, you know. 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:45.200 I test wise, I might I might be convinced to give them another week, but Mike, what what's what's what do we do with this Tampa Bay Buccaneers team? 00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:47.759 And they're they're another letdown, you know, there's a theme here. 00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:50.240 You gotta keep them because that division's so weak. 00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:54.720 Uh they could still like that they could literally win that division with eight games. 00:13:54.799 --> 00:13:57.360 And didn't Carolina make the playoffs last year with a losing record? 00:13:57.519 --> 00:13:58.399 And then, yeah. 00:13:58.559 --> 00:14:02.080 So I I just think the offense will figure it out. 00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:06.320 I think they are struggling to uh with their identity without Mike Evans. 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:12.799 They clearly thought that one of their other wide receivers was a was a number one, they're not ready yet. 00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:14.399 He's really irreplaceable. 00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:16.799 I mean, you could I I feel like you you could have seen that coming. 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:18.399 Like he's kind of one of one. 00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:21.200 If it wasn't for Drake London, he'd be one of one. 00:14:22.559 --> 00:14:29.039 Well, I but I believe in out of out of out of everyone in that division, I believe in Baker. 00:14:29.440 --> 00:14:34.080 Like he's the quarterback that I would pick that say that that they can turn it around. 00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:39.360 Um yeah, I just I don't think no, if they go one and six, yeah, you can write them off at that point. 00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:41.759 But oh and four, they can still turn it around. 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:42.399 All right. 00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:44.159 We're keeping an eye on him. 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:55.679 Matt, other than the Steelers, I would say the waiting room, the the guys waiting to come into this conversation over the next couple of weeks are the Cardinals and the Jets. 00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:58.960 Now, you and I had a conversation about the Cardinals being frisky. 00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:03.519 I feel less sure about that, having watched them over the weekend. 00:15:03.679 --> 00:15:05.679 They lost to the Giants 36-24. 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:09.039 They're playing Detroit next in a must-win bounce back game for Detroit. 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:12.080 They pushed San Francisco to 36 and 36-30. 00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:24.559 Like they lost by six in a sort of a comeback fashion against, or not sort of, in a comeback fashion against San Francisco, the team we kind of unanimously think is, I think, probably the best or at least top three in the NFL right now. 00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:29.440 So I think that made us seem like made us think that they were a little frisky, but I'm losing faith. 00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:30.080 What about you? 00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:34.559 I mean, I I don't think they're cross-off eligible yet, but it's gonna be a conversation in the coming months, coming weeks. 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:36.480 They're certainly getting close. 00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:46.000 I mean, it's not just that they lost, it's you lost to the Giants, who lost their start their star, their starting quarterback, and you lost on a late pick six. 00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:47.200 Hate to see that. 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:51.039 That causes damage that I don't think we all see like beneath the surface. 00:15:51.200 --> 00:15:52.480 Uh, I don't like how they looked. 00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:56.879 They didn't look competent, and we've had faith in the players that are not appearing on the field right now. 00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:58.159 They're getting close. 00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:03.120 As far as the Jets go, I'm willing to wait again to even really have a conversation about them. 00:16:03.200 --> 00:16:06.960 I think losing Chicago is probably going to be something a lot of teams do this season. 00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:21.360 And I think that losing to Cleveland next week and put to putting them at one and four, we have to start to discuss the New York Jets, who again also we thought were maybe looking a little frisky, but uh the frisk is is in, and uh we didn't find any weapons on it. 00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:22.159 Mike, what do you think? 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:25.600 The Jets have a better point differential than the Patriots. 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:28.480 So I do think that they hang in tight.

00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:31.679 Um, I don't think they're as bad as the record would indicate. 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:45.600 And I'm I'm not looking for them to, you know, to win uh eight games or anything, but I do think there are objectively worse teams that we could look at and say, I I would I would much rather write them off now instead of New York. 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:56.320 I mean, teams like the Commanders and the Saints, I I like again, uh teams I thought were gonna be better, teams I thought were gonna be at least able to sort of make some make some account of themselves. 00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:57.120 I was very interested. 00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:59.360 Could you bring the Saints to win two games? 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:04.319 Uh I I I meant after the first couple of games of this season, I was like, oh, it looks like they might have something here. 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:11.440 Like these are the conversations we've been having in the in the power rankings, you know, like, oh, well, maybe the Saints week one, they looked a little bit more spicy than we thought. 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:15.599 I would be very worried if I was a New Orleans fan after watching that Monday night football game. 00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:24.319 The Falcons, who we're actually gonna come on to talk about a little bit later, are consistently being given a platform to look good and not struggle. 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:33.680 Um, I I am getting a little bit of that inflated record, not as good as are gonna get Mollywapped week one of the playoffs if they make it, if they can sustain this from the Falcons. 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:37.759 But looking at that Saints offense, man, I it just didn't look good. 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:41.839 It didn't look like they picked the right offensive guru to be their head coach. 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:48.400 Um we we've had a lot of Kellen Moore conversations on this show uh due to his close association with the Dallas Cowboys over the years. 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:50.880 And I I don't know. 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:55.119 Uh it doesn't, it I think that QB might actually be pretty good. 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:57.279 I think he's got all the athletic tools. 00:17:57.440 --> 00:18:04.720 I think he's got um a decent pocket presence for like how they started to get to him in the second half, especially yesterday. 00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:08.079 Um, and I think he I think he might be able to actually do something. 00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:17.359 That being said, with the offensive weapons he had, I really I wanted him to put a little bit more of a performance on last night against the Falcons, who I'm I'm really suspicious of. 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:24.880 So they're maybe hovering around the conversation, Zach, of of uh possible cross-offs in the coming weeks, as well as the commanders. 00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:26.720 I mean, losing to Indy in the fashion that they did. 00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:29.599 I mean, I know their owner sits on the sidelines and has conversations. 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:31.119 That's been established, by the way. 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:32.640 I don't need to hear about that anymore. 00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:43.759 Like that's completely fine, and it's great for her, and I'm not saying anything bad about it, but it's um it's not a phenomenon that needs to be uh cut to and discussed on a fucking weekly basis. 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:46.720 Like she's sitting somewhere different than the other owners sit. 00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:50.079 It's not um, it's not fucking headline news, guys, at this point. 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:54.160 And I really there is a little bit of a vibe of um it's a lady though. 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:58.400 Look at the lady on the sidelines actual football man stuff. 00:18:58.480 --> 00:19:00.640 And I'm like, all right, yeah, like cool, whatever. 00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:06.480 Um, losing to the Colts uh if you're the commanders in that fashion is probably not a good sign. 00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:09.839 Uh the Seattle upset looks a bit like an outlier now. 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:19.440 Um so between the Saints and the Commanders, Zach, I I I wonder if you think if you could put your finger on who is more likely to be on the chopping block, at least on this podcast in the coming week. 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:24.160 Probably I mean like probably the Saints, I would say. 00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:27.920 Um like I said, game last night was not a good indicator. 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:32.400 Plus with the commanders, um should be getting Jane Jaden Daniels back. 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:33.119 What is he? 00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:35.759 Is he week to week now, or is he should be back soon? 00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:38.799 So I mean Yeah, I mean he's practicing, so right. 00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:43.359 So at least Washington has a chance to kind of turn things around. 00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:46.559 Uh it seems like with the Saints, they are who they are. 00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:48.960 So I don't know. 00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:54.319 I mean, I'm not I if you want me to pick one of them to say who who to put on the chopping block first, it'd probably be the Saints. 00:19:54.640 --> 00:19:59.039 Now you know that I like Jane Daniels more than you do, DK, right? 00:19:59.200 --> 00:20:00.720 But I don't dislike him. 00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:09.200 I can't you based on the same logic that we just talked about, you can't write off anyone in the NFC South until like week eight. 00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:10.720 It's creates weird, isn't it? 00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:12.240 It's fucking spooky down there. 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:26.559 So I mean based on but the the NFC East, like it feels like the Eagles are coming back down to Earth, but the last time they started two and two and they won the Super Bowl, um, so they could go on a run. 00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:29.119 It really comes down to who do you trust more? 00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:31.680 The commanders or the or the cowboys at

this point. 00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:34.000 And I can't believe I'm gonna say this. 00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:35.119 I trust the cowboys more. 00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:50.000 So I actually trust is a strange word to apply to Dallas, but and even with that very bad clock management loss to the Baltimore Ravens, I weirdly like am confident in their offense in a way that I've I've never been before. 00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:59.599 Like I know that they've always had weapons, and I know they've always been able to put together runs and been able to score, and they've always been a really kind of fun team to watch, to be honest, in the air. 00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:04.000 And I and I think a lot of that's still true, but there's something very competent about that offense. 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:15.759 There's there's this there's a stink of confidence coming off them a little bit this year that um competence, I should say, that that I that I've never really known the Dallas Cowboys to have, even with that very bad finish to in the Ravens game. 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:17.200 It didn't actually dent that for me. 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:19.279 So we'll we'll keep an eye on them. 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:21.519 Um I did think it was funny. 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:28.960 We're not gonna spend a ton of time on the next few teams because as I said, like this this middle of the pack is it's gonna be the same conversation on it with every single one. 00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:33.680 When we talk about the Falcons, the Colts, the Eagles, the Steelers, the Packers, it's gonna be like we don't know enough yet. 00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:36.559 We've seen them stink and we've seen them be good. 00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:41.039 What I will say was I did think it was funny that Aaron Rodgers was like, I should have just retired. 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:44.880 And you could really see him saying that in the lip reading. 00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:54.480 Like I saw a meme that was uh that picture of um Brendan Frazier in The Whale, the the movie about how like he's just a fat guy and that's bad. 00:21:54.640 --> 00:22:04.319 And uh it's he there's that one photo, the still of like him just sort of looking at the camera and like kind of Welling up, and it's like, this is just how Mike McCarthy looks at Aaron Rodgers all game. 00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:06.480 He's just like, please. 00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:18.400 Um, I think that my historical Tomlin take is improving week to week with watching uh Mike McCarthy try to hold this fucking collection of absolute divas together. 00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:26.880 Um, and him getting on with his Kermit the Frog voice in in the Sunday uh uh broadcast and and making really excellent points on a regular basis. 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:31.920 I I've been really enjoying that, but um that's all I really have to say about these middle of the pack teams. 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:34.880 Matt, Matt, it seems like you might want to chime in on the old Steelers there. 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:35.599 Shocking. 00:22:35.839 --> 00:22:36.559 I agree with you. 00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:37.839 All right, we should move past this. 00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:38.880 I just want to say, hey Mike. 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:40.240 Hey Mike, hey Mike. 00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:41.759 How about those Falcons, huh? 00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:43.920 Quarterback looks pretty good, doesn't he? 00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:44.880 Does he? 00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:45.839 Does he? 00:22:46.079 --> 00:22:47.039 I thought he looked pretty good. 00:22:47.359 --> 00:22:50.480 Didn't we just say that Saints have a terrible defense? 00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:51.519 Uh what about that? 00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:53.519 Good quarterbacks beat bad defenses. 00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:55.440 Oh, okay. 00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:56.480 Well, let's just see it. 00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:59.359 Let's see, let's see if he can play a 15-game season. 00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:01.039 Just listen for those footsteps, buddy. 00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:04.960 I know I know you got a little penny in your pants, but there's still a few years. 00:23:05.359 --> 00:23:08.319 Michael Panzer's still a 510. 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:10.559 Hey, it's an average pennix, okay? 00:23:10.640 --> 00:23:13.599 There's nothing, there's nothing to be whatever. 00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:15.519 Well, there's ligament damage. 00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:17.279 Ligament damage to your panics. 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:17.680 Whoa. 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:26.079 Oh, we're doing those jokes after after Drake May's performance this year. 00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:28.400 I would I would honestly I'd give you guys a mulligan. 00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:31.759 I'd I'll let you all exit the Caleb Williams joke sphere if you want. 00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:33.519 It doesn't have to be like this. 00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:35.279 It does not have to be like this. 00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:37.599 I don't think it's a good idea for you guys. 00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:38.880 Um, but whatever. 00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:39.599 You do you. 00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:41.519 I mean, if you you know, it I didn't start this. 00:23:41.599 --> 00:23:43.759 I just I didn't take I didn't I didn't draw first blood. 00:23:43.839 --> 00:23:44.400 That's all I'll say. 00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:45.519 Your best man did. 00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:46.079 Nope. 00:23:46.319 --> 00:23:47.039 No, you did. 00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:48.240 He just did it. 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:50.160 He just didn't sent the meme. 00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:51.200 You sent the meme. 00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:52.720 That's what caused all of this. 00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:54.960 That's what I started this whole thing. 00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:57.119 I'm gonna pull my ships out of the Strait of Hormoose. 00:23:57.279 --> 00:23:58.640 I don't want any of this about it. 00:23:58.880 --> 00:24:10.000 I would just say, just like uh just if we're talking about the Caleb Williams versus Drake May thing of it all, we were very amical to one

