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NFL Week 4 Recap: Hot Seats and Early Frontrunners
74 Plays8 months ago
The Goal Post is back after the fourth week of the NFL season - already a 1/4 of the way through!
We start off with recapping both the Seahawks vs Lions and Titans vs Dolphins Monday night games - a tale of two cities as the Detroit looked like juggernauts, while Miami got decimated on national television.
Damien and Patrick then go through every game from Week 4 - The Steelers have a characteristic loss, the Eagles stumble and fall into their bye-week, and the Bengals finally find a way to win (albeit against the Panthers)
After wading through every game, the episode wraps up with a preview of Thursday Night Football between the Bucs & Falcons, and our picks for the Week 5 slate. Damien and Patrick are now tied at 6-6, in what continues to be a close battle (even though they hate the board again for Week 5).
Enjoy!
Monday Night Football Recap
Lions vs Seahawks: 0:00 - 11:10
Titans vs Dolphins: 11:11 - 21:08
Week 4 Recap:
Ravens vs Bills: 21:09 - 27:28
Colts vs Steelers: 27:29 - 33:02
Vikings vs Packers: 33:04 - 38:35
Texans vs Jags: 38:36 - 45:47
Falcons vs Saints: 45:49 - 52:53
Bucs vs Eagles: 52:55 - 1:00:46
Bears vs Rams: 1:00:48 - 1:03:08
Bengals vs Panthers: 1:03:10 - 1:06:41
Broncos vs Jets: 1:06:44 - 1:11:14
Commanders vs Cardinals: 1:11:16 - 1:17:07
49ers vs Pats: 1:17:11 - 1:22:00
Raiders vs Browns: 1:22:04 - 1:26:43
Chiefs vs Chargers: 1:26:46 - 1:31:47
TNF Preview
Bucs @ Falcons: 1:31:49 - 1:35:22
Week 5 Picks: 1:35:22 - 1:41:30
Recommended
Transcript
00:00:15
Speaker
All right.
Lions Defeat Seahawks: A Surprising Victory
00:00:16
Speaker
Welcome back to another episode of the goalpost. We're coming at you after another double Monday night game. And Patrick, the Detroit Lions might be all the way back. That's a good way to put it, Damien, because this team, you know, they haven't really had a statement win up to this point in the season. And I think tonight or sorry, Monday night against an undefeated Seattle Seahawks team, they finally won in a convincing fashion.
00:00:43
Speaker
putting up 42 points on ah offense to Seattle's 29. And for my take, I think it was one of the more fun games we've had of the season, especially in a prime time spot. And it just lived up to the expectations. Jared Goff with the perfect completion percentage 18 for 18, setting the new record. Man, the Lions just looked so solid on both sides of the ball and they deservedly won this game.
00:01:09
Speaker
It's Jared Goff dome season. He is proving all my preseason points, right? It's not the crazy flashy passing numbers. but man does that offense look completely in sync like for a team that kind of looked back and forth last year to finish the year on third downs on fourth downs this was a complete complete effort from the Lions and you're right probably one of the more entertaining games the NFL season so far and just a powerful win for the Lions the Seahawks what a second half from the Seahawks I will give them their credit because if this game kind of
00:01:42
Speaker
led the same way that the first half went.
Seahawks' Resilience: Playoff Potential?
00:01:45
Speaker
This would have been a big question mark game for the Seahawks, some fraud watch alert. um We're now in that point of the season, four weeks in, where we can actually call teams frauds and kind of feel confident in it. And that was not a fraud game from the Seahawks. I was very impressed with how Geno Smith moved the ball, especially in that second half.
00:02:04
Speaker
Yeah, I didn't really know what to think of the Seahawks, right? They're one of those teams that certainly took advantage of an easy schedule to start the season. And, you know, that's a credit to them and they're a good football team for taking advantage of that. But I didn't lose any steam with Seattle in this game. I still think they're a playoff team in the NFC and, you know, based on their record and their division, I think they're right there against San Fran to compete for this division based on what I saw Obviously, Gino Smith has to, you know, continue to perform at that level for them to be successful. But man, DK Metcalf has kind of turned back the clock a bit. I found last year he was kind of up and down, not really consistent. It was either a boom game or a doom game. And this week, he
Game-Changing Moments and Controversial Calls
00:02:46
Speaker
this story, this season.
00:02:47
Speaker
He's just been unbelievable kind of taking the top off defenses and they've had a nice underneath. Um, Jackson Smith and jig was like stepped up to, you know, they, they've taken less attention away from DK and have to focus more on GSN stepping up lock. It's still, you know, a solid receiver, but DK has just been that deep threat for Seattle and just kind of been a game breaker for them a lot.
00:03:11
Speaker
He had the one fumble in this game that you don't want to say it it like turn the game, but it was kind of a crucial point because, you know, they were driving down the field. I think they were down one score at that time. And then Jack Campbell came in and just kind of rocked him and got the ball loose. And then Detroit scored on that. And that's kind of, that's how the game kind of flipped. Whereas like one score game, they're going back and forth on offense. Now it's two scores. And it wasn't the difference in the game, but it felt like a huge turning point in this game.
00:03:38
Speaker
Yeah, there was a couple of turning points. There was that one. And then, you know, kind of early in the fourth quarter, Seattle goes for it on fourth and four and they get a big, big completion to Tyler ah or no, sorry, get a big completion and Tyler Lockett is the one who gets a past interference call on offense, which took it back, which was one of the softest calls all week, I would say in the NFL in a week where Patrick, the refs struggled.
00:04:05
Speaker
Yeah, the the a lot of taunting BS, a lot of just unpredictable, like ah just judgment calls that were not being you know correctly judged, in my opinion. And but I think we saw it in in a Dolphins game. I definitely saw it in the Steelers game. We saw it in the in the Commander's game. We saw it in the Jets game. We saw it in this game. It was it was a bad week for officials, I think, as a whole, where they were kind of staying out of the out of the spotlight up to this point in the season.
00:04:33
Speaker
And now like it's going to probably continue to be a talking point, especially with these taunting calls that I think we're seeing. well We'll get to the specific ones as this episode goes along, but just kind of a shaky week for the rest as a whole, where, yeah, they were kind of being, they were fine up to this point. um I feel like there wasn't a lot of you know gripes with the officiating up to this point in the season but then it was just kind of threw out twitter as the as the sunday rolled on it was just another clip another clip another clip of just kind of just not good calls and putting it for me it's refs putting themselves into the game when they don't need to be that's the stuff that really upsets me and it can flip a game when they do that and we saw it in some but
00:05:16
Speaker
Yeah, I just this call specifically with the the pick play that there wasn't really any contact. Yeah, I didn't like this call at all. It happens 30 times a game. and And this week was just I don't know how many cool plays were taken back by flags. Like you would just see a great play, a huge game. Saw it a lot in the Thursday night game between the Cowboys and the Giants. Amari Cooper will get to it later, like 87 yard touchdown flag. It's like you We're kind of back to the old NFL of waiting for the flag. Like a cool play happens and you're just expecting to see the yellow laundry on the field pretty early. Um, and you put a great, like they're kind of just inserting themselves into these games. We had like a spike of rec ref activity in first week where they had all those weird kind of neutral zone infractions. They were calling those really hard that went away. And now it's kind of coming back, especially with these taunting calls leading the way. We'll get to that a bit more later. Um, but yeah.
00:06:14
Speaker
I love kind of this balanced attack from the Lions, another game where they rush the ball incredibly well, Gibbs with two touchdowns, Montgomery with a touchdown, and then Goff almost 300 yards passing, eight different receivers get the ball, they had 21 first downs, like and they didn't even have to go for it on on fourth down at any point
Lions' Tactical Excellence and Uniform Debate
00:06:34
Speaker
in this game. so I think that is kind of the recipe for this Lions team. ah As we've mentioned, get out of your own way, make it easy on golf, use your skill players and lean on your defense. And that's exactly what they did in this one. um One last thought on the Lions uniforms, Patrick, they broke out the all black alternates, just something a little bit off with them, maybe.
00:06:57
Speaker
Yeah, it doesn't scream the Detroit Lions when I saw those jerseys you and I were talking it was kind of like it just felt like a college football like Kentucky or Duke or someone having like a Friday night game in in college and it's just you're breaking out the blackout uniforms. The helmets were kind of crazy. Yeah, it was like an alternate lion logo with the black stripe in the blue, not even chrome, but kind of chrome. It it was, I didn't love it. They weren't the worst jerseys I've ever seen, but it just felt weird for Detroit to break those out. I also.
00:07:28
Speaker
I guess it's fun to have like, because this is this the first year where you can do the, have a different ah helmet with paint schemes? So I feel like teams are kind of, you know, going crazy with it a little bit. You don't have to do that much. And I think Detroit, this is one of those first uniforms that may have towed the line a little bit of going away from what you, what you are.
00:07:50
Speaker
Just wait till we get to the Vikings where they wear the white helmets. That's going to be the tipping point here. The Detroit uniforms, they looked great on camera. Like, ah like photos looked amazing. The contrast, people are going crazy with the contrast, editing them to, you know, the ninth dimension here. But on field, yeah, just looked a little bit off. Didn't look like, ah you know, a pro football team on the field, really. I think I would have preferred if they went full blackout with the helmet.
00:08:16
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, me too. I'm just doing a blue stripe instead. Yeah, it just looked weird when it's just all black. And then you got a blue helmet with a black. I don't know. I just didn't love that look. There was also two or three just awesome plays in this game. ah You had the golf ah touchdown catch from Al Monroe, St. Brown. And then you had Kenneth Walker.
00:08:36
Speaker
on in that like somersault broken tackle. I've never seen anything like that. Anzaloni had him. Then he had him again, but his knees are and nothing touched and he just stayed up. And then Montgomery had that one catch after um after you you thought he was about to get blown up. And then he just runs the guy over and then just goes runs for 40 plus yards. There was this was a really fun game and ladder as well from the Seahawks, given the lines a bit of their own medicine.
00:09:04
Speaker
du these These are two like these are two very fun teams. I didn't know Seattle had that in them, but they they are a fun offensive team to watch. Yeah, this is not your Pete Carroll Seahawks. This is they are frisky and fun. I think the Seahawks also showed like how you manage an injury like Kenneth Walker was held out quite a bit for this oblique injury last night didn't look injured whatsoever. We'll get to the Chargers later. Don't know what the fuck they're doing ah from any point of their game plan.
00:09:32
Speaker
um But yeah, I thought this game showed a lot about both teams in a positive way. um Seahawks defense very clearly missing Byron Murphy and Leonard Williams. like this is Those are two game breakers that they're going to need in this lineup if they want to not have to get into shootouts every week.
00:09:49
Speaker
Yeah, the defense has to win some games sometimes, yeah even when the offense is showing up. it's You got to be able to so slow a team down, especially you know when you get it later on in the season. And Seattle looks to be a playoff team, and I know they have playoff hopes. So if you want to win some playoff games, defense just has to sharpen up a little bit.
00:10:06
Speaker
Yeah, I think so. I also would have loved them to run the ball a bit more. They only had 14 runs aside from like Geno Smith scrambles. I know you're playing from behind, so that gets skewed a little bit, um but kind of got put in the point where they knew Geno was going to pass a lot of the time. Didn't quite stop him, but that is kind of another turning point in this game where you have to pass it a million times with him. He passed 56 times last night.
