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NFL Week 2 Recap
32 Plays20 days ago
The Goal Post is back after Week 2 in the NFL!
Damien and Patrick start off the show by talking about the Monday Night Football double-header and the scheduling decisions behind it.
After that, they go game-by-game throughout the Week 2 slate and break it all down, finishing it all with their first edition of the NFL 3 Stars of the Week.
After that, the Boys give out their Week 3 picks for the NFL picks battle, before touching up on some CFL news as well as some CFL picks for Week 16.
Enjoy!
INTRO: 0:00 - 3:46
BUCS-TEXANS: 3:47 - 11:20
CHARGERS-RAIDERS: 11:21 - 17:05
FALCONS-VIKINGS: 17:06 - 24:15
PATRIOTS-DOLPHINS: 24:16 -32:26
SEAHAWKS-STEELERS: 32:27 - 39:04
COWBOYS-GIANTS: 39:05 - 46:45
BENGALS-JAGUARS: 46:46 - 54:46
COLTS-BRONCOS: 54:47 - 1:02:10
QUICK HITS: 1:02:11 - 1:20:30
3 STARS OF THE WEEK: 1:20:31 - 1:23:26
NFL WEEK 3 PICKS: 1:23:27 - 1:30:58
CFL UPDATE: 1:30:59 - 1:37:06
CFL WEEK 16 PICKS: 1:37:07 - 1:42:08
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Transcript
Introduction to Week Two NFL Highlights
00:00:15
Speaker
All right, welcome back to another episode of The Goalpost, coming to you after an exciting week two in the NFL season, coming to you after a double header on Monday Night Football.
00:00:30
Speaker
And
NFL Scheduling Frustrations
00:00:31
Speaker
to start us out, Patrick, I know i this is the the overwhelmingly dominant take on this, but that that wasn't great. The doubleheader this early in the season, nine games in the 1 p.m. slate. I feel hungover from football from the weekend, and I'm still getting back into game shape.
00:00:49
Speaker
Yeah, my beef isn't necessarily with the Monday night doubleheader. It was kind of what you hinted at there. It was the nine games in the one o'clock spot. ah you know Thankfully, like the Eagles-Chiefs game was tight to the end but if that game happened to be similar to what the super bowl was that would have been just a nightmare four o'clock spot uh you're just putting too much pressure on those three games to have they have to be hits uh and if they're not then everyone's upset and it's you know sensory overload in the one o'clock slate but if i'm being honest and you know this is a circle of trust you and me i don't mind the back-to-back uh because i like a football game starting at seven o'clock eastern and it will you know
00:01:30
Speaker
It was kicked off by 7.05. Well done to the NFL, actually starting games on time. And then the night game was 10 o'clock. And, know, I watched, it was basically, you could kind of see where it was going by halftime. Then I stayed till the end of the third quarter and said, I've seen enough here, but i I don't mind it. It doesn't happen often. So it's one of those things where when it does happen, I try and soak it in, but I can understand if it's not everyone's cup of tea.
00:01:55
Speaker
Week two just seems a bit early for it for me. And the the one thing I did like one that it it kicked off at 7.05 and it was gorgeous that the first game ended at 10 o'clock and the next game kicked off at 10.05. That was seamless.
00:02:11
Speaker
Like it would have been chaos if that first game went into overtime. Yeah, I think I would assume they would have delayed it, the start. But then, yeah, I don't know. Who knows, right? Because like, you know, we saw the Giants-Cowboys game go into like right at the end of overtime. The other games were starting anyway. You know, some people weren't able to watch the start of their games, depending on ah what you were watching and where you're watching it. But yeah, I think it was...
00:02:38
Speaker
You're right. It worked out perfectly. You know, the first game came down right to the wire. ah It ended in a nice fashion. And then the next game just seamlessly started. We didn't have to listen to too many talking heads in between.
00:02:50
Speaker
And yeah, it it had like a like you tweeted it, um you know, Orlovsky gave it the show. It had like a college college feel to it. Pac-12 after dark, rest in peace. um But yeah, I enjoyed the first game. Like said, I don't want it to happen often.
00:03:04
Speaker
um But yeah, week two does feel a little bit early, but I found a way
Bucs vs. Texans Game Recap
00:03:08
Speaker
to survive. Fair enough. I just ran out of steam. I found like once once I did get to halftime of the second game, it was like, man, I'm I am out of steam for this game, especially maybe if it was a bit more entertaining.
00:03:21
Speaker
thought that the Quentin Johnson touchdown right before half gave me a little jolt of energy. But yeah, it was ah it's tough when the first game is really electric in the second game. Not as much.
00:03:32
Speaker
So would you have rather they like flip the two games? I don't know. I don't know. Like, I think that that then you're really burnt out. I think you get burnt out more by a bad game. So then I really would have been toast by the start of that second game. So I think it actually ended up working out well.
00:03:47
Speaker
And that's where we'll start is the first game, because it was an absolutely electric game down the line. First half, actually, I thought got out to a pretty exciting start to lots of touchdowns.
00:03:59
Speaker
You're getting big names activated. Nico Collins is toe tapping in the end zone. Emeka Buka again with another touchdown. i think he is now the sixth player since the merger with three TD catches in his first two games, which is just mental.
00:04:16
Speaker
Another player that we'll get to later that is also on that pace, which is kind of crazy to have two of them at the same time. Um, but yeah, late in that game, it it was just a rock fight back and forth, total defensive battle, but then special teams taking over offenses going at it. And the bucks come out on top 20 to 19.
00:04:36
Speaker
And the biggest takeaway I had was just Baker is a gamer, man. Yeah. That, that fourth down scramble with the game on the line back against the wall, dodges Petrie, I believe he was blitzing.
00:04:48
Speaker
Uh, I don't know how he missed that tackle. Cause Baker, you know, Like said, he's a gamer. he's He's known to scramble at times, but I wouldn't say he's like a shifty guy and he didn't really put on a crazy move and Petrie kind of just missed them.
00:05:01
Speaker
And then Baker made them pay. and think it was like a 15 yard run, something like that. extended the drive, and then just, yeah, like was leaning on his guys. you know Mike Evans, they I was kind of surprised they brought in Rashad White a lot in the second half. He was getting a lot more playing time than I expected. He scores the game-winning touchdown.
00:05:19
Speaker
Love the run call. Seven seconds left. He got two timeouts in your back pocket. Catch him off guard. i love the run call. um And it worked out. And it was just like, This is Tampa and and they found a way. it wasn't the prettiest first two games of the year for for them and either, but it but it was kind of a similar you know similar plot. like it was just It was decent start, a lot of sloppiness in the middle there, and then they find a way to go on that drive where they just needed one score. They get it and then they hold and it's their 2-0.
00:05:51
Speaker
And they beat two solid teams, I would say. um And yeah, you see like the Texans 0-2 and then now the Bucs 2-0. And I would say these two teams are kind of similar to each other, but the Bucs kind of have that, that, you know, clutchness to them where Houston has kind of been lacking that since CJ Stroud's rookie season.
00:06:10
Speaker
Yeah. And you mentioned Rashad White, like that was really the big difference in this game for most of it was the fact that the Bucs were getting everything on the ground, going into that last last drive.
00:06:22
Speaker
Tampa had more rushing yards than passing yards and the Texans just could not get the run going. They kept trying it. Eventually it was a bit of a, you know, straw breaks the camel's back with Nick Chubb finally breaking that 21 yard rush and getting into the, the end zone to kind of give Houston a big lead at the end. But,
00:06:43
Speaker
i was I came away so impressed with the Bucs' run defense. They were just stopping it all night long. Their pass rush was incredible. like When they zero-blitzed Stroud, it was...
00:06:56
Speaker
he would have a quarter of a second to look at what he had going up the field. And then he had three guys sprinting at him. There was a couple of times where it was like laughable how little time he had back in the pocket. We've we've talked at nauseam about this with the Texans O-line.
00:07:14
Speaker
And when he actually does have decent pass protection, he looks like the old CJ Stroud. He hasn't lost that. um But when he gets that serious pressure, there's just some points where it just doesn't come out clean.
00:07:28
Speaker
He then is like a little bit rattled moving forward and he missed a lot of throws because of it. It it all breaks down to this Texans offensive line. If it's better, they win this game.
00:07:39
Speaker
Yeah, and you you saw it in the first half. He had a clean pocket. He was making throws, moving the ball down the field. And then i guess it was, you know, credit to Tampa making the adjustments at halftime there.
00:07:51
Speaker
They saw a weakness. They found something that they could attack and they did it. And, you know, Stroud gets sacked three times in this game. it's He's a night and day different quarterback from the first half to the second half.
00:08:02
Speaker
And it was the Bucs defense that did enough for them to get the offense in position to kind of make that one drive.
Bucs' Playoff Potential
00:08:10
Speaker
Obviously, you probably didn't want to give up that late touchdown to Nick Chubb.
00:08:13
Speaker
um But yeah, it was also like the offensive line wasn't creating any rushing lanes. ah for Chubb and, you know they tried to get Woody Marks involved a little bit in this game. Would have liked to seen him more as like a pass catcher to help Stroud out. Like he he had the one reception for 37 yards.
00:08:30
Speaker
He was a notorious, like he's the best pass catching running back out of that draft. That's what he's known for. And like you said, like Stroud was under pressure, didn't have time. So an easy way to fix that is, you know, things like screens, quick outs from the running back and getting him involved in the game.
00:08:47
Speaker
Nick Chubb's not much of a pe kit pass catching running back. So I would have liked to have seen them use Woody Marks more in that offensive scheme. But it was, it was just the Bucs defense overpowering the Texans offensive line, not giving Stroud time to breathe and then finding the, the, a good, a well-timed drive late in the game to win the time to win the game with like, you know, seven seconds on the clock, whatever it was.
00:09:11
Speaker
ah But yeah, it was an impressive effort from Tampa. And I, you know, I, I kind of took them as a Superbowl pick earlier in the year, more for like, they'll win the division. They'll automatically kind of get in and then, you know, win two, two games, kind of the playoffs, maybe cash it out.
00:09:26
Speaker
They have that, like, you know, Chris Godwin's going to come back, Jalen McMillan as well. Like, They have that ability to find a way to win games. And there's just a lot of playmakers on both sides of the ball where I'm slowly talking myself into it more and more if they continue on this trend.
00:09:42
Speaker
Yeah, Bucky Irving was incredible in this game too. You're right. There's just, there's so much talent on this roster on both sides of the ball that They make you believe. They win tough games. They win close games.
00:09:55
Speaker
ah Very impressive. they They go now Jets, Eagles, Seahawks. So it'll be interesting to see kind of, you know, can they beat up on those teams that aren't as good? Can they win?
00:10:06
Speaker
you know, really tough games against teams like the Eagles and then kind of a similar one against the Seahawks. But yeah, the Bucs look great. that That's the fifth year in a row they've started 2-0 to start the season. It's part of the reason why they've won that division four years in a row.
00:10:22
Speaker
And just, yeah, baker Baker just pulls stuff out of nowhere, especially on that last drive. You saw it a million times. And then the defense you can lean on um to get you back in the game the fact that they allowed zero yards after that blocked punt and tech and the Texans had to settle for a field goal kind of ended up being the game changing, um, play other than that last drive. So yeah, really impressive from the box that the Texans identity is their defense. This defense is incredible. Danielle Hunter,
00:10:55
Speaker
had a forced fumble, had two sacks. He now has 101 and a half sacks over 10 years, which is just crazy, crazy numbers. When him and Will Anderson are on the field together, it is a nightmare for ah offenses to deal with.
00:11:10
Speaker
um That's going to be there their identity. It's whether this offense can catch up ah and and bring this team to even, especially on the offensive line. um Moving to the late game, Chargers pull out one that really ended up never being close, even though at some point it kind
Chargers Dominate Raiders
00:11:28
Speaker
of seemed like it might be 20 to 9 against the Raiders.
