Transcript
Speaker: Alright lads, welcome back to another episode of Who's Got the Ball. Myself and Shane here once again. i need to stick with what I said. You always forget it, but I need to stick with what I said. James Kellett is my name.
Speaker: I'm here with Shane Fleming and Michael Sheehan is to join us for our NFL and NBA portions. Shane, what is the crack? Yeah, it's been a big week for us. and It's been our our busiest week as um semi-professional podcast hosts. This is our third episode in three days, recording it on Wednesday instead of Thursday this week because you're going to what promises to be the best concert of your life tomorrow night by all accounts with J. Cole.
Speaker: And we have the Hard Count UK podcast. We're recording that on Friday. I apologize to the boys, but I did forget the name of their podcast at the end of the episode when I was trying to to tell people what was coming. it's It's been a long day of recording. where We're at this coming on two hours now. So I just want to get the apology out there before i even go on and become friends with them. But we are doing that on Friday. So we'll we'll share that with you as well at the end of the week.
Speaker: so And that's just just living. yeah nothing Nothing to write home about, thankfully. What about yourself? Tell us about J. Cole. Yeah, I'm buzzing for that now. That's tomorrow. As you said, we're recording in a day early. um His final tour, Fall Off. I cannot wait. It's supposed to be like an over two hour ish show. he has so many songs that he's going to do all his all his greatest as well as the new album so yeah i just cannot wait it'll be my third time seeing him in ireland so i'm absolutely buzzing um but yeah as you said a really busy week and nba preview on monday go back and listen to that if you haven't already everything you need to know for the nba season
Speaker: the usual Gaelic gridiron appearance for me and Shane, um, came out on Wednesday. And then this episode is coming to your ears on Thursday after recording on Wednesday as well. So yeah, recording Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and then Friday, as you said, with the hard count UK guys, um, for some NFL weekend preview. So preview a lot more games than we get on our episode today.
Speaker: But yeah, go and give that a listen when it does come out. Plenty of us for you and if we you don't get enough already. So let's get into what happens in this week's episode. We started with football. Myself and Shane talked about the Premier League. Brighton got the performance of the weekend against Crystal Palace.
Speaker: They have a big weekend coming up now against Liverpool. Yeah, Brighton again getting it. They deserve it. 5-0 winners. And then Chelsea versus Spurs was the game we previewed. Yeah. That is the 5.30pm game on Saturday. So we give our predictions and keep an eye out for Shane's write-up on that game afterwards.
Speaker: As we are doing going forward, he's going to write up the game that we do preview, which is great. and First one went out last week, so give that a read. Gone chance then. i am in the lead. 13-6. Shane needs to get that five-pointer to come back with his underdog picks. We then but welcome the Michael in.
Speaker: to talk NFL and NBA first up was are the Niners injuries going to catch up with them or can they go all the way despite them we talked about the Jalen Hurts issue with the blood clots and how that was handled by the Eagles and you'll listen you'll hear our thoughts there and that won't get into it again and but none of us were happy with how that was handled Patriots at Bears Thursday night football we previewed that um usually don't preview Thursday night football games because we record on a Thursday but This week, early, got the Thursday night football game in as a preview. It is a banger.
Speaker: Dying set Texans then as another preview for the NFL before we did move into our King of the Hill locks. That segment has been coming to you for the last few weeks, working with the guys over at King of the Hill. and NBA opening night reactions, Celtic at Pistons.
Speaker: and pissing getting the win there at home then the two road teams the Sixers and the Thunder getting wins over the Knicks and the Spurs our reactions to that and then NFL power rankings came in there just before that too where we we chatted about myself and Shane's NBA power rankings and we might get Michael on board for these he's going forward since he's on the episodes every week but he gave his thoughts on our top five picks And then we wrapped up with a game, the and NBA connections quiz. This time it was my turn to ask Shane, but Michael, he is an and NBA head. So he was part of this quiz and helped along with Shane. So that was very interesting. And that's all you can need to let's see if you can figure out the answers as well as the lads did. But yeah, let's, let's get into the action. We won't hold you up any longer with this intro and hope you enjoy the episode.
Speaker: So we're going to start with football this week. um As usual, talking about the best performance of the weekend in the Premier League. Brighton seem to be our occurring topic on the podcast in terms of how well they've played. But look, and when you beat somebody 5-0 and score a goal from the halfway line, we're going to have to give you performance of the weekend. They beat Palace 5-0 at home. First 10 minutes was a blitzing. um They were 3-0 up and that included that Gomez halfway line goal.
Speaker: Just obliteration. Nine shots on target to one. 26 touches in opposition box to 10. Purely outplayed Palace every single part of the game. But Brighton are a dangerous, dangerous team this year.
Speaker: Yeah, it was utter humiliation for Palace. and They consider this a derby. Still not sure why. But if this is how you show up to your derby matches, then I think your manager is is not long for the Premier League world, to be perfectly honest. It was just...
Speaker: I know it was game over after 10 minutes, but they didn't even try and show any fight after the rest of the game. And Brighton just literally from minute one to minute 90, they just did not take the foot off the throat. 17 shots all in to eight. As you just mentioned, they had exactly two on the XG, which is always nice to see.
Speaker: I just love a ah good round number on the XG Palace at 0.77. So that's not much good. It's just one of those games where... like If you just look at the stats, you're like, oh yeah, that was a hammering. But then you watch the game you see, oh, Brighton are actually just so, so dangerous. Every single time they go out, they beat Arsenal 3-0. They did the same to Coventry. They beat them 5-0 and they blitzed them.
Speaker: That was in the last 15 minutes. They blitzed them. It was 2-0 going into the last 15 and they scored three as well. It's like once they get their tails up, it's very, very hard to stop them. And if they got their tails up here,
Speaker: And that Diego Gomez goal is its goal of the season. It's not even one of those ones where he's like, he hasn't just looped it up. He's just ah he's literally just drilled it over the keeper's head. it's it's It's absolutely ridiculous. It's just some finish. And that's the form they're on. And Fabian Hirster has him playing such nice football every single week. They are a joy to watch.
Speaker: I'm just hoping they won't be a joy to watch this coming weekend. Yeah, they do face Liverpool away this weekend. um i think the Gomez one, he barely had any space as well, which makes it even more impressive. Yeah, it's ridiculous. Just to do that is crazy. I think they're just a level above so many other teams it's this season. And i think not getting Jor have actually helped them because...
Speaker: They are in such a good spot. They can get really good this year possibly finish even in the Champions League spots, and then get into Europe next year and build a squad even more. Whereas if they were in it this year, we might not be seeing them as well.
Speaker: They are in Europe. Sorry, I meant in the Champions League in the champions league this year. are in like they were I know they didn't get close to that, but if they didn't push, like say if they were pushing the end of last year, they got into the Champions League or they finished that fifth spot, I think it would be too soon for a team like them. Whereas now, looking at them this season...
Speaker: they are a Champions League team. They clearly are up to that level. And you're looking at the Champions League games this week, like just watching their United get absolutely battered. Brighton are better team than United by a mile. They should be in that competition. But... It's good that they're not in it just yet and they can build without that kind of worry of Champions League where you have to play the best to your abilities every single week, like three times a week, essentially. Like Conference League to them is a bit of a joke. They kind of should win it without even trying too hard. Yeah. So they can rest players in that. um So, yeah, I think that it's better for them that they're not in the Champions League yet. But I think that is where they're ultimately destined for. They're two points behind Arsenal. They dismantled them just before the international break. They have a plus 18 goal difference. The number of goals they've scored, 23, is up there with some of the best teams ever in the Premier League at this point after seven games. You mentioned Liverpool next. and
Speaker: The leakiness of the Liverpool defence in the last few games has to be something that the Brighton players are licking their lips at because they love to score goals and it's going to be a a tough one for Liverpool at home.
Speaker: Yeah, um the two Champions League games are a bit of an anomaly in terms of the goals conceding because there's no games where you're going to change both your centre halves at the same time and there's no where you're going to change two of your back four after um at half time as well. So I'm not putting too much stock into dos to those six goals conceded over the two games. Now you still concede them and...
Speaker: Villarreal in particular got in behind Liverpool's defence very, very easily, which is something that Brighton are really, really good at, which is a problem. But this will be Brighton's fourth game in 10 days after they're going to Czech Republic tomorrow or Czechia to play Javelinic.
Speaker: So I'm just hoping that at some point they are going to be tired. It's probably full backup though. Full backup team, Yeah, they probably will. But even still, you you're still travelling. So I just have to hope that Liverpool are more used to playing four games in 10 days than Brighton are. And they have a they have a bit of a slower start because Liverpool need to get out the blocks quickly this weekend because if they don't, then I think on current form, Brighton are a better team than Liverpool as well. I think Brighton are probably the second best team England that aren't cheats after Arsenal.
Speaker: um At the moment, I do genuinely rate them that highly. So i think it's's it's just all set up to be a nightmare at Anfield for Liverpool and unless they can get a goal in the opening 10 or 15 minutes and just try and kind of hold them in place and it'll be back to their first choice back four hopefully Rao will be needed a lot in this game at right back to kind of slot in as a an extra centre back I feel and Gavin Murch might have to do with the hybrid role he attempted to do for the second half um on Tuesday evening as well but I'm never going back Liverpool to lose going him to win 2-0 but it would not surprise me at all if this ends up being 3-1 Brighton and Liverpool have no answers for him
Speaker: Yeah. was it not the Was it not the best strength line-up against Villarreal as well in the first half at the back, starting forward? Yeah. No. Shimakas. Shimakas.