00:10:30
Speaker
Yeah, that's not, that's not a recipe for success. And, and you mentioned it before, like I just have Detroit's they're an unpredictable offense. yeah You don't know who the star of their offense is going to be in any given game. You know, Brock Wright was tight end one last week. He got Tim Patrick catching D passes this week. It's it. And then it's like Gibbs Montgomery. It's whoever's whoever's got the hot hand, but it's, it's a nice unpredictable offense that Detroit is running there.
00:10:56
Speaker
Yeah, Lions go into the bye week on a high. Great time for a bye for them. um You kind of go in feeling good about yourself. You can rest up. ah The Seahawks kind of similarly get the Giants next week. So a bit of a bye in itself there. um But moving on to one of the most disgusting football games I have ever watched in my life, and that is really, really saying something. um The Titans take down the Dolphins ah in an absolutely disgusting fashion. 31 to 12.
00:11:25
Speaker
Uh, if there was any questions about Tyler Huntley being the guy that was immediately snuffed out last night, some bad, bad passes, man, like could not throw the ball over 10 yards. Not that they made him try very often, uh, but he could not make an accurate pass to save his life. You know, muffs the snap in the second half kind of out to lunch and just continue to look worse and worse as the game went on.
00:11:50
Speaker
Yeah, Tyler Huntley looked exactly the way I would have thought he he would look coming in two weeks since being signed and starting a game in prime time, especially with you know a pretty complicated ah offensive scheme that Mike McDaniel runs over there. It it was it was ugly, Damien, and it was ugly from the start. and But in a way, you can take some positives away from this game, not the season, but just this game. i think I think it answered some questions about Tua. I know his health is a definite concern and you know nobody knows what's going to go on with him, but I had some questions myself about Tua. I didn't know how good he was as a quarterback. I thought, man, maybe they gave him too much money, too early. Just a couple of concerns, but he clearly can run that offense to a degree that you you know no one even comes close to that has come after him and
00:12:39
Speaker
It's impressive because it's complicated scheme. Tua knows it and knows it well. And just when he's at quarterback, that offense is lethal. I know he throws the odd interception. That's not great. But did you see how it looks with Skyler Thompson? Did you see how it looks like with Tyler Huntley? It's ugly. So if if anything you can take away positive from this game, it's that you know there's you can trust Tua more than I ah originally thought before this game.
00:13:05
Speaker
Yeah, I was told repeatedly last year ah that the Dolphins could run this offense with anybody at quarterback. ah that The lie detector proved that that was a lie. um Everybody is just dying for Tua to come back because, like you said, this is a tailor-made offense around him.
00:13:23
Speaker
Um, but it kind of leads me into another point here where this was, this was a big Mike McDaniel game for me. I really wanted to see something from McDaniel here. And it was the, a legacy game in the worst way. Like my first thing is with two is injury history. You should almost have like a second offensive system.
00:13:44
Speaker
for whoever you're going to throw in. I think that Skylar Thompson playoff game against the Bills has absolutely just ruined their expectations of how this offense can run with somebody else in it, um because it just looked awful, like awful. Mike McDaniel had an awful game. You look at other coaches around the league, Kevin O'Connell doing great with Sam Darnold, Matt LaFleur doing great um with Malik Willis.
00:14:08
Speaker
And meanwhile, Mike McDaniel is one in six in games without Tua. And yet GM Chris Greer says, you know, I think you guys are the ones who are panicking. There's no one in the in the building who's panicking right now. Like what the fuck is that quote?
00:14:22
Speaker
it's It's a horrible quote, especially when you gave him his money before the season started, before he was even really a free agent. He had a whole year to go. And we talked about this last week. you know He doesn't have a playoff win. Has he won the division? No. He's made the playoffs but hasn't won the division.
00:14:40
Speaker
What what is he done to earn that money to me Mike McDaniel screams offensive coordinator and not a head coach in the NFL I mean you saw Tyreke kind of freaking out on the sidelines I couldn't tell if he was a ze like yelling at McDaniel specifically, but definitely yelling, you know around him Yeah, not happy with what's going on not happy with how the ah offense is being run And it just it begs the question where it's just like, its Mike McDaniel, i he's not a leader of men to me. He's not. He's a fun guy to hang out with, little quirky, and and it plays. But when it's and you're not winning, that that shine rubs off so, so quickly. And he's got to figure this out quickly. I don't know. You know you stick with Huntly, maybe an extra week. It could definitely help. But he needs to simplify that playbook.
00:15:26
Speaker
Get the ball in your playmaker's hands. Waddle Tyreke at chain, even right. Right. Look good out there. Just find ways to get the ball in their hands and let them make plays. And this offense might be half decent. And then your defense can maybe you know hang in there and steal a game or two. But things are looking rough in Miami right now. And you're going and you were going into a stretch where the quarterbacks you're playing are Will Levis slash Mason Rudolph, Jacobi Brissett. And then now what looks to be Joe Flacco. So those are three of the easiest you know, game plans that you could possibly draw up on defense and they got shredded last night because they were on the defense was on the field the entire time. There was so many different insults stats about the Dolphins in that game that I could barely keep track of them. um They had nine points in the last nine quarters, and that was in the third quarter of of this game. So they added seven after that.
00:16:17
Speaker
um They were a combined two for 20 on third down over the last two games. That was also in the third quarter. um And they were just so bad that they made the Titans look good. They were booed into halftime on their own field and they deserved every last bit of it. I cannot imagine being a fan in the stands there. Tyreeke held under 50 yards receiving for the third straight game.
00:16:42
Speaker
and I think my biggest problem is like we weren't even trying to get first downs like there were a host of plays where they are running third down plays entirely to set up field goals and field goals that are 56 yards long 55 yards long with a kicker and Jason Sanders, who got on him for hitting the long ones last night. But man, it just they did everything they could to lose that game. And and it was just an awful, awful viewing experience from every point. um one One spot on the refs that that punt after the safety.
00:17:17
Speaker
these kickoff rules are just a shit show right now. Like I don't think any team fully understands it. Miami does like an onside punt that didn't land in some zone that no one has ever heard of. And it's half the distance from the kickoff and Titans ball. So essentially like a 55 yard penalty.
00:17:36
Speaker
The Titans coaches are screaming at their players for not calling a fair catch. They think they did something wrong. Miami doesn't know what they did wrong. like Even the refs explaining it like fumble fucked their way through it and the broadcast couldn't even figure it out. This is one of those NFL rules that nobody has caught up with yet.
00:17:53
Speaker
Yeah, I think the kick off is like the normal kickoff. I think we kind of get it a little bit, but that like on onside kick, pun, whatever was I'm excited this game um muted on the second TV. So I was one of the more confused people in the world just being like, because I saw the Tennessee um special teams coordinator freaking out on the sideline. I'm like, oh my God, they pulled off ah an onside kick. They got the ball.
00:18:19
Speaker
you know because I saw him waving his hands and he just let it fall and Miami got the ball and then and then like you said it it was Tennessee almost in the red zone ah I was so confused on what happened and then I was just I was I was lost the rules need to be more clear I agree on that and yeah I don't know what that was in I just can't I don't I can't make sense of it especially without the volume on I had no idea what was happening um and we still can't explain it to you so sorry everybody you're gonna have yeah outside sources for that um Titans point of view in this game I think this was the first game where their duo the running duo actually looked to be used to its full extent Pollard and Spears looked great 127 yards between the two of them each got a touchdown
00:19:04
Speaker
um Well, Levis goes out with an injury early in the game, leads to a million funny screenshots and Mason Rudolph kind of comes in and does exactly what he had to. They might, they might keep Levis on the bench a little bit longer after this one.
00:19:18
Speaker
Yeah, hilarious stat line from Mason Rudolph on nine of 17 for 85 yards, but hey, he didn't turn the ball over. it And I think that's an encouraging sign for Tennessee in the offense. And, oh man, it was, you don't want like, we'll let us knew immediately that his right shoulder was hurt.
00:19:36
Speaker
but the panic on his face on the sideline when Mason Rudolph started moving the ball on that the first drive that he got in and led to a field goal you you just saw like uh my job is is like going away right right in front of my eyes and it's to Mason Rudolph I don't know. I think they'll give him another chance when he's healthy, but they're often didn't look worse with Mason Rudolph. they They had the running game was going like he said, and they didn't turn the ball over and they just did enough to win this game. And that's Tennessee's first win of the year. Well, Elvis hasn't done anything to lead them to victory and he's found ways to lose games. So something to think about if you're Tennessee, I'm sure Rudolph's probably going to be starting next week. I would assume we'll love us is going to miss a week with that because it's on his throwing arm too. so
00:20:25
Speaker
Um, but yeah, Mesa Rudolph, not, not bad, not bad. It's so funny that Levis had, you know, one quarter in that game and still managed to throw like a terrible interception. Like it's like a five yard out route and he just throws it directly, directly into the Fins, uh, defender.
00:20:42
Speaker
Yeah. He was full Russell Wilson on the sideline too with like the helmet on when it's like you've been ruled out of the game. Like stop it man. Just give it up man. Like you should be rooting on, root off and then just like get healthy. Put some ice on that shoulder dude. put Figure it out. Put the plaid hat on and just chill out. Yeah. I've never seen a guy visibly that distressed with a backup going in. He had visions of Sean Clifford taking his job at Penn State.
00:21:07
Speaker
But moving off of that terrible game. I'm sure nobody else wants to hear more about it and we'll move to the Sunday night game where the Baltimore Ravens came out and punched the Buffalo Bills directly in the mouth and Buffalo really had no response Ravens 35 Bills 10 This was another Derek Henry game like we're getting back-to-back Derek Henry bangers here and 24 carries, 199 yards in a touchdown, he fumbles 1 yard short of 200 yards, and he still has
00:21:42
Speaker
every last bit of his speed somehow like he looks like a track runner when he gets going just complete efficiency of moon movement he looked incredible yeah he is he is superhuman i was one of the people i'm sure there was others that you know i mentioned before but like tennessee ruined him and tried to ruin him and just take everything that he has to offer and and have it in a titan's uniform but he has more to offer man and It doesn't look like it's is's slowing down whatsoever like you said it the first snap of the game for baltimore 87 yards down the field just shot out of a cannon bounces it out to the right side and then bang gone gone down the sideline.
00:22:25
Speaker
Oh, my goodness. It's and he just looks so good in the blackout Baltimore Ravens. Like it just fits so well in Baltimore, man. I didn't know how their offense was going to look with Derek Henry. Obviously, they were going to look to run the ball now, but they they don't throw it. they They just run the ball with Lamar and Derek Henry. And Justice Hill got a little bit of action later on in that game, basically as ah as a receiver almost. But it's impressive. Baltimore leads the league in an offensive rushing yards per game with 220 yards.
00:22:55
Speaker
So it's pretty clear what Baltimore's offensive game plan is with Derek Henry bringing in. and it's working, especially on a Buffalo Bills team who is ranked 30th in the league against the the running game. they They looked hurt on defense this game. I was going to say, this is what good game planning looks like. Everybody in in the pregame for this was like, Baltimore, if they can run the ball here, they'll have success against the Bills. They have to expose the Bills run defense. And that's exactly what they did. It looked like the injuries really finally took their toll on defense. The linebackers looked really exposable.
