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NFL Week 4 Recap
34 Plays5 days ago
The Goal Post is back after another exciting week in the NFL!
Damien and Patrick start off the show by talking about both Monday Night Football games — Damien is thrilled that the Dolphins finally won a game, and Patrick was disgusted by the Broncos vs. Bengals game.
After that, they go game-by-game throughout the Week 4 slate, including some brutal blowouts and some wild last second finishes, along with a TIE. They finish with another edition of the NFL 3 Stars of the Week - plus some honourable mentions.
After that, the Boys give out their Week 5 picks for the NFL picks battle, before discussing the CFL playoff race. They finish the podcast with Week 18 picks for the CFL — They are 30-22 on the season.
Enjoy!
DOLPHINS-JETS: 0:00 - 10:49
BRONCOS-BENGALS: 10:50 - 15:15
COWBOYS-PACKERS: 15:16 - 24:31
STEELERS-VIKINGS: 24:32 - 31:14
GIANTS-CHARGERS: 31:15 - 39:28
EAGLES-BUCCANEERS: 39:29 - 44:19
RAMS-COLTS: 44:20 - 49:56
BEARS-RAIDERS: 49:57 - 57:02
QUICK HITS: 57:03 - 1:23:24
3 STARS OF THE WEEK: 1:23:25 - 1:26:17
NFL WEEK 5 PICKS: 1:26:18 - 1:31:24
CFL WEEK 18 PICKS: 1:31:25 - 1:39:58
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Transcript
Dolphins' Resilience and Victory Highlights
00:00:18
Speaker
All right, welcome back to another episode of the Goalpost. There's a fall crisp in the air and the Miami Dolphins have won a game in the National Football League.
00:00:33
Speaker
Usually we wade into it a bit easier, but I'm excited, Patrick. I forgot what that feeling was like. The Dolphins are on the board. And hey, man, you know, it may not be the best season for Miami this year. it's it could be rough. But at the end of the day, you can always hang your hat on knowing you're not as bad as the New York Jets.
00:00:54
Speaker
And that has to feel good, man. You still can, like, own somebody in the division, even when you're at rock bottom. That's got to show that, like, there is still... It's it's kind of what we've thought.
00:01:06
Speaker
There is talent on this team. It's just kind of you know, maybe not... being used appropriately, or they're just not getting the best out of some of these guys or whatever it is.
00:01:16
Speaker
But it's clear that there's some talent on this team. And when you go up against teams that don't necessarily have that same talent and are, you you know, new head coaches still trying to figure out this league, you can get, you can get in the win column. And that's exactly what the Miami Dolphins did on Monday night. And thank God that game was decent because the other one was just atrocious. Maybe the worst game of the season so far.
00:01:37
Speaker
Yeah, I think it's the first in the history of this show, a Monday night football game that might be treated like a quick pick. Like it's were we're not going to talk about that practically at all. The fact that.
00:01:50
Speaker
the Dolphins got the B crew in that game. I don't know if they flex those around this early in the season, what crews they're sending and where, but I'm sure that Troy and Buck would have paid any amount of money to be in Miami last night instead of Denver.
00:02:04
Speaker
I guess, you know, they're banking on Joe Burrow starting the game, but, um, that That did not happen. And I guess they didn't have the time or the resource. Well, they definitely had both of those. But I guess as you said, you're set on this game.
00:02:15
Speaker
Orlovsky, Louis Riddick had the other one. And ah yeah, yeah they the Dolphins-Jets was a much better game. ah The first half was little kind of, you know, wild. And like a bunch of stuff happened in the first half. Not a ton of scoring, but a lot of like eventful things. And then the second half, it was some pretty good football from both sides. And it resulted in ah in a high scoring a eventful division game in the AFC East.
00:02:39
Speaker
Yeah. And, ah you know, the Dolphins, they come out in the ah very polarizing black jerseys. But but primetime in general for the Dolphins is a scary thing for Dolphins fans. It's it's when two has been injured in the past.
00:02:52
Speaker
Primetime curse strikes again with Tyreek Hill snapping his leg in half. um But this time they get a win in prime time, which was, I think, huge for the fan base just to get any scrap of decency from this season.
00:03:06
Speaker
And there were some things to like about this game. I thought Miami, I thought this was the game I've best game I've seen McDaniel call in like a year and a half like they. Split running and passing very well. Devon A-Chain is by far our best player. He is unbelievable.
00:03:22
Speaker
And they just they didn't make the mistakes that you kind of expected them to make in this game. In fact, they were the ones forcing turnovers and the Jets were the ones who killed themselves with penalties.
00:03:34
Speaker
I'm like, like these are all very Dolphins things to happen. And they staved off being those classic Dolphins last night. And it's a big reason why they won. Yeah, and I mean, they they tried to have the same old Dolphins kind of feel. Your boy, Aaron Brewer, um like like you said, you you sent a text to us. They have like two of those plays every single game.
00:03:53
Speaker
thank I think they did have two. A-chain maybe had a fumble late in the game that he was able to recover. So they avoided disaster. You know, they had two fumbles ah on the game. Both recovered them. And like that's, those are huge because Miami, like I said before in the first half was forcing the turnovers and being able to recover the ball as well, which was huge in a game like that where Justin Fields, you could tell he came out of the gates. I don't know what it was a little sleepy, a little just, you know, the week off from the concussion, didn't have his best start, picked it up late in the first half and then carried it into the second half and
00:04:25
Speaker
He was kind of just a different quarterback, but the damage was done in the first half by the Dolphins. It was Darren Waller's coming out party as well. pair of touchdowns. That's got to be exciting for the Dolphins because, you know, Johnny Smith was a key piece to this offense last year.
00:04:40
Speaker
And it's clear that Mike McDaniel does like to use the tight end in the receiving ah game. And and Darren Waller, like... Kind of fell off the map a little bit, has some you know off the field things going on, distractions, but he can still play football and the talent is still clearly there. And if you're just asking him to maybe not run block and pass block and do things like that and just get go out there, make a couple of plays for us, he can provide that for this Dolphins offense that is kind of going to be in need of that down the stretch with Tyreek Hill looking to miss some significant amount of time.
00:05:11
Speaker
Yeah, and he's a big body. Like, that's the biggest difference. This offense, especially in the receiving game, doesn't have a lot of big bodies going for it. And you saw it in that touchdown. His first touchdown just reached over everybody else and to have put it into a place where nobody else on the field could catch it. But him makes it very pro catch, gets both of his feet down.
00:05:31
Speaker
That was huge last night.
Packers vs. Cowboys: A Tied Outcome
00:05:33
Speaker
um Yeah. And I just think You know, it's tough where you win a game like that and then you look back and you're like, fuck, if we had just won that Patriots game, then you're two and two and it's like a completely different outlook.
00:05:44
Speaker
um But no use looking in the rearview mirror. The Jets, yeah. Aaron Glenn on the sideline. They whoever's directing the Jets games ah from a broadcast perspective, they are just smashing the Aaron Glenn button. He has the most emotional faces on during the game.
00:06:02
Speaker
Feels like you can read his mind. There'll be a bad play. There'll be a bad penalty. And it just cuts to him looking like the most disappointed dad ever. Yeah, he's got to get involved. he's He's very hands-on. it's It's very evident that he's very hands-on. He's very emotional, wears his heart on his sleeve.
00:06:18
Speaker
I mentioned it after that you know the Jets blocked that Buccaneers kick, took it back, his sideline. so He's a college coach, just visually. like You're watching him so you know in the NFL for these producers.
00:06:30
Speaker
That's got to be a dream for them. like They just have ISO cam. They have one camera guy. just dedicated to following Aaron Glenn around. And they are not afraid to show him. He had a hilarious one where Justin Fields broke off that insane touchdown run. like The first sign of life the Jets showed in that entire game.
00:06:47
Speaker
And you see Aaron Glenn's like grabbing him on the sideline. it It almost looked like he was disappointed in him or was like trying to give him some teaching. It's like, let the guy play. You needed some sort of life and he gave it to you and it looked like you were lecturing him on know when to push the buttons, I think, with Aaron Glenn. you know, he'll figure that out as the season goes on.
00:07:06
Speaker
But the Jets, it it was kind of what I was mentioning before. That first half was just horrible. It was horrible football. Part of it was credit to the Dolphins, forcing the turnovers. The defense actually looked good for the Dolphins.
00:07:16
Speaker
Most impressive game they've had defensively this year. We'll see if they can carry that forward. ah But it was too little, too late for the Jets. um They had that the Garrett Wilson OPI push off, which is, you know, I've seen them let a lot worse go.
00:07:31
Speaker
Don't think that was going to be the deciding factor in this game. And it was just something that's like, okay, like, yeah let's figure this out because he didn't, his arm was extended, but it never pushed. It was even, I thought that was soft.
00:07:45
Speaker
It's weird. And it just seemed unnecessary. I don't think anyone watching that game live was like, OPI, OPI. And there's a lot of times where, you know, you get these guys, uh, as a Steelers fan, I watched George Pickens do it a million times last year, still does it.
00:07:58
Speaker
He gets away with a million push-offs and makes the catches and it's all good. But you know, Gary Wilson did not get away with that one. um Braylon Allen had to leave this game as well. And then Brees Hall kind of looked a little slow out there. That that was just my visual take is Brees Hall could, you know, maybe hit the wind sprints a little bit ah early in this game. It looked like the Jets were going to rush for like 350 yards. And i think that was a big.
00:08:21
Speaker
Changing point in this game, Jack Jones forcing that fumble on the Jets first drive where they were getting as many yards as they wanted and then come away on the one yard line with no points from that opening drive. That was killer.
00:08:35
Speaker
And even like you said, with that Garrett Wilson OPI not being the difference, it was because the Dolphins were responding every time. Like every time you thought, you know, the Dolphins need to get points here, they somehow found a way to get those points, which I thought was massive.
00:08:50
Speaker
Tua looked all right. had a couple bad throws, but you know had that had that rush. God, you just hold your breath. Now, I got like two feelings about this. like As a fan, you're obviously like, shit, man, get down, get down, which he actually did. He slid, but I hate the like the the broadcast reaction to it.
00:09:10
Speaker
like i Dan Orlovsky's like, I'm just holding my breath over here. I'm so scared. It's like, shut up, man. He's playing. He made the call. He's playing football. Like don't treat him with the kid gloves.
00:09:22
Speaker
Yeah. They're acting like Tua is a 65 year old man where it's like, you might die out there. It's like, yeah, you know, he's, he's that next concussion might be the last one for Tua. And that is a reason to be nervous about it.
00:09:35
Speaker
But if that's any other quarterback, you're, you're not reacting that way. And you're thinking, okay, yeah, 15 yards. And then you're moving on. And I mean, just like, and two This is not a knock on Tua, but there's no reason to like necessarily feel bad for Tua in a way. like He's getting paid millions of the...
00:09:52
Speaker
a lot of money. He has a decision not to play. He feels good. He goes out there and he's, it's clear that he's got his confidence back. Like him smiling after that hit, I think was a huge ah sign of positivity for the dolphins and just, you know, him and his mentals. Like I took a hit, I survived it. Like that's gotta to be, cause that was really the first test, I guess you could say since that last concussion and ah you know, he passed it. And I think that's going to be huge for him going forward and just gaining that confidence back to, to where it once was.
00:10:22
Speaker
Yeah, I agree. um Dolphins have Panthers, Chargers, Browns in the next three weeks. So who knows, man? Like you can rattle off some wins here, maybe get some momentum back in the season.
00:10:34
Speaker
Who knows what the Chargers will get to them later. But like all of a sudden that doesn't look like you're playing a a giant anymore. um Pun intended. um But we'll move very, very quickly to the other Monday night football game, which thank God for the the seven,
00:10:49
Speaker
15, 8, 15. watch this Broncos game. Um, and also side note, the seven 15 game that rules so hard, like that game being done at like nine 45 was so sick.
00:11:04
Speaker
Um, 10 o'clock, but Broncos 28 Bengals three, this game, this game um And even the broadcast was super, super outwardly disappointed in it.
00:11:17
Speaker
Bengals kind of just gave up in this game. Like it felt like after Bo Nix scored that opening touchdown and it was, what was it? Seven, three. It was like, all right, it's wraps like this game's over.