Speaker: Van Dijk. Van Dijk had a sinker. Yeah, and he came on against Lask and all three goals came in against him. like So I don't buy the argument that this doesn't matter because all six were against Van Dijk in 120 minutes.
Speaker: So it really does matter when your best defender is there. It's not like ragtime players right there. Yeah, but bring them on after... Yeah, but you're bringing himself and a different centre-half on in 60. That's bogus, man. It's against Lask. It's nuts. I don't care. Even still, you're still... so like You can't just change... It really annoyed me when he did this against Lask, and it really annoyed me when he did again last night he's against Villarreal, where he just keeps chopping. And I know you have the rest players and...
Speaker: It just, it drove me insane when saw this night. He had taken off a row at halftime and just moved the midfielder to right back again. And then he takes off Jacquet and brings on Gomez. And Gomez is just having an absolute stinker of a start to the season as well. I'm not making excuses for Van Dijk. He is at the scene of the crime. So there is obviously something to be looked at. That header he gave up for the first goal last night.
Speaker: I saw it in a nightmare I had the week before. Like how... a man of his quality is getting that so badly wrong. It's just down to a lack of concentration and not giving the opponent enough respect.
Speaker: I don't think he's going to not give Brighton enough respect this weekend and hopefully he'll be back to his best. Shaq just looks like a Rolls Royce then beside him. So... yeah Yeah. I'm not looking forward to it and...
Speaker: I don't know. I just think that that, like, obviously you are a Liverpool fan, but there's a, like, the the tinge of bias there is a huge because, like, Araujo came off at halftime yesterday and you conceded less goals in the second half.
Speaker: Yes, i'm not saying Araujo's not a good player, but, I mean, it's not a bad decision by Areola to take him off at halftime. He'll be fresh for the weekend. And then Van Dijk, as I've said, you did say he was at the scene of the crime, but, like...
Speaker: To say that it doesn't matter, it it matters against Lask to concede three goals when he comes on. It is Lask. Like, and they're in the Champions League, but they're terrible. So coming up against Brighton is going to be really tough.
Speaker: I do think the defense is an issue. You can't just write off six goals in two games and say, well, I'm chalking up to this and that. It's actually, it is ten goals in our last four games conceded after not conceding any in three or four previous. So They just need to get back to doing the basics again and especially against this Brighton team. You can't let that striker, Konstantinus, start running at you. You can't have Diego Gomez running at you. You can't let any them run at you. It is going to be a tough afternoon for that back four.
Speaker: Kerkis needs to remember he has a brain and use it because he's not been very good at that since he was at Liverpool. He was far better at Bournemouth. Rahul just needs to play like a centre-back and just just let the forward players who do the forward running. He needs to have a midfield at 1-2 be behind the ball and not constantly running in front of us.
Speaker: So it needs to be grabbing, which I, I, I nearly sat in the only, he's the only one that does want to be behind the ball of all the midfielders he has, but I'm not the manager. And so we would see what he does. And you just have to trust him on it.
Speaker: It's like, it's, it's more often there. um It is more often for areola teams that you will see high scoring. I think the clean sheets are going to be less likely. you were going to say about Brighton. We need to say more about Brighton because we talk more about Liverpool and this Brighton parade than we have Brighton.
Speaker: This Brighton team, they're a top four team all the way, bar their name. And that's down to more people's bias than anything else. Because when the likes of Villa were doing it, Villa have won the European Cup in their history, blah, blah, blah.
Speaker: Brighton have just kind of come out of nowhere. And look what they're doing now. but We said it in our pre-season, or very early on, that Brighton need a trophy this year to really cement themselves as one of the best teams in England because the squad is there. They should be winning trophies. and They're the top scorers in the league and they're full value for it. All their games are exciting and they're so solid at the back.
Speaker: and putting it Even though they are putting up five, it's 5-0, 3-0, 5-0 and 3 of their games this season. Even against Chelsea, they were unlucky to lose that and that's the one game where they deep their defence fell apart and since then he's kind of just...
Speaker: Just rallied him up again. Busevic looks like one of the signings of the summer already and he's only 19 years old and he's learning a lot from Lewis Dunk. Petty Oglu can play right back and play left back. mo Moving the cowper up to left wing is one of the most genius things any manager has done recently. He looks absolutely incredible there. um They're just a team of good young players. and They'll have Matoma to come back to, which will be huge. Yeah, exactly. And Mintay as well.
Speaker: so like yeah that that that'll be their starting wingers when they come back and that they'll be fresh for the second half of the season I just I think they will push that top four and if they beat Liverpool if I'm not mistaken I think it puts them 10 points ahead of Liverpool after 8 games and that's a great place to be if you're a team looking for the top four because Liverpool are pushing top four as well hopefully this season so if you're 10 points clear of them With 90 points left on the table. I know 90 is a loss, but 10 points is lot to make up on a team who's playing 7 ahead. So they're 4 ahead at the moment.
Speaker: Yeah, they're 4 ahead right now. 7 points is a lot for a team to try and make up. Yeah, it is. So it's a massive game for Liverpool. and They're right on the heels of Arsenal too. And they're up there with that Arsenal team. I think based on how they've played soap so far, I'm definitely back in Brighton. I think that they should be the favourites going into this one. I'd say it's probably even enough.
Speaker: and But yeah, they've been the better team. And it's going to be a good game, I think. and But we do have a game to preview. as with last week shane did a write-up on newcastle versus villa after we previewed it gave it a watch as our game of the weekend um and so give that a read to hear his thoughts and this will be the same this weekend chelsea versus spurs we'll have a write-up over on the website and following the game so this one is interesting because spurs have just picked up their first points of the or first win of the season should i say they had three draws in their last four before that but now they finally got a win on the board
Speaker: But they have just won one of their last 10 away to Chelsea. And Chelsea are coming off a 2-0 win away at Everton, which is arguably more impressive than the 5-1 win they had at Bournemouth. So this is not a good time for Spurs to play Chelsea.
Speaker: It's actually one win in their last 34 visits at Centrebridge. Well, which is and outrageous. That's yeah, insane. I just don't see how Spurs have enough to get anything out of this game again. i know what they got their first win at the weekend, but that was against a newly promoted team, probably the one that looked the weakest of all the promoted teams so far. Yeah.
Speaker: And they were the last team in the top seven divisions of England to get to get a win on the board, which is quite damning as well. I was kind of hoping it would stay that way coming into this podcast. It's still be the only team the top seven without a win. But like yeah but but Madison and Marmouche made a massive difference. Madison being fit is a massive difference from both that Chelsea front trio just firing at all cylinders constantly.
Speaker: So Pedro looks absolutely incredible. Neto looks kind of, he looks a bit revitalized as a right wing back because he's a load of space to run into. And then Pedro and Palma are just, they're loving the fact to get to play together and live together and do everything together.
Speaker: They're just having a great time. Chelsea's front three and Marmouche, well like I know they got a clean sheet at weekend, but they do still look susceptible to giving away chances at the back. It's just can Spurs take them with Marmoutch, with Solanke, with Maddison. Kyrgyzsevski finally back on the pitch.
Speaker: I think I saw somewhere there'd been 35 concerts at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since Kyrgyzsevski last stepped on the pitch. It's insane. Like he was out for 18 months or something. It's absolutely wild.
Speaker: I'm back in Chelsea 3-0 here. I just think it's going to be a tough Saturday afternoon for Spurs. But yeah, I actually don't have any buts. Chelsea are just going go out there and just steam rot around from the start, I think.
Speaker: Yeah, after Chelsea's lost to Brentford, was like, this is why we can't trust them. But then they come back in two huge wins after the international break with Palmer back to his best. um I think...
Speaker: Even though you mentioned ah positives for Spurs, like with Madison coming back and scoring, Kuliszewski playing also, Kudis back as well and for the last few weeks and getting an assist. All these are positive, but I don't think it's enough against the way that Chelsea are playing right now.
Speaker: And it's a step too far, really, for Spurs against one of the best attacking teams in the Premier League. So... I'm similar to you. I'm going with Chelsea to win 3-1. I really like the look of them. and We're both along the same lines. And I have to ask you, did ah were you joking there but when you said Pedro and Palmer living together?
Speaker: was that serious? Oh, yeah, I was. Yeah, no. i know I was saying Rodgers and Palmer, just the fact they're best friends. No, I actually haven't a clue. They could be living to together. I genuinely don't. I don't know the ins and outs of their friendship, to be perfectly honest.
Speaker: I was like, how have I missed this news that two professional footballers are living together and they're both on how much money per week. Yeah, I have to just check in on that. Okay, let's move into Ganshant before we welcome Michael in for the rest of the episode to talk NFL and NBA.