00:23:30
Speaker
really missing Milano in the middle of the field there. um And the bill and then the bills NFL record streak of 43 consecutive regular season games without a loss by six or more just kind of absolutely took it to them. um The bills offense did not look like it could figure out this defense either. I thought this was an impressive game for Baltimore's defense. Kyle Hamilton looked incredible. um He had a team. I seven tackles. He recovers Allen's fumble in the second half there um and Not the best game plan from the Bills. Like really was kind of scratching your head at points. They were really struggling to get big plays when it mattered. um Really struggling on third down and just punted a ton in this game. Just 22 yards, 22 first downs allowed and almost eight yards per play on defense. This was just a bit of a mess and kind of the Bills crashing back down to earth a bit and the Ravens coming back up to where we kind of expect them to be
00:24:27
Speaker
Yeah, they they met in the middle a little bit. This is the first real test, I think, for the bills, um especially with that the Cardinals kind of leaning out a little bit. But it's it it was impressive how Baltimore was able to just stop them because Buffalo, I think, came in looking to run the ball a bit, trying to find success with Alan and Cook and.
00:24:45
Speaker
You know, yeah James Cook at 39 yards. Josh was pretty quiet with his legs too, only 21 yards. And then they couldn't throw it when they wanted to either, man. Like Shakir was, he had a solid game, but these are the games they kind of miss a Steph on dicks. A guy who, a receiver, a skill position player that can just go out and say, you know what? I don't care. I'm going to go out and make plays and help win this game. They don't really have that. They have good solid receivers.
00:25:12
Speaker
No one is great in that receiving room. We thought Duncan Cade might you know take another step forward. He's had a very mediocre start to the season. And it's clear that Shakir is has the best chemistry, or I guess, with Josh Allen. Shakir is basically like a speedy slot receiver. He should be a safety blanket in a sense where, you know, you need Keon Coleman to get be a deep threat. You need Duncan Cade to just be it down the middle in the red zone.
00:25:41
Speaker
but they're not really getting that and this is the just like a first test for buffalo and and i think a bit of a reality check for you know how good they think they are yeah i i think that you know we talked about the bills schedule early in the season kind of in our nfl preview They got through those first three games incredibly well, three and oh, but now they got a bit of a slog. Like you lose to the Ravens and now you have to go at Houston, who, you know, kind of looks all over the place, but will be getting up for that game surely. And then the week after, you know, you get no reprieve and you got to play the Jets on Monday night in prime time. Jets don't look great, but that's a game at home for the Jets that you know, they'll kind of get up for.
00:26:24
Speaker
Um, kind of a tough slog now to get through this. Like I would not be very surprised if the bills ended up at three and three through six games, which is kind of crazy to say, given how they started the season.
00:26:36
Speaker
ah Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised either such with Houston's probably gonna get Joe mixin back next week So that'll add another element to their offense Yeah, Buffalo, I don't it's not a panic situation. I think Baltimore is a great team You're on the road and they just you know, they ran it down your throat and and it happened sometimes like there there's games that can be an outliers is just look can they learn from it can they improve on their it's specifically it's the running defense that they really need to figure out and then obviously the offense has to be better but yeah bills just need to take this game throw it out a little bit and just move on and just focus on houston next week big time ravens get sincey on the road next week that's a big big
00:27:19
Speaker
AFC North game that I'm sure everybody's got eyes on that's a real one for Sensei to be like are they a good team or do they get absolutely destroyed by the Ravens? We'll move to a very tough tough loss Patrick Colts 27 Steelers 24 I want to ask was this as classic of a Steelers loss as it seemed I Yeah, yeah yeah yeah this Mike Tallman's Steelers are good for two or three of these games a year. I thought it was going to come against the Broncos in week two, but it was week four against the Colts, which, you know, it is what it is. I don't think this is a ah panic reaction. I'm not going to panic. I don't think they are either. It was ah the prophecy remains true.
00:28:02
Speaker
where if the Steelers win the game goes under if they lose it's going over so ah the the streak ends unfortunately on the Steelers unders but yeah Anthony Richardson came out and came out strong man he looked good first throw of the game I thought it was an interception but his arm strength just ripped it right over Joey Porter's arms into you know Michael Pittman's game, who kind of had a bit of a breakout game after a slowly start to the season. Yeah. And and then, yeah, Shane Steichen just decided I want Anthony Richardson hurt. And that was a turning point in the wrong way for the Steelers and somehow in a good way for the Colts because Joe Flacco came in and just picked apart this defense specifically on third and long Steelers got themselves
00:28:45
Speaker
in a pretty good situations consistently with Joe Flacco in the game. And it was just you know third and 10, third and eight, third and seven, and so on. And it was just Joe Flacco's making throws to get first downs and extending drives. um Back to my referee point, you had a win. It didn't help, but it was the Menka unnecessary roughness when he's just playing the game. He pulled up a little bit and didn't hit him in the head.
00:29:13
Speaker
But it's like, do you just want them to let them have the catch? It's it's just such a bad ah call to me because it directly affected the game because that was one of the few times they actually got the Colts off the field on a third and long. 15 yards and then they go in and score a touchdown and they won the game by three points.
00:29:32
Speaker
Yeah, it was um it wasn't a great game by the Steelers, but I think there are some positives. They just they made some really costly errors that and and you can't go down 17 nothing and expect to win a game. Yeah, I think that was kind of the the whole M.O. of this game is that they they kept giving the Colts a chance to win this game. And that's just never going to really work out in the NFL when you consistently like help your opponent.
00:29:55
Speaker
um Back to the Anthony Richardson injury. One, Shane Steichen's an insane person. And two, where is the outrage for Anthony Richardson concussions? This is his third concussion now in two years in the NFL.
00:30:10
Speaker
and i I know it's not as as brazen as in your face as the two of concussions, but it's like fuck man, this is a young quarterback who has now had his head bobbled around a million times and it's just crickets. There's no national outrage for Richardson to retire, there's no calls on the Colts brass to keep him out of these games. like You know, he clearly injures his hip. They throw him out the next play or the play after on a design QB run and he takes a huge shot to the head. I just don't know what the Colts are like, how the Colts are managing Anthony Richardson. It seems like they think he's invincible and they can just keep throwing him out into dangerous situations. It's getting to the point of being like medical malpractice.
00:30:55
Speaker
It really is, Damien. It's the fourth time he's been unable to... he's He's only finished half the games he started in his career. And he started eight games. like Just think about that. He hasn't been able to finish four out of the eight games that he started. it's like That's just not good. and it's it This one, this one falls on the coach. Absolutely. Sometimes Anthony Richardson can put himself in dumb situations and and sometimes he doesn't know when to slide because I mean, he's built like a linebacker and he can run some people over. that It was insane. Like you said, it was just like hip, but it it didn't seem like he was going to be out of the game kind of thing. It was like something that, yeah, I'm sore right now.
00:31:31
Speaker
And then, yeah, like I said, Joe five came in for one or two plays and then you run him and it was just you. What are you trying to do? And you could tell he wasn't fully healthy because the reason he kind of got hit in the head was like he was like pulling up because he was his hip wasn't 100 percent. But, you know, the safety doesn't care. it You're pulling up, especially when you're the size of him and he played them.
00:31:51
Speaker
Hit him in the head, I just don't know what they were trying to do, but Joe Flacco I guess, maybe they wanted Flacco in the game, maybe they wanted to to throw the ball and they knew that Flacco had the Steelers number and He just haunts my dreams consistently. I was so upset to like, I kind of knew it was going to happen too. I saw him like before the game, he's like hanging out with big Ben on the sidelines. And yeah, this it felt like 2014 again, you got Andy Dalton, Joe Flacco, just, you know, throwing the ball, airing it out, just.
00:32:21
Speaker
it was crazy. He he won't retire and he doesn't look like he should either. Justin Fields looked good. He had the one stupid, stupid, stupid play ah when they were in field goal range on third down, tried to make something happen with his legs.
00:32:37
Speaker
You're going to get that with him. He's not fully polished, but ah he had one mistake. He had two touch and touchdowns on the ground through one in the air and had over 300 yards. So um I'm not out on Justin Fields. I feel just as fine as I did going into the game. It was just costly errors. Pickens fumble that penalty on Minka and then the the fumble from Fields. But yeah, just the stack stacking up kind of mistakes until the point that it reached no return. um But moving on.
00:33:05
Speaker
to another tight game. Vikings 31 Packers 29. This was a tale of two halves. Minnesota dominated the first half and then really just let the Packers keep squeaking back into this game. Seven turnovers in this game, four by Green Bay, three by Minnesota. It was 28 to seven at halftime.
00:33:26
Speaker
and similar kind of to the Seahawks Lions game, kind of, you know, both, you could take positives from both teams in this game. um I thought that the Packers kind of looked all over the place, like weird return game for Jordan Love. He has to throw it 54 times. He goes three 89 in four touchdowns. Both of those were career highs for him, for him, but he also matched a career high with three interceptions. Do you think they brought him back maybe too soon or like, I don't know,
00:33:55
Speaker
it's that's a decent quite like i don't know i didn't i didn't watch all of this game i saw i saw a decent amount he was throwing the ball fine but yeah you're right he wasn't moving i guess as much as he usually does because his legs are a part of his game he's not a running quarterback but he's he's mobile he moves similar to like my home's kind of quarterback CJ Stroud. Yeah. Yeah. He he just, he he came in with the Brett Favre jersey on Damian and he had a Brett Favre game. It was, it was rough out there. It was just a, it was just similar. Like you said, it was just, you, you go down early and then it's just all catch up, catch up, catch up. Like you're putting lipstick on a pig with this score. This score was nowhere near with the reflection of the game. Minnesota came out strong, dominated Sam Darnold with another three touchdowns, uh,
00:34:41
Speaker
Interception in there, but I mean overall a great game last week. I mentioned his ah MVP odds. They were 30 to 1 as of this morning, Tuesday morning, he is 10 to one for the MVP. Last week I mentioned Vikings Super Bowl odds. They were 28 to one last week. This week they are down to 12 to one. So if you were looking to get on the Vikings, you miss the boat because those odds have dropped. And I think the Vikings are truly for real because obviously I was you know pretty high on them, but this was like a real test, especially after beating Houston. This is,
00:35:15
Speaker
a perfect letdown spot game on the road at Green Bay, Jordan love return. And they didn't care. They know letdown from Minnesota. They came out and just hammered them. And then, yeah, Green Bay made it look better in the second half, but it was already over. Yeah. The Vikings are nasty. I think that much is clear right now. And you're right. Like it you've missed the boat to jump on the Vikings, especially from a ah betting standpoint.
00:35:41
Speaker
They got the weird London game. We're starting London games next week. They play the Jets in London at 10 a.m. Tottenham Stadium like. I don't know, I'm kind of interested to see how they react to that. That's kind of like throwing a curve ball at them in the midst of them being you know one of the last two undefeated teams in the NFL. If I would have told you before the season that Minnesota and KC would be the last undefated undefeated teams, you would have said I was insane, but we're here. And that that kind of shows you how crazy the NFL season has been so far. um One last thing for the Packers.
00:36:15
Speaker
I think this defense is legit. Like, I think I've been talking about them for the past few weeks now. You know, they hold the Vikings to three second half points here ah and you're missing Jair Alexander and Carrington Valentine, like two of your best cornerbacks. ah Xavier McKinney gets his fourth interception in four games. I talked about the Packers defense having like an interception identity. It might just be McKinney like he is really like turning into a game record.
00:36:44
Speaker
Yeah, the the Jeff Halfley signing in the off season really caught me off guard ah from Green Bay. He was a college defensive coordinator at Ohio State. Then he went to Boston college, became a head coach there. And I, I almost thought of him as like an offensive kind of minded guy. And, but apparently he can do both and he's really come into Green Bay and he's got this defense performing well. I think specifically the corners.
