First Things First - Bills ‘looking to put on a clinic’ vs. Lions, Cowboys ‘Must-Win’, Nick’s Tiers, Patriots in trouble?

Episode Date: September 16, 2026

(0:00) Bills vs. Lions, Will the Patriots be in trouble if they start 0-2? (27:10) Must-Win for Week 2 (39:28) Is the Ravens defense dangerous? (45:22) Nick’s Tiers (01:05:35) Will the Chiefs lo...ok even better in Week 2?  (01:19:51) Will Brou stick with the Cowboys?  (01:26:37) Cool Stats, Expectations for Bills vs. Lions? (01:47:33) Will the Cowboys bounce back? (01:59:56) Week 2 QB Stock Exchange (02:08:48) What is a Week 1 mirage? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Starting point is 00:00:50 Live from New York. I did it again. We got to fix this desk. Can I tell you something? We don't, there's nothing wrong with the desk. It's the fact that. You had years of pounding on it. We need it tightened up.
Starting point is 00:01:01 I spilled the coffee again. Yeah, you're like, you're like to just be a little tax. Nicotine? You think I'm fired up? Crazy. I stopped smoking entirely, but my, somehow my nicotine intake's gone up. Stop. Fired up, Gianna.
Starting point is 00:01:17 I crushed trivia, knocked out a few cameos. It's all. Yeah, we're doing a lot, KW. Nick used to be against cameos. Well, I did. I did. Then I saw the money train of the brand. I'm going to have thrown at me for doing candy.
Starting point is 00:01:31 I didn't frown. I think you'd raise your prices, bro. Our first things first. Today, we're counting down to Bill's Lions. What coach is talking about, quote, putting on a clinic during the game. Meanwhile, Cowboys Commanders Sunday afternoon on Fox anchors another episode of a segment that brew absolutely dominated. A 5-0 white. That was an all-time.
Starting point is 00:01:55 That was. I don't know if we've seen a sweet. You know, people started to tweet the, you know, people started to tweet the will. Chamberlain means. As I grew when a must win comes on. And finally, the committee met deep into the night. Had a lot of Zins, a fresh edition of tears, alongside probably two animated Nick Wright.
Starting point is 00:02:14 I'm just so happy it's football season. I'm Kevin Wilde's. You know how I know it's football season? And Chris Brousard, but now go ahead. I had for the, it's not officially football season until you have your first somewhat silly fight with the last. about how much football you've been watching. And I'm like, we're not even a week two yet.
Starting point is 00:02:34 I don't know what to tell you. That's how we know it's going on. KW's canceling plans. I know you're trying to avoid that first fight. I got mine out of the way earlier. You can see or the rumor. You hear the murder. As soon as it was like,
Starting point is 00:02:47 hold on the Patriots on a Wednesday. There's another game. No trouble. I'm going to try like, hold on Ohio State. Starring Buffalo, where the bills host the Lions to open up their new stadium. Both teams.
Starting point is 00:02:59 teams opened up week one with a win. A lot of offense, not so much defense. Here's Joe Brady on his plans for this game. It's going to be outstanding energy. You know, the city of Buffalo is this, it's a night that they deserve, right? And it's going to be an outstanding environment. And it's it's where we want to be and we want to play under the lights and we want to do all that. So let's embrace it. You know, and now it's an opportunity for us to show kind of our conviction of what we believe in and not feel like we have to put on a show more concerned we're trying to put on a clinic.
Starting point is 00:03:32 Oh! Last matchup featured 90 total points and over 1,000 yards of offense. Do you expect the bills to put on a, quote, clinic? Let me address that quote first. I don't know what he meant by that because it sounds like trash talk. Yeah, I would say so.
Starting point is 00:03:54 But the way, again, I watch. watched a lot of that interview. The way he said it was very matter of fact. He didn't say it like braggadociously, like you might expect like a Ben Johnson to say that or something. It just, he said it. There was really no response from the reporters. And he just,
Starting point is 00:04:13 he just said it very matter of factly and kept moving. Almost like there's no difference between a show and a clinic. And I guess in some ways you can say there is. But it comes off like trash talk. But it didn't seem like he was trash talking when you watched the interview. To me, again, if we're parsing just a bit, I look at a show like Bill's Texans, high scoring back and forth a fair. And a clinic is...
Starting point is 00:04:41 We're teaching. Like, yeah, like more like, again, I'm not saying this because it's the prince, but like Jags Browns. We're just one team dominating in all facets. And I do feel like that's what he was saying. It was, I will be 100% honest. This was initially put in the rundown, and we talked about the quote, I assumed a player had said it.
Starting point is 00:05:04 It seems like something you would, like Dion Dawkins might say, or you know what I mean? A player, it's a little surprising to hear from the head coach. Like, yeah, we expect to, we were trying to, you know, just dominate them essentially. Yeah, yeah. So I don't know what to make of it necessarily, but it does, it comes off certainly on paper like trash. Yes. But to answer, yeah, I do expect me. You do.
Starting point is 00:05:29 Yeah. Look, Wilds, I hate to tell you, they're going to be the bane of your existence this season. Maybe. Because they're good. And they're going to beat the lions because they're good, but also because the lions can't defend. They gave up 400 yards to Tyler Shuck. What do you think? Who's good?
Starting point is 00:05:47 Josh Allen's, okay, he's good. Josh Allen is spectacular. He's going to have a field there against them. and he's got better receivers than he's had in the past couple of years. Brady showed in week one he wants to use them. And I mean, Chris Olivae looked phenomenal. And it was really good. Yes.
Starting point is 00:06:08 But had 182 yards receiving against the Lions, DJ Moore. And again, I think they all fit now. They got a legit number one, not in one of the top five in the league, but a legit number one. now the others, Khalil Shakir and Joshua Palmer, who caught the game winning touchdown against Houston. They fit into their proper place. Now, I think the Lions are going to score too. Like, I think it's going to be a shootout that the bills win.
Starting point is 00:06:36 But I think the Lions offense is great too, so they're going to put up points, but the bills will prevail in a shootout. So listen, our handicapping of this is almost identical, which almost makes me feel like I should, you know, bet the other way. if everyone agrees that it's going to be a light show in both directions. Like that it feels almost too easy because I think right now there is a very strong argument. The Lions have the worst secondary in the NFL. You have your two starting safeties on the Pupplest. Now, they're two good players. Brian Branch is an excellent player.
Starting point is 00:07:11 Kirby Joseph's all pro like a really good player. Branch probably is the more famous of the two. Joseph might be the more accomplished. those two guys are out the minimum four weeks start the year, so they're not playing tomorrow night. There was no way to replace Terry and Arnold. That's not like losing a player in free agency or in a trade. He got arrested and they felt like they had to cut him,
Starting point is 00:07:33 and now he's on the commissioner's exemplist. That is, you know, the chiefs lost three-fourths of their secondary. But they planned to. They traded a guy. They knew a guy signed away. Another guy signed away. They were able to address it in the draft. They had a plan for it.
Starting point is 00:07:46 I know that they're not surprised by Branch and Kirby Joseph being out because the injuries from last year, but they expect to get them back so they didn't replace those guys. Terry and Arnold surprised them. I don't think the Texans are all of a sudden a great offense. We'll see. It's a new year. Maybe they fixed it. But that was an alarming performance for me as far as the bill's secondary as far as the Lions being able to score.
Starting point is 00:08:11 So I think we are staring at KW maybe out of necessity. the first truly excellent passing season Josh Allen has had in years. Josh hasn't thrown for 3,800 yards, forget 4,000, 3,800 in the last two years prior to this one. He hasn't thrown for 30 touchdowns in the last three years prior to this one. I think the bills might be positioned to have their best offense of the Josh Allen era. I think the offensive line showed you in week one. they picked up where they left off last year. The one guy you didn't mention who they said they were going to feature more,
Starting point is 00:08:52 they've been waiting to kind of break out after spending a high draft pick on him, Dalton Kincaid. They're tied, you know what I mean? Oh, no, Knox? Because Kincaid played well last week. No, that's what I'm saying. I'm saying this year, I think Dalton Kincaid is well positioned to have a big year. James Cook is obviously still excellent.
Starting point is 00:09:12 I just don't think the lions are going to be able to slow them down. Now, I think the Lions might be able to score some with them. But, yeah, I expect the bills, like, I bet we leave week two, and Josh Allen is the heavy MVP favorite for whatever that means two weeks in, because I think they're going to score a bunch of points. If they score a bunch of points, I think the media will be going Josh Allen crazy. But real ball-knowers know that defense wins championships. And this used to be a defensive team with a superstar quarterback.
Starting point is 00:09:44 and they got away from that. Last year, they allowed 136 yards rushing, which was the fifth worst. They fired their defensive-minded head coach. They put in Jim Leonard. And first game, David Montgomery scores three touchdown, rushes in two, and they allow 124. Now you don't have David Montgomery here on the other side. You've got Jemir Gibbs, and I think they're going to rush the ball like crazy against the bills. And maybe no one cares about, I don't know, it just feels like we're in an offensive, we're drunk on offense.
Starting point is 00:10:14 as a league right now. But I feel like eventually come out like, hey, we should stop somebody? I think they, I mean, they like Leonard. Obviously, they hired him. But, I mean, they've been raving about him all offseason. It didn't look good in week one for sure. But nobody did, really.
Starting point is 00:10:30 Yeah, I would expect, I expect the defense to improve. Chiefs and Seahawks defense looks pretty good in week one. A few, a few defenses looked good. But, KW, what you're talking about is, to me, more about the bills. long-term postseason chances rather than what this week will look like. I agree with you that the Bill's defense looks super shaky, but I don't think it looks
Starting point is 00:10:54 shakier than, I know you're high on 37-year-old Tyler Shuck. But, yeah, he turns 27 next week and his second year in the league. But I think that there is real reason for, I think the Lions defense, as presently constituted, is worse than the Bill's defense. And even though I have major questions about the Texans,
Starting point is 00:11:18 the Texans scored 31. I don't know who that's who they are. The Saints scored 30 and shuck through for 410. I don't know that that's who they are. So I think in this, like you, correct. And do you, I trust Josh Allen more than I trust Jared Gough. And I think that the Lions have the better weapons. Like I do, I think 35 points you need to win this game.
Starting point is 00:11:42 I just think the bills can get it. All right. Meanwhile, in New England, Drake May, looking to bounce back after throwing three fourth quarter interceptions, channeling his inner Bill Belichick. Take a listen. I just got impatient and made decisions that ended up costing, you know, costing us offensively and putting our defense in a bad spot. And, you know, we're on in Pittsburgh. We got, you know, another week and another chance in this league,
Starting point is 00:12:07 and that's, you know, dealing with the ups and downs in this league. That's part of it. Last five Super Bowl losers who started O and two, if the Patriots were to lose this game. Three missed the playoffs entirely, including last year's Chiefs. The Bengals ended up losing in the AFC championship game. Seahawks lost in the divisional round. So what wouldn't O&2 start mean for Drake and the Patriots? If I may, just real quick, that clip was from a radio show, one of the hosts Patriots great Ted Johnson.
Starting point is 00:12:36 Also the first person I ever hosted a national radio show with, my partner for two years. in Houston doing that. Shut out, Ted. I didn't realize that was from his show until I just saw on the screen. I don't think they're going to lose, KW. I think the Steelers did not look good at all against Cooper Rush. T.J. Watt had maybe the single most impactful play of any player in the whole league in week one.
Starting point is 00:13:01 Maybe the Seahawk that picked off Drake May in the end zones up there, but it's certainly on the short list. but if they do lose this game, then everything is on the table as far as this Patriots season and will we look at the 2025 Patriots a couple years from now the way we look at the 2023 Washington or 2024 Washington Commanders? Like, wow, what a weird deep playoff run for a team that we don't think is any were close to that level.
Starting point is 00:13:38 Like there have been a few of those. Like the, usually it's conference championship games it ends at, not Super Bowls. Like with Jacksonville. Jacksonville did it. But the Falcons and the, with Matt Ryan and the Panthers with Cam made Super Bowls never really came close to that again. It's not what I anticipate, but, and I'm not trying to overstate the implication of one more loss.
Starting point is 00:14:00 But if you guys lose this game at home, better rested against a 42-year-old. team that just scored 13 points on a Falcons team that's supposed to have one of the least effective pass rushes in the league. It might just mean you're bad, that you're just actually a bad team. And so I would be deeply concerned if I were you, not that they're going to lose, but how I would feel if they lost. I'm leaning toward you guys winning. Really? Leaning. But if you lose, I won't raise an ivory. Just keeping it. Just keeping it. real. All right.
Starting point is 00:14:38 And if you lose, I disagree with Nick that everything's on. I don't think everything's on the table. If you lose, I think a lot of people are going to agree with me more, a lot faster than we saw. I didn't pick them to make the playoffs. And I think a lot of people feel like they're not making the playoffs. Because 0 and 2 could quickly become 0.4. You got Jacksonville and Buffalo next.
Starting point is 00:15:04 Yeah. So it could be cut. Now Buffalo division. game you could beat them. We can throw up the graphic. Just 0 and 2, Brew. Since they expanded the field and made it easier, start 0 and 2. Yeah, I mean, so the odds.
Starting point is 00:15:19 That's shocking. And we know how tough the schedule is. So I think, look, if you win this game and Pittsburgh is at best, low, lower level, mediocre. I mean, they didn't even average three yards of carry last year. And Rogers just can't really move the ball up the field. very much. So if you lose this game though, everything the questions will
Starting point is 00:15:43 just begin. The noise will get so loud. Is Drake made really what we thought he was from last year? You know, was it just one of those kind of fluke years? He had a good year. Was it really the schedule? Were we really not that good?
Starting point is 00:15:58 And we just had the easiest schedule in decades? Or this will start. Did Vrabel's noisy off season cause some problems. Whether that's true or not I'm not saying that that is even a factor, but that will, the noise will begin.
Starting point is 00:16:17 I want to, because you, you roll your eyes at that. Yes. I let me ask you this. I want to ask you this. Are you rolling your eyes at how ludicrous of an opinion you think that would be to hold? Or are you rolling your eyes at bruise contention that that will be a legitimate
Starting point is 00:16:36 topic because I am I think it is totally valid to say Vrabble's off season except the fact he skipped you know a day of the draft had very little impact on this season but not only do I know evidently a host on Boston Sports Talk Radio
Starting point is 00:16:54 I listen to Boston Sports Talk Radio if you think if this Patriots team starts 0 and 2 that is not going to instantly locally be a hot topic I think you're fooling yourself, even if it's an invalid hot topic. If it's an invalid hot topic, I don't think it deserves validity.
