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Goal Line: NFC East
54 Plays16 hours ago
The boys preview the NFC East, discuss ESPN's Top 25 Teams of the 2000s, and talk about the start of peewee football.
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Transcript
Welcome to Episode Two
00:00:13
Speaker
What is up, Goal Line listeners? We are back with episode two of our eight-episode preseason for year three of the Goal Line.
Focus on NFC East
00:00:22
Speaker
Today, we are going to be talking all about the NFC
Jordan's Wrestling Weekend
00:00:25
Speaker
East.
00:00:25
Speaker
But before we get into that, let me introduce my co-host, Jordan. What's going on, man? Not too much, man. just a a lot I actually just got back from Dallas yesterday, and it was a long weekend of wrestling. So, yeah, I'm ready to talk some football and just kind of ease back into this week.
00:00:43
Speaker
Yeah, we'll get the we'll get the deep dive on Jordan's Texas trip on our wrestling podcast over on your ah the the flagship, the Chick-fil-A show. That should be getting recorded. It's Tuesday afternoon as we record this. We plan on recording the Chick-fil-A show on Wednesday night. So tune in later on this week, heading into the weekend to hear all about Jordan's trip to AEW All-In down in Texas.
Football Season Kickoff: 8U Arlington Tigers
00:01:03
Speaker
For us, man, big news kicked off.
00:01:05
Speaker
the real football season, the football season that matters yesterday with our first practice for Brett's 8U Arlington Tigers first year tackle football. So solid first day of practice, man. i'm Not exactly calling up City Hall to go ahead and lay out the parade route for the championship parade. But, you know, lot lot to be excited for on day one, man. It's going be a really fun season.
00:01:26
Speaker
Oh, yeah, man. Can't wait to hear about it. All right. We are on a little bit of a time crunch because, you know, we got a practice. Number two is coming up here
Top 25 Teams Debate
00:01:35
Speaker
in just a little bit. So we'll we'll get right into it, man.
00:01:37
Speaker
I don't think was there any big news off the field kind of league wide that we needed to discuss this week, Jordan? I didn't really i wasn't really picking up anything. No, there was one thing I wanted to to so discuss. and yeah ESPN released their top 25 teams in the last 25 years.
00:01:53
Speaker
I just want to go through the top five real quick just to kind of get your thoughts on it live on the air. So five was the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles. That was the team that beat the Patriots with the Foles touchdown.
00:02:06
Speaker
Seems high. That's really high to me. i I didn't even think that team was that great. You know, they were, i thought they, this is going to sound dumb because they did win the Superbowl.
00:02:18
Speaker
I feel like they were trending to be a really, truly great team while they still had Carson Wentz. You know, that was just Carson Wentz was potentially going to win the MVP before he got hurt. I think week 13 that season. um Obviously they were still great. They won Superbowl with Nick Foles, but I definitely feel like they weren't nearly as dangerous. The Atlanta Falcons should have beat them in the second round of the playoffs. Yeah.
00:02:39
Speaker
2024 Philadelphia Eagles are number four. that seemed That seemed right to me. ah Three is the 2004 Patriots, the 17-2 team that beat the Eagles in the Super Bowl.
00:02:53
Speaker
This is ESPN's list? Yeah. Okay, yeah, I got to pull that up. Okay, here's where i just think this kind of goes. 2013 Seattle Seahawks are number two on this list.
00:03:04
Speaker
I know they blew out the Broncos like and their defense was absolutely incredible, but two? they you know They were really on fire. They were a team that got better and better as the year went on, and by the time the Super Bowl got around, they were absolutely nuclear.
00:03:21
Speaker
um but But yeah, two two seems high, man. And then one is obviously the 2007 Patriots. I got a little bit of beef with this, though, considering they didn't win the Super Bowl. Like, I feel like the number one team should have won it all, and they did not.
00:03:36
Speaker
But, I mean, still they went 18-1. My family's life's on the line, and the aliens come down, so you got to pick a team from history. To go against them, I'm still taking those Patriots, man. I know it sucks, man, how ah that they just kind of ran out of gas. and The Giants were a bad matchup. you know The Giants gave them hell of a game they're in and care is there week 16 or week 17 on a primetime game. The Giants gave them hell of a run, and I think they got they got enough off that experience to to be able to make some tweaks to to really just lock them down in the Super Bowl. But, dude, I saw that team play in person. I think it was week 7 against Miami that season.