00:37:08
Speaker
They're really reading these passes and the formations in there. They're just not falling for the bait. They're not getting tricked into, you know, falling out of your zone or it's like just sticking to one spot. They're kind of free playing and and just reacting to the play instead of just letting it come to them. It's been impressive to see what they, you know, what they've been able to do. They they just, it's just the slow start, man. And they just couldn't overcome it. And they tried though, right? Like three turnovers and.
00:37:35
Speaker
Yeah, it was an impressive effort. And then also like just Sam Darnold being able to spread the love, um you know, three different receivers getting touchdowns. It's not all Justin Jefferson. It's just impressive the way they've been able to win games. And yeah, I'm I'm high on the Vikings. They are. They're no longer. I'm no longer questioning anything about Minnesota.
00:37:55
Speaker
Yeah, Jordan Addison coming back was like, oh, yeah, he is still a great receiver when they get T.J. Hawkinson back in this offense. Like they're still doing this, really not at 100 percent. ah Like you said, Justin Jefferson still proving that he is like the best receiver in the league. um Very, very hard matchup to game plan against, especially once all those weapons are back. But yeah.
00:38:16
Speaker
really, really impressive game from the Vikings here and kind of only goes out from here. If they're able to kind of smash the Jets next week, then I really don't see a lot stopping them um even from winning this division. Like they have a real shot here. They're going to be going neck and neck with the with the Lions now.
00:38:32
Speaker
um can't wait until those two teams play. um But moving to a weird, weird game, Texans 24, Jags 20, the Jaguars are now the only 0-4 team in the NFL. But if we're really being honest, that should be the Miami Dolphins. um And the Dolphins might be worse than them. Aside from that Travis Etienne fumble, they probably beat the Dolphins.
00:38:56
Speaker
And in this game, they actually kind of looked like a football team. They ran the ball. Well, 158 yards on 24 carries. The running game certainly isn't the problem. The passing game certainly is Trevor Lawrence throws out another stinker 18 for 33 169. He did finish with two touchdown passes, but they were very short, short passes. And he now goes to nine games without a win. Patrick, what is going on with T-law?
00:39:25
Speaker
nothing good nothing good is going for for Trevor Lawrence because they clearly had a plan to run the ball in this game I know Etienne went out a little bit early with the banged up ah shoulder and then um you know tank Bigsby bit of a breakout game for him like seven rushes 90 yards and then Etienne returned 11 for 50 yet they were moving the ball on the ground and then Trevor was finishing some drives with touchdown passes and the Jags look good and and they came so close to winning and then the superior quarterback and team you know won it when it mattered 18 seconds left CJ Stroud throw it to the end zone and it was just yeah this is you I knew Jackson was gonna come out play it tight this is kind of like a must-win feel in the division at home and yeah I mean
00:40:13
Speaker
It was just it was just laughable just because you you knew on that last drive when CJ Stroud got the ball. I this I go. This is a touchdown. This is inevitable. Jacksonville is not winning this game. It was a great effort from them, but it was just it was the it was the CJ Stroud and specifically Nico Collins game who had 12 receptions, 151 yards in a touchdown. And Damien, we mentioned Justin Jefferson, who I agree is most likely the top receiver in the NFL.
00:40:42
Speaker
where do you have Nico Collins in, in like the top X in the league? He certainly looked better than CD lamb, who I would go to, to, you know, the, the instant knee jerk is to put CD lamb in that second spot, especially without bad Tyree kill his look so far this year. But I think it's Collins, man. Like I think Collins is right behind him and, you know, he took He had that kind of one game where he wasn't as ah productive, but he's just a a powerful, powerful receiver, like goes up and gets balls himself um and just is one of those guys where like a vintage kind of Josh Allen, Stefan Diggs, Stroud knows that Collins is going to be able to win 50, 50 balls. And I think he's able to throw a lot of passes that most quarterbacks kind of wouldn't trust the receivers to catch. um And Collins is,
00:41:32
Speaker
is putting this receiving room really on his back and allowing those other guys to kind of go a little more unnoticed and still kind of chop up yards. Tank Dell, Stephon Diggs, like they have no shortage of weapons here. And more impressively, without Joe Mixon, who they are clearly, clearly missing, ah he is able to step up and take the reins on this offense and really have like a a dominant, dominant performance.
00:41:57
Speaker
Yeah, I think, I think he's for sure solid solidified himself as a top five receiver in this league and definitely knocking on the door of top three, if not already in there. Uh, and just like got him out of discount. I forget what his contract was, but compared to what these like, what Jamar chase is looking for, what Justin Jefferson got paid CD lamb.
00:42:15
Speaker
These, these contracts are kind of getting out of hand a little bit for receivers, but Nico Collins was able to, you know, like the Texans got in at a good time and, and, you know, he's a happy guy three years, $72 million. dollars So it's a discount, man. It's a bargain.
00:42:32
Speaker
An annual salary of $24.25 million. Where some of the guys- Since we're talking salaries, sorry to cut you off, a little fucked up that they paid Dalton Kincaid already, eh? Looking a little fucking weird now. It's like you look back at the bills. I hate to bring the bills back up. It's like, why did we pay that guy already? Yeah. Some guys and teams specifically, I guess, they're getting a little excited with the money they're giving out. And I think, you know,
00:42:58
Speaker
Houston, it worked out great for them. They they got Nikko Collins right before he broke out and and they they have him at a bargain. At least, you know, it's only a three year deal for Nikko where he's going to for sure get paid when that gets ah done with. But yeah, it's it's a high risk, high reward. Some teams are are benefiting from the gamble and some teams are kind of kicking themselves a bit um back to the game. The seat is only getting warmer for a good old Dougie P man. Holy shit, man. What a postgame presser.
00:43:28
Speaker
What that was insane to me and he's still doing it with the visor on Yeah, pre is he's trying to throw press Taylor under the bus, who's, I guess, kind of the interim coach and waiting if he got fired. But man, Doug, like I said, only 0-1-4 team left in the NFL. And they've just not looked good. Like Trevor Lawrence was 18 of 33. And the two touchdowns you know look solid, but 169 yards, man.
00:44:01
Speaker
I don't know. They're just they're finding ways to lose games and they're just not exciting and they lack explosiveness. And then now, like you said, like Doug Peterson's kind of throwing people under the bus and press conferences. there's There's a little bit of panic for sure going on in Jacksonville. Yeah. The the reporter asks him like such an innocuous question. Like he doesn't make make it mean in any way. He just goes, Doug.
00:44:23
Speaker
your own four, is there any questions about your security here? And he stares at the reporter like he was speaking in another language and he goes, you know, that's kind of a strange question. i' i'm I'm not worried at all.
00:44:35
Speaker
And that means to me that he is extremely close to being fired. It's like when ah when a coach says, you know, this guy's our QB. If a head coach is being like, I can't even believe why you're asking me that when we've lost a zillion games in a row, he he is clearly a bit disconnected on what is actually going on here in Jacksonville.
00:44:56
Speaker
Yeah, I would even consider next week a basically a must win. Oh, yes. And man, I just don't know. It's kind of a fun story to watch there. They're somehow favored ah next week, which we that's really setting up to be the firing game. If you use it as a home favorite against the divisional rival.
00:45:17
Speaker
Yeah, it might be time for you to go and, you know, talking money like we did. T law, $50 million dollar man, not playing like it. No, he is not. Um, one last thing here. The Texans have to stop taking penalties. They have 35 combined penalties in their last three games alone. Laramie tonsil is leading the way. Uh, they're just kind of shooting themselves in the in the foot.
00:45:40
Speaker
Yeah, and you can get away with that against the Jacksonville. But, you know, like we talked about already you're playing the bills next week. The bills will make you pay for those penalties. Absolutely. um Talking about shooting yourself in the own foot, the Falcons, 26, the Saints, 24. This one is going to haunt the New Orleans Saints. Twenty four points scored.
00:46:01
Speaker
No offensive TDs allowed and they still drop a divisional game and the Falcons are able to leap the Saints in the NFC South standings who all of a sudden are in third in the division. What a game from the special teams ah on Atlanta.
00:46:17
Speaker
Special teams won them this game. It started with the muff pun and they took advantage of it with the touchdown. Then young whole young way crew was four of four on the game, including the 58 yard winner. I'm sure there's there's a million fantasy teams with his name on it that that we're celebrating that one. um This is what i like you said early on in this game, I was just this feels like it's going to be a huge game come December and and the Falcons were able to get the benefit of winning this one where the Saints just.
00:46:48
Speaker
It was right there. It was right there, man. And then they just let the Falcons stay in it and you know they feel gold their way to winning this game. And I don't know what to make of either of these two teams now, because I think this is what the Saints are. I think the Saints are going to be somewhere between eight, and nine, nine, and eight. They got off to a hot start to a no.
00:47:09
Speaker
Coming back to reality, but I think they're just kind of a middle of the road team, the Falcons. I have a lot more questions about, uh, they won. Don't get me wrong. Don't apologize for winning. But aside from the last drive against the Philadelphia Eagles, where they went and won in the first drive against the Kansas city chiefs, where they just went right down the field and scored a touchdown. Their offense sucks.
00:47:34
Speaker
Sucks like bad. They do nothing. They do. Bijon Robinson had 11 total touches in this game, ah seven rushes and four catches. You know, they went to Tyler Algier as their lead runner because he had the hot hand. So don't like I think it he they wanted to blame Arthur Smith for their offense last year. It doesn't look any better this year, even with Kirk Cousins as your quarterback instead of Desmond Ritter.
00:48:00
Speaker
Yeah, your special teams essentially spotted you 14 points and your defense. They got a really big pick six after a pass gets deflected by Judon. Um, but yeah, this was the game that kind of like wakes Falcons fans up in the middle of the night, like out of a nightmare. It's like, shit, we haven't improved at all here. The only thing that you can really notice a difference in is Darnell Mooney. Like he.
00:48:21
Speaker
has been able to take attention away from other guys. He draws a huge pass interference penalty that essentially was the only reason they won this game. um they It was like a 30-yard pass interference that brings them all the way up to field goal territory. i just the same or the The Falcons offense just looks stagnant in the worst way. like It looks like they can't play with tempo, they can't play with pace, and they seem to be falling into those old habits that really killed them last year and made them an offense that Defenses really aren't afraid to game plan against. um you know The Saints go up with a minute left and if it wasn't for that 30 yard pass interference, the Falcons really just would have sputtered out of this game and and there would have been a ton, a ton of questions. Falcons have the fifth hardest remaining schedule in the NFL. They have to play the Bucks twice.
00:49:10
Speaker
They have to play the Vikings, the Seahawks and the Cowboys. So it's they have a lot of tough games ahead on the schedule. We know they finish off with that really easy slide with like, you know, they play the Giants at the end of the season. They play the Panthers twice at the end of the season. So again, almost similar to the Saints, they're kind of going to end up, I think, finding level here like it's going to be impressive if they end up being a 10 and 17.
00:49:35
Speaker
Yeah, they definitely don't feel like ah the best team in this division. ah They don't appear to be the team that many people thought they were going to be once they added Kirk Cousins. And it's like Kirk Cousins can move now. For week one, you want to use that injury as an excuse. I got no problem with that. He did not look great against the Steelers.
00:49:55
Speaker
were we're through week four man so if he isn't feeling good now I don't know if he's gonna feel good at any point in this season and you know you're not you're not getting Bijon activated in this game where he was like truly the focal point of your offense and everything should go through him and yeah I don't know man they just really struggled and on ah offense in this game it's like the Saints this They're not a world beater defense. They're not a bad defense, but you should be able to move the ball and they just go out there with no touchdowns on offense. It's just like, it's another head scratcher. So lucky to win this game. And, and with this, like the Falcons, you're back on prime time. They have turned into the jets of last year where we are just getting.