Starting point is 00:17:12 But that's what distracts. Like, so many of what we call NFL distractions are foolishness. Like, Odell Beckham Jr. wearing a Richard Mill watch to me was an invalid. Like, that's who cares. But it was, it mattered because we were talking about whether it matters. Like, you can't, whether or not something is almost. true is separate from when we talk about NFL
Starting point is 00:17:40 like distraction stuff like I don't I and so players are getting may start getting asked yeah like I just I somebody's going to be looking for a player or somebody to talk about it off the record yeah I mean I just and I agree with I don't think it's like a big deal
Starting point is 00:17:56 with the team but again if the losing continues I mean and I'm not I'm not trying to pick this is this is just the best example I'm come up with I'm not trying to make it more Patriot-centric. I don't think Bill Belichick's girlfriend had anything to do with North Carolina being awful his first year. But it's because they were awful, that was a big topic. I mean, I don't want to get it. I disagree with that. All right, you think, you think his girlfriend
Starting point is 00:18:24 might have actually been a, I think the structure of North Carolina was dysfunctional. That's fair. But that led to on the field losing. Sure. But again, we're not talking about Can I give you three things on this game before we go down the wrong hand-holding path? First week, Will Campbell. I'm like, I got to see this guy play well. He played well, and that alleviated that concern. Second week, got to see Romeo Dobbs make a catch. That would be nice.
Starting point is 00:18:53 Got to see Drake May and Josh Daniels have a plan for a team that they lost against last year. Last year was really remandre fumbling. They were moving the ball a little bit, but he did get sacked five times. The Hillers defense is still pretty good. This year? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, this was a game that they gave away, but it's not like the offense was moving the ball a little bit,
Starting point is 00:19:19 but you can't have five giveaways and it was still in the balance. But Josh McDaniels has to come up with a better plan. Something that's out there that I do think is far more legitimate than sort of the tabloid stuff, there is more than a murmur with Drake taking a shoulder injection pre-super Bowl hurting it in the ASEC championship, the report that he's not going to need surgery, and seeing some of those balls,
Starting point is 00:19:46 a little bit of eye test, the ball coming up short in the goal line, like is this guy 100%? If we don't see a 100% Drake May, I think there is like, uh-oh, is this guy like... Really? I find that it's a little bit more than a Super Bowl was several months.
Starting point is 00:20:04 I'm telling you it's more than a murmur. Okay, that's fine. It's going for murmur to. And I will respond to that in real time. I find that to be an outrageous position for anyone to hold. All off season. Like I felt blaming his Super Bowl performance on an alleged injury. It's not an alleged injury.
Starting point is 00:20:24 He took a pain killing shot in his shoulder. No, I understand he had pain. I don't know that I would. considered him an injured player. I do think it's an alleged injury. I think there's an extreme of football player being in pain and being injured. And I also, and I don't know how we square what was said all off season about how well he threw the ball to the tune of what would have been.
Starting point is 00:20:48 How many times you tell me? He was on pace for 900 yards in the fourth quarter. So unless the shoulder was hurt, somehow got better at the fourth, was healthy enough throw for 225 yards in the fourth quarter, then offseason, when no one touches him, got worse again, had seven months to recover. And he looked pretty good in the first three quarters. Do you think it's an unfair opinion to say that if Drake has another game that doesn't look like the last, the previous year, that there might be something wrong, his shoulder
Starting point is 00:21:20 might not be 100%. Do you think that's unfair a thing with it? I think the idea is. Because he had all off. Why didn't they do something in the offseason? know why. I'm just saying it's more that it's something to keep your eye on. I'm saying keep your eye on something. And I don't and what if you're saying you don't keep your eye on and I think it's well I don't I don't I don't I typically don't keep my eye on player injuries
Starting point is 00:21:44 when it's off the off season. They have not they have not been limited in any practice. They have not missed any time with it. They have not had a recent procedure. They are like there is and and when you're saying it looks nothing like it, that's when I would say I don't know. It looked. Maybe I'm overshading. I don't mean nothing like it. I'm saying some of the, a guy with a huge, strong cannon of an arm, stuff comes up off target in short.
Starting point is 00:22:10 I'm keeping my eye. And what I'm saying is the hit that we think necessitated the painkiller injection in the AFC championship game, I saw 11 quarters of football before that. Before he took that hit that looked a hell of a lot like what I saw Wednesday, And unless we're saying there was an additional pre-injury that we didn't know about, I think he's a young player, faced tougher defenses and started playing poorly. And I was totally unaware that there was now an idea that actually in week one of the season, Drake May is still hurt because he took a big hit eight months ago. It's something to keep your eye on.
Starting point is 00:22:56 That's all I'm saying. Okay. And I disagree. I don't understand how you can disagree with that. Those are run leads coming out of Boston. Is that what that is? You're like, I disagree. You don't watch it.
Starting point is 00:23:06 No, I mean. I mean. I mean, I don't understand. I think it'd be an excuse. Are we keeping an eye on every quarterback's shoulder for injuries? If that's the case, then yes, he's one of 32 quarterbacks, but every quarterback who is currently listed as healthy that has not suffered a major hit or injury this season. I'm going to keep an eye on it.
Starting point is 00:23:24 You don't have to. We move forward. Moving on to. Where are we going? I'm going to keep my eye. Ben Johnson. We went on to Ben Johnson. Ben Johnson was going to go for two points after being up 59.
Starting point is 00:23:39 Oh, no, he scored 59. I was going up 22 with 340 left. He kicked around not kicking it and going for two. Take a listen. I know you don't care about the outside, but it's a jarring number, 59 points. It's not every day that happens. Certainly not in week one. In fact, you got to go back.
Starting point is 00:23:57 There's only four teams in history. that did it. 73 Falcons scored 62. At that point, I was open for 60. I was thinking a two-point try at some point. But, hey. I don't think you were the only one. Brody, you like this from Ben Johnson.
Starting point is 00:24:14 Look, first of all, I don't know if he was saying he was thinking about that or were people, were other players or other coaches saying, man, let's go for it. Oh, you didn't think that was 60. I mean, he didn't fully admit, I don't know. I don't know that that was him.
Starting point is 00:24:29 He said he was thinking about it. Yeah, the end of the day, he went for two. I do think he, and I don't have a problem with him running up the score. This is the freaking NFL score as many as you can without doing stuff like going for two when you're up 30, which he didn't. So I give him. But if he went for it, you would. If he went for it, that wouldn't be cool. Now, that might be along the lines of some of the stuff he's done, particularly when he was in Detroit as the OC.
Starting point is 00:24:54 Yeah. So, you know, I wouldn't have been shocked, I guess, if he did it. But the bottom line is this. When you talk this way, as he's been talking throughout the off season, you just better deliver it. And history has shown, Muhammad Ali is the greatest example. If you back it up, people love it. But you got to back it up.
Starting point is 00:25:18 And if you don't back it up, you will become the butt of jokes and make yourself a target and so on and so forth. So you're talking to all this. You just got to back it up. Do you like it? This is the, I want to hear your take on this. This is your story. Look, Ben Johnson is a great coach.
Starting point is 00:25:37 He's a great offensive mind. And it's like anybody who's had some success in the real world. One of the things they do is go out and they buy a boat. It's kind of extravagant, but like, ah, you don't buy a boat. Ben Johnson's the type of guy and buy like a cigarette boat. Like, wow, you're feeling really, really good about yourself. Like, yeah, I'm doing really well. Like, don't those cigarette boats cost like millions of dollars?
Starting point is 00:26:05 It's like, yeah. And that's the way I perceive Ben Johnson. Going to have the highest scoring offense. We're going to break the record for consecutive wins. We're also going to have shutouts. I thought it's just, it's, it just feels like he's getting, he's flying high right now. And there's a little bit of hubris from Brent Johnson that perhaps Brian Flores has an answer for. There's not a little bit of hubris.
Starting point is 00:26:32 It's overwhelming arrogance that he has displayed at every stop, but thus far he's just been right. He took, like, we show it very quickly, Hubs, I know we're very late, I apologize. He took over a Lions team that was always bad at offense and made them the best. Then he took over a Bears team that has 75 years of being bad at offense. That's just two years before, but it. It's their whole career, and it's made them last year good, you know, very good. And this year they scored 59 points.
Starting point is 00:27:06 So like, I've never, like, you've stayed where I am on Ben Johnson. You've moved. You used to like the arrogance, which I actually don't. I was thinking about this. I don't think it's inconsistent for you to like it as an offensive coordinator and not like it as a head coach. Maybe that's what it is. Because they're different jobs. As an audience coordinator, like, I'm doing my thing.
Starting point is 00:27:30 Like, heck yeah, dude. Yeah, because his defense is terrible. Yeah. But so I, like, I don't even want to criticize you for that because you, there are different jobs. You have different responsibilities. So you could like it in one role, but not like it in another. Like they answered at like 59. You know, I was actually concerned about our defense.
Starting point is 00:27:46 Yeah, but that's not who he is. No, it's not who he is. And so, but he's always been like this, but nobody's been able to stop. Is Dak Prescott already facing a must win? That's next on FS1, the Fox Sports. channel on SiriusXM. New from Nespresso. Blend wellness into your coffee routine
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Starting point is 00:28:25 Let your morning change you. Discover Coffee Plus. us on Espresso.com. Check out the podcast. It's just been great, and of course our YouTube channel is flying. What are we at? Are we at $1.1.1 billion yet? I'd like to get there.
Starting point is 00:28:41 Yeah. Well, you are. I'd like to get to $1.1. Really? Excellent. Well, keep watching it. Time now for one of the most controversial segments in all of sports. Week 2 of Must Win. Again, the segment is not literal.
Starting point is 00:28:58 Just like how you literally don't have to go to back to school night on Thursday. But if you want the rest of your year to go smoothly in the house, you better. First up, commanders at Cowboys on Fox. Both teams lost division games to start the season. Cowboys defense got worked by Jackson Dart. While the Cowboys' old DC, Dan Quinn, did hold the Eagles to 10 first downs, also lost the game by two points. Brew, you had a dominant week one. One must win victory.
Starting point is 00:29:29 Five O, Greg. And everyone was solid. Remember how sometimes he takes plays off? Everyone he goes. Put on the show, man. So it's your board. You can pass play. You can go first, second, third, whatever you want to do.
Starting point is 00:29:42 I'll play. It's a must win for the Cowboys. Okay. Because of expectations. There's no expectations whatsoever on the commanders. In fact, just by playing Philadelphia close and almost having a chance to win, When people like, wow, they look pretty good.
Starting point is 00:30:02 Sure. The Cowboys, on the other hand, obviously had major expectations, not just from me. So if they lose this game at home and it could get ugly in a hurry because you got Baltimore and then Houston and, you know, the schedule continues to be tough. And I think the noise, and I talked about the noise with the Patriots, the noise will get overwhelming. That could get booed. Dax been the one driving his train in the off season talking all this mess.
Starting point is 00:30:34 He could get booed at home. Christian Parker, the new defensive coordinator, could get booed. George Pickens could lose interest. I mean, if they go 0 and 2, this season could go off the rails in a hurry. Okay, picked it up there. This is a must win and a must perform well. Offensively, you cannot come out slow. Understand you got two possessions.
Starting point is 00:30:58 you scored on those two possessions. But defensively, all the additions, all the Christian Parker talk, and I was right there singing praises as well. You cannot do the same things. Allowing a team to 81%, 82% completion percentage on third down, you will never stop teams if you can't get off the field. You got to get off the field.
Starting point is 00:31:21 This is a must win and a must perform well for both sides of the football. I don't know if it's unprecedented. Senator on. But it's certainly rare, and I will do it very quickly. It's a Quintuple must win KW. It is a must win for the commanders and the Cowboys. Whoever loses this game is not only O&2, they are O&2 with two divisional losses to start the year. That's a catastrophe. It is a must win for Dan Quinn, who entered this year hot, at least warm, if not hot seat, and the first coach fired markets will he will skyrocket to the top if they fall to O&2 in
Starting point is 00:31:57 ugly passion. Brew was right that it is a must win for Dak Prescott, who all of a sudden went from being something of a media, I don't want to say whipping boy, but like a guy that I thought caught too much flack for consistently being solid to being a very trendy MVP pick. And last but not least, it is a must win, the fifth and final one for Chris Broussard. Take it from someone whose Super Bowl pick last year started the year O and two. It's not fun. You're digging out of that hole all year long.
Starting point is 00:32:25 Folks are coming at you. So quintuple must win. I know we got in a fight the first segment. I deserve the point. I'll give you a quintuple. Bruce won four straight. What a run. That might be a record.
Starting point is 00:32:40 That would be quadruple. You said four straight. This might be a record. How? Has anybody won four straight? He's going for his fifth straight question correct championship. Why? You are a great judge.
Starting point is 00:32:53 Next up. An old school. team in green with a diehard fan base that hasn't won in a long time taking on the Jets. Packers. Packers are underdogs in this game. Am I reading that great? No, their favorites. My goodness. I was going to say, Doc yourself points. One off for me. Of course they're not. I was like, I was like, switch it. Packers are favored, but they've yet to win a game since Micah was injured in mid-December, Greg. Packers, Jets. Let's win.
Starting point is 00:33:25 Come on now. Packers must win. Quick history lesson. Last time they've lost six consecutive games over the course of 1990 season, 91. Predates Brett Fav. And we've had awesome quarterback play. It hasn't happened. Jordan Love is a part of this.
Starting point is 00:33:44 It cannot continue to happen. That 91 season, they lost the first two games. O&2 start. We can't do it, Jordan. We got to get back. in the winning ways. Look, you guys are better than this. Simply put, it's a must win.