another across the course of this whole podcast until Matt got here. 00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:19.599 And uh and I think that you know you had to send that meme because you thought that he was hurt worse than he was, and I'm sure that I crossed your mind when you were watching Drake cry on the sidelines. 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:24.880 I'm sure because I heard you bring it up on MTT MTP Boston with Matt the uh the following day. 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:27.119 And um and it's okay. 00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:30.240 I just want you to know I forgive you because uh I am a child of God. 00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:32.000 I mean, I would just say like my quarterback. 00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:36.079 My quarterback's still suited up and then won a big game. 00:24:36.160 --> 00:24:37.039 Yours is still on the sidelines. 00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:37.920 So you're not gonna be able to do that. 00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:39.119 Yes, so he's actually injured. 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:40.799 So you feel bad, right? 00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:41.920 So he actually was hurt. 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:45.039 It's a grade two strain, and like you feel bad about all the things you said. 00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:46.480 That's what I'm saying. 00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:48.079 I didn't say anything. 00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:52.400 You still looks like he's doing the best green mercury impersonation I've ever seen. 00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:54.000 So I appreciate him on the sideline. 00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:55.680 That must have killed it. 00:24:56.160 --> 00:25:00.480 He changed the mustache, so just fucking get up, get up, get up, get up, get up to speed, button. 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:00.960 Wait, hold on. 00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:01.680 Was he on your center? 00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:02.559 How would I have seen it? 00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:05.599 Uh he was like, can you can you ruffle some more papers, Matt? 00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:06.480 Yeah, seriously. 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:07.359 Stop making noise. 00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:08.240 It's insane. 00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:11.599 You are literally talking to a fucking microphone on a podcast. 00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:12.880 Like, stop making fucking noise. 00:25:13.440 --> 00:25:15.519 Just a touch of the tism over here, but continue. 00:25:15.839 --> 00:25:16.480 Good lord. 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:26.079 Um, no, I mean, I could tell what Caleb Williams's facial hair looked like because it kept cutting to him on the sidelines because it's the consensus uh correct number one overall pick at his draft class. 00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:28.799 I you you're gonna hear about him even when he's not playing. 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:39.920 So moving right along, we'll we'll come on to talk about Caleb Williams and Drake May in the coming moments, but uh moving right along, the Packers, uh, we're gonna talk about them in the sense uh the context of the Chicago game. 00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:49.839 The Lions defense is such I would categorically declare them not a threat in the playoffs unless they make a serious bunch of moves at the trade deadline. 00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:53.359 I think that that window is looking alarmingly closed. 00:25:53.599 --> 00:25:56.319 I can't believe the Giants, to be honest. 00:25:56.400 --> 00:25:58.079 I I just can't even believe them. 00:25:58.240 --> 00:26:04.400 Um that looks like kind of what I thought the Chargers were gonna look like this season. 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:10.720 I thought that that storied name of a coach was gonna take his quarterback and and actually do things. 00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:16.319 The adversity the Giants are coming up against this season, I don't think it's sustainable, but it's something. 00:26:16.960 --> 00:26:18.720 They're gonna be a great eight and nine team. 00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:19.200 I'll tell you that. 00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:20.640 They're gonna be a really good eight and nine team. 00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:21.839 But you know what? 00:26:21.920 --> 00:26:35.519 It what contained in those eight wins it mayhaps be relevancy, you know, like they may actually be teams that we that affect the outcome of the playoff race that affect what we actually are putting on tape this season. 00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:42.559 So I'm actually happy because if I was doing my TV rankings, which I often I often uh do cite, the Giants are watchable. 00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:47.200 They're they're a watchable team this this year, which I'm uh after the injuries, I was surprised, but here we are. 00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:48.480 Cowboys, same deal. 00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:51.200 Browns, I need this to not be true. 00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:52.960 Guys, I need this to not be true. 00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:54.880 I need Deshaun Watson to not be back. 00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:58.400 Someone talk me and talk me into safety here, please. 00:26:58.720 --> 00:26:59.519 He's not best back. 00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:07.680 Did someone on the Browns like listen to me pitch the idea of moving them to Hawaii and it were just like they took it personal? 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.880 Like they were the Jordan means. 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:15.920 We should drop that episode soon because it is funny how that game is actually uh manifesting the in the playoffs. 00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:22.720 Well, like if we don't like if we don't drop it soon, it's gonna look really dumb when I'm like, oh, I I can fix the Browns this way, and they go on to win the Super Bowl. 00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:25.119 Like it's just gonna be really, really bad if that happens. 00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:29.440 I'm gonna I'll drop it this week since we're just putting out one uh you know in-time show. 00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:34.559 So I'll drop it this week as a as some bonus content for the for the lovers of the game out there. 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:36.960 Um they've won three straight games. 00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:40.240 Uh Jacksonville fucked them up, but Jacksonville will be fucking a lot of teams up. 00:27:40.400 --> 00:27:41.519 It's kind of

ugly. 00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:45.279 It's a resilient 3-1, like it's a nobody believes in us 3-1. 00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:48.799 They're becoming harder and harder to dismiss, even though I badly want to. 00:27:49.039 --> 00:27:51.359 Um, I'm I still think it can all fall apart. 00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:54.799 And they're very similar, and I like how the power rankings always end up doing this. 00:27:54.960 --> 00:28:00.960 These tiers start to take shape because there was a real similar vein in the cross-offs conversation, right? 00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:04.960 There was a real similar vein in the in the maybe almost cross-off conversation. 00:28:05.119 --> 00:28:13.359 The Browns and the Raiders are are having very similar seasons if you're comparing it contextually to uh what we were expecting coming into the season, Matt. 00:28:13.599 --> 00:28:18.000 I mean, looking at this Raiders team, they lost to Kansas City by three points. 00:28:18.079 --> 00:28:21.839 And Mike uh said in the group chat, shit, are the Raiders good? 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:24.480 And it's like they looked pretty confident, honestly. 00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:31.519 Uh if if Kirk Cousins doesn't throw that later reception, they take the undefeated Chiefs deep into the final minute. 00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:35.119 Um honestly, 14 seems low, Matt, for the Raiders. 00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:37.599 Uh, can you can you justify their position here? 00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:39.200 Because I feel like they're better than this. 00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:42.319 I feel like they're better than the Panthers, and the Panthers are two places above them. 00:28:42.640 --> 00:28:54.640 I swear to God, you like you knew exactly where I wanted you to go because my note on it is the reason I place them so low is their next seven opponents are the Patriots, Bills, Rams, 49ers, Seahawks, and Broncos. 00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:56.400 If it weren't for that, I'd have them higher. 00:28:56.559 --> 00:28:57.200 That's almost all good teams. 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:01.839 It is all good teams, thank you. 00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:07.200 Uh well, the Broncos look a little shaky in their post-memory list, so we'll come on to talk to talk about them. 00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:10.240 But um, Mike, what what made you say that in the in the group chat? 00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:13.920 I mean, are would are you legitimately concerned that we might have a good Raiders team on our hands? 00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:18.720 Well, yeah, it just it that that's the most competent that they've looked in such a long time. 00:29:18.880 --> 00:29:25.599 Uh and I I hate that it's Kirk Cousins that's doing it, but he's doing it. 00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:34.480 I mean, he is I think he's he he was uh Sam Bradford before or Sam Darnold before before Sam Darnold was. 00:29:34.559 --> 00:29:43.359 Like when you only have on those one-year deals, couple year deals, you can come in and actually, you know, make a good run, and then you realize, you know, you know, he's still Kirk Cousins. 00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:46.559 But I think their defense is playing better than I thought they were going to. 00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:52.240 Max Crosby is not gassed, he's not cooked, he's he's still all the things that that we thought he was. 00:29:52.400 --> 00:29:54.720 Uh and that offense is just formidable. 00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:57.759 Like Genty, Bowers, Cousins, they're they're good. 00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:58.960 I think they're good. 00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:05.279 Dude, I feel like I heard Bower's name more in that game than any player in any other game this past Sunday. 00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:07.759 That dude is just always making plays. 00:30:07.839 --> 00:30:08.799 He is always in the right. 00:30:11.359 --> 00:30:11.759 Yes, of course. 00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:12.880 Okay, we're talking about him. 00:30:13.119 --> 00:30:26.640 But it yeah, oh man, like I I wasn't sure how he would play, especially in the uh Raiders offense, but it it's in I mean when you have a a guy that goes go ahead and um he can really stand out for a mediocre or shit team. 00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:28.079 Uh you know he's special. 00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:29.759 And especially at the tight end position, too. 00:30:29.839 --> 00:30:37.759 I any running you can put any running back, I want to say any running back, but you mainly see running backs, talented running backs on terrible teams, putting up big numbers and doing well. 00:30:37.920 --> 00:30:40.960 But I think the tight end position is a little tougher to get that. 00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:43.759 So big props to him and and Kirk Cousins. 00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:47.599 I would also say our generation's uh Vinny Testaverdi. 00:30:48.160 --> 00:30:48.720 Wow. 00:30:48.880 --> 00:30:50.319 That's uh good comp. 00:30:50.559 --> 00:30:51.519 He's better than Vinny Test. 00:30:52.960 --> 00:30:57.200 Well, you know, the one-year deals going team to team, the you know, NFL whore, you know. 00:30:57.519 --> 00:30:59.279 Is he better than Vinny Testaverdi? 00:30:59.680 --> 00:31:04.480 I mean, I think if you can if you could if you stacked up, I don't have the numbers in front of me because this is not what I expected to happen. 00:31:04.559 --> 00:31:07.759 I think this would have been hard to predict uh the conversation going this way. 00:31:07.839 --> 00:31:13.279 But if you stacked their wins against each other, I would imagine Kirk Cousins is one a lot more games in the NFL than Vinny Testaverdi. 00:31:13.359 --> 00:31:15.680 Um and probably has better numbers to back it up. 00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:19.759 Uh I do think that the non-telling is the playoffs, right? 00:31:19.839 --> 00:31:21.200 Like there was always the bright lights. 00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:22.319 Yeah, 100%. 00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:27.519 Uh, but for all your fantasy owners out there, uh Kirk Cousins loves tight ends. 00:31:27.599 --> 00:31:30.799 Like he all every everywhere he's gone, he's made a tight end a superstar.