00:11:32
Speaker
I think the game starting with a Geno Smith interception on the very first play of the game kind of gave you the vibe of what this game was going to turn out to be.
00:11:44
Speaker
Well said. it was you know it It would have been a nice win for Vegas. They were three and a half point underdogs. I think that was know the correct line at home. And then pretty quickly, you just saw that these two teams were in different categories in the NFL right now. And Vegas, you know it's going to take a little bit of time to figure out what they're building there, but it's it's ah off to a better start still, I believe, as opposed to last year. But Geno Smith,
00:12:10
Speaker
It was one of those bad Geno games and you knew it right away. And Geno is one of those quarterbacks where you see it immediately. It's not going to kind of change throughout the game. Not so. Not only did he throw the interception on the first play of the game, which set the tone for what was going to come.
00:12:26
Speaker
He was just running around back there in the pocket, just like he had no game plan. but The pocket was breaking down a ton. The offensive line did not help him out. Ashton Gentry was having some problems blocking out there.
00:12:39
Speaker
um And then, yeah, it was just Geno was not comfortable that entire game. The Chargers defense made it hard on him. And it's it's the games like this where you're like, oh, that's that's the old Geno. That's the Geno we knew. That's the Geno that didn't write back.
00:12:55
Speaker
um And he, that, you know, might be back. It's just unfortunate with him because he's just Jekyll and Hyde and and he's another year older now. So it's the Jekyll and Hyden is probably going to grow even more now. But to me, this game was the Raiders are going to be,
00:13:13
Speaker
A six, maybe seven win team, you know, don't take them lightly. They can beat you if they're having a good day, but the Chargers are going to be a team that's going to be competing to win the AFC West. They look like a playoff team right now, and they just went out there and kind of handled business, the like wire to wire in this one.
00:13:28
Speaker
Yeah, I was actually decently surprised by how well Vegas's defense held up in this game because they were on the field a ton earlier. um like we said, three interceptions, really two if you excuse the arm punt at the end of the first half for Geno. But, you know, those two interceptions, one comes at the very start of the game, sets the vibe for the first half, and then one comes at the end of the game with like four minutes left, which just iced the game.
00:13:54
Speaker
Those two things happening just kind of kind of just ended the chances for Vegas to come back in this game. um And you end the game with 218 yards of total offense. That just isn't going to really cut it.
00:14:09
Speaker
Quentin Johnson, man, it it is so nice to see him really get into a groove. That ball was placed perfectly on that 60 yard pass. and And he's just, it seems like he's got his confidence back. I think it can happen that quickly um we at the receiver position. A couple touchdowns early can get you into a groove.
00:14:29
Speaker
And it looks like they're looking to him more than Ladd McConkie. And that is dangerous for teams playing the Chargers because you know that you have to put a lot of resources into covering McConkie and if you then have to deal with Quinton Johnson half the game it's going to create a bit of a matchup nightmare for teams playing L.A.
00:14:47
Speaker
Yeah, this was a ah a vintage Chargers game. You know Keenan Allen out there, five catches, 61 yards, gets a touchdown. And Quinton Johnson looks like like what Mike Williams used to be on this team, like that deep threat, that complimentary piece, the guy who you're, you know, the first look goes to Quinton Johnson, like you said, because they're looking to attack more.
00:15:07
Speaker
um You know, Harbaugh is known as like this run first coach. Past two years, like they' they've been throwing the ball. Like he's, his trust with Justin Herbert has gone up. And I mean,
00:15:19
Speaker
Amari in Hampton, not the best start to your career. ah it It's not good. he had ah His longest rush of this game was 15 yards, and he finished with 24 yards on eight carries. So if you take the one 15-yard rush away, had seven carries for um quick math.
00:15:35
Speaker
I believe that is 13 yards. Might be off there. think nine, but... Yeah, not a math guy. That's why we're doing this. Nine nine yards, which you know helps my point even more.
00:15:46
Speaker
um And these are two rookie running backs that haven't really lived up to the hype yet in their careers. So I would kind of look for the Chargers to get Najee Harris more involved as just your bell cow. And you know just let him carry the load a little bit. Let Hampton kind of get used to the game speed, whatever it is that you know he's lacking right now. he...
00:16:08
Speaker
He's a fine running back, but it just, it's not working right now. So I think you got to use Najee Harris more. ah take some pressure off of Herbert, which I mean, he looks great. So maybe you don't have to, and you can just be with the Broncos were last year and not have a run game and still win games with defense and receivers. But if you're looking for something for the chargers, you don't want Justin Herbert to be your lead rusher every game.
00:16:31
Speaker
Yeah. I was a bit shocked that they didn't get Harris involved more. I think that has to develop. If this team's going to be really dangerous going down the stretch against better teams, you can't really,
00:16:42
Speaker
You just can't sacrifice the run game like that. It just won't work out, especially, you know, trying to compete for that division. um But yeah, it's a it's a promising start for the Chargers. They look really good.
00:16:55
Speaker
um And that's kind of all it it was for this game. This game would have been better buried somewhere in the one o'clock slot if we're, you know, looking at the the weekend now that it's over.
00:17:05
Speaker
um But we'll move to the Sunday night game. Falcons
Falcons' Defensive Mastery
00:17:08
Speaker
22, Vikings 6. this was the JJ McCarthy hate watch overreaction line of the week. Proved true Falcons. I think closed at plus three and a half. It was, we, we got it at plus four and a half.
00:17:22
Speaker
Uh, and it was a defensive battle. I thought it was actually a very fun first half to watch two defenses really going at it. Um, both of these defenses are very good. Um, but the i came away more impressed with the Falcons defense. This is what Falcons fans have been waiting for, for the last,
00:17:39
Speaker
three, four years is a defense that is suffocating a front line that can finally match secondary talent that they have. And biggest thing, ah Jalon Walker and and James Pierce Jr., both of their first round picks got active in this game. they They totaled two sacks together.
00:17:58
Speaker
They were getting tons of pressure. Atlanta hadn't had that many first half sacks in a game since 2009. They had five first half sacks. ah And the defense just absolutely shattered J.J. McCarthy in this one through two interceptions, fumbled it three times. Two of them, he it was a fumble without being touched.
00:18:19
Speaker
And we've now seen seven quarters of J.J. McCarthy looking bad. One quarter of him looking good, and that happened to coincide with when their run game was getting seven, eight yards a carry.
00:18:33
Speaker
Seems like this is kind of what we expected from J.J. McCarthy. Yeah. And it's early for JJ, but in you know i mean? He hadn't played any football the past year. He comes in, he's got back-to-back primetime games, which isn't easy either.
00:18:47
Speaker
And then, yeah, this game was a little bit of a, we'll call it the reality check game, right? You're never as good as you know your last game. You're never as bad as it, but this was a little bit like coming back to life, his first loss in forever.
00:18:59
Speaker
And it was, like you said, it wasn't The complimentary pieces weren't helping him out a little bit, which he has seemed to be reliant upon in his college career and in that first game in the fourth quarter specifically.
00:19:14
Speaker
But to me, I do believe, like you said, this is more of a reflection on a little bit of a new look Falcons here with the defense kind of leading the way and allowing Michael Penix to kind of just do enough, right?
00:19:27
Speaker
Touchdown came late with Algier. ah Congrats if you had him first touchdown score. That would have been a nice nice little hit there late in the game. But it was just... Penix was just kind of moving the ball along in this game and getting his team into field goal territory. And, you know, the Falcons actually had a kicker that could make kicks in this game. Shadow Parker Romo.
00:19:49
Speaker
Youngway? i don't know. He was... what would they had He was like a healthy scratch this game. They haven't released him. He was making TikToks and about... two months time. Yeah, not, not what you're looking for if you're young way coup. And then JJ McCarthy wasn't really moving the ball on the other side, right? You know, maybe one or two big receptions to Justin Jefferson, Jalen Naylor had a nice game, but for the most part, it was Penix moving the ball down the field, doing just enough and more than his opposition.
00:20:17
Speaker
And then the the Falcons were kind of just tacking points on the board. And then the defense was just stopping the Vikings, which, you know, Coming into this game, you might've thought the opposite, right? The Vikings defense held them in that first game against the bears just long enough for JJ McCarthy to kind of wake up in the fourth quarter and, and pour it on late.
00:20:36
Speaker
But in this one, it was just the Falcons defense was suffocating for four straight quarters and JJ McCarthy had no answers. I keep seeing quotes, too. i can't remember where exactly I saw it, but it was like this locker room hasn't lost confidence in J.J. McCarthy and then cites the the high school college record thing. I'm so tired of hearing about that, man.
00:20:58
Speaker
First of all, I don't care about a high school record in the NFL, especially when he went to IMG. I don't need to hear about that. Second of all, I don't need to hear about his record at Michigan. Those Michigan teams were unreal.
00:21:11
Speaker
I don't think any of that has to do with whether, if anything, that makes me less confident that J.J. McCarthy knows how to bounce back from losing. Yeah, and you know i'm not I do believe wins are still a quarterback stat for the most part, but it's not a full reflection of the quarterback, especially when you look at his passing yards.
00:21:30
Speaker
oh but He beat Penn State, and I think he threw the ball like seven times or something, and they beat Penn State. it was just it was There was a lot of that college, and hey, he did enough. He managed the game. He did what he had to do, and he went undefeated, won national championship.
00:21:46
Speaker
But the NFL is a different animal. You're going to to probably do a little bit more than manage of the game. And unfortunately, now he like he has that injury, which looks, I think they said, like a two to four, two to five week timeline, something like that.
00:21:59
Speaker
So that's not going to help his development either. I mean, he's still young, youngest quarterback in the NFL, which is still crazy. It goes to show how old this past quarterback draft class was.
00:22:10
Speaker
No kidding. Cam Ward, Dylan Gabriel, Will Howard, like all these guys are just old quarterbacks. And then JJ was, you know, three year, 20 year old getting drafted. So he's a bit of a project.
00:22:24
Speaker
He's shown flashes in the fourth quarter of the bears game. And then other than that, you're kind of looking around being like, Hey, we need a little bit more out of you. Uh, like sack six times in this game, two interceptions,
00:22:37
Speaker
Not a promising thing from JJ, but like we said before, the running game really wasn't there. I'm going to chalk that up to the Falcons defense. and And yeah, we'll see what the Vikings can do now because I guess you go Carson Wentz because you know Max Brosmer is the other one who's an undrafted rookie from Minnesota who looked great in the preseason.
00:23:01
Speaker
but i But you got to think Carson Wentz is starting the next game. It's Carson Wentz time. That's going to be, I don't know what to expect there. I have no idea. It might it might not be worse though.
00:23:12
Speaker
Oh, no. There's a possibility. If Carson Wentz goes in and lights up that next game for the the Vikings, that will be a super fun day on Twitter. and And it could happen. I'm just going to check their schedule. They play the, oh my God, it's the battle of the backup quarterbacks next week against the Bengals.
00:23:30
Speaker
ah So that's just going to be a chaotic game, I think, all in all. and And I don't know. Yeah, Kirsten Wentz, don't know. I'm just going to say he's going to make J.J. McCarthy is the game manager, but I guess Carson Wentz is a pro, so he might be able to manage the game a little bit more. He's just going to be throwing it to Justin Jefferson so much more, I think, than J.J. McCarthy was, which we'll see. And then they're going to need a run game with Carson Wentz.
00:23:55
Speaker
Yeah. And Aaron Jones got injured in that game too. So he's out. ah But yeah, it's a, it'll be a a work in progress for the Vikings. um And also, you know, back to the Falcons, both rookies got those interceptions too. So you got rookies on the line, making an impact. You got two rookies getting interceptions.