Starting point is 00:34:00 You're playing the Jets. Don't go out there and disrespect them in terms of prior to the game. But during the game, be as disrespectful as you possibly can be. And finish the game. You cannot keep doing these things at the end of games. It's a must win for the Green Bay Packers. Yeah, I'm going to say it's a must win for Matt LaFleur, even though he just got the contract extension,
Starting point is 00:34:22 because this graphic that Greg showed on Monday is horrifying. It's not just that they haven't won since Micah got hurt. You can't make the argument, oh, well, the team just fell apart without Micah. They're crushing teams. They are. They are building big leads and then falling apart on both sides of the ball, none worse than allowing 29 straight to Carson Wentz and the Minnesota Vikings offense. And so for them, I'm going to also add,
Starting point is 00:34:55 Brew, we know who's going to win, like, do your best, buddy, but KW put this in the show because he said, and I quote, Greg's going to cook on this. So KW's prediction necessitates that Greg wins the point. I'm just letting you know. But he didn't cook. I'm just keeping it real. I mean, America saw it.
Starting point is 00:35:19 You've cooked before. That wasn't cooking. It wasn't. I would be insulting you if I said that was cooking. You've cooked way better than that before. So what's your answer? It's a must win yes for the Packers. It's a must win yes for LaFleur.
Starting point is 00:35:34 It's a must win for Greg Jennings. Because when we, none of us picked them to make the playoffs. Yeah. Greg looked, if looks could kill, we'd have all been flat on our backs. He looked at us like we were nuts for not picking the Packers to make the playoffs. And if they lose to the still, still, because some people are tripping, still, lowly jets, still, then I'm sorry. Just must be.
Starting point is 00:36:05 I am on a roll. Five straight. Nick sat me up. I was going to leave Greg alone until Nick said it up perfectly. This one is worth three. It's still anyone's ballgame. Jags at Broncos rematch from last year where Trevor went into Denver and little up that vaunted at the time Broncos defense. It was the only home loss for Bo Nix all of last
Starting point is 00:36:30 year. Nick, must win. It's a must win. I wanted to say for Bo Nix because Bo Nix has now lost Colin Cowherd among others. Folks, some of Bo's biggest supporters are now like, well, the Chiefs defense, no chance they're actually good. That had to be about Boe Nix. But I don't I think he is the person that is the biggest must win for. I don't think it's a must win for the Broncos because of the point that I thought Danny made a good point yesterday that they have started slowly, last year, they've started slowly consistently and dug themselves out.
Starting point is 00:37:06 And I think your, you know, your first two games are two teams that are going to be fighting to win the conference this year and the Chiefs and the Jags. So I don't think it's a must win for the team. It is a must win for Davis Webb. Sorry, Brew. I like that. But I also have sound with it.
Starting point is 00:37:22 Here's Sean Payton at halftime, telling the whole world he didn't like how they didn't run the ball, and he didn't like who was calling the plays. Roll it. I think the first thing I think we have to do is rush the ball a little bit more efficiently. That'll take some pressure off him. Right now, you know, we've been in kind of a pass mode. I think it's the opposite for Kansas City. They've been able to run the ball.
Starting point is 00:37:45 I think that needs to switch a little in the second half. How has it been not calling plays for you? That's been another half here. All right, we will. Thanks. Uh-oh. Keep in mind, he elevated Davis Webb under duress. It wasn't, you did such a great job this year, young man.
Starting point is 00:38:04 I'm giving you a promotion. It was the football version of, if we don't take this relationship to the next level, I'm leaving. It's like, all right, let's get married. You didn't want to. It felt like you had no choice. You were afraid of losing them. And so it's a must win and must call a hell of a. a game for Davis Webb.
Starting point is 00:38:24 Sorry, Brew. It is a must win for Denver and Davis Webb has to be great. There's no. He may, I said yesterday he'll get a game. He'll get this week.
Starting point is 00:38:34 This is last week he better produce. I think it may be a half. He may get a half. I mean, we saw Peyton there. So yeah, must win. Where Nick is wrong, though, O and two,
Starting point is 00:38:47 with the Rams, the Niners, the Chargers, the Seahaw, Arizona, okay. And then the Chiefs, if they lose this game, when's their next win coming? They're in trouble. I don't want to get all the way out to week eight right now.
Starting point is 00:39:05 I'm just saying. Yeah, it's not. That's just a fact. But that's too, I went to. Panther, then the by, then the Raiders. You know, we watched last week, and, you know, you have Prince at the top of the mountain, but you're the only one that really celebrated the Prince.
Starting point is 00:39:21 Why? Because they played the Bronx. They played the Browns. No one cares of Miles Garrett-Liss Browns? And the Prince went crazy. He has a chance now playing the Broncos, who we all still, despite what they showed up with against the Chiefs, to be a really good defense.
Starting point is 00:39:41 Trevor, can you do it again? Wow. Can you do it again? Trevor Lawrence, the Jacksonville Jaguars. This is a must win. Because we really don't. I don't believe that what you put on tape week one is what's gonna be on tape week two.
Starting point is 00:39:58 It's been on tape last 10 weeks. He's not straight, leads the league and everything. Don't take it. I'll be honest with you. We started hot and we kind of stumbled through the finish line. But he did it again. Nick Wright is back in the wheel circle. He's back in the world.
Starting point is 00:40:16 Oh, you thought it was going to . I did. You know what? I don't know. Specter and partiality. I love a good element. Wow. That threw you off your game.
Starting point is 00:40:26 Right away you were like, yeah, I agree. He took all my books. You started doing schedule stuff. He took my stuff. I thought Greg might have come around, you know, a little late service. The Greg coach combo is off to an 0 and 2 start. They face a must win and next week's must win. How do they do an upset alert?
Starting point is 00:40:45 They got a point. They got a point. New from Nespresso. Blend wellness into your coffee routine with the coffee plus range infused with functional benefits. Choose the coffee you love with added B vitamins, like coffee plus B12 to help support immune function, and coffee plus B6 to keep your day moving. Or go with the flow and choose ginseng delight. Our new double espresso with ginseng extract.
Starting point is 00:41:10 Whatever lies ahead, don't change your morning. Let your morning change you. Discover coffee plus on espresso.com. Early announcement, Kyle Hamilton will be on the show tomorrow. And second announcement, he gave the Ravens defense a C-plus grade for their performance in Indianapolis. Here's Jesse Minter on the slightly above-average mark. Take a listen. The top of him has graded the defense to C-plus.
Starting point is 00:41:37 I feel like that was maybe harsher. No, I love that. I love that. Look, we have capabilities of being really good. You know, we, we didn't start the way we wanted to. We responded really well. We need to keep that game under 17, under 16, under 15 points. Like the way that we played, we let them off the hook, I felt like, in the red zone.
Starting point is 00:41:59 And the points ended up being higher than they really, then we really wanted it to be. Okay. Opponents pass rating at 72. It's six best. It's all only week one. Opponents yards per rush, 5.1 7th. Worst. Is the Ravens defense actually a problem, Brew?
Starting point is 00:42:15 What are your thoughts on this? for opponents? Yes. It's going to be a problem. It's going to be back to Ravens defensive football. And we know what the offense can do. Yeah, I'm not worried at all. And I second what Jesse Mentor said,
Starting point is 00:42:30 I love what Kyle Hamilton said. Don't be satisfied. He knows it's Esbaugh, baby. We are not satisfied with anything. You could have easily went up there and said, or even felt. We know how good that Colts all. was last year when whole.
Starting point is 00:42:48 And they were whole on Sunday. They led the league in scoring, right? When Daniel Jones was playing and everybody was healthy and they held him to 23 points. So you could have just been like, hey, it wasn't a bad performance. But no, I like that he, they did rush for too many yards, five or carry. And so I, look, Tray Hendrickson was a bright spot. I mean, the defense overall played well.
Starting point is 00:43:12 But Trey Hendrickson had eight pressures generated eight pressure. They got to the quarterback half the time or pressured the quarterback half the time when he was on the field. And so I think the defense is going to be very good. I expect them to at least be top 10 and I think knocking on the door that top five. Yeah, the defense is not going to be a problem.
Starting point is 00:43:37 I like what I'm with you, Brew. I like what Kyle Hamilton said. One of the issues that they want to address, obviously, is why they went out and got Trey Hendrickson. they needed to get a pass rush. They led the league in week one in pressures, like 58.6% in pressures. That means it's working.
Starting point is 00:43:56 And they're not satisfied. And so all they're going to do is continue to grow and develop as a unit. Collectively, this defense can be really scary. Again, they gave up over 100 yards to a team that can run the football, that that's their identity, a team that is explosive in offensive, offensive production in points and throwing the ball in the air as well.
Starting point is 00:44:20 They minimize all of those things as well. Look, teams are going to score points, especially in week one, but this defense is just getting started. So I think Jesse Minter is going to, he obviously did a great job as the defensive coordinator with the chargers, you know, very, very early returns on him as a head coach
Starting point is 00:44:41 or positive. And it's rare you hire a defensive-minded head coach and he doesn't instantly upgrade your defense. Even if they don't succeed as head coaches. We've seen that happen actually a lot of times where they can never get the offense right, but their defense does improve. So for those reasons, I'm optimistic about the Ravens defense.
Starting point is 00:45:04 I am not giving them extra credit for holding the Colts to 23 points because I don't know what this Colts offense is going to look like. with Daniel Jones post-Aquillies. You're right that last year for the first eight games of the year it was elite. I don't know that they're going to have anything close to that level of production this season.
Starting point is 00:45:26 And on Monday's show during your misdirection on the Ravens performance, one thing that you said that was true and that was illustrated by Wilde's graphic is Jonathan Taylor ran all over him. Now Jonathan Taylor's a great back. But if they are S-Bob, you've got to. in Buffalo, the reigning rushing champ and James Cook, all of a sudden a potent rushing attack through week one in Kansas City with Kenneth Walker. And so that to me is something that I would at least continue to monitor,
Starting point is 00:45:59 particularly because we keep hearing, oh no, Namdei Montabouque is going to be back. I mean, I feel terribly for the guy. He suffered a neck injury two years ago that he missed all of last season with and we'll see. So, no, I don't think it's a problem, but I am not. as, I guess, certain that it is going to be, like, you seem confident he could be somewhere from 5 to 10 in the league.
Starting point is 00:46:21 I'm not there yet with it. And so that's the part that I have to see. Saints at Ravens, Week 2, bro. You feel confident? Towers Chuck coming in the building? They should roll. I mean, if they don't roll, it's going to be disappointed. I mean, the Ravens should start, this is a high bar,
Starting point is 00:46:39 but they should start 6 and 0. Like, if they don't start 6 and 0, it's almost disappointed. Even though five and one number feels disappointing, just because of who they play their first six weeks, you would expect them. Five and one, you won't be mad. No, but they're going to be significant favorites in all of their first six games. If they don't let up, you know, it's just, and that's what, remember, that's what bothered me about them at times. A lot of times over the last few years get big leads and we're letting them go.
Starting point is 00:47:05 And we saw it last year in week one. So a special week two episode of tears coming up next. New from Nespresso. Blend wellness into your coffee routine with a coffee plus range infused with functional benefits. Choose the coffee you love with added B vitamins, like coffee plus B12 to help support immune function, and coffee plus B6 to keep your day moving. Or go with the flow and choose ginseng delight. Our new double espresso with ginseng extract.
Starting point is 00:47:34 Whatever lies ahead, don't change your morning. Let your morning change you. Discover coffee plus on Nispresso.com. Live from New York, it's the second hour of First Things First. Today, do we expect the Chiefs to look even better in week two? Meanwhile, can Jerry Jones convince Brew to stick with his Cowboys Super Bowl pick? You didn't officially come off of it. No.
Starting point is 00:48:01 But you were close. I like people guessing. Oh, okay. People don't know what I'm doing with the Cowboys. Wow, okay. Well, right now, let me get you. Where is Google? Nobody knows.
Starting point is 00:48:11 last night while celebrating getting Sixers season tickets. That's true story. An elite committee of experts, analysts, and people who want me to watch Widows Bay. It's good. Fought and twilled and burned to the midnight oil to deliver the best segment in all of course in honor and it's a privilege. It's time for next tears. Indeed it is. Thank you for the wonderful introduction.
Starting point is 00:48:32 As always, Kevin Wilde's, let's just, well actually before we get to the tears. All off season, what are you laughing about, Greg? They always gives his sign off. I just have some notes. Yeah, it's his signature. Yesterday during the show, he was drawn a nice little garden down there with his colored pencils. All off season, the bottom row of the tears was the famous group of deep sleepers. Now all of a sudden, by the way, takes one Cardinals win.
Starting point is 00:49:03 And everyone's like, ooh, the Jets look good. Ooh, the Raiders. And all of a sudden, people love a deep sleeper. Not all the deep sleepers looked as good as those three teams. True deep sleeper loses week one though. While true, you know who also loses week one? We can reveal it. Teams that might be asleep.
Starting point is 00:49:24 Hey, hey, just might be asleep. You catch the Falcons. Well, I do. The Falcons, the, fair is fair. It's not the committee's Falcons. It's my Falcons. And the Falcons had. Cooper Rush starting quarterback. This week, they're talking about playing a guy named Strand, maybe,
Starting point is 00:49:42 because Cooper Rutt and Tua's back went out. Then Cooper's back went out. They had to start him anyway. It's Wednesday. They don't know who the quarterback is. No, well, they didn't. It's Wednesday. Last week on Friday, they didn't know who the quarterback was. With that said, wow. If not for the T.J. Watt brilliant play, they may be win that game. So I'm still holding out hope for them. For these other three teams, no hope at all. None whatsoever. And the, I, not really a lot of watchable football being played by the Titans. the Browns and the Dolphins.
Starting point is 00:50:09 But I don't know if you heard Deshaun Watson today. He's like, the media expects me to throw for 400 yards and five touchdowns every week. Buddy, this month, they'd be thrilled with those numbers. Show us again. The three deep sleepers that won. Show us again. Arizona, you got the toughest way to show us against Seattle. You don't even have to win.
Starting point is 00:50:31 If they're competitive, people are going to take them seriously. Green Bay, is that the Jets? when that game take the Jets seriously. The Raiders are at the Chargers. That will be a Raider home game. There are more Raider fans in L.A. than there are in Vegas, and there are no Charger fans anywhere
Starting point is 00:50:50 other than in the building in the weeks the Rams aren't in it. Had their moments. Saints, after falling down 21-0, stormed all the way back, had some moments. The Panthers, whenever they had the ball, the commanders late in the game,
Starting point is 00:51:10 after really looking lethargic offensively kind of got it going. The Steelers defense, I thought, was consistently good in that game. And we just talked about the Colts and at least the rushing attack. Again, I don't think these are good teams. But in week one,
Starting point is 00:51:25 even though they all lost except for Pittsburgh, they had things you can hang your hat on, at least certain things you can try to build on. A week from panic, Packers, Colts, I'm sorry, Packers, Bucks, Chargers. If the Packers blow a 22 to 10 lead to Carson Wentz and then lose to the Jets, it's panic time. If the Chargers after losing to the Cardinals,
Starting point is 00:51:52 we just talked about it, lose to the Raiders, it's panic time. And if the Bucks, after I thought out playing Cincinnati except for just some bonehead turnovers by Baker again and again and again, they play the Browns. If they lose to the Browns, abject panic for any of these teams. Other hand, you win your game, get to one-on-one, stabilize your fun. Identity theft! Not just a Jason Bateman underrated movie.