00:31:30.880 --> 00:31:38.480 So I mean, they were talking about Brock Bowers so much in the first half because they were just targeting Myers the entire time, or Mayer the entire time. 00:31:38.640 --> 00:31:43.759 It's like that's their backup tight end, and he already has like 65 yards and six catches in in the first half. 00:31:43.920 --> 00:31:51.200 So I I just think listen, they are at least the second so far, the second best team in the AFC West. 00:31:51.680 --> 00:31:55.839 Yeah, 14 might be low, to be honest, now that I look at it. 00:31:56.000 --> 00:32:00.880 Because then I I take a look at the next three teams the Bengals, the Panthers, the Vikings. 00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:04.480 I mean, week to week, I'm giving Matt shit for this for his Vikings placements. 00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:06.000 Like, uh, they're four and oh. 00:32:06.319 --> 00:32:10.720 I understand that it's that fucking uh uh, you know, it's that offense. 00:32:10.880 --> 00:32:13.519 I understand it's that their offense is absolutely turgid. 00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:17.839 I really get it, but they're four and oh, and they're sitting 11th on your power rankings. 00:32:17.920 --> 00:32:27.200 It just seems I get it, but they've won two games without scoring an offensive touchdown, something no team has done this early in the season since 1923. 00:32:27.599 --> 00:32:30.640 Um I know you distrust the offense, but shit. 00:32:30.799 --> 00:32:34.880 Looking at the Bengals, I'd say the biggest issue there is that Jamar Chase and T. 00:32:35.039 --> 00:32:37.839 Higgins both left hurt, so I understand why they're a little lower. 00:32:38.160 --> 00:32:41.680 I think, I mean, you know, they they kind of held their own against Jacksonville. 00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:43.599 Jacksonville team we now all think is good. 00:32:43.759 --> 00:32:53.599 And then the Panthers, beating Detroit, we'll see what kind of a what kind of a level of good that is as the weeks go on, because they're not looking that great. 00:32:53.759 --> 00:32:58.079 They got blown out by Atlanta, but Atlanta seems to be dropping fucking 40s weekly. 00:32:58.319 --> 00:33:01.759 And that, you know, their their issue is defense as well. 00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:04.960 This is the middle class of football right now. 00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:10.799 I mean, this this group uh they're probably gonna sit there thereabouts for the remainder of the season, right? 00:33:10.880 --> 00:33:15.200 I I mean, if the Vikings keep winning games, like maybe you have to justify moving them up. 00:33:15.359 --> 00:33:18.240 The Raiders look like they can make a strong case to actually jump up. 00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:26.559 You look at these three teams, though, and the Browns maybe and the Cowboys maybe, they they can all be in a in a bull market, but you look at these three teams, and it's like they're they're feeling good. 00:33:26.640 --> 00:33:28.160 They they bought a new Honda. 00:33:28.240 --> 00:33:32.240 Uh, you know, like they're the household income is right there at the median. 00:33:32.559 --> 00:33:38.480 Um, you know, they have to budget, but they're they're a little more comfortable than they were uh a couple of years ago. 00:33:38.640 --> 00:33:40.880 Um am I misreading, Zach? 00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:41.680 Any of these teams? 00:33:42.319 --> 00:33:50.240 I I think I think you're not accounting for the massive amount of credit card debt that the Minnesota Vikings have, maybe a gambling addiction or something. 00:33:50.319 --> 00:33:50.720 I don't know. 00:33:50.960 --> 00:33:51.359 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:33:51.599 --> 00:33:54.000 The waste the waste uh shop is shopping therapy. 00:33:54.079 --> 00:33:58.319 Yeah, maybe the pr there's actually two Amazon Prime memberships that I'm aware of. 00:33:58.400 --> 00:34:00.640 Uh so you think that just the wheels are gonna fall off. 00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:02.880 I mean at some point. 00:34:03.119 --> 00:34:03.359 Yeah. 00:34:03.440 --> 00:34:09.920 I mean, in our our uh prediction show, I I had them for one win, but uh four wasn't expecting that, of course. 00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:14.239 But like you just said, they they had two games, so they didn't score an offensive touchdown. 00:34:14.320 --> 00:34:15.360 Like that's insane. 00:34:15.519 --> 00:34:17.599 That's not sustainable for a whole season. 00:34:17.840 --> 00:34:24.800 Um yeah, the the wheels will come off by like week eight or week six, right around there. 00:34:24.880 --> 00:34:25.599 Uh it's just gonna be. 00:34:29.119 --> 00:34:30.639 They're gonna win in Miami, they're gonna be 4-0. 00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:32.480 It's gonna be hard to defend their low position. 00:34:32.559 --> 00:34:33.760 They're about to go play the Saints. 00:34:33.840 --> 00:34:35.519 I could see them beating the Saints. 00:34:35.760 --> 00:34:40.719 I, you know, I'm at I'm as much as I'm enjoying the soundboard that you've been using for the entirety of this show. 00:34:40.880 --> 00:34:44.079 I uh your phone, you got a notification just so you know. 00:34:44.400 --> 00:34:46.719 Me, Mike, Zach, and all the listeners know. 00:34:46.880 --> 00:34:50.000 Um, but I I stopped the microphone. 00:34:50.320 --> 00:34:52.719 Just mute your fucking microphone, dude. 00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:54.000 This is Dave's fault. 00:34:54.079 --> 00:34:59.039 He made me bend my microphone down because he said I have to talk into the top of it like I'm like I'm blowing a Jewish person. 00:34:59.199 --> 00:35:01.199 So I'm not to assault it. 00:35:01.519 --> 00:35:01.679 Yeah. 00:35:01.920 --> 00:35:02.079 Okay. 00:35:03.679 --> 00:35:10.719 So if I can just uh defend my position on the Vikings very quickly, they have 86 points, 42 of them are their kicker. 00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:16.079 Not a great number for a team that deserves to be above where they are. 00:35:16.400 --> 00:35:20.400 They're in the middle of the pack, they're gonna slip, it's not gonna be it's not sustainable. 00:35:20.559 -->

00:35:22.400 They don't have an offense that can score the ball. 00:35:22.559 --> 00:35:25.199 And how much should a team move forward for beating Miami? 00:35:26.000 --> 00:35:28.000 No, no, I will decide. 00:35:28.320 --> 00:35:34.559 I really don't want to do this to you, but uh, how many points did the Patriots score in their first in their first three weeks? 00:35:34.960 --> 00:35:36.960 I'm sorry, are we Boston together? 00:35:37.119 --> 00:35:38.000 What is happening right now? 00:35:38.400 --> 00:35:41.199 No, I'm just like I just want to be just wanna be fair. 00:35:41.280 --> 00:35:42.159 I just want to be fair here. 00:35:42.239 --> 00:35:44.239 Like they're they're four and oh. 00:35:46.559 --> 00:35:47.760 Did we cross off the five Patriots? 00:35:48.880 --> 00:35:49.760 Or the Dolphins? 00:35:50.559 --> 00:35:52.719 You would have crossed off the Patriots had they lost. 00:35:53.519 --> 00:35:54.960 I actually was ready to do that before. 00:35:58.320 --> 00:36:00.079 But uh we already crossed off the Dolphins. 00:36:00.159 --> 00:36:02.320 You'll get points for beating Dolphins by five points. 00:36:04.079 --> 00:36:04.559 Okay, okay. 00:36:04.880 --> 00:36:10.320 Okay, so we just you could winning only matters if you beat teams that you deem as as good teams on the power of the room. 00:36:10.800 --> 00:36:17.679 I just want to make sure that I understand what I'm gonna be joining here for the rest of the fucking week because when I see a four-0 team, I'm like, oh, they should be in the at least in the top five. 00:36:17.920 --> 00:36:19.280 I do cross the likes. 00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:20.079 They're flawed. 00:36:20.159 --> 00:36:20.719 They're flawed. 00:36:20.800 --> 00:36:22.719 I do, I think I see the point that they're flawed. 00:36:22.800 --> 00:36:27.280 I just think Steelers were 12-0 three years ago, and you thought they were the best team in the fucking league, you know? 00:36:27.519 --> 00:36:28.320 I wouldn't say that. 00:36:28.400 --> 00:36:34.000 I just I think my entire point in that season remained consistently that they're 12-0. 00:36:34.239 --> 00:36:41.039 Again, it was based, it was based on the fact that Bobby wouldn't put them anywhere near the top five, and they had won 11 straight games. 00:36:41.119 --> 00:36:46.159 And I was like, I just think to like this is the exact point you're making right now about the Vikings. 00:36:46.320 --> 00:36:51.039 So strangely enough, it seems you're the one who has flipped or flopped one or the other. 00:36:51.199 --> 00:37:01.679 Not sure which if you're a belly up or ass up uh to start, but you're making the same point I was making that season about the Steelers, but we both accept that this is a flawed Vikings team. 00:37:03.199 --> 00:37:04.719 Dave, you know who else is belly up? 00:37:05.039 --> 00:37:05.360 Who? 00:37:05.679 --> 00:37:06.480 Tom Brady. 00:37:06.800 --> 00:37:08.239 When he got that kiss from his son. 00:37:08.800 --> 00:37:10.960 Just like Tom, thank you so much for that, Zach. 00:37:11.119 --> 00:37:12.159 Really appreciate that so much. 00:37:12.400 --> 00:37:26.159 Just like Tom Brady when he got that one and then second much longer lip kiss from his son while he was getting a front massage for football reasons. 00:37:26.480 --> 00:37:27.440 The kiss, I mean. 00:37:27.679 --> 00:37:30.719 So um maybe that's how he passes on his powers. 00:37:31.039 --> 00:37:31.519 Huh? 00:37:31.760 --> 00:37:32.239 Huh? 00:37:32.480 --> 00:37:34.320 I hope he kisses Caleb Williams. 00:37:34.559 --> 00:37:39.599 Um again, not what I thought I'd be saying on this podcast today, but here we are. 00:37:40.079 --> 00:37:40.719 Alright. 00:37:41.039 --> 00:37:49.599 I wanted to get here because we have to do a Patriots deep dive since we have the uh the the regular cast of MTP Boston here and three Patriots fans. 00:37:49.679 --> 00:37:54.239 So what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna set you guys up and I'm gonna let you take it away on a longer conversation. 00:37:54.320 --> 00:38:01.039 I'm just gonna give you sort of the framework and uh and I'm gonna leave it over to you to just do our little MTP Boston segment, the three of you. 00:38:01.119 --> 00:38:05.440 Um I'll I'll throw in my two cents if it if it's uh applicable. 00:38:05.599 --> 00:38:06.960 But let's start with Drake May. 00:38:07.039 --> 00:38:10.079 His full season numbers are still ugly. 00:38:10.320 --> 00:38:12.239 Um he looked better in that game. 00:38:12.559 --> 00:38:15.679 73 for 117 on the season. 00:38:15.760 --> 00:38:19.199 That's a 62% completion percentage for those of you following along at home. 00:38:19.440 --> 00:38:22.719 Mike, I know that's important to you because you kept bringing it up about Caleb Williams all season last season. 00:38:22.880 --> 00:38:24.559 854 yards, not great. 00:38:24.639 --> 00:38:29.280 We would like to see the QBs that have played all these games be cracking a thousand yards by this point. 00:38:29.440 --> 00:38:33.519 Um, four touchdowns, seven picks, and a few fumbles. 00:38:33.760 --> 00:38:36.639 It's not great, but again, trend going upwards. 00:38:36.880 --> 00:38:45.599 Um, I did really like the signs in the running game, far less anemic uh over uh in in the last game. 00:38:45.760 --> 00:38:52.480 The aggregate team numbers make me think that this giant leap back to number 10 is a little premature. 00:38:52.800 --> 00:38:57.599 As Mike alluded to earlier in the in the show, they're averaging 16 points a game. 00:38:57.760 --> 00:39:04.000 They've scored seven offensive touchdowns, and they own the horrific minus five turnover differential. 00:39:04.079 --> 00:39:06.719 Um, they're converting just 18 to 52 on third downs. 00:39:06.800 --> 00:39:07.360 That's 34%. 00:39:07.679 --> 00:39:08.639 That's not good enough. 00:39:08.800 --> 00:39:12.159 And May alone has thrown like those seven interceptions, lost two fumbles. 00:39:12.320 --> 00:39:14.480 That's nine May turnovers in four games.