00:11:30
Speaker
the The game finished 28 to three and the Bengals went down almost the entire field on the first drive of the game and kicked a 26 yard field goal. And then went scoreless after that.
00:11:41
Speaker
it It was bad. And, you know, there's this like thought that I think a lot of people had in their minds. We've seen Jake Brown and play a lot of games as a starter in the NFL. We've seen him play a ton of college games.
00:11:54
Speaker
Why did I think he was like, this is not, he's no he just not playing to what he where he was. It's pretty much the exact same team he had, if not a more talented running back who, you know, they have not been getting the most out of this year. Chase Brown has kind of been a disappointment from this team.
00:12:10
Speaker
And yeah, Jake Browning goes out there, finishes 14 to 25, 125 yards. And it it was just like, he he was punting the game. Like you were saying, it was just... You know, he's not there. He's going to take a sack. He's going to throw it out of bounds.
00:12:23
Speaker
He had no mustard on his arm either. You know, you think of him as a quarterback that can throw the ball and Cincinnati's got receivers that will catch it. He had a couple of deep, deep shots to the sideline. And I just go, that ball is just flow. It was Quinn Ewers. It was just floating in the air forever. And I just go, that is never going to be caught in this league. And it was, it was, it was telling.
00:12:45
Speaker
And the Bengals, man, I don't know what you do, but yeah, there were some problems. I don't know it's Zach Taylor thing that was just like, Hey, like don't take any risks out here. i don't know what we don't want you getting hurt. We don't want anyone else getting hurt, but that was one of the most pathetic efforts I've seen from an NFL.
00:13:00
Speaker
I've seen teams that are tanking perform better than that. And that, that was just pathetic all around 159 total yards in 22 minutes of possession. That is like, it's staggering, dude. They had more penalties than,
00:13:14
Speaker
Then first downs, they nine first downs, 11 penalties. This was a flag fest. Troy Aikman said the product's just not very good, and it was not. like Two for 11 on third down? like The stats look like they played like a quarter and a half of football.
00:13:30
Speaker
The fact that this game was a full NFL game is shocking. And this is where's Luke Wilson? Huh? where's Where's Luke Wilson? Let's talk about how bad of a product this was, Luke.
00:13:41
Speaker
um But yeah, this like i it's almost a waste to talk about it, which sucks because I still don't really learn a lot from the Broncos in this game, which I was kind of there was a few teams heading into this week where it was like Seattle. I wanted to learn about the Broncos. I really wanted to get a true read on.
00:13:58
Speaker
And it's hard to get a read from the Broncos in this game. Their defense is great. Bo Nix looked better. um But there's really nothing you can meaningfully take away from them. No, it was a get right game for the Broncos. I think they needed a game like this. I don't think they expected it to be as easy as it was, but it was point night.
00:14:15
Speaker
Everyone was on the board. Everyone was having a good time. ah You know, like Dobbins and Harvey go for about 160 yards combined on the ground. You know, Bo Nix has his first game where it's like, okay, that that's the Bo Nix we remember from last year.
00:14:28
Speaker
Sutton always gets in the end zone. And then Yeah, it's all it was. It was a get right game to build some confidence. And then I think we'll find out a lot next week. Like they're playing the Eagles and we'll get to the Eagles. But it feels like the Eagles haven't had a cupcake game all year long.
00:14:41
Speaker
It's just they have the early gauntlet of a schedule. And yeah, well, I mean, Broncos don't apologize for this. You needed one. ah You go you get back to 500, two and two and see if they can build off ah just a dominant win, a dominant win.
00:14:55
Speaker
it's It's ironic because the Eagles have a terribly hard schedule. The Ravens have a really hard schedule. And somehow the Bills... Well, that's the AFC East, man. it's The AFC East got lucky this year. And they're going to take advantage of it.
00:15:09
Speaker
The Dolphins got to find a way to take advantage of it to get back in the mix. And the Patriots do as well. Yeah. No, it's very true. um We'll move to the Sunday night game, which was unbelievable.
00:15:20
Speaker
Like it in in everything but the finish... a 40-40 tie between the Packers and the Cowboys. this This game is what Sunday Night Football is. It's why you stay up and watch these games.
00:15:33
Speaker
Back and forth, just fireworks towards the end of this game in overtime, points everywhere, amazing passes, amazing catches.
00:15:45
Speaker
And for that game to end in a tie, it's really the only sport. Like we're just not used to that in North American sports, right? In baseball and basketball and hockey, there's always a way to end these games.
00:15:57
Speaker
And in football, it doesn't happen and often, but when it does happen, you're like, man, that left a bad taste in my mouth. There's got to be a new rule for ties in the NFL where if you're if there's a a total ah total score of over 50 points, it can't finish in a tie.
00:16:14
Speaker
You know what I mean? like I can handle a 10-10 tie where the game's kind of boring. It's back and forth. it's like That's a game that feels like it should end in a tie. 40-40, it can't end that way. like These teams are playing too good a football.
00:16:27
Speaker
The game is too entertaining, interesting. It's back and forth up and down the field. and I can't help but look back at at Josh Allen and and put all the blame on him because, you know, they changed the overtime rules. And I guess like, I guess Green Bay was going to get the ball back no matter what. And maybe this isn't the best example, but I think it would have incentivized ah Dallas to maybe go get a touchdown there and then make Green Bay drive down the field and then see if they can just kick a game winning field goal.
00:16:55
Speaker
But this game ending in a tie is a damn shame.
Green Bay Concerns and Playoff Implications
00:16:59
Speaker
And it just, like you said, it just leaves a bad taste in your mouth after what, the best primetime game we've had all year easily.
00:17:06
Speaker
And, you know, just a game where like, imagine Dallas wins this game and and they get one back on, on green Bay and Micah Parsons. And then that you can, you can talk yourself about Dallas getting back into the mix of the playoffs. And then green Bay, if they find a win this game, it's like okay, they're battle tested.
00:17:22
Speaker
ah like a bounce back game after getting beat by the Browns. And then you just leave here with a tie each and you just go, I don't know. I guess like you're going to see those ones in the tie column. That's the worst part.
00:17:35
Speaker
And it's just going be like what, what is that? What what do what do we do with the tie here? and It's just going to be annoying to look at down the stretch. And I don't know. Like you said, like I think, you know, people have talked about it. Like it feels like Dallas won this tie. Green Bay kind of lost it because on power rankings, Green Bay is higher.
00:17:50
Speaker
But it's just a disgusting way to end this football game. Yeah, like seven consecutive lead, lead changing touchdowns in this game, back and forth, back and forth. And and you you hit the nail on the head there like you want to.
00:18:03
Speaker
You want the narratives from ah a solid finish in this game. You want to be able to sound off about which way each team is going, what this loss and win means. And you just can't like you just you're left at a loss of words here. And and we ah the Cowboys avoided it against the Giants two weeks prior. Like the fact that the Cowboys have almost had two ties this season is ridiculous.
00:18:27
Speaker
And it's the second highest scoring tie. Like you're right. There's something so wrong about a high scoring tie. yeah Everything about this game just led up to a peak and just kind of plateaued.
00:18:39
Speaker
Yeah. And I mean, we'll go into the gameplay a bit here. going to tip my cap to Jerry Jones, man. You are like the pettiest guy in the world. And i've I've just gone full circle with him. Like I used to hate Jerry.
00:18:52
Speaker
I found him annoying. I watched the Dallas Cowboys documentary, docuseries, I guess it is. ah You know, i can't, it was that ridiculous. And in a night like this, and like you said before, you know, we can't give Micah tribute, you know, it'd be a bad luck.
00:19:07
Speaker
All these things, man, where it's like, I just respect him at this point. ah He was just not going to let Micah Parsons have an impact on this game. The, like, you know, Micah finished with like a, a cheap sack at the line of scrimmage when Dak was evading the the pocket and looking a run a three tackles on the game.
00:19:24
Speaker
He, they were just going away from him, dumping it off. Uh, Javante Williams, you know, in the receiving game, George Pickens down the down the sideline, like they were just not going to allow Micah Parsons to get his lick back on, on the Cowboys and Jerry.
00:19:39
Speaker
And it was credit to him. Like it was actually a good game plan. It kept, like said, it kept them in this game, 40 points total. And I think this is something where maybe they should do that going forward.
00:19:50
Speaker
You know, a lot of teams do it to other teams. They go, we're just not going to let their best player. impact the game. We're going to just go away from him when we're running the ball and that, you know, Dallas, maybe this is something Marty Schottenheimer go, you know, take this forward because 40 points, you know, well, the defense is clearly a problem, but that's not going to get solved this season. It seems like, but if you can put up 40 points a game, you're going to win more than you lose in this league.
00:20:14
Speaker
Yeah, and in the Dallas offense is good. Like even without CeeDee Lamb, like it's it's productive. Javante Williams rules. George Pickens looks like his old self again.
00:20:26
Speaker
Jake Ferguson's getting in the mix like it is. Dak doesn't really look like classic Dak right now, where he doesn't seem to be making as many mistakes as he has in the past. You're right. like You kind of just got to ride what this team is right now. It's it's not a defensive team. You're going have to score a ton of points. But if you can kind of look at that matchup each game, like, okay, which is their best player on defense?
00:20:47
Speaker
How do we avoid getting him any sort of impact on this game? They'll probably win at least nine games. Absolutely. And in nine games can get you into the wildcard spot in the NFC. I feel like...
00:21:01
Speaker
feel like the NFC kind of past couple years, I'm not saying this year it's going to be the same, but they've kind of had some weaker teams slide into that seven spot. So I think 10 certainly gets you in. Nine gives you a chance based on tiebreakers and point differential, whatever the the certain tiebreakers are there. But on the flip side with Green Bay, like I mentioned after the Cleveland loss that we're not going to overreact to this.
00:21:23
Speaker
ah These things happen in the NFL. You know, everyone's very good in this league and and the margins are tight. you know, it's just not a good result back to back weeks now.
00:21:34
Speaker
So you're one more week away from me really starting to sound the alarm bells and like just ah offensively, clearly there's something there. And Jordan Love had a great game and, and you know, everything was resulting well. Romeo Dobbs with just the most Romeo Dobbs stat line ever. ever He only catches the ball if it's in the end zone, 58 yards, three touchdowns.
00:21:55
Speaker
you know very very nice game for Dobbs, but then you're giving up 40 points and and you're not able to you know win this game when you need it to. like I thought when they were driving down the field in overtime,
00:22:06
Speaker
And after Dallas scored that field goal, it felt like they were getting a touchdown. Yeah. and And, you know, they had to settle for this field goal with a little bit of clock, you know, mismanagement there late. And it was just, yeah I come away with, I come away with a lot more questions about Green Bay than I do Dallas in this game. When when you're talking about narratives with a win or loss, I just, I feel fine about Dallas. I'm like, this is, you're not going to apologize for a result like this against Green Bay. And then I look at Green Bay and I just go,
00:22:34
Speaker
yeah know where was that team from the first two weeks that people were ready to crown you as like the Super Bowl favorites? and you know This team's going to be so difficult to beat. They're going to come out of the NFC. I just haven't seen that team for two weeks. and If this continues... like one more like They play the Bengals next week, which is like... they have a bye and then the Bengals.
00:22:52
Speaker
Bye and then the Bengals. It's like, okay, you know we're probably going to forget about them for a little bit. but um' I got my eye on Green Bay, and I'm i'm watching the situation. It's... it's dan it's you know We'll see what happens, but I'm just not confident in Green Bay right now.
00:23:07
Speaker
Well, especially on defense. like Their defense looked horrible, like it and that is the weird thing. like That's not a Super Bowl defense. like When you talk about already you know being the winners of September, already penciling them into a deep playoff run, that defense did not look good.
00:23:23
Speaker
And against the best of the best in the league, that defense is going to seemingly get exposed unless they make some changes. like that There's no other way to put it. Yeah. And I don't like, like I said, like Dallas clearly game planned away from Micah.
00:23:38
Speaker
Someone else has got to step up. They do have talent like Rashawn Gary. There's, there's guys on this team that can play defense and like Edron Cooper's a young guy that they can get going. And and I just didn't really see it. Like Xavier, I know they, they let Jared Alexander walk in the off season.