00:50:37
Speaker
Falcons primetime games shoved down our throat here. They have the box on Thursday night We'll get to the preview of that later But that's a divisional game in front of the whole world and if the Falcons look like shit It is just a million questions and you're starting to really wonder if they can even compete to win that division It, I'm already wondering that their wins aren't great. Like, I don't know what the Eagles are. I think the saints are just a middle of the road team that you barely beat and your defense and special teams won you that game. I, yeah, I don't know what to make the Falcons. The saints though, you know, this is their classic, uh, taste some Hill, taste some Hill game, two touchdowns then that gets injured. It was just the most classic taste some Hillies.
00:51:19
Speaker
boom Oh my god first quarter two touchdowns. This guy's great and that's like oh, yeah, he's gone. He's he's injured. This isn't a sustainable um Just offense to run through him, but no, yeah I mean that the the same seat to find a way to bounce back and get a win and just start getting the The mojo back because obviously Camara's a player on that team and Olave But Derek Carr has certainly come back to life after those first two games. And they just, Rashid Shahid's kind of gone quiet a little bit. They they just need to get something going on ah offense there.
00:51:51
Speaker
Big time, uh, one last thing on young way coup, that was his career best 58 yarder. And he has eight game winning kicks in the final 10 seconds since the beginning of the 2021 season. That's the most in the league during that span. I somehow didn't realize he was a straight on kicker. I hadn't really seen that yet. And he he doesn't take the angle. Like he just goes straight at it. Um, he's also 30 years old. Like I kickers are so weird in that way. Like he looks like he's like 21 and he, he is the ripe age of 30 years old.
00:52:21
Speaker
Yeah, I guess it's because like he came in the league, a all of college, I guess, and he came in. ah I forget where he came from, but I don't think he came from. I don't know. I forget. i I'm not going to, I'm not going to speak on someone. i I don't know, but, um, I know he came, he only came in the league. He's only been in for like four years or so. So yeah, I guess he came in at like 26 and then now just Southern. Okay. I had the Georgia part, right.
00:52:46
Speaker
just Georgia Southern. yeah um you You were thinking of Rodrigo Blankenship. I was. I was. um But moving in the n NFC South to a game that was essentially like your your TV fucked up and it accidentally played the playoff game from last year, Bucks 33, Eagles 16. This very well might have been like a rerun of last year's game. Eagles down 24-7 at half Patrick, what does Nick Sirianni do for this team, man? He does nothing. And Eagles fans are starting to catch on. They've always been skeptical of Sirianni. But I think something something happened this week. There's been a little bit of a breaking point. They're coming up on their bye. And I'm not you know fully in in deep in Eagles Twitter and their fans. But from what I do see and what I've heard,
00:53:39
Speaker
They want him gone over the bye week, which is crazy. Kind of like I don't hate it. It was just he should have never survived last offseason when you know fire both coordinators. But keep the head coach. It's like your culture is going to be the exact same. There's only so much ah two coordinators can fix on this team. And God, it was similar to the Falcons, man. Saquon Barkley only had 12 total touches without A.J. Brown and without Devante Smith.
00:54:07
Speaker
who, like, I know Dallas Goddard's a solid player. Your offense should have just run through Saquon, who's clearly your best player on offense. and And it didn't. And it's just insane to me what their game plan was because Jalen Hurts clearly has a turnover problem. It's ah I got the stats here for it. Five fumbles and four interceptions through four games this year. That's not good. Taking care of the football dude hates it. And And it's time to have the Jalen Hurts discussion because similar to Justin Jefferson, it's like, who are you when the chips are down, right? Like you are out your best players. What kind of player are you? You're down Jason Kelsey this year. You're missing Devontae Smith and AJ Brown. And, you know, last week we did the blind ranking versus Danny Jones. This week he goes 18 for 30, 158 yards, a touchdown, six sacks and two fumbles. You know, the fumble laid after the sack.
00:55:02
Speaker
Essentially ended their chances of a comeback So that is like a direct correlation of him not taking care of the football and playing yourself out of games and then after the game You know the ESPN guys are taking this like he essentially told Sirianni to fuck off But they when asked whether Sirianni and Hertz would get together and deliver a message to the team He gives this, you know cryptic. I'm too cool for school. You know, we we have our moments and It's like, what what's going on there? Like, clearly there's a rift there. And if there's a rift there, what the hell does it look like with the rest of the team? Yeah, man, it's just this team lacks an identity. Yeah, like their their identity last year was basically the touch push. Yeah. You know what I mean? It's that's what it was. It's what they were is like fourth and one fourth and two. Doesn't matter. They're getting it. They have a physical offensive line. They can run it through jail and hurts. DeAndre Swift was a pro bowler last year behind that offensive line.
00:55:55
Speaker
So you would have thought, you know, they just lost Jason Kelsey. I know Lane Johnson was out in this game, but like say one should have had 20 20 running yards, five catches. Like he should have been doing everything. You should have been doing everything in your power to get the ball in his hands. And they just couldn't do it. And, you know, you bring in Johan Dotson, who was supposed to be your wide receiver three.
00:56:18
Speaker
He he is no good. He's a name. He was sold at Penn State, but he was bad and he's been bad since he's been there. He had two receptions for 11 yards in this game. It's not good, and it's rare that I say a buy comes at a good time when it comes at week five. But I think it comes at a very good time for this Philadelphia Eagles team because they have big problems they need to fix. They need AJ Brown to come back healthy, but this it's rare, but this buy is coming at a very good time for the Eagles.
00:56:49
Speaker
They have lost eight of their last eleven games, Patrick, nine of twelve, if you include the playoffs, which we definitely should. And you return to versus Browns at Giants. And I'm going to put the must win label on both of those games, like somehow being two and two right now for the Eagles is like a travesty like it. It's really not a good sign for their season. And on the other side of the ball, the Buccaneers kind of seem back after this game, like a a game where Todd Bowles, Baker Mayfield, like the offense was kind of on the same page. Um, you you know, Mayfield finishes with 347 yards, two touchdowns and new, new stat that they took over the Panthers for the offense scored a touchdown on its opening drive for the first time in 21 games. So did not even realize that about the box, but clearly something they need to fix the run game still not fully there.
00:57:45
Speaker
Like they're having trouble on third down. They were six for 13. Bucky Irving kind of had a good game, like 49 yards a touchdown. Rashad White still not looking great. The pass game is fully there, but the run game is is still lacking in the box. And I think that's like kind of the last feather in their hat other than the injury, getting the injuries back.
00:58:04
Speaker
think they're on to something in the running game though I really do like aside from the touchdown white and Irving had the exact same stat line and it's like that's I think what their running back room should be kind of perfectly split down the middle I think Bucky Irving has the more explosiveness ah can you know break a run more and Rashad white's more of a receiving back and he should be in on basically all the third downs but they they fall in love and like Todd Bowles it's like okay he just falls in love with whoever's hot right now and but he just kind of likes Bucky Irving more it seems like Rashad White broke out two huge runs early in that game and it just wouldn't put him back in I'm just like
00:58:44
Speaker
I don't know. he He looks good right now. You don't give him ball. But ah yeah, the the passing game is amazing. ah Mike Evans finally, you know, from week one, he had a great game couple off weeks in the middle there. But back with 94 yards and a touchdown, Chris Godwin, you know, it's just they complement each other so, so well. ah Yeah, this was a huge bounce back game for the Buccaneers and just.
00:59:07
Speaker
yeah I think this is what they are. I think the Buccaneers are a good team and they're better. like The Eagles are middle of the road team to me. they They will be fighting for everything to make the playoffs based on what I've seen. And I think the Buccaneers are the best team in the NFC South.
00:59:20
Speaker
and i think they Not like a Super Bowl contender, but I think they can for sure do better than what they did last year. Like they won a game in the playoffs last year. People kind of forget that. And it's the exact same team. You add Bucky Irving as another element on offense who's seemingly only getting better. I think this team can do some damage in in the NFC. And i'm I'm impressed with what I've seen from them. I agree. One last last thing from this game. What do you think of Tom Brady taking shots at ba Baker Mayfield? Very innocuous quote from Baker, just being like I was trying to, you know,
00:59:52
Speaker
bring some fun back to football here, and goes, you know, fun to me was not winning Super Bowls. Like, yeah, come on, Tom. And not everyone is a psychopath, Tom. It's it's crazy the way he also, like, that was a bit of a Jason Kelsey Eagles situation in that game. You see him pregame, dapping everyone up, laughing it up. And he's telling stories in the booth. I was almost a Chicago bear. hi Tom, man, focus on the game. like I guess it was a blowout, so you kind of get into story time. But man, I just yeah I would have expected Tom Ray to be a little bit better in the booth through week four. But yeah, take it easy on Baker. Baker is doing solid. um Not everyone is you. Right. Those two different personalities. Just just relax, Tom, and just announce broadcast the games. broadcast
01:00:37
Speaker
broadcast the game, I agree. um I want to go kind of quickly through these next three games, because they were kind of like the ones that you could get through. Bears 24, Rams 18, every Bears game seems to just be an insane experience. like They always seem to just like stumble their way, whether it's to a win or whether it's to a loss. Caleb Williams, 157 yards, a TD, three sacks, a fumble. DeAndre Swift finally gets going, 165 yards. He had that huge 36-yard TD run. DJ Moore finally gets a touchdown.
01:01:06
Speaker
um just can't figure out what to make of the but of the bears right now. it It appeared that they simplified the game plan a little bit for Caleb in this one. But at the end of the end of the day, the defense still won this game. And they just held the Rams to field goals on those drives. And Caleb, yeah I mean, good completion percentage, but like not at the yardage you want, not really using his legs a ton. He hasn't looked bad. but like yeah I don't consider last week a breakout game because he threw for over 300 yards. He threw the ball 50 freaking times. ah like Of course you're going to go over 300 yards. He is still waiting for that breakout game and could be in for one next week based on who they're, who they're playing. So we'll see. Bears, bears, one. Bears win. Another win. it Again, ah opposite of the Eagles. If the Eagles at two and two seems like a nightmare, the bears at two and two right now seems like a miracle. Um, the Rams,
01:02:01
Speaker
Couple things injuries really showing to to Atwell and Kyron Williams are like holding this team up on their shoulders to to Atwell has kind of established himself as somebody who's gonna stick around in the NFL I think um The defense has no identity like they the Bears come into this game struggling on offense and they leave with their highest point output of the entire season and then on offense Some weird weird play calling like they get down to the nine-yard line running the ball the entire time early in that game and They then proceed to throw three straight in completions and have to kick a field goal. I think they need to retool this offense around running the football and protect Stafford of it. He was getting destroyed in this game. Yeah, it was it was a rough effort from the Rams um did everything in their power to win last week. So I can kind of see a bit of a letdown coming. But yeah, they they are really missing Puca and Cooper. it's It's just really like they need them back ASAP. and But
01:02:58
Speaker
that you keep losing games this season gets away from your really quickly and they're basically another one more loss away from this being a loss season. Yeah big time um somebody who maybe maybe maybe saved their season the Cincinnati Bengals get a hilarious 34 to 24 win over the Carolina Panthers um The Bengals play desperate, you know Chase Brown finally got his touches and look what happens He gets 80 yards two touchdowns Zach Moss has 78 yards and TD reception T Higgins gets catches draws pass interference and Jamar Chase is finally looking to be himself after some big touchdowns as all the ah divas tend to do like as soon as they get their touchdowns everything's finally magically fine and Um, he's quietly got 300 yards and three TDs. Those are like pretty good for receiver stats around the league right now. Um, granted against one of the worst defenses in the league, Carolina's pass defense, nine TD passes and four games. They've allowed the most points than any team in the league. But if you're a Bengals fan, I don't really think you care how you won this one.