Starting point is 00:52:23 Also, what happened in week one? He's with Jason Bateman and the lady from bridesmaids. What's her name? It's funny. You remember it? That might have been, Melissa McCartney, thank you. Might have been identity thief. I'm not sure.
Starting point is 00:52:35 Doesn't matter. Texans supposed to be a great defense. Cowboys supposed to be a great offense. They got no identity right now. The one thing we thought we knew about those two teams didn't show up in week one. Now, we'll see if they get their identity back because, you know, flip side, at least for the Texans, the thing we were most concerned about actually looked good. But the Cowboys, not much of anything, look good, but you should be a good offense.
Starting point is 00:53:02 Got to see it again. My own biases, I suppose. I don't think what the Giants showed a Sunday night is real or sustainable. I could be wrong. You show it to me again this week against the Rams. You don't even have to win. Like, I'm not saying they have to win this week against the Rams. Just look like a well-run operation.
Starting point is 00:53:26 You know, throw some punches of your own against a rested, desperate Rams team, and I will believe more. And for the Vikings, I don't even know what, I don't know how I'm going to, evaluate you. I don't. I was worried immediately before the year started. I was like, Kyler's not going to be able to play 12 games. He barely made it to 12 snaps. So he's going to be out this week. And then when he comes back, it's not really fair to evaluate them in the Carson wins games. Well, they did come back and win. I got to see him do it again. Well, that was unpleasant. Rams, Broncos, Patriots, the three most disappointing week one performances
Starting point is 00:54:07 by a mile for teams they're supposed to be good. None of these teams broke 10 points. They all lost in different, somewhat embarrassing fashion. For the Rams, they're like, hey, we understand they're sleep science experts. People have been talking about this for years,
Starting point is 00:54:24 different ways to do it. We sent 13 dudes over here over the course of last two years, and we took a poll. Watch us cook. Then they look dead on their feet. Broncos. I'm listening. and people will be like, well, it was humid.
Starting point is 00:54:39 Maybe that's what happened. Balls slipping out of people's hands. Broncos got an undrafted free agent left tackle to go up against a quarterback nine months removed from an ACL of 56-year-old tight-in lumbering down the fields. Can't stop him. And the Patriots. That's terrible. Listen, I get it. The quarterback base leaves playing one-handed at this point.
Starting point is 00:55:01 Right arms hanging off his body. He's out there. He's righting through. He's just fighting through it. I mean, it's basically the longest yard what he's dealing with. Exactly right. But that was odd. You let Drew Locke move the ball up and down the field.
Starting point is 00:55:19 Sam Darnold pulled his butt muscle. He goes out of the game. And then Drake made three possessions in overtime. Pick, I'm sorry, in fourth quarter, pick, pick, pick. Not how you want to start the year. Happy to be 1 and 0. I didn't think any of these teams had great performances. I know Bengals fans probably feel like I'm being harsh on them.
Starting point is 00:55:38 It's almost a compliment that I think that was a great performance. I thought when you had the game in hand, Burrow threw a pick six. By the way, Burrow limited in practice day with back tightness, was wearing a weird like shoulder harness looking thing. It looked like when the media was there. Why do you have a shoulder harness and we got reported back? Maybe it might be a soldier. I don't know.
Starting point is 00:55:59 Brew, I'm telling you this much. I'm going to keep an eye on that. That's on the world's back. I'm going to keep an eye on. I need to talk in the heart. I'm just keeping an eye on. Get a harness. It's some cupping.
Starting point is 00:56:13 The lions, the lions just, I mean, almost gave it away. That game totally in hand, almost gave it away. All of a sudden, Tyler Shucks got 400 yards. He's throwing a pass the back of the end zone to beat you. And the Eagles, just kind of a workman like, you know, had the lead the whole time, but didn't look overwhelming. Just happy to be one and old. Ideal week.
Starting point is 00:56:34 ones. Jags, dominant in all phases of the game. Niners, dominant in all phases of the game. Bears, dominant on offense and so bad on defense, they got the ball back to play more offense, which is really what Ben Johnson wanted. Anyway, just the ideal week ones for these three teams. KW, what are you doing every week this NFL season via Twitter? Oh, vibes check? Vives check. Yeah, vibes check. Go on to our social media. Yeah. Kevin Wilde's podcast network. And you can say your vibes, so we take local polls to see you have the highest vibes.
Starting point is 00:57:10 What team in the AFC had the highest vibes? The Denver Broncos had the highest vibes. Yeah, how'd that work out? You know, look, we're going to see how it's out this way. On the other hand, these two teams, vibes couldn't be higher. Chiefs bills. That's true. Chiefs, Patrick's back, arrowheads on fire, Kenneth Walker's running all over, people,
Starting point is 00:57:30 the young defense flying around the field. And he's calling plays from the 19 aughts, an Army. me Navy game vibes high. Bills, meanwhile, cool uncle took over the team. Where's a chain he got at a mall kiosk calls a bunch of Josh Allen plays, takes his shirt off. They're having a great time. It's what it is. I bought my son one when he graduated high school.
Starting point is 00:57:51 Maybe it's an expensive chain. No, it's not. You know, you can tell. I'm good with jewelry. That's not an expensive chain. Where is it from? The guy at the mall. He's like, hey, come here, check it out.
Starting point is 00:58:02 It's right next to the one with the, it's the dollar sign. with the fake it's the ball of the key up. Get your phone keys. Right. Exactly. It's fine. Next to that. We all,
Starting point is 00:58:13 we've all had them. Cell phone. Yeah, exactly. That's right. That's right. While you're waiting, that lady's like,
Starting point is 00:58:20 geez, is your girlfriend need a hair straightener? It's like, no, leave me alone. Legends in their prime. Question mark. Baltimore Ravens. Lamar,
Starting point is 00:58:32 Lamar Jackson and Derek Henry are legends. I have. the question coming into this year, is Lamar still in his prime? Probably, but I added the question because of what happened last year. Week 1 returns, promising. Derek Henry has no business still being in his prime whatsoever. Week 1 returns are he will always be in his prime. If they are both still in the primes of their career, that could be, should be, will be the best offense in football, maybe the best team in football. But atop the tiers, And credit to Danny for being the first point in this out.
Starting point is 00:59:08 They're halfway to history. They've won 11 straight. Pretty good. The record's 21. They don't have an overwhelming next 10 games, like they'll be favored in all but one of their next 10 games. Again, it's hard to rip them off. But the record for consecutive victories is 21.
Starting point is 00:59:26 They have 11, 22. Obviously, we'd break it. They are halfway to history of the defending champs. They're going to be with Drew Locke this week. Greg Jennings, tears. Man, I got a lot. lot of issues with what the committee decided to do, but I'm going to focus on one. I'm not going to tell you which one.
Starting point is 00:59:41 I'm going to throw something up really quick and just see what you guys would prefer. Okay. So I'm going to throw these numbers up. Week one numbers. These two teams played one another. Total yards, team on the left gets that nod. Passing yards, team on the left gets the nod. Yards per pass, team on the left gets the nod.
Starting point is 01:00:01 By the way, we're going to get more first downs. Team on the left. Third down percentage. These two teams played each other? These two teams played each other. All right, then I think I know. Who do you want to be? I want to be the team of one,
Starting point is 01:00:13 which is the team on the right is the Detroit Lions. Yeah, yeah, which is why they need to drop. I knew it. Which is why they need to draw. Because Tyler Shuck had a look hard. Which is why the Detroit line, they have problems. Simply put, I get it. We like Dan Campbell.
Starting point is 01:00:27 He looks really good in his tight, you know, shirt on the sideline. Yeah, maybe. Just maybe, just maybe. A little taller or a little bigger. No, look, they've clearly had issues on the defensive side of the ball. If you allow your offense to get a lead, you can run the ball, you can possess the ball. But then you allow the opponent to just do the same thing and literally try to take.
Starting point is 01:00:58 They won because the team decided all or nothing. We're either taking it up. We're either taking the road, taking the game from you guys on the road, or we'll lose. Yeah, but had they kicked the extra point, Lions would have got the ball with 90 seconds, left the field go to win. And we don't know what would have happened. No, but they could have won. We don't know that.
Starting point is 01:01:18 All I'm saying is the Lions have issues that we're unwilling to, wilds, I hear you, you've been knocking that door down. And no one's listening, I'm listening. The Lions have defensive issues. Offensively, Jemir Gibbs looks great. In terms of throwing the ball and being this light show that we once saw, they're not that anymore. They don't have that offensive line. They're not that anymore.
Starting point is 01:01:41 And so I'm interested to see what they look like tomorrow night. I don't think it's going to go well for them. So I don't think it's going to go well for them either. Here's my, just throw the tears up real quick and then brew you go. Here's my, so I'm not super high on the lines. Here's my problem. Of all the teams beneath them. The only team that I think has a real gripe that they should be ahead of them is the Giants.
Starting point is 01:02:07 Like the Giants can be like, come on, this is just preconceived biases by the committee. And they would be correct in that. Sure. Like the, but I mean the three, the teams on the road directly beneath them all looked awful. Vikings got an injured quarterback. The team on the road beneath the Giants, those teams lost. The team in the road below those teams lost. Like, I just, it's hard to find a team that, you know, should be higher.
Starting point is 01:02:28 Maybe I should drop the lions on the same row as the Giants. You make a fair point. I still think the offense will be elite. But I agree with you. I think they're going to allow 40 again or 40 this week against Buffalo. Go ahead, bro. Fantastic names again. What is this?
Starting point is 01:02:43 Marshall. Chester. I didn't know it was something unique. Chester? Yeah, Marshall. Marshall, Chester, you know, similar. Herman. They're all in that same boat.
Starting point is 01:02:55 Exactly. Anyway, the Texans. I mean, you got them down there with the bottom feeders. With your Super Bowl. Yeah. I mean, they lost to the third or fourth best team by five points. And I get that it didn't always just, but still, we all know they win that game if Kamari Lasseter wears his gloves. They win that game.
Starting point is 01:03:23 He's not wearing gloves. I don't know. But if he was wearing gloves, it's even worse. Yeah, that's what I said. It was a Quaskey tar. So we know they could have won that game. I think we all feel like the defensive performance was an aberration. Like, I mean, and I get, you're right, Nick, defenses can fluctuate.
Starting point is 01:03:42 No, but I would be shocked if they're not a good game. Yes, right, because D'Amico Ryan's, that's what he does. And they're like one of those teams where that's their culture. And then C.J. Stroud, I get it. Two fumbles, they were bad. But for the most part, if you. can take overlook those. He actually played pretty well for a guy who's really on the hot seat through for almost
Starting point is 01:04:05 300 yards, two touchdowns, no picks. And then they got a bit of a run game. That was a terrible problem last year. So David Montgomery did pretty well with the run game. I think what do you have three touchdowns, but not a ton of yards. But it looked, it looked better. So I just think that it's way too early to kind of write them off. I still think, I mean, they were nipping tuck with.
Starting point is 01:04:28 a team that could win the Super Bowl. And so I think they should be high. Listen, that's fair. I agree. I don't expect the defense to look like that. But the converse of that, the inverse of that is, pardon me, is I don't expect the offense to look like that either. And so, but I understand it,
Starting point is 01:04:50 they were a Kamari Laster drop away from being dramatically higher on the tiers, which is a fair point. You know, it's week one. It's hard to figure out, what's real and what's not. It's like that current viral video of the woman on the plane pointing back in the back of the plane and she says that's not real.
Starting point is 01:05:08 Have you seen that? She says he's not real. Yeah, but I'm using it for defensive and offensive units. It's a current meme. Check it out if you haven't seen it. She's on the plane. Most total yards, this is for the Saints. I think the Saints.
Starting point is 01:05:24 I like the Saints. I told you keep your eye on the Saints. Move the Saints up. Do you not. remember last year the Saints started 2-0 with the highest scoring two weeks like ever and everyone was all excited. Well, now they got Tyler Shook and he's out here balling. Most total yards. First of all, Chicoie for set. Yeah, I mean, what a list. And Jerry, good offenses. Arizona lost all those games last year. 10th most yards in his first 10 career starts. You know who's number one? Patrick Mahomes.
Starting point is 01:05:50 Yeah. Number 10 is Tyler Shook. Also, Kyler's in there. I think it's good. Saints, it took a little bit to warm up. Now, same with Patrick Mahomes. Hey, first eight drives, we had zero points. Guys, let's start scoring points. Okay, 30 points of the next six drives. I think the Saints... They had 14 drives? That's a ton of drive.
Starting point is 01:06:11 Wow. We're counting overtime, too. Yeah, of course. That's still, that's a crazy amount of times. A lot of offense. Ball was moving around the field. This is a little, we kind of know this one, but I have a bonus take here. You know, you only need to get to nine wins you win.
Starting point is 01:06:26 It's not great, but hey, it is what it is. That's the last, what, four years? I like going for two at the end. Also, I wouldn't mind the tie. I think I just kind of just for the chaos of it. In that division, a tie. A tie. You would be in first place.
Starting point is 01:06:40 It could be in first place if you tried that. It would set a terrible tool for your season. But by going for it, oh my goodness, Coach Kellan Moore believes in us. Kind of Dan Campbellish, keep your eye on the saints. I'm just moving the saints up. They kind of chose to love, chose to lose. All right. I could have tied.
Starting point is 01:06:57 I don't want to spend. team lost. We chose to. I do want to inform the audience of something that I, I think I knew somewhere in my brain, but I had forgotten. Brooke, Tyler Shuck, the second year quarterback for the Saints that KW.
