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Goal Line: Preseason Finale
7 Plays4 months ago
The boys close out their 2024 previews and pick a few big college football games for this weekend. It’s officially go time for football!
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Transcript
Preseason Excitement and Plans
00:00:15
Speaker
What is up, Goal Line listeners? We are back with our final preseason episode of the Goal Line. Man, Jordan, we made it. It is upon us, my friend. We had some college football this past weekend, and it's time, man. It's time to get this show on the road.
00:00:35
Speaker
Let's go, dude. Me and Jordan got our fantasy football draft this weekend. We got some college games to pick. It's our final batch of team previews. And next week, we will be bringing you guys actual game predictions. Million dollar bets will be back. It'll be back to the goal line that you guys know and love, the format we debuted last season with a few additions. So yeah, we're going to bring it, man. Let's get right into it, Jordan. Let's do it.
Flag Football Update and Future Challenges
00:01:08
Speaker
Do gotta give a quick update before we get into the news. My 6U flag football boys we debuted last week. Brett and his friends kicked all kinds of ass. We won 27 to zip. So nice little tune up for week one. Got a much more challenging game coming at us this Wednesday evening. So I'll let you guys know. Hopefully we can keep the perfect season going because the goals, you know, we're championship robust this year. It's a must win season. I'm on the hot seat and we're going to try to take it all the way. Hell yeah.
00:01:35
Speaker
All
NFL Contracts and Wide Receiver Market
00:01:36
Speaker
right. NFL news is going to be kind of light this week, just cause cut day is tomorrow. We are recording this on Monday night. So cut day is tomorrow. Um, two pretty big news stories today though. The Cowboys and CD lamb have agreed on a four year, $136 million deal makes him the second highest paid non quarterback in NFL history, right behind Justin Jefferson.
00:02:00
Speaker
You know, the 49ers are like, mother fuck, man. Like we almost were, felt like they were kind of circling, wrapping things up with Brandon Ayuk. This kind of, this kind of throws that, I think a lot of NFL teams were trying to say that that Justin Jefferson deal was an outlier and didn't really reflect the wide receiver market. But I think it's kind of the standard now, man, a number or something close to that. So if I'm Brandon Ayuk or if I'm Jamar Chase, man, I'm calling my agent right now.
00:02:27
Speaker
Yeah, the bangles got to be the ones that are really like, Oh, shit. Because I mean, they've, they've got issues in house already with T Higgins didn't want to play on the, the franchise tag. And now Jamar Chase still has not done anything in the offseason. So
00:02:43
Speaker
Yeah, not good. So now the average, uh, highest paid receivers in the NFL per year basis, Justin Jefferson at 35 million CD at 34 million, AJ Brown at 32. I'm in raw at 30.02 million. Just had to give him enough to get past Tyree kill at 30 million. Jalen waddle 28.25 and then Devonta Adams at 28 million.
00:03:08
Speaker
God damn, dude, that was what the quarterbacks used to get on an average salary. Now the receivers have gotten all the way up there. Yeah. This is a slippery slope. We're heading down at this point. I don't, I don't know how we're getting out of this unless they just raised the cap to like 300 million. Cause I mean, better players are going to keep coming into the league. Like there's all the evidence is there that the NFL is just going to keep getting better.
00:03:33
Speaker
Yeah, the best, you know, 15 years ago, the best players were going, you know, if they weren't quarterback, they were playing running back, man, and now it seems like wide receiver is definitely the spot to go to, whereas running back continues to get less and less valued in the NFL. I'm really kind of surprised to see the wide receiver market continue to grow like this. Dude, look at the Chiefs, man. They traded Tyreek Hill, you know, arguably best receiver in the league, and simply went out and won back-to-back Super Bowls right afterwards.
00:04:02
Speaker
Yeah, I think they're more of an outlier more than anything, though. Like, I mean, who else is doing that, dude? They're just lucky that they have Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid and Travis Kelsey. I mean, I think that's just more an attribute to the Chiefs more than anything. I don't think anybody else could do that and be in the same exact position.
49ers' Financial Decisions and Super Bowl Window
00:04:24
Speaker
So do you think that Brandon Ayuk still winds up for the 49ers week one, or do you think this complicates things? I mean, to me, he's definitely, I think, you know, I'm a little bit higher on Ayuk than you are. We've had a lot of discussions about this off air, getting pretty heated, actually. I think he's kind of right at the top of the next tier below the Justin Jefferson, AJ Brown, C.D. Lamb, Jamar Chase class. Throw Tyree Killen there, too.
00:04:49
Speaker
I don't think we're that far off. Honestly, I think you said you thought he was sixth and I thought he was eighth. We're not that far off. Like you're making it sound like I said I was an absolute bum and he's like the 20th best receiver. Like don't, don't let Seth. I never said anything like that.
00:05:05
Speaker
No, but I mean, yeah, actual numbers wise were close. I feel like I kind of had him at the bottom of a weight class, whereas you kind of had him a whole lower weight class down. But either way, man, do you think that he still lines up for the Niners week one, or does this pump his number back up a little bit?