Speaker: Last week, I had two correct. Shane, unfortunately, you did not have any. um We both had Hull to beat. fulham think was the only viable option in the premier league but it did not come off fulham got a 1-0 win um shane you had the falcons to beat the bears and the jets to beat the patriots they both did not come off both a touchdown or so loss i had the texans to go to london and beat the jags i really liked this one and it came off and then sticking in the afc south i had the titans to beat the coles get their first win of the season and they did it for me
Speaker: somehow so the score right now is i am 13 points and sean you are six or five point could help you jump up here um so i'll go first i've got the chiefs to beat the seahawks on sunday night football the chiefs are 31 to 25 the seahawks are 25 to 37 these are the weird battery 65 odds but anyway the seahawks are our favorites surprisingly even though the chiefs have won all their games it's obviously the home advantage but yeah i really like the chiefs in this game and i just think they're going to do a job on the seahawks and win by whatever means necessary just because they have the know-how to keep going and get to 6-0 then i've got two premier league ones it's the first time since i've gone this split in a while but i've got villa 15 to 4 at home to man city who are 8 to 11 at saturday at 12 30 saturday at 12 30 can be an interesting kickoff um phila are winning in the champions league as we record this they're they're gonna get that win against viking and that's gonna do their their are confidence the world go to continue this winning streak and city are gonna have to lose at some point so i'm going with villa to get that win against them And then next up I've got Bournemouth. There's no reason why United should be the favourites in any game in the Premier League or in any competition. United are even in Old Trafford. Bournemouth 16-5. Bournemouth need to get a win at some stage. I think they'll get it against United, whether Carrick is still there or not, because United are terrible and they just got battered again tonight. So yeah, those are my three picks.
Speaker: Yeah, so I have the two Premier League ones the same as you. um I have Villa and I have Bournemouth. I have Villa to beat the Chambchester City Chiefs. and I just wanted to throw that out there in case you didn't say it.
Speaker: And then I was going to go with with the Chiefs as well, but I'm not going to because I'm not having the same tree as you and I need a five-pointer more than you do. So I'm going to go with the Paris game and go back to Saints at 11-8 to beat the Steelers who are four to seven joe well It's one of those games where anything can happen in these international games. And it just takes the Saints or the Steelers have a slow start like they did last week to score three points in the first three quarters of last weekend's game.
Speaker: If they do that against the Saints team, then I think they could find it a lot harder to come back. I don't think the Saints be as forgiving as the Buccaneers were. It might not happen. Saints are underdogs for a reason. But i at 11 to 8, I just want to try and get a five point out of this. I do think those two Premier League ones are...
Speaker: a really, really good good good shot at getting me there. So I'm just throwing the Saints in on top instead of the Chiefs. But I think the Chiefs will win that as well. Yeah, I like that pick. I think anything can happen, as you said, in these international games. And the first time in Paris, it could just be, could be anything. So yeah, I like that pick. Mental, if it happens.
Speaker: Yeah, it would be would be crazy even what's going on over there. um But yeah, let's welcome Michael in for more NFL chat while we're in on the topic. Okay, so Michael is on board with us once again for NFL and NBA chat. We're going to start with the NFL um because we did have a full NBA preview earlier this week. If you did miss it, go back and give that a listen. and But we will give our thoughts on opening night, of course, at the end of this episode.
Speaker: First up, as I said, NFL, are the 49ers injuries going to catch up with them or can they look past them and still go all the way this year? Jane, what do you think? I do think their injuries are going to catch up to them, but I think it will likely happen during the regular season.
Speaker: So they have started 6-0 and I think they're pretty much guaranteed a playoff place with how they are playing. But if they keep losing key personnel, if they lose Mike Evans again for an extended period, then their receivers are kind of...
Speaker: on on bare, kind of bare legs. But outside of that, then, this little McCaffrey, he was always open to an injury. You never know when he's going to go down. And George Kittle... Hopefully he doesn't get injured again after the torture here he's had. But if any of those three go down, i think the ah offense loses an awful lot of the pressure it's been putting on teams.
Speaker: And I think that would be big losses. still think they can win it because if they can keep 90% of their team on the fields, then I think they are still one of the best cores in the in the whole league. But this power plant, they need to just get away from it or they're never going to be safe again.
Speaker: Those scientists did their research, but no, we're not buying it. We're not buying it. There's something going on. yeah I don't believe it. They may be of injuries, though. I'll paint the picture here, Michael, before I get your thoughts. But on IR now alone, we've got Demarcus Robinson, CJ West, Jake Tongas, Dijon Sribling, Nate Hobbs, Nick Martin, Derek Forrest, and a handful more.
Speaker: On PUP, we've got Isaac Arendo. Dre Greenlaw is suspended. And then players who aren't on IR but are injured too are Deebo Samuel, Nick Bosa, Marquez Siegel. They're all out. And then Mike Evans is also questionable. Now, Christian Kirk is designated to make his return, so he may play his first game and make his debut this weekend at the Falcons. But then they're heading into the bye, which they really need to get these players right. like I think if they could...
Speaker: just nurture the guys that are out like Deebo, Nick Bosa, Mike Evans and move from there. I think they could be okay. and But yeah, it's, it's a damning list when you look at it all together. Yeah.
Speaker: The 49ers, I feel like we say this every year, they're just stricken with the injury bug at a certain point. I don't care what the scientists say. Like we were saying,
Speaker: Even just the manifestation of people believing that it affects them, I think, at this point, is just killing the players. um I'm kind of with Shane. i I think they, well, Shane, you said they they're good to go for the Super Bowl or no?
Speaker: Yeah, I still think they can win this. That's what I was saying. I think they can win it as well. and edge even Even with everything that's going on, ah Purdy's no stranger to thrown to a backup or a backup of a backup. He's had plenty of time to get used to that.
Speaker: and And Chris McCaffrey is going to do his best impression of a wide receiver, a tight end and a running back rolled up into one. Forget your man's name on the Saints, who was quarterback for two years. Oh, Taysom Hill. Taysom Hill. I'm sure if Brock Purdy hurt his leg, he'd step in at quarterback as well.
Speaker: Just pure athlete back there, wants to do everything. you'd hope that even if he goes down, Caelan Black can kind of step up and do what he did in that week one game. But um some crazy stats about this team is Purdy only has five sacks and we're six weeks in.
Speaker: um And on top of that, there's only been two other times Shanahan has went 4-0 or better. And both times he made it to the Super Bowl and lost. So even even if we're assuming it's the same as the other time, it's destined to lose in the Super Bowl, it looks like, according to the stats. So i think...
Speaker: But once you kind of get rolling like this, your quarterback has confidence even dealing with all of these injuries. I think only thing that could hurt you really bad is a Chris McCaffrey injury.
Speaker: but Yeah, well, it's interesting interesting you mention him and Caelan Black because I thought that they looked pretty good. versus and the commanders as a duo 4.3 yards per carry for cmc and four yards per carry for black on 16 and eight carries respectively so a nice load there between the two of them obviously two touchdowns for cmc we did notice like mike evans he racked up 94 yards off three catches but then that achilles injury did bother him and he went out it doesn't look like a thing that's going to be long term so if you can keep mike evans around the fringes and you do get a Christian Kirk back out there.
Speaker: i know they've got Brandon Cooks there. He'd be fine as third option. And then George Kittle and CMC. If that's your core and you don't have to run CMC into the ground because you have Caelan Black, I know they kind of did go to him a lot against the commanders, but that's because Evans went out.
Speaker: i think they I do think that they can make it all the way. The biggest thing for me has always been, I've said it before, if Trent Williams goes down, then this is where the team struggles because... Whenever he was injured, it didn't matter who else was available. Pardee has struggled throughout the years. But if Trent Williams is available, even when Pardee was without a few years back, when he was without CMC, without Debo, without Kittle, he still looked good because he has that protection. And Shanahan can scheme it up for anybody. The other players just have to make the plays because Pardee's going to get them the ball.
Speaker: So I think they do have ah a really strong chance as long as they keep rotating the players in and out of the lineup. but I think it wouldn't even be any harm now if they rested some guys a little bit on reduced snap counts into the rest of the regular season. If they do get to 7-0 by beating the Falcons, get into your bye week rest players...
Speaker: They can go full blaze into the game after that. But from there, take it easy because you have your work done, as Shane said. You're 6-0. You're likely in the playoffs. Yes, of course, you want that bye week. But you're in a really strong position to get it. You're the only undefeated team outside of the Vikings in the NFC. And i don't think the Vikings are going to keep it up because of their offensive struggles. So I think, yeah, they're in such a strong spot. I like their defense a lot. I really like how they've looked this season. Like Malik Mustafa was on fire against the commanders, absolutely destroying lads with tackles out a safety spot. You've still got Fred Warner. Dre Greenlaw is suspended, but when he comes back, he'll be ready to go violent as ever.
Speaker: So yeah, I'm really liking this team. i don't know. I think looking at it right now, the outlook in the NFC, there's no one else really standing out to me in the and NFC other than the 49ers. I think that they could win it from this point forward. They look the best team.
Speaker: I think Brock Purdy is such a big reason for that as well with the way he started the season. I know we've mentioned him numerous times now, but just his stats are just incredible. He has 20 passes of 20 plus yards. He's that 82 yard completion as well.
Speaker: he's like He's not just ducking and diving. He's out there throwing big plays. He's making everything work. I think he only has two interceptions so far through six games. And when you're looking at 20 passes, 20-plus yards, that's a ball that's risky.