00:39:14.639 --> 00:39:19.599 And I don't know if a legitimate top 10 NFL team can survive that scrutiny. 00:39:19.679 --> 00:39:21.199 Now, Buffalo happens. 00:39:21.440 --> 00:39:29.199 May goes 22 for 37, 269, three pick, three TDs and one pick, and 54 rushing yards, kind of look like himself again. 00:39:29.440 --> 00:39:38.880 So I guess the framework of this conversation should really be are you guys worried that you're gonna see two weeks ago New England again? 00:39:39.119 --> 00:39:43.199 Or does it feel like they Vrabel maybe got the train back on the tracks? 00:39:43.280 --> 00:39:46.079 I really enjoyed his response to CJ Gardner Johnson. 00:39:46.239 --> 00:39:48.639 I I thought uh I thought that was pretty perfect. 00:39:48.800 --> 00:39:51.519 Um, I did think, I mean, I like CJ Gardner Johnson. 00:39:51.599 --> 00:39:52.800 I really liked him on the Bears. 00:39:52.960 --> 00:39:58.000 He came on uh last season and definitely contributed, but it's you know, uh Vrabel's not wrong. 00:39:58.239 --> 00:40:00.239 29 points is a season high for them. 00:40:00.320 --> 00:40:02.880 Um 405 yards is a season high for them. 00:40:03.199 --> 00:40:05.360 I think this is sustainable. 00:40:05.440 --> 00:40:07.199 I I do think that they can actually make this work. 00:40:07.280 --> 00:40:09.599 I don't I don't think you can get that bad that quickly. 00:40:09.920 --> 00:40:14.320 So, Mike, I'll start with you and then you guys can just talk amongst yourselves. 00:40:14.559 --> 00:40:15.360 Where do you feel? 00:40:15.599 --> 00:40:16.719 Where's your confidence meter? 00:40:16.880 --> 00:40:21.599 I know you specifically you did not hit the panic button just yet, which is a good thing. 00:40:21.920 --> 00:40:27.280 Yeah, I mean, even on uh MTB Boston last week, I said I fully actually expect Drake May to show up for this game and to win. 00:40:27.360 --> 00:40:30.480 Like this is the game that for whatever reason they get up for it. 00:40:30.719 --> 00:40:36.639 Um listen, I I said uh I think I said in the chat, I he just looked more confident. 00:40:36.719 --> 00:40:41.119 He's still gonna make mistakes, he's still gonna try and make throws that he shouldn't try to make. 00:40:41.440 --> 00:40:49.599 But when you see him do that and he crumbles or cries on the sidelines uh in in Jacksonville in September, that's that's when you're like, okay, something's broken. 00:40:49.760 --> 00:40:51.599 Because it's one thing if you just shrug it off. 00:40:51.760 --> 00:40:56.719 Listen, only I can make that throw, and I'm gonna keep trying to make uh I'm gonna keep trying to make that fucking throw. 00:40:56.800 --> 00:40:57.599 That's fine. 00:40:57.840 --> 00:40:59.519 But don't lose the confidence. 00:40:59.599 --> 00:41:06.480 What I did like more about this game is that it felt like Josh McDaniels went further into his bag, like he was calling a better game. 00:41:06.559 --> 00:41:12.880 I actually thought this was one of the best games that he's called, uh I think since since last year for sure. 00:41:13.119 --> 00:41:16.639 Um I don't love that Drake May is the leading rusher. 00:41:16.800 --> 00:41:17.440 I don't love that. 00:41:17.679 --> 00:41:19.920 Like you can't that that's not sustainable. 00:41:20.159 --> 00:41:33.440 Not when you have Henderson healthy, uh Stevenson healthy, but I thought when you this this looked a lot like you know the the football from years gone by where he just threw the open receiver. 00:41:33.599 --> 00:41:36.480 He was not targeting one specific player every single time. 00:41:36.559 --> 00:41:44.960 And I think that this is gonna be if he keeps doing this when AJ Brown does come back, it should make his return that much more impactful, right? 00:41:45.039 --> 00:41:50.079 Because then, yeah, you want to put double coverage on him, but now Chisholm's actually a wide an actual wide receiver. 00:41:50.159 --> 00:41:56.320 Romeo Dobbs, he's still gonna drop a ball, he's still gonna cause an interception, whatever, but he looked better too. 00:41:56.480 --> 00:41:58.639 Like this this game made me feel better about him. 00:41:58.880 --> 00:42:06.159 So I thought the defense did as good of a job as it could do against Buffalo, um, especially without Gonzo or Barrmore. 00:42:06.320 --> 00:42:10.960 Uh and I just think this team needs to play with confidence because they're they're gonna fuck up. 00:42:11.039 --> 00:42:15.119 It doesn't like and they just need to not worry about that and just go out and forget about it. 00:42:15.199 --> 00:42:17.679 Like, you know, be a fucking goldfish, like Ted Lasso said. 00:42:20.559 --> 00:42:30.400 I am very happy with more of the confidence boost of this game in terms of May look looked more confident in the pocket, more relaxed. 00:42:30.719 --> 00:42:33.840 It didn't seem like he was running for his life the entire time. 00:42:34.559 --> 00:42:36.800 Didn't have like the happy feet going on. 00:42:38.000 --> 00:42:42.719 The post-game locker room reaction, the press conferences, all great. 00:42:42.960 --> 00:42:47.039 So from a moral standpoint, for sure, I think it's a great turnaround. 00:42:47.199 --> 00:42:52.960 I think it's a good start to hopefully something better for this team. 00:42:53.599 --> 00:43:10.719 But I do think that this game may be a little flawed in terms of like thinking that the Patriots are back, or um even though Gonzo was was uh and Barmore wasn't there for uh for the Pats, the Bills were also missing their number one uh corner. 00:43:11.440 --> 00:43:19.599 Um also the Bills, for whatever reason, does anyone understand why uh James Cook only uh rushed 12 times in this game? 00:43:20.159 --> 00:43:22.239 Like, does that make any sense at all? 00:43:22.400 --> 00:43:35.199 I'm sure I'm sure they they figure they would uh throw the ball more without uh Christian Gonzalez, but at the same time, like running backs have tend to have a pretty decent success against the Patriots defense.

00:43:35.280 --> 00:43:38.960 So I think there's some play calling questions on Buffalo side. 00:43:39.119 --> 00:43:58.079 Um I think if you're if you step away from the Boston sports fan in a Boston lens, I think you would look at this game not mainly as the Patriots are back, but more of huh, maybe Buffalo is kind of a flawed team and maybe we should have questions of whether or not they're gonna be dominating all the way through. 00:43:58.800 --> 00:44:06.639 It just feels like uh Buffalo's head coach is more concerned with making sure that Josh Allen's the MVP as opposed to having the perfect game plan. 00:44:06.719 --> 00:44:10.320 Uh, because he knows that if he doesn't get to the Super Bowl, then he's probably gonna be fired anyway. 00:44:10.480 --> 00:44:12.480 So, I mean that's why they fired the last guy. 00:44:12.559 --> 00:44:14.400 And I don't see any difference in the play calling. 00:44:14.559 --> 00:44:16.320 There's really, really no difference. 00:44:16.559 --> 00:44:19.920 But this game should be looked at the way that Zach said. 00:44:20.000 --> 00:44:28.000 Like, yeah, the Patriots played a good game, but Buffalo gave us every chance to win this game, and we just happened to take it. 00:44:28.960 --> 00:44:32.880 I mean, I see a difference in the Buffalo in this Buffalo team. 00:44:33.039 --> 00:44:36.079 I don't know if it's coaching, but that defense looks shaky. 00:44:36.159 --> 00:44:39.039 I mean, it's you're not the only team that's been able to get at them. 00:44:39.119 --> 00:44:44.320 And I think, yeah, I mean, you can average 32 points a game, which is what they're averaging on offense all you want. 00:44:44.480 --> 00:44:49.199 But I mean, that that defense looks it looks like you can get at them a little bit. 00:44:49.280 --> 00:44:56.079 I mean, I still probably trust them more in January as we as we get down the home stretch that to right the ship in that regard. 00:44:56.159 --> 00:45:06.079 But like, I did sort of expect, just having watched them over the past few weeks, I did sort of expect the Patriots to be at least given the opportunity to get their offense back on track this week against the Buffalo Bills. 00:45:06.239 --> 00:45:14.400 Yeah, it's an intimidating team to play when you're you know when you're struggling on on either side of the ball, but it is a divisional team, which is the ultimate equalizer, like I always say. 00:45:14.480 --> 00:45:18.559 And and I don't know, I mean, like what was the big thing the Pats needed? 00:45:18.719 --> 00:45:36.000 They needed to be able to give get a little room to spread out and get that offense going and figure out how to defensively move the ball to different targets, get their quarterbacks' confidence back a little bit, and like Buffalo really just gave them that, right? 00:45:37.840 --> 00:45:38.400 No, 100%. 00:45:38.719 --> 00:45:48.480 I think uh what you wanted to see out of this game was if Drake may make a mistake, which he's going to, but I don't

think that the interception was his fault this this week, and that isn't me being an apologist. 00:45:48.559 --> 00:45:52.320 I think if you just look at it, maybe he threw it too low, but whatever. 00:45:52.559 --> 00:45:58.960 I think last week that encourages him to fall apart a little bit more and again shed some more tears. 00:45:59.280 --> 00:46:05.760 What I loved was that right after that, they McDaniels was just like, We're we're gonna actually make Drake throw on the run. 00:46:05.920 --> 00:46:09.760 Because that throw to uh oh god, I already forgot his name. 00:46:11.519 --> 00:46:13.920 Yeah, that was it, that was a designed rollout throw. 00:46:14.000 --> 00:46:16.639 Like that that looked exactly like it was drawn up. 00:46:16.800 --> 00:46:18.079 Um, so I don't know. 00:46:18.239 --> 00:46:19.360 Keep him confident again. 00:46:19.440 --> 00:46:20.400 He's gonna make mistakes. 00:46:20.480 --> 00:46:30.800 I if you thought he was gonna go 15 and 2 or 14 and three out of your mind, you know, we we were expecting rational Patriot fans were expecting 11 and 6. 00:46:31.039 --> 00:46:35.599 So But the fact that he did make mistakes in that game and the wheels didn't come off, I think. 00:46:36.079 --> 00:46:36.639 Yeah, that's the good thing. 00:46:36.719 --> 00:46:37.199 That's the good thing. 00:46:37.519 --> 00:46:56.719 I think that's the that's the real positive because I would think with how I wouldn't say shaky, I think that's an unfair word to use, but I think that in the first few, the first drive, maybe, and then a few snaps into the second one, the you would be forgiven for thinking, uh oh, he looks he looks like maybe the wheels are coming off again. 00:46:56.960 --> 00:47:07.280 But because, and I said this to Matt last week, because he was able to turn around overall and improve his performance, and yes, I agree that McDaniels put him in a position to do that, which is his fucking job, right? 00:47:07.360 --> 00:47:15.840 But like I you've seen offensive coordinators fail their quarterbacks that are struggling in these situations and try to get too complicated and try to make him, you know, do things that are out outside their comfort zone. 00:47:16.000 --> 00:47:25.440 He he did give him the opportunity to play his game and and his game effectively, but also it was completely up to Drake to not fucking panic once he made a couple of mistakes, right? 00:47:25.519 --> 00:47:33.119 And and I I it's defensible to say that was Romeo Dobbs for the for the pick, but you know, it wasn't the best throw in the world. 00:47:33.199 --> 00:47:36.880 You know, it wasn't like holy shit, like uh how did you possibly not just catch that? 00:47:36.960 --> 00:47:39.840 It was it, you know, it was there to to let the mistake happen. 00:47:40.000 --> 00:47:54.239 So I don't know, Matt, I would love to get your opinion on all not quite a prediction, but what you think you're gonna need to see going into playing the Raiders, who we've discussed now on this show, and they look frisky. 00:47:54.320 --> 00:48:01.920 So if you are able to go beat them, that's another big win for your season, for your momentum, for for the confidence in the locker room, like Zach was saying. 00:48:02.320 --> 00:48:03.039 Yeah, thank you. 00:48:03.199 --> 00:48:09.039 So uh what I've been thinking is maybe this year we can do the parade down Scarrow Drive instead of uh Comav. 00:48:09.440 --> 00:48:18.079 I just think that if we give Drake his own uh unbrady used uh you know uh parade, uh he'll settle in better in the city. 00:48:18.480 --> 00:48:19.920 No, I'm I'm I'm obviously kidding. 00:48:20.000 --> 00:48:30.719 I'm really high on them right now because I I love that they went out and showed everyone that the Buffalo defense is completely fraudulent and that you can't give up 27 points per game and win every game you play. 00:48:30.880 --> 00:48:35.199 But I really am nervous against the Raiders because I think our biggest weakness right now is Will Campbell. 00:48:35.280 --> 00:48:36.559 He looked like shit again. 00:48:36.880 --> 00:48:41.840 Russo was all over our Drake, he was cutting that edge every time he took the corner. 00:48:42.079 --> 00:48:45.679 Um, I really am afraid that uh he's gonna get hurt this week. 00:48:45.760 --> 00:48:46.880 The Drake's gonna get hurt this week. 00:48:46.960 --> 00:48:53.920 I think Will Campbell should be moved to guard and we should find another solution because this kid cannot handle the fast rushers. 00:48:54.320 --> 00:48:57.119 I think he should be moved to right guard, is the strange part. 00:48:57.280 --> 00:49:04.400 Yeah, I I feel like he he looks like he's on the wrong side of the offensive line as well as just you know T-Rex arms. 00:49:04.480 --> 00:49:05.519 I mean, we knew that coming in. 00:49:05.679 --> 00:49:07.280 But um I don't know. 00:49:07.360 --> 00:49:16.880 I I really thought that he was maybe a little banged up in the Super Bowl and he was gonna come back and and uh prove the doubters wrong, but I do agree he's he he looks like he can't get around. 00:49:17.039 --> 00:49:21.920 He can't he can't get around in time for those um athletic edge rushers in the at an NFL level. 00:49:22.000 --> 00:49:24.079 And I do think he's still a good pusher. 00:49:24.159 --> 00:49:27.840 You know, I do think he's strong, I do think he's he's quick off the off the line of scrimmage. 00:49:27.920 --> 00:49:38.159 You can see his athletic ability, but it is it is not great, and especially again when you're trying to build up a young quarterback's confidence again, which was obviously at an all-time low coming into this season. 00:49:38.559 --> 00:49:42.079 Also, the biggest detriment to him is that everyone knows that he has T Rex arms. 00:49:42.159 --> 00:49:46.480 So the refs, when they see that the defender's not blowing by him, they're like, oh, it must have been a hold. 00:49:46.719 --> 00:49:48.480 And there's hold of it every play.