00:24:13
Speaker
That defense is shaping into something special. um But we will now move to the depressing game of the week for myself, Patriots 33 Dolphins 27 there you go Jake you finally get a win against me in the entirety of of my friendship with our friend Jake the Dolphins had not lost to the Patriots they were 8-0 in the tour era heading into this game and this was i would say almost worse than getting blown out in this game i actually think it was worse
00:24:47
Speaker
um The first half, I thought that this game was a complete write off. I almost shut it off. um But then in classic Dolphins fashion, they reel me back in and they put something together to go into halftime in a one score game.
Dolphins vs. Patriots Analysis
00:25:04
Speaker
The offense all of a sudden started to look better. Devon A. chain is like the the single bright light in this offense right now. um He was great in this game.
00:25:16
Speaker
And then this the second half, man, like you start the first half with the defense. The defense is horrific. it that is That is one way to put it. Chop Robinson goes out on a really dirty play in this one too, which didn't help.
00:25:28
Speaker
um But then the the second half, you get a punt return touchdown, 74 yards Malik Washington, only to be erased 10 seconds later by a 90-yard kickoff return touchdown by Antonio Gibson,
00:25:43
Speaker
That was when I really thought this game was was gone. You give away all that momentum. But to lose this game on not only Devon A. Chain being two inches out of bounds on a touchdown on the very last drive of the game, but to then lose it on a sack to finish this game to a late fourth quarter interception, just awful. I've been talking for a while, but everything about this game was getting my expectations killed, then back up, then stomped back in the dirt.
00:26:13
Speaker
Yeah, they didn't have to tease you like that. You know, that that was rude. Very rude of them. um Yeah, so I look at a couple plays in this one. You mentioned it. the The punt return to immediately being answered by a kick return, that it just can't happen.
00:26:30
Speaker
Argos-esque. Argos-esque in that. And then, like you said, Devon A-Chain stepping out like just barely on in a late play there that would have won them the game.
00:26:41
Speaker
and And I look around and it was like, like you said, the defense has ah some serious issues, but the ah offense I thought was fine in this game. Tua played all right, you know, takes that late sack to end the game. That's not what you want. Has an interception, but you can live with it when he's, you know, he's throwing for over 315 yards.
00:26:56
Speaker
Tyreek Hill finally gets that reception of 30 plus yards. He looks good. Jalen Waddle's got a touchdown. Eight chains that, you know, ah backfield threat, catching the ball. And it's like, okay, you know,
00:27:07
Speaker
Dolphins offense is back. And then it's just the same stuff with this team under McDaniel that it's like, they're finding ways to lose games. And then he goes out there with another brutal, brutal press conference. And you know, what what was it?
00:27:23
Speaker
You know, the best way to win games is just not lose them or something. It was something like that. And it's like, all right, man, like the gimmicks up. Can you just act like a serious football coach for one second? Cause you're,
00:27:35
Speaker
I don't know. i haven't looked at the odds markets. He he has to be minus money for first coach fired. Minus. Well, it's shaping up that way. like I think I'm opting out of the Thursday night game. I'm officially opting out of watching that game against the Bills. It's a 12.5 point spread right now.
00:27:54
Speaker
I will say the most Dolphins thing of all time would be to beat the Bills on the road in that game and drag everybody in. to what will still be an eventual demise of this season.
00:28:06
Speaker
um But then you go Jets Panthers. If you lose those games, Jets game, he probably is right on the verge of being fired. If you lose the Panthers game, he is fired.
00:28:17
Speaker
um But it is ah it is getting dire. I think the season's over, which is tough for this podcast. um And I'm realizing as long as we've done this podcast, the Dolphins have at least been competitive.
00:28:30
Speaker
to talk about relevant for sure. Like they're, they're in the mix. They're in the mix. You talk about them gimmicky offense. You can, you can talk about that, but ah yeah, we are, we are heading into dolphins being permanent quick picks for the rest of the season, which is bad.
00:28:45
Speaker
um I'll give credit to Drake may. He was incredible in this game. It was, he recognized exactly how he was going to dice this Miami offense. There were, there were flashes where I thought, okay, we have Drake may,
00:28:59
Speaker
kind of figured out, you know, especially points in that second half where it really looked like we had the chance to take over that game. um But he just snapped back every time. He probably had one of the best plays of his career with that third and three pass to Ramondre Stevenson.
00:29:15
Speaker
Gorgeous pass that really broke the Dolphins defense. The fact that ah a running back can make that for the longest pass of Drake May's career. um That was killer.
00:29:27
Speaker
i think with the Dolphins, like you mentioned, It's the fact that the the stars can still produce, but it's situational execution by the Dolphins that ends up being the killer, especially in the fourth quarter. And in operational issues just are such a concern with this team. There's, you know, Tua and McDaniel are saying there was miscommunication all throughout the the late fourth quarter. There's penalties everywhere.
00:29:54
Speaker
There's the lack of defensive stops. Like it it's the operational stuff, the stuff that should be easy and should be automatic for pro teams at this level seem to come hard for this Dolphins team.
00:30:06
Speaker
And that is what will kill you. They're 0-2. They could be 0-5 in three weeks' time. And let's hope they're not. you know Yeah. We still you know still got a season to play.
00:30:18
Speaker
um But yeah, this was a game where you know they're favored. They're at home. They've had the Patriots number. They were in the game. Yeah, it was it was rude. It was rude of what they've done. i still can't figure out the Patriots offense.
00:30:33
Speaker
um You know, Ramondre Stevenson's got 88 receiving yards. Obviously, a lot of them came on that big ah reception, the the longest one. And then it's like
Steelers vs. Seahawks Breakdown
00:30:42
Speaker
Austin Hooper, three for 38 yards. Stefan Diggs, four for 32.
00:30:46
Speaker
Travion Henderson, two for 30. And then it's just a bunch of guys having one reception. It's just strange to me. they I feel like... They banked a lot on that kick return. We'll see. I will try and avenge the loss for you next week, though.
00:31:02
Speaker
I would appreciate that. This is like the instead of the coughing baby versus nuclear bomb, this was just two coughing babies going at it. I don't think either of these teams are very good, um but the Patriots earned the right to say they are the better team after this game.
00:31:17
Speaker
One last thing. Mike Vrabel looks like a Flintstone. My dad said that in this game, and i that's all I could think of for the rest of it. Barney Rubble running down the sideline there?
00:31:28
Speaker
Absolutely. um but Big for him gets his first win as a Patriots head coach. I think that Drake May had a couple quotes where it was like, that you know, this was huge to get. You can tell how much he believes in this team. I do think that that culture will spread onto this Patriots team. I think they're headed in the right direction with Rabel at head coach.
00:31:48
Speaker
And you could see that in this game where even when it looked like they might not have been able to win, they found a way to. Yeah, it's, it's ah like you said, you know, you wanted a Vrabel behind a Pete Carroll, someone who's going to, a culture changer.
00:32:04
Speaker
And, you know, maybe maybe you'll get that next year. Maybe you'll get that mid-season. Maybe a John Gruden, someone like that. That'd be awesome. It's... Yeah, we'll see. Those voices can grow old quickly, but you know there's going to be an immediate change that you can see on the field and on the sidelines. So we'll see what happens.
00:32:22
Speaker
We are monitoring the Mike McDaniel situation. ah Yes, we are. We'll now move to your Steelers. Seahawks 31, Steelers 17. um I'm going to hand the ball off here, but man, was this a winnable game for the Steelers and a couple...
00:32:40
Speaker
mistakes just absolutely put the sword in their back in this one yeah to two plays specifically ah the first one you know jalen warren just goes full on like he's just bowling ball bouncing off people spinning around juking massive run after the catch gets it down and then it's a third and goal aaron rogers is you know he's extending it standing it and he goes to find fryer mooth in the back corner of the end zone It looked like he probably would have had a good chance to catch that ball.
00:33:11
Speaker
Calvin Austin thought it was for him, tips it up in the air. It then gets intercepted in the end zone. You got nothing to show for. and then I believe they got points off that drive.
00:33:22
Speaker
And then that ensuing kickoff, um Caleb Johnson with just an error that you really, really can't excuse. Yeah. It's either he didn't know the rules, he had a full-on brain lapse, or i don't know what it is, but it's inexcusable.
00:33:38
Speaker
It's his fault. It led directly to seven points. And I don't really know what he does for this team, ah to be honest with you. It's supposed to be like a Najee Harris kind of prototype, like a bigger back, a heavy like bell cow.
00:33:53
Speaker
And he's returning kicks, which I don't think he wants to do. i don't think he should be. And i don't really know what the game plan is with him, but it was bad. And we'll see what happens to him. Like he only had one rush rushing play in this game and was, you know, basically put on special teams for the entire game, but it was not a good play. And those are the two, like you said, 31, 17 looks really bad, but you know, Frymuth catches that touchdown pass.
00:34:22
Speaker
There's, there's 21. And then Caleb Johnson doesn't give them seven points. There's, you know, 24, so 24, 21, and then maybe a player or two in the middle of changes things, but whatever it was, it was not a good game from the Steelers. I think Jalen Warren is probably the only highlight ah you can take away from this game from the Steelers. The defense It's weird, man. I'm not used to seeing a Steelers defense like this.
00:34:46
Speaker
Well, it's it's I've been kind of on it A lot of Steelers fans have been on it. Terrell Austin is not a good defensive coordinator. He's been reliant upon a lot of skilled players making plays.
00:34:57
Speaker
ah And it's pretty obvious what the game plan is for most teams. It's run the ball away from TJ Watt. They refuse to move him around on the defensive line so that they just can... run left.
00:35:09
Speaker
Highsmith is now out four to six weeks with a high ankle sprain. So they're going to continue to run the ball left and they're not going to make adjustments. And, you know, you have a guy like Brian Flores in your, on your coaching staff. You're the one who revitalized them. He was, you know, you you brought him in for rehab.
00:35:26
Speaker
And then just let him walk out the door. And he looks great with the Vikings. And it's frustrating. It's Terrell Austin. It's, I don't know, Patrick Queen hasn't been great ah since he's come over.
00:35:37
Speaker
And yeah, it's just frustrating to watch. I don't really know what to do. I thought Rodgers was whatever. i like you He was fine. I'm not down on Rodgers. wasn't a great game, but I didn't think he was bad.
00:35:49
Speaker
And then, yeah, it was just at least through Jalen Warren, 14 touches. That is a good sign for me. DK Metcalf got a touchdown. There's some positive things I can take away from this, and it's not a panic button game, but it was ugly.
00:36:01
Speaker
It was an ugly game. Yeah, and and speaking of the Mike McDaniel-esque press conferences, what do you think of the Aaron Rodgers press conferences? Something about them rubs me the wrong way, where there's like this super air of like patronization to them. Talking about Calvin Austin, he's like oh he's a great kid, he knows he he fucked that up, basically. like It's a weird like talking down. It feels like he's always talking down to people in those.
00:36:29
Speaker
Yeah. Aaron Rodgers isn't a good guy. Like that's not, I'm not defending Aaron Rodgers a human being. I'm, I'm out there cheering for Aaron Rodgers as the quarterback. And, and you know what though?
00:36:40
Speaker
Like of all the stuff that Aaron Rodgers, the things that could come out of his mouth, if this is the worst thing I got to deal with, I can do deal with that. We're getting no McAfee Tuesdays this year. Thank the Lord.
00:36:51
Speaker
And like, just, yeah, he was frustrated. That was a crucial play in the game. Should he have said that? Probably not. But like, it's, it's the guy's 40 years old. He's going to hall of famer. He's going to say some of that stuff.
00:37:03
Speaker
And I hope Calvin Austin just kind of knows what he's dealing with. And he just, rubs you know, it rubs off him and he, and he just goes on. And cause I, I'm, I'm still happy with Calvin Austin. It was just, he thought that ball was for him. He kind of had to know the situation there and you know, it costs them it is what it is. It's, but yeah, Aaron Rogers, there's going to be plenty more of those two.