00:04:09
Speaker
Just unreal, man. they you know Obviously, Brady... Moss, Welker get the attention. But the offensive line that year was absolutely insane. Like, Brady is just chilling. He's back there filing his taxes in the backfield waiting for a receiver to get open.
00:04:23
Speaker
Josh McDaniels with the peak of his powers with the stuff they were dialing up. Like, i don't know, man. I think that team's number one, and i don't think it's particularly close, man. I'm kind of looking through this this list right here. I don't know.
00:04:34
Speaker
If they're not number one, who do you give number one to, man? No, that's what I mean. I think it's right, but I'm just saying like, I just got, it is funny though. Yeah. Like the team that lost in the Superbowl is on there. So yeah, it's, it's interesting. I mean, the list is, it is what it is. I mean, it's not going to do anything as far as like historical, but know. I just thought it was kind of cool that they released that.
00:04:56
Speaker
Yeah. Fun list for sure. Those are always good for sparking conversation, man. Um, But yeah, if they win that Super Bowl, dude, they're probably right up there with like the 96 Bulls for like best sports teams of all time, like bar none. Oh, yeah, 100%.
New York Giants Analysis
00:05:12
Speaker
Yeah. All right. ah Let's get into the NFC East, man. Let's do it. So kicking off with – me get it. Jordan did typed up a great format for us here.
00:05:22
Speaker
right. So we'll kick off with the the Giants, man. So abysmal season last year, da They got three and fourteen After being on Hard Knocks, the world got to see how it played out, letting Saquon Barkley walk out the door, go right down the road to Philly, rush for 2,000 yards and lead them to a Super Bowl, get the Madden cover. like yeah just but Every possible injury to insult you could have along with it, man, they got it. So they dropped from already pissed 4-6-11 out 3-14. were 1-8 in one-score games, but...
00:05:48
Speaker
they were one and eight and one score games but I don't know. Sometimes that's kind of a harbinger that a team's set for a bounce back. I don't think so. I need to go back and play it. In my mind, a lot of those one-score games are like backdoor covers where the other team had already kind of pulled the dogs off and the Giants get a late late field goal or late touchdown or something to make it somewhat respectable. One thing about them, though, is I do think it's going to help them a lot this season that they're actually going to probably have a set quarterback because last year they just kept playing musical chairs at quarterback, and I think that killed them more than anything.
00:06:20
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. The Daniel Jones era is officially over. You can't really argue with the the facts of the matter, man. They had the 31st offense, second worst offense in the league, 21st defense. The defense was you know slightly below mediocre, but the offense was absolutely in the basement.
00:06:35
Speaker
Was last year success? I think absolutely not. Last year was a disaster. Brian Dayball was very, very lucky that he was able to survive that and and get another year and a new quarterback. Not only was last year not a success, like you just said, they were on hard knocks and we got to watch it all play out as they didn't even offer Saquon a contract.
00:06:53
Speaker
As the GM's kid is telling them, you should be offering, you should be keeping Saquon. And of course they didn't do it. Then they did the draft, and the GM's kid was telling them who to draft. and i mean, they did draft neighbors. like They got a good piece there, but it's like...
00:07:10
Speaker
Dude, when you're that bad, like you have so many holes to fill. Should you really be drafting a receiver that high at that point? Yeah, I really think they botched the whole Saquon deal. Obviously, hindsight 2020, yeah, it was a mistake letting him go.
00:07:24
Speaker
I don't think he does anything close on the Giants, what he did with the Eagles. And I think if you just look at his track record, as great as he had been in moments, not the most reliable guy. Yeah. I'm actually, I'm not going to crucify them for letting Saquon go.