00:05:28
Speaker
I do think he ends up saying I'm the Niners because at this point, dude, a huge trade at this point would just seem so weird. I mean, we're out of preseason. Especially at wide receiver, man. Wide receiver and QB, they're tough to quickly assimilate. You really need to get in the playbook and establish that rapport with the QB. Not to mention, dude, training camp is over now. All the practices for training camp have ended.
00:05:52
Speaker
So I mean, we're just doing game prep now. Like there's no like full on, um, until the first game now, which is, I mean, like we said, it's a week away from Thursday. So we're there. I think it's best for both parties. If I, who goes back, do I think I, you should get paid $32 million to $35 million. No, I think that would be a mistake, but I mean, that's just kind of what the market has set now. So.
00:06:18
Speaker
49ers got some interesting decisions because Trent Williams hasn't been signed yet either and he wants an extension so I saw that he said he's not playing week one without an extension dude and they need him like if they don't have him on their offensive line they're fucked like smoked if they don't have him on their offensive line
00:06:37
Speaker
Their victims are their own success. This is what comes along, man, when you have a four or five year run like the Niners have had. It's a lot easier pill to swallow if you got a Super Bowl or two to show for it. But it's the worst when you're like these guys, when you've just been knocking on the door for five years. But you're not going to do that without having really great players and really great players. They're going to want to get paid eventually.
00:06:59
Speaker
Bro, the problem too is Trent Williams is 36 years old. Like, how much of an extension are you willing to give that guy? I know he's asking the extension. I'm pretty sure if they find a way to just, you know, throw a couple extra piles of dollar bills his way, man, I think he'll be fine. Because yeah, you got to figure he's probably year to year at this point, man.
00:07:18
Speaker
yeah I mean at most I guess you could do a two-year extension but damn dude for a 36 year old just insane but I mean he's still a beast out there hey you know what the crazy thing is is I just I'm reading this right now as we're on the air
00:07:33
Speaker
Williams is due $20.05 million this year, $22.5 million next year, and $32.1 million in 2026. None of the payments are guaranteed, so he must want some guaranteed money. Dude, that dude is under contract for three seasons still. Holy shit, man. 39 years old. It just seems insane to me. I mean, he's going to- We've seen tackles do it, though.
00:07:57
Speaker
We have seen tackles played in early forties, like Whitworth, I felt like was like the exception because he was just so good all the way up until he retired. I don't know, man. The 49ers are in a weird spot right now. Like I still do think obviously they're one of the top teams, but you got Trent Williams holding out, you got IU holding out Christian McCaffrey's hurt. Like
00:08:22
Speaker
This could all fall apart real fast for them. You still got the Super Bowl hangover going. Yeah, it feels like if it doesn't happen this year, I don't think a full-on rebuild is going to be necessary, but they're going to have some pretty significant retooling to do this offseason just because that roster is getting too expensive, man.
00:08:46
Speaker
Yeah, I'm kind of with you, man. It feels like the windows definitely closing on this, this form of the 49ers. Yeah. I just, I don't know how much longer they can string this out. And the elephant in the room is they got to pay Brock Purdy at the end of this year. They're going to pay him or let him walk. Like that's, I mean, that's where the 49ers are now, man. It sucks for them and their, their fans that they haven't got a Superbowl because
00:09:09
Speaker
Yeah, they don't get it this year. I don't think they're getting it. Like this is their year to do it. And if they don't do it this year, it's not going to be good for the future. So yeah, they're going to, I mean, I got a lot of faith in the infrastructure there, but I think they're definitely going to take a step back for a couple of seasons before they make another strong run at it. If it doesn't happen to work out.
00:09:29
Speaker
Yeah. That team was just, they built that team up so well and they knew they had a window and unfortunately hasn't happened yet. So yeah, it's going to be interesting. I mean, dude, they survived. We've talked about this before, but they survived trading three first round picks for Trey Lance, who at this point is looking like an all time draft bus. I don't know if you've seen the highlights, dude. He's looked horrible, absolutely horrible in the preseason and training camp so far for the Cowboys.
00:09:54
Speaker
And I mean, that barely put a scratch on what they're trying to do. You know what I mean? Other teams, that's setting you back freaking half a decade, a bust like that. But they were able to totally absorb that and keep it moving. Other teams, that's getting your GM fired and possibly your head coach. Like, they just, they kept the line rolling. I mean, yeah, it's a tribute to how good that team is and how well they built that roster up. But yeah, Trey Lance, holy shit, dude, five picks in one preseason game is absolutely insane. Yeah.
00:10:21
Speaker
You know, not to keep peeping flowers on the Niners, man, but I think one thing that they did was smart. I think they realized pretty early on once he came back from that injury that Trey Lance was just not going to be that guy and they cut bait and moved on. We've seen other teams when you invest that much in somebody that you kind of keep, you know, chasing, chasing bad money with good money and just kind of get, it's kind of like quicksand, right? You keep trying to invest in this guy and make it work and make it work. And I think that's where you really end up setting your team back years. Yeah. A hundred percent.