00:37:23
Speaker
Anytime you get a loss, there's going to be some sort of comment like that. I I'm prepared for it though. Very fair. um Quickly on Seattle, like i I still don't really know what this Seattle team is. They seem to lack an identity when I really try to think about them in my head.
00:37:40
Speaker
um so I thought Sam Darnold bounced back from, you know, two first half picks quite well. Kenneth Walker getting in a hundred yard game, I think is huge for a guy like him. um Had, you know, the big, big touchdown with about three minutes left.
00:37:54
Speaker
And Seahawks outgained the Steelers by quite a bit. It was three ninety five to two sixty seven Outscored the Steelers 24-3 over the final two quarters.
00:38:05
Speaker
um And i I don't know. i think this is a very middle-of-the-road team that if they can find ways to... beat teams that are better than them, they can actually have a decently successful season.
00:38:17
Speaker
I'm just not sure. I'm not sure what they are quite yet. The Steelers defense made their offense look really, really good. Yeah. um I think, like I said, Smith and Jigba is going to be top five in receiving yards this year.
00:38:31
Speaker
Kenneth Walker bounce back game after, you know, getting outperformed by Charbonnet in week one. So he's clearly, you know, been seeing the message boards. He's, he's pumped up, he's back. And then Cooper cut with 90 yards as well. So they could kind of do whatever they wanted today.
00:38:45
Speaker
i think they have a chance of sneaking in like the seven spot in the NFC, but yeah, this is, Don't be too high on the Seahawks after a game like this, but they definitely looked great and made the Steelers look like a team that is questioning everything on the defensive side of the ball.
00:39:03
Speaker
Very, very fair. um We will now move into what was one of the more electric games of the one o'clock
Cowboys vs. Giants Thriller
00:39:10
Speaker
slot. Cowboys 40, Giants 37. I had the Cowboys in our Survivor League. This was one of the most roller coaster games of all time.
00:39:21
Speaker
um but You got to work backwards ah from the in this one. Brandon Aubrey kicks a 46 yard field goal as time expires in overtime after tying with a 64 yarder to end regulation.
00:39:36
Speaker
This game was insane in the fourth quarter. 41 fourth quarter points. Six lead changes in the fourth quarter in OT tied an NFL record. This was like a heavyweight boxing match that nobody expected going into this game.
00:39:54
Speaker
this This game made no sense. like yeah i It made no sense, especially with how it started, too. It was just a pair of field goals in the first quarter, 6-0 Giants, and then the final score is forty to thirty seven in overtime.
00:40:10
Speaker
And literally went down. Zeros were on the clock in overtime. This game did not end, and... I mean, just credit to these offenses. I think, you know, if we're going to talk about defenses that need some serious help, the Cowboys are maybe the number one team in that conversation right now.
00:40:28
Speaker
And the Giants kind of are what they are. But this game was crazy to me. And it just, like you said, it kind of just kicked off in the fourth quarter. Like if you, you could just turn this game on the fourth quarter and you would have had more than enough game to watch in this one. And it was just Malik neighbors, Wandale Robinson, Russi was,
00:40:48
Speaker
vintage, vintage Russie in this one. And he's, ah he's going to have a couple of those games a year, man. He heard you. He heard you. And you know what? He also cost them this game. So it's the Russie experience that interception late in overtime and is, was the backbreaker. This game at tie written all over it. Maybe the giants could have been on the winning side. i didn't see a path for the Cowboys to win this game in overtime, barely saw path them win in regulation.
00:41:15
Speaker
And then I didn't see a path for it late in overtime. Ross, he throws that interception. They get into Aubrey field goal range and then it is it is over. But it's a shame. Like Russell Wilson has a great game, 450 passing yards, three touchdowns and only one interception.
00:41:33
Speaker
But that one interception was the difference in this football game. It really was. And which is unfortunate because that was really his only mistake. for the entire game. He goes 30 41, 450 yards, three touchdowns. The moon ball is back in full effect.
00:41:50
Speaker
Huge moon ball, the Wandale Robinson to go up late. Then Dak responds, hitting George Pickens in the end zone. Then you hit Malik neighbors with an incredible pass with 25 seconds left. Malik neighbors hits the night, night way too early.
00:42:05
Speaker
And I think that the, the giants defense after that Malik neighbors, touchdown did everything they couldn't do to let Dallas back in this game. They were playing prevent when Dallas needed a field goal to tie the game. They hit Jake Ferguson over the middle for 45 yards because nobody was within 20 yards of him when he caught the ball.
00:42:26
Speaker
Especially when like Aubrey's got a leg too. I know. i mean like they They don't need as many yards as say like the Falcons would maybe need in that situation. They need 10 to 15 yards less than the majority of teams.
00:42:39
Speaker
And like you said, they're just sitting back. thinking They're going over the top. And then the same thing happened in overtime with that Dak scramble. Like they were playing so far back. Dak scrambles 15 yards.
00:42:50
Speaker
That was the end of the game. Like it was, there were a couple momentary lapses on this Giants defense, which is impressive. Their frontline is absolutely nasty to the point where Kayvon Thibodeau is like an afterthought on this line.
00:43:06
Speaker
And you have Abdul Carter, You know, being a game breaker, you have sexy Dexy stuff and everything stuffing the run like it. This the the front is so good on this Giants team that for kind of the secondary or or the defensive play calling to to leave them high and dry like that was tough for Giants fans, I'm sure.
00:43:26
Speaker
And I've got a crazy stat for you that I found on Twitter. twenty one percent 21% of all 60 yard field goals in the NFL since 2014 are against the Giants and all have been as time expired in the fourth quarter.
00:43:44
Speaker
The Giants feel like the team, it it's the Giants or the Browns that would be on the other, at the the wrong end of that stat. And in this case, it is the Giants in it. Like that is a shocking stat, but it also adds up at the same time.
00:43:57
Speaker
But I just had to see that in writing that. Oh my God. That is something that is shouldn't happen. You know, a lot of that is probably, you know, luck involved in that. But I mean, hey. you're giving these chances You're giving these teams chances to hang around and you're just kind of not doing enough in these late situations to get these games to overtime or seal the deal and win.
00:44:19
Speaker
And you're giving them a chance to kick that last second field goal. And these teams are making them. And I mean, like 60 is the new 50 for field goals. It's crazy. If you don't have a kicker that can make a 60 yarder, you're you're behind in the times, man.
00:44:33
Speaker
You're behind. The kicking game is elite right now. And it was a weird day for field goals. There was a lot of missed field goals early in that one o'clock slate. There's a lot of bad kickers in this league, man. There's a lot of bad kickers out there. And I don't know how people tolerate it, but ah fortunately in this one, like Aubrey has the best leg and he's kicking in a dome.
00:44:52
Speaker
And it's just, like you said, the giants are just sitting back. Like we can't give up 40 yards here. it's like no, you can't give up 15 man. and and they do. And then it's, you know, Aubrey makes the kick and to, to get into overtime and then does the same thing to them off the interception, same kind of drive.
00:45:09
Speaker
And, I mean, if the Giants can find a way to play like this all year, i think Giants fans would be happy. yeah But I just think this is the Rusty one-off. My personal opinion, you know, Malik Nabors is better than any Steelers wide receiver last year for them and and what the what he had with the Broncos as well. So maybe this can be something that's more consistent.
00:45:29
Speaker
But I just have watched enough of Russell Wilson recently where he is the opposite of consistent. And I don't think this is something that will last. Very possible. um the The last thing on the Giants, 160 yards in penalties.
00:45:45
Speaker
James Hudson had 40 penalty yards in one drive. it is you can't be a bad team and also take a ton of penalties. It's the Tennessee Titans effect. It's that will write you out of games where.
00:45:59
Speaker
There's a few spots in this game where if they didn't have so many penalties, it could have been much different. um But I think you're you're spot on that if if the Giants can play like that, they will.
00:46:11
Speaker
They're the best out of the 0-2 teams right now, I would say. Chiefs? Okay. Fair enough. And I would still probably like, I'm, I think the Texans can, can still win that division.
00:46:25
Speaker
Yeah. oh too Yeah. Yeah. It's more like they're, they're the best out of like the truly bad. o and two teams. Like the like bottom five teams. They're they're like the best. they're the friskiest. They can put up points.
00:46:36
Speaker
Um, but yeah, I think it's the chiefs and Texans are your two teams that are, Oh, and two that can make the playoffs going forward. Absolutely. Um, Bengals 31, Jaguars 27.
Joe Burrow's Injury Concerns
00:46:50
Speaker
Obviously, the story of this game is Joe Burrow's injury, grade three turf toe requiring surgery. He's going to be out for at least three months. Everyone said it a million times. Congrats to Joe Burrow, 2026 comeback player of the year, three-time winner, loading.
00:47:07
Speaker
Right after the Bengals get out to the 2-0 start that they were dying to have, There goes my Joe Burrow MVP pick. um It is. And Jake Browning, I was going to say when I was watching this game, I was like, is Jake Browning the best backup quarterback in the NFL? And then he threw three interceptions and I was like, no, he's not.
00:47:29
Speaker
He's just like, he fits in that scheme well. Yeah. And he's got two great wide receivers and like he's, he throws the ball great, but he, he is a, he is a solid backup quarterback.
00:47:42
Speaker
Like he's solid. He can win you a couple of games. Uh, yeah. Like said, the three interceptions are just kind of brutal. They still found a way to win this game, which is kind of impressive and maybe a reflection that the Jags are still kind of,
00:47:55
Speaker
They got some stink on them a little bit. ah But yeah, so the Bengals 2-0 here. Burrow, I mean, I'll i'll speculate. I'd be surprised if I saw Joe Burrow on the field this year again.
00:48:08
Speaker
i just think he's he's one of those guys where he's had a lot of injury problems. This is going to be surgery. Probably going need a second opinion. And, you know, I think a lot of it will also depend on where Jake Brown can take this team.
00:48:20
Speaker
But like, you know, now they're throwing out the Kirk Cousins, Jameis Winston's like that that. They're going to trade for somebody. Well, they signed Sean Clifford to the practice squad, and then they also signed Mike White, like the two horsemen of the bad quarterback apocalypse.
00:48:35
Speaker
Yeah, they just picked them up off the street and now they're going to be in a Bengals uniform. So I don't really know what this means for the Bengals season going forward, but it's not going to be good. But they're going to win games. like I can still see this team being just lingering around that 500 mark.
00:48:52
Speaker
Maybe they find a way to get to nine and eight. But to me, this is like, you know, They're minus 210 to make the playoffs and they're 2-0. that That is the Joe Burrow impact in this situation.
00:49:03
Speaker
And I mean, Jamar Chase kind of won them this game single-handedly. It was one of those where Browning realized, I have the best receiver in the league. I'm just going to throw it to him. He had 14 catches, 165 yards and a touchdown. T. Higgins also had a touchdown.
00:49:18
Speaker
So yeah, to me, this is a... A little bit of a funeral for the Bengals. And it's very unfortunate because Joe Burrow has kind of had an injury history. Like you said, this will be his potential third comeback player of the year, which is insane.
00:49:34
Speaker
So yeah, to me, this... Like there's definitely more analysis of this game that we'll get into. But to me, I just kind of walk away being like, this is just brutal for the Bengals. Yeah. And I know hindsight is 2020. They shouldn't have paid T Higgins like all. kind He had a decent game. I get 65 yards and touchdown. But when you look at the protection on Joe Burrow, like it's you got Jamar Chase.
00:50:00
Speaker
new receivers come out of thin air in the NFL and be super productive. It's just hard not to look at the the genetic makeup of this team and say that they needed T Higgins.
00:50:14
Speaker
Yeah. And I mean, like, you know, you could just draft one in the second round, first round. The Bengals are a pretty cheap franchise that, you know, you you pay them less, you get them for four years, five, possibly if you draft in the first round and you like them.
00:50:28
Speaker
Yeah, this is that meme has aged so well. Joe Burrow, you know, anybody blocking for him, Jamar Chase, it's him getting crushed. And then, jim ah you know, Joe Burrow, Penny Sewell blocking for him, anybody down the field.