Starting point is 01:07:11 talked about so much, I just want everyone to know this. He is the same high school class as Trevor Lawrence. He played seven years of college football. He turns 27 next week. And so there is a level of like optimism. I'm about like, oh, early on he's showing flashes. He's supposed, like, he should be, you know,
Starting point is 01:07:35 working on refinancing his second mortgage. It's still young. He's still room to grow. I mean, not that much. I mean, we see it now, Darnel, Gino. He's barely younger than Darned. That's about when Darned started improving. Do you wish you could just hit Skip on the worst part?
Starting point is 01:07:58 of your life, you know the same way you can skip an ad? I get it. I'm Siaia and I live in Ice Cove. I've made some questionable decisions that didn't end up the way I planned. And today I'm still figuring it out. Somehow things usually get worse before they get better. Apparently, that's how I roll. So bundle up and come along for the bumpy ride. Stream a new episode of North of North Tuesdays on CBC Gem. Fox College Football Friday gets your weekend started with Texas-sized showdown. Number 22, Houston, taken on the defending Big 12 champion Texas Tech, Red Raiders. It's Friday night at 8 Eastern only on Fox. Welcome back to the show. Chiefs still at home as they prepare to host the Colts. Here's how Sean Payton summarized his first encounter with the new
Starting point is 01:08:51 look chiefs. Take a listen. Well, certainly a slap in the face. I mean, you know, when you come off training camp in your off season program. You know, it's one thing to lose in a hard-fought game where you feel like you played well. I don't feel like we played up to our standard. And certainly that starts with us as coaches, myself. And so, yeah, I mean, it's disappointing. That would be a great way to describe it. Do you expect the Chiefs to look even better in week two? I think overall it's hard to have a more dominant performance than they had in week one, but there are certainly the passing game could be better. And I'll be totally honest, if you look at Mahomes, you know, beginning of the game and then after the 2 of 12 start,
Starting point is 01:09:45 the numbers are way better. He wasn't sharp the whole game and didn't throw the ball down the field, really, the whole game. and I don't know how much I want the game plan to change because Josh Simmons is still likely going. He didn't practice today, so I don't know if he's going to play or not. And I think Khalil Benson, the rookie free agent who started left tackle,
Starting point is 01:10:11 did an admirable job. And it's like, okay, well, you did that against Nick Benito. Now you're against the Colts. That's not how I want to look at it at all because I think it was really, they weren't able to tee off on Mahomes because they were running the ball so much. I want them to keep doing that.
Starting point is 01:10:26 I think this passing game is going to be a work in progress throughout the first half of the year. That is going to result in either Xavier Worthy taking a significant step forward, Rishie Rice finding his way back to his rookie year form or them adding a player. Now, it seems almost like a fate accompli at this point. they're going to add Tyree Kill, I don't know if Tyree Kill coming off that injury changes much. Like when I say add a player, like that's a good dice roll. But I'm talking about trading for the three names I would bring up is Brian Thomas Jr.
Starting point is 01:11:03 I don't know if they would trade him within the conference. Calvin Ridley or if the Cowboy season goes south, George Pickens. But I think that that would be interesting. They got Pickens. Well, I think he's on an expiring deal. But their season would have to really go south. But Tyreek is, you can just sign Tyreek. Yeah, and I
Starting point is 01:11:21 I would really I mean, if the options you put out there, I would wait and see if the Cowboy season goes out. Well, I think you can sign Tyree and still do one. You know what I mean?
Starting point is 01:11:31 Like that doesn't preclude you. But so offensively, I don't know how much better they're going to look because I don't think Kenneth Walker is going to run for 200. And I think Mahomes
Starting point is 01:11:42 and the passing game is going to be incremental. But I think this defense is really good. I think that they are up against not. the best offensive line in football this week like they were last week. And the number six pick of the draft, Mansour Delane, is not only going to play three snaps. So I think that the Chiefs being able to really stymie the Colts offense, similar to how they stymied the Broncos' offense, is something I expect to happen as they conservatively open up the offense more for Patrick,
Starting point is 01:12:14 particularly waiting on Josh Simmons to get back. That's what I expect. Yeah, look, similar to you, I don't expect this team to look much better. And a large part of it has to do with them in the passing game. I share those sentiments. I don't see them taking a step, a massive, a big enough step to where I'm looking at them saying, man, that passing game is like this now? Oh, man, it's over. I don't see that happening.
Starting point is 01:12:41 Based off of what I feel they want to do and what we saw them tell us they're going to do, is leaning to that run game. Getting 200 plus yards on the ground is one thing. To do it again against a Colts team that gave up 200 plus yards on the ground against the Baltimore Ravens. I don't
Starting point is 01:13:03 know if they're going to allow you to do that. Now, again, we'll see, but the passing game is where I feel like this team would drastically have to improve for me to feel like they're going to look better, and I don't think that's going to happen. Can I ask you a question about that? Since Derek Henry had three touchdowns, the Colts just let them go crazy.
Starting point is 01:13:20 Does that open things up from Mahomes because Shane Steichen's like, look, we're not going to lose the same way twice. Or at least we're going to lose in a fresh way. You got to remember now, Luanna Rumo in that defense of the Indianapolis Colts, Zay Flowers was going bonkers. That's true too.
Starting point is 01:13:38 So they had a passing attack and a quarterback that was very mobile and accurate in Lamar Jackson. And then you got Derek Henry in the backfield. They're not going to be up against that with the chiefs. No disrespect. Patrick Mahomes is, we know who he is. But he's coming off an injury. He's not the same right now.
Starting point is 01:13:56 And right now they have no receiver coaches eight flowers. That might be the game plan that the Colts need to have. Like, look, we're going to make Mahomes and these receive. Oddly enough, that's what teams are going to have to try to do. That honest to God, that's why I couldn't stop talking about the Kenneth Walker edition. and we're going to see it in week two. Do you agree with this statement? The Indianapolis cults are going to spend more time
Starting point is 01:14:23 preparing for the Kansas City Chiefs running game than any team has ever spent in a week leading up to a game against Patrick Mahomes? Absolutely. So the inverse of that is they will be spending less time worried about the Chief's passing game than any team in Mahomes' NFL career leading maybe aside from his first start.
Starting point is 01:14:45 I'm not going to say, they would be spending less time. I mean, obviously you got to pick and choose. But you are still going to be mindful of who Patrick Mahomes has been. And so that's, I don't care what he's coming off of injury of. You know the resume. And so you naturally have a trepidation about, and I don't, do we really want Patrick Mahomes to beat us? And the answer is yes, because we got to see, oddly enough, if he can do it with not just him,
Starting point is 01:15:16 the receiving court that he has at his disposal. Yeah, look, I agree, Nick. What was it, 3110 over there? I mean, they might not win by that margin, but they are facing what we believe to be a lesser opponent. Offensively, they're supposed to be better Indianapolis, but that defense is really good. There's no question with the Chiefs.
Starting point is 01:15:37 And then their defense, I mean, like you said, they couldn't stop the run. They couldn't stop the pass. They couldn't stop anything. And the only thing about the chiefs that wasn't like that impressive was Mahomes as far as throwing the football. And we know that's going to get better. I'm not saying he's going to be week two back to what he, you know, is a level. But I expect him to be better than he was in that game.
Starting point is 01:16:08 It's really, to me, on the receivers. And Rice, look, that was a nice play when he scored the touchdown. I mean, can he, you know, do that consistently or do it? You got to get more production. Listen, Pat, what I will, listen, Patrick always blames himself for stuff. So, you know, take it with a grain of salt. But he has been adamant at the podium and I think within the facility that he thought the receivers on secondary reads did get open and he didn't stick with it. That he thinks that, like, that he thought that he wasn't, you know, trusting his protection and first game back.
Starting point is 01:16:50 And every, and that too quickly he was abandoning his progressions. I don't know if that's right or wrong. I know that's what he is. He was getting rid of it quickly. He was getting rid of it quick. Which, by the way, I want him to keep doing. Yeah. Like, like, save the hanging in the pocket and all that stuff for post-by.
Starting point is 01:17:08 They have, they go cults, then dolphins, then. Raiders a buy. They should in theory have their left tackle back. He'll be, you know, closer to full strength all of it. Head out to San Francisco. You know, he didn't make Brew's ballot, but Bruce Guy has found himself in the early MVP race. Brock Purdy has
Starting point is 01:17:26 the third best MVP odds. The bad news, Brew. Stribbling is out for 10 weeks. Well, look, Mike Evans, we know how great Mike Evans is, but I wasn't sure how much I expected, how great I expected him to be
Starting point is 01:17:42 this year. And there's only one game, but he looked good. And Debo looks revitalized. We'll see how long that last. I was definitely sleeping on the Niners and Purdy. I wasn't the only one, but I was sleeping on the aisle. Are you back now? Well, I will say this, right now, our picks are our picks.
Starting point is 01:18:00 I'm not going to be jumping off our picks. Of course. But I'm just going to get the analysis. Right now, I feel like Seattle and the Niners are the best two teams in that division in the NFC West. And a lot of his Garrett's injury and we don't know when Aaron Donald's quarterback's out.
Starting point is 01:18:18 Yeah, well, yeah, that's right. You're right about that. I forgot about Darnell. So the Niners, man, we know it's down to their health, but Purdy is, and I've obviously been a fan of his, he's a baller.
Starting point is 01:18:32 We've seen the sample size is big enough. And Lamar just moved the head of Aaron Rogers to become an all-time leader and passer rate. I think they were tied. Yeah. Now he's ahead of Air Rogers. Lamar's the all-time leader in pass rating before last season.
Starting point is 01:18:48 Okay. And then it dropped because of last season. Right. Yeah. But Purdy needs like 113 more attempts. So it's, what, two, three games. Probably three or four games. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:19:00 He would likely be the all-time leader and passerating. We've seen him in big games, all that. So, yeah, I was sleeping on them. And I think they, if they can stay healthy, that defense, And we know the run game's going to be good, not just with McCaffrey. Now, the other guys can't do what McCaffrey did, but his backup was very good. And remember when McCaffrey was out a few years ago, they had Jordan Mason and a few other guys just ran the ball well. So, yeah, I think the Niners are dangerous.
Starting point is 01:19:32 Yeah, I was definitely sleeping on the 49ers. And I don't think any of us ever fall asleep on Kyle Shanahan. Correct. However, with the track record of this team and their health and how they were coming into the season, what they put on film against the Rams from the first snap, it was impressive. Defensively, forget the offense. Defensively, Nick Bosa and that defensive line and Fred Taylor, I'm sorry, Fred Warner, they almost look like they not only was playing with a, chip on their shoulders, but I'm back. Like, and I'm not going anywhere.
Starting point is 01:20:15 This is our division. It just felt like a team that is motivated. Now, again, if they can stay healthy, this team is clearly going to be really good. So this is what's so fascinating about all of, because me as well, but all the conversation about the Niners going into the year, we were worried because they had these, you know, random training camp injuries. Like, I have the health. It's like last year, the health just killed them, played.
Starting point is 01:20:40 two quarterbacks and all this stuff. And last year they played in game 272 of 272 in the NFL's regular season with the number one seed on the line. You know what I mean? And beat Seattle, remember, now before we knew what Seattle was. Correct. Earlier in the year. No, they were playing them in the final game of the year to be the number one seed,
Starting point is 01:21:02 lost that game, and then beat Philly in the playoffs anyway on the road before, you know, losing in round two. where I was most wrong was oddly not about doubting Purdy. My Niners analysis and now listen I didn't expect him to play as great as he played great in week one. My Niners analysis was I thought they were going to have a not decent defense, a bad defense.
Starting point is 01:21:26 I was like they got Fred Warner who I try, who is great. And Nick Bosa coming off an injury, a back end I don't love. You know, a bunch of got, you know, their second round pick from last year. detackled Torres Patella right before the game. Like, and that defense was unbelievable. Yeah. I mean, Fred Warner is an all-time great player at his position. But, and so if that defense is anything close to what it was in week one,
Starting point is 01:21:56 they are one of the only teams in the league that we feel like could lose their quarterback for six weeks and be okay. And it's not a knock on party. It's just because we saw it last year. That's the Shanahan effect. Like, stribling. is a guy we had high hopes for, but he's a rookie. Like they've got Chiefs legend to Marcus Robinson catching touchdown passes. They are a legit team.
Starting point is 01:22:17 13.5 points is wild, though. Well, that's a lot about the dolphins. 13 and a half? Can I ask honest question? Say the final score of what you think it's going to be. 24-10. Exactly. The Bruce and Vice.
Starting point is 01:22:33 They go score more than 22. Just a lot of points. New from Nespresso. Blend wellness into your coffee routine with a coffee plus range, infused with functional benefits. Choose the coffee you love with added B vitamins, like coffee plus B12 to help support immune function, and coffee plus B6 to keep your day moving.
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Starting point is 01:23:23 Oh, we're back to the No Bull Zone, sponsored by Credible. You get great rates. You don't have to deal with any of the Bull. Jerry Jones, not worried about the Cowboys' Slow Start. Dallas hosts the commanders in America's Game of the Week on Fox. Here's Jerry Jones. Take a lesson. We're very optimistic that we can play better than what we played now, right now, than we played their Sunday night.
Starting point is 01:23:46 I'll go to the two teams that played in the Super Bowl last year. They both lost their opening game. First game for this team was unquestionably important. Don't get it wrong. Some patience from Jerry Jones there, bro. Who did he convince you? To do what? Stay with the Cowboys.
Starting point is 01:24:09 Well, look, I am sticking with my pick. Yeah, because you're a man of integrity. Yeah, right. Not because of what Jerry just said, but because, one, pick integrity. Sure. And two, Nick would just tease me to know when if I, if I bailed half the week one.
Starting point is 01:24:31 But no, no, look, my pick is my pick, but as I just said. And there is, there is no. There is no clause of I made a terrible pick after week one clause. There's quarterback injury clause. There is some weird additional clauses that someone put in about hometowns. And things like that. There is also a weird flirtation at the bar clause.
Starting point is 01:24:57 Yes. That I can. I don't know who put that in. There is no. I made a mistake. Nick is not the only one that can flirt with other teams. Go ahead. In my analysis, though, I'm not going to be sitting here when they're one in three talking about they look like, you know, I'm going to keep it real.