00:10:50
Speaker
Uh, speaking of cutting bait, that'll roll right into our next topic. The Titans traded Malik Willis to the green Bay Packers today for a seventh round pick in 2025 Jesus dude, this dude, I thought the sky was the limit for this dude. I really did coming out of college. I thought it looked awesome. It seemed like the Titans found a steal at quarterback man when they, when they got him. But, uh, no.
00:11:15
Speaker
I feel like this is a good move for the Titans though. I mean, they had to move on from him just cause like they, they're, this is just putting all their eggs in the will Lewis basket, which is what they should be doing. Um, cause I mean, they got to see what they got. You don't want a guy, the crowd ended up getting behind Malik Willis. If you made a couple of plays, like that's not what you want at all for your franchise. So I get the move for both teams. Now Jordan loves got a backup and the Packers know how to coach them up. So I guess we'll see.
00:11:44
Speaker
Malik Willis will always have that 2022 Sunday night football game where you took Patrick my home so overtime, my friend. Yeah, you always have that in Tennessee, Tennessee legend in his own mind. Yeah, that's really it for NFL news, man. Like I said, cut days tomorrow. So and next week season starts. I mean, we're just approaching the season and there's not going to be a whole lot of news right now. Yeah, it's Christmas Eve, dude. The president, all the shopping is done. The presents are wrapped in under the
Season Feature: College Football Matchup Picks
00:12:12
Speaker
tree at this point. Yeah, I agree.
00:12:39
Speaker
Alright you ready to hit some college? Let's do it.
00:12:40
Speaker
You want to hear a, you know, I generally think I'm doing a really good job raising my kids and, you know, as a dad, specifically my son. But I definitely had a dad fail moment this weekend. So me and Sheena and the kids, I had this conference thing I had to go speak at down in Dallas and they put us up at the
00:12:58
Speaker
the Gaylord Resort, really nice spot down there. It's where the Cowboys actually stay for training camp. Brett's playing cornerback this year on defense for us. He's really getting into it, man. He's really taken to it. He's seeing some Cowboys pictures and stuff up around the facility. He said, dad, do the Cowboys have anybody good playing cornerback?
00:13:22
Speaker
And I said, yes, son, they had Dion Sanders, you know, the best cornerback in the history of NFL, his response about missing the beat. Oh yeah. His son made perfect timing. Oh my God, dude, you are the worst parent ever. So my dad knows, or my son knows, neon Dion prime time as the, uh, the father of the guy that made perfect timing. So yeah, I got to kick out of that man. Good Lord. That is absolutely miserable.
00:13:50
Speaker
All right, so new feature this year, for all match-ups between top 25 teams, me and Jordan will be picking. So you guys remember, I straight up lapped Jordan last year on the NFL picks. We're going to give him a chance to be the big man on campus. And we're going to have college and pro going at the same time. Jordan, you ready to start tallying these up? It's going to be a little bit simpler on the college side of things. Yeah, let's do it.
00:14:15
Speaker
All right, so first game Saturday, 11 o'clock, we got the Clemson Tigers heading in to face the Georgia Bulldogs. The number one Georgia Bulldogs. Georgia is a 13 and a half point favorite in this one. Overwhelming favorite, man. They got a good chance of that. They got the Heisman winner with their quarterback. I think Georgia absolutely wrecks them on this. To me, Clemson's kind of living off the reputation from three or four years ago. And if it was a different name with that same roster, I think these guys wouldn't even be top 25.
00:14:45
Speaker
I think Clemson is going to be good this year, but they are not going to be good in this game. Like Georgia is just a different level, man. They're, they're an absolute machine. They've lost one game in the past, basically three years. And, uh, we all know what happened at the end of last season. They got left out of the playoffs for losing to Bama. So I got a feeling they're going to be on the pissed off train this season. So yeah, I think Georgia rolls Clemson.
00:15:11
Speaker
Yeah, I still think they got straight up robbed not getting a chance to defend their championship man losing by one score in a game to Alabama with some questionable officiating It's just a shame that they didn't get a better chance to go out and try to three-peat. But yeah Carson Beck absolute stud I think they wreck I think they actually cover the spread pretty easily. Yeah, I agree
00:15:31
Speaker
All right, up next we will be fast forwarding to the night game 630. We got Notre Dame at Texas A&M, man. Notre Dame seven, Texas A&M is 20th. Notre, Texas A&M actually favored in this one by three points. I went off the ESPN bet odds line on this. Tough spot for Notre Dame, man. You know, going in, opening the season at Kyle Field. That's a really tough, tough season opener.
00:15:59
Speaker
Yeah, two perennial overrated teams. Like I can say that with Supreme confidence, both these teams are always overrated every year. I don't feel good about picking either one of these teams if I'm being completely honest, because I never feel good about picking Notre Dame. And I damn sure don't feel good about picking A&M. I mean, I guess if I got a pick, I guess I'll go A&M just because they're at home, but I don't feel good about it.