00:50:41
Speaker
And everyone seems to be happy. you still draft Jamar chase. You know what I mean? But yeah one yeah, you still draft Jamar chase that you had a triple crown last year. But, but the point is correct where he just needs protection to be able to throw the ball and have a, you know, a healthy career.
00:50:58
Speaker
And he has not had that and in in his entire career. And Joe Burrow came in a little bit old. He's just like sneaky older than people think too. yeah And, Yeah, it's it's not fun. I saw Orlovsky comparing like he's this generation's Andrew Luck. That's been going around a lot.
00:51:14
Speaker
Different kind of injuries, different kind of injuries. Like I don't think I don't see Joe Burrow calling it it a retirement in a year or two. yeah, but yeah he's he's battled some injuries. And like, you know, this has also been going around.
00:51:26
Speaker
Just changed the change the name of this injury, please. know. Turf toe sounds like the softest injury of all time, and it's not. It's not, but like- You can't walk on it. Yeah. No, but you hear an injury called turf toe, and you go, you're missing three months?
00:51:42
Speaker
You need surgery for turf toe? So yeah, we got to change that name. ah Like, what's the- We need like the doctor speak for that. Like, i think you could break out like the the real- injury. I don't have it with me, but yeah, that's got change.
00:51:55
Speaker
Yeah, it does have to change because I think that football it sounds like a basketball injury. Yeah. Kawhi Leonard misses two years with turf toe or something. i'm trying to trying to find the the actual name of it.
00:52:11
Speaker
It's just turf toe everywhere that I can find. But um I think that, yeah, that needs to change. The other thing from this game, Brian Thomas Jr., um nightmare game for him. He looked terrified of being hit.
00:52:25
Speaker
There was a jump ball that could have been a touchdown that he just didn't even leap for. i think that 10 out of 10 other wide receiver ones make that catch for a touchdown.
00:52:36
Speaker
And then a interception that he just didn't go for because he thought that he was going to get crushed. Liam Cohen said that he had a wrist injury going into this game, which he wasn't on a single injury report.
00:52:50
Speaker
Liam Cohen, I think still figuring out how to be a head coach that you don't disclose those things to the media and all over the place on Twitter. This was just a nightmare. There was like five or six plays where it looked like he didn't want to get touched. He's falling directly after he gets hit and doesn't want to get touched in any sort of the sense of the word.
00:53:11
Speaker
And I don't know where they go from here because now he's like questionable with this wrist injury and it's just, it's not looking good. Yeah. This was like the, the most clips of the week came from this game and the NFL, I would say, uh, yeah.
00:53:25
Speaker
Brian Thomas is not going like the tape. Uh, I don't know if it's like, yeah, like maybe it's a mental thing, you know, it's just, he's little bit, I don't know what it is. And maybe this wrist is serious and it's affecting how he's playing.
00:53:38
Speaker
And then you got Trevor Lawrence getting into it with Liam Cohen as well. Liam Cohen screaming at him, put it on the numbers, put it on his chest. Trevor waves him off, you know, ends up with this game throwing two interceptions. 24-42 is not a good number either.
00:53:54
Speaker
No, it's not. But they were in this game. And if that pass interference that wasn't interference doesn't get called like you're looking at the Jags possibly being two and O and you know, they're building something and they haven't played their best football. And Travis Etienne is now back kind of. yeah,
00:54:12
Speaker
I don't know that the Jags are definitely a better team than they were last year, but they clearly still have some of that old stink that I've mentioned on them a little bit, but hopefully, you know, they find a way to shake it off, you know, get it, just get rid of that stink, find a way to build something and start winning some more games here. And just like you said, Cohen's got to figure out a little bit, keep it, keep the stuff more in house, even scream that T law sideline. Like, Hey man, put that on his chest. Okay. Coach gotcha. Like,
00:54:40
Speaker
you know, in-house, keep it in-house. Yeah, there's a lot of that and kind of dry snitching to the press by accident.
Colts vs. Broncos Controversy
00:54:47
Speaker
But yeah, moving to another, i would say controversial or a lot of clips. it This was probably the second most clipped game of that Sunday.
00:54:56
Speaker
Colts 29, Broncos 28, another game where you have to work backwards in this one. And it's the leveraging call. This is one of those moments in the NFL season where it sparks 6,000 debates online about was it the right call? Was it not the right call? 60 yard field goal um for the Colts coming down the stretch, you know, to kind of walk this game off.
00:55:23
Speaker
And then he misses it. Come late flag leveraging call. I get it. If you're a Broncos fan, this doesn't happen a lot. And it and or it it doesn't get called a lot and it probably happens a lot more than it gets called.
00:55:37
Speaker
However, you cannot touch a center. It's just like a very hard and fast rule of not being able to touch a center. And doing that on a 60 yarder is even stupider.
00:55:49
Speaker
It's just a it's a lack of discipline. Sean Payton finally called called the dogs down and said yesterday, um that's on me. I called a specific field goal rush on the play, that and it was the correct call that was leveraging.
00:56:06
Speaker
My big regret was calling that for a 60-yard field goal, um and I think that that's the right interpretation of this. Sure, it's a bit soft, but that by the letter of the law, that is the right call.
00:56:19
Speaker
And it's a bad lack of situational awareness from the coach and from the player to let them have another shot at it. Yeah, you can not like the rule. I don't love the rule. I don't really... like you know It's a player safety thing. I don't really get what it's protecting. like you're if You're just kind of using them as like a springboard.
00:56:37
Speaker
No one's... you know There's more dangerous plays out there that go uncalled. But this has been a rule for a while. And everyone knows it. And it's been in play. And it's... We've seen this happen before. you know Teams have got called on it on missed field goals. They get another chance.
00:56:53
Speaker
The fact that it's 15 yards too is so just like... Yeah. A 60 yarder turned into a 45 yarder. You know what i mean? Like that, that is such a big difference too. Uh, as opposed to, you know, maybe, maybe it being a five yard penalty or something along those lines, but it's the NFL is hard on it.
00:57:10
Speaker
It's, it's a player safety thing and it's a 15 yard penalty. And the Broncos did it at the worst possible time. And yeah, I guess credit for Sean Payton for owning up to it.
00:57:21
Speaker
And, you know, at least kind of taken, i don't know if he, I think he's more so just taking the heat off of his players in this situation, which I still think is a good coaching move. ah But yeah, this is, this will be looked at as the point of like this loss in the game.
00:57:38
Speaker
But to me, it was the offense just going like they disappeared. From, you know, Dobbins had that early third quarter touchdown and then they had no more points the rest of the game.
00:57:48
Speaker
And, and like the the Colts tacked on three field goals in the fourth quarter and the Broncos just did nothing offensively. And that, that to me, that is a difference to the game. Obviously this field goal call is going to get all, like said, all the clips are coming from that.
00:58:04
Speaker
But to me, it was the Broncos looked dominant in the first half. Their ah offense was clicking. It was like, okay, Bo Nix, you're back a little bit. And then when they needed the points the most, they just kind of went away and the Colts were just doing enough. Daniel Jones, shout out to him. He's looking solid this year. The the Colts still haven't punted the football.
00:58:24
Speaker
And, and yeah, and then the Colts just find a way to win this game. Kind of, kind of ugly. Like it wasn't great football from the Colts, but they did enough. Their defense shut the Broncos down. And to me, that was the difference in this game. it was the Broncos going silent offensively late.
00:58:40
Speaker
Yeah. And they started kind of playing chicken shit football, which, which ended up killing them. Like instead of going for the points, they, they throw it both throws and interception. That was a big changing point in this game.
00:58:51
Speaker
and And even the Colts played chicken shit down the wire. Like I know Jonathan and Taylor had a great, great day. 25 carries, 165 yards and a touchdown catch. And but they were trailing by two with three and a half minutes left. And they ran the ball seven times. And Daniel Jones threw one pass like they they were setting up like they had Brandon Aubrey.
00:59:14
Speaker
And not like a very inexperienced kicker. So I thought they both of these teams played very silly football down the stretch in this game. I'm glad to see the Colts get the benefit of the doubt there and and the bounce.
00:59:25
Speaker
um I would say this game is more encouraging for the Broncos and Bo Nix to look regular after that week one game. um He Nix went 22 for 30, 203 yards, three TDs and an interception like that.
00:59:39
Speaker
That was more of the Bo Nix we saw last year. Nick Benito has more pressures himself than the Colts and the Bears do with 15. Like he's a star. So there there are things to be positive about, but they they don't have a terribly easy schedule and starting the way that they've started is is not super encouraging.
01:00:01
Speaker
Yeah, and you know your number one receiver leaves this game with one catch for six yards. That's something that you're not... ah you know That's not an encouraging sign. ah you know Dobbins is looking better.
01:00:13
Speaker
RJ Harvey wasn't really involved in this game much at all. So yeah, like you said, Bo Nix played better. Not a good interception, but three touchdown passes. Some efficient. He was 22 of 30. You'll take that for a second, your quarterback.
01:00:27
Speaker
ah But yeah, this was a game where... When we needed Bo Nix the most, he kind of went away and the Colts kind of just did enough down the stretch. And Daniel Jones has been looking good. se Is he first or second in passing yards?
01:00:40
Speaker
I say it was Daniel Jones and Russell Wilson are leading the league in passing yards right now, which is weird. But yeah, i mean, the Colts look... competent man they look like a competent football team early yeah but this you know start since 2014 this could be the saints of last year though i thought about that we yeah we bought in hook line and s sinker last year to the saints and so did everybody it wasn't just us um but yeah i've seen i've seen this film before but i will say this colts defense is really good like the roster is good it's better than that saints roster was and that is what i think is
01:01:17
Speaker
it is is encouraging for the c Colts to not be the saints of last year. Yeah. And I mean, they got a Carly Ursa on the sideline. F fired me up. I don't mind it. It's, it's different.
01:01:29
Speaker
It's different. It's, it's very hands-on. It's the headset. yeah It's very hands-on man. The players don't seem to mind it. Uh, Yeah, I don't know. I don't know, but it's funny and it's creating a lot of funny pictures and and I don't mind it, man. I don't mind it. And maybe it is the the spirit of Jim Irsay spurn on the Colts this year.
01:01:49
Speaker
I just love the idea of her hearing like one of those one of those Peyton Manning, like 15 second long play calls that has like, do do you understand that? Like, there's no way she's trying to. So I give her credit. She wants to know because i think she said she wants to know if they're full of shit.
01:02:05
Speaker
think That's what she said. She wants to make sure people are doing their jobs and are not full of shit. That's great. um We'll move into the quick hits now. um We'll start with the Super Bowl rematch, which a lot of people were angry. This wasn't on Sunday night, but I actually think that it would have been a boring Sunday nighter because this is kind of I'm kind of mad I didn't take the under in this game um because I think that's everybody kind of saw where it was going with this matchup, where two defenses that were going to kind of dig in and make this a really grindy game.
01:02:34
Speaker
ah the big The big story of this game was the tush push being all over the place, like quintuple false starts on the offensive line that weren't called. um Onside kick rule sucks so hard.
01:02:49
Speaker
that was That was a big takeaway for me in this game. It's so like deflating. Just the fact that you have to announce it, it just takes all the fun out of it. Travis Kelsey throwing his hands up in the air after bobbling a red zone ball.
01:03:01
Speaker
That was really funny. Also, the I forget who was calling this game, but they said that Mahomes threw a perfect pass. I don't think it that was the case at all. It was like by his knees. This is, ah like you said, the Chiefs are definitely the best owe and two team.
01:03:14
Speaker
They've never started 0-2 with Mahomes, but something's something's off. I think a lot of it is the injuries, but something's weird with this Chiefs team. The free Rasheed Rice shirts before the game. Oh god, dude.