Speaker: And he only has two interceptions. So everything he's doing is measured and it's explosive and it's really helping. And the way that they kind of use the offense when they have had them on the field, like they haven't overused CMC to this point. They've kind of... da've Yes, he's done a lot of work, but normally he's doing 10 times this amount of work through six games. They are kind of resting him monday day on the job as well. So i I just think if they keep going the way they're going and if they do get to 7-0, go into that bye week, then i just don't see how anyone is going to catch him there.
Speaker: they're comfortably the most impressive team and in all of the NFL for me so far. Even the likes of the Bills and the the the Chiefs who do look really good, but they have their question marks about him. The only question marks are ifs if he gets injured, if he gets injured, if he gets injured. If none of them get injured and it's a freak for the rest of the season, they get everyone back and they keep all their core healthy, then I don't see who can actually stop them because I don't think anyone touches them when when they are when they are gone.
Speaker: yeah Yeah, I think so. yeah I think it's hard to stop them rolling, Michael. just just Just one more step to cap it off because I agree with everything said. Purdy last week just completed his last few passes to become the all-time leader in career passing. route like With all the injuries we're talking about, all the issues, he's still the head in career passing rating. This guy can deal the ball as well as anybody in the league.
Speaker: um It kind of feels like how people were talking about the Rams last year. They just seem to be this unstoppable the league. Niners are doing it in a different way where they don't have Pukunikua on the wide receiver, but it just doesn't seem to matter who's on that wide receiver role. They're just catching touchdowns for this man.
Speaker: Yeah, I think part he gave an interesting interview that was brought out, I think, I don't know if it was over the summer and it was just released, but he said that he sees about 60% of the passes. Like he sees where it's gone and the rest he just is anticipating who's going to be where they are. And there's players in his face and he just trusts that his guys get to where they need to go.
Speaker: That shows he knows the playbook and he trusts Shanahan and the rest of the offensive players more than anything. So when you hear things like that, you just know the offense is humming completely. um So yeah, I don't think there's anything that for any of us that could slow them down outside of more injury crisis, but they look like possibly after this bye they could get over that.
Speaker: um We're on the injury topic right now and Galen Hurts is a big question mark, the handling of this situation. So I think it would be remiss not to at least mention it. Myself and Shane gave some thoughts over on the Gaelic Red Iron podcast this week, if you want to go and give that a listen for more NFL. But...
Speaker: Michael, we want to know your thoughts on this too, because today there's been an investigation requested by the NFL Players Association to set the groundwork on this. Hearts essentially had a superficial blood clot in his calf after getting cleated in a game.
Speaker: um They knew it was there. They said it it was OK because it was superficial. It it looked like it wasn't going to move. But then prior to the game against the Jags, they got more concerned about it. They did not let him sleep for 36 hours because it was a danger to his life if he slept.
Speaker: And then they still asked him to go out and play on 36 hours sleep, which is utterly outrageous. And even if he said himself he wants to play, they needed to tell him not to because that is simply not safe to put your body on the line in this sport.
Speaker: on 36 hours of no sleep with a blood clot in your calf that they're clearly concerned about. Now the blood clot has traveled, there's blood clots in his lungs, he's been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and he's on blood thinner so he's out for the season. His life is at was at risk because of this injury and the handling of it seems far from correct by this Eagles organization.
Speaker: Yeah, it's just absolutely completely edge joke. like yeah We look across the NFL and there's a million situations where players want to put themselves in a position where they could hurt themselves more. We see and Jackson Dare on the sidelines, the the Giants taking away his uniform after tearing his knee because he did not care. He wanted to get back into that game.
Speaker: How many times do we see players that pop up and say they're fine, say that they don't have a concussion and still get sidelined for a game for for two weeks um because we need to prevent them from being a danger to themselves.
Speaker: And all of these are issues that come later down the line, whether it's mobility issues when you're elderly, whether it's cognitive issues when it comes to health. He could have died, like, this month, but this week.
Speaker: Like, Not, oh, he might not be able to run with his kid. Oh, he might not be able to remember his family when he's 70. Like, he could not be here.
Speaker: Which is already bad enough, and then this is just another extreme. it It's just a complete joke. The Eagles know it's bad with how they address the media coming out afterwards, saying, oh, let's get it all out in front of you now. They knew it was going to sound horrible. The drip feeding of the reports coming out.
Speaker: um calling in their favours to Shefty to try and make it look reasonable. It's not. To echo what every Eagles fan is saying about Nick Sirian. He's always been kind of a controversial figure when it comes to and Philly fans.
Speaker: We seem to go through waves of being in love with him and loving certain quotes that come out after great wins. And then we have these games, these weird games in the middle of the seasons, these down years in between playoff play off winning seasons and Super Bowl features. And i just think it's time to bring a change to the coaching position. I think this investigation that's going to come out is not going to make anything look better.
Speaker: And i don't care how much Jalen Hurts... Jalen Hurts could have sat his ass on my front door, refused to move until I put him as QB1. He's not playing.
Speaker: We'll both sit at home. Like, it's just not, there's no justification for the coach. It's going to come down to the coach on who plays on game day. It doesn't matter what the GM says. doesn't matter about what anyone ah else says.
Speaker: Do you tell Jalen Hurts to go line up? Yes, you did. Therefore, this whole thing is just a mess. And i honestly, I think this seals the deal. I can't really see him staying after the summer with whatever the investigation is going to bring out. Whether or not they'll release all of the details, that's another story. But yeah i think that's my take on it. And I feel like there's a lot of Philly fans that are on my side.
Speaker: Yeah. As an Eagles fan that you are, like it's good to get your opinion on it. And like I think... and As a general NFL fan, just the handling of the situation is horrendous. And I think Sirianni, yes, obviously he had information, but it's the medical staff, it's the organization. i don't know how much trouble...
Speaker: everybody is in from this investigation, if any, but it will be interesting to watch. and on players, maybe, or coaches being out of the picture for the Eagles, Dan, do you think that Hurts will ever play for Philly again? Because a lot of word today is that he he might never put on that Kelly Green jersey again.
Speaker: No, I will be surprised at this point if he does. and I thought this was a year where they were going to move on from either Jalen Hurts or Nick Sirianni coming to the end of the year. I think now they're going have to move on from both. And I think it will come down to an organization decision on Nick Sirianni that it's just time, the gig is up, it is time for him to go.
Speaker: But I think Jalen Hurts is going to push for a move after this. I've never seen something so badly mismanaged as this injury was. And as Michael said, he wasn't even being dramatic because I said the same thing last night. Like he could very well have died if if he got a hit into his lungs that broke a rib or something or anything like a lung. Like it is literally that serious what they're after doing. And...
Speaker: there's no way he's ever going to want to wear that jersey again because he dress every time he puts it on, he'll just remember that they literally risked his life to play a match in London to earn him a couple of million quid. So I'd say he's gone. I'd say Sirianni is gone.
Speaker: And i think, to be honest, the Eagles are heading into a bit of a lull because they don't have much going from good at the moment and losing their kind of... They're facing franchise in Jalen Hurts and the coach who did win him that Super Bowl. But it's just going to be such a ah hard reset, I think, for Philly going forward.
Speaker: Yeah, I think you could see a trade for Saquon Barkley as well for a team that needs a running back. The Texans wanted him badly before he ended up with the Eagles, so and their running game is terrible. So I wouldn't be surprised if a team like that makes a swing. So they'll be a seller, I think, at this point because their season is done. and We'll move on to preview some games for the rest of this week's seven slate. so First up, we've got Thursday Night Football. This is Patriots at Bears. We don't usually preview Thursday Night Football because our episodes drop on a Friday morning, but this one is coming to you day early, and as I will be at the J. Cole concert Thursday night, so I cannot wait for that fall-off tour. I'm buzzing, but yeah.
Speaker: Bears, two and a half point favourites. Over 50 and a half is the points total line. It's an interesting matchup. um i think AJ Brown, he's going to have to step up and play better than he did against the Jets. Dan, you were talking about him on Gaelic Red Iron. I mentioned as well, like he had drops. You were saying he he nearly muffed that um onside kick as well to give the Jets a chance. And Romeo Dobbs going out is massive because I've been mentioning in the last few weeks how... Drake may is kind of connected with him in the red zone. So now it's going to have to be a J Brown. And then Caleb Williams, my God, coming back, looks so good, especially against pressure. I think he was perfect on his passes against pressure. And then another player that came back is Kyler Gordon and their cornerback. And if you look back to like, I think 2024,
Speaker: With Kyler Gordon in the team, the Bears have a top 10 defense statistically. And with him out of the team, they have a bottom five defense statistically. That's how big of a role he plays on this team.
Speaker: And he has been in and out with a lot of injuries. He only played like 15 snaps or something against the Falcons. As a cornerback, he had three sacks and two forced fumbles. Like he is an unbelievably good player. So I'm watching him this week to cause Drake May some trouble. What do you think, Michael? How is this matchup going to go?