01:04:04
Speaker
no they needed to win and congrats to them they they got the win ah there was two horrible defenses on the field in this game like c since he needs to figure that thing out really quickly because Andy Dalton I know he's you know half decent I guess better than Bryce Young there's no way you should be ripping apart the Bengals defense thought you know Super Bowl aspirations going into this year and your defense can't stop anyone or anything um I love their rushing attack balance 15 and 15 from us like you mentioned um And then yeah, I think they're just kind of easing T Higgins week by week He's gonna keep getting more looks on the Panthers side
01:04:42
Speaker
Love what I saw from x Xavier Laguette who stepped up ah for Adam Thielen as that number two receiver. He was the Panthers. He was the last pick of the first round for the Panthers. He had six receptions for 66 yards, a touchdown. And they, they had some nice plays for me. I'd like 10 rushing yards on two rushes. It like not a bad offense. Carolina's running. And I got to think it's because Bryce young isn't at the helm and they like,
01:05:07
Speaker
Andy Dalton should probably start every game for them the rest of the season if they want they want to compete in games. Yeah, I wrote Panthers offense defrosting. Like Chubba Hubbard looked great again. He had 104 yards of touchdown. Deontay Johnson finally had that big game that you were kind of expecting them to have, 83 yards of touchdown. um Dave Canales says like all I care about, you know, is that really that this team looks better and better each week.
01:05:31
Speaker
And they have the past two weeks, which kind of points to Dalton really staying put. I don't think we see Bryce Young for the rest of the year, which puts him in like, it's like Trey Lance territory now. Like there's not enough good film on Bryce Young to make him a valuable trade target and not enough good film to put him in the game, which I don't really know where that leaves him. Maybe the CFL, like literally.
01:05:54
Speaker
Yeah, he's he's definitely a one of the bigger trade candidates. You got to think out there right now. I saw one more trade that I kind of liked. It was, uh, you send them to the Rams for Stafford, something along those lines. I found that one. Just like, don't know why the Rams would do that. Like I just saw that. It was like, Oh, that's fun, but I have no idea why they would do that. Yeah. There's, I don't know. Like there's a Vegas, I guess could be a suitor for young, but yeah, there's really not a lot because it feels like teams either have a quarterback or they've like just drafted one and are trying to work with it. And Bryce Young had draft one next year. Yeah. And Bryce Young's kind of kicked to the curb right now. So we'll we'll see what happens. I mean, if they keep losing games, maybe they'll give them and a second chance in the second half of the season. But as of right now, it's definitely Annie Dalton's team.
01:06:43
Speaker
Yeah, speaking of early or rookie QBs, we'll go quickly here to the stinkiest game of the weekend, Broncos 10, Jets nine. Bo Nix is the king of hilarious stat lines. He goes seven for 15 in the first half for minus seven yards and then finishes the game 12 for 25, 60 yards passing and a touchdown with no sacks or interceptions. That is borderline impressive to do.
01:07:11
Speaker
Yeah, this was maybe the worst game of the season so far and bone X, like how, how does he go down and throw the only touchdown after that first half stat line? You're going against Aaron Rogers and somehow bone X comes out of there, the winning quarterback with a touchdown. It was.
01:07:29
Speaker
a horrible game. It felt like neither team wanted to win either. It was, yeah, the Broncos miss field goal. And then the Jets go, you know, just a couple of yards, not too many to still make it long enough in awful weather. Zerline misses it. He's remember when he was like the best kicker in the league couple of years ago, man, it's been an ad regression for him.
01:07:49
Speaker
Not so good. And for me, though, the Jets game plan is screwed. Salah and Rogers hate each other. It's pretty obvious. Why are you throwing it 42 times in the rain when you have Breece Hall and Braille and Allen? A pretty good tandem, I would argue. Like Breece Hall with 10 rushes for four yards. Insane. Just a bad game plan. I think I think Garrett Wilson and Aaron Rodgers don't like each other. It's just tumultuous over there in New York.
01:08:15
Speaker
yeah very bad uh rogers looked slow and hurt like at the same time quoting he says yeah i'm banged up a little bit but yeah i'm okay adding both legs are dealing with stuff stuff heavy quotations on stuff i don't even know what that means after you're coming off an acl injury like What the fuck is going on over there Hackett looks terrible He goes, you know, or we could hold guys accountable like seemingly calling out Salah at the podium um just looking terrible in in New York right now and not a lot to get look forward to on the Bronco side Javante Williams is Finally the team's leading rusher. He finally had a game where like he gets 77 yards on 16 carries It's no longer bonyx, you know leading the team and rushing
01:09:05
Speaker
um They have a game. The Broncos host the Raiders next week, which another like kind of interesting but stinky game. And then again, the Jets heading to London now. I'm sure that'll be great on your legs at 20 hour fucking flight over there. And yeah, don't really know what to expect from the Jets moving forward. They are the weirdest team in the NFL right now to me.
01:09:26
Speaker
Yeah, two, two very different two and two teams here. One is extremely happy. We mentioned it like kind of the bears and and eagles jets at two and two want to want to. They're just past a lizard taunting the lizard taunting call. Yeah. Pew, pew, pew. 15 yards, 15 yards for finger lasers. I mean, like this is insane. This looks so bush league on the NFL. Like what are we doing here, man? What are we doing?
01:09:52
Speaker
I, I, the only excusable thing for the refs is like, you know, maybe I thought he was doing it at a guy, but it's like, dude, he's on his ass after a first down, just chilling, smiling to himself, not doing it to anyone. I think he was just trying to entertain himself after making a catch and he gets 15 yards.
01:10:10
Speaker
I don't, I, this one's kind of inexcusable. We saw the Drake London one in prime time the week before when he kind of like did the, yeah it's the new one. I'm not hip with the kids, but that's, I see them doing it out there and like that gets flagged every time. So then, you know, Lazar just does little finger guns and it's just, why is this? They're grown ass men in a country where guns are legal and you're, and you're just, you know, going to give them 15 yards for that.
01:10:36
Speaker
And they're fighting guys to Malik neighbors had one after his touchdown on Thursday night and he got fined twenty eight thousand dollars. What the fuck is happening, man? Like I I actually cannot wrap my head around it. You'd almost have a good and easier time getting a gun charge and then playing the game like a real life gun charge rather than doing it in the game and getting flagged. ah Yeah, the refs are all over the place. They they talk about this mandate of like threatening gestures.
01:11:05
Speaker
That is not threatening, man. Finger guns to just know. Do they not the hypocrisy of the country they live in? And it's crazy. It is crazy. It's so nuts. We'll go to an actually fun game now. The Washington commanders put any doubts from a lucky Thursday night game to bed with another fantastic offensive output. They beat the Cardinals 42 to 14. The Cardinals look super wonky for another week in a row.
01:11:33
Speaker
And just a super unpredictable offense. I want to start with Carolina or sorry, with ah the Cardinals. Like Marvin Harrison Jr. Has four touchdowns in three games. James Connor finishes with another hundred yard game and a touchdown on 18 carries. So if it's not them, who is it? And I think it's Kyler Murray right now.
01:11:52
Speaker
Well, I think it's a mix of Kyler Murray and just their offensive game plan because they went down first drive, man, and they hit Marvin Harrison for three catches, a touchdown. James Connor was running the ball. And then they just it was like Marvin Harrison Jr. didn't exist after that. I mean, obviously McBride was there with the concussion, which is a pretty important part of their offense, but it shouldn't determine everything. And like you said, James Connor was still good on the ground.
01:12:18
Speaker
it's
Cardinals' Offensive Struggles and Future Outlook
01:12:19
Speaker
It's not great because the completion percentage was high for Kyler, but the yards were low, sacked a bunch. It's just this this offense, which we thought was you know fun, going to be a bit of a shootout team kind of like winning games 31 to 28 kind of thing. And now you can't even hit 20 points in a game. So this is another team where What is your identity? Because it was supposed to be ah offense. You're supposed to be like a fun team. We knew your defense wasn't great, but we thought the offense would be good enough to hold off teams and you could win. And it's not like Marvin Harrison Jr has been a buster. I think he's good. a's And they used him, but it's just, they, they got outmatched in this game. you know They, I think Michael Wilson, had a little bit of a letdown game. I don't know. weird And I got reading a lot of Cardinals writers,
01:13:09
Speaker
ah a big thing in Arizona is everyone's waiting for like the post Cliff Kingsbury Kyler like everybody once he went was like just wait till Cliff Kingsbury's gone wait to see what Kyler does and he hasn't really had that huge output other than like kind of halfs at a time here and again yeah no and identity on offense really some plays they look like game breakers other plays they can't put passes together really really weird like big look in the mirror game for the Cardinals
01:13:42
Speaker
Uh, and they don't get a second to breathe here. They go at San Francisco next Sunday. So not a lot of time for the Cardinals to figure it out. Um, on the other side, Jayden Daniels continues to be legit. He finally threw his first interception, but an interception where you were really going for it there, like they're still trying to push the ball down the field. You can live with those, uh, looks calm and poised in the pocket.
01:14:06
Speaker
And he kind of allows for a balanced attack. They had 216 yards rushing in this one. Brian Robinson Jr. Looking like an animal, 233 yards passing, four rush TDs, one pass TD. It's like everyone is getting touches in this offense. You talk about Cliff Kingsbury. He looks great as an OC right now. And Terry McClellan is having the most fun of his career right now by a mile. He, his whole vibe has like changed.
01:14:33
Speaker
Yeah, slow start for Terry, but now things are running in that ah offense. The Cliff Kingsbury offense is looking great. He had a nice revenge game against the Cardinals. And just the thing that impressed me most about Jane Daniels is Ben, his decision making, which I thought was going to be a problem and in his transition from college to the NFL, especially in like sliding and just, you know, maybe a couple of careless interceptions. But like you said, the interception wasn't even brutal. It's not one that you knock them for. It was like,
01:15:01
Speaker
Hey, man, we we appreciate you trying that throw. Yeah. Maybe don't do it next time, but it's all good. I have a question like, do you think the commanders could be like last year's Texans or it's like you have that quarterback now, you have some foundation, but you're not really, ah you know, you're never a threatening playoff team, but it's just.
01:15:20
Speaker
There seems to be some good mojo going on there catching some teams off guard. Their offense could do whatever they wanted against the Cardinals. And I just, if I had to compare them to a team, I just, I i think of last year's Texans with CJ Stroud. And no, it's not crazy to say the one thing that I am reserved about is I'm waiting to see them against a top tier offense. Cause I really want to see what their defense is made of.
01:15:42
Speaker
The Bengals offense hasn't looked great. um Obviously we just spoke about how the Cardinals offense has kind of been up and down everywhere. I really want to see Washington against the good offense um because you know against the Buccaneers in the first week, they gave up 37 points and that was kind of the defining thing of that game. They go Browns next week, which I guess we still won't get to really see it.
01:16:05
Speaker
Ravens week six, that is when it's like, OK, this is a juggernaut like you are going to have to play against here. Let's see how your defense holds up. But I think they're really, yeah, like a defense away from being like a Texans last year. They're, you know, still have that lead in the NFC East. If they can win that division and get like one of the easier home playoff games, they could win a playoff game this year.
01:16:29
Speaker
Yeah, I'm with you.