00:07:36
Speaker
yeah um i think they, what should have happened the season prior, you should have found a way to trade him at the deadline, dude. Even if you get, you know, a third round draft pick, second round draft pick for him, you're at least not walking away empty handed as he goes down to your division. And you could kind of,
00:07:50
Speaker
Not that it's a guarantee he's going to resign, but you can kind of help guide where he goes to next. And you don't let him go to your division rival. Obviously, Philly and New York are a hop, skip, and a jump away from each other. and So that's just that's ah that's a just a huge blow to the fan base, seeing him go to the division right down the road and all the success he's had. but you know not that It definitely wasn't a good decision, but I don't think it was like you know top 10 worst decisions all the time not resigning him. I think that's a lot of hindsight if people want to dogpile them too much. i mean they they deserve that They definitely deserve some grief, but not all the grief that they've kind of been getting through the sports media, I think. I mean, the worst decision is the fact that they re re-signed Daniel Jones and not Saquon Barkley. They picked Daniel Jones over Saquon, 100%. I think that's probably the worst of the two is like you paid Daniel Jones, who had really proven nothing.
00:08:34
Speaker
they got mesmerized by that 2022 season when they, they had a decent little year, made the playoffs, actually won a playoff game and went and beat the Vikings. And I think a lot of that was more, you know, it was Brian Dayball's first year as a head coach, kind of first year being fully behind the reins. And I think he was able to kind of run his offense exactly how he wanted to. And, you know, they were doing a lot of funky read option stuff that year. And,
00:08:56
Speaker
Daniel Jones, he had a solid season, but I think that they just, I think they got mesmerized by that instead of, ah you know, trying to see what everybody else in the league could see that the dudes, you know, probably ah NFL backups probably kind of where his ceiling's at. Yeah.
00:09:09
Speaker
Uh, some high profile additions to the draft. They draft Abdul Carter at a Penn state. They get Jackson, Darth QB out of Ole Miss and they get cam Scadabo. The, uh, the hero, the hero of the, uh, the college football playoffs, man. What, what kind of impact you see these guys making year one dude, Abdul Carter is a can't miss prospect. I think I wouldn't have been shocked if the Titans would have taken him number one. I got, I think the minor, minor health concerns are that I think that's what ultimately swayed them taking cam ward. You know, he's got, got some, uh, some foot issues, man. And, uh,
00:09:38
Speaker
But, i yeah, I agree, man. Dude's a stud. Yeah, I think Abdul Carter's going to awesome. yeah I mean, you you definitely swung hard with the Jackson Dart pick. Like, whether or not he pans out is – I mean, it's to be determined. But they definitely went for it with getting – I'm not a fan.
00:09:55
Speaker
Someone played lot in the SEC. I would never – it's burned in my mind against Florida last year. He throws a pick. Sheds tears on the sideline, like real tears come down his cheek. Call gets reversed, you know, miraculously goes back on the field just to turn, throw another pick like two plays later, dude. Like it's, I mean, it yeah obviously a moment like that doesn't make or break a quarterback or any player, but that one was a hard one to shake.
00:10:17
Speaker
um I will say to the Giants credit, they released some really cool videos of the draft prep. And dude looked absolutely razor sharp, man. Like they were hitting him with some serious technical X's and O's questions. And he was on it going back and forth with Brian Dayball. So I see, you know, if you see if you see those clips, get on YouTube, just search like Giants draft Jackson Dart.
00:10:37
Speaker
You'll see, you know, why they became infatuated with this guy and took him. Uh, cause it was pretty impressive. Just not even knowing what they're talking about to kind of just hearing how comfortable he is with the lingo and kind of batting back and forth on how the the different play progressions are supposed to work within the construct of their offense.
00:10:53
Speaker
It's pretty impressive, man. But, uh, you know, that, that doesn't make, you that, that definitely doesn't mean you can get it done out on the field. These guys are going to have one of the most interesting QB rooms in the league between Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, Jackson Dart.
00:11:05
Speaker
Who you see starting week one, man? Dude, it has to be Russ. Like, I just – I would love to see – He's got the lowest – he's got the highest ceilingal or the highest floor, I'd say Yeah, I'd love to see it be Jameis, but the problem is, is like one week you get really, really good Jameis, and the next week you get Jameis throwing three pick sixes and you losing the game by five points. Like, yeah I just – I think if you're trying to actually win, Russ probably gives you the best um the best opportunities to win. But, I mean – i don't know.