00:23:54
Speaker
But i mean, like Xavier McKinney is a pretty solid corner and George Pickens look like a a top five receiver in the league in this game. And, you know, you can allow George Pickens is going to get his deep shots and he's going to get a couple catches a game, but you can't let him continue to just get in the end zone like he was able to in this game.
00:24:12
Speaker
You know, eight receptions for 134 yards and two scores. That's that's just too much George Pickens. And they never adjusted to clearly what Dallas was trying to do. And, you know, it it was crazy.
00:24:24
Speaker
a big reason why they walk didn't walk out of this game with a win. I have to, I had to like monitor what I said there. I almost forgot they tied. um We'll move all the way back to Sunday morning with our first international game of the series.
00:24:39
Speaker
Very near and dear to Patrick's heart. a Steelers game in Dublin, Ireland. Steelers walk away with a 24-21 win over the Carson Wentz-led Vikings.
00:24:51
Speaker
um Initial thoughts on this game. Stadium looked really small, which I kind of enjoyed. Like, it it's... Usually when you get those international games, like you're used to seeing like Tottenham Stadium or these these massive, massive English soccer stadiums. And I kind of loved how it looked like a high school football field.
00:25:08
Speaker
like It was yeah visually very fun to watch. The one end zone, it was like there was nothing there. It looked like a portable was hanging out. I was like, what is going on? think... i think I think, you know, like, you know, they're building new stadiums. They build them very steep. Now you this stadium is just like one of those old school flat ones. Like when they said it was just over 70,000 there, I go, you that's, there's no way, no way there's no way. But then I saw a couple, you know,
00:25:35
Speaker
crowd shots from from the crowd looking at the field and that I could kind of comprehend it a little bit more. ah They just kind of jammed a lot of people in there, but it just you're right. On TV, it did not look like these Tottenhams, these Wembleys, all those big stadiums in England.
00:25:51
Speaker
um But yeah, it was it was a fun game. My first international experience actually, you know watching the Steelers play overseas. So that was a little bit different. um And it just, you know, classic Tallman. It just can't be easy.
00:26:03
Speaker
You just can't have an easy win with the Steelers. It was trending that way, and I was so comfortable. It was nice. I'm like, okay. You know, I know it's Carson Wentz. I know the Vikings had a million injuries on their ah offensive line, and, like, the Steelers' defensive line was eating.
00:26:17
Speaker
ah But then it's just, you you know, you get into crunch time, and you need Mike Tallman to make a couple decisions to win you a football game comfortably, and he somehow just goes, like, 0 for 2 and just, like, it just – you look back and you just go, if we lost that game, like Talman doesn't get fired, but he's the reason why they lose they lose that game.
00:26:35
Speaker
Plus a blown coverage, which isn't on him. Like Chuck Clark is just, I don't know what you were doing there, but yeah. So the situations, it was a fourth and goal with, I believe five, maybe six minutes left in the game on the three yard line, I believe.
00:26:50
Speaker
And, um, For me, would had no problem with them kicking this. Like that would have been like the Steelers move. You kick it ah and then you go up 16. No, 13. thirteen i did It was something like that where they needed two touchdowns to beat them instead of a touchdown and a field goal to tie.
00:27:09
Speaker
So to me, i was saying it was a little bit different to me than like, you know, making a two score game, a two score game. It was at least you have to make them get two touchdowns. in in a very short period of time. So to me, i have no problem with them kicking it.
00:27:22
Speaker
They go for it. They run it, which I did not agree with the play call, get stopped on the two yard line. Then immediately they go and blown coverage hit Jordan Addison.
00:27:34
Speaker
Shout out to Peyton Wilson. yeah like the The play that will maybe go on. It didn't go on to us. People know us. That was a play that maybe sealed the deal. ah like Chases him down. Gets him down on the two-yard line. They make Minnesota get into on a fourth and goal.
00:27:49
Speaker
So that kills a lot of time. And then they get the ball back and it's you're right you're over midfield. You're in Minnesota territory after you get the onside kick. And it is a fourth in an inch, two inches maybe.
00:28:02
Speaker
And they punt it. And he punts it in the end zone too. And it's like, oh my God. Like that was that was a 19-yard punt. And you could have just said, you know, you brought like they brought out a weird version of the tush push in this game.
00:28:15
Speaker
And I was just like, just do it again. And Rodgers sitting back. yeah Yeah. Aaron doesn't need to get his hands dirty. And I was just thinking, just do that again. Just do that again. And to me, just went he flipped it both on what I would have done in these situations and what I thought Tomlin was going to do.
00:28:31
Speaker
But I guess if he didn't get that first fourth down, he has you know he's got trauma and he can't do it again. So he had to punt it. And then thankfully it all worked out. That's just so classic Steelers to like go yeah the wrong fourth down and then punt on the right fourth down.
00:28:46
Speaker
They can never figure it out. No matter who you bring in there, if Talman's up at coach, he's just somehow going to make the wrong decision. or the players don't come through for him and it always looks like the wrong decision.
00:28:57
Speaker
But yeah, this ah this was a nice Steelers win though. I'm going to take it three and one leading the division. Would you look at that through four weeks? Steelers are number one in the AFC North. A little bit of a bye week here after the international series.
00:29:11
Speaker
I'm okay with the early bye. kind ah We're kind of banged up a little bit, so I don't mind that. And yeah, just kind of keep going from there. Decent Aaron Rodgers game, good DK Metcalf game, then shout out Kenneth Gainwell. Yeah, there I saw somebody say there's there has to be like a segment of the Irish population that thinks Kenneth Gamewell is like Saquon Barkley.
00:29:30
Speaker
like he's just He's getting five yards of carry every time, two touchdowns, like just a superstar. Unbelievable game for him. i I did not see it coming, and I'm worried going to fall in love with him when Jalen Warren comes back. and like it's i don't Shout out to everybody who got screwed fantasy-wise. Nobody cares about your fantasy team, but I went to bed on Saturday with Jalen Warren in my lineup because that day they had said he was going to play.
00:29:56
Speaker
i wake up, lineups locked, out. Shout out to all the sharps who had Jalen Warren and picked up Kenneth Gamewell on the waiver wire and won them. And he won them their week. Shout out to them.
00:30:07
Speaker
um But yeah, Steelers go by week, then Browns bangles. So could go. This could be like a huge three week stretch for this Steelers here where you get rested and then get two division wins. And then all of a sudden you're like in the driver's seat for winning the division.
00:30:21
Speaker
Yeah, that their their first half of the schedule is a lot easier than their second half schedule. So, you know, the more wins you can bank now, the better. And hopefully they're able to do that against a couple of divisional teams that are, you know, a little bit in limbo
Steelers' Strategic Win in Dublin
00:30:35
Speaker
here going forward. And then you're off of by. So you got two weeks to prepare and hopefully they're able to execute. And hopefully, ah you know, Joey Porter and, ah you know, Warren and a couple of other guys get back healthy.
00:30:46
Speaker
Yeah. And yeah, like you said, shout out Peyton Wilson because they have found a absolute stud with him. He might be one of the fastest players in the NFL. That chased out block was ridiculous. Vikings stay in London.
00:30:58
Speaker
Now they're at taught or stay in the UK. Now they're at Tottenham against the Browns next week. So God, that'll be a, that'll be an ugly game. Um, We'll get to the Browns later because there's some some uncomfortable discussions to be had about the Browns.
00:31:15
Speaker
um But we'll move now to what was the shocking upset of Sunday. Survivor leagues, I'm sure, torn apart across America um with the Giants, the New York football Giants coming out over the Superchargers 21-18.
00:31:35
Speaker
Of course, after we talk about why would you put Jackson Dart in? He he is instrumental in getting them their own win. But it's kind of what you said. Like, I think this team is still likely going to be around the same whether Russ is in or not.
00:31:51
Speaker
But I like this for the fans where Giants fans got to be happy for a Sunday. Congrats to Giants fans. I'm not going to rain on your party. Congrats to Jackson Dart on getting you know a win in your first NFL start.
00:32:04
Speaker
And you know looking back on it, this this was somewhat obvious, not winning the game, but just getting that boost. right and you know You go from Russ, who's kind of... Russ in the past five years has been a bit of a ah Debbie Downer. you know He can kind of bring teams down with him, suck some energy, suck some life out of teams. Jackson Dart is a young guy that can you know bring a jolt of energy and a jolt of life into teams. And that's kind of exactly what he did. Gets the early 15-yard rushing touchdown, hits a nice little dance in the end. So he's got some swagger to him that Russ just does not have.
00:32:37
Speaker
And the the team fed off that. And it like clearly 21 points is not a lot of points and that doesn't guarantee you wins in this league, but the defense I think was feeding off of that, that energy. And they go, Oh my God, the offense looks somewhat competent.
00:32:53
Speaker
We got to find a way to step up in this game. And we've talked about it at length, the talent on that defensive line, you know, sexy Dexys got the the tip and the interception in this game, making plays.
00:33:05
Speaker
And they just kind of had Justin Herbert in a bit of hell, especially after Joe alt left the game. And this was a nice win for the Giants. We'll see how long this, you know, this boost of energy from Jackson Dart will last.
00:33:17
Speaker
But they got to ride this thing for as long as possible because, you know, we were looking at a a devastating season for the Giants. And now they can at least take some some positives from the season, you know, no matter what their record is.
00:33:31
Speaker
Yeah, for sure. And Cam Scadabo, we owe you an apology on this podcast. I remember that clip last season. like I'm going to hang on to that one. I'm going to hang on to that one. He's had a great start to the season. I'm not knocking him, but i'm I'm not ready to give that take up.
00:33:45
Speaker
Fair enough. Fair enough. um But yeah, he he looks electric. I saw people sharing the photo. He's got like dirt stains over it all over his jersey on a turf field. Like it's just the perfect, perfect metaphor for what Cam Scadabo is.
00:34:01
Speaker
um But yeah, it's it's an interesting game where, ah you know, in some games you don't learn a lot about teams. I feel like you learned a lot about the Chargers in this one where it's like if that defensive front is that good? If that defense is that good, is Justin Herbert still the MVP that, that people were talking about, you know, early in this season, he ran into some trouble there, like 23 for 41, 203 yards.
00:34:25
Speaker
forty one two hundred and three yards Omari and Hampton is a very big positive of this game. I think he needs more touches, man. Like 12 carries for 128 yards in the touchdown. Obviously, he the super long run for the touchdown.
00:34:40
Speaker
But it's this one's a bit puzzling where we've talked about this with the Chargers in the past where seems like they never... are able to find like a balanced game plan. It's either they throwing the ball 45 times a game or they're running it 50 times a game.
00:34:54
Speaker
And it just, i it feels like they need to find that even keel level. um But against this Giants defensive line, like they just, they were getting eaten up. Yeah. I think this goes back to Harbaugh a little bit. And I do think Harbaugh is a fine coach. I think he's, you know, got this team exactly where they need to be right now, where they want to be. And, you know, he's hitting all their goals, but He's so old school in the sense that, you know, you get down more than two scores, the running game's gone. It's like, we're throwing the ball.
00:35:22
Speaker
We're going to go up tempo. We're like, we need to, you know, keep as much clock as possible. Where then the the other, the giants in this situation is go, okay, we'll just rush for our fork and get home, especially on a backup tackle.
00:35:36
Speaker
And they they did that. And like said, you know Herbert throws for 41 times, only compete completes 23 times and has two interceptions in this game. And it was just not not clean football from the Chargers, which we saw through the first three weeks, you know beating some good teams, getting three division wins. And it was just like, okay, now this Chargers team is taking that next step in the AFC and they want to enter that elite ah category of teams.
00:36:02
Speaker
I'm not going to panic on the chargers. I do think some injuries had a key part in this loss, uh, specifically to Joe alt. And it's similar to the Packers last week where I'm like, these games will happen and they're going to happen throughout the season.
00:36:15
Speaker
And great teams that we think are going to be surefire playoff teams and maybe potential you know ah conference champions and possible Super Bowl teams are going to drop these games that you don't see coming.