00:49:48.800 --> 00:49:49.519 It is sometimes. 00:49:50.079 --> 00:49:58.239 But he but he's so egregious about it that they like they just they look they look directly at him and they're like, oh, that guy is not going past him. 00:49:58.400 --> 00:50:00.400 Oh, he has his jersey holding. 00:50:00.639 --> 00:50:02.000 Like I find it. 00:50:02.239 --> 00:50:03.679 He's still a solid run blocker. 00:50:04.239 --> 00:50:08.480 He's he's a he's not he's not the worst lineman we've we've had in the last 10 years. 00:50:08.880 --> 00:50:12.000 Oh, you picked him awfully high for that to be uh a description, though. 00:50:12.079 --> 00:50:12.800 That's depressing. 00:50:13.039 --> 00:50:13.679 I know. 00:50:14.000 --> 00:50:14.639 I know. 00:50:15.519 --> 00:50:18.159 Um anything else on your New England Patriots? 00:50:18.320 --> 00:50:18.800 Anyone? 00:50:20.320 --> 00:50:22.719 I don't think you can walk all at once, but you're gonna be able to do that. 00:50:22.880 --> 00:50:23.840 We're all so excited. 00:50:23.920 --> 00:50:24.239 Here we go. 00:50:24.800 --> 00:50:25.760 Uh Matt, how about you start? 00:50:26.239 --> 00:50:27.679 Patriots by seven, walking in. 00:50:29.440 --> 00:50:29.760 Michael? 00:50:30.079 --> 00:50:33.280 You seemed more confident at this start than that, but alright. 00:50:33.920 --> 00:50:45.280 Yeah, I think again, I is as long as Drake looks confident, uh, because he is going to get attacked by Max Crosby all all game, and he can't let that get in his head. 00:50:45.599 --> 00:50:54.079 So it's easier said than done, but I just think if he steps into throws or if they actually design bootlegs again and he and he's not throwing off his back foot, that's a good sign. 00:50:54.239 --> 00:51:01.519 If you see him in the first quarter uh panicking and doing that whole Mac Jones thing, like it's it's it's not good. 00:51:03.280 --> 00:51:06.960 And I think the thing I'm kind of I guess more. 00:51:07.039 --> 00:51:16.800 I mean, Drake's odd Drake and the offense, obviously like the big story right now for this team, but I'm more curious to see how the defense goes against uh Clint Kubiak led offense again. 00:51:16.960 --> 00:51:26.800 Uh you know, obviously uh led Seahawks to Super Bowl win, but it goes with Sam Darnold, kind of a mediocre quarterback, so we thought. 00:51:27.280 --> 00:51:30.239 Kirk Cousins, mediocre quarterback, so we thought. 00:51:30.559 --> 00:51:36.559 Uh curious to see what he kind of cooks up for this game, if there's anything special up his uh up his sleeve. 00:51:36.719 --> 00:51:43.280 Uh so I'll be curious to see how they uh stop the run and if Kirk Cousins could actually uh do anything special. 00:51:44.800 --> 00:51:45.360 All right. 00:51:45.519 --> 00:51:48.159 Well, I personally think you are gonna beat the Raiders. 00:51:48.320 --> 00:52:06.639 Um I think that their their fairy tale is gonna probably come to an end sooner rather than later, although I it will, you know, and I know we say

this all the time on this show specifically, but we'll know a lot about both of these teams after this week because uh you're gonna have to be a good team to win this game, it seems like. 00:52:06.800 --> 00:52:08.719 Um you're not just gonna walk past the Raiders. 00:52:08.800 --> 00:52:15.440 You may have looked at this as a more favorable matchup on the schedule before the season started, but that they they're not uh just shrinking in these games. 00:52:15.599 --> 00:52:17.440 They they there seems to be some self-belief. 00:52:17.840 --> 00:52:19.440 And the same's true of the Patriots. 00:52:19.519 --> 00:52:23.280 I mean, it's not a great time to play them because it you're still in sort of a must-win situation here. 00:52:23.360 --> 00:52:25.920 You know, you still because you have to start to build in this momentum. 00:52:26.079 --> 00:52:37.280 If you get a repeat performance from, say, week one or week two from Drake or the offense or the offensive line or the defense, if you don't put it together, you're right back to square one. 00:52:37.360 --> 00:52:49.199 You know, you're right back in the doldrums of of thinking about uh if this is even sustainable as a project going forward, which is at the low points you guys seem to be at um last week before you you kicked this game off. 00:52:49.360 --> 00:52:50.960 So let's see, let's see how it goes. 00:52:51.039 --> 00:52:57.280 I I do think both teams really need to win, but I do think the Patriots are much more harmed by a loss than the Raiders are in this situation. 00:52:57.440 --> 00:52:59.360 So let's see how that goes. 00:52:59.519 --> 00:53:05.440 Um I'm gonna fly through the next few because there's just too many, I don't know, yet, even in the top ten. 00:53:05.840 --> 00:53:08.960 I think you're real generous putting the Broncos at nine, I have to say. 00:53:09.039 --> 00:53:13.440 Uh, I think that they looked like shit against the 49ers, but I guess a lot of teams will. 00:53:13.519 --> 00:53:14.320 They're two and two. 00:53:14.639 --> 00:53:18.960 There's two two and two teams in the in the top ten here, uh, one of them being the Patriots. 00:53:19.039 --> 00:53:20.719 I think both are generous spots. 00:53:20.880 --> 00:53:28.159 Um, I don't think Bo Nicks is as good as people thought that thought he was good thinks that he is. 00:53:28.320 --> 00:53:28.880 Did that work? 00:53:29.039 --> 00:53:29.360 Okay. 00:53:29.679 --> 00:53:31.360 Um, you kind of got what I was saying. 00:53:31.519 --> 00:53:42.320 I think uh 42 attempts for 214 yards, 5.1 per yards per attempt, and they still only generated 296 total yards. 00:53:42.400 --> 00:53:46.639 Their defense kept the game close, but Sertan and Riley Moss both left hurt. 00:53:46.800 --> 00:53:49.039 San Francisco eventually cracked them open. 00:53:49.280 --> 00:53:53.440 I think they're gonna do that to a lot of teams, though, so I I get why it shouldn't hurt their stock that much. 00:53:53.599 --> 00:53:58.400 But and I and

also I will say this for the Broncos, their wins over Jacksonville and the Rams still both look good. 00:53:58.480 --> 00:54:00.079 They're not frauds by any stretch. 00:54:00.159 --> 00:54:04.880 I just think this is a little statistically and sort of eye test wise, I think this might be a little bit high. 00:54:04.960 --> 00:54:09.360 But if anybody wants to come to the Broncos defense, I you know, uh your time is now. 00:54:09.599 --> 00:54:13.440 Yeah, their only weak point appears to be Bo Nicks, which I've always said he's garbage. 00:54:13.920 --> 00:54:16.719 That's a tough position to uh be able to have a weak point at. 00:54:17.039 --> 00:54:21.039 I think, yeah, yeah, I agree with you, but a good team can win with a serviceable quarterback. 00:54:21.119 --> 00:54:23.360 And if he can be serviceable, they stay competitive. 00:54:23.440 --> 00:54:24.239 Because that defense is a good thing. 00:54:24.480 --> 00:54:34.159 When you say win, though, I don't know if you can win a championship with a serviceable quarterback, because even if you think about the teams that have won with what you're doing. 00:54:34.239 --> 00:54:37.119 Like Sam Darnold, I was gonna say, this is the point I'm about to make. 00:54:37.199 --> 00:54:40.800 I'm just gonna beat you in this argument before you even really make yours. 00:54:41.039 --> 00:54:51.039 Even if you look at teams winning with what you would call a mediocre quarterback on paper, that quarterback is playing at an elite level in their playoff runs. 00:54:51.119 --> 00:54:56.719 Like Eli Manning, sorry to bring that up, but Eli Manning, like you look at those playoff numbers during those runs, he was really fucking good. 00:54:56.800 --> 00:54:58.719 You look at Sam Darnold, he was really fucking good. 00:54:58.800 --> 00:55:02.880 I I think that I think that they at least need to be playing at that level. 00:55:03.119 --> 00:55:09.599 I don't know if you can see Bo Nicks making a playoff run at an elite quarterback level, but I or I can't at least. 00:55:09.679 --> 00:55:10.960 Maybe some maybe someone here can. 00:55:11.280 --> 00:55:18.079 The last team to win a Super Bowl with a less than super quarterback, I would say, was the Denver Broncos with Peyton Manning. 00:55:18.800 --> 00:55:20.320 It was still Peyton Manning, though. 00:55:22.000 --> 00:55:23.280 He couldn't make the thrusts, right? 00:55:23.360 --> 00:55:25.440 But he was it's still Peyton Manning's brain. 00:55:25.679 --> 00:55:25.920 Yeah. 00:55:26.159 --> 00:55:26.320 True. 00:55:26.719 --> 00:55:30.159 That was also one of the best defenses I've ever seen, like of all time, right? 00:55:30.320 --> 00:55:34.639 So I it it like it's not I'm not I'm not sitting here saying it's not possible. 00:55:34.719 --> 00:55:43.679 I I I'm not disagreeing with your point entirely that you can win with a serviceable quarterback on paper, but the the circumstances need to extenuate as fuck. 00:55:43.760 --> 00:55:46.159 No, you know, like there need a lot needs to happen. 00:55:46.239 --> 00:55:48.159 You're probably better off having a good quarterback. 00:55:48.239 --> 00:55:53.679 Not the hottest take in the world, but you're probably better off having a good quarterback, was where I would probably land on that. 00:55:53.840 --> 00:56:06.159 Um, you know, if they're playing, if they're playing, I don't know, if they're playing the Chiefs in in the AFC championship game, you're just not betting on anyone but Patrick Mahomes in that scenario. 00:56:09.840 --> 00:56:10.239 Really? 00:56:11.119 --> 00:56:11.679 I'm just saying. 00:56:12.480 --> 00:56:13.119 It's just in Denver. 00:56:13.440 --> 00:56:14.079 It's in Denver. 00:56:14.159 --> 00:56:14.880 Make a bet. 00:56:15.440 --> 00:56:15.920 Chiefs. 00:56:16.239 --> 00:56:17.280 Yeah, exactly. 00:56:17.519 --> 00:56:20.159 So I'm just saying, moving on, Baltimore Ravens. 00:56:20.320 --> 00:56:23.360 Mike, has your opinion on this team and and this quarterback changed? 00:56:23.440 --> 00:56:31.519 I mean, I heard you make the point that Lamar Jackson was a bad quarterback, which I think winning the MVP as a quarterback automatically disputes that fact, but sure. 00:56:31.679 --> 00:56:35.280 Uh I I I because I did hear Matt go, you mean like a thrower of the ball? 00:56:35.360 --> 00:56:36.800 And you were like, no, quarterback. 00:56:36.880 --> 00:56:47.199 And again, MVP as a quarterback, like not as any other position, and most valuable player, best in the league as a player at quarterback multiple times. 00:56:47.360 --> 00:56:48.239 Okay, no problem. 00:56:48.400 --> 00:56:49.199 I get it. 00:56:49.519 --> 00:56:56.639 I I think your point about them not really being able to win with him down the stretch is is more uh defensible. 00:56:56.719 --> 00:57:03.840 But 15 of 20 for 222 yards and two tutties with a 144.2 QB rating across four weeks. 00:57:03.920 --> 00:57:06.719 Uh, he's completing 71% of his passes. 00:57:06.800 --> 00:57:11.840 And again, last year completion percentage was very important to you when it came to trying to talk shit about Caleb Williams. 00:57:12.000 --> 00:57:16.079 This seems less important to you now, but like you wouldn't be the kind of guy that argues when convenient. 00:57:16.239 --> 00:57:18.320 So uh surely there's an explanation for that. 00:57:18.480 --> 00:57:23.679 But um six to one touchdown at pick ratio, his usual rushing threat. 00:57:24.079 --> 00:57:28.079 I know they played the Titans, but I still think they're they're a pretty healthy team. 00:57:28.800 --> 00:57:31.440 Well, there's a chance that Lamar doesn't play this week. 00:57:31.840 --> 00:57:32.480 Is that true? 00:57:32.639 --> 00:57:33.360 Is he hurt? 00:57:33.519 --> 00:57:37.519 Yeah, yeah, he's hurt, and they're their wins, yeah. 00:57:38.000 --> 00:57:42.639 Colts, Titans, their best wins against the Cowboys, and they they they lost to the Saints. 00:57:42.719 --> 00:57:47.840 So I'm just I I I don't think that