00:16:28
Speaker
They have a great home field advantage. And I just spent four days in Texas. All the Texans were super friendly. So as a nod to that hospitality, I'm going to go Texas A&M to get the win in the season opener. Plus, Notre Dame, they get so much love from the media and the polls and stuff. They could probably lose two games and still make the playoffs easy. Yeah. Oh, yeah. 100%.
00:16:50
Speaker
All right, and lastly, going to Sunday night, got a little Sunday night football. We'll have this on in the background as we're doing our fantasy draft. Number 23 USC at number 13 LSU. Is this game in LSU or are they playing a neutral site? I think this is it. Oh yeah, they're playing in Vegas. Yeah, neutral site, yeah.
00:17:07
Speaker
Um, yeah, we're in Vegas, LSU and USC, you know, replacing the last two Heisman trophy winners at quarterback, uh, should be an interesting one. LSU is favored by four and a half going in. I think LSU wrecked USC. I just, I think LSU has a way more complete football team this year. Um, I don't think USC is going to be bad, but I just, I don't know, man, I just am not a believer in, uh, that fucking guy.
00:17:34
Speaker
I can't even think of their fucking coach's name. Lincoln Riley. There you go. I just am not a Lincoln Riley believer. See, dude, I like Lincoln Riley, man. I don't know. I don't know how much I like him as a head coach. I love his offense though. And I love this style of offense. He plays, you know, that's really what, what Tennessee the balls are running out. It's really exciting to watch.
00:17:53
Speaker
And I can't stand Brian Kelly, man. Truth be told, I'm not nearly as hardcore of a college football follower as Jordan is. I love watching the games, but I'm not as in-depth on the rosters. But I'm going to go USC, man, just because I really, like I said, I like their coach and I dislike LSU's coach.
00:18:13
Speaker
That's enough. And they're probably going to have more fans. I don't know. LSU fans travel like crazy. They have an absolutely rabid fan base. So it'll probably be in a home game for LSU. But it is geographically a little bit shorter trip for USC.
00:18:27
Speaker
Yeah, I just I don't know man. I'm excited for college football. Obviously you didn't get to watch the opening game as much as I did this last week. It doesn't work, but I did sneak out. I did sneak out of work to watch the last two minutes of it and man I just I love the way that stadium with you. That was absolutely that gorgeous setting for.
00:18:45
Speaker
for that ball game. That Ireland game just, it has to stick forever. College game day was awesome. It was in downtown Dublin. I mean, it just, it's just such a great setting for college football. And yeah, I just love having college football back, man. I'm glad that you're
00:19:00
Speaker
you're going to go all in on your college football watching this year. Cause dude, it is a joy to watch it. And I just, I love college football, man. It's, it's just, it's not as pure as it used to be. Cause obviously now they're getting paid, but there's still some purity to the game. Cause a lot of these guys, this is the last time they're going to play football in their lives.
00:19:18
Speaker
I love the variety, man. You see so much more variety of play styles and more creative play calling. I mean, the NFL, you know, you got a couple of teams like the Dolphins that run a little bit of funky offenses. But for the most part, you know, every team generally plays the same style of football in the NFL. Yeah, everybody runs a pro style offense. I mean, it just kind of is what it is in the NFL. All right. So we it looks like LSU, that LSU and USC game will be the one deciding the the weak one crown, huh? Yep.
00:19:48
Speaker
All right, let's get to, are we gonna do it the same way we did last year where we didn't do individual games, we kept score who won weeks? Yeah, we'll just do that, that's completely fine. Okay, so you get a point if you win a week, we'll keep up with it throughout the season. All right, sounds good. All right, let's get into our team previews.
00:20:20
Speaker
All right, Jordan, we'll save the champs for last. Do you want to go Ravens or Bills first? Let's go Bills first. All right, so the Bills went 11 and six.
Buffalo Bills Season Analysis
00:20:30
Speaker
They were six and six in one score games. Third on offense, 12th in defense, fourth overall in point differential. Retooled most of their defense this offseason and they lost Gabe Davis on offense, which honestly,
00:20:44
Speaker
I feel like Gabe Davis has kind of become one of the more overrated players in the league. I think he had that one insane playoff game after the 2021 season against the Chiefs. And, you know, he kind of been living off the hype off that it felt like the last couple of seasons. One thing I want to go back to you, man, six and six and one score games, the thing that sticks out on that, they only lost that they lost six games all season. So every single game they lost was by one score. These guys did not get blown out any.
00:21:10
Speaker
I think they were a little bit stronger than that 11 and six record showed, but it still ended up, you know, basically the same place they've been the last few years, a couple of plays short of beating the Chiefs, man. I don't know. What was your kind of overall take on the 2023 bills, Jordan? First of all, did you just fucking mentioned that they lost Gabe Davis and forget they lost Stefan Diggs?