00:36:27
Speaker
So it's going to just be like, it's just it's the same. I'm going to take it in a methodical approach, the same way took the Packers. Don't make this a trend because now I do kind of have my eye on the Packers, as I was mentioning before.
00:36:39
Speaker
L.A.' 's safe in my book for now, but it's definitely something that where it's like, OK, if you break this out, who they play next week? Let me check this out. They play the commanders. And I would assume Jaden Daniels is probably going to be returning. He's missed two weeks.
00:36:52
Speaker
ah So they're three and a half point favorites at home. That's a game where I'm like, okay, if you can go back out and respond and beat a commander's team with Jaden Daniels, zero concern. You go out there and you lose it. It's like okay, well, are you back to what you were last year? Like the nine and eight, 10 and seven kind of team.
00:37:09
Speaker
So it's just don't make this a trend and you know, good teams bounce back and we'll see if the charges will be able to do that next week. Yeah, it's well said. It's ah slowly keeping our eyes on the Chargers.
00:37:19
Speaker
It's still shockingly early in the season. You know what mean? like We're only through four weeks. Buys are just coming in this next week. like I understand everyone wants to overreact and people want to get these teaks off.
00:37:30
Speaker
This league is going to change, and it's week to week, and things are just going to like you just kind of got to go with it week by week and just see what happens. don't like One loss is not going to determine a team's season. Yeah, it's ah it's the Raiders beating the Ravens last year. That that was week two. That fucked everybody up. um And that I got a good feeling that'll be that Browns over Packers win this year.
00:37:53
Speaker
um And maybe even this Giants over Chargers win. We just got to touch on one more thing. Sorry, the Malik neighbors. yeah like The Giants can't have any. like You got one good thing. like You get one jolt of energy in your team. Jackson Dart goes out there and gets you a win.
00:38:07
Speaker
And then you can't even be happy about it because you lose your number one receiver for the season. It's the MetLife turf, man. It was claiming everyone in that game, star players on both sides. It's like how many more injuries have to happen on this at the stadium on this turf before there's a change.
00:38:23
Speaker
I heard they're changing the turf for the World Cup. they're bringing in grass. Maybe just keep it that way going forward. Just a thought. Yeah, tough weekend for for injuries across the entire league. like and And it's been a tough year already for injuries, which like I know it's the sport, it's football. But man, it just seems like especially that Tyreek one last night, but one of those ones where where whoever you're with, some people have to turn away from the screen. like Same with neighbors. that was That was bad when he planted his foot like that. And it's just, yeah, shut up.
00:38:55
Speaker
And it sucks too. It's such a dagger because like, let's say you do get a bump here with Jackson Dart and you're like, shit, maybe we really have something here. And now you don't get to see what he looks like truly passing to Malik neighbors for 10 games. You know what I mean?
00:39:09
Speaker
Yeah. it does So I mean, it's just like, you one positive thing. It's it's one step forward, two steps back. And it just feels like that's been the giants for the past. Like since Eli Manning, it's like, they just can't have sustained happiness for, I don't know.
00:39:21
Speaker
It, they just can't, it seems that way. It's, You know, I hate the curse thing, but it it does feel like something's kind of hanging over that franchise a little. 100 percent. um We'll move to a team that is seemingly not cursed and seemingly has black magic on their side.
Eagles' Winning Streak and Resilience
00:39:35
Speaker
The Eagles, 31 bucks, 25. What game the takes.
00:39:38
Speaker
what a game for the takes this game was if you if you wanted to get Jalen Hurts takes off if you wanted to get Eagles takes off if you didn't like the Bucs like there was a little something for everybody in this game because a this is like almost what has happened for teams playing the Eagles this year where teams will be silent for a single half this time it was the Eagles who were silent for the second half read you Jalen Hurts's passing stats
00:40:10
Speaker
comparatively from the first half to the second half in this game the first half he goes 12 15 for pass yards two passing touchdowns rating second half finished fifteen for twenty four a hundred and thirty pass here it's two pass touchging two past touchdowns hundred and five four point five rating um This was just a tale of two halves. Like I thought the Bucks were going be able to pull this one off again. Seems like the Eagles magic is a bit stronger, um but the the Eagles squeak out to four and oh, you're not going to complain about it, but something's weird with this team, man.
00:40:48
Speaker
Yeah, it like I said, like the Eagles, if they are four and oh, they're the reigning Super Bowl champions. And somehow you're you're leaving these wins with seeds of doubt in your mind. And if you look at the four teams they've played, they've had the hardest schedule in the league up to this point. And they're four and oh, reigning Super Bowl champions. And you're somehow not confident in this team.
00:41:10
Speaker
They are An anomaly. i it's i I don't know how to put this into words, but it's it's disgusting how they win games, but they're doing it. So it's like i it's similar to Jerry Jones. like You want to hate this guy. You want to hate this team. You want to hate how they're winning games.
00:41:26
Speaker
But it's almost just like I'm starting to respect it a little bit more. They don't care. ah Like AJ Brown, another game where he has two receptions for seven yards. Devontae Smith, only two receptions for 29 yards.
00:41:38
Speaker
You laid out Jalen Hurts' second half. Some of the like the worst football you can play as a starting quarterback in this league. And it's like, oh yeah, they beat the Bucs on the road by a touchdown. it's you know it's It's impressive how they're finding ways to win it.
00:41:53
Speaker
ah I do think that special teams has played a little bit of a role in these last two wins specifically. What's the difference in this one, man? And against the Rams as well. You block a kick and take it like a, of what was going to be a game winning kick.
00:42:06
Speaker
You take it back to the house. You know, you get the early block kicked for a, for a touchdown in this game. And, uh, Baker Mayfield throws that late interception where it's like, okay, the bucks are going down. They're about to tie it up with a two point conversion.
00:42:19
Speaker
And then it's like, I don't know. That was a pretty brutal, Pretty brutal interception by Baker. I know, you know, he was having a pretty solid second half there. He was leading a comeback, but it's like, those are the things where you're like, that's, that's the Baker. That's, that's the old Baker, man. That's the Browns Baker. He still got it in him.
00:42:37
Speaker
I would, I'm, I was going to wait for the, for the next game. Yeah. i'll I'll wait for the next game. Do wa I have a little exercise for us to do? Um, but yeah, this is a game where you come out, you know, the box have no Mike Evans.
00:42:51
Speaker
They get Chris Godwin back. He has a great game in this one. like Nice to see him back. Nice, reliable option. Doesn't really show up on the stat sheet, but I feel like he had huge like third down catch. or like Oh, yeah. Baker's in trouble. Godwin's there. He catches it.
00:43:05
Speaker
Buka's been awesome. And then Bucky Irving got very much. and all he was all over this game. ah So, like I don't know. The Bucs have had a pretty tough schedule. The Eagles just find ways to win. don't Like I said, it's tough to put it into words for the Eagles, but you just have to learn to respect it because this is what they are.
00:43:23
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. And it's ah and then like you said earlier, like they go against the Broncos next week. Like it'll it it doesn't seem to stop. After that, they go Giants, Vikings, Giants by. So it's you know, that might they deserve that, though. They deserve that little break. I'll get oh I'll allow that one.
00:43:39
Speaker
That'll be the break in their season. um Whereas the Bucs, the Bucs go Seahawks, 49ers, Lions. So like we'll we'll get to the Seahawks a bit later. They're kind of a mess right now. But um or or sorry, the 49ers later, they're a bit of a mess.
Puka Nakua's Impact on the Rams
00:43:52
Speaker
But the Seahawks and the Lions, those will not be easy games.
00:43:55
Speaker
um But yeah, this is ah I still take away from this game. Like Bucky Irving is incredible. Emeka Buka just continues to be. on ah a surefire path to offensive rookie of the year. Like there's nobody even close to him right now, um which is really something to say about that.
00:44:12
Speaker
ah But yeah, it's a two teams that are three and one. this is another game where you try to not overreact as much as possible. A game where we can have fun overreacting. Patrick is Rams 27 Colts 20, because this game, this was another take game.
00:44:29
Speaker
Um, You got to start with Adonai Mitchell in this game because it it is impossible to look at a 27 to 20 score in this one and not point directly to him making one of the best catch and runs after the catch of the entire season and then fumble fucking the ball out of the back of the end zone for a touchback.
00:44:53
Speaker
It's unbelievable. It's so boneheaded. and And it's, you get a couple, you get a couple of these a year, man. And in a game like you expect, it's usually in like some nothing game. Like Browns will be playing in it, the saints or something. And you're like, okay, whatever. Like that, that's ah a saints or a Browns move.
00:45:11
Speaker
Well, the Colts were three and oh, and they're in an absolute war with the good Rams team on the road. And Mitchell, like you said, made a great play breaks away from the the corner and the safety It looked like he kind of like fumbled it. It didn't look like he was like trying to taunt it. It just kind of flew out of his hands. But man, just just cross the goal line.
00:45:31
Speaker
You're going to have so much. They let you celebrate. You can have coordinated celebrations. You can do anything you want except for like dunking on the goalpost for a celebration now. And you need to do it a one second earlier.
00:45:43
Speaker
Just get in the end zone. Celebrate after with all your teammates. Do your dances. Do whatever you want. And then, you know, you got an 80 plus yard touchdown reception. You're in this game.
00:45:53
Speaker
you Like it, like you said, it's hard not to look at a 27, 20 loss and have seven points taken off the board. It could change the entire outlook of this game because I believe the Rams got points on that drive.
00:46:06
Speaker
Yeah. And, and it was just like, what are you doing? Uh, but yeah, this, this was a very fun game, uh, from start to finish. Yeah, it was. and And you have to start on the Ram side by talking about the the sheer pace that Puka Nakua is on right now.
00:46:23
Speaker
like This is our Puka Nakua corner right now. Leads the NFL in targets, catches, yards, explosive receptions. Matthew Stafford in the fourth quarter was 9 for 10, 172 yards, two touchdowns.
00:46:38
Speaker
The Rams offense is back to being so much fun. Not that it ever really wasn't, but the The things that Puka Nakua is doing on an NFL field right now, he's played in 32 NFL games. He's gone for 100 plus in 17 of them.
00:46:53
Speaker
In half of his games, he has been over 100 yards. It's gotten to the point where it's weird when he doesn't have 100 yards. Yeah, that's what i was saying. Like when we do the three stars of the week, it's like Nakua just does this every week. So it's, you know, you can have ah just a separate thing just for him because it's it's almost automatic. Like they should be starting his over under for receiving yards at 100 and a half or 99 and a half.
00:47:16
Speaker
it that It's every single week. This one was a little bit better than the the past couple, which is really saying something like 13 receptions, 170 in a touchdown. And like said, it's just every week.
00:47:27
Speaker
And this guy is an animal. like He takes some massive hits. He's been caught up. He's been bleeding. He does not care. He just keeps going. And people were probably a little bit worried. Oh, Devontae Adams might be taking some of his looks away.
00:47:40
Speaker
Devontae Adams is still getting his. like he's having an hour He's having a nice complimentary roll season. He like he finishes 56 yards. He gets a touchdown in this game. ah Yeah, it's it's so impressive.
00:47:51
Speaker
what they're doing. I, I think you like the, the Rams offense was slow to start the year first week or two. And then it's kind of got back to what, what we know it to be. Um, but yeah, the Rams are going to be a threat in the NFC. I I'm confident in them and I'm not going to take too much away from the Colts here.
00:48:07
Speaker
yeah It's just like an Adonai Mitchell, just boneheaded move away from you either tying this game, possibly winning it, who knows, but going out to LA and after you know with the start to your season and hanging in them hanging in there with them in a game like this i come away pretty impressed with the uh the colts as well yeah me too and and this ah offense is still really good defense is obviously still really good jonathan taylor looks incredible daniel jones hit two interceptions this game not that some of them were you know or one of them specifically was not it had a great time in the game but it's uh
00:48:40
Speaker
It's something where the c Colts are going to be just fine. like it's ah You're almost penciling the men for for winning that division already. It's one of those teams um where you can kind of see that happening already. One last thing on Nakua. 17-game pace he's at right now. 178 receptions, 2,100 yards, and four touchdowns.
00:48:57
Speaker
reception twenty one hundred yards and four touched That would be MVP. that would you You'd have to give the wide receiver the MVP. if he if he's even I don't know, man. That's that's just very impressive.