01:03:26
Speaker
Bold. Bold. What is with it? Who's supplying these t-shirts? You remember the Travis Kelsey graphic tees they wore last year in support of him? yeah Yeah, I don't know, but that guy is saying yes for the money. He's making nice money off of these shirts. ah Yeah, I don't know what's going on the Chiefs. They're just lacking a little juice. But I think, like, you know, where he's out, where she rises out, like, those guys will come back into this team, and I think that'll inject some life, especially to the offense just looks kind of flat-footed.
01:03:56
Speaker
And then the defense isn't coming through kind of like what they were doing last, well, not last year. I mean, the past four or five years. So, yeah, the the Chiefs, as of right now, do not appear to be a Super Bowl contender as of right now, but it's something where, you know, Worthy comes back. Then Rasheed Rice comes back. Then Mahomes down the stretch.
01:04:17
Speaker
It's also not the easiest start to the year. Like you have a division opponent in Brazil, you lose a tight game. And then you have the reigning Super Bowl champs, you lose a tight game. So no reason to panic, but yeah, the Chiefs do look a little, a little bit more beatable than they have in the past couple of years. And then on the Eagle side,
01:04:36
Speaker
God, this feels like a repeat of last year, right? The first couple of weeks, it's just like, this team sucks. Jalen Hurts can't throw a football. They're like relying on the tush push and Saquon Barkley running the ball 20 plus times a game.
01:04:51
Speaker
I think they'll figure it out, but it has not looked pretty for them offensively to start the year, but they're two and o Yeah, it's ah Tony Kornheiser said it um on ah p or PTI. He said, everyone is dying to just throw this Eagles team to the side and excuse it as a one-off year and say that they're done.
01:05:11
Speaker
i really wouldn't be fretting if I was an Eagles fan. like i Similar to um the Chiefs, like obviously the Cowboys are not the Chargers, but also not a easy ah start to the year I think that when when you play that late into the season there's a bit of a hangover regardless and and they're winning games like yeah I don't think it matters like Makuba at safety looks really solid. I think that this team will be fine.
01:05:38
Speaker
Like they have all the talent to still do it. Pretty hilarious snaps from Jalen Carter on some of them in this game where he's looking a little tired, I would say. He's a big boy. He's a big boy. They might be playing him too much. That's okay.
01:05:53
Speaker
Baby steps for Jalen Carter. He played a football game this past week. Good for him. Good for him is right. Yeah, I think this Eagles team is fine. Another team who is... more than fine and and getting back to what they looked like the lions 52 bears 21 the the bears are bad and the lions might be back this looked like a classic lions game of last season just beating the piss out of a team on ah offense like this this was super classic lions um detroit has now won 16 straight regular season games when leading at halftime and the bears were never in this game
01:06:31
Speaker
This was a ah get your swagger back game for the Lions, right? After getting pretty much shut down offensively against the Packers, everyone got their touches in this game. Everyone's happy. Everyone's coming away smiling.
01:06:43
Speaker
And... Yeah, I wasn't panicking with the Lions. It wasn't a good effort in week one, but I think they're still going to be competitive. I think the Packers are also a very good football team and their defense is exceptional.
01:06:56
Speaker
So yeah, I think it's going to come down the stretch in the NFC North. That next game when the Packers and Lions play is going to be huge. And then on the Bears side of the football, through two weeks, it looks like they've gotten worse from last year, which is really bad. That's a really bad sign.
01:07:11
Speaker
Yeah, I think... when we were talking about the giants being like the feistiest to no team i think the bears are the least feisty oh and two team maybe the doll like it's neck and neck with the dolphins but that performance from the dolphins offense gives me at least a bit of an edge to say that they're more feisty than the bears are the browns are pretty pathetic right now too but but yeah like i know what you're trying to say like Nobody is worried about playing the bears right now.
01:07:41
Speaker
Uh, and you know, kid like Caleb Williams was whatever in this game, but it's just like the defense is supposed to be the backbone of this team and 52 points put on your head, uh, to a division opponent. Like they,
01:07:55
Speaker
They played the Lions tighter last year, and people will tell you that the Lions regressed this year, and the Bears are supposed to take that step forward. And to me, it just looked like the Lions are the same, and the Bears, like, it just, I can't get out of my head. The Bears look worse through two weeks than they did last year.
01:08:11
Speaker
it has It's stunning. um How about this for a stat? Explosive plays for the Lions, 15 plays of 10-plus yards, seven plays of 20 plus yards and five plays of 30 plus yards.
01:08:27
Speaker
Yeah, they could do whatever they wanted, whatever they wanted. And it was just like, that's stunning. Yeah, it is. And and it's I think it's more a reflection on the Bears. i um I think the Lions have the ah explosive potential, but to have that many is just wrong for an NFL team.
01:08:43
Speaker
Yeah, upset I didn't take the Lions. That should have had get back spot written all over it. um Bills 30, Jets
Bills' Victory Over Jets
01:08:51
Speaker
10. Bills are really good, even when Josh Allen isn't playing like Superman.
01:08:56
Speaker
It was hilarious. Even Trubisky looked shocked that he made that 30-yard pass when he went in for... Josh Allen when he broke his nose. um it It was a bit tough for me in this game to tell if the Bills defense bounce back or the Jets offense isn't actually that good.
01:09:13
Speaker
Well, yeah, i think the Steelers defense makes teams look great on offense. That's kind of why, like, I think the Seahawks are a better team than the Jets, but I don't think their offense is as good as what you just saw. Yeah. And ah same with the Jets. I mean, you know, fields coming out of this game, of the concussion probably didn't help either. And, know,
01:09:31
Speaker
I think, you know, the Jets are going to be reliant on Brees Hall having rushing a good rushing game for them to be successful and open other things up. But it was kind of like what I said, like Garrett Wilson isn't catching all the balls on offense.
01:09:44
Speaker
They kind of don't have anyone else to throw it to. ah And it if you look at the stat lines, that adds up. It's a Brees Hall with two catches after that. And then every other receiver had one catch.
01:09:57
Speaker
So it was not good. Tyrod Taylor's not good either. So hopefully Justin Fields kind of comes back after this concussion and ah they can return to being frisky. I think that's their ceiling is frisky.
01:10:09
Speaker
Yeah, we might have to move them out of the fun category. We'll put them on on the IR. yeah They're on the IR for until Justin Fields comes back. 0 for 11 on third down in this game is a crazy stat. 154 net yards of offense. Joey Bosa looked unreal in this game. Six pressures, one sack.
01:10:28
Speaker
um Yeah, so that I think would be enticing as a Bills fan. Rushing game for Buffalo, and this was nasty. 194 rushing yards between the tackles is crazy.
01:10:40
Speaker
James Cook, 132 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. Nasty.
Ravens Triumph Over Browns
01:10:45
Speaker
um But we'll move on. It was a stinker. This was a stinker, too. Ravens 41, Browns 17.
01:10:51
Speaker
The coolest thing from this game was the picture of Lamar Jackson and Joe... Flacco after the game looking like a father and son. That was very heartwarming. Ravens are now 13 and two following losses since 2022.
01:11:05
Speaker
They needed this game that this was the only game in their first six games of the season against a non playoff team from last year. They just have a nightmare of a schedule. um And and the last thing I had was shit's embarrassing.
01:11:19
Speaker
Browns star Miles Garrett said after this game while wiping his eyes with a pile of money. Yeah, Miles, you you could have left, man. You didn't have to be here. You knew what you were getting into. You got paid. Congratulations. But, I mean, you don't you
Dylan Gabriel's Quarterback Prospects
01:11:35
Speaker
don't have much to complain about. You performed. You're playing well.
01:11:38
Speaker
My takeaway from this game, especially with quotes like that, we're going to see Dylan Gabriel earlier than expected. Yeah. so we're going to see what he's made of. You know, third round pick. i People probably have said he maybe should have been later than that, but we'll see. I think we're going to get Dylan Gabriel by week five. Yeah.
01:11:56
Speaker
Yeah, I think that's the marker. I think it is week five. And then and then that will start that will be an insufferable start our point in this season is when he starts because then Shadur Wach will start.
01:12:09
Speaker
Shadur was not even the third string quarterback in this game. Yeah. Bailey Zappi was... think he's injured is apparently the toy story on it.
01:12:20
Speaker
I don't know if they're... I don't know if they like Shadir and I don't know why. I don't know the poll. I don't know what's going on there, but I don't, you're right. The media is going to start to pick up on it. The second Dylan Gabriel starts.
01:12:34
Speaker
Uh, and then, yeah, I just don't know, but I don't think the Browns, I think there's a better chance you see Deshaun Watson play a game than Shadir Sanders this year. Not saying it's right or wrong, but I just think that's has more potential.
01:12:46
Speaker
And, uh, And ah that that article or that Schefter thing coming up before the game that he apparently turned down the Ravens in the fifth round, which is puzzling to me why you wouldn't want to go and be an actual backup to one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
01:13:07
Speaker
Learn under him like the whole thing about that made no sense to me. It's his mindset. Like that's why people didn't want to draft him as a backup quarterback is because he only sees himself as a starter.
01:13:19
Speaker
And it's just like, you don't want your backup quarterback creating distractions and just unnecessary media attention. So yeah, like if you weren't drafting him, it, it all kind of makes sense. If you weren't drafting them in the first round, there's no point in drafting him until the fifth.
01:13:35
Speaker
Yeah. It is
Cardinals' Challenges Ahead
01:13:36
Speaker
what it is. There's no in-between spot for Shadr in this draft. Very true. um We'll move to Cardinals 27, Panthers 22. The Cardinals were really in control of this game. It should never have gotten as close as it did.
01:13:47
Speaker
They were up 27 to three at one point. Then three straight touchdown drives by Carolina. Very chippy drives from Bryce Young. Great tweet by Chase Pletcher said, you'd be watching the Panthers thinking, man, we got a nice drive going. And you look up and they're on their own 39.
01:14:07
Speaker
like That is sad. That is really this Panthers team. Like it is that the tape on x Xavier Leggett that is floating around is horrific. He's like statistically one of the worst yards after the catch receivers in football right now.
01:14:23
Speaker
He he looks bad. Yeah, this game was not fun. Yeah, I mean, Cardinals 2-0. You've beat two pretty terrible teams from what I've seen.
01:14:35
Speaker
ah So we'll kind of get a sense of what they actually are next week against 49ers. I know it's a Mac Jones 49ers, but will still be the biggest test they've had by a fair margin this year, especially on the road.
01:14:47
Speaker
but the the Cardinals have a nice schedule up until their bye week, man. Like, you know, obviously the Colts seem to be a little bit better than we may have thought. Seahawks aren't going to be an easy game, but it's pretty much just like the Packers is the only real scheduled loss ah for them up until their week eight bye.
01:15:04
Speaker
So maybe we're, you're never wrong. You're just early Damien. And that was us with the Cardinals. We are year too early. The Bucks and the Cardinals are now both two and O and it feels like we're just getting like scorned by an X right now. the The Falcons redeemed us last, last this week, sorry, against the Vikings. That was a big win for the Falcons, not going owe to O and two our Falcons. So We'll see if they can continue to build. um Where are they? Rise up?
01:15:30
Speaker
Is that their rise up? Yeah, rise up. price up ah Rise up. Rams 33, Titans 19. Cam Ward, nasty first touchdown pass to Alec Iomannor. Shout out Canada.
01:15:41
Speaker
um Rams offense is good, but rusty. It's very, very unbalanced. Like Niku and Adams had 22 of the Rams, 32 targets in this game, um four touchdowns, but then they were five
Titans' Penalty Problems
01:15:54
Speaker
for 12 on third down.
01:15:56
Speaker
Devante Adams and Puka Niku could be like two number ones in this room. The receiving room is nasty, but yeah, the the offense just looks a little, little topsy turvy. Like Kyron Williams didn't really get involved in this game.