Speaker: I think this is a cracker matchup for the first game of the week. I think this is going to knock my socks off, man. Look. I think both these offenses are going to go crazy. I'm going to over on the 50 points. I'm hoping for a 60 point game here. um I know we're talking about ah how these defenses are going to affect each other. I, for some reason, I've got it. I've got the feeling in my bones. I don't know. I think both of these teams are just going to go nuclear. Drake Mays finally hit the floor running. um
Speaker: Yes, Dobbs is down, but he's had ah more and more usage with Demario Douglas each week. ah Had a great week last week with A.J. Brown, kind of not stepping up into that role.
Speaker: I'm not super worried about A.J. Brown's playtime and how he was playing against the Jets last week. Look, it's his first game back after a couple of weeks off. um I think a lot of the New England offense has kind of shifted from what they were planning to do in week one from before AJ went down to now.
Speaker: And we've kind of seen Drake get used to that over the season. It might take another week before AJ Brown starts putting up crazy numbers again on on teams. But I do expect it to happen tomorrow against the Bears. I just think Caleb is going to have a field day as well. And it'll come down to which qe which QB makes the mistake first or which QB makes the first mistake in in crunch time.
Speaker: um Would have hit overtime on this game it was on King of the Hill. But to wait unfortunately not hit overtime to lock in on a different team. You'll have to you'll have to see what that is later.
Speaker: oh Big call. Shane, what do you think of this matchup? um I think the main thing for the Patriots AJ Brown quite literally cannot be any worse. and It would generally be impossible for him to be worse. So that's ah that's solid for him. Drake May started the season 117 183, 1,400 passing yards, 11 TDs and seven interceptions.
Speaker: And in the last three games, he's 10 touchdowns, one interception, his average 292.7 yards per game. But that was with having Romeo Dobbs. So he really does need AJ Brown to to step up and make things happen for him.
Speaker: Because if he sits in that pocket too long, that cornerback you just mentioned, whose name's are already gone out of my head, is going to do an awful lot of damage if if he gets a chance to run at Drake May. The Jets couldn't get near him.
Speaker: Yes, thank you. The Jets couldn't get near him last week. And I think that was a bit down to the Jets, but a lot down to the O-line. But that O-line now is completely and utterly beat up as well. So it'll be tough going for him to stay in the pocket for, to eat a sandwich, as he said himself, and then throw the ball. On the other side, the two games Caleo Williams has started and finished, Chicago averaged 45 points a game.
Speaker: And if they've averaged 15 points without him. So I just think with him back, it's going to be a shootout. Michael is probably going to get his wish of the overrun points. I am going with Chicago at home by boys thirty fiveve thirty Okay, you're going pretty high there. What do you go on your score, Michael? Who do you think is going to I'm going the Patriots.
Speaker: Oh, damn. I'm i'm going 35-32. thirty five thirty two I think it's field goal in overtime for the Patriots to win. That's what I'm i'm feeling it.
Speaker: um'm I'm thinking Chicago are going to win. They're the home team. um And it's a short week. I think it's going to be very tough for the Patriots to come and beat this team away.
Speaker: with that kind of defensive output. I think the Bears' defense is actually going to be quite good in this game. I think the Patriots won't want won't be too bad either, but I do think that Williams will eventually break this team down and get his way. I don't know. The the line is pretty high, and on a short week, I feel like it could like just sneak over it, like ah like a maybe like a 30-24, where you're like three points over the line. But I'm going with the the Bears to win by six. So yeah, let's go 30-24, because think... they're the better team at home um last nfl game to preview then is giants at texans in ireland it's 5 p.m because of the the change of clocks in the us but not here um so it's one of those early slates so you you're going to get to bed earlier after your sunday your sunday red zone watching um and the sunday night football game will be earlier if you're so inclined book
Speaker: Texans are minus 10.5 point favourites. The line is over 43.5. Look, they're coming off a huge win in London. the Giants, a crazy game against the Saints. Shane, what do you think is going to happen in Houston on Sunday?
Speaker: I think it could be a tough day for the Giants. um I know they had a tough day last week, but up until that, they hadn't really... missed Jackson Dart in terms of getting the results. They obviously missed his quarterback play because Jameis Winston is nowhere near where quarterback Jackson Dart was. But last week we kind of saw the lows and the lower lows of what Jameis Winston brings to a team.
Speaker: I think JJ McCarty has come in for this game after the way he finished last week. Yeah, he's confirmed to start now, so he's going be the starter. Oh, he? Okay, well, that was the only way. am actually surprised it took three weeks for him to get into starting team.
Speaker: um I still think the Texans are going to have too much air. I think their defense is starting to hum again. Their ah offense, there' they have four paid do or wide receivers now who are really good in Collins, Tankdale, Jalen Noel, and then Marvin Harrison Jr. trying to ramp up as well.
Speaker: I just don't see how the Giants can stop them from scoring too many points. um I think the Giants might struggle get going from the start with JJ. I think what he did last weekend is not something that you can expect him to show up and do every single week. I think that was more of a flash in the pan than it was a a sustained period. But look, he's he's there and he'll get a chance to show what he can do now. But I think the Texans could take it by seven or ten points.
Speaker: I'm sorry, James. Yeah, no, I i agree. i think um the Texans are the better team. that They're going to go on a run as they did last year, I think. um The only thing is the fact that their defense has been so poor this might make it a bit of a closer game than it should be. Because CJ Stroud is probably going to destroy the Giants defense like he did to the Jags because the Jags defense is way better than the Giants. Yes, they still did a job on them. They actually got a bit of a run game going for the first time this season. they'll probably be able to do that against the Giants who have ah a really poor rushing defense, but they do have a good passing defense, which might struggle, might cause CJ Stroud to struggle a little bit more than he did against the Jags in that regard, because the Jags, their cornerback play has been poor this season, whereas the Giants has been a lot better. So that's a one positive to keep it maybe a little bit closer. and But ultimately, I do think that Stroud has been way too good. And, Yeah, J.J. McCarthy, look, he came in 243 yards in 11 minutes. It's the most ever over an 11-minute period in the NFL.
Speaker: But it was a game where you're chasing a big... deficit So you're throwing the ball down the field as much as you can, which he won't be doing on a regular basis. and Now he did make some huge throws. Neighbors made some big catches, likely. um Even Charlie Jones is making big catches out there, which is wild. And it was a lot of backups in the game from both teams. So it was an odd one, but still he did his best. And he's obviously the better option to Jameis because at least there's a bit of hope there.
Speaker: Whereas with Jameis, you know what you're get. And the Texans are going to read him like a book. So JJ's unpredictability might make this game a little bit interesting. I think the Giants, this will probably go over for me, I think over 43 and a half. I think it will. I think the Texans probably win by 10, but I'm going to go thirty one twenty one with a late field goal to make it that 10-point gap where the Giants are hanging around, they're a touchdown down, but they can never get close enough. And then the Texans just put them out of sight at the end. and But yeah, ah one more thing before I throw it to you, Michael, it's hilarious. Like,
Speaker: Najee Harris was talking after the game saying, oh, you know, we have, I'm sick of playing in this running back by committee role. I want to play like whatever. Yeah. You were terrible so far since we signed you. And John Harbaugh said, oh, that's fine. Yeah. You want, you want a role? Yeah. There you go. You can be released and try to find another team because you're not good enough.
Speaker: Yeah, he released him. He told him to get out of town now. Oh, wow. and So that's the way serious football teams behave. And I'm happy with that because it's going to be back to Cam Scadabole this week after he was punished for his football by not playing last week and without a doubt. But yeah, that's what happens when you when you're run your mouth and you're you're not up to the standard of somebody who should be running their mouth. Like when they asked Harbaugh about that in the press conference after the game,
Speaker: He said, he oh yeah, I would love to have it. That's a a one-man show. The likes of a Saquon Barkley, the likes of a Derek Henry. He didn't say the likes of a Najee Harris. So, Michael, what do you think is going to happen in Houston? we both Me and Shane both think it's going to be a big win for the Texans.
Speaker: ah Unfortunately, I'm right there. I think this is going to be a nice feel-good win for the Texans. They're getting used to, they're they're working in Marvin Harrison Jr., seeing if they can get any more usage from him than than the Cardinals did, which was borderline nothing. um We'll see. We'll have another yeah chance to see if Jalen Noel is actually stepping out into into that next tier of wide receiver or if this was a one-two game blip here.
Speaker: um My biggest question for you I was going to ask was what's what's the deal with Cam Scadaboo? because Yeah. i I think the unpredictability of J.J. McCarthy starting and is real thing. His biggest question in Minnesota was his inconsistency. So we literally do not know if he's going to come out with the J.J. McCarthy that we saw last week or the one we saw in the Vikings. I know one person, Justin Jefferson, is... If Justin Jefferson sees Malik Neighbors with like 120 yards here, I know he's breaking a TV.
Speaker: I know because he could have done that at any point in Minnesota and he would have been fine. He would have still been the starting quarterback over there. um It's got to be the Texans though.
Speaker: I just think ah it's another week where this this offense looks really, really good now. And all of the questions that we had about Caleb, about CJ Stroud um last year, about whether or not he has it, about whether or not... his rookie season was a blip or if that's actually him out the window. Now he's looking amazing. He he's looking like he's really on a roll here.
Speaker: i could see this game being closer than people expect. Like, I think it it it might just be like a win by five. It might be within one touchdown, but i can't see the unpredictability of JJ McCarthy doing anything more. I just can't see him overcoming the Texans, beating them and, and leading them to a win in his first full game for the giants. I would, yeah I would be shocked.