00:49:09
Speaker
He's still got a plus 10,000 for MVP. He's got to be the favorite for offense player of the year, right? i haven't looked at that. For sure. But it's it's that MVP. It's like, fuck, if somebody does that and they don't give it to him, they will never give a non-quarterback MVP ever again.
00:49:27
Speaker
Yeah, he has to go over 2,000 yards and has to get over. You say he's on pace for 178 catches? Yeah. He'd have to go over 160 for sure. Yeah. And then then then he needs some touchdowns. Devontae Adams is stealing some touchdowns from him.
00:49:41
Speaker
Shadow Tutu Atwell, game-sealer in this one. 88 yards. i Unbelievable. One catch. the day Good for him, man. Just a nice under-the-radar guy that always seems to pop up like two to three times a year with just massive plays. Yeah, no, i agree. Last game before we get to the quick hits here.
00:49:59
Speaker
This was a weird one, but ah also like weirdly
Special Teams' Strategic Importance
00:50:02
Speaker
fun. Bears 25, Raiders 24. And the Bears, man, like... um and the bears man like I mean, the first thing I have from this game is Ben Johnson absolutely evil eyeing that sideline reporter who was just doing her job.
00:50:16
Speaker
He came out and he said that he he misheard her, which is kind of what you could get the read on the situation. Like she said, do you need to change things up? And I think he heard you need to change things up. So but that death stare, man, like he looks like he is like the president of the United States where it's like they take those photos before they they enter the presidency and then after the presidency and they look like 15 to 20 years older, that job is stressing him the hell out.
00:50:46
Speaker
Yeah, yeah it's it's a night and day difference that we're getting from Ben Johnson this year. yo know he He was the darling the past couple years in Detroit, celebrating with the boys on the sideline. It's all sunshine and giggles. And yeah, now you're in the you're in the spotlight a lot more.
00:51:01
Speaker
Your team got off to not a great start. Huge win in this one to get back to 500. But yeah, you can you can tell he's... ah he's He's a lot more irritable this year than he was in past. And, you know, maybe he'll eventually settle down. Like I said, I think this win is huge for him to get back to 500 and maybe get some people off his back a little bit.
00:51:20
Speaker
But yeah, I mean, Ben Johnson, just like relax, dude. Like you you're going to have three years for sure. They're going to give you a couple of years ah in Chicago. Like you this isn't going to be the make or break year for you. No, it's not. um But this game obviously ended very dramatically on the blocked field goal from the Bears um right at the end of the game. And I believe it was, um me let me get pull this up so I get his name right.
00:51:44
Speaker
um Long snapper Scott Daly told, um reporters that the Raiders long snapper moved the ball before every snap. And he had told the team to look out for that. And it's part of the reason that they got the jump on it.
00:51:59
Speaker
and it And it leads almost to a bigger conversation this game with couple articles I've read about why there's been so many crazy special teams plays this year. And basically a lot of special teams coaches have said that it is just a lack of hours in the day. They say with the new kickoff rules, that is the catalyst for everything.
00:52:18
Speaker
Teams are so focused in on understanding, on teaching, on game planning, these new kickoff rules that the smaller stuff or or what seemed to used to be the smaller stuff, like blocking, you know, protection on field goals, on punt return protection, I've kind of just fallen by the wayside and it has led to this avalanche of special teams plays where you're almost waiting for one every single game. Like it feels like the CFL in that way.
00:52:46
Speaker
there there is a bunch and even if they're not blocking them it feels like on every single field goal guys are around the edges and it's like oh my god there was i can't i was trying to think of the game i can't remember the game uh it was this week one of the guys maybe it was college i don't know i was a lot of football in my brain this weekend he was like standing in front of the kicker like he was there that early he didn't even have to die for it he just stood there and just soaked it i i can't remember what game it was from like It was like, how do you get there that early and be onside? And he was, and it's impressive.
00:53:18
Speaker
Yeah, I think a lot of it it comes down to like the the tendencies in the snap, whether it's like the holder flashing his hand, go off of that. I saw that in the Steelers game. like At least the Vikings had you know like a one or a two count.
00:53:31
Speaker
Ramsey jumped on the one count. They're picking up on that stuff. And I think, like you said, like that is the reason why you're seeing a lot of these kicks get blocked and punts. Yeah. The chaos on special teams this year has been insane ah compared to past years. And it's clearly directly impacting games early in the season. And I think a lot of teams should spend a lot more time ah trying to patch that stuff up because it is, that is literally like, it go back to last week, you know, happened in a couple games this week. It happened in a couple of games.
00:54:01
Speaker
That is the difference in winning or losing in the NFL. And I think you got to find a couple more hours in the day. Yeah, absolutely. um ah On the game plan side of things here, I think it was it was pretty cool to see Caleb Williams lead that kind of drive. i think he's getting a bit of that spark back, a bit of that twinkle in his eye where he has the confidence to go down the field, ends with the DeAndre Swift touchdown, which was really it was the difference in this game when you take into account that blocked field goal.
00:54:29
Speaker
um And they had four takeaways for the second game in a row. Like this, this bears defense is slowly coming back into form where it's what you've associated with the bears for so many years. That's going to help the offense kind of get back into rhythm.
00:54:44
Speaker
And the bears got a little bit of momentum here. um this This was another Gino Smith game um where it's, it's just, it's, It's Gino now. he He hasn't wrote written back. I don't want to hear about that. This is who Gino Smith is.
00:54:59
Speaker
And even with Ashton Gentry getting three touchdowns, the Raiders find a way to lose. Yeah, if Geno's not getting sacked five times game, he's throwing three interceptions. He's just going to find a way to just kind of embarrass himself and just not have a good game.
00:55:13
Speaker
ah Yeah, where would they be without Genji in this game? That is like the question. and like He put them in an opportunity to win the game with that field goal. Didn't work out. This was a game of turnovers. Like you said, the Bears were able to you know recover four turnovers.
00:55:29
Speaker
They had three themselves. There were seven total turnovers in this game. Sloppy football. But then the Bears, man, the difference between the Bears and the Raiders in this game, the Bears turned the turnovers into field goals. And at least the Raiders were getting more points on the board.
00:55:43
Speaker
Kept them in the game. Like said, thankfully, Caleb, you know found a way to turn into the Heisman, Caleb, and like look like a pro and he let it drive and he got a touchdown.
00:55:54
Speaker
And that was the difference in this game. But yeah, it was...
00:55:58
Speaker
Caleb needs to put four quarters together. That has been his biggest problem. it's It's the first game, first game of the year. He looked great in the first quarter and then he just disappeared. And it's kind of been like, I don't think Caleb Williams has put four quarters together in the NFL yet in his career.
00:56:13
Speaker
And he he has to start doing it more. He's a second year quarterback. And until he starts doing that, He's always just going to be kind of like, yeah, the potential is going to be there. I know he's good. i know it's in there, but he just has yet to like, just prove it and show me that. And, uh, it's going to have to change because like, like you said, like,
00:56:32
Speaker
he probably shouldn't have won this game but they didn't but they did you know so it's like okay good for caleb yeah just do it for four quarters and ben johnson you know doesn't have the same playmakers on this team that he did in detroit they got embarrassed on some of these trick plays they were trying to run in this game yeah they really did the fake flea flicker was unbelievable got called back for a penalty but It's crazy. it The entire defensive backfield started heading upfield. like he's still He's fucking with other teams still. He's still got a bit of his fastball in that way.
00:57:03
Speaker
um We'll move to the quick hits. And our Falcons, Patrick, get a dire, dire win, 34 to 27 over the Commanders.
00:57:14
Speaker
I don't care if Jayden Daniels isn't playing. This team needed that win badly.
Falcons' Offensive Potential and Season Hope
00:57:18
Speaker
And this is one of those games where it's like, yes, this is what the Falcons can look like when everything's humming. This is what this offense, what Bajon Robinson looks like when everything is humming.
00:57:29
Speaker
And it's just a a game where all the pieces the puzzle pieces fit together Michael Penix bounces back like this. This was a good sign. They get to 500.
00:57:40
Speaker
they They got to go to the Bills after their bye, which is not a ton of fun. But you at least got some confidence back in this team. Yeah. Drake London finally got involved in a game, too.
00:57:51
Speaker
ah It was a really nice offensive effort from the Falcons. And I think the biggest the biggest reason why like a guy like B. John was able to have success in the receiving game in this one.
00:58:02
Speaker
It's because Bobby Wagner's old and slow. and should not be covering running backs in the in the receiving game. And until Washington can figure that out and get someone who's got some speed to them, ah it's that's going to be a problem for the Commanders, man.
00:58:14
Speaker
On that 69, 70-yard reception, it was it was wow. I forget who was doing play-by-play on that game, but he tried to like save face for Bobby Wagner said there were some people in the way, the way above there was nobody there. it was Bijan just blew by him.
00:58:30
Speaker
Penix makes the, the, the pass. And then he just runs straight down. It was insane. Like that was, that was shocking. That looked like the, the halftime games where the mascot goes up against the little kids. That that's exactly what that looked like.
00:58:44
Speaker
Dude, that like that can't, that can't happen. That it's like, I get it. Bobby Wagner has a place in this league. I'm not saying he needs to retire, he should not be covering running backs out of the backfield, especially guys like Bijan Robinson. it It was so evident. And then Bijan gets over a hundred receiving yards in this game. Most of them did come off that play, but like seriously, man, what like that, that's got a change for Washington, but it was nice. You know, Penix puts the quarterback, you know, potential quarterback controversy to bed a nice bounce back game. Just look a lot more comfortable.
00:59:15
Speaker
I thought like in last week some panicky throws some wobbly throws it just wasn't really coming out of his his hand nicely this game he just looked comfortable making throws specifically on that like london uh touchdown just the timing like he's throwing it before london's looking things like that where you you didn't see that last week you saw it this week nice encouraging game for the falcons yeah and he even had a couple that like a receiver couldn't get a foot in bounds that were still like incredible th throws like he it It's right there for Panics. It's about just putting it together on a week-to-week basis.
00:59:48
Speaker
Washington, I'm a bit frustrated in terms of not knowing what this team is. like It's with this Daniels injury. You can't get a read on them. You still don't know what what the makeup of the team is, what the identity really is, until they get a full game with him healthy.
01:00:02
Speaker
feel like that Packers game is still just like that taste of Washington is lingering in my mouth. um And like we mentioned earlier with the Chargers, that's who they play next week. That'll be a game where we can kind of but hopefully get a read on both of those teams.
01:00:17
Speaker
Yeah. No Terry McLaurin in this one either, which doesn't help Mariota. Like, yeah, I'll give credit to Debo Samuel. He has stepped up. I think a lot of people doubted him this year. A lot of fat jokes. Like he's kind of bounced back and he's been like, basically like what we knew him as what we knew him to be in San Fran. It's pretty encouraging, especially without Terry. Luke McCaffrey's kind of stepped up back to back weeks with a touchdown reception.
01:00:41
Speaker
you know like The running game, is it's okay. you know Chris rod Rodriguez kind of got going in this one with 59 yards on the ground. and you know Bill Krosky-Meritt, 47. They might be doing a little bit of a committee running game there. I don't exactly know. like That's just something to keep an eye on ah but going forward. but yeah like Washington...
01:01:01
Speaker
I, you know, the sophomore slump kind of narrative was there with Jaden, but he hasn't like, that's not really been in play because he's only played one game, I believe this year two. um So yeah, we'll, I don't know. I want him to get back healthy, McLaurin healthy, and then see what this commander's team can look at ah at full strength.
01:01:18
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, no, well said. um We'll move to Chiefs 37, Ravens 20. I feel like the ah the NFL nerds on Twitter will be like, I just looked at the Lamar Jackson tape.
01:01:29
Speaker
It is not good. And that I'm just going to run with that um where you couldn't put your finger on it. But yeah, something was wrong in this game. Ravens are banged up. But man, this team, this team is heading down a dark, dark path.
01:01:44
Speaker
The defense stinks and the offense can't really figure it out right now. They are are just getting a stupid amount of points put up on their head every single week to the point where it's like this might just be the Ravens. Now they might be a Cowboys where they have to score 40 points a game.