Starting point is 01:25:17 Yes. And so I'm not worried about the offense. I mean, I think that was, you know, the DAC. Not really. Okay. I mean, George Pickett has two had two bad drops, which, look, he's in a contract year. He needs to play well. Dack made a boneheaded mistake that he's prone to do every blue moon,
Starting point is 01:25:41 but I think the offense will be fine. The defense, though, with Quinn and Williams, Kenny Clark, they're not supposed to get pushed around. Like, Rashon, Gary, I get it, they don't have a Micah Parsons, but they are not supposed to be pushed around like that on the line of scrimmage. And that's what bother me. And obviously the miscommunication, the defensive backfield, that was a mess. So that's my concern.
Starting point is 01:26:07 Has this defense really improved? I think so. I like the names on the defense a lot better. So this would be my biggest concern with the Cowboys. And it's not an overreaction because I'm not saying I believe this, but it's my concern. We talk so much about coordinators overhauling teams. Like the charges, 70% of the charges analysis, 100% of the charges analysis
Starting point is 01:26:34 this offseason was Joe Alt-Ankel and Mike McDaniel. Like that was, that's it. And sometimes coordinators are, you know, transformational. I just showed an hour ago the Ben Johnson stats when he took over offensive coordinator in Detroit. But sometimes they are transformational also in the other direction, which is this don't work at all. And you see that on the defensive side of the ball sometimes where it's like, Oh, either he's not, the players don't understand what they're being asked to do or he's asked him to do the wrong thing or whatever it is.
Starting point is 01:27:12 Again, it's one game and it's first time DC, so you give him a lot of grace. But that would be my concern, Greg, because they, those were, I don't want to call them schematic mistakes, but it was just guys running wide open. It was in the same place. In the same place, you know, in the flat. and then the right corner. Like the, and so that to me is something that I am really interested in watching next week for the Cowboys of.
Starting point is 01:27:44 Does the defense look more together as far as they're understanding what they're supposed to? They must. They got to win quickly. They got a win this. They got Baltimore and Houston next. Yeah. Oh, yeah. They're going to be one in three probably.
Starting point is 01:27:59 But they got to, I mean, one and three at best probably. But they could get the two and two. Maybe they could beat Houston, but... I think the biggest thing when I watched the defense, and as an offensive guy, and I see they're struggling with communication, naturally, I'm watching the film, I'm watching the tape, and I see busted coverages,
Starting point is 01:28:19 missed assignments, misassignments, I'm, like, excited to play that team. But I do understand, I do get the idea that, man, they're going to come back with a simplified game plan, not as much communication. let's just go out here and play our coverage, be assignment sound. I'm not going to ask you guys
Starting point is 01:28:38 to communicate over-communicate, and we'll continue to sprinkle those things in. I think they get back to that. But to your point about Kenny Clark and Quentin Williams, that is, you can't have that. You can't have those two guys in the middle of your defensive line just getting moved out the way.
Starting point is 01:28:57 Offensively, I will say this. I'm not throwing in towel on their offense. I think they're going to still be good. I do believe that DAC is pressing to get the ball to CD and George too much. Like because they are so, when you have really good receivers and you're excited about the productivity that we have and the possible potential that we can be this awesome offense, it starts with those two guys.
Starting point is 01:29:23 And I think you get away from what will allow it to become easier, like the chiefs, you run the ball. You got to run the ball still. And they just didn't show a true willingness to do that and get the ball to other guys to allow some of that pressure to be off of CD and George Pickens. Who's your pick for that game, Greg?
Starting point is 01:29:45 I got the Cowboys. Taking the Cowboys still? Yeah, I mean, they better win. We'll find out Nick's picks. You got something? Save for next week. All right, save for Nick's box. Live from New York, it's first things first.
Starting point is 01:30:00 Overtime, you're in for a real treat. Today are the Cowboys already on the ropes against the commanders, or are they going to bounce back? Meanwhile, Danny didn't doubt Mahomes, but he did doubt the Chiefs. Is he ready to come around on both? And finally, you might think stats is not for me, not my cup of tea. In fact, I might go on a vitriolic rant against some poor guys at PFF. It's talking about me? Just trying to do their best.
Starting point is 01:30:31 Just watching games for love football. Didn't decide to go to Wall Street, make millions of dollars. They just decided to grind tape. Go log on to their algorithms. Counterpoint. Just getting crushed. Counterpoint. You know that, TJ Watts, pick six that won the game?
Starting point is 01:30:48 Yeah. Negatively graded play. That's not true. He lost his pass a rush rep. That is true. They gave that a negative grade. Folks, you've lost the plot. There's got to be a balance.
Starting point is 01:30:59 You know what, Danny? Danny, that is. It is true. Danny, you and I are going to have to really, we're carrying a lot of the weight for the credibility of nerds across America. All right. Well, the cool stats is a lot of. There's more claims. I'm sorry, Kevin Wilde, Nick Wright, and the great Danny Parkins joins us now. We're talking bills. They're hosting the Lions tomorrow night.
Starting point is 01:31:25 They're also going to open up their new stadium. Danny, they got beer horns there. Fill up a horn. I love the beer out of it. Here's Bradley Chubb on Josh Allen. Feels amazing because I told all those guys, man, my past couple stops, 31 points, we would have been a bad day for us, you know. And, you know, we still wanted, like I said, get better from that.
Starting point is 01:31:44 But when you got 17, man, nothing's out of the question. And it's funny because one of my good friends, Kareem Jackson, before I came here, he was like, hey, he calls me Chubby. He was like, hey, Chubby, just wait to that boy 17, put that cape on his back. And, you know, it's crazy that the first came, he came out there and did that. Interesting. That's a great quote. Expectations for Josh tomorrow. tomorrow. A ton of points. I mean, the Lions defense, we don't know and defenses don't carry over
Starting point is 01:32:09 year to year, but here's something I'm confident in. The Texans defense will be better than the lion's defense, right? It feels pretty safe. It feels pretty safe. And they just put up 36, and they're going to need to do it again because I'm pretty confident that one of the most consistent offenses in the NFL since 2023, the Lions, are going to put up points on them. Like, CJ Stroud had 280 passing yards
Starting point is 01:32:37 against Buffalo. He had 38 pass attempts. Let's give Jared Goff 38 pass attempts against Buffalo. My guess is he's scoring a ton of points. So there's a reason in Vegas, this is the highest over under of the week. Most expected points scored by a considerable
Starting point is 01:32:53 margin. Like, this is expected to be a shootout. They'll obviously want to put on a show Joe Brady talked about a clinic. Joe Brady seems to, not to inject Ben Johnson into every conversation, but like, he took his shirt off after game one. He called his shot ahead of this game. He wears that sick chain we were talking about. He's got a little Ben Johnson to him.
Starting point is 01:33:12 The assistant, the overlooked, like, I'm actually the star of the show. Correct. He wants to, he wants to make a statement that he is the man and that they are going to be carried by their offense. And I said it before the year, I love the DJ Moore edition. for them. Tight end receiver running back and offensive line in addition to Josh Allen. I don't think there's a formula to stop them.
Starting point is 01:33:35 So I think expectations for Allen and Bill's tomorrow, you could ask that question ahead of any game. And my expectation brew would be fireworks. Yeah, I agree. I think it's going to be a shootout because like you said, I don't think the bills. And I think I probably value the Bill's defense more than you do. I think it's going to get pretty good. But Detroit does have a good offense.
Starting point is 01:33:57 And they're going to score points. And I think both of these teams might be in the 30s. You know, Buffalo might go beyond the 30s. And so it's going to be a shootout. I expect Josh to cook, have a great game. We saw Tyler Shuck through for 400 plus against the Lions. And I do think Brady, even though he was the guy that kind of put the handcuffs, took the ball out of Josh's hands.
Starting point is 01:34:26 Nick, you may be right. Maybe he was ordered, essentially, to do that from the top. But I think he looks at Josh, kind of. You brought up Ben Johnson, like Ben Johnson looked at Caleb. Man, I can do so much with this guy. The things I can unlock with him. So I think he is going to give Josh every opportunity to put up huge numbers. And if Josh starts throwing a bunch of picks,
Starting point is 01:34:54 then he'll probably pull the reins back. But until, I mean, I would, look, I think you'll live with, I don't know, he'll live with a bad one here or there. Now? Yeah. Oh, I think it was big Germans. Oh, no, I'm saying, I'm saying I don't know, like. That's not a good position to be in.
Starting point is 01:35:13 Well, I mean, if, I mean, Josh helped pick the coach. It's his buddy. Like, they, again, I'm not even saying it's bad. But he helped pick him. Now, again, maybe they had private conversations. That would be my guess. I want to let you cook. This guy, this guy.
Starting point is 01:35:29 Dad says we got to be home before midnight. And so like I, so we all expect the bills score a bunch points tomorrow. Yeah. So I want to like spin it forward a little bit. Because the Lions are coming off a game where they had a dozen possessions in regulation and scored 24. They scored 31 in the game with the overtime score. So their offense was not super. I know they scored 31, but it wasn't an awesome offensive performance from an efficiency perspective.
Starting point is 01:36:01 Goff didn't have like a huge game. Jamir gives obviously a great player. None of us expect the Texans' offense to be great over the course of the year. I know you don't. I don't think any of us expect it to be great. Maybe it will be better than the last year we don't expect to be great. I am a little surprised that your comments, confidence level in the bill's ability to compete for and potentially win the championship is just directly correlated to your confidence level in one side of the ball for them.
Starting point is 01:36:36 Because I just, and this is, you know, a longer version of defense wins championships. But I'm not going as far as say, like, defense is the more important side of the ball because I don't believe that in the modern NFL. But when I look at our last, I don't know how many champions we have to, you'd have to go a ways back to find the last one where it's like, yeah, that wasn't a bad defense. And if you allow, if we think this game's going to be 41, 31 or whatever you're, you know, it is in your mind's eye, allowing a Texan's offense and then the lions, who I don't know how explosive the offense is going to be this year,
Starting point is 01:37:13 to cook the opening couple weeks after firing your defensive head coach and after we have questions about your defensive personnel, Bradley Chub acquisition notwithstanding, that would be a little more concerning for me than it seems to be for you. We'll see what happens with Jim Leonard over the course of the year, new defensive coordinator. Like new systems take time. We're seeing it with Mike McDaniel with the Chargers. Oh, boy. I'm just saying.
Starting point is 01:37:41 We will see Christian Parker in Dallas. There's a ton of examples on both sides of the ball. We will see if they can get to league average. Can they be a league average defense that plays? I think they will be. Yeah, at least. And they get to play with a lead a lot, which obviously helps the defense. They should have a team on offense that controls time of possession
Starting point is 01:38:05 because of how good Buffalo should be running the ball. Like there's a lot of things on the complementary nature of football that the bill's offense should do that should help the bill's defense be better than the sum of its parts. How do you think the new stadium plays into the line? Do you think they got points because of the... It's almost like a... Regular home field. Just regular, no added.
Starting point is 01:38:27 We talked about the emotion of Banner Night for the Seahawks. This is like the whole building is new. Listen, I would expect it to be a great atmosphere and the bills have great fans. But home field advantage against the, what, how long has golf been in the league now? Like a 10-year veteran? I would not expect that to be a huge factor. I would not think there's going to be a lot of delay of games or anything. I think it's an interesting wild card part of it.
Starting point is 01:38:52 Like neither Josh nor Jared Gough have completed a pass in the state. You keep saying that I don't think it's wild. I don't know how it's going to play, but it hits my son. I mean, I think it will, I think it should slightly hurt the Lions operation. I think the Bill's pass rush should be a little bit better, and the Lions pre-snap operation should be a little bit worse because you have a bunch of Bill's fans
Starting point is 01:39:16 who've been drinking out of those horns all day, hammered, throwing themselves through tables. You know what I mean? And Blake Miller, the rookie first round pick right tackle for the Lions, he's been ruled out already for this game. So problems on the offensive line for Detroit again. If this is a true, like I said before the year
Starting point is 01:39:35 my AFC championship game pick was Chiefs Ravens. I know yours was Ravens. Evens, Texans. Texans. You obviously have, you have bills out of the playoffs. You have one of the Super Bowl. If I'm a Bill's believer, I would feel better about 24 to 10.
Starting point is 01:39:56 Oh, yeah. Then 41 to 28. You know, like, if you could, if Josh just has a mediocre game, James Cook runs the ball, but the defense stiffens, that to me would feel better than what we all kind of expect, which is a Bill's. fireworks. Well, it's Wednesday at 510, which means it's time to break out some stats. And leather gloves. Are these going to be the same old boring stats that you come across when you open up the newspaper and you're going through financial transactions? Nope, not at all. They're the coolest. These are actually cool stats. Jackson Darts, cool. He's doing that thing. I don't like that thing. What is that? I don't know. KW. Tell us. You're our
Starting point is 01:40:41 I don't know. It's, I don't know. It's some dance. I'm not totally familiar with it. But it is time now for some cool stats. Because you guys know what else is cool? I'm glad you asked. Mondays. Oh, really? Yeah, Mondays get a bad rap. Yeah. Prime time, baby. And I expect Jackson Dart to cook in prime time once again. This was Darts pass the rating in week one when not pressured. Cowboys couldn't get home on Jackson DART. He was comfortable. All day hanging out in the pocket, pass a rating of 140 when there was no pressure. Who's he facing?
Starting point is 01:41:17 He's facing the Rams. What do the Rams not have? Miles Garrett. They had one of the worst pressure percentages of any team in the NFL in week one. Not a great home field advantage in SOFI for the Rams. So I expect Dart to have a ton of time in the pocket once again on Monday night football
Starting point is 01:41:36 and have another great game against the Rams in prime time. Okay, so if that happens, Can, will you be worried? Because you're not worried about the Rams. They were number six in Danny's top 10 Tuesday. They'd be out. Well, top 10 Tuesday.
Starting point is 01:41:50 I'm not saying if they lose. I'm saying if, I would hope if they fall to O and two, they'd be out. But I'm saying if they allow the Giants' offense to just cook, but their offense gets back on track, the, will you have concerns of,
Starting point is 01:42:09 like, start to have some of the same? same concerns I think KW and I have about the ringers. Yeah, of course. I mean, the more we get into the season, but I think I'll answer the question and say yes, but also I thought that Dart and the Giants should have gotten more love and attention for what they did to Dallas. And if they do it again against the Rams and the story coming out of it is, well, the Rams aren't
Starting point is 01:42:32 as good as we thought. That happens sometimes. But Jackson, Dart, and the Giants who won four games last year are 2 and O, and they beat Dallas who a ton of people picked to win the Super Bowl and they beat the Rams who are the Super Bowl favorites. I hope at least half of the story coming out of it is that Jackson Dart and the Giants might be for real. Yeah. I think they would. I would hope so. If they beat them, you're saying if they beat, if they lost a close game, if they lose a close game, I do, and let's say Stafford plays well and they edge the Giants. I do think people will start to believe in the Giants.