Speaker: Yeah, I think he made some really nice layer of throws over a middle which he never did once for the Vikings. So whether that's just because he was feeling it and he needed to come back and he didn't care if he threw interceptions or if he's actually learned a little bit, that will remain to be seen. And on Skadaboo...
Speaker: he was 100% just punished for not finishing out the game the week before and fumbling the ball when he didn't have to. And that's what happens sometimes. These coaches, old school coaches, that they kind of punish a player by not giving them snaps, especially when they're not playing that well. So I feel like he'll come out with a point to prove this week. um But yeah...
Speaker: That's our games previewed. We are going to wrap up our NFL portion with our King of the Hill lock. So this portion of the show, as usual, is brought to you by kingofthehill.ie. It is a free to enter NFL predictions game. All you have to do is make an account, sign up and put your ball knowledge to the test. If you think you can predict NFL games correctly, there's a chance for you to win money for a free entry every single week. So get after it. We are given our locks every week. so there's a chance to double up one of your picks if you're very confident every week obviously there's more points on offer for underdogs than there is for favorites i am going to use an underdog again i think they're slight underdogs but i think that they're good value for a win here i'm going with the packers to win in detroit it gives you 25 points Jordan Love is on fire, and this Lions passing defense has been the worst in the NFL statistically. So Jared Goff, I think once again, he will not be able to keep up with the hole that his defense puts him in.
Speaker: Dan, what have you got for us this week at your lock? So I've locked in the Jets again um because going for the underdogs has not worked for me. um The Jets didn't even look like they're going to get anywhere close to it last week, but they surely can't mess this up. They're playing at home to the Dolphins. The Dolphins are absolutely atrocious and the to Jets have been good in motions or in moments.
Speaker: Hopefully they'll only need a few moments to get this one over the line. It locks you 17 points as the single, 34 is a double and 34 is better than nothing that they gave me last week. So I've gone back to the Jets.
Speaker: Michael, what about you? it If the Jets let you down this week, man, you've just got to stop. You've got to stop locking them, okay? i have went out of the box here, okay? I want 200 points. I went for my overtime pick between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Seattle Seahawks. i think ah I think Mr. Sam Darnall had a down week last week. He's going to be desperate. Very true.
Speaker: very true very true, but I think against the chiefs, there's a lot of pressure. There's a lot of talk. There's a lot of people saying some Darnell. He's maybe he's not, not as good as we thought. Maybe, maybe last year was a fluke.
Speaker: I don't think it's fluke. I think he's, he's going to be locked in this game. He knows he's got to turn up the pressure against the chiefs. And ah I still have the chiefs winning in overtime, but ah they don't ask me who wins in overtime. They just ask me if it's overtime.
Speaker: So I locked that in for us. Nice one. 100 points would double up for 200. You'd be in a great spot to win the week and take away some money if that one does come off. So best of luck with that one, Michael. um Myself and Shane are back with our NFL power rankings because we are doing them every three weeks. We want to throw them out while Michael is here and we might just have to get him on board for the and NBA power rankings as well as the NFL ones now that he is a permanent part of this season.
Speaker: podcast but for this week we're going to give ours um we'll give you what we had after week three and then our updates in week six and michael you can tell us what you think shane do you want to go ahead first yeah um if you can find what i had after week three yeah i'll give it my week for this week oh upper yeah perfect you had niners raiders bills vikings chiefs
Speaker: Okay. Mine hasn't actually changed too much. Just a couple of positional moves. So the Niners stay top because they're unbeaten. um ah The Vikings in at second because they're also unbeaten. There's no massive math here. it's just it' It's easy to see when there's a zero at one point that going to be in my top two.
Speaker: I did have the Bills, the Chiefs and the Jags rounding out my my picks. The Bills just look solid. and They had maybe one bad week, but they are back at it.
Speaker: The Chiefs just look like the Chiefs and the Jags that were absolutely brilliant up until last week. They're not going to let one bad performance take them out from the fact that they are just a really really, good football team. And there's not too many of the other teams in the league who look unbelievable. The Seahawks have obviously...
Speaker: Oh, I see they weren't even in mine, but they they weren't even in the question now when they're sitting as a tree and tree. I was actually, foresaw how bad they were going to be. Okay, I'll give mine out and then we'll get your thoughts, Michael. So I had, um after week three, I had the Niners, Bills, Seahawks, Jags and Raiders.
Speaker: A good bit of change here. I've still got the same top two. Niners are 6-0. I've got the Bills in at second still. I think that they look really good. and They have one loss, but their ah offense is unreal. and The Chiefs then, they come in. They are fi and zero They have to be in this season.
Speaker: um two new entries then at the bottom two spots i did drop the raiders out obviously they've lost a few games and i did drop the jags out because i was concerned when they played the eagles um how they made mistakes i was less concerned with how they played against the texans because they were just out duelled there but they did look really good still so they're right on the cusp but my two teams are the Packers at four and two. They're on a three game win streak. Jordan Love looks electric and their defense. I don't know. It looks like they're doing a lot of Viking style defense here and it's working out for them. um And big wins against the Bears and Cowboys will get you in here.
Speaker: you are hot right now so you're at four and then five is the vikings yeah they're undefeated but their ah offense is terrible um but yeah they're still here because they're undefeated so they have to be brought in where they weren't in at the the after week three for me so michael any thoughts on our two lineups I just love the Vikings forcing their way onto the table on both teams. First thing I want to say, we need to try and make it top four or top six just out of respect for Jadon Daniels. I just don't want to be using that number five there. um Might get a phone call there, you know. um We should have thought about that. No.
Speaker: i'm I'm shocked that you, James, have decided to go with um yeah the Packers and bump the Jaguars off after the Jags have a much longer history this season of being good, whereas the Packers have three games. um I mean, it's four and two. Both teams are four and two, so...
Speaker: I mean, I guess. I would view their season. There's no guessing. There's no guessing. It's literally right there. It's on there by the same columns where I saw the Vikings are 5-0, that they are both 4-2. I can confirm.
Speaker: i mean I mean in the sense that the the the four at the physical 4-2s don't look the same to me. i I just feel like the the Jags had it had a troubling week, but I still think they're top five.
Speaker: I really like Shane's list, I'm not going to lie. Shane, I think you did a great job, you know. I'm going to have to give you the win this week, but I think you'll be bumping the Vikings off after Kyler Murray disappoints you this weekend, I will say. we need to train. No, it does not happen until the GTA comes out.
Speaker: We need to train Michael in the ways of the the power ranking. you know it's not It's not the power standings here. We're not looking at the teams with the top of the standings. We're looking at the teams that have power right now. The last three weeks, these Packers have won.
Speaker: This is powerful. Come on. give me Give me some love, Green Bay fans, if any of you are listening to this. and But yeah, no, Michael, that it's hard to argue with the fact that um overall the Jags probably are better, but I think the the Packers are on a heater right now. So I've got them in there. and Let's switch over to the NBA.
Speaker: We did a full preview, as we already mentioned, earlier in the week. So go listen to that if you want to know our picks for every player award, who's going to get into the playoffs, who's going to win the conference finals, and who is going to win the and NBA finals. But we did have opening night.
Speaker: You will have a second night of NBA action and to digest by the time you're listening to this. But we have just seen opening night so far recording and this, so we'll focus on that. I'm going to give... each of you a game and to give me your thoughts and then together the three of us will spend a few minutes on the the Sixers and Knicks one because we all did watch that one in detail um well it's the only one we all all three of us watched live so I think it's fair um but first up Celtics at Pistons the Pistons win 121 to 113 I think it's only fair to give Michael the floor on this one given that he put the Celtics out of the playoffs in his prediction so Michael what did you make of this matchup
Speaker: First of all, lads, disappointing look. Disappointing look to the season. all right we Already starting off, we have Jason Tatum averaging 17 points per game. So really a down year. Averaging after game. I'm shocked. Yeah.
Speaker: yeah Oh, he did. had 13. It's Derek White that had 17, I think. He's fire. Bring on the fantasy points.
Speaker: so by bring bring on bring on the fantasy points I am actually genuinely shocked with how the Celtics looked in the in their first game. it's It's so interesting to watch them play, watch the lack of inside presence from them, even even with their centers. They seem to have no creation within 15 feet of the rim. And you look at this team and you go, wow, if they had Jalen Brown, this team would look so good. instead they have Paul George, who's we saw last night.
Speaker: Amazing. Still can shoot the hell out of the ball. But when you need someone to go get tough buckets, he's still going to be fading on the wing. He's still going to be shooting threes. He's not going to get you those difficult-to-get inside baskets. And I think the bigger thing for Paul George is he's 38. He won't be able to do it for a full season.
Speaker: I think it's inevitable that he's going to miss 10 to 20 games this season. And when that happens, this team already looks...
Speaker: We're going to focus a little bit on the Celtics here, but some of the notes I have here is I think Joe Mazzoula system is great at maximizing the talent that this team has on its roster. But moving Jalen Brown for Paul George lowers that amount of talent and I think gives them a hard cap on the ceiling of what this team can do. I feel like just the fact that you had Jalen Brown and Jason Tatum, teams have to be wary about both. But it looks like like Peyton Pritchard getting more minutes now.