00:21:30
Speaker
I mean, I feel like, yeah, I guess I should have mentioned to me, Gabe Davis left and free. So if I, they wanted back, I mean, the vibe I got was that they pack Stefan's big bags for him, dude. I think they were, I think they were happy to see him move on. I mean, I'm not going to disagree with you, but I mean, that's still greatly affects the offense for the season, not having him.
00:21:51
Speaker
Yeah, I can't. When I was putting my notes on it, I just like I said, I knew I felt like that could also almost end up being addition by subtraction because it seems like that relationship could kind of just run its core between, you know, whether it was between digs and Josh Allen or digs and the coaching staff or all the above. Me and you talked about the bills after they lost at the end of last season. And I just said, I do not have good vibes for this team moving forward. They didn't change any coaches. That's not a good start.
00:22:19
Speaker
And then to me, it's just a less talented roster than it was the last five years. Like I am not, I'm not getting positive vibes from the bills at all. Like I still think they're going to be decent as long as they have Josh Allen, but I don't know, man, I was so high on the bills the last three seasons and I am not there at all now.
Ravens' Prospects and Playoff Concerns
00:22:40
Speaker
I mean, I think, I remember I definitely unpicked. Didn't you have them as your Super Bowl pick last season? Yeah. I picked them to win the Super Bowl. Fuck. I had them picked and the season. Not just preseason. Me and you both picked a middle of the season still. Yeah.
00:22:53
Speaker
And the season played out pretty much exactly how I thought it would. They weren't as good in the regular season as they'd been the two years before, but they still had that battle-tested look to them, man. You feel like they would come up and, again, one or two plays short. You know, they end up missing the field goal against the Chiefs. There's a deep ball to Stephon Diggs down the stretch that, I mean, not that it would have been an easy catch, but if you're, you know, an all-pro level wide receiver, you think it's a catch you make.
00:23:19
Speaker
Like I said, they were, you know, just a couple yards here, a couple yards there away from knocking the Chiefs off. And who knows what happens if they do that. And it didn't happen once again. I think they're definitely taking a step back. This division still, it's going to be stronger with the Dolphins having another year in that system. And then, you know, the Jets getting back Aaron Rodgers, if he's anything close to what we think he could be, the division is going to be a lot tougher. So I don't think they're going to be, I believe that they're going to be better in the regular season.
00:23:48
Speaker
I don't think they're going to have a more favorable path in the Super Bowl come playoff time. But again, you got a guy like Josh Allen. He really can single-handedly throw the team on his back and carry you. So they're always going to have a shot to make a run as long as they got him at QB.
00:24:03
Speaker
Yeah, I, I just, I, I just don't think it's there this year for them. Honestly, it just, the receivers that Josh Allen has compared to yours past. I just, I do not have good vibes about this team. I think they ended up winning like nine games tops. I just, I, I don't like Sean McDermott either. I just, I don't believe in him as a big game coach and I feel like he's proven it time and time again and the bills just keep welcoming him back. I just, I don't get it, man.
00:24:31
Speaker
Yeah, it feels like he could definitely be gone after the season. I mean, there was a chance if they didn't end up, you know, winning a playoff game last year, he probably would have been gone. There was still speculation he may be gone after losing to the Chiefs once again, because you feel like he's just not the guy to get him across the finish line. So you're saying no playoffs for the Bills this year, I'm assuming. I do not think they make the playoffs. I think they miss by a game.
00:24:55
Speaker
I do think they find a way to edge into the playoffs. I'll say they probably do just enough to get in and then get beat. But again, I do think they got a shot, man. If I'm kind of dividing up the pie for who's got a chance to win the Super Bowl, I'm leaving a little sliver.
00:25:11
Speaker
of a slice for the bills this season. Cause I think this is just what, what I then how the season's going to play out. I think three teams from the AFC North get in. And then I think two teams from AFC East get in. And I just think, I think the jets are just a more well-rounded roster, even with not knowing what we're getting from Rogers. I just, I don't think it's there for the bills, man.
00:25:35
Speaker
Alright fair enough man. Let's go to the Ravens season obviously ended in a lot of disappointment. They were 13 and 4 You know super dominating team really really great man They went 4 and 4 and 1 score games just like the Bills, you know Never never had a game they lost by more than one score two of their losses were actually in overtime and then one was in a meaningless week 18
00:25:57
Speaker
Yeah. Week 18 game. When everything was already sealed up, these guys were fourth in offense, first in defense, first overall on point differential had the MVP and Lamar Jackson didn't have to play the last week of the season when MVP, uh, they had the big showdown Christmas Eve night against the Niners, you know, the number one team in the NFC, number one team in the AFC. And they absolutely, you know, spank their butts on national TV. Um,
00:26:21
Speaker
I think the final score of that game was something like 33 to 19, but it really wasn't that close. Like they absolutely wrecked the 49ers in front of the entire nation, made it to the AFC championship and just ran out of gas, man. It seemed like they could not, you know, the Chiefs definitely, I mean, the Chiefs beat them fair and square, but it seemed like the Ravens just could not get a break. You know, you had Zae Flowers makes a big catch, turns around and gets an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. And then a couple of plays later fumbles at the goal line.