01:02:01
Speaker
I believe they currently have the worst, them or the Cowboys have the worst defense in the NFL. And that is just not what you've come to know. Like 31st in total yards, 31st in passing yards, 27th in rushing yards, 32nd in points.
01:02:16
Speaker
That is the worst defense in the NFL through four weeks. And one of the games was a win against the Browns. 107 points against. hundred and seven points against what What is that? like that like That is not what the Baltimore Ravens are are known for. That's not what Harbaugh is known for.
01:02:32
Speaker
And the the players, that I know there's some injuries, like you mentioned, like they're not fully healthy there, but this is inexcusable. you know it's It's every week. It's like, okay, you know they're they're just getting destroyed and they can't get stops. And it's just so... ah in there They used to be able to like get It's kind of like the Steelers. They would get those key...
01:02:51
Speaker
key nicely timed turnovers in the game that would like kind of, you know, push them over the edge in a game, especially against a game like the Chiefs or the Bills or the Lions, like they would be the team that gets that key turnover.
01:03:03
Speaker
They haven't yet to get any of those this year. Everyone's getting in the end zone. And then, yeah, like, you know, Lamar, I don't exactly know what's going to go on with that injury. That's definitely something to keep an eye on. Like Derek Henry, aside from that first week has not looked up to the standards that we've known him to play at.
01:03:20
Speaker
So i don't know what to make of Baltimore right now, but you got figure it out fast. Cause like you said, like the Steelers have somewhat of an easy kind of first half schedule yeah and they've got out to a nice start and you're one in three. Like,
01:03:32
Speaker
I just don't, you're going to get to a point where you're going to rip off. Like you're going to go eight and two at some point in the season, if you keep losing games and that is very difficult to do. So Baltimore has got to figure something out quickly. And I'm not like they're three and a half point famous against the Texans at home next week.
01:03:48
Speaker
That, that doesn't like, based on what I've seen from them, that's not a gimme game. No. And it, and it kind of should be like, if you're thinking preseason ah Baltimore at home against the Texans, I'm thinking they're winning that by a touchdown plus. And you just, no reason to think that right now.
01:04:02
Speaker
They have no gimme games right now. Like, you no, that's the state of this team right now. um Chiefs looked back to their old self in terms of getting Xavier Worthy back in this lineup. We talked about it after their game against the Giants, where it's like something's just not right with this Chiefs offense.
01:04:18
Speaker
It will get better when they get healthier. It's exactly what happened. Xavier Worthy was extremely noticeable in this game. Quick, you just reminded me about the with the Ravens defense, the Bengals.
01:04:31
Speaker
you know, rewind here to the Bengals game. The Bengals have been outscored 78 13 over the last two weeks I guess, I guess that's a good Joe Burrow stat. I guess that, that, that helps Joe Burrow a lot.
01:04:44
Speaker
Um, but yeah, it's also, yeah, the Bengals the same thing. it like, they have no defense, but their offense would put a lot of makeup on how bad their defense was. It's just really getting exposed now. Yeah, no, it definitely is. But yeah, the chiefs, it's, uh, the chiefs in four to five weeks, everybody will be back to being like, fuck, this team's a real problem.
01:05:04
Speaker
Like yeah yeah it'll happen that fast. They go, uh jaguars lions raiders commanders like there's a path for them going four and oh in those games i wouldn't be surprised if they did at all and then all of a sudden it's a six and two team Yeah, I think people like this
Playoff Prospects for Baltimore and Kansas City
01:05:21
Speaker
is a big win. I think the panic would have happened a lot more if they found a way to lose this game and they're the one in three team. But i think all the panic should be more on Baltimore and Kansas City's, you know, they're going to find a way to make the playoffs. They may not win the division this year, but I don't even think that matters for Kansas City because they find a way to peak at the right time and just get wins in the playoffs.
01:05:40
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. Well said. um We'll move to the team we were just talking about that Baltimore is playing next week with maybe our quickest recap. of the week here. Texans 26 Titans zero funny stat here. It's the third time that the Texans have shut out a team and the first time since blanking the Titans 29 to nothing in 2010.
01:06:03
Speaker
The Titans were shut out for the first time since a 16 to nothing loss at Denver in 2019. like It's so funny to read those stats and it's like 2010, 2004, and then the Titans, it's like, yeah, like six years ago we got shut out.
01:06:19
Speaker
I was kind
Texans' Shutout and Titans' Offensive Woes
01:06:20
Speaker
of struggling to put my finger on which team is the worst in the NFL throughout this season. the Titans just made it so easy for me. It's, it's just right there for you. They, they have not looked really competent in any games. This was far and away. Cam Ward's worst game of his NFL career.
01:06:37
Speaker
Uh, and like, yeah, the the Texans should be blowing out nobody. And, uh, they just, you know, took the Titans to the woodshed, the Woody marks kind of coming out game. And this one, he's going to be number one on all like the fantasy waiver wires this week.
01:06:50
Speaker
Uh, and yeah. And like, the the The Texans offensive line is still so bad. They had that one clip where Jeffrey Simmons got that, that the the fastest sack I've ever seen. And if you just like, you know, slow it down and just like, okay, how did he get this? You know, Jeffrey Simmons, great defensive tackle, like can shed blocks and, you know, he's he's dangerous.
01:07:11
Speaker
Best player on the team for sure. the center, this like three guys went to what one guy on the left and then the other two guys were looking. dude It was, it was like, Oh my God, I think that was supposed to be a run play.
01:07:25
Speaker
And he just, he didn't even, I don't even think Stroud was able to take two steps backwards before getting tackled. So when everyone's going to go screaming at CJ Stroud, I still think that the offensive line is the biggest problem. I don't think CJ Stroud has been playing great, but I think a lot of it has to do with the offensive line.
01:07:42
Speaker
They traded away an offensive lineman on Monday too. Yeah, it I don't know. Laramie Tunsil was gone in the offseason. I know he wasn't great and was taking some penalties, but he was far and away your best O-lineman on that team. It's crazy.
01:07:54
Speaker
the The roster makeup, you know maybe you want to focus on the O-line there, Houston. Simmons sacked Stroud in 2.09 seconds. That's the fastest sack lead wide over the last two seasons.
01:08:08
Speaker
Crossed the line of scrimmage in 0.32 seconds after the snap. Yeah, he didn't get blocked. and they They only rushed three, I'm pretty sure. He was right in front of the center, and the center like ran away from him. It was insane to watch.
01:08:21
Speaker
um Quickly, before we we get off this game, our weekly Brian Callahan segment, he wanted to fist fight reporters on the on the press conference stage after this game.
01:08:35
Speaker
it as It has gotten to a boiling point here so fast where... He can't even take a simple question without like spouting off. he's He's just not built for this. I feel like we're bullying him at this point with how much we talk about this, but it's just it's so bad.
01:08:53
Speaker
i think he's a new leader in the clubhouse. odds on i don't i don't know if there're ah I don't know if there are odds out there for this, but if there are... If I'm a bookie, I'm putting him as the favorite over your boy in Miami, especially after a win last night.
01:09:07
Speaker
My boy, my boy, Zach Taylor might be higher than Mike McDaniel now. It's those are the three right now. I'm trying to feel like there's no way, right? Stage of novelty, maybe first coach fired. Yeah, there's no way.
01:09:19
Speaker
No, but I think they should have odds on that somewhere. and it it's Callahan is just making a mockery of being an NFL head coach right now. And it's like, clearly Cam Ward's not too happy.
01:09:32
Speaker
And there's it some teams that stink. There's at least some
Patriots' Dominance over Panthers
01:09:37
Speaker
sort of decent, there's things you can take away from a team. Bad vibes in Tennessee, man, really bad vibes, especially when you have the first overall quarterback who's looked okay. Like you can be like, you can talk yourself into him being ah good in the future.
01:09:53
Speaker
astonishingly bad vibes going on. Very bad vibes. um Similarly bad vibes for the Carolina Panthers after Sunday. Patriots 42, Panthers 13.
01:10:05
Speaker
We'll get to our picks in a bit. Hand up. Panthers 5.5. Worst pick of the season by a country mile by myself and really on the podcast in general. Panthers scored the first TD in this game.
01:10:17
Speaker
And I thought that they were they were live. And they missed the extra point. That got blocked too, I'm pretty sure. um And it's ah that turned out to be false because, you know, a week after turning the ball over five times, Patriots go turnover free, go four for four in the red zone.
01:10:36
Speaker
87 yard punt return touchdown from Marcus Jones again. um And I think that that play really put the writing on the wall for this game. Drake may had another ah game similar that he did against Miami was just extremely efficient. No, no mistakes.
01:10:52
Speaker
This got so bad we saw Andy Dalton. ah that's That's what I was going to say. yeah yeah Too early for Panthers. Andy Dalton could come in in week eight, week nine, and he'd be like, okay, that that's that's that seems fitting.
01:11:05
Speaker
Coming in in week four, at that's not good because you're you're starting to talk yourself into Bryce Young a little bit too. They're coming off just a massive shutout win against a division rival.
01:11:16
Speaker
And this was this is horrible. This is horrible. The Patriots dominated them from start to finish on on all three phases of the game. And yeah, Andy Dalton is now playing snaps where he should not be like Andy Dalton is.
01:11:31
Speaker
So same thing that happened last last year. Remember how early got in last year and then then the big turnaround happened like it's following the same blueprint. that's Yeah, that's where I was going to. its It feels like in two weeks, Andy Dalton is going to be the starter.
01:11:45
Speaker
And the Panthers are going be back to bottom five team in the league where you you're looking at them this year. to not They didn't have to make the playoffs. Take a step forward. Yeah. Go 7-10.
01:11:56
Speaker
you know I'm not asking for a lot here. Just show me some sign of life. ah and And they just haven't been able to. Chuba Hubbard really wasn't able to get going. I just not a lot of positive.
01:12:08
Speaker
Tent McMillan is your only positive. He looks like he's going to be a good receiver in this league, ah but they just haven't really been able to like unlock him, especially in the red zone. He's not getting, he's not scoring touchdowns.
01:12:20
Speaker
yeah And like you said, I don't know, bad vibes in in Carolina, huge bounce back game for the Patriots. You
Lions' Strong Performance Against Browns
01:12:25
Speaker
can kind of start talking yourself into like, okay, you rip a couple more. They have the bills Sunday night. That's,
01:12:31
Speaker
It might not jump off the page of you, but that can be a fun, fun Sunday night game. Yeah, no, I agree. and And it'll help us learn a lot about the Patriots, I feel like. Lions 34, Browns 10.
01:12:42
Speaker
Lions just don't lose these games. they're They're back to themselves last season where, you know, Jared Goff's connection with Amon Ra St. Brown right now is just on another level.
01:12:52
Speaker
i Another 2TD game for Amon Ra. 27 receptions, 307 yards, and six touchdowns through four games.
01:12:59
Speaker
three hundred and seven yards and six touchdowns through four games They go up against a tough defense that had just stifled Green Bay and they put up 34 points.
01:13:10
Speaker
that I can't believe people were like, this is what I mean about overreacting week to week, but people thought the lines were dead after losing week one to a division rival. It's like, let's rely, we're there back and they're dangerous right now. And back to first of the NFC North with the Packers getting that tie.
01:13:27
Speaker
It's, uh, it's impressive, you know, golf, Goff is just one of the more underappreciated quarterbacks in this league. like He just isn't going to wow you ah like when you're watching these games, but he just doesn't want make mistakes, makes the plays, no knows where the ball is supposed to go, and then he's got playmakers, and he just kind of lets his guys get it done for him. like he's not a game He's better than a game manager, but he's just...
01:13:52
Speaker
He's just Jared Goff. And it's just very impressive. And he's going to be one of these guys similar to Matthew Stafford, where you're going to look 15 years later in his career and you're going to look at his stats and be oh my God.
01:14:02
Speaker
if he If he can find a way to sneak a super bowl in there. It's like the conversation around Jared Goff will change with the super bowl. But I think like, I think people just need to start respecting him a little bit more. Like, yeah, I don't know. He's just a very high draft pick. I think he's lived up to expectations in the NFL. And I think you're going to see that with this Detroit team this year, they're a threat in the NFC. And I just think they're just as dangerous as they were last season.