Speaker: looks so bad on defense. There are like stretches of this game where people are shooting in front of him. He has his hands up and it just genuinely does not look like they even notice him.
Speaker: It's frustrating a little bit, but he can't even control that. He's being put up into this higher scoring position. And when Jason Tatum is dropping 13 points, unless you're having one of Paul George, Derek White, or Peyton Pritchard dropping 30, this team is going to be struggling to hang with other teams on the piston side.
Speaker: Look what we do when we give Cade a little bit of shooting, Duncan Robinson having a little bit of a revival. he had a good season last year, uh, nearly got bumped out of the league when he was ending his time in Miami.
Speaker: But, uh, Hit three crazy trees to keep the the Pistons in play this game. Asher Thompson having a clutch little mid-range bucket that I think gave the whole Pistons bench a heart attack, but he made it.
Speaker: So, hey, who cares? Lovely little little spin layup as well. um Cade looks great. He didn't shoot the three ball at well at all, and I still thought he had a great game. Jalen Duren and John Collins, I think, is a great addition for this team. I love the energy that he brings. I thought he was super underrated when it was being reported. I thought it was a fantastic pickup for them. um Everyone on the bench got 15 minutes. All of the starters getting like a steady 25 minutes.
Speaker: This team looks prepped for the season already. And I just think they're just going to keep up this momentum until they have an injury. It seems inevitable with 82 games, but that's my take at least.
Speaker: Yeah, and shout to Javante Green, five threes off the bench as well. Pretty good from him. um We'll move on to the Thunder and Spurs because we we did spend a lot of time on NBA earlier this week, so we don't want to over-indulge. the Thunder beat the Spurs in San Antonio. Shane Wemby failed to show up. Chet shut him down. Very interesting game. What did you think of it?
Speaker: Yes, so I'm not going to be as passionate about this as Michael was about the Celtics. I think he might actually be a closet Celtics fan and that's why he went to the playoffs because it's like ah on your own team.
Speaker: You always think it's going to be bad. Shea, look, as Shea started the season, I can expect there were 32 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists. Jared McCain was a really good second option, 20 points.
Speaker: Chet just absolutely demolished Wemby. Wemby only got 12 points, and he was probably lucky to get the 12 as well. I just thought this is a Thunder team that looks primed and ready to to go back for that ring they feel they were robbed of last year. The Spurs will obviously be good. We know they're good. They too much talent not to be, but this was...
Speaker: Probably the toughest opening day assignments you can get because like I know talk with the Knicks and the Sixers and they're champions but flag day is always a bit of a all the excitement happens during the flag unveiling and then during the game the team who just got the flag kind of They just run out of steam and that's what happened the next team. But going away to the Thunder who are going to be looking to bounce back straight away and just start causing troubles from the outset. And I think they're going to be a real, real force again this year, especially with SGA.
Speaker: The man is just yeah just incredible. He's a machine. And those jargon again. Also, they shot 45% from three. Yeah, those jargon again threes were nasty.
Speaker: Like, they looked really good. Really good. Like a bulldozer versus the versus this San Antonio team. is Yeah. and Let's move in then to the one game we all did watch. We were talking about it back and forth during it. and Sixers 106.
Speaker: one ah six New York Knicks 100. LeBron James' first game. Why not? Let's do it. Let's do it. Let's get this on.
Speaker: Let's get this on before I get talking. You need to switch over to YouTube right now so you can see me rocking the throwback LeBron jersey. You know what? It was perfect timing because today i go down, go to the gym. I see a package there. I say, what is this? What is this? I and didn't think it would come this quick. Open it up. I've got the LeBron joint.
Speaker: Open it up. I've got the VJ joint. edge calm rocking as well i am ready for this season let's go okay seriously what what a game this was because it was so interesting not that either team played really well it was just how they were feeling each other i was really interesting and off the back of how the sixers played against the knicks um when they matched up and in the playoffs, this was completely different.
Speaker: This was night and day. It was the same Knicks team, essentially. They've just got um Andre Drummond now coming off the bench instead of Mitchell Robinson, and he did an unbelievable job, by the way. 14 rebounds, 12 points. um But everybody on the Sixers, for this to so early...
Speaker: without a backup center, without Dean Wade playing at all, without Phylon even being introduced yet. Like for this to look so well that everybody actually understood their assignments with so many different lineups mixed out there, LeBron remaining calm, like dictating play when he needed to, not overtaking. Embiid kind of giving Jalen Brown and Tyrese Maxey space to attack the paint.
Speaker: I'd like to see more from him offensively, but I won't mind too much when he is a monster on defense like he was actually detouring players from the rim, which he hasn't done for years. and And then, as I mentioned, Jalen Brown took over for a stretch. Tyrese Maxey was the star of the show. As always, he is...
Speaker: the best eightin player on the Sixers team for me going into the season. I think he will dominate. um Really good win. Look, the 10-point lead for the Knicks at one point, you thought, okay, they're going to see this out. The Sixers, they go on an 11-0 run to end the third quarter. And then you see the Knicks coming back, you go, we've seen this Knicks story. They like playing from behind. They come back, they win. No, the Sixers remain calm. Something we haven't seen. It's one game, but...
Speaker: I think the Sixers will get way better from what they started with last night. And it's good to get a win against the champions in your first game. So Michael, what did you make of it?
Speaker: This game is fantastic, man. Like you were saying, both of these teams were filling each other out, which is so, so interesting. I think seeing what each player was trying out against, especially this Knicks team, it really did feel like Brunson was kind of testing to see what options he had available, what options he didn't. ah I think the biggest thing that stood out to me about this game, ah well, I had two things. I had Anthony Simons.
Speaker: I was so high on him joining our team. I knew he was going to be great for us off the bench, and I feel completely validated by it. He looks to be the sixth man of this team. It was one game, Michael.
Speaker: Sorry? Yeah, he was born the game looked really good though. And he had he was super for the Celtics. And when he played for the Blazers, he averaged over 20 points. So it's not one game for him, it's years. He was out for 20 before they committed to Shadon Sharp.
Speaker: Like, I mean, this isn't someone who was bouncing around the league because he couldn't play. It seems more like the salary at that position has kind of fell out and he's just landed in our laps at the perfect time.
Speaker: The most important thing about this game is the assist line. You've got five from Maxi, six from Brown, you've got seven from LeBron, and you have six from Embiid. What James was saying about Embiid not doing as much offensively, I think is literally part of the plan. There's going to be games where LeBron James is out. There's going to be injuries to this team. And I think Embiid stepping up in those moments, he'll have no problem doing that. He's a walking 45 points whenever he decides to take the most shots in a game. and and take it over, they're deciding that he doesn't need to be used as much. He can be more of an offensive hub where he can average.
Speaker: If we have four of the starting five averaging over five assists, even a month in, ah It just kind of shows you how fast this team has gotten used to each other because I wasn't expecting kind of assist lines like this until three months, maybe four months into the season. You're understanding spacing of the players, where they like to shoot, the on fast breaks, getting used to Maxie being halfway down the floor already, um throwing lobs to LeBron and, and imitating the D Wade lobs from the Miami heat. Jalen Brown and Brown did it in the first game.
Speaker: I mean, he could not i don't think anybody expected this team to be clicking like this. um And the Knicks aren't going to be this bad for the rest of the season. But it's great to see our postseason matchup end like this for us as a Philly fan. Okay, go off.
Speaker: Yeah, so Tyrese Maxey is coming to be... I will be serious for a second. I will talk about him and not just Abuse for a couple of seconds. Tyrese Maxey is going to be the best player in this league. I would not call Wemby or Shea Alexander by the time...
Speaker: I'd say in the next two years it could even be by end of this year I do think that I think LeBron and Embiid in this game I think they both walked so the rest could run if that makes sense in a way that Pirates Maxey got 28 Jalen Brown got 19 and who was the other fella do I have him? Lyman and Casey Peay combined for 23 off the bench as well yeah and then you had LeBron was just his defensive work I thought was really really good for somebody who's 41 and he's still got 9 rebounds 7 assists and 14 points and that was him kind of taking his time. He nearly got a double-double. Embiid only got 13 points, but he didn't need to get the rest because it it was always going to be one of those games. It was going to be tight. It was going to be low scoring.
Speaker: It was just about if you could get in front, if you could hold on to it. And I think he was one of the key reasons why he did hold on to it. Jalen Brunson, I thought, was really, really poor. I think that helps. The fact that Caroline's knee-towns pretty much fouled out inside three minutes, that really helps. Although Drummond was good with 12,
Speaker: 12 and 14 and yeah they were riding in I think they got 19 and 12 even when Towns could have come back in it was Brown was leaving Drummond out there because he was doing so well yeah I just think it was one of those games where, like, Philadelphia, is they're star five. They really did look dangerous already i' out of nowhere.
Speaker: But most importantly, what about those championship rings, lads? they are They are something else. they they The top de top comes off and it open it opens into the MSG on the inside. They're absolutely ridiculous. It's any wonder they couldn't shoot after wearing those rings for 10 minutes before the game started. All their hands were dead.