00:11:36
Speaker
You did just draft a first-round quarterback, so i don't really know what they're doing, man. this I think you keep Russell Wilson going as you know as long as he can. and If he starts stalling out, the the natives get restless. Or you think like Jackson darts undisputedly ready to go, maybe you send him in there. I think you got Jameis around just for the vibes. Yeah, i agree.
00:11:58
Speaker
um Outlook for 2025. I could see a modest improvement out of this team. Adding Russell Wilson, again, that keeps you from having – I think that's going to keep you from any straight-up disasters, right? You may have games where you don't get a ton of production out of the passing game, but I don't think you're going to just have just you know a nightmare situation at QB as long as Russell Wilson's around.
00:12:15
Speaker
But I don't see them pushing for a playoff spot. I see them kind of getting back to their 2023 form, 6-11. Maybe they get to seven wins if they get some lucky bounces on these one-sport games. I definitely think they're going to have a top – probably 15 defense. I think their defense is going to carry them a lot of weeks.
00:12:32
Speaker
But yeah, I agree. Six and 11, seven, 10 is probably their ceiling.
Dallas Cowboys' Prospects
00:12:38
Speaker
right, let's head down I-40 to Dallas, man. We are in North Texas where where Jordan was this weekend.
00:12:46
Speaker
Cowboys, always going to be one of the teams that gets the most attention in the NFL regardless of what else is going on with them. Went 7-10 last year. That was off a pretty impressive 12-5 from 2023.
00:12:57
Speaker
These guys were 5-5 in one-score games. They seemed to have some really bad luck in the close game. So I could actually see this being a team that is set up to have have a swing and and get right back. in playoff contention with just a little bit of better luck.
00:13:09
Speaker
Yeah, I agree.
00:13:12
Speaker
21st in offense, 31st in defense. So they were actually the inverse of the Giants, man. I was surprised the defense was that bad. I know they took a lot of injuries and fell off. I did not realize they were the 31st defense in the league. that's you know well The Panthers were the only team with the worst defense last year. Look how many points they were giving up week over week. like That first week against ah the Saints, or the second week against the Saints, they gave up like 50 points. I mean,
00:13:36
Speaker
Yeah, they had an absolutely abysmal start to the season, man, just getting straight up mollywhop some of these games. Yeah, I mean, Dak being hurt did not help at all. And... um Good Lord, why can't I did not think of his name? Michael Parsons being hurt definitely did not help their defense at all. So, don't know, man.
00:13:53
Speaker
They've got a lot of risk-reward players on defense with Diggs and couple of guys in their secondary. and if they don't hit – And up Pickens at wide receiver too, man. The same thing on ah offense, man. Yeah. I mean, we'll see how that works out.
00:14:08
Speaker
But, ah yeah. Yeah. So they was last year's success. I think it goes without saying, no, it was a failure. Expectations are always sky high in Dallas every year. And ultimately it led to Mike McCarthy losing his job. Sounded like the Cowboys wanted to bring him back, just want to make some changes on the staff.
00:14:23
Speaker
And he wasn't down with it. So he, you know, he took his ball and went home. and They hire Brian Schottenheimer as the coach, man, which, you know, he's a totally fine coach. But to me, if I'm a Cowboys fan, that's frustrating because hiring him, ah you know, hiring within a kind of vanilla coordinator, that's to me saying like we are 100 percent happy with the status quo, you know, like keep keep us somewhere in the mediocre range without totally bottoming out. And we're we're good with it. That's that's what that message is to me. What did you think of the Schottenheimer hire at a coach?
00:14:55
Speaker
Dude, if this would have been 2018 and they were hiring him as their head coach, i would have been like, okay, I get it. He he deserves a chance as a head coach. Now?
00:15:05
Speaker
and Yeah, it's just a complete lateral, if not a step back move. like i had You're going from McCarthy to Schottenheimer, who, quite honestly, what has any of his offenses done in the the last five years to warrant him getting a head coaching job? I just think this is such a abysmal hire like I just don't understand what they're doing yeah much much less being your head coach is any team is any fan base excited if you hear we're bringing in Brian Schottenheimer to be the offensive coordinator no I mean if your last name Schottenheimer in the year 2025 you're most likely not excited about him being your offensive coordinator
00:15:41
Speaker
Yeah. Again, not that he's a bad coach. He's just a coach, man. Like he's literally like if you if you're going on mad and starting to franchise, he's got like B ratings across the board. He's not bad at anything. He's not great at anything at all. It's just I don't know what he's bringing to the table. Just an absolute nothing burger of a coach.