01:14:26
Speaker
We didn't do
Bills' Victory and Defensive Concerns
01:14:27
Speaker
a review of it like we have in the past of the show, but him on that quarterback show, he's like the only interesting part of that new show because Joe Burrow, I've seen it all before. Kirk Cousins, they reused again.
01:14:39
Speaker
um But getting a ah peek into Jared Goff was awesome because he just seems like an awesome dude and and loves Detroit, has fully embraced it. And you're right, it's He's still somehow underappreciated, even though he puts up these gaudy numbers. He's so consistent.
01:14:56
Speaker
Even when he has a bad game, he he finds a way to shake it off and and help them win. Super impressed with with the Lions. For the Cleveland Browns, Patrick, we said five games, I want to say until we start getting on Dylan Gabriel, Shadur Sanders' watch.
01:15:13
Speaker
They're averaging 14 points a game right now. Joe Flacco had two interceptions in the first half. ah Yeah, fumble in the fourth. Do they switch to da Dylan Gabriel heading to London, or are we still like a week or two away from that?
01:15:31
Speaker
i guess I guess London is ah is a, you know, an outside variable in this situation, but it's time. ah it it is more than time. Look at, if you look at the statutes here, like Quinchon Judkins has come in. He's going to be a threat. Rookie. Leading receiver in this game. Isaiah Bond.
01:15:46
Speaker
Rookie. And then you have a 40-year-old Joe Flacco throwing on the ball with a third round rookie quarterback just sitting there. Let the rookie play football. You're not making the playoffs, Cleveland. Your defense is good enough where like if you get in these, you know,
01:15:59
Speaker
When you're not playing like the Super Bowl caliber teams and you're playing like the the playoff to below average teams, your defense is going to be able to keep you in some games here where Dylan Gabriel might be able to know put two drives together and find a way to win some football games, gain some confidence.
01:16:14
Speaker
It's more than it's it's time like put Flacco in the Andy Dalton role. And when things get bad, when when he starts getting like rocked out there and he's throwing two interceptions in the first half, you know get Flacco warming up off the bench, get him in there for the second half. But it is it is more than time for for for Gabriel.
01:16:34
Speaker
i You're right, though. like ah kind of like That London thing is maybe a little weird. You don't want your first start there. But yeah, I think the second you get back, I i guess it'd be against the Steelers. Uh, I think it should be fun.
01:16:46
Speaker
Uh, but yeah, it is definitely time to start Dylan Gabriel. Yeah. I, I tend to agree a final game here. Bills 31 saints, 19. This was more what I was getting at. Remember after week two and I was like, the saints are the best. Oh, and two team. And then you were like, well, the chiefs and that was right. But, um,
01:17:05
Speaker
This was more what I was getting at when I was describing the Saints earlier in the season. They're definitely better than their record. Obviously still not good. But when you look at like them versus the Titans, there seems to be like a massive chasm between the two of them in how they at least look on the field.
01:17:24
Speaker
Well, then do I have a game for you this week? Saints Saints versus Giants. Saints versus Giants this week. I believe it's a pick them last I checked. ah So maybe that's the game for you. But yeah, like Spencer Rattler, still winless as an NFL quarterback, looked competent in this game.
01:17:42
Speaker
um To me, though, you know, spin zone, the Bills defense is just that sketchy, man. It's just that sketchy. And think like they're going to have such an easy schedule and they're going to have so much time to get this thing ready for the playoffs.
01:17:57
Speaker
but it better be ready for the playoffs. that it It is that, it is like, it's not Baltimore bad, but if you look at that game against Baltimore, 41-40, it's these games where you're just getting points like,
01:18:08
Speaker
The Saints were in this game for three quarters. yeah Three quarters, the Saints were in this game on the road at Buffalo. Should never happen. Biggest points right of the season.
01:18:18
Speaker
ah And yeah, like the Saints were like thirty one nineteen If you didn't watch the games, like, yeah, they crushed them. It's no, no. Three quarters of this game, the Saints had life. They had a touchdown that was overturned that they would have been leading in the third quarter.
01:18:32
Speaker
I don't know. Buffalo, don't apologize. You won a game. ah But man, like the defense just has to get fixed up. And yeah, like New Orleans isn't going to go winless this year. I agree with on that. like there's There's some fight to this team.
01:18:44
Speaker
Yeah, and and part of like if you read the game recap of this one, there's some things that you would like you would see and you'd be like, oh wow, Buffalo's defense is putting it together. like
49ers' Quarterback Questions and Performance
01:18:54
Speaker
and New Orleans' first nine drives ended in Bill's territory and they only got 19 points. And then you look at like...
01:19:02
Speaker
New Orleans, you know, through a trick play where a lobby through an interception to Rattler like there were little things like that where it was a bit misleading. But yeah, it's a very good point about the Bills defense because come playoff time like that shit just does not slide um and will come back to bite them.
01:19:18
Speaker
um Without further ado, we will. We we we missed the game. We missed the game. And it was my game that we were going to the exercise. jackson Jacksonville, San Fran. I don't know what happened. We don't even need to talk about the game. I actually don't even care about the game. Like it at Jacksonville, good win for them on the road.
01:19:32
Speaker
Exercise time. I'm going to list these quarterbacks in alphabetical order, not to like mess with your head or whatever. I'm just listing them in alphabetical order. I just want you to rank these three quarterbacks.
01:19:44
Speaker
Baker Mayfield, Brock Purdy, Dak Prescott. Well, that's fun. um I'm going to lean. I'm going to lean Baker, Dak, Purdy.
01:19:58
Speaker
but Baker has seemingly has more killer instinct in him where leading game winning drives. Dak is this season at least been way more consistent than Brock Purdy. And Brock Purdy, man, it is. There are some ugly conversations. I'm somehow on 49ers Twitter. I think I liked a few tweets that are wrong. It's chaos over there.
01:20:19
Speaker
Yeah, I would go Dak, Baker, Brock. But what I'm trying to like get out of this exercise is Brock Purdy is in a tier below the two the tier two quarterbacks. yeah And he's getting paid a lot of money.
01:20:31
Speaker
And it's like you hear Tua catch a lot of flack for what he's been doing. And he's going lot of money. This is the stuff where I'll never be sold on Brock Purdy. like This game is specifically you know you two interceptions. you get so You're sacked out there. and it's just...
01:20:45
Speaker
You're just too chaotic as a quarterback. He's never, he never looks comfortable. He's fine. Like he should be starting on some teams. And if he was getting paid $30 million, dollars similar to Baker, like Baker's making $33 million dollars a year.
01:20:58
Speaker
i wouldn't care. i would not care about Brock Purdy having games like this. But when you're getting paid as much as you are and, you know, back Jones is looking like he can put this team in a better spot to win football games than you can.
01:21:11
Speaker
You got some problems going on in San Fran. And I mean, they're going against the Rams on Thursday night football this week. I mean, i I just don't know. But Brock Purdy, man, I'm not I will never be sold on you.
01:21:22
Speaker
and these I have liked a lot of 49ers tweets. I'm getting to the bottom of it now. And they're all insult stats. ah So I'm just going to list them off here. That is 20 interceptions in Purdy's last 19 regular season starts.
01:21:35
Speaker
So there's one. um Not good. The 49ers have zero interceptions and zero rushing TDs after four weeks of football. Dude, there's so many. oh Well, matt McCaffrey is their number one wide receiver right now, and he's a running back. So yeah got there's another problem as well. i know Kittle's out, but still.
01:21:56
Speaker
Brock Purdy has thrown eight interceptions in his last five starts. Not good. And finally, in the 49ers first game without Nick Bosa, their defense had no sacks and no QB hits for the first time in a game since 2015 against the Steelers.
01:22:14
Speaker
Yeah, I think San Fran, I think there's some makeup going on. I think there's some undercover problems going on in San Francisco that people aren't aren't there yet. And good for the Jags.
01:22:25
Speaker
Yeah, it was nice win. like Trevor actually looked like good, and Etienne's one of the better like kind of comeback stories this year early on in the season. ah This was another game of like a lot of turnovers, and then Jacksonville gets the big special teams return, and that's the difference in this game.
01:22:42
Speaker
Yeah. Nice window. That's a nice win for Jack's fall on the road. Yeah. Liam Cohen, Liam Cohen, beef and Bobby Sala on the, that was fun. Fun. Good. Like that ticks a box to me with Liam Cohen goes up a little bit of my books after that.
01:22:58
Speaker
um Yeah, and Jags are fun. ja Jags Chiefs Sunday night, that'll be fun. That's a good football game. Yeah, or maybe it's Monday night next week. It doesn't matter. Prime time. give it it's ah it beat it beat No disrespect to you. and It beats the the Dolphins and Jets, and it blows out the Broncos and Bengals.
01:23:16
Speaker
um We'll now go to three stars of the week. Good catch
Standout NFL Performers Recognition
01:23:20
Speaker
there on getting that game in because, yeah, yeah that there's a lot of insult stats about the forty nine ers right now. Three stars of the week. We're going have to going have to hash out here because I feel like there's a lot of different ways we could go with it.
01:23:33
Speaker
um I want to get Ashton Janty on here because even though they lost 21 carries 138 yards, one touchdown, two receptions, 17 yards, two touchdowns, three touchdown games almost certainly get you on this list.
01:23:50
Speaker
That's a lock. That's a lock. The coming out party for Ashton Jensi, good for him. you know We've been kind of waiting to see it that he's easily and on the on the three. and You can give him one. I got no problem with that.
01:24:01
Speaker
yeah Yeah, I don't have a problem with that either. um The two-three here, Patrick. I think we got to get Puka Nakua on one of these. yeah we're We're in lockstep right now. we We are in lockstep. I think the third one is maybe where we could run into some problems, but like, yeah, yeah. Like Bukunakua, he's had too good of a season for us to ignore.
01:24:22
Speaker
And, you know, he just hasn't, it's just, we take him for granted a little bit. And it's like now, now we will recognize you, especially in a massive win against the c Colts to, uh, you know Just keep pacing the gauntlet of an NFC West division right now.
01:24:35
Speaker
And then third, third week could get fun we could get fun with. yeah the or The Irish Saquon Barkley? Yeah, the Irish Saquon Barkley is up there.
01:24:47
Speaker
Darren Waller didn't end up having enough yards because that would have been a lot of fun to have him on this list. Um, Romeo dubs three touchdowns. Like he was, he was the Packers receiving core in that game.
01:25:00
Speaker
George Pickens, George Pickens. when you said that earlier, that really like rang alarm bells for me that he should probably be on here. Yeah. Like George Pickens, eight receptions, 134 scores.
01:25:12
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. Like to to me, that's where I lean right now because he has the yards and the receptions. Even Matt Stafford should be on here. Like this is it. You know what? We'll put I think we put Pickens at three. And then go Jenty, Jenty, Puka, Georgie.
01:25:30
Speaker
Yeah. Jenty, Puka, Pickens, honorable mentions. We'll do we'll do daubs and and gain well. Yeah, that that that no problem with me.
01:25:41
Speaker
I guess if you wanted to, an extra Matthew Stafford would be the one. Dak had a good game. I know he did. That
NFL and CFL Picks and Strategies Discussion
01:25:48
Speaker
throw when he was running out of the sidelines in in overtime, or I guess to towards the end of regulation,
01:25:55
Speaker
Was bonkers. um But yeah, that's our three stars of the week. Keep an eye for those graphics. um We will now move to our NFL picks, Patrick, because that was a tough weekend for the boys.
01:26:09
Speaker
um We both went one and two. I am now five and seven. You are now four and eight. I am keeping a slight, slight lead on you. So we will now do our week five picks.
01:26:22
Speaker
I still hold the ball here. It worked for me last week, so I'm going to do the same thing here, and I think I'm going to take it from you here. It's now moved to five and a half. I'm going to take the Rams five and a half against the 49ers where the wheels are falling off that team.
01:26:40
Speaker
Yeah. I think, I think we're ahead of this on the Niners. I think there's some serious problems going on there and I don't know. I'm just not, not a team you're confident in going forward. I know there's no like time zone change, but you're still on the road in this one too. I don't mind that pick at all.