00:26:47
Speaker
You got to question the play call in a little bit. Like why are we running a wide receiver reverse from the two yard line? Let's just line up and run it down these guys' throats. And then Lamar Jackson had some bad interceptions. They just, they picked a really bad time to have their worst game of the season. The Chiefs got a way of, you know, having, making teams have their worst day.
00:27:06
Speaker
But it just ended on a flat note. I think the final score of that one was something like 17-10. It didn't feel like the Ravens went down swinging though, right? No. Everything that could go wrong for them went wrong for them in that game. Their defense kept them in the game.
00:27:22
Speaker
I just, I don't know, man, the chiefs were just in cruise control in the second half and it never felt like there was even a threat that they were going to lose. Yeah, they were in total control that whole second half. It was a weird game to watch. You just, you never felt like the Ravens had a shot. It seemed like they just came out on their heels.
00:27:38
Speaker
You know, I try not to put too much of like the cliche, like, because obviously, you know, I never played past high school football. So I just go back to some of those high school games felt there were definitely some games where like you'd go out and you just felt like we never had a chance to win or like we just straight up weren't ready to play that day. You feel like that something like that doesn't happen in the pros, but maybe it does, man, because that was definitely the vibe. It seemed like from that game because they were definitely the better team than the Chiefs. We're going to go in depth on the Chiefs next.
00:28:07
Speaker
next team, but there's no doubt about it. They were the better offense, the better defense, the better team really wasn't even that close, you know, just comparing them in the regular season. And it was at home in Baltimore. There was just on paper, there was no reason they should have lost that game. Yeah. I don't know, man. It just,
00:28:25
Speaker
After that Z-Flowers fumble, like you were just talking about, it just never felt like the game was the same after that. Like the life just got taken out of the Ravens at that point. I still think this team is, I mean, the one thing that we always talked about the last couple of years, especially with Lamar is he has no running back to lean on. Like there's, there's no threat of the running back beating you with this team.
00:28:50
Speaker
Now you add in Derek Henry and the threat of a running back beating you as opposed to Lamar beating you as there. This is the one thing that the Ravens for all the things they do right and this team that I think that them and the Eagles are the two best front offices as far as building a team. Like they draft right. They know how to pick up guys. They get dropped guys when they no longer think that they're good enough to be on that team and
00:29:16
Speaker
I don't know, man. I just, I feel like the fact that they did not, they never gave Lamar a proper running back in the last four or five years was just asinine to me, especially with the way they run the read option. So I'm excited to watch this team. Um, really the main thing that they lost was Patrick queen on defense. He went to the Steelers, but, uh, I feel like this team is still locked and loaded. And, um, the second year as a flowers, I feel like he'll take a big step. So.
00:29:43
Speaker
I don't know, man. I think Lamar is going to come out motivated this year and I feel like they're going to do some damage. Yeah. I'm not, I'm not taking them to go all the way just cause the AFC is a murderer's row, but I think they're going to be right there in the mix. I don't think they're going to match what they did last season. Just cause it's fricking tough to go 13 and four in the NFL, but I think they're going to be right there in the mix, uh, with, with the bangles to win the AFC North depending on this, you know, it's probably going to depend on which QB is healthier, honestly. Um,
00:30:10
Speaker
And and we'll see what happens come playoffs on dear Lamar Jackson. He's still got some You know, he's still got some some demons to answer for in the playoffs man his two his two playoff victories came over at aging Ryan Tannehill and a rookie CJ Stroud, so Jury still out on Lamar in the playoffs man. Like it Unfortunately, that's just the name of the game for QBs. You're really judged ultimately by what happens in the playoffs and and
00:30:36
Speaker
he hasn't gotten it done, man. It'd be one thing if, you know, Josh Allen, obviously he hasn't got done either, but it always feels like Josh Allen goes down in a freaking blaze of glory where it seems like Lamar Jackson's kind of just fizzled out in a couple of these big playoff runs when the Ravens have been all teed up to, to take it all the way. Especially when you just won MVP two weeks before that, or we found out that he was going to win MVP two weeks before that. Obviously I didn't announce it until the week after, but yeah, I just,
00:31:03
Speaker
I don't think they went 13 games either. I'm going to, I think I'm going to go 12 and five for my official prediction on the Ravens. Cause I just, I feel like that team is way too loaded to take a huge step back. And like I said, getting Derek Henry, whatever he's got left, it's going to be more than they've ever had it running back with Lamar being the quarterback. So yeah, I'll go 12 and five.