00:15:58
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. Schottenheimer than nothing. burgery Um, outlook for this year, man, i did. I hate to say it, man. I know we got a lot of Cowboys fans tuning in. I think it's going to be a lot of the same. I think they're going to be slightly up from last year, but I think they're going to be hanging right around. You know, I think I, when I say slightly up, I mean, it's going to be like eight wins, nine wins. Again, maybe if you get lucky, the Eagles falter a little bit, maybe you steal win and you can get to 10 and scratch a wildcard spot, but I don't see them being competitive with Philly or Washington for the division championship.
00:16:29
Speaker
The other thing that's like frustrating for me, I mean, just like as an onlooker, they did the smart thing and they drafted an offensive lineman. like Usually they have great success with that.
00:16:42
Speaker
The problem is, and I know they ended up trading for Pickens, but they brought in Javante Williams and Miles Sanders. like When are you going to commit to this actual team being like – I don't know, man.
00:16:56
Speaker
I just think back to them when they drafted Zeke and Dak in the same year, and then they started putting weapons around him right away. i mean, this late in his career, like George Pickens has already shown what he is. Like, if you don't give him the ball, he's going freak out. I mean, that's who he is.
00:17:12
Speaker
Crash out George. And that's why they that's why the Steelers were okay with getting rid of him, which I still think may be a bit premature on them getting rid of him, but... He's talented as hell, but but yeah, i don't I don't think he brings a good a good vibe, a good energy to any locker room he's in. It just feels like Dallas is committing, Jerry Jones is basically committing to the Cowboys being mediocre, like just good enough to get by, but nothing that they're putting on the field is going to like blow anyone's minds. Now, them having Dak back is going to help. like Obviously, their team is completely different with him in than Cooper Rush and
00:17:48
Speaker
the other guys have been playing, but i don't know, man, I'm with you. I think they're, they're destined for 10 win ceiling and probably a eight or nine win probability.
00:17:59
Speaker
Yeah. Best case, absolutely best case scenario for the Cowboys this year is getting their ass handed to them in the first round of the playoffs. That's not a good feeling. All right. Got the the the lightweights out of the way. We got two bona fide Super Bowl contenders that, you know, 100%, I think everybody in the organization, from the owner down to the the the the parking lot valets, I think they got their eyes on the prize this year, thinking it's our year. We're going win this thing.
00:18:25
Speaker
We'll start off in Washington.
Commanders' Resurgence
00:18:26
Speaker
The Commanders went 12-5 last year after 4-13 the year before. These guys went 8-4 in one-score games, had some serious magic, man. Had some straight-up magic in the late game, but I think it was – I think the kind of stuff they were doing, I think it was real. I don't think it was luck, man. I think these guys were just locked in, executing at the end of the games.
00:18:44
Speaker
What did you think about some of the amazing late-game heroics we saw from the Commanders last season? Dude, this is just – They hit on Dan Quinn. He is the ultimate motivator. We've talked about it a million times, whether or not it lasts or not is just to be determined as always.
00:19:01
Speaker
They absolutely hit on Jaden Daniels and Jaden Daniels was everything you could ask for in a quarterback. Just completely calm under pressure. Does not matter who they're playing, what the score is. He's just going to keep your offense calm and steady the entire game and Quite honestly, in the NFL, that's all you can ask for is that your quarterback doesn't fold when it gets to pressure situations.
00:19:23
Speaker
And he almost never did last year, which for a rookie is unreal. I mean, what he did last year cannot be understated, especially considering when you look at their offense as a whole, like, yeah, they have Terry McLaurin. But I mean, outside of that, like, what are you really pinning your hopes and dreams on? The weapons weren't scaring anybody.
00:19:42
Speaker
Yeah. an Austin Eckler, some random McCaffrey brother. Yeah, the well, Luke McCaffrey, don't ever call him a random. You bite your tongue. He was a Nebraska football player at one point. ah but I mean, he's just a McCaffrey. Yeah, Austin Eckler, Brian Robinson Jr. is a really good running back. But, I mean, outside of that, like, Zach Hurts is your tight end. Like, they're not scaring anybody. But you know what, man? They were in a perfect offense for for what those guys can do, and Jaden just executed it really well.