they've had a signature win yet. 00:57:48.000 --> 00:57:54.480 Um I don't believe that Lamar Jackson is a is sorry, uh you're not gonna win a Super Bowl with him. 00:57:54.559 --> 00:57:56.239 I've I've I'm not gonna stop saying that. 00:57:56.320 --> 00:57:57.440 I will not stop saying that. 00:57:57.599 --> 00:57:59.840 He's one of the greatest athletes I've ever seen. 00:58:00.000 --> 00:58:03.440 Um, but when it comes to crunch time, he can't make the throws. 00:58:03.840 --> 00:58:04.159 Can't. 00:58:04.320 --> 00:58:09.840 And he I guess he can make them in September, but I just know what he's gonna do in December and January. 00:58:10.159 --> 00:58:12.719 I mean, that's proven to be true the last few years. 00:58:12.800 --> 00:58:12.960 Yeah. 00:58:13.039 --> 00:58:21.440 I mean, it unfortunately, like that, you can't really argue with the facts, you know, like it's true until it isn't, but as of right now, and and in our current timeline and our current dimension, it is true. 00:58:21.599 --> 00:58:23.440 So that's it's it's hard to argue with. 00:58:23.599 --> 00:58:28.480 You're not gonna win a Super Bowl with him because you haven't yet, is still a little unfair. 00:58:28.800 --> 00:58:33.679 Like, I you know, it's not it's not great, but it's also true of most players. 00:58:34.559 --> 00:58:37.679 Well, but but I think the difference is is you should have so far. 00:58:37.840 --> 00:58:47.440 I mean, especially last year when Mahomes was down, like that was the year that Alan or uh or Lamar should have made it, and they just couldn't do it. 00:58:47.679 --> 00:58:50.480 It's true, and now he's back, and I bet they're really fucking kicking themselves. 00:58:50.719 --> 00:58:54.239 I bet a lot of teams in the AFC are really, really fucking kicking themselves at this point. 00:58:54.320 --> 00:58:56.239 So we'll come on and talk about those Chiefs. 00:58:56.559 --> 00:59:00.800 To defend your stance on like quarterbacks and like the whole MVP thing. 00:59:00.960 --> 00:59:02.400 I give you Rich Cannon. 00:59:02.639 --> 00:59:03.519 He won an MVP. 00:59:03.599 --> 00:59:04.880 What did that guy ever do? 00:59:05.039 --> 00:59:05.519 Nothing. 00:59:05.760 --> 00:59:06.880 This is this is a good point. 00:59:06.960 --> 00:59:10.159 Um, that's there's bad Super Bowl you're not. 00:59:10.320 --> 00:59:11.039 It was bad though. 00:59:11.199 --> 00:59:14.239 Like that was one of the more lopsided Super Bowls I've ever seen. 00:59:14.400 --> 00:59:17.119 Um and he looked particularly fucking terrible in it. 00:59:17.280 --> 00:59:18.639 So uh fair point. 00:59:18.800 --> 00:59:19.679 Fair point. 00:59:20.159 --> 00:59:25.360 Um The Los Angeles Rams at 2-2 uh are number seven on your power rankings, Matt. 00:59:25.440 --> 00:59:32.079 I mean, based on how they've played, my instinct would be to say that this is high. 00:59:32.239 --> 00:59:37.280 However, if you're going projection heavy, their talent really supports the place on the board. 00:59:37.360 --> 00:59:47.840 Uh, I'd be interested to hear first your general reasoning for putting them here, and then if there's dissenting opinions or agreement from the other two, uh, please feel free to jump in, guys. 00:59:47.920 --> 00:59:48.639 But go ahead, Matt. 00:59:49.039 --> 00:59:50.079 You hit the nail on the head. 00:59:50.159 --> 00:59:55.280 It's just I just look at that team and I just cannot justify dropping them out of the top ten by any measure. 00:59:55.440 --> 00:59:56.960 I don't think that the Ravens are better than them. 00:59:57.039 --> 01:00:01.679 I don't think the Broncos are better than them, and I know that the Patriots will be better than them, but they're not at the moment. 01:00:01.920 --> 01:00:06.239 Um I just I just have a lot of faith in the talent that they have spread across that team. 01:00:06.320 --> 01:00:12.320 And I feel like uh if you look at who they've uh what they've done, you look at last week, uh that was an impressive win. 01:00:12.400 --> 01:00:13.119 I mean, it just is. 01:00:13.199 --> 01:00:16.800 To come back and win like that, uh they just look good and even injured. 01:00:17.199 --> 01:00:18.480 I think they're a very good football team. 01:00:20.480 --> 01:00:26.559 We haven't seen their defense with Miles Garrett and Aaron Aaron Donald on that line at the same time yet, so that's gonna be something. 01:00:26.800 --> 01:00:35.599 And Stafford always like as he's gotten older, or in his uh in this latest iteration with the Rams, he gets better as the season goes on. 01:00:35.840 --> 01:00:46.559 Kyron Williams gets better as the season goes on, and I just I don't know of a better one-two wide receiver duo than Puka and Devontae Adams. 01:00:47.280 --> 01:00:49.440 I'm a little nervous about Puka's brain, though. 01:00:49.920 --> 01:00:54.320 He he seems like he seems to have be an Antonio Brown type. 01:00:54.559 --> 01:00:56.719 Yeah, you gotta get what they're doing there. 01:00:57.599 --> 01:01:02.400 And part of me kind of feels uh Rams might be kind of fraudulent. 01:01:02.480 --> 01:01:13.440 I mean didn't the Eagles go uh Well, didn't the Eagles like go through they lost Saquon in this game, and then they had were down to their Shipley or the third string running back, too. 01:01:13.519 --> 01:01:18.400 And you know, the Rams get by, barely get by the uh the Eagles here. 01:01:18.480 --> 01:01:20.880 Uh weren't they 15 points down? 01:01:21.679 --> 01:01:22.960 They were 16. 01:01:23.440 --> 01:01:24.159 16, that's right. 01:01:24.960 --> 01:01:31.039 So when you say barely gets by, you mean all that happened and the good team capitalized and outscored the the other team? 01:01:31.280 --> 01:01:31.519 Correct. 01:01:32.480 --> 01:01:32.719 Yeah. 01:01:33.039 --> 01:01:34.239 Yeah, they sound fraudulent to me. 01:01:34.320 --> 01:01:34.480 You're right. 01:01:34.719 --> 01:01:46.719 I will I they feel a little I'm just saying like if they uh if they had beaten a healthy or if

Saquon had played healthy the whole game, then I wouldn't be like, all right, impressive when like Zach. 01:01:46.880 --> 01:01:47.599 Do you go for it? 01:01:48.320 --> 01:01:50.159 Do you think the Patriots are fraudulent? 01:01:51.119 --> 01:02:03.920 Uh no, because they've they've shown No, no, because your your exact argument there, they were 10 points up on the team where their starting quarterback went down, and a backup quarterback came in and beat and just beat the brakes off of them for the rest of that game, and they lost. 01:02:04.159 --> 01:02:10.559 So you you're holding you'll hold the Rams to a standard that you don't hold the Patriots to? 01:02:10.639 --> 01:02:15.920 It's just Well, I also wouldn't have the Patriots at number seven in the power rankings either. 01:02:16.239 --> 01:02:16.960 Yeah, you're right. 01:02:17.039 --> 01:02:19.360 The scrutiny is is is really on the number seven team. 01:02:19.440 --> 01:02:26.320 I will make one point just as a space to watch in in defensive Zach's pretty pretty smoking hot take right here. 01:02:27.440 --> 01:02:30.159 Stafford's been pretty good on the eye test. 01:02:30.480 --> 01:02:35.920 He's thrown for 1,189 passing yards and six touchdowns, but also six picks. 01:02:36.159 --> 01:02:43.199 He's right at 500 with his touchdown to pick ratio, and they seem to be coming at opportune times. 01:02:43.280 --> 01:02:48.079 Uh that they they haven't destroyed a game for the Rams in any like horrific way. 01:02:48.159 --> 01:02:56.320 He hasn't been responsible for any sort of Rams loss, and he was responsible for the comeback, uh the 16 unanswered points and the comeback wins. 01:02:56.480 --> 01:03:00.320 So it it hasn't been talked about as much, but statistically it is happening. 01:03:00.400 --> 01:03:02.320 So he's got to clean that shit up, right? 01:03:02.400 --> 01:03:04.719 If they're gonna if they're gonna make a legitimate run, right? 01:03:04.800 --> 01:03:06.800 Like he has to start getting that ratio a little different. 01:03:06.960 --> 01:03:14.559 And if that continues, I mean, maybe we were just all a little bit fast off the starting blocks with this team. 01:03:14.639 --> 01:03:15.440 It's it's possible. 01:03:15.599 --> 01:03:16.480 I'm saying it's possible. 01:03:16.639 --> 01:03:22.320 I don't think they're frauds, and I don't think it's provable that they're frauds yet, but he all he did say, I'm starting to think maybe. 01:03:22.400 --> 01:03:23.199 He didn't say definitely. 01:03:23.440 --> 01:03:28.000 I said maybe I'm just saying allegedly possibly maybe frauds. 01:03:28.559 --> 01:03:29.119 So on the block. 01:03:30.239 --> 01:03:32.000 They're on the fraud block. 01:03:32.239 --> 01:03:35.920 They they walked into the butcher shop and they can see the block there. 01:03:36.079 --> 01:03:37.360 They know it exists. 01:03:37.519 --> 01:03:42.239 The other customers are walking around, it's not like, but the Rams are like, hmm, what's that piece of wood over there? 01:03:42.320 --> 01:03:43.199 Is that for me? 01:03:43.440 --> 01:03:44.159 Is it for him? 01:03:44.800 --> 01:03:48.719 It's not it's not bad yet, but it is starting to feel awkward. 01:03:48.800 --> 01:04:00.639 Like a little bit like that time that Tom Brady mouthkissed his son on that documentary for like a long period of time while he was getting a front massage, uh, for football reasons, I guess. 01:04:00.880 --> 01:04:07.519 Um anyway, I'm just saying it's it's it's a little awkward, not that much awkward, not that level of awkward, not Tom Brady mouthkissing. 01:04:07.920 --> 01:04:11.280 Are the are the Rams Brady in this situation or his son? 01:04:12.000 --> 01:04:17.280 Or the massage giver watching it happen and being very uncomfortable. 01:04:17.440 --> 01:04:23.199 Uh, I I just think that there's there's things to be worried about, but they might not necessarily be the things that we're worried about. 01:04:23.280 --> 01:04:23.840 You know what I mean? 01:04:23.920 --> 01:04:25.679 Like it might be completely normal over there. 01:04:26.000 --> 01:04:39.599 It it's actually the most apt use of the Tom Brady mouth kissing his son metaphor uh for the whole show because it might be fine, it might be not weird at all, but it looks starting to look like there might be some weirdness there, you know? 01:04:39.760 --> 01:04:41.440 So it might be weird, might be weird. 01:04:41.519 --> 01:04:45.360 Like like Jay Cutler and his cigarette mouth and Kristen Cavalier dog walking him. 01:04:45.440 --> 01:04:46.159 That was that was fun. 01:04:46.320 --> 01:04:46.800 Remember that? 01:04:47.039 --> 01:04:49.039 Is is that supposed to offend me? 01:04:49.360 --> 01:04:53.599 No, how can I offend a Bears fan with their quarterbacks over the past 20 years? 01:04:54.159 --> 01:04:54.239 Okay. 01:04:55.840 --> 01:04:56.239 Sorry. 01:04:56.559 --> 01:04:56.960 Sorry. 01:04:57.199 --> 01:04:58.079 Um, I'm gone. 01:04:58.239 --> 01:04:58.559 I'm sorry. 01:04:58.880 --> 01:05:02.320 Got awkward in here, almost as awkward as that time, Tom Brady. 01:05:02.559 --> 01:05:03.280 Don't do it. 01:05:04.079 --> 01:05:05.280 Don't do it. 01:05:06.800 --> 01:05:07.519 Oh man. 01:05:08.239 --> 01:05:10.159 And 4K, nonetheless. 01:05:10.559 --> 01:05:11.039 All right. 01:05:11.119 --> 01:05:16.239 Um, moving right along, we actually already kind of did the Bills section uh in the context of the Patriots. 01:05:16.480 --> 01:05:16.960 Fuck the Bills. 01:05:17.280 --> 01:05:19.760 Um I think uh, all right. 01:05:20.000 --> 01:05:24.639 Um I think the Seattle Seahawks being three and one, beating the Chargers, everybody be doing that. 01:05:24.800 --> 01:05:33.039 I'm gonna save an extended Seattle Seahawks section for next week because they're about to play the San Francisco 49ers, and that's gonna really be a fun game, I think, to watch. 01:05:33.119 --> 01:05:35.440 I think that's two powerhouses going up against each other. 01:05:35.519 --> 01:05:37.760 I