01:26:57
Speaker
This one, you kind of hinted at, uh, the lions just don't lose these games and I think they can cover these games. And, uh, I I'm laying 10 and a half with the lions on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals.
01:27:08
Speaker
Um, it's It's a massive number, but I think this one this one almost makes more sense than like the Bills number against the Saints last week, and it's smaller. you know yeah Does that make sense? Yeah.
01:27:19
Speaker
Makes a lot of sense. ah And yeah, that Bills one, that was disappointing. I can't get a RAC game right this year. i wouldn't that that was just like That's just such a big spread. It's tough to read. that i'm not i I wouldn't classify that as the RAC game. like It's tough. that would It's tough.
01:27:34
Speaker
I was tough um with my next pick here. do I want to go with this? ah I'm going to go with my next pick here. A bounce back spot for a team that probably should have won last week, could have won against a team that has not looked very good. It's the Colts six and a half at home against the Raiders.
01:27:55
Speaker
This Colts defense is very good. I think that they make Geno Smith's life a living hell in this game. Um, and their defense hasn't given me any confidence to believe that they can stop what looks like a really good Colts ah offense right now.
01:28:08
Speaker
Yep. Uh, I, I think I stated earlier in this, this podcast that, um, The Houston Texans were three and a half point dogs to the Ravens. Sorry, I just checked that line again.
01:28:19
Speaker
ah The Houston Texans are favored by a point and a half on the road against the Baltimore Ravens. I ain't touching that game, but that is just a a the way that that just moved four points.
01:28:31
Speaker
Yeah, that's nuts. five Five points. I don't know. I'm not clearly we've, we've established that I'm not a math guy on this podcast several times. Uh, I'm going gross pick the week I've been, you know, I got to build a trend of just like the worst pick under 36 and a half Vikings Browns.
01:28:50
Speaker
What a crazy number that is. Hey, what's what lowest one of the season? You got to take the under it's disgusting. I might not even watch this game. I, no promises, but I hope Flacco has three interceptions and it's like 30 to nothing Brown Vikings.
01:29:04
Speaker
Yeah, and this could be one you you wake up at 10 o'clock, you put the game on, and it's like 0-0 after the first quarter. Yeah, I hope it is. I really do.
01:29:15
Speaker
um Final pick of the week here. I'm riding with my boys here. Dolphins minus one and a half point favorites on the road in Carolina. It's small spread. I'm basically just saying the Dolphins should win this game, and i think I think they can beat Carolina, especially with how bad Carolina looked last week against the Patriots.
01:29:33
Speaker
If this offense can get in a rhythm, they will put up points. I like the Dolphins in this game. Yeah, tough one for me to read on that. But like, yeah, I it's basically win the game and I can absolutely see in the Dolphins beat the Panthers and no Tyree kill kind of scared me a little bit.
01:29:50
Speaker
I don't know where to go here. I'm just going to be honest with you. I got a couple. I think there's a rat line out there that I've been like, do you take the cheese? Do you do you you know go against it? Or do you do you fade the team that's, I think, two and maybe, I think they're like three and 20 in their last 23 games against the spread.
01:30:09
Speaker
I'm going to hop on that one. I'm going to lay eight and a half with the Arizona Cardinals at home against the Tennessee Titans. our former Arizona Cardinals. The Titans are the worst team in the league and they don't cover spreads either.
01:30:20
Speaker
So I like no reason not to go against them. I'm looking for something here. I'm at rock bottom. It's a race at the bottom in our NFL picks. I need something. You fade me. I don't even care.
01:30:32
Speaker
i just can't pick a winner. i Dude, you know what the funniest part is too? Because I remember last week I was saying if I had an extra pick, I would have taken the Raiders. And of course, if I did, I would have lost that one on a block kick too. So I can't pick anything right now.
01:30:47
Speaker
So just go against me. I think the most eye-opening spread of the week to me, aside from the Texans-Ravens, Seahawks being three three-point favorites at home against Tampa like I get it but I i also don't yeah yeah no dude i I was watching that Raiders game and I thought the exact same thing because throughout the game you know it looked like the Raiders were gonna pull that off and I was like of course that was the rat line of course the Raiders they shouldn't have been favored in that game and they're gonna win and then they managed to lose it and it was like woof avoided that one no matter what i pick it was gonna find a way to lose man oh god that's that's really good stuff so those are our nfl picks for week five um and and we'll we'll continue this trend going into our cfl picks because we go oh and four for the first time this season in the cfl we 30 and we went oh and four and
01:31:42
Speaker
eight units Um, and, and we got boned last week with usually we can, you know, get ahead of these lines and it usually really helps in the CFL.
01:31:54
Speaker
Last week we got crushed. Kalaros ended up playing, um, Davis Alexander ended up playing, Nick Arbuckle ended up playing and it didn't matter. Like there was just, we could not find a winner.
01:32:06
Speaker
Yeah, it was our, that was our first losing week of the year. Uh, I don't think we've had a one and three. i think we might've gone one and three in like week four or something. Okay. So second losing week of the year, we've been, we've been solid with y'all all year long.
01:32:21
Speaker
Um, yeah, we're, we're primed for a bounce back spot here. And like you said, like there was some, there was some circumstances that we did not see coming in that game. And yeah, we were, we were on the wrong side of some of these spreads and,
01:32:33
Speaker
That happens when you make picks on Tuesday morning for games that happen on you know Friday and Saturday nights. What a shocking game in Winnipeg. The curtain's starting to come off the the Hamilton tie cats a bit.
01:32:44
Speaker
Like it is, that was a shocking loss. I think the line against the Argos kind of indicates that a little bit. I don't know if going to take it, but like, it's, it's like, you look at it and you just go, if you look, if you were just looking at the standings alone and you saw this line, you would immediately take the Hamilton.
01:33:01
Speaker
I wouldn't be so confident in that pick right now. No, neither would i And yeah, shocking in the sense where it was like, fruit For people who have believed this Ticats team is a bit inflated, it was you know shocking in the sense was like, finally, this the the line is out on this Ticats team. They are not as good as maybe they've seen this year.
01:33:20
Speaker
um Winnipeg, that's a huge win for Winnipeg. i'm so I'm already so excited for the playoffs. Last Argos home game on on Saturday against the Ticats. We'll get into it now. Our
CFL Playoff Scenarios and Performance Changes
01:33:31
Speaker
Week 18 picks for the CFL. We are thirty and twenty two Starting out um Saskatchewan going to Ottawa. This is one of those games where I'm just I'm fading the red blacks.
01:33:47
Speaker
That is that has been a system this year. i don't care. it It doesn't matter who's rolling into Ottawa red blacks at home. Don't cover spreads. Give me the riders three and a half.
01:33:58
Speaker
That was the most obvious pick on the board. That feels like the the line that's going to change the most by kickoff. ah Hopefully it does, and hopefully it goes to like six and a half, and we feel really good about being and on on the riders.
01:34:10
Speaker
No Lorenzo Malden, too. Big trade. Lorenzo Malden getting sent to Calgary. I love that trade for them. Kind of crazy trades are happening this late in the season, but that that's okay. Part league.
01:34:21
Speaker
um I'm also going to ride... ah Probably the hottest team in the in the league right now. They're at home against a team that is slumping. ah A horrible time for this team to be slumping and a great time for this team to be streaking.
01:34:34
Speaker
Laying the number with the BC Lions at home, minus three and half. Very similar like your Rough Riders pick. It's like, I think they can win this game by more than a field goal. And I mean, the Lions are hot. The Lions are really, really hot right now. And just a a force to be reckoned with right before the playoffs. Good time for it.
01:34:50
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, i'm I'm happy to see that. It's a BC's got a good fan base, an underrated fan base, and it's nice to see that team heat up at the right time here. Only three games this week. So this is where we got to get nitty gritty with these next two picks.
01:35:03
Speaker
um I don't trust this Argos offense. the the The over would scream at you in that Ticats game. I'm going to take the under 57 and a half in Ticats Argos.
01:35:15
Speaker
It's huge number. I can see the Argos ah offense not putting up and ah enough points. I can see the Argos defense managing to force some turnovers here and slow down the Ticats offense, especially with them putting up three points against Winnipeg last week.
01:35:30
Speaker
Give me the under in this game. I think this is just going to be a, a wear my heart on the sleeve pick. I think I'm just taking the Argos money line.
01:35:41
Speaker
I don't don't even, I don't even need the point in the half beat the tiger cats at home. Last one of the season, just beat them. That's, that's all it is. And, and in a low scoring game for you, just beat them.
01:35:53
Speaker
There's nothing that, no, like I thought about taking the under and rough riders, red blocks, just cause I don't trust Ottawa to score a lot of points. like if, if, if, Sasky just starts going and feeling themselves.
01:36:04
Speaker
Feels that they can put up like 46. So um I don't know. Just go with the Argos, man. They they look decent against BC. Argos plus 10 would have been a really nice number last week. But no kidding.
01:36:16
Speaker
We didn't know what Arbuckle was coming back from the dead. So is what it is. And yeah this is a bit of like a Sens Habs situation where if you're a Leafs fan, i don't know. Personally, I've always hated the Habs way, way more than I hated the Sens.
01:36:33
Speaker
And I hate the Ticats way more than I hate the Alouettes. If the Argos can win this game, it makes things harder for Hamilton to get that by especially Montreal's on by they're going to continue getting healthier if they come back and get a win against Ottawa the week after then then it becomes a race to the end of the season to see who become becomes first in the East.
01:36:57
Speaker
I like the Argos playing spoiler in this game and beating the Ticats to really screw up a by. Yeah. And if you're not you know necessarily paying attention to the CFL season, there's about a month left, maybe just under a month left in the season. Two races to keep an eye on. Like Damien just said, ah the race for number one in the East to get the bye between Hamilton and Montreal. And then the race for, the like I guess it's play-in and number two now in the West. like Calgary, ah Winnipeg, and BC are are three teams fighting for two spots.
01:37:27
Speaker
ah So that's kind of something to keep an eye on. So those are your two races. And then you know, the playoffs are are a fun time and, and they're, they're, it feels like a long season, but it's like, now that it's here, it's going to go by pretty fast. So now's a good time. If you haven't to, you know, turn a couple of CFL games on and give it, give it a watch, especially like great cup in November. It's always a good time. So now, now's your time to tune in CFL. There's, there's a races to keep an eye on.
01:37:51
Speaker
Absolutely. The shout out the Elks men and Mark Killam playing like they have nothing to lose. Like the the difference between watching the Elks in that game and watching how the Argos coached that game against BC and played in that game.
01:38:06
Speaker
Just two very different mindsets where the Argos were playing like that was a week three game and they're, you know, maybe one in one and they don't really care about it The Elks were playing like that was the last game to ever be played on that football field. And they managed to win it because of it the The culture has changed this year in Edmonton.
01:38:26
Speaker
ah People were at that game, dude. It was like 32,000. They opened up the upper deck. ah it's Yeah, it was nice. It was good to see, man. Positive things coming out of Edmonton this year.
01:38:38
Speaker
would be nice if they could just carry it into... like you know go Because a similar thing kind of happened last year. It was like the opposite. It was like Trey Ford came in, gave him a late little spark, and then they came out flat to start this year. So hopefully Edmonton is able to carry.
01:38:52
Speaker
um but It's not a lost season. don't I don't think people expected Edmonton to make the playoffs this year. I think they showed a lot of heart and fight coming back from their early, what, 0-4, 0-5 record to start the year.
01:39:05
Speaker
And yeah, there' there they're not a team that you want to face right now, especially if you're a team that like needs to win a couple games, get into playoff spot, or another team to lose. like Edmonton's going to look to play spoiler down the stretch.
01:39:18
Speaker
Yeah, and they finished with Winnipeg, BC, Calgary. So it's bit of a tough one. So the three teams, though, that are like like that is perfect spoiler opponents for Edmonton. Yeah, it really is. um So yeah, going to be an exciting race down the line here in the CFL.
01:39:33
Speaker
um But that'll do it for us on the goalpost this week. Get out there, watch some football this weekend, enjoy it. We're not quite at Apple Pickle... apple picking season yet so save those weekends strategically coming up here um but we'll see you next week do it all over again until then patrick i'll see you see you damien