00:20:11
Speaker
Yeah, just hell of a season, man. um Success by any measure. they They could have done half as good as they did last year, and the season still would have been a smash success. But they put together the awesome regular season, going twelve and five with a ton of exciting games.
00:20:25
Speaker
um They go on the road, beat Tampa, go on the road, beat Detroit pretty handily. They barely got past Tampa. They took a last-second field goal where their kicker's OCD, I think, was driving half the nation crazy, man, as he's patting his head 15 times.
00:20:39
Speaker
Yeah, on the way out to kick the game-winning field goal. They really kicked the shit out of Lions, man. the final score looks respectable, but, dude, they were in total control of that game for really the second quarter on, man. It was never close.
00:20:50
Speaker
Yeah, they handled their business, man. I think Detroit was asking doing some serious soul-searching by the time the clock hit zero on that one. That was a badass Detroit team that they did that to. Yeah.
00:21:03
Speaker
To me, I think Jay Davis is the real deal, man. If he doesn't go down as, you know, all pro level, you know, Hall of Fame type guy after what we saw last season, I think it really needs to be studied exactly what went wrong in Washington because he just looked like the truth, man. Like you said, the on-field production was awesome, but born that, it was just the poise, man. If you just watch way he played, always in control, seems like he's really inspiring confidence in his teammates that, you know, hey, when this guy's on the field, we got a chance to win any game we line up in.
00:21:31
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, their offense was fifth in the league last year. Like, with a rookie quarterback, that's that's unreal. And like we just talked about with the weapons they had. I mean, last year, obviously, smashing success. Like, I don't think you could probably ask for – I mean, yeah, they have went into the Super Bowl. But going to the NFC Championship game after going 4-13 the year before, like – what more could you ask for? And quite honestly, the sky is the limit for this team. I feel like they're only going to get better. I'm with you. I think Jaden Daniels is just going to keep getting better every year as they go.
00:22:04
Speaker
One thing i would watch out for with these guys, man. Um, that they were really – was a little bit of the secret sauce last year for them, dude. They went for it on fourth down a ton, man. Dan Quinn said these from the start they were going to be super aggressive, and that was a real game-changer for them, man. extending drives you know Extending drives that would have otherwise ended in punts,
00:22:24
Speaker
getting seven instead of settling for three. But these guys were, we know we know going for fourth down, similar to going for two-point conversion stuff, these are high leverage plays that there can be a lot of bit of, just a high variability in it, right? like if you Just because you're successful one year doesn't mean it's going to carry over.
00:22:39
Speaker
These guys were had an 87% success rate on fourth downs last season. They converted 20 out of 23 times. It was the highest fourth down success rate um of any team in the Super Bowl era, dudes. We're going back almost 60 years.
00:22:53
Speaker
They had the highest rate. That's going to be tough to duplicate, man. And that that could swing you know that yeah i could swing two games, man. That could take two games. It would have wins and the losses if you fell on a couple fourth downs. That's really how that NFC championship game got away from them. You know, they were, they hung with the Eagles for a quarter and a half. And obviously it's a big game. You see that sometimes in conference championship games, teams really got to just go balls out from the start.
00:23:15
Speaker
And when you do that, sometimes it can, it can get away from you quick, man. It's snowball. um But that's just something to look out for, man. I, so even with that kind of caveat, I still see it coming down to, you know, late season game against, against Philly that determines who, who wins the NFC East this season. Yeah. And I mean, to be fair, they addressed two of their big, biggest positions of need. Like they got a second receiver to go with Terry McClure and they traded for Debo and whether or not he's actually serious about playing football is to be determined.
00:23:43
Speaker
And they also got a left tackle with Laramie Tunsil. Like that that was the two things that kind of held this team back in, in certain games is their left tackle. Couldn't block long enough for Jaden to, to get a playoff. And, um,
00:23:57
Speaker
They addressed both of them. I think this team is just, it's tough for me to envision them going anywhere but up. Like, I i just think this team is going to be really good. And like I said, you'll know when the Dan Quinn magic wears off because the team will just start looking sluggish. I mean, it's what happens to the Falcons. They just, it just wore off. All the rah-rah shit finally just wore off and they had to go out there and play a football game and they just couldn't do it.