Starting point is 01:43:09 Before we get to the next step, am I tripping, or is this the first week where the briefcase is bedazzled? I was looking at that, too. I brought my stats to work. And it's cool. Can we spend a moment to decide going over the choices here? A lot of Chicago stuff. All right, no. I'm just saying, so it's Caleb, it's a Bears logo, it's a Q's logo, it's a radio microphone.
Starting point is 01:43:34 I got it. It's Vegas. It's Justin Herbert Fine. It's PCA. It's the Cub. it's Caleb again, Syracuse, Chargers logo, shirtless Ben Johnson, Michael Jordan, The Wire, good job, radio headphones. All fine.
Starting point is 01:43:46 Thanks. The top corner, is that Jackson Dart? That is Jackson Dart, yeah. You really? Like, this is, you have spent years really, like, throwing your weight behind these other guys. Jackson Dart is already, sticker worthy. I got to respect it. I got to respect it.
Starting point is 01:44:06 No one else seems to agree with what he is doing. Watching this guy play is impressive. He's a playmaker. So what is he going to be in your mind? I think that he is going to be. Stickerworthy. Oh, yeah. He's sticker-worthy.
Starting point is 01:44:24 Those are. Yeah. All your guys. Yeah. I mean, this is. He's a gamer, man. Something fun to watch over the course of Pax stats. The first person or I guess thing to live.
Starting point is 01:44:36 to lose sticker status. Well, the wire's never coming off. Some of those are there forever. I don't think Jordan's going to lose anything. No, but Ben Johnson, Caleb, I guess, in theory, PCA, Herbert and Jackson Dart. Yeah, I mean, Herbert and Jackson Dart. And a Chargers logo?
Starting point is 01:44:56 I didn't even realize you have a Chargers logo. I'm fascinating. That editorial decision is a mistake. I like it. You should have put on like the Blackhawks or something. Like, what are you doing? Just Chargers look. That's true.
Starting point is 01:45:09 I have always been more of a Herbert guy than a Chargers guy. But you know what else is cool? What else? You walked right into it. Ben Johnson. Oh, God. That's not supposed to be a bond or something. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:45:22 Why beat around the bush for something that is just objectively cool? Ben Johnson is cool. He gives Caleb Williams the answers to the test. Let me prove it to you. They're playing the Vikings this week. What do we know about Brian Flores? Loves the Blitz. Loves the Blitz.
Starting point is 01:45:34 Sevent. percent blitzed against Jordan Love, a veteran quarterback who everybody else, highest by any team in a game since 2023. So I heard Wilde say earlier. He's like, maybe Brian Flores has the answers to Ben Johnson. He's flying too close to the sun. What if I told you that since Ben Johnson has been Caleb Williams' coach, only Matt Stafford has more touchdowns against the blitz. All of last year and week one of this year, 19 touchdowns against three picks for Caleb Williams. I thought you're going to hit me with a negative. Brian Flores stat. If you had that in your back pocket.
Starting point is 01:46:08 Well, I mean, he got him last year, but I'm just saying also, Caleb Williams is not going. You're going to blitz, Caleb Williams. He is going to torch you. All blitzers are not creating. Thank you, bro. You know that. Brian Flores is blitz package.
Starting point is 01:46:18 Yeah. Last year, Caleb, they put up, what, 24 points and 19 points? Yes. Lost with 24, one with 19. Brum just got it. They're going to need more than 19. They're going to need more than 19 to beat them this year. Can I, can I,
Starting point is 01:46:35 Ask Kevin Wilde's a question. Sure. If they cook, I know how much you, A, believe in the Vikings, and B, really believe in Brian Flores. Just one caveat. The Kylerless Vikings, I believe in less. No, but that's why I'm only talking about the Vikings. I'm only talking about, I'm just talking about the Bears offense
Starting point is 01:46:57 against the Vikings defense. Yes. Because I know how much you believe you're, how many times after you're, Max Rosmer won nine games with the Flores' defense. He didn't win. He won one. If they cook, will it move you on your faith, optimism, anything about the Bears?
Starting point is 01:47:18 I'm not talking to them winning the Super Bowl. I'm interested to see if Carson Wentz cooks up against the Bears. That's the opposite of what I'm asking, though. I'm a complimentary football guy. My only critique of Ben Johnson is somewhat fittingly. he seems like a guy with half an outfit on. A great shirt, pair of jogging pants. And he's like, he walks into a room and says,
Starting point is 01:47:43 hey, doesn't my shirt look cool? That's a, that's an attack on. That felt like a personal shot. Jogging pants are very comfortable. But hold on. It's a totally reasonable fashion choice in a casual workplace setting. And I don't want to believe it.
Starting point is 01:47:55 The offense is cooked. I get it. But, no, but Danny's right. Two hours ago when we were talking about this, you were like, let's see how he does it against Brian Morris. Yeah, we'd like to see that. So I, so like, is that, is this a statement? Does he have an opportunity to make a statement?
Starting point is 01:48:07 I think anyone that plays Brian Flores and able to cook up the Vikings. I wasn't trying to like do a trick. Cook up the Vikings, but I am more of a complimentary football guy. I want to see them shut down Carson Wentz. And then you can be like, you guys, Carson Went. Exactly. You guys know what else is cool? What else?
Starting point is 01:48:21 The irresistible force paradox. See, that's where we need. Unstoppable force, immovable objects. Oh, I'm sorry. Ben Johnson just is cool. There was no pun for it. We are going to find out this week if the Bronco, defense and the Texans defense are legit or if like Nick has pointed out a bunch just year
Starting point is 01:48:39 over year there's a ton of fluctuation all of last year those two teams two total games were they allowed 31 plus already week one of 2026 both defenses allowed 31 plus we have fascinating matchups for both the Texans get the bangles expected to be a top 10 offense the Broncos get the Jags expected to be a top 10 offense are either of these defenses the defense wins championships. Are either of these defense is going to come out of this week and actually prove that they're still elite? Great test for both. And frankly, I've got my doubts. Trevor was the, did Trevor put up 31? Was he the guy who put up 31? Oh, yes. I got the Broncos defense. He was. Yes, he was. Yes. Yes. Yeah, I mean, this is a little unfair to Denver, considering they have to
Starting point is 01:49:24 open the season with the only two people who would be at Top Mahomes Mountain in 2026. Yeah, it's tough. Like, I mean, you're kind of, yeah, drew the nut low there. So that's tough. I, the, I'd be worried about the, if the Texans can't get to Burrow and that offensive line, I'd be worried that something's off about the past rush. You know what I like? That would concern me, especially because Burrough seems like he's going to be somewhat limited in his mobility. That would worry me if I were the Texans.
Starting point is 01:49:56 That's going to be really interesting matchup, because obviously if Burrow, assuming Burrow plays at his highest level. Yeah. But I think the Texas defense, Danny, is still elite. That matchup also is huge. That could be huge play. Like wild card tie breaker implications potentially. Or, you know, again, I know people think both those things could win their division.
Starting point is 01:50:18 Obviously, they could. It's one weekend. Like, yeah, huge. I mean, the Jaggers is obviously better than Denver. So I'm not that worried about. Broncos could slip into panic mode very quickly. Oh, yeah. Especially given what their schedule is coming up.
Starting point is 01:50:31 Right. the fact that they're about to fire their offensive coordinator. You can't fire the offensive coordinator. Not fire him. I'm sorry. Just for, you know what I mean? Stripping him of all his responsibilities. Are the Cowboys bouncing back?
Starting point is 01:50:44 That's next on first thing first overtime. It's a great briefcase. I like it. It's a cool briefcase. Yeah, it's really cool. Put in a throw on a what's right with the great sticker on there. Get a little free pub. Thanks for hanging out with me and Greg Jennings on the OT.
Starting point is 01:50:56 Bears head coach Ben Johnson makes no secrets. He wants the highest scoring. offense in the history of the sport. Not a bad start. 59 points in the week one win. But he hinted that perhaps a little bit more was on his mind. Greg, take a listen. I know you don't care about the outside, but it's a jarring number, 59 points. It's not every day that happens. Certainly not in week one. In fact, you got to go back. There's only four teams in history that did it. 73 Falcons scored 62. At that point, I was hoping for 60. I was thinking a two-point try at some point.
Starting point is 01:51:34 But, hey. I don't think you were the only one. Come on, Joniak, you got to follow up. Were you thinking about going for two there, love Jeff? Greg, any issue with this mentality? No. Okay. Not at all.
Starting point is 01:51:50 You should want to run up the score. This is not mercy. This is not running clock. This is professional football. And with that defense, it appears, they're going to need about 60 every single week. It's not being disrespectful. 40 to 1.
Starting point is 01:52:08 Not being disrespectful. It's just what it is. Like watching this team, and we heard a lot of these players after the game, say, speak to the disappointment of, man, we miss some opportunities out there. Anytime you are this hot, you have it going like this offensively, you feel like you should score every time you snap the ball. And that's a real feeling. That's a real, and if you watch this game, you kind of share that sentiment.
Starting point is 01:52:39 Like, man, they did have opportunities to score. However, I will say when you lose, you also feel that same way when you are the type of offense that they are hoping to be. My question to you would be the idea of bulletin board material. Like, my prediction is this is odd to say. It was a quiet 59 points. like it got people's attention but it was still a 1 p.m. game against the Panthers on week one of the NFL
Starting point is 01:53:07 when everything else was going on and happening. I think that the NFL is going to turn on the bears in some way and the bears are about to become the villains of the league because Ben Johnson is talking the talk and walking the walk. Like he just, he hints at like, I was thinking about going for two
Starting point is 01:53:25 to put a 60 burger on the board. And then you alluded to it, but I want to show these are all quotes that came from different players out of this game. Caleb Williams on a hot mic to Dave Canales after the game said, y'all are a great defense, man. After he'd put up 59 on him, he's like, you guys have a great defense. Now, Dave Canales said, I didn't take that as a shot.
Starting point is 01:53:46 He was just saying something after the game about what they put on film before-hand or whatever. But still, that could be seen as twisting the knife a little bit. The next one, D'Andre Swift, to your point, should have had more than 59 points against the Panthers. And objectively true. They lost a fumble on the opening drive. Another quote that came out from that game, also from Caleb,
Starting point is 01:54:06 said it would be their worst game after they scored 59 points. He was talking operationally and, you know, they had 12 penalties and that sort of thing. Another player, Cole Komet, said at halftime, when we came in at halftime, it honestly felt like we left some stuff out there and we still had 31 points. If they said all of those things, like imagine if the same thing happened to Philly and it's Monday night football and the Philly media and those quotes,
Starting point is 01:54:33 this team is taking on the personality of its head coach, which I love, which we all want our teams to do, but Ben Johnson is arrogant. He is brash. He is cocky. And his players scored 59 points. They were not that impressed with themselves. They thought they should have been better,
Starting point is 01:54:48 and they weren't afraid to talk about it. I think the league is going to take a lot of joy in trying to shut up and shut down the bears, and I love it because I love when there's a villain in a story. So you think you, But you're saying you think the bears are a villain. I think they're going to be, yeah, because I think they're going to score a ton of points and talk about it.
Starting point is 01:55:06 They're going to be the team that calls their shot. So I would, you're right to a degree. But in order to be a villain, you have to be completely dominant. They are not completely, they're like, they're a bit of Santa Claus too. They're packing a soup. They have a bag, fill of gifts, and say, hey, I'm, going to get a gift, but I will give you a gift, too. That's what they did with the Panthers. They put up almost 60, but you get 42. Like, we don't know if they're going to put up this
Starting point is 01:55:42 amount of points every single week. I would, I would bet. I don't think they're going to average 59, but Ben Johnson today, you know, who's asked about, you know, their offense and coming off the game, and he's like, well, we haven't scored a single point yet this week. Like he's, yeah, but he is a. This is who he is. This is cold-blooded, Football psycho, I say that as a compliment, man, you know that, like a football psycho who, I got to be honest, I wasn't thinking about 60. I was just relishing and enjoying it.
Starting point is 01:56:10 And he's like, should I go for two? Or would that be running up to score? I will say this, you've been in the stadiums during games. You know they show other team score during the games. And you look up and this is when you said it was a quiet 59. No, it was a 59 that was being recognized across the, I get it. I don't think you can put up a quiet 59.
Starting point is 01:56:34 I understand. All I am saying is if that would have been done in prime time and Caleb would have been caught saying to Nick Siriani postgame, y'all the hell of a defense man, after he just hung 59 on the board, that quote would not have been taken very well. Agree. It would have been a bigger deal. 100% agree with that.
Starting point is 01:56:52 This team is operating with an earned arrogance of we know we're awesome our coach knows we're awesome and we are going to say that we're awesome and then put up the points. And it kind of fits Caleb's mode, his narrative of coming out of college, being the guy and kind of feeling like, I got it, don't worry about it. Then Ben Johnson comes in and he kind of adds to that
Starting point is 01:57:17 breaks him down a little bit and builds him all the way up and now, yeah, look, I don't mind it. I don't mind it. All I'm saying is for someone like yourself who is clearly Bears fan, they give up a lot of points. And just score more. Let's go to Dallas where the Cowboys are looking to bounce back.
Starting point is 01:57:36 They got the commanders Sunday. You can catch that 4 Eastern on Fox. Brian Schottenheimer met with the media today to talk about what went wrong for the Cowboys on Sunday. Take a listen. All in all, I think, you know, the plan was fine, you know. We just, you know, we didn't execute the way that we needed to. And I know, C.P. and I, you know, talked. I mean, shoot first play the game.
Starting point is 01:57:57 The first play call year, I hate. I thought it was terrible call by me. And they shoved it up our butt. That's the first time I haven't sworn in the last three days. But, you know, CP had a couple calls he'd like to have back. But, you know, we're in this thing together. Offense, defense, coaches, players, special teams, and we just didn't play to our standard.