Commanders and Patriots: Teams on the Edge?
01:16:30
Speaker
I'm not. i'm I'm high on the commanders, but I haven't fully bought in yet just because, like you said, their schedule hasn't been great. I thought this was a perfect opportunity for the Cardinals to kind of bounce back and get a win. And they just came out so flat. And the commanders. Yeah, it's it's like continue. Can you continue to do this? Is this just a flash in the pan or is this this is this what you are?
01:16:52
Speaker
clip Kingsbury running that college ah offense looking great I just I just like I don't know if they're good but I think they are I think I did big emphasis on think where it will have to see it but I really think they are good um two other games to go through quickly here before we get to the Chiefs Chargers game 49ers 30, Pats 13, 49ers have the get right game that they needed. Pats continue to be awful offensively. Takeaways for the Pats. This team is not good enough to make like any sort of mistake with the ball. Three turnovers, you give up a pick six to Fred Warner. Jacobi Brissett clearly holds on to the ball way, way too long.
01:17:31
Speaker
Um, part of, of being a good game manager is knowing when to get rid of the ball. And I think that's the part that's kind of lacking right now. And let me ask you what Jake, Drake may should stay sat, right? Because next week, the Miami game is kind of would be the place to do it if ever, but I don't know if they really want to let that cat out of the bag yet.
01:17:53
Speaker
Yeah, man, i I have, I put down New England is in no man's land. They are just stuck in where they are. And it really sucks because they kind of caught some teams off guard in like week one and week two. Ramondre Stevenson had some great games and Jacobi like, so it wasn't turning the ball over earlier, but now that offensive line is just really kind of deteriorated. The game plans out on them. They know they just have to stop the run and make Jacobi throw the ball, which usually results in turnovers now.
01:18:22
Speaker
but I don't think you can start Drake May right now. I, this team is just not built. I think you need that offensive line to just continue to improve. And I don't, they just don't have Jalen Polk looks okay. He looks promising for a rookie, but you don't really have game breakers for Drake May to kind of throw to. I,
01:18:40
Speaker
They're really in a, in a not great place, but it's not horrible because you know, you think you have a quarterback, but I don't think you have to show them off this year. I really don't think it's a bad thing if he sits the entire season. Yeah. I tend to agree here and the amount of teams that are going to be lining up for like will Campbell.
01:19:00
Speaker
like as a experienced a lime the guy from LSU next year like people are projecting like QB is going high high high but the amount of teams right now that need a blue chip offensive lineman like the dolphins the Bears the Pats like it's even the Chargers again like it it is teams that are going to be needing that position I think the next year's draft is going to be a huge a line draft and I I tend to agree with you I don't hate Drake may sitting out It's like you know Pandora's box. like You don't know what he is, and that's a good thing right now. like you Wait until you have a better roster.
01:19:34
Speaker
Yeah. you You don't want to crush him. and That is the thing. It's his, his confidence right now. He thinks he can be an NFL quarterback and I think he can be too. Don't, don't let that hope and dream get crushed by week eight for in a nothing season. Um, and then quickly on the San Fran 49ers, Brandon, I you is just this, this is, I don't, how is this not a bigger storyline? How is this not like national news, man? Two receptions for 48 yards. Like Juwan Jennings is the wide receiver one right now. It's crazy.
01:20:04
Speaker
after after getting reamed out at practice from showing up not wearing the right shit like it's It's easy stuff you can do here. I uke and week after week It's a different story with him like whether he's underperforming whether he's screwing around You know the word out of like the 49ers writers is that he is like essentially showed up out of shape to this season like he clearly really wasn't doing all he said he was in the offseason and Again, gets bailed out essentially by Samuel coming back into this game and George kill coming back into this game. Kittle had a huge game for catches, 45 yards in a touchdown. You know, sick catch for that touchdown too. That was 53 yarder to Samuel at Juwan Jennings had two huge deep ball plays. Like you're right. It, this should be a much, much bigger story than it is. And other than that, this was Brock Purdy's 25th start, which is like still so crazy to me. Like.
01:21:01
Speaker
He's still so young in this league. It was almost the perfect perdy game 15 of 27 288 a touchdown and interception Just like just good enough, but like not blowing your socks off um The one last thing I had from the 49ers is javon hard grave went out with that torn pec He's going to be out for a really long time and they kind of showed how much depth they have on Defense like the guys who came in OK, now you I'm going to try, but he had a he was the one who forced the fumble on Stevenson. He came from the practice squad. um Kevin Givens gets two and a half sacks. Another guy off the practice squad. um So kind of showing their depth on defense. And then once they get that offensive depth back, they kind of look to be more regular 49ers.
01:21:45
Speaker
Yeah, they definitely flex their muscles against a ah weaker Patriots team. But I mean, yeah you have to do that, right? Like, the possible letdown spot here, they took care of business, covered the spread in in a double digit um spread, like I said. But yeah, it didn't take much from this game. But like, San Fran just took care of business. Yeah. um
Browns' Challenges and Team Future
01:22:04
Speaker
Finally, to the game, or not finally, but to the game that nobody watched, the Raiders 20, Browns 16, and the Browns continue to sputter into nothingness.
01:22:14
Speaker
Watson entered the game with a league high 16 sacks and he added three more to his belt. um He's playing behind an offensive line that is essentially missing four starters. like They are getting ravaged by injuries, but man, there is nothing to look forward to as a Browns fan right now. The one play you do get gets called back on a holding call like they needed that explosive play so badly. They go out and score immediately and then get 20 unanswered points scored on them. And they managed to make Las Vegas look good at rushing the football, which is like a miracle.
01:22:50
Speaker
Yeah, that that is a miracle. And like Vegas ran the ball in them for 152 total yards between six different rushers, not including Gardner Minshew, who had minus two. So it hurt the total. yeah ah Yeah, it's not good, man. Like the Browns are one and three with an easy schedule. They played Dallas, Jacksonville, the Giants and now the Raiders and they're one and three. It's just that's brutal for what they are. And like people are, you know, obviously the offensive line. I know it's not good. It's not good.
01:23:19
Speaker
People are like coddling Deshawn now be like, he wasn't that bad today. He had a solid game. He's 24 32 for 176 yards with with a touchdown in an interception. Could have been two with the Amari Cooper called back. But I mean, that's not a great game. So she when he's getting the money that he is and kind of addicted to throwing coaches on the hot seat. And I think Stefanski's got to be right there. Yeah, I agree.
01:23:48
Speaker
he's kind of going under the radar right now because of everything else they have ah going on there but I say it again this was a team that was in a playoff game last year and came into the season with high expectations and are just trashing them now that you put it in perspective I didn't realize how easy those first four games were but man like you have all of your AFC North games left, like that is going to be a bloodbath. They could go 0 and 6. They could be drafting first overall next year because with the Jaguars, I kind of like have some inkling that they could figure it out and maybe win like five games before the end of the season, maybe six, like maybe. But with the Browns, it's like you're looking at their schedule. You cannot find wins anywhere. They go to Washington next week. They're in the middle of a three game road trip that they could very well go 0 and 3 on.
01:24:39
Speaker
And just there's there's nothing to point to with the Browns that it's like they're going to figure this out. No, and I mean, there's no Max Crosby, no Devontae Adams from the Raiders. They're two best players and you still couldn't really do anything. ah it's ah It's just like when do you bring in James just for a spark? Just just to like change things up and just see if it works because what do you have to lose? You're you're one and three. Your season it's.
01:25:03
Speaker
Probably like your I'd be shocked if the Browns made the playoffs and even really. Contended to make the playoffs man, I guess like you know Nick Chubb supposed to like return to practice soon, which could add an element to their offense. But how do you even expect him to run beyond that offensive line? It's nothing good is going on in Cleveland right now.
01:25:21
Speaker
And when you're remember we were saying Will Levis last week, like what do the Titans owe Will Levis? You can't even say that about the Browns because they owe Deshaun Watson $200 million. dollars It's like they actually do owe him something. um But yeah, just a nightmare, nightmare game. Do you think Devontae Adams is going to get traded?
01:25:38
Speaker
Yeah, he's so yeah yeah he I think you he wants to get traded in the offseason, and then now I think him and Pierce are kind of riffing. I think that's who he had to be referring to kind of last week with the business this business decision stuff. yeah um I don't know how quickly it happens, but yeah, I think Devontae Adams will be traded by the trade deadline this season. That'd be like a hockey trade deadline, like adding a star like that in the middle of the season. Like it's kind of unheard of in the NFL. You don't really see it ever.
01:26:10
Speaker
ads Ads for like some fun storylines. Oh, yeah. I think a lot of people are saying that the Jets just because of the Aaron Rodgers connection. But it's like, yeah, it's like they'll still throw the ball to to Lazard. But wouldn't that be hilarious to just do the exact same thing as the Raiders? Like go to a QB that you have history with and then like what if Rodgers retires after the season and then you're in New York with another like terrible quarterback. It would just be the exact same thing. Yeah. new ah Who wants to go to New York with what they have going on right now? that just like That's a toxic situation over there. Big time. um We'll finish off with a toxic situation. The Chiefs win this game 17 to 10 over the Chargers, but in a lot of ways, they lost this game.
01:26:56
Speaker
Let's start
Chiefs' Winning Streak: Cause for Concern?
01:26:57
Speaker
with them all. Actually, no, let's start with coddling Travis Kelsey. Chiefs players wearing Travis Kelsey graphic tees in the pregame like he like he's injured and not just like washed was one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Like it. Who are we talking about here?
01:27:15
Speaker
Yeah, it was like, it was like when Demar Hamlin almost died on the field and and the whole league was wearing, you know, prayers for Demar, which makes sense because he was an actual, like, uh, there was, there was care. Like there was, there was something that, you know, a greater purpose for Demar. There's no greater purpose for Travis Kelsey. Who cares, man. And, and Romo and Nance were coddling him too. At the end of the game, I was, I was watching it.
01:27:40
Speaker
they They just showed Travis Kelsey, who, I guess I should say, had a solid game. It was a solid game. He had, where is it here? He had seven receptions for 89 yards, no touchdowns. That's fine. like That's what we expect out of Travis Kelsey.
01:27:57
Speaker
Jim Nance at the end, they have the the they got a shot of Travis Kelsey with his helmet off, like dapping people up on the field. And it goes, you're going to need to find someone else to troll this week because Travis Kelsey's back. It's like, what what the hell are we talking about?
01:28:13
Speaker
Travis Kelce deserves criticism when he doesn't play well, man. It's like this guy's an all-pro. He's supposed to be a he's a Hall of Famer. He's supposed to be the focal point of this Chiefs ah offense, and he's let the team down up to this point. It's like, yeah, he's not he's not immune to criticism. Stop. It's insane. The criticism is going to become more focused after this game because now you are out Isaiah Pacheco and Rishi Rice. Let's talk about the Mahomes debacle here. Terrible terrible interception and another bad one from Mahomes and then manages to take out his top receiver for the season and Blows his knee out on a attack. Why are you throwing that tackle as a quarterback?