Speaker: The thing is as well, neither team shot the three well. Like ah the Sixers shot the three pretty badly. 11 for 40, 28%. And the Knicks 11 for 33, 33%.
Speaker: thirty three percent So slightly better. I think it just came down to execution in the second half. And... The Sixers were surprisingly on top there. And I think you mentioned Brunson. He he seemed like deterred at times because Edgecombe was in his jersey and he has been a good defender on him. And then you had Jalen Brown to come off of that.
Speaker: And then at different times, LeBron and Embiid kind of scaring him out of the paint. I also think Dominic Barlow, when he comes back, will probably play some backup centre minutes too. um So that will be interesting to see. But yeah, ah you said Shane. It's one game. Look, and we not we're not, we're having some fun, you know, with the Sixers having got their win. We're happy. But it's a long season ahead. It is a good start for sure. And I think we'll have plenty more time to... Go ahead. Just one more thing before we finish up. it So there was one play in the game that...
Speaker: kind of defines how this season is going to go for Philadelphia. And it was when there was one and a half seconds left in one of the quarters. I think it was the third quarter or could coming into halftime. And Jalen Brunson threw it down. no one touched it. So the ball went to Philadelphia.
Speaker: And Jalen Brown put up three-pointer with one and a half seconds on the clock. Like they got it inbound and he got it up in one and a half seconds. If you can execute like that for... 80% of the games in the season, not just in the last one a half seconds. If you have that kind of execution for full games in big stretches, then this Philly team are going to be a real problem for absolutely everyone. And I did say in the preview that what if they end up like the Rams where they have all the superstars and it's a bit like it's bit it's like five individuals.
Speaker: It didn't look anywhere near to be five individuals yesterday. I think Embiid and LeBron showed an awful lot of how this is going to go, where they're going to walk so the other three can run. When you have someone like Tyrese Maxey who's always going to score points and Jalen Brown, and he can feed people, he can eat himself. They can all do it. And I think...
Speaker: If Nick Nurse just gets the balance of this correct and keeps them all happy, keeps them on their toes, then i don't know why they can't go and win it the same way Michael said they're going to.
Speaker: And I know, again, that's only after one game. I was only taking the piss at the start. if they If they came out here and they were absolutely atrocious, I'd be i'd be killing do it here. I'd be like, this is what you're going to be sitting down for a season.
Speaker: But they actually look good, and this was their first game together. It's only going to get better when they're playing... They're back-to-backs when they're going into away games. They're on the plane together. there's There's so much time for this to to come together.
Speaker: And if this is how it starts, then I think I'm in for a long season of listening, Chi. And I am thus looking forward to this. I actually thought it would take longer. I didn't think that it would look this this cohesive that quick. And you mentioned that inbounds play. They checked LeBron back in for that, just to inbounds the ball. And then Maxey runs the length of the court at speed, which is usually what the Sixers give it to. But then you have Jalen Brown able to just come and cash a three. Yeah, that just shows the riches the team has. um So we will move on. It could be two seconds to watch this.
Speaker: yeah One more thing. LeBron with a nice 14-9-7. It's pretty close to that triple-double line. I'm just i'll just saying. moving on. It was actually the assists that were lowered down. The rebounds nearly got you that 10 you were talking about. Yeah, did.
Speaker: But we're going move on. I feel like Nostradamus after day one, lads. I must say, everything I've said in my preview has completely come correct. yeah We usually, yeah we usually at this point, Michael, after we finished like all our topics, we play a game where Shane gives me questions or I give them to him to wrap up the episode. um But this time it's and NBA related. So I said, let's keep Michael here and see if he can and contribute to this one. It is. ah An interesting kind of drawing off the way that you went about it last week, Shane. So this is and NBA player connections. So I'm going to give you three and NBA players and you to tell me which team they played on together. It starts off easy and gets a little bit harder, a little bit harder. And then the last one is ah the hardest of all.
Speaker: If you can give me the the team, I don't need the year anything like that. I do have that here. But first up, we'll start off with the easiest one. and There's no win. It's whoever can give the answers between the two of you, can if you can work it out. um And if you're trying to figure it out, give out your thought process, Michael, because we we want to hear what you're thinking. So first up, I'll start with the easiest one.
Speaker: Clay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala. Yeah, it is the Warriors. just the Warriors. So this is just to get the juices flowing, how do the game works. Okay, That's the first one.
Speaker: Second one, let's let's give this one. I expect you to get this pretty quick too. JJ Redick, Ben Simmons, TJ McConnell.
Speaker: You know the shame? ah Is it the Mets? Yes. No. It's the Sixers. Sixers, yes. My beautiful Sixers. that Ben Simmons was on the Sixers, to be perfectly honest. I just forget he exists most of the time. We tried to forget too. we were running chase actions with JJ Redick and he was averaging like 12 a game on like 48% shooting. i loved the woman re oh Oh my God.
Speaker: Michael, since you are a Sixers fan, if you can give me the year, I'd be very impressed. ah Ben Simmons, JJ Redick, and TJ McConnell.
Speaker: And TJ McConnell. So it's... It might be... it might be twin Because cause JJ Redick got traded.
Speaker: ever So did TJ. But it it's pre-COVID, I think. I think I'm going 20...
Speaker: 18? 2019? Yes, sir. twenty seventeen eighteen season. Well have committed to 18. I should have committed to 18. I can't believe I... Well done. um Next up then, Clint Capella, Pat Bev, and Dwight Howard.
Speaker: I know it already. So I'm just going to wait until... I don't. I don't know it. I'm so bad at these things. I'm better when I'm putting it together. So Capella has played for the Lakers, the Rockets...
Speaker: and Pretty much everyone. Who are the other two? Pat Beverley and Dwight Howard.
Speaker: Pat Beverley should give it away here. Yeah, Pat Beverley played... See, I don't think... Clint Capella was there. Clint Capella wasn't on the Grizzlies, was he?
Speaker: No, neither was Dev. No, he wasn't. I'm completely gone. Go on, Mike. we're going We're going Beverly's stint in Houston.
Speaker: Yes, sir. Clint Capella. Shane, you should have got that. You're Houston Rockets. Dwight Howard, you've got on the hat. I was is laying out for you to get that one.
Speaker: Was barely playing, to be fair. but I don't even remember Pat Beverly being... He was at the Rockets. He was great on the Rockets, too. Yeah, he was. butch your But when I was listening to his team, the first thing I said was the Rockets, and then I just didn't make anything.
Speaker: I have no recollection of Pat Beverly being in the Rockets. He was there. he Remember, he injured Russell Westbrook. At 13-17, he was there. Yeah, he was there for a good few years. um It was Dwight Howard that I wanted to... Like Pat Bev and Clint Capella, I think that was a good overlap, but Dwight Howard, was trying to throw off a little bit with that. um That was twenty fifteen sixteen Obviously, James Harden was there too. That would have been too obvious. This last one is the hardest.
Speaker: um PJ Tucker, Torrey Craig, Sam Merrill. This is deep roster bag, if you can get this.
Speaker: Torrey Craig and Sam Merrill. I didn't even know Sam Merrill was on this roster or played games for this team. I'm just going to throw one out there because I have McLare again. Is it the box or the heaths?
Speaker: I'll let you lay in, Michael. What do you think? i Torrey Craig, I know he played for the Nuggets. That's all I'm thinking. PJ Tucker has played for half the the league.
Speaker: mr I know pj played like PJ played for the Heat. I'm pretty sure he played for the Bucks as well. He's been he's he's been on like
Speaker: Part of me wants to say the Nuggets, but I don't know if Sam Merrill was ever on the Nuggets. But I might just say it anyway because it feels right. I also don't know if PJ Tucker was on the Nuggets, but it just feels correct. I'm going to go Denver Nuggets.
Speaker: then You're correct. It was the Milwaukee Bucks in their championship season. 2020, 2021, PJ Tucker, Tory Craig, Sam Merrill was part of that roster, unbelievably, as were the likes of Chris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Drew Holiday, the obvious guys. But yeah, i picked some niche fellas out there.
Speaker: You had the PJ Tucker-Milwaukee connection, fair play. You got his ring there. That's good. You left the Rockets to go there. It all comes back to the rock caidar Rockets. See, the Rockets did get you one right here with your knowledge. Thank God.
Speaker: Yeah, so that's ah that's a wrap on those. And that's a wrap on this week's episode. um Guys, really appreciate everybody for listening. I hope you did enjoy it. mike Shane, we ah usually let you do the outro. Michael, thank you for coming on this week. We're going to throw it to Shane to wrap us up as he usually does superbly.
Speaker: and Yeah, cheers, Michael. um As always, you you are a pleasure. to Despite the amount of abuse I give you over the episode, it is all in good nature for anyone who is listening. ah we are We have had the busiest week of our our podcasting lives this week. So you'll find us on the Gaelic Gridiron. You'll find us on... The Hard Count later this week.
Speaker: The Hard Count. Thank you. That one is. We're recording that on Friday. So you'll find that maybe Saturday or Sunday. we we'll We'll link it anyway. And obviously go back and watch our NBA and our and nba roundup.
Speaker: It is very, very good. This is the worst outro I've ever done. So I'm just going to leave it there. we will see you again next week. Goodbye. What am I talking about? Just yapping!