00:31:25
Speaker
I mean, dude, Lamar Jackson's off to, he didn't get the reins, but he's off to a historic star, dude. He's won MVP in two of his first five seasons as a starting quarterback. That's a hell of a way to kick off a career, but, you know, he's got to get done. Like he said, last year MVP got bounced in the conference championship in 2019 when he won it, they went one and done. That was the year the Titans knocked him out. So I'll pick these, I don't think they're going to the Superbowl, but I do pick them to have another strong playoff run this season. What do you have for record wise?
00:31:54
Speaker
I'll say 11 and six, man. I think they still have a strong season, but I'll say they went around 11 games and it ends up coming down to some weird tiebreaker between them and the Bengals for who wins the AFC North. All right.
Chiefs' Super Bowl Three-Peat Quest
00:32:06
Speaker
All right, and last, the two time defending champion, Kansas City Chiefs, they went 11 and six, six and five and one score games, eighth on offense, seventh on defense, so a very, very balanced team, sixth overall on point differential, lost her star cornerback to the Titans.
00:32:24
Speaker
Picked up, Xavier Worthy should be a really good addition. Wide receiver, rookie. Give them a little bit more of a dangerous option outside. But really, ultimately, it's all about Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid on this team and then that defense, man.
00:32:40
Speaker
We haven't seen a team do this, man. All of the years, the NFL has been going on. We've never seen a team three-peat. We've seen it in the other sports. Have not seen it in the NFL. It's really going to be the story of the league this year. Do you think they can pull it off?
00:32:55
Speaker
Oh, they absolutely can pull it off. I mean, I think this team kind of fooled everybody last year with the way they played in the regular season. And I think you're going to see more of that moving forward, just kind of the nonchalant, some games where it's just kind of just doesn't seem like they're, they're all the way into it. And dude, I'll be the first to admit it. They fooled me, man. The last three weeks of the season, that team looked like they were on life support, like
00:33:20
Speaker
they looked old, they did not look like they wanted to play. And then they get to the playoffs and they just turned it on. And just, I mean, there's nothing more you can say like they just, they turned it on when it mattered. And that's, that's all that matters for the season. Regular season means nothing to them at this point.
00:33:37
Speaker
The thing that's really got to be alarming if you're the, you know, the 49ers, the, the Ravens, the bangles of the world that are, you know, the dolphins I'll even throw in there that are trying to knock these guys off is that last year they proved that home field doesn't even really matter that much to them. You know, like the times before when they went all the way, they, they had home field advantage, but they went straight road warriors last year, winning two tough road games back to back in Buffalo, then Baltimore to, uh, to make it to the Superbowl man. So.
00:34:09
Speaker
Yeah, I think they definitely can I think they got a lot of similarities to the last team that we saw go for this You know the oh three oh four Patriots won back-to-back Super Bowls
00:34:20
Speaker
I don't think those Patriots teams, they were really well coached and they had Tom Brady. They didn't have the most talented rosters in the league though, right? They had a lot of good players, no doubt, but they weren't like the most absolute star studded rosters. They were just a really, really good team that played good football. And that 2005 team was strong in the regular season. And then they made it to the divisional round and lost to the number one seed Denver Broncos and a tough playoff game.
00:34:43
Speaker
And I really think that's kind of how it ends for the Chiefs, man. I don't want to say it's been lucky, but I think their luck's going to run out this year in the playoffs. I think they're going to hit Bengals. Maybe it's a rematch with the Ravens. Maybe we see the Chargers actually rise up and win that division. They got to go play Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers.
00:35:02
Speaker
Out in LA I think they're gonna catch a tough road playoff game because I don't think they're gonna be the one seed and I think that we finally see the Chiefs, you know Get a couple bad breaks in the playoffs and fall short man So I I'd see them having a very very tough title, you know a valiant defense of their championship, but coming up short this year I don't think we see the three-peat just because it's it's so dang difficult man Dude, here's the other thing too is like all we always talk about is their offense their defense was so good last year and
00:35:31
Speaker
them replicating that without luxurious need. Like he was so good last year. I mean, there was a lot of games. They weren't, teams weren't even thrown to his side of the field. Like they just avoided that side. It was a bully out there, man. Yeah. Yeah. He would just stay up, abuse the number one receiver and, and, and defense is it's, you know, defense is a lot more scatter shot from year to year. Like obviously, yeah, there's teams that are, we know are going to be strong. You're, you know, every single year on defense, but
00:35:57
Speaker
It's hard to have a lockdown defense like that two years in a row just because, you know, personnel changes and scheme changes and stuff. Yeah, dude, I don't know, man, I just, again, they got Patrick Mahomes, so there's a shot. He's got the Tom Brady, Michael Jordan thing where his teammates always feel like they have a chance to win when he's out there on the field and it kind of lifts them up.
00:36:19
Speaker
I've been watching football a long time, and I just don't think it's possible, man. I think there's so much random that's just baked into the game of football, the single game elimination and the playoffs. And football can be a wacky sport at times, man. And I think these guys are just going to fall short, you know, Taylor Swift or not.