00:24:24
Speaker
Yeah, exactly. and He had some some talent during around him those years also, but no, I'm right there with you, man. ah It could even be, you know, maybe they don't go twelve and five this year. Maybe they go 11-6. still think they're going to be improved, and that experience they got last offseason, I think they're going more prepared to go on another deep run come playoff time. Yeah, I'm not saying they're going 14-3 or anything. 12-5 is a damn good record. yeah that's That's tough to match. I think if you're right around the 11-13 win range, I think you're yeah you're still really proud of whatever you do that's that season.
00:24:56
Speaker
Yeah, I think a big thing to do, like said, if they can win the division, catch a home home playoff game, or even get freaking home field advantage. I think, that in ah to me, the NFC East and the NFC North, those that's kind of like the the cream of the crop for the NFC. I think the winner,
00:25:11
Speaker
but I think the NFC North's a little bit stronger, so I could see whoever wins the NFC East ended up with the best record and and getting home field advantage, which that huge because then you get a bye. You know what I mean? Win two home playoff games and you're in the Super Bowl. I kind of feel bad for the Commanders because I i seriously think that they would be the best team in any division other than the division that they're in.
00:25:32
Speaker
just yeah The Eagles are just so loaded, man. i just that's that It sucks for them because that that is the worst division for them to be in right now. So outlook for 2025, dude, I think these guys are going right there in the mix how they were last year, man. I see that. I definitely see them being one the final eight teams.
00:25:48
Speaker
And you had to maybe put a, you know, throw a dart and and put a final prediction, I think these guys get the final four. And we just got to see how it, you know, how it shakes out, man, if they yeah if they can end up putting it together. But I think that they are on the short list of Super Bowl contenders for 2025. How about you I agree. ah i don't think anybody else in the NFC got so much better to knock them out of the spot that they were in last year.
00:26:10
Speaker
So I have no reason to believe that they're not going to duplicate last season's success. I do. I think they'll make the NFC championship game again. I just I feel like this team is that good. All right, speaking of teams being that good, we'll go to our last team of the day, the Defending Champs.
Eagles' Super Bowl Aspirations
00:26:27
Speaker
These guys, they were great all season, but they took it to about two or three levels higher in the playoffs, man. Beat a very, very tough ah Rams team in Philly with some super-duper just classic playoff weather.
00:26:41
Speaker
ah They went in and smoked. I mean, they their last two games were about as good a two-game stretch as you could ever have to close out the season. do They beat the shit out of the previous league. uh, mentioned commanders. And then they went in and absolutely boat raced the, the two time defending champion Kansas city chiefs in the super bowl. Just could not have scripted any better, man. They go 14 and three after a very impressive 11 and six, the season before.
00:27:02
Speaker
you remember that year before, man, they were coming off, um, coming off a super bowl loss in 2023.
00:27:08
Speaker
Right. No. Yeah. 2022 coming off Superbowl loss, 2022, 2023, most of the season, they were the best team in the league. And then they just went into some kind of funk. We never really got a, for sure story. If it was something between Jalen hurts and AJ Brown or what was going on, but they went into a weird slump where it seemed like the whole vibe of the team was just off.
00:27:26
Speaker
End up getting beat by Tampa Bay in the playoffs. Um, But they bounced back in a big way last year, man. 14-3, 8-2 in one-score games. Number seven offense, number two defense. Just far and away the best team in the league.
00:27:39
Speaker
I don't think we need to ask, was last year's success? The big big difference this year, they lost Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator, man. how How big of a hit do you think that's going to end up being, in Jordan?
00:27:50
Speaker
I mean, if if they would have lost any other offensive weapons, I'd be a lot more concerned. But, dude, this team's bringing everybody back. I mean, you hire an offensive coordinator and you tell them, hey, man, did you see what we did last year? We handed the ball to Saquon.