Starting point is 01:58:16 Solid censorship there by Brian Schottenheimer. Do you expect the Cowboys to bounce back? I do expect them to bounce back. I expect them to bounce back in a couple of different areas. Number one, defensively, they were bad last. year and there was a lot of anticipation of is this defense going to be better. I felt that they would be better. They obviously felt that they would be better and they weren't. But not getting off the field, giving up 82% third down conversion, you are not going to be a better
Starting point is 01:58:46 defense. I don't care what you do. You are not going to be a better defense. 82% is absurd. It is you cannot survive doing that. And so I do think they'll get better there. Communication, I think sometimes when you have a young team and you stress and we saw some of the the coverages and the the miscommunications and some of the blown things that they had going on less is more you you line your defense up you give them a play yes you minimize some of the communication that they have to do and just let them go out there and play ball think we'll see that coming up this week offensively I feel like they they're in a pressing mode where they want to be
Starting point is 01:59:28 this explosive offense. They want to get the ball to CD and George down the field and they're forgetting they have a multifaceted offense. They can run the ball. Yeah, they're a great running last year. You have to run the ball to then open up and make things easier on your quarterback and your skill guys. So I think that they will bounce back. They have an opponent that is division arrival. They want to win. You're at home. You're going to want to show good for your fans. Hopefully they do that. We'll see. Well, the last point you said, I'm normally not much of a trends better.
Starting point is 02:00:04 Different opponents, different years, different rosters, different coaches, different quarterbacks. I don't like to go seven years into the past and say that what happened then is going to impact this game. But this sample is fairly overwhelming. And it has absolutely nothing to do with week one. Dack at home in the division. He just cooks everybody. This is Dax career in Dallas at home.
Starting point is 02:00:27 Greg, he's won 19 straight games. 19 straight division games at home. It does not matter if it's Philly, Washington, New York, what the coach is, who the quarterback is, if his offense is good or bad. He has won 19 straight games at home in the division. So, like, I think the Giants are much better than Washington. I felt that way coming into the year. So I think this is just an easier spot across the board.
Starting point is 02:00:53 You are not on the road at night in an opener. you're at home against the lesser team in your home opener, not in prime time. I know it's Sunday 425 on Fox. Every Cowboys game is a huge window, but just this is a controlled environment in which you have dominated. And now this is a lesser opponent.
Starting point is 02:01:14 I fully expected the Cowboys to bounce back. And if they don't, it's a fire alarm. Huge problems for Dallas. No one will be able to believe in them two division games to start the year. And if you're watching film, you're in that locker room, you go in on Monday, you start watching that film,
Starting point is 02:01:30 your takeaway is, man, we can't be worse than that. We can't, defensively, we can't, we can't do worse than that. They also scored two touchdowns in their two drives. But they only have, exactly. So offensively, you feel like you started to get some rhythm, but we just didn't have the opportunities. We didn't have the, at-bats, if you will. And so I think they get that, they lean into that,
Starting point is 02:01:55 And you got to run the ball, though. They have to run the ball as well. They can't just think they're going to just throw it around on everybody. That's nice of you as a receiver. Say don't have to give it every single rep to the receivers? Not every single rep. The running game sets up the passing game. Sometimes.
Starting point is 02:02:13 I think Dallas, if they lose this game, they will be staggered. Like there's not all O and twos are created equal. Like we were just talking about in the last segment, like Denver and Houston having to go up against Jacksonville and Denver and Cincinnati. It's like you lose to two really good teams. It's like, all right, tough break in the schedule. If Dallas loses to the Giants and the commanders as favorites,
Starting point is 02:02:39 their world is going to be wrong. Oh, and two in the division. You haven't played what we all feel is probably the better of the three except for yourself of those teams in that division. Man, that's a... Then Jerry starts talking. He already is starting to talk a little bit now. Well, the season started.
Starting point is 02:02:55 You got to do the radio show in the postgame press conference. But you lose these two games. It gets late early in Dallas because of who the opponents were and how big of a favorite you were in those spots. Coming up next. How much Patrick Mahomes stock am I buying? The team was good. Him not so much.
Starting point is 02:03:13 Quarterback stock exchanges back on the OT. Coming up next. Tune in tomorrow for a power-packed frenemies. Me and Nick tomorrow, 520 Eastern. We welcome you back. Back to the O.T. now. Myself, Danny Parkins and Greg Jennings here. We're taking it to the quarterback stock exchange.
Starting point is 02:03:31 Now, Greg, this is a volatile market. Lots of ups, lots of downs. Not for the faint of heart. As always, invest in these takes with caution. So here are the 10 best quarterbacks ahead of week two in the National Football League. Let's get right to it. Number 10, Brock Purdy.
Starting point is 02:03:47 Guy went above and beyond in the land down under. Three touchdowns against the Rams. Guy is consistent. Only Lamar Jackson and Jared Gough have a higher passer rating since 2023. He's got the Dolphins this week should put up an absolute monster. Brock Party might be resting for the fourth quarter of this game. Let's get right to number nine. No one likes the guy who said, I told you so, but I'm not trying to be liked.
Starting point is 02:04:10 I'm trying to be right. Jackson Dart, best game of his career against the Cowboys in prime time. Now, he was a penny stock last week. I told you to buy. Now, everyone wants a piece. He's still a buy at this price. I expect a multi-touchdown game again from Jackson Dart against the Rams. Rams have no pass rush.
Starting point is 02:04:27 Let's go to number eight, Jared Gough. Back to old reliable. You got to have Jared Gough in your portfolio. It took overtime, but it was another 30-point game from Gough and the Lions. Only the bills have more in the last three years. Jared Gough just gets the job done. Now, my seventh quarterback by ahead of week two, Matt Stafford. This is a big slip for the former MVP.
Starting point is 02:04:50 And I do not want to overreact. to week one. I really don't want to overreact to week one after a 15-hour flight for a 38-year-old. But he looked every bit of 38 years old. The Giants shut him down this week. He's out of the top 10 entirely this time next week. I don't make the rules. I just enforce him. Number six, Patrick Mahomes. He was not good in week one, but it's Patrick Mahomes. I did not think he could possibly be this low. If Amazon has a bad earnings report, it's still Amazon. The team scored 31 points. They won. He's got a run game now. and he's got the Colts at home.
Starting point is 02:05:24 So I expect better from Mahomes this week. If not, just like Matt Stafford, he could be outside of the top 10 entirely until further notice. Number five, Joe Burrow. Was he great in week one? No, he wasn't. But he's never great in week one, and this week one was actually his best week one since 2021
Starting point is 02:05:42 when the Bengals went to the Super Bowl. Now, his defense is not going to give him four takeaways, but I actually do think he's going to get a couple extra possessions playing CJ Stroud and the Texans. Big test for Burrow. this week against Houston, I expect him to pass it. Fourth best quarterback by, quarterback stock exchange. All right, I'll admit, I'm in.
Starting point is 02:06:01 I was late to the party. Better to be late than to never arrive at all, and I'm now here with Trevor Lawrence. I didn't believe it last year. I didn't think it was real. But he picked up right where he left off. It's now nine straight wins for Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars. Who leads the league in points over the last nine regular season games?
Starting point is 02:06:18 It's Trevor Lawrence, so he's got nine straight wins. He's scoring 33 points a game. he's at number four. Now at number three on the QB Stock Exchange. Let's get to the blue chip stocks. Caleb Williams is a blue chip stock. I've been trying to tell you what more do you need to know than 59 points. He almost had as many points in the game as his pro football focus rating, which was 62.5.
Starting point is 02:06:38 PFF, get the hell out of here. I'll do the grading from now on. 14 or more points in every quarter. His first multi-touchdown game on the ground. He historically dominates the blitz. He gets Brian Flores at home. Everyone's expecting Brian Flores to shut Caleb Williams down. Think again, I expect another big game from Caleb Williams.
Starting point is 02:06:57 Number two, Lamar Jackson. Is a third MVP on the board for Lamar? Of course it is. His supporting cast outside of Derek Henry isn't that great. He makes them look great. Zayflowers just had the best game of his career, but Lamar himself accounted for 364 yards in week one. That's the most yards Lamar has had since week five of 2024.
Starting point is 02:07:18 Lamar Jackson looks great under Declan Doyle. And now it's time for the best of the best, Josh Allen. You score 36 against the Texans that is arguably more impressive than Caleb's 59 against Carolina. Houston, you had a problem with everything Josh Allen threw at you on the ground. To receivers, the tight ends, it all worked. The whole league is on notice. But this week, it's the initial public offering of Josh Allen's new home at Highmark Stadium this Thursday against Detroit. Josh Allen going to crush his debut in his new home.
Starting point is 02:07:48 So there you have it. the top 10 quarterback buys on the quarterback stock exchange ahead of week two. But Greg, before you go, bonus buy time. This is an opportunity of a lifetime. Again, invest in these takes at your own risk. But Justin Herbert, not in the top 10, once in a lifetime opportunity. He gets Vegas at home. I'm expecting a thorough, convincing, bounce back.
Starting point is 02:08:10 I'm buying the dip. I'm Justin Herbert, and you should too. Greg, that's my investment advice ahead of week two in the NFL. Being that Justin Herbert isn't in your top 10, and he was, where was he? Fifth. It was a rough game. It was a rough game against Arizona. And now you're buying low and Justin Herbert.
Starting point is 02:08:29 It's a volatile market. I would just leave it alone. I would just leave it alone and see what it does. But for me, like, I see these guys. Matthew Stafford, I don't know. I might have dropped them a little lower based on what I saw and what I felt. Older quarterback getting rattled and disrupted. because of the pressure, but Trevor Lawrence.
Starting point is 02:08:51 Yeah, you're not a believer. It's not that I'm, look, I am a believer. Not this week. Not this week. The Denver Broncos. Too early. This might be too early to have them this high, and I wouldn't buy at the number four spot.
Starting point is 02:09:07 Because when you look at the Denver Broncos defense, do we really believe that they're going to be this again? Do we really believe? Look at who they were last year, and I get it. They don't have a couple key members of that defense moving forward. However, last time we saw them, just recently on Monday night, giving up 31 points, almost 400 yards of offense. We know what they allowed on the ground. Do we think that they're going to be that bad again with the Jaguars coming to town?
Starting point is 02:09:42 I don't believe so. I feel you. I may have overcompensated for having Trevor Lawrence outside of the top 10 entirely. But listen, he was great. He was great. He was great the second half of last year. I love the offensive genius head coach that maybe has unlocked the quarterback. Liam Cohen did it for Baker Mayfield.
Starting point is 02:09:59 I have to be open to the possibility that he's done it for Trevor Lawrence. They scored 30 plus against Denver last year. Denver's worst game last year was against Jacksonville. And as you mentioned, no Franklin Myers, no Cooper. Denver's defense, they're not up to the task. I think Trevor Lawrence could have a big game. Can I throw a bonus one out there? Bonus investment advice?
Starting point is 02:10:19 I thought you'd never ask. Have you ever looked up a guy named Jacoby percent? No. You probably should because I understand the king. He slings it. He slings it. He slings it. And when you look at the numbers, like, since taking over as a starter last year, 13 games,
Starting point is 02:10:38 there is not a single quarterback in our game that has threw more. passing yards, 3,643 passing yards. He slings it. I get it. They're always losing. I get it. They're always losing, but they're not losing because he's not producing. So you consider it. I did not consider it because part of it is. Would you consider it? If Jacoby Brissette cooks the Seahawks defense, I absolutely, hey man, it's a week to week QB stock exchange. There's volatility in the market. There's not many that can cook the Seahawks defense. I agree with you.
Starting point is 02:11:17 I agree with you. If he plays well, if they win, I mean, listen, they're what, four and a half point underdog. They drew locks the quarterback for the other team. If you're ever going to come out looking good against Seattle, it's in this spot. I do not expect him to be able to do much
Starting point is 02:11:33 at home against Seattle. I don't. I respect Jacobi for seconds. I like watching him because he will throw the ball down the field. He just does not care. It's just normal. down a couple of scores. Yeah, and a losing effort.
Starting point is 02:11:46 But a lot of weapons over there. He beat Justin Herbert and the Chargers left. Oh, yeah, that's right. He did. Maybe that's why I'm buying the stock because he outperformed a guy that you were telling me to buy at the fifth spot last year.
Starting point is 02:11:58 Quarterbacks don't play each other. They play the opposing defense, as you know that. Coming up, I'll tell you what is and not a mirage from the NFL in week one. Coming up on the OT. Time now for First Things Last. Here at First Things First, we do something called predictions week, where we lock in our picks before the season,
Starting point is 02:12:16 and then week one happens, and all hell breaks loose. So today, I thought I'd try something new. I'm going to predict what was real and not so real from week one, but before I start, let's travel all the way back to last year's opening slate. 2025 week one saw the Raiders beat the Patriots. Now, that was a mirage in the desert, as Las Vegas ended up with the number one pick, while New England ended up in the Super Bowl. Speaking of Mirages, last year, J.J. McCarthy outplayed Caleb Williams in the opener. But every surprise wasn't as deceptive as a brew misdirection. Remember when the Colts opened the year with 33 points and then backed it up as the number
Starting point is 02:12:51 one scoring team in football until Daniel Jones's injury? So some of the shocking results of week one will be real. Some will forget about by Halloween. So without further ado, here's what I think we'll stick from this year. I've got the Giants springboarding off their upset of the Cowboys and being a contender all year. long. On the flip side, my guess is Pittsburgh's win over Atlanta. That's one of only six or seven for them all year. In terms of streaks, I think the dolphins make a run at O in 17, while the Seahawks are going to go undefeated with Drew Locke, which will further muddy the waters on our evaluation of Sam Darnold. Now, the bills shredded the Texans, but Houston will still be a top 10 defense. The Panthers shredded the bears, but won't be anywhere near a top 10 offense. So there you go. Consider this, predictions week 2.0. One down, and 17 to go. Oh, and one more thing, because I know you're wondering. Justin Herbert and the Chargers will be just fine. That's all I've got. Thank you so much for hanging out with us on the
Starting point is 02:13:48 OT. We're back tomorrow with more First things first. Don't you wish you could just hit skip on the worst parts of your life? You know the same way you can skip an ad. I get it. I'm Siaya and I live in Ice Cove. I've made some questionable decisions that didn't end up the way I planned. And today I'm still figuring it out. Somehow things usually get worse before they get better. Apparently, that's how I roll. So bundle up and come along for the bumpy ride. Stream a new episode of North of North Tuesdays on CBC Gem.

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