01:16:07
Speaker
I also think the Titans defense is good. Yeah. right it Like they did, they did, did very well against the Broncos in week one. They like the first three quarters looked really good against the Rams and the Rams kind of, you know, poured it on late, but yeah like the Titans are, you know, not a horrible football team is what I'm getting. And I thought they were going to be cam Ward has, has the signs, you know, he's got, he's showing the signals that you want to see moves around really well. He's confident makes these throws.
01:16:37
Speaker
Uh, obviously, you know, it's going tough to kind of tell this year. This might be a bit of a lost season for them win wise, but it won't really let him pass the ball. Yeah. It's weird. It's weird. Like it's it, which is like, take the training wheels off, man. Who cares? Like, honestly with him, like it's, he's got so much raw talent. He can spin the ball. Just let him throw it, man.
01:16:59
Speaker
Yeah, and like you know I think they had to late in this game, but it was the first half they like were very cautious. you know Pollard's got 20 rushes in this game. So yeah, you got to know what you have. You got to see what you have. I think it's just going to be a slow build for them, right? I don't know if that's the right decision or not, but I believe that's what's going to happen. Sacked five times is...
01:17:21
Speaker
yeah I can't tell. i do think Saks can be a quarterback stat, especially when it's five, five, ah a higher number than you want. so maybe throw the ball ah away a little bit more, but...
01:17:33
Speaker
promising start for cam ward like the first two games you're kind of seeing it there uh but it's not really going to show up in their win loss record this season and and sneaky he won't get it because the microscope just isn't on the titans very much brian callahan should be on one of those coaches firing poles as well because 10 penalties for 62 yards this week after getting hit with 13 penalties for 131 yards last week yeah There is so many penalties for this team and like it took away a punt return in this game.
01:18:06
Speaker
Like it it is just that is the story with this Titans team is penalties. And i don't know. Brian Callahan just to me is not like a head coach. The thing with him, though, it's like he has a free season.
01:18:18
Speaker
The season's free for him. ah But next year, next year, if this continues and, you know, maybe if it's the entire season this is happening, he could be one of those offseason firings if if a sexy name comes up.
01:18:30
Speaker
ah But yeah, he basically has a free season ah with the Titans this year.
Saints' Ongoing Struggles
01:18:35
Speaker
Very fair. Last game, 49ers 26, Saints 21. Saints are also a frisky 0-2 team. that They are very frisky, very competitive.
01:18:46
Speaker
They might go 0-4, though. They go to Seattle and then Buffalo. like It is... Even though they look friskier and Rattler improved, he had three touchdowns in this one. They they do little things wrong that seem to like shoot themselves in the foot. Penalties, missed field goal, two fumbles.
01:19:03
Speaker
um sa Rattler takes sacks at bad times. That wasn't great, but... Mac Jones, man. Mac Jones, they said you were dead. This is three touchdown passes, likely the best he's looked since his rookie Pro Bowl season.
01:19:17
Speaker
Made it look easy at times. like he'll this I'm sure this gave 49ers fans some hope that they'll be able to stay afloat while Brock Purdy's injured. Yeah, that's that's what i was gonna that's what I took from this game. is It's not going to be...
01:19:31
Speaker
Similar to what what I think is a bit of a funeral for the Bengals. I don't think it's going to be that bad for the 49ers. And you know what mean? Like the Cardinals, they don't know what they are. You're getting them at home next week.
01:19:41
Speaker
You're slight favorites there. So yeah, Mac Jones, you're you're competent. He might be in the the upper half of backup quarterbacks because at least he's still young. I feel like there is still some untapped potential possibly there.
01:19:54
Speaker
And if you get with a nice offensive mind like Kyle Shanahan, could unlock some doors for you. But yeah, it was a solid win for the 49ers for the backup quarterback. But like said, on the other side, the Saints, you're in these games. like you're You're playing football.
01:20:07
Speaker
um Obviously, it's not you know they're not going to make the playoffs or anything like that. but if you can just try and, you know, stay frisky and stay in these games, cover a couple of spreads and not, you know, let Chris Olave get his head taken off. Like you can, you could possibly build something with one of these two quarterbacks.
01:20:26
Speaker
I'm not high on either, but Spencer Rattler looked pretty good in this game. I agree. Um, we'll move now to our first edition of three stars in the NFL. We're going to be doing this for the NFL. Like we did it for the CFL this season. And there are a lot of
Lions' Standout Performances
01:20:40
Speaker
candidates. I would say, Patrick, there are,
01:20:42
Speaker
i'd say there's like four ish that are very clear, but there could be others in the mix. My my biggest question is, who do you take as a star from that Lions game is my question, because Jared Goff finishes 23 28, 334 yards, five touchdowns.
01:20:58
Speaker
But then you look and I'm Ross Brown nine receptions, 115 yards, three touchdowns. but then you look and i'm on raw st brown has nine receptions a hundred and fifteen yards three touchdowns Yeah, it's it's tough, and I feel like there's no wrong answer.
01:21:16
Speaker
um I'll probably go with Almond Ross, St. Brown. Three touchdowns as a receiver. but i know But throwing for five is really impressive too. But to me, it's somehow you know the three slightly trumps the five. Slightly. It's really tight. But ah yeah, I would give it to St. Brown in this one. But you can also give it to their entire offense. like It was a very impressive game from the Lions.
01:21:40
Speaker
Yeah, I think we just lay them out and then we place them like puzzle pieces. I think Jonathan Taylor, 25 carries, 165 yards and a touchdown has to be on here.
01:21:51
Speaker
Absolutely. And then I guess you could go. It's same same thing with the Giants game. It's like, do you put Russell Wilson down or do you put Malik Neighbors down? That interception is just you know so oh deadly.
01:22:05
Speaker
And it just ruined such a good game for him. And then Malik Nabors with nine catches, 167 and two touchdowns. If Russell Wilson had like one more touchdown pass, I would probably give it to him.
01:22:18
Speaker
But that that one interception is just glaring, man. And I can't take my eye off it. So I would lean Nabors in that game. I think so too. And then, yeah, I think Amon Ra goes first.
01:22:31
Speaker
Yeah, I have no problem with that. Three touchdowns is crazy. And then I would probably go Taylor. Yeah, yeah. Because he was on the winning side as opposed to Neighbors. Yeah, that makes sense to me. but You know, there those were like the three. Like i said, you could have probably taken any one of the offense for the Lions. And then Russell Wilson was probably an honorable mention as well. but Jamar Chase.
01:22:53
Speaker
Yeah, Jamar Chase. Yeah. that yeah ah but James Cook, I think. Yeah, but I'm okay with leaving those two off. these To me, these are the three. um And yeah, this this will be something that we do
NFL Three Stars Selection
01:23:05
Speaker
week to week. So, yeah you know, let us in the comments if ah you hate hated our picks because that'll be okay too.
01:23:13
Speaker
Yeah, j James Cook might mike catch some flack for not being on here. He had a hell of a day. Two touchdowns, 132 yards on 21 rushes, but Jets looked horrible. So I think that that kind of lingers in my mind with this one.
01:23:27
Speaker
um We'll now go to week three picks. I went two and one. i am now three and three on the year. Patrick went one and two. The Bucks buck saved him from an 0-3 week last night at the last second.
01:23:44
Speaker
He is now two and four on the year, which means I will hold the ball. And there there are a couple ratty, ratty lines out there this week. And I think I'm going to take the cheese on one of them.
01:23:59
Speaker
I'm going to take with my first pick. The Dallas Cowboys are one and a half point underdogs to the Chicago Bears. This has Dolphins scream screaming all over it. Like last week, they were favored by one and a half against the Patriots.
01:24:14
Speaker
I don't see how you could see Dallas one winning last week and two putting up that many points and favoring the Bears in this game. Yeah, I guess they're just going with home field.
01:24:27
Speaker
but guess. The money line is minus 108. Are you taking money line or the plus one and a half? I take plus one and a half. Yeah, yeah just in case yeah there's a missed kick or something. yeah I would too. Yeah, to me, I look at that one too and it was... It's a bit crazy. don't regret that Dolphins pick, by the way. i don't.
01:24:46
Speaker
I don't. It felt good. It was the right pick. um So I'll start it off. I'm going to go with... Maybe the biggest game in the one o'clock slate. ah I don't know if they're going to win this game, but I like the hook. I'm going to take the Rams plus three and a half against the Eagles. Eagles just they're fine. They're winning games, but they're not blowing out teams in the Rams. I think are pretty good football team.
01:25:08
Speaker
I think they can keep this one within a field goal. And I think that playoff game last year just lingers in your head of ah the Rams were close to winning a Super Bowl last year. Very close. And I think like the only thing that I like scares me is that, you know, you're traveling from the West Coast to the East Coast.
01:25:25
Speaker
But to to me, I think these teams are very similar at the moment. Very true. i am going to take with my next pick here. We just saw them last night. So it is it is kind of staying in my mind.
01:25:40
Speaker
I'm going to take the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to cover six and a half against the New York Jets. Bucs are at home. Justin Fields could be out of this game with a concussion. I think that this is very similar to the Bills line where they're giving the Jets a lot of respect. You jump on the Bucs.
01:25:57
Speaker
Yeah, I don't mind that at all. Bucs at home as well, which is nice.
01:26:03
Speaker
got to be honest, I don't love the board this week, which maybe is a good thing for me because I really haven't been you know seeing it too well ah so far in the NFL season.
01:26:15
Speaker
All right, I'll do it. ah this is ah this is a This is a... I'm avenging you. I'm taking the Steelers. This is a rock bottom line, like being and half point favorites against this, you know, put some... should be three points.
01:26:28
Speaker
You know, nothing crazy, but it feels like a Steelers three points. A bounce back win. They haven't covered a spread this year. They're due. I'm taking the Steelers on the road. I looked at it. I looked at it a lot. And especially the Patriots at home in week one didn't give you anything to really snuff about for home field advantage for New England.
01:26:47
Speaker
um My last pick here, also very, you know, staying in my mind after last night, I'm going to take the commanders to cover three and a half at home against Las Vegas.
01:26:59
Speaker
I think that the commanders are kind of itching for a bounce back game, a clean game on offense. And I think this is the perfect tune up game for Washington at home, shorter week for the Raiders.
01:27:13
Speaker
Mariota. Oh, Mariota. Right. This should be like a five and a half, six and a half. jane and Daniels is playing. I guess he actually, I don't think he's been officially ruled out, but I think they said he's going to probably miss one or two weeks.
01:27:28
Speaker
Not, not the biggest. I'm not a doctor. Um, Hey, shout out to you. the the The Dolphins are only 11 and a half point favorites now. i'm moving Keep an eye on that one. Could get down to single digits.
01:27:41
Speaker
I'm not one to talk after the Steelers last week. I need like a, I need just a blowout spread. There's a couple of them this week. Um, right. Cause I feel like early in this early in the season, like these bad teams are getting blown out by good teams. Right. I looked at that, that Ravens line a lot last week. I held off.
01:28:01
Speaker
So I'm going to go with the same team that the Ravens against the same team that the Ravens played. I'm taking the Packers minus eight and a half on the road at Cleveland. I would love to see Dylan Gabriel come into the coming into the game like the second half here and just really garbage time.
01:28:17
Speaker
You know, Green Bay is just, you look at it's like 42 to 10. You go, whoa, how did this happen? That's what I'm looking for in this one. Very, very possible. um That spread is moving towards the Panthers in that game. Brutal backdoor cover for the Panthers in that game against the Cardinals. that That was a tough one.
01:28:36
Speaker
hand hand up I forgot about Jane Daniels injury, but I'm going to stick with that pick. I'm going to stick with it. Man of honor. Man of honor right there. Did you look at any other games? Were you close to any other ones?
01:28:48
Speaker
falcon I looked at the Falcons for a bit, but after the the Panthers backdoor covered, I didn't love that. And I'm very similar with you. I kind of hated the board this week. Yeah, I was thinking about maybe the over in the Cowboys-Bears game because like the Cowboys have proved that they can put up a million points.