think number five is fair on the power rankings. 01:05:37.840 --> 01:05:40.239 They're three and one with a plus thirty-two differential. 01:05:40.400 --> 01:05:45.599 Let's see if they can actually beat a team that we all think is a Super Bowl contender, right? 01:05:45.679 --> 01:05:50.719 Let's see if that can actually really happen because they're they are the 49ers are at this point. 01:05:50.800 --> 01:05:52.400 Brock Purdy's playing out of his mind. 01:05:52.559 --> 01:05:54.239 Is he the front runner for MVP right now? 01:05:54.320 --> 01:05:54.880 Brock Purdy? 01:05:55.119 --> 01:05:56.079 Yes, absolutely. 01:05:56.320 --> 01:05:59.840 Um, that's he usually like the first six weeks of the season. 01:06:01.280 --> 01:06:01.760 He's had a couple. 01:06:01.840 --> 01:06:01.920 Yeah. 01:06:02.559 --> 01:06:02.800 You're right. 01:06:02.960 --> 01:06:03.920 I'd have to agree with you. 01:06:04.000 --> 01:06:05.199 I think this is the best he's ever looked, though. 01:06:05.280 --> 01:06:06.159 I will say that for him. 01:06:06.239 --> 01:06:08.480 I think on the eye test, this is the best he's ever looked. 01:06:09.039 --> 01:06:10.320 Mike Evans is a game changer. 01:06:10.559 --> 01:06:11.760 Yeah, it's fucking crazy, dude. 01:06:11.840 --> 01:06:14.079 That's there's he opens up the middle of the field. 01:06:14.159 --> 01:06:14.719 He just does. 01:06:14.880 --> 01:06:23.039 He's also a little injury prone, though, so it is kind of crazy that the 49ers picked up another guy that like potentially could be affected by those Transformers. 01:06:23.599 --> 01:06:26.159 Um, I guess we can talk about the Chicago Bears. 01:06:26.239 --> 01:06:27.920 Is there anything interesting there to talk about? 01:06:28.159 --> 01:06:30.159 I might, I might have a few things to say. 01:06:30.239 --> 01:06:31.840 Um I got I got one back. 01:06:33.039 --> 01:06:38.559 I think the Bears are the best coach team in the NFL, and I don't think it's even actually close. 01:06:39.039 --> 01:06:39.920 Not close. 01:06:40.159 --> 01:06:42.320 Um, yeah, Ben Johnson's definitely a good coach. 01:06:42.400 --> 01:06:53.199 I mean, when you when you get yourself in a situation where you can provably say that you have the three best quarterbacks in the NFC North on one team, I uh I think that's pretty fun. 01:06:53.280 --> 01:06:55.039 I I'm having a good time with it. 01:06:55.280 --> 01:06:56.559 I don't know about you guys. 01:06:56.719 --> 01:07:02.400 Um, Jared Goff, fourth best quarterback in the NFC North, after obviously Tyson Bage and Case Keenum and Caleb Williams. 01:07:02.559 --> 01:07:08.639 And I think it's looking like Caleb's gonna be out again this week with the hamstring that everybody like really overreacted to his reaction to. 01:07:08.719 --> 01:07:10.719 And I I'm sure you guys are embarrassed enough about that. 01:07:10.800 --> 01:07:17.280 I don't I don't want to rub it in, but we're not um four is pretty generous to these Chicago Bears. 01:07:17.440 --> 01:07:19.920 It might might be like you're you're doing me a favor here. 01:07:20.000 --> 01:07:23.039 I mean, I haven't seen them beat a team that good. 01:07:23.440 --> 01:07:27.440 They're not gonna get that opportunity next week because they have to play the Green Bay Packers. 01:07:27.519 --> 01:07:32.239 So even if they beat them, it's just like waxing another fucking tin can, you know what I mean? 01:07:32.320 --> 01:07:34.320 It's not that's not gonna be that impressive. 01:07:34.480 --> 01:07:40.960 But they're going to Lambeau favored for the first time in like uh I think that the number exact mathematical number was a bajillion years. 01:07:41.039 --> 01:07:43.599 Um, so that's interesting to me. 01:07:43.840 --> 01:07:46.159 Uh, I again don't think Jordan Love is that good. 01:07:46.239 --> 01:07:51.840 I don't think the Rams look that impressive in their win, but the Bears look really competent. 01:07:52.000 --> 01:07:56.480 There's just a lot of competence going on, and it's obviously coming from the coaching staff. 01:07:56.719 --> 01:08:04.000 They seem to, he seems to have actually changed the culture there in two seasons, which uh just shows you what a what a good head coach can actually do. 01:08:04.239 --> 01:08:09.360 The blocking for the running, especially, but the blocking is just it's a fucking sight to behold. 01:08:09.440 --> 01:08:12.000 I've never been this turned on by an offensive line before. 01:08:12.159 --> 01:08:16.880 Usually I'm not into that body type, but honestly, boys, it's open season. 01:08:17.039 --> 01:08:19.279 You guys are looking sexy out there. 01:08:19.520 --> 01:08:21.359 Fucking tons of fun. 01:08:21.520 --> 01:08:25.600 Tons of fun watching those tons of funds on the offensive line for the Chicago Bears. 01:08:25.920 --> 01:08:27.520 Monongai is filthy. 01:08:27.600 --> 01:08:29.279 Uh Swift is great. 01:08:29.520 --> 01:08:31.359 They're playing fucking out of their minds. 01:08:31.439 --> 01:08:32.960 I love watching Kymenongai run the ball. 01:08:33.039 --> 01:08:33.439 Genuinely. 01:08:33.520 --> 01:08:37.600 He's one of those just head-first downhill bowling ball runners. 01:08:37.760 --> 01:08:39.760 He's like, you guys remember the movie Hook? 01:08:40.000 --> 01:08:42.800 And then there's the kid that they roll down the thing. 01:08:42.880 --> 01:08:44.079 Yeah, uh, unbelievable. 01:08:44.159 --> 01:08:45.520 He's just so fun to watch. 01:08:45.760 --> 01:08:48.399 Three winning quarterbacks in four weeks. 01:08:48.640 --> 01:08:54.479 Um obviously, it's gonna be funny when you guys start calling Caleb Williams a system QB when he comes back. 01:08:54.640 --> 01:08:56.640 I I uh I can't wait. 01:08:56.800 --> 01:09:00.159 It's good, it's just the bit is writing itself, obviously. 01:09:00.479 --> 01:09:08.159 But I saw a video of the Jets um like local broadcast all being like, well, this is an easy win, no Caleb Williams, right? 01:09:08.319 --> 01:09:11.600 And I

think Philadelphia probably felt it the same way. 01:09:11.920 --> 01:09:17.439 The only downside to the Chicago Bears winning in this fashion is I think we're now starting to get on people's radar. 01:09:17.520 --> 01:09:22.479 I think people are actually starting to see that this is a team that you they might be a contender. 01:09:22.560 --> 01:09:22.960 I don't know. 01:09:23.039 --> 01:09:23.439 I don't know. 01:09:23.520 --> 01:09:26.319 I mean they they they looked okay in the playoffs last year. 01:09:26.479 --> 01:09:29.680 They their defense actually seems to be a lot better than I thought it was gonna be. 01:09:29.760 --> 01:09:32.319 The the rookies that they drafted are legitimately good. 01:09:32.560 --> 01:09:34.880 Um, and yeah, I've never seen a Bears offense like this. 01:09:34.960 --> 01:09:35.680 You're absolutely right. 01:09:35.760 --> 01:09:39.359 I've never seen a Bears offense like this, not even close, not even fucking close. 01:09:39.520 --> 01:09:48.079 So I I'm interested just to to hear, Mike, from a I guess neutral, although you do look like to see me sad uh in perspective. 01:09:48.399 --> 01:09:51.600 Would where how do these bears look to you? 01:09:51.680 --> 01:09:52.880 What what are you seeing? 01:09:54.239 --> 01:09:56.800 I mean, they look like everything that you just said, man. 01:09:56.880 --> 01:10:04.479 They have they have the the probably the best uh top three offensive-minded head uh head coach in the NFL. 01:10:04.640 --> 01:10:11.039 Um I think the pairing with him and Caleb is amazing. 01:10:11.279 --> 01:10:23.920 Uh I do think that what he does and what he's done with your backup quarterbacks makes me reconsider ever thinking that Jared Goff actually was was doing better as a QB. 01:10:24.319 --> 01:10:28.640 Um Jared doesn't have the same amount of talent that Caleb Williams has. 01:10:28.800 --> 01:10:32.319 So anyone that wants to call Caleb Williams a system quarterback is a moron. 01:10:32.399 --> 01:10:33.840 Uh oh, I thought you were gonna do it. 01:10:33.920 --> 01:10:34.560 It was right there. 01:10:34.800 --> 01:10:35.680 No, no, oh well. 01:10:37.199 --> 01:10:39.840 I'm not gonna call yeah, I'm not gonna call him a system quarterback. 01:10:40.079 --> 01:10:48.800 Uh no, but what what I've been watching because since week one, it was uh you said like their defense sucks. 01:10:48.880 --> 01:10:51.119 And it's like, oh well, you know their team way better than I do. 01:10:51.199 --> 01:10:52.560 And I'm like, well, they're fast. 01:10:52.800 --> 01:10:56.239 It feels like remember the remember the year the Cowboys defense figured it out, Dave? 01:10:56.560 --> 01:10:58.720 This feels like that again. 01:10:59.199 --> 01:11:07.039 Like it looks like they're they can get everywhere, they might give out the points, but like their offense with with Caleb can score 30 a game. 01:11:07.279 --> 01:11:17.520 Um I I think if Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams are together for 10 years, there's there's a very good chance that the Chicago Bears are gonna win a Super Bowl or two. 01:11:18.560 --> 01:11:20.239 That would be really nice. 01:11:22.000 --> 01:11:22.960 I want to think like that. 01:11:23.279 --> 01:11:35.119 Guys, seeing Dave Dave's eyebrow raise after you said or two Super Bowls made me so uncomfortable, almost as uncomfortable as watching Tom Brady kiss his son. 01:11:36.000 --> 01:11:41.840 You know the irony is that the first time I watched that video, my eyebrow did the exact same thing. 01:11:43.920 --> 01:11:44.479 I'll leave that. 01:11:44.960 --> 01:11:46.159 I've watched Dave for a long time. 01:11:46.239 --> 01:11:51.199 There's only been a few times that I get this look, this giddy little cackling look. 01:11:51.680 --> 01:11:55.119 I want the Bears to win, but I also want to watch Dave watch them crumble. 01:11:55.199 --> 01:11:56.640 So this is a complicated moment for me. 01:11:56.800 --> 01:11:57.039 I don't. 01:11:57.119 --> 01:11:59.840 I've seen I've seen that I've seen that show too much. 01:12:00.000 --> 01:12:09.600 I think I still, despite what you what you what you may believe, DK, I am still rooting for a plethora of Bears Patriots Super Bowl matchups. 01:12:10.640 --> 01:12:12.159 I wouldn't really want that. 01:12:12.720 --> 01:12:13.199 100%. 01:12:15.119 --> 01:12:16.640 I don't think you do want that, Mike. 01:12:16.960 --> 01:12:18.000 Oh, we want the smoke, it's a good idea. 01:12:26.800 --> 01:12:28.800 It would be just fucking great content. 01:12:29.039 --> 01:12:34.800 We might never speak to each other after that era, but it'd be it would be a great finish to the podcast if that could happen. 01:12:35.039 --> 01:12:42.960 Um the idea of having a like a game where Drake May and Caleb Williams are mic'd up, and we get to hear Caleb give his every time he gets hit, that would be the best. 01:12:45.520 --> 01:12:48.960 You can't say that after our guy was fucking cried against the Jaguars, dude. 01:12:49.039 --> 01:12:50.880 Like Mike in September. 01:12:51.760 --> 01:12:53.039 He gives a shit in September. 01:12:53.680 --> 01:12:54.399 Sorrow drive. 01:12:54.479 --> 01:12:55.439 I'll see you in February. 01:12:55.600 --> 01:13:00.319 Hey, I wouldn't mind going up against your uh your version of Carson Wentz. 01:13:00.399 --> 01:13:06.079 I mean, your JJ McCarthy is is gonna be a hell of a JJ McCarthy, you know? 01:13:06.159 --> 01:13:12.720 I mean, I do think he is, I think what I'm assessing uh of Drake May is that he's the Carson Wentz of JJ McCarthy's. 01:13:12.800 --> 01:13:15.039 That's what I think he is, and uh we'll see. 01:13:15.119 --> 01:13:16.319 We'll see as it goes on. 01:13:16.399 --> 01:13:17.119 I don't really mean that. 01:13:17.199 --> 01:13:19.439 I'm just just being a jerk for fun. 01:13:19.600 --> 01:13:20.880 Um, I don't really think that. 01:13:20.960 --> 01:13:25.039 I actually do think they are gonna turn it around and and sustain what um happened last week.