00:36:35
Speaker
This is my opinion on this team. I think they are definitely good enough to win it all, but I just got through saying like how nonchalant they go through the regular season. I think they're going to do it again this year. They're just going to be nonchalant. I think they're going to go like 11 and six this year in the regular season, right? Seven right in that window.
00:36:55
Speaker
And I think they end up going on the road. And this year I think it bites them because the Texans are another year into it. And I feel like they got better. The Bengals are going to have burrow. They got better just by getting him the Raven. They traditionally had the Bengals have kind of had the Chiefs number a little bit over the years. The Ravens 100% or better. I just
00:37:16
Speaker
I feel like they're going to have to beat two of those three teams to get to the Superbowl. And I just don't think they're going to do it this year. I just, but again, let me just preface that by saying I'm never betting against this team again, just because I've seen it too much to completely count them out. But another year older for Travis Kelsey, he definitely looked like he was kind of coming to age at this point last year.
00:37:40
Speaker
I mean, he did not have it. That was his worst season since his rookie year and not saying you see flashes on it. Yeah, you'll see flashes on individual plays here and there, but he's not, you know, he's not dominating the game like he used to, man. I'm rooting to see it happen to happen just because it hasn't before. I'd love to see it, you know, as a kind of just a, not really a diehard for any individual team, man.
00:38:04
Speaker
but dude i just like i said man i i think it's gonna look very similar to that 2005 patriot season i just feel like also i mean at some point playing all these games is gonna kind of take its toll on you you know like
00:38:19
Speaker
If they have to go on the road again this year, I mean, dude, at some point playing 19, 20 games a season, it's just going to catch up to your body. And I mean, they've been lucky. They've, they've dodged the major injury every single year. They have never had like a full on major injury in one of their Superbowl runs.
00:38:39
Speaker
I don't know, man. I'm not saying someone's going to get hurt guaranteed, but just like I said, do Travis Kelsey's a year older and they definitely need him. He's the straw that serves the drink on that offense. And I don't know, man. I just, I, I just have a weird feeling about this team. I mean, the other thing is, so right. We talked about how tough it is to, uh, you know, to make it back and win three straight Superbowls.
00:39:04
Speaker
They've also made it to six consecutive AFC championships. What are the odds of making it to the final four a seventh straight time? The run they've been on has been incredible. Even if they went out and the wheels fall off this season and they go seven and 10 and miss the playoffs, no shame whatsoever. These guys are owed an off year.
00:39:29
Speaker
Yeah, if I'm having to put my flag in the ground right now, I do not think we see the three-peat this season. All right.
00:39:37
Speaker
All right, we got one question for listener mail this year.
NFL Coaches in Must-Win Seasons
00:39:40
Speaker
Our buddy James Modley wants to know, what coach is in an absolute must win situation this season? To me, I think I got to go down to Dallas man with Mike McCarthy, dude. He totally could have got fired last year. You feel like maybe the only reason he's there is because he's a yes man. I don't think the fan base will allow it if the Cowboys have another underwhelming season for him to stick around another year. I'm low keys. Actually, I'm kind of high key surprised he even made it through last season debacle in the playoffs.
00:40:08
Speaker
Uh, I think the easiest answer is Nick Sirianni. I mean, they have another down here. He's definitely getting fired. I'm going to still throw out, dude. I still am going to throw out Kyle Shanahan. Like if they seriously do not get a Superbowl out of this run, I feel like, I mean, I'm not saying he's a hundred percent getting fired, but I feel like there's going to be talk of it. I just, I don't know, man, that, that was the most talent out there, man. Yeah. Yeah.
00:40:33
Speaker
You can see maybe, you know, I totally see a scenario where, yeah, they have another, you know, God forbid, they have another game where they have the lead in a conference championship or Super Bowl and end up blowing it. You know, maybe the Niners find a way to cook it up and keep that roster intact for one more season and you bring Belichick in to get him over the hump. Yeah, dude.
00:40:54
Speaker
Just they have to win a Super Bowl man I just I do not see how it ends any other way if they don't want a Super Bowl because They've been so close for so long like yeah at some point being close is not good enough like you have to get it done and So far the rosters there. Yeah, you can't say that you can't blame it on the players man They have probably the most talented roster in the NFL the last two or three seasons no doubt and
Podcast Anniversary and Listener Appreciation
00:41:23
Speaker
All right. Well, Hey, that's a wrap, man. We Jordan, we made it. We made it through the whole off season. Hey, also, you know, round of applause for us today. We made up a schedule. We got through all 32 team previews, man. There were definitely some very, very lean weeks, uh, as far as league news goes. Also, uh, we've made it a year. We were officially at a year now. Like we, we've made it a year as a podcast and, uh, we've held the listener based strong for a year. So yeah, man, it's a Bravo to us. We did it again. Yeah.
00:41:53
Speaker
Let's go. All right. Hit us with some closing thoughts, man, and we'll be ready to kick off their regular season of the goal line next week. Enjoy your Labor Day weekend. Enjoy your college football. And we'll talk some real NFL with you next week.
00:42:28
Speaker
I've got from fear