01:29:04
Speaker
I just kind of worry about what the Bears are going to do, but they seem to be like they're getting points in garbage time, like these late touchdowns that are just huge if you have the over in these blowout games. ah But yeah, I don't really see how... I don't know, but the Bears did not look good and the Cowboys look pretty competent on offense and I think that they can just kind of run it up and just outpace the Bears in that game. So I like that pick.
01:29:27
Speaker
Yeah, I kind of like the Lions at five and a half on Monday night, too. I don't hate it. I don't know. That game could go any which way, but that's a big spread for a primetime game like that between two really good teams.
01:29:38
Speaker
Yeah, the primetime schedule has not been good to start the year, and that's going to carry on into this week like the Thursday nighter, you know.
01:29:48
Speaker
good game to skip unless you're a diehard. Um, and then the Sunday night, like that's a spread I looked at five and a half points, uh, chiefs, uh, chiefs and giants giants at home. And then thankfully we got a nice Monday nighter coming up, but yeah, the primetime schedule has been sketchy to start the year.
01:30:04
Speaker
Very sketchy. And it's usually, usually killer at the start of the year, which is why it's been weird. They usually go with like staples. You know what mean? It's usually like you look at the board or you look at the slate games, you go, these two teams, these two teams, those two teams like that. And then it's, and then, you know,
01:30:21
Speaker
You take a couple shots later in the season. Maybe this team could be good. We'll give them three primetime games this year. But too too early in the season to be having what I've been seeing so far.
01:30:32
Speaker
I know. It's just to to be the schedule makers and look and be like, Chiefs, Giants, week three, Sunday night football. Who's excited? It's like... Yeah, and there's been a couple of games like, i guess, divisional game like Chargers Raiders, but the Bucks Texans was solid.
01:30:50
Speaker
I mean, commanders Packers should have been good. Yeah, no, it's it's been okay. It's just the games haven't really lived up to the to the hype so far. um To close out the podcast here, do a little quick CFL thoughts and then some CFL picks.
01:31:05
Speaker
Got hosed a bit on our CFL picks last week, but we're still still doing well. um Argos win a game they had no business being a part of. I was at the game, six turnovers, four interceptions by Nick Arbuckle, who is now injured.
01:31:19
Speaker
Looks like the Argos are going to start Jared Daigie against Montreal on Friday, which that is quite... quite the decision. i have no idea what's going on with Chad Kelly, man.
01:31:32
Speaker
I have no idea. I called it, man. like I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't suit up this year. yeah They've been so secretive and so weird ah about the reporting on his injury. And it was like, like we said, when we recorded this last week,
01:31:47
Speaker
We thought there was potential that Chad Kelly could be starting this game. Or dressed? yeah As I was about say, not even dressed on the sideline. I would be shocked if he's dressed in this game as well. Because like you said, Daggy's going to be taking the opening snap.
01:32:01
Speaker
ah Yeah, that's not what you're looking for for the Argos. Especially because that was a massive win. You did it in kind of the... the heart attack way you've been winning games all year this season. You finally get another one.
01:32:14
Speaker
Dinwiddie's screaming at the Elks sideline. um And then, yeah, and then you're starting your third string quarterback next week against in the biggest game of your season so far. Like if you beat the Alouettes, I believe they would have the tiebreaker and would be in the second spot in the East.
01:32:31
Speaker
And then, yeah, you're five and a half point dogs at home and I might lay it with the owls. Like it's one of those, which is like, I, this line is, could be bigger in my opinion. Yeah. And it opened at two and a half, which is nuts. Um, yeah, it's, uh, they had five, I was sitting behind the Argos bench in this game. They had five quarterbacks on their sideline.
01:32:51
Speaker
They had our buckle starting Chad Kelly and street clothes, Tucker horn and Jarrett Daigie dressed and max Duggan sighting on the sidelines. honor Get them, get them in a uniform.
01:33:03
Speaker
let's see what matt max duggins got this week i'm not i'm in be so fun yeah he's i yeah i i would somehow i've never seen him play a cfl game in my life well he hasn't played in one but like screw it he'd figure it out yeah did he like had the last drive but he did not look good i actually ill i'll give it to him that he actually made a couple big completions on that last drive and i was terrified i thought they had just benched our buckle like i thought i thought did when he was losing his mind like i thought he actually went lost his marbles and benched our buckle after the last interception turns out it was an injury hilarious in the in the post game like social media videos jared diggy was like that team cut me dude you didn't
01:33:50
Speaker
You're a third stringer for the Argos. You just like two, two massive injuries happen. And hey, good for you. Like you, yeah you shined in your moment and you know, you, hey, whatever motivation he needed, he used it in the right way and took down the elk. So good for him.
01:34:03
Speaker
Yeah. Good for him. um Red blacks are the worst, man. It's the lions love beating up on bad teams. That was the two. Two things to take from this game. And ah like Patrick texted me, this was maybe the first ever CFL trap line in red blacks plus nine and a half because they were never in this game. The Lions just absolutely beat up on them.
01:34:25
Speaker
um Saskatchewan lays a dud on legends night. Alouettes are immediately so much better with McLeod at the helm that we got rug pulled in that game, man. I i took The riders on the spread.
01:34:39
Speaker
You took the under. And about 45 minutes after we stopped recording, they announced that McLeod was starting. Yeah, and... Yeah, just on the wrong side of both those picks, and a lot of it had to do with McLeod.
01:34:52
Speaker
um Yeah, like so that's their second wind without Davis Alexander. Second wind with McLeod at starting as quarterback. I know that. um So I don't know what the Ls are. They're still not like a great team with McLeod, but they're certainly better than what they were with James Morgan.
01:35:08
Speaker
ah So yeah, i mean... I would love McLeod putting on for his old team this week, you know maybe tossing two two interceptions for the boys. That would be nice. ah But yeah, what else did you get? Like the Bombers, I mean,
01:35:21
Speaker
The Bombers are in a weird spot, man. No Caleros. It's just, it's such a drop-off. That's what I wrote down. Like you you can't win without Caleros, yet somehow he's a liability as at the same time.
01:35:36
Speaker
Yeah, man. i They can't with good conscience be like, Caleros is good to play. Get back out there, Zach. I think you'll probably see him before the end of the year. like he he is such a He loves football, but someone's going to have to stop him and shake him and be like, hey, dude, you've done enough in this league. You're going to be a Hall of Famer.
01:35:56
Speaker
like You're all good. um And then the Ticats got a massive win um last week and... you know Just when you thought they were kind of getting a little rocky, they find a way to use the motivation with the ah Ted.
01:36:10
Speaker
it Gavia? Gavia, yes. Shout out to him. Rest in peace. He's been amazing. They use that as motivation. a lot of like you know All the shirts on the sideline, all the fans holding the little 21. That's cool.
01:36:23
Speaker
um cool Yeah, it was awesome. Big win for the Tiger Cats. and Almost a crazy backdoor cover in that game. Yes, yes. Oh my God. like it It came within yards. like I was screaming at my TV when Strebler took off on that last run, and he got so close to ruining that.
01:36:44
Speaker
Yeah, thankfully we were on the right side because that would have just been, ah we can take a two and two week because we kind of did those picks on the fly a little bit last week. Like we said, we kind of got screwed with the McLeod Bethel Thompson news.
01:36:58
Speaker
um But yeah, like we're still there. we're We're very competent in the CFL picks this season and we're going to continue that this week. Yes, we are. We will now move to close out the podcast with our week.
01:37:12
Speaker
What is it? 16? We're deep. I actually don't do have it. Quick check here. Week 16. Yeah. week 16 picks. We are now 27 17. so week sixteen picks we are now twenty seven and seventeen Still up units.
01:37:29
Speaker
Tough two and two last week with we got out to a hot start winning our first two picks and then both, you know, getting kind of crushed by that Saskatchewan game. I would say there's lots to like on the board this week.
01:37:42
Speaker
And I think the one that I like the most starting out here is The Blue Bombers as one and a half point favorites on the road in Ottawa. Strebler is good for, you know, one or two games where he surprises you and there's no better time or no better opponent to do it than the Ottawa Red Blacks.
01:38:02
Speaker
I just think that this is a classic spot where you kind of think Winnipeg's down and out and then they pull one of these wins out. I'm getting points with it.
01:38:13
Speaker
I'll take Winnipeg all day in this. Yeah. And, you know, we've been kind of harping on it all year. The red blacks at home doesn't have the same juice that it did last year. So I'm not too worried about that. I love the pick.
01:38:25
Speaker
You know, we've been scared to do it. I've certainly been scared to do it all year. Fading the Argos. ah i I was kicking myself last week. Like we knew it, like the Elks, that line three and a half points. They're, you know, pretty even teams.
01:38:39
Speaker
And of course they cover Argos win. So it's best of both worlds. Not, not making that mistake again. I'm fading Jared Deggie. Take the owls are currently five and a half. So that's the number we're getting this week. Open at two and a half, like Damian said.
01:38:53
Speaker
And, uh, this is, this is no disrespect to the team. It's just, I'm fading the court the third string quarterback. Yeah. Yeah. It's very fair. Um, I got no qualms with that. Uh,
01:39:05
Speaker
this is ah This is a fun pick. I'm going to go Lions Stamps over 54 and a half. I know the Stamps defense is really good, but with how many points the Elks put on them a few weeks ago, Lions offense is kind of running hot right now. And I think that Stamps ah offense against this Lions defense is going to eat. I just think this game's a perfect recipe for a ton of points.
01:39:31
Speaker
Yep, I love it. And to finish this off, I will be going with...
01:39:37
Speaker
I think I got take the points in this matchup. That's it's the Saturday night finale. I don't like love this game, but like, I'm going to take the Elks plus six and a half.
01:39:48
Speaker
I am. I'm going to take the plus six and a half I just feel like that's a lot of points. I think Fajardo finds a way to just keep them in the mix in this game. Like if you look back on, they probably should have beat the Argos last week.
01:39:59
Speaker
I almost took the over in this game. Cause it's two teams that have been putting up a ton of points recently. Uh, but, I'm going to take the Elks and I think they might have life on the money line. That's interesting. Yeah, it moved. It opened at Ticats five and a half. yeah is I think Justin Rankin is a huge key to this game. Like part of the reason the Argos won that game is they completely shut him down in the running game.
01:40:21
Speaker
If the Elks can get a running game out of Rankin in this game, I think they are completely alive. Yeah, yeah, it's, I think Hamilton does win the game, but it just six and half points is a lot. And I think Fajardo is a guy who's never going to let the game get out of reach.
01:40:37
Speaker
thats That is my mindset in this pick. yeah Yeah, I don't hate that at all. um And that'll do it for our CFL picks and our CFL thoughts. A lot of football we went over in this podcast. We are we are in the mix here. It's football all week long.
01:40:52
Speaker
Yeah, it's fun though. Like this is what you this what you do it for. um You know, but I'm starting to get back in shape. I hope you are too. So yeah, it's nice. And like like you said, like CFL is close. We're close. And the playoff race is unbelievable right now. Every team, like the Red Blacks, maybe if they find a way to beat the Bombers, then I'll kind of pay attention to them. But every team except Ottawa right now has a, is within a win of a playoff spot or a loss of being out of a playoff spot. Except for, you know, the two teams at top,
01:41:22
Speaker
of the, uh, conferences and Calgary, but yeah, it's, it's an awesome playoff race, uh, start paying attention to it. And then, you know, the NFL is just starting to shape up and college is starting to kind of, we're starting to get to the real football games in college season. The, the gimmies are starting to go away.
01:41:39
Speaker
Yeah. Except for Clemson, they are deader than dead. Um, but that'll do it for our NFL week to preview our CFL week 16, uh, sorry, NFL week to recap.
01:41:51
Speaker
CFL week 16 preview um' for this episode. Until next week, Patrick, I'll see you. See you, Damien.