00:28:05
Speaker
We threw when we needed to. We found A.J. Brown. We found Devontae Smith. Outside that, we don't need to reinvent the wheel here on ah offense. Like, we don't need to have a 400-page playbook. Just run the plays and let these boys do the work.
00:28:19
Speaker
They have the best offensive line in the NFL, man. Like, this should not be hard. I do think losing Kellen Moore hurts them a little bit. um Sirianni's had experience with this, though. I mean, he's already lost both of his coordinators one year.
00:28:34
Speaker
Like, ah I think they're still going to be fine. um... Yeah, I agree. Obviously, we don't have access to the playbooks and stuff, but they never struck me as a team who is really getting a huge edge from their scheme. Obviously, Kellen Moore is a great play caller, but i don't think it I don't think they were doing something that couldn't be replicated by another solid offensive coordinator. And yeah, whoever whoever's going in that job is totally set up for success.
00:28:58
Speaker
Uh, these guys are loaded, man, you know, lost, uh, CJ Gardner, Johnson lost Darius slay. I don't see, but they've been so good in the draft that you just know, even the guys that they pick up that you barely heard of, you just assume they're going kick ass, man. Cause really going back the last 15 years, the Eagles have been just one of the most consistent teams on finding and talent.
00:29:18
Speaker
I think they're smart about always just taking the best player available, regardless if it's a need on the roster or not, and just kind of let it shake out. Um, yeah, I think it's Super Bowl or bust, man. I'll look for 2025. You hate to say that because then that literally you know gives you a very slim number of outcomes. It means it's a good season. But obviously, I don't think they'd hang their heads if they make it back to the NFC Conference Championship and just come up short. But to me, this team's so loaded.
00:29:40
Speaker
The talent's young. They got the experience from the runs they've been on the last few years. I think it's Super Bowl or nothing for for the Eagles this year. I think it's Super Bowl or bust for the Eagles for the next three years. They have so much young talent on this team. like If they cannot continue making runs, there something has went wrong. because yeah And then they draft them and the Ravens draft better than anybody in the NFL. like They just don't miss on their picks.
00:30:06
Speaker
i just i I think this team is still the best team the NFL going into this season. So i agree. Super Bowl or bust for them. All right, so that's our NFC East preview. We'll wrap it up.
00:30:17
Speaker
Jordan, give me your final standings for the NFC. Start start with last place and work to first. um I think it's going to be the exact same as last year, man. I think it's going to go Giants, Cowboys, Commanders, Eagles. like i i just think that's going the order of finish again.
00:30:33
Speaker
I am going make one caveat on that, man. i did I think the Eagles have just a little bit a Super Bowl hangover. Maybe celebrate that Super Bowl just a little too much. Don't got quite the edge. I think we see them drop a game or two that they shouldn't have. And I think Washington is going be locked in, man. I'm going to put my chips middle of the table.
00:30:50
Speaker
I think Washington wins the NFC East this year. Interesting. i I wouldn't be surprised. I think both of these teams are so good that nothing will surprise me. Eagles got the better roster, dude. I'm literally just trying to like think game by game. You know what i mean? like that we know We know the NFL, crazy crazy unexpected stuff happens yeah all the time.
00:31:07
Speaker
i just i can totally The Eagles just kind of give me that vibe of a team that could that could drop one or two that they shouldn't have. Yeah. doesn't make them any less dangerous when the playoffs roll around. I don't think i don't think really for either one of these teams, home field advantage is that key. Obviously, it always helps, but um neither one of these teams strike me as a team that like they need to have home field advantage to make a run.
00:31:25
Speaker
I agree. And whoever loses division is most likely going to play the winner of the NFC South in the first round, whether that be the Bucs or the Falcons, whoever it may be. i don't i don't think either one of these teams is going to be scared going into Tampa or Atlanta and winning game.
00:31:42
Speaker
All right, that's a wrap for episode two. We are a quarter of the way through with the preseason, man. It's getting closer. we have Regular season football is almost here. ah Jordan, hit us with some closing thoughts, and we'll get out of here. We got a preseason game two weeks from Thursday. So, yeah, we are officially there.
00:31:59
Speaker
ah Yeah, guys, thanks again for listening, and have a good week, and we'll talk to you next week.
00:32:50
Speaker
I take a deity, spirit.