01:28:55
Speaker
It's what he does. he's easy he's He goes rogue sometimes, man. he thinks like Sometimes he tries to block and stuff too. It's like, dude, protect protect yourself. You are the the big money in this team. And then, yeah, that's like this is what happens. It's just and ah like just ah crazy. It is crazy how it happened. Of course, like your own quarterback takes you out on an on an interception. It's like, who would have ever thought that happens? But the game moves fast and decisions are made. and Yeah, I mean, I can only imagine what Mahomes is going to like buy Rishi rice or like to make it up. to him You know what I mean? like We got a Rolex incoming. And then some, I think. yeah Like it's just don't get them a car. Yeah. um Another close win for the Chiefs. Like they, you know, they beat the Chargers only by a late touchdown divisional game. Yeah. But another win that really wasn't super confidence inspiring. We're waiting
01:29:47
Speaker
for that big, big Chiefs game. The Chiefs nine game winning streak has been by a total winning margin of 54 points. That is the smallest margin of victory in such a winning span ah in NFL history. And they still have only a plus five average scoring margin compared to Minnesota's 14.3. So if you want to talk about undefeated teams in the NFL uh the Vikings like they could be first in the power rankings if we were just doing like straight up season power rankings I I do not disagree with that and the Chiefs had to come back from down 10 nothing in this game like it just felt like the Chargers kind of gave it to them not because of turnovers just because of
01:30:27
Speaker
They forgot how to play ah offense after the first quarter. ah yeah You go scoreless for three quarters. That's crazy to me. And you still only lost by a touchdown. Yeah, it's just this chargerss team. It's just like you got to find a way to run the ball because if they can't run the ball, they can't pretty much do anything on offense.
01:30:44
Speaker
Yeah. I, why was Justin Herbert playing in this game, Patrick? Like I, I called him like a pussy or something, man. It's, it's crazy. Harbaugh is a little delusional and, and it's just, I think he's almost pure pressuring these quarterbacks into play. Like you got Taylor Heineke for a reason. Like you got him for a reason. Stop playing Justin Herbert. Like let him chill for a second. Like this was probably a scheduled loss for them. Like it, it, I know you kept kept it close, you know but they went three and out on four and a half four out of eight possessions in the final three quarters and they only had 55 yards rushing with an injured QB. I just don't know what what week after week the game plan is here, man. like It just looks like they're rushing things and they're really not like
01:31:32
Speaker
taking any care in what this team could be down the line in the season. Yeah, it's it's not great. This is what I thought the Chargers were, though, going into the season and they lack off offensive firepower. It's yeah they're not a great team. They're not. Yeah, they're really not um moving out of week four into week five. We'll
Falcons vs Buccaneers: Division Battle Preview
01:31:52
Speaker
do a super quick Thursday night football game similar to last week's divisional game. This is a tough one to preview, especially with how the Falcons looked.
01:32:01
Speaker
The Falcons are favored again by one and a half points in this game. And i I can't super get a good read. The Falcons can leapfrog the bucks for first in the division if they win this game, which would be kind of a crazy series of events. I just don't have a great read on it.
01:32:19
Speaker
Neither do I. The line is kind of not shocking, but it's I'm a little surprised. I would have thought it'd be like maybe bucks minus one and a half, but I guess they're on the road at Atlanta. i Just like I said before, man, it just Tampa Bay's offense looks so much better than what Atlanta offers. And and I don't think Atlanta has a great defense. Jesse Bates and Justin Simmons is a nice um safety combo that they have back there. But aside from that, like Buccaneers might just run the ball on them for fun. It's just a healthy dose of Bucky Irving and Rashad white. And then just, you know, right when you come up and say, we'll hit you over the top with Mike Evans, a little Chris Godwin action. This game kind of points to like the Buccaneers being able to just control it on offense. But I mean, if we know anything in the NFL, it's just the the Falcons are going to come out and it's going to be 21 nothing at the end of the first quarter.
01:33:13
Speaker
No kidding, like that these games have been so hard to predict and and the Falcons are maybe one of the hardest teams to predict in the NFL right now. kind of lies on Kirk Cousins, I would say in this game. Like if he can come out similar to you know the Chiefs game, have good complete drives and look kind of in control, if they can get back to running the football, I could very easily see the Bucks kind of fall into the same mistakes that they had against the Broncos. there' If anything, we've seen that this Bucks team isn't great at like coming back in games. um So this is this one's all on the Falcons. Like you kind of hold your own destiny in your hands here.
01:33:48
Speaker
If you can get an early, you know, two divisional wins in a row here and kind of leapfrog into first place. I like the vibes going forward a lot more for the Falcons. If they lose this game badly, it's like shit has hit the fan.
01:34:04
Speaker
Yeah, it's we're in those weeks where you you mentioned it earlier on in the podcast where, you know, you can start kind of calling teams, frauds, maybe you just you teams are forming an identity of what they are. And, you know, pretenders, contenders, we're starting to see it all. And I find that this is a perfect game, especially in the NFC South to figure out what the hell both of these teams are like what I think. is the Buccaneers are a good team, and I think the Falcons are an average team. But if if Atlanta goes at home, handles their business, then ah like you said, i'll be I'll be pretty high on the Falcons. That's two divisional wins now. You're beating the teams you need to beat in order to win that division. And the Buccaneers can kind of be up and down sometimes. But I think that they've you know leveled the ship with Todd Bowles has somehow rallied this team with Baker Mayfield that they're good, and they're going to win more games than they lose.
NFL Week 5 Predictions and Matchups
01:34:53
Speaker
But like for me, though, that what jumps out is just this this total. I think this total can go solidly over. I don't know if that's kind of a ah very well square take, but it's just 43 and a half for what these teams. Because the Falcons aren't great on offense, but they'll find a way to get 20 points. And you've got to you gotta figure that the box can put up 25. To me, that's what jumps out if I was to bet this game, and then maybe Buccaneers' money line.
01:35:20
Speaker
perfect transition into our week five picks. Bit of a stinker last week for me and Patrick. We both go one and two to both move to six and six. Since I led last week, I start again. Steelers under, we mentioned finally falters. um But again, sticks to the prophecy of with whether the Steelers lose, then it's probably going to go over.
01:35:42
Speaker
lot to hate on this board again man like this is a two tough weeks in a row lot of very close spreads um i'm gonna lead off with a spread that is surprisingly small And I'm going to take the commander's minus three against the Browns. That is a number that should kind of know wherever you need that. And I expect that number to kind of shift throughout the week here, closer to Washington. This is the week, you know, similar to the Vikings. It's like you could get be too late to the ship here and like jump on the commander's a little bit too late, um but I'll be fine getting burned against the Browns.
01:36:18
Speaker
Yeah, I looked at that game and I kind of had the same thought as you. I'm like, am I getting in too late? Is this like, should I've just taken them last week? But I do like that pick. We don't get enough credit for picking these on Tuesday. I know. It's tough, man. It's hard because you just like sometimes you you get feel as the week develops, you know, maybe a line moves a half point or something. You go, okay, okay. They're seeing it the same way I am.
01:36:39
Speaker
Um, I'm gonna head over to London and just basically it's the same soccer pick that you just did kind of with the Vikings catching minus two and a half. I don't really know how the time change is going to affect this game, but I just don't see. To me, it's just like the Vikings have a better offense and a better defense. So why won't they win this game by 14 points?
01:36:58
Speaker
Yeah, I think we're going to end up stealing each other's picks a lot here. I had the Vikings two and a half as well. It's a great kind of a crazy spread given what's gone on last week. I think that's kind of the books not really knowing how London games are going to turn out. thats wasn't that That's the only concern is like, I just don't know how these teams are going to play in London. Yeah. My second pick, I am going to go Bills at Texans over 47 and a half.
01:37:21
Speaker
If this game was in prime time, I would not touch the over, but it's at one PM and it's in a dome. I just, I love these two teams kind of going crazy and scoring a ton of points. Yeah, that's that's a fun one. that's That's probably the most fun over on the board. Oh, yeah. ah I don't like this pick, but I do at the same time. I'm taking Panthers plus four against the Bears on the road. i just Chicago has not shown me enough, man. And the Panthers seem to be offensively solid. And and I just think they can you know lose by a field goal and just cover the spread. Yeah, this should be like a one and a half game.
01:37:58
Speaker
yeah Yeah. It's just like, I get the bears are at home, but I, I don't, I don't mind what I see all these Panthers, man. Yeah. I like that. Um, my final pick here, I am going to go to another kind of confusing spread here. Going to go at, Oh, fuck. It's moved literally since I looked at it this morning. Um, which means I'm going to have to take it at that number, which I actually kind of like it at that number better.
01:38:22
Speaker
Cowboys plus two and a half here. They're going at the Steelers. I know it's a bad home environment. But again, I think this is a a field goal game. If things go wrong for the Cowboys, like if this is a big prove it game for the Cowboys to me, like if you want to show that you're this big offensive juggernaut, you're out of division. Now, like this is a cross conference game. Steelers defense didn't look amazing last week. um So yeah, I like the Cowboys plus two and a half. It was at one and a half this morning, though.
01:38:51
Speaker
Yeah, that that that game kind of just scares me. Primetime, nowhere to hide. I was saying that to you last week because there's nowhere to hide in these primetime games. Oh, man, I don't really know where I'm going with this one. This is going to be a panic pick. I didn't really have a good feel. But this is, this is.
01:39:09
Speaker
I got to go gross. I got to have one really gross pick. Some might say Carolina is gross, but I don't think Chicago is good. This is gross. Cincinnati Bengals plus two and a half at home against the Baltimore Ravens. This just is like a desperation game for me. And they played the Chiefs close. Like I feel like the Bengals play up to competition and then play down to competition at times. And I just, I got a hope and pray that this defense can somehow stop Derek Henry.
01:39:39
Speaker
that is a terrifying pick like that is one you are going to be clenching the entire time like the entire time that is going to be a scary scary pick i also had patriots one and a half that's a crazy line like i almost i don't know i know the patriots don't look good but the dolphins looked like the worst team on planet earth last night i don't know how that game is like one and a half points Yeah, the Patriots stink, though. It's that that's like a game that's like, don't don't even look at it. Don't touch it. Don't do anything with it. The other one that I thought that was just kind of a weird line, like Jacksonville is a three point favorite at home against the home and weird.
01:40:15
Speaker
i I feel like I want to jump on Jacksonville for that line, but I just, I can't do it. There's something in me that was saws between Cincinnati and Jacksonville for my gross pick. And then I went with Cincinnati. So of course Jacksonville is going to cover and Cincinnati will not know. Exactly. um And then a podcast pick, if you want that over in the Buccaneers Falcons game, I think yeah we mentioned it 43 and a half. I like that. Yeah. Just, just something to have on a Thursday night.
01:40:41
Speaker
Yep. But I think that will do it here for our week four recap already a quarter of the way through the season. It is flown by men like it, or I guess not technically a quarter. I know. I had that thought this morning. Like it's, you play 17 games. They got to either go back to 16 or move it to 18. Cause I need to be able to say this is a 500 team. yeah You can't, you can't use that in 17 games. It's annoying.
01:41:05
Speaker
And they'll never go back to 16, but they really should. like Including how many injuries there have been in the NFL this year, how many like ex-players are coming out with brutal injuries. like it's We do not need these guys playing more football games. like I almost want them to take out the Thursday night game. like if If Thursday night games didn't exist, I would be so fine with it.
01:41:26
Speaker
Well, that's where I was going to go with it. And there's certainly an argument for it, especially with the injuries that we've seen specifically in Thursday night games this year. There's definitely a trend where it's like the teams off a short week tend to get injured more than the ones that have a full week of rest. So imagine maybe, maybe just go even Friday, just that extra day. It's like, who are you competing with on a Friday night? A low end D like college football game. yeah I think you'll be fine. Yeah, no kidding.
01:41:54
Speaker
But that does it for us this week at the goalpost. Get out there, watch some football this weekend and enjoy it. Until next week, see ya Patrick. See ya Damien.
01:42:26
Speaker
I'm a single boy