01:13:25.119 --> 01:13:27.039 That's my official take on the New Glen Patriots. 01:13:27.119 --> 01:13:33.039 The Jacksonville Jaguars, Jaguar's, no, you are no longer a key star. 01:13:36.000 --> 01:13:41.359 The bitch should be we just cross them off like week four every year, no matter what, just for fun. 01:13:41.600 --> 01:13:49.680 Um, they're at home in London this week, and uh they um they you know what they're all fucking Jaguars fans over there now. 01:13:49.840 --> 01:13:50.479 Did you know that? 01:13:50.640 --> 01:13:53.439 Because of the amount that they've been force fed, the Jacksonville Jaguars. 01:13:53.520 --> 01:13:53.920 They don't know. 01:13:54.000 --> 01:14:02.159 They like if you're from England and you hear about Jacksonville, like you don't know what of a what kind of a nightmare swamp that place actually is. 01:14:02.319 --> 01:14:03.520 That they're the London Jaguars. 01:14:03.840 --> 01:14:06.000 They're gonna find out next month when they get GTA sex. 01:14:06.640 --> 01:14:11.680 Just the thought that Arsenal fans, Arsenal fans are rooting for a team that plays in Jacksonville, Florida. 01:14:12.560 --> 01:14:12.880 Beautiful. 01:14:13.199 --> 01:14:15.760 It's it's beautiful, but I I will say this for the Jags. 01:14:15.920 --> 01:14:18.159 They've outscored their opponents 104 to 53. 01:14:18.239 --> 01:14:20.159 That's a plus 51 differential. 01:14:20.239 --> 01:14:24.800 Um, the Patriots helped them along in that, but uh, they're allowing just 13.3 points a game. 01:14:24.960 --> 01:14:27.439 Trevor Lawrence looks like I thought Herbert was gonna look. 01:14:27.520 --> 01:14:30.479 I mean, I think I backed the wrong white guy coming into this season. 01:14:30.640 --> 01:14:33.520 Um 72, 104 for 843. 01:14:33.680 --> 01:14:36.560 He's not he's not spreading it around the field. 01:14:36.640 --> 01:14:38.880 It's not an air raid, but he's playing super efficiently. 01:14:38.960 --> 01:14:40.399 He's great in the red zone. 01:14:40.560 --> 01:14:44.079 Um, he legitimately is a really, really good red zone QB. 01:14:44.159 --> 01:14:48.720 Over the last two weeks, he's thrown four TDs against one pick, and they beat New England 35-6. 01:14:48.880 --> 01:14:52.880 Sorry to bring that up, but also Cincinnati, who are a legitimately good team, 22 to 17. 01:14:53.199 --> 01:14:57.760 He was super efficient against Cincinnati, 18 to 22, 23, 227, one TD. 01:14:57.840 --> 01:15:00.079 No pick, 122 passer rating. 01:15:00.239 --> 01:15:07.760 And the only loss is a seven-point road defeat in Denver, who Matt thinks are the fucking second coming of the of the 2001 Rams. 01:15:08.000 --> 01:15:16.479 So the only um thing I'll say is I thought three was aggressive for the Jags, and then when I actually started looking at the resume, I buy it. 01:15:16.640 --> 01:15:21.359 Um, the London Jaguars at home against wait, who the fuck are they? 01:15:21.680 --> 01:15:23.520 Oh, they're playing Philadelphia in in London. 01:15:23.600 --> 01:15:33.920 So they're at home against Philly, and I just wonder when they win that game, which I think that they will, and they're four and one, this is this is they might be a contender, guys. 01:15:34.000 --> 01:15:34.960 This is kind of crazy. 01:15:35.039 --> 01:15:42.640 Um, Zach, talk to me about your impressions of what this team was coming into the season and and how they've looked and and how those two things compare. 01:15:42.800 --> 01:15:46.720 I mean, I thought they're gonna have kind of a setback right in the high of last year. 01:15:46.800 --> 01:15:49.279 Uh candidate for sure. 01:15:49.439 --> 01:15:49.760 Yep. 01:15:49.920 --> 01:15:52.560 And then the the tougher schedule as well. 01:15:52.720 --> 01:15:55.439 Um the start has definitely surprised me. 01:15:55.600 --> 01:15:59.439 Um I find they're I mean, the the offense is gonna speak for itself. 01:15:59.600 --> 01:16:02.399 Like, like I don't think we need to really expand on that. 01:16:02.560 --> 01:16:07.359 Trevor Lawrence is looking great, like uh their running backs, their their wideouts. 01:16:07.439 --> 01:16:10.079 Uh Travis Hunter actually looks really good as well. 01:16:10.319 --> 01:16:17.279 Um but their defense is interesting because it might be because Drake May made him look really good. 01:16:17.520 --> 01:16:21.359 No, I no, I'm shaking my head because Matt just got a fucking text and I heard it. 01:16:26.159 --> 01:16:37.199 The Jags defense is really interesting because uh in terms of um rushing, they've allowed the second least amount of yards per game. 01:16:37.359 --> 01:16:41.279 Uh but their pass defense is really bad. 01:16:42.239 --> 01:16:47.920 And it's gonna be interesting to see, especially some quarterbacks like Lamar. 01:16:48.079 --> 01:16:52.399 I know he can't throw the ball, but if he's given an opportunity, he'll look really good. 01:16:52.720 --> 01:16:56.000 Um Caleb Williams in December. 01:16:56.159 --> 01:17:02.960 That's gonna be I know I'm kind of jumping ahead in the schedule here, but Caleb Williams, uh Jaden Daniels as well. 01:17:03.119 --> 01:17:15.760 So there's a lot of quarterbacks that could put up yards against this defense, and I'd really be curious to see is it gonna be uh is the defense gonna kind of cost this uh team some games? 01:17:15.920 --> 01:17:19.600 Um so that's kind of what I'd be looking for, even though it is a home game in London. 01:17:19.680 --> 01:17:22.239 I do respect that home field advantage is big. 01:17:22.399 --> 01:17:34.079 Um without Saquon and possibly having to go to their uh third string running back, they might be looking to air the ball out more, and the Jags haven't really shown a good pass defense. 01:17:34.479 --> 01:17:45.119 All right, I think that this team, the Al Jaguars are susceptible to a team like Philly, because if he if Jalen Hurts gets the ball off over the top and they get up on them, who knows what's gonna happen. 01:17:45.439 --> 01:17:50.319 You

don't want I I've loved watching Trevor Lawrence like command his offense. 01:17:50.399 --> 01:17:55.039 It finally is happening where he looks uh like he's comfortable, he knows the plays, he knows the plan. 01:17:55.359 --> 01:17:59.279 But if he's playing from 13 points, 14 points down, who knows what happens? 01:17:59.520 --> 01:18:02.399 If panic sets in I'm interested to see how they handle it. 01:18:02.960 --> 01:18:04.800 If he's playing Justin Herbert, we know what happens. 01:18:04.880 --> 01:18:06.000 He he wins that game. 01:18:06.319 --> 01:18:08.000 Trevor Lawrence comes back, like for sure. 01:18:08.239 --> 01:18:13.680 I I I don't know why I don't like Trevor Lawrence. 01:18:14.000 --> 01:18:14.720 I can't tell you why. 01:18:15.680 --> 01:18:16.079 But I don't know. 01:18:16.239 --> 01:18:18.720 Did you watch him lose the national championship to Joe Burrow? 01:18:20.159 --> 01:18:28.800 No, I don't like I he's talented, but uh it felt like I think he'll be a top 15 quarterback in the league. 01:18:28.880 --> 01:18:31.199 And it feels like they paid him like he was gonna be a top five. 01:18:31.439 --> 01:18:32.399 And all the expectations were. 01:19:28.079 --> 01:19:36.960 I mean, it it is weird to see, and it's weird to think about, but I mean Drew Brees brought the Saints a Super Bowl, and like people forget like how horrendous the Saints were before he arrived. 01:19:37.279 --> 01:19:41.600 This is just I think because of the era that we were kind of our brains were forming. 01:19:41.760 --> 01:19:44.880 I don't think of the Saints like that because of Drew Brees, but yeah. 01:19:45.279 --> 01:19:51.600 I mean, Blake Bortles brought Jacksonville to the AFC title game like three years before uh Sunshine arrived. 01:19:51.680 --> 01:19:52.479 So I don't understand. 01:19:52.720 --> 01:19:58.159 But I don't think but I don't think anyone looked at Blake Bortles as a potential top 15 quarterback, even though he was drafted number three. 01:19:58.319 --> 01:20:00.960 Uh I don't think anyone ever ever looked at him that way. 01:20:01.199 --> 01:20:04.079 I think Borders is already a top 15 quarterback now. 01:20:05.039 --> 01:20:06.560 I think he's top five right now. 01:20:06.800 --> 01:20:14.079 Yeah, maybe on form, but I just mean like if you were establishing like the credentialed list, I think he'd be in the top 15 at least. 01:20:14.399 --> 01:20:15.039 Yeah. 01:20:15.359 --> 01:20:15.680 Yeah. 01:20:15.920 --> 01:20:16.159 All right. 01:20:16.319 --> 01:20:16.479 Yeah. 01:20:16.720 --> 01:20:19.920 Um there's nothing really Kansas City Chiefs. 01:20:20.079 --> 01:20:24.399 Yeah, I mean I love how I love how when you're trying to make an argument for the first time. 01:20:28.479 --> 01:20:30.640 Um or 14th or whatever you did. 01:20:30.800 --> 01:20:32.800 Um the Kansas City Chiefs, yeah, they're back. 01:20:32.880 --> 01:20:35.279 I'm scared, but they have a bye next week, so there's nothing to really talk about. 01:20:35.439 --> 01:20:37.760 And we already kind of touched on the San Francisco 49ers. 01:20:37.840 --> 01:20:40.880 So I really appreciate everybody coming to the power ranking show. 01:20:41.039 --> 01:20:48.319 Um the Tom Brady mouth kissing, his son joke will uh not be a recurring bit across the cour uh course of the damn shame. 01:20:48.960 --> 01:20:52.319 Uh well, I feel like if I keep doing it, it's gonna get a little awkward. 01:20:52.479 --> 01:20:55.439 Um, awkward like that time Tom Brady was mouth kissed. 01:20:55.520 --> 01:20:56.159 All right, I'm done. 01:20:56.239 --> 01:20:57.119 I'm done, I'm done. 01:20:57.359 --> 01:20:57.680 Keep it up. 01:20:57.760 --> 01:20:58.880 I'm gonna mouth kiss you in a second. 01:20:58.960 --> 01:20:59.760 Damn it, that didn't work. 01:21:00.239 --> 01:21:01.279 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 01:21:01.359 --> 01:21:01.680 Okay. 01:21:01.760 --> 01:21:03.760 That's that's not a threat to me, Thaler. 01:21:03.840 --> 01:21:06.640 All right, so we came, we saw, we power ranked. 01:21:06.880 --> 01:21:08.079 Thank you guys so much for coming. 01:21:08.239 --> 01:21:11.600 Um, a lot to watch, uh a lot to be excited about, a lot of context. 01:21:11.680 --> 01:21:15.439 I'd say the game of the week, it has got to be 49ers uh Seahawks. 01:21:15.520 --> 01:21:21.520 I'm really excited to see how that goes, but I am also interested in the other games around the league, especially keeping a close eye on those New England Patriots. 01:21:21.680 --> 01:21:24.960 So for myself, DK Sizzle, for Zach, for Mike, for Matt. 01:21:25.279 --> 01:21:35.600 Thank you so much for listening to the city.