First Things First - Chiefs beat Lions and are 'the best in NFL', Bucs ‘put league on notice’, Drake Maye in MVP talks?

Episode Date: October 13, 2025

(0:00) Chiefs beat Lions, Should Brian Branch be suspended?  (22:06) Brou grades Cowboys, Baker and Bucs put the league on notice? (32:58) Is Drake Maye in the MVP conversation? (37:53) Bills on upset alert vs. Falcons? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Live from New York, wins on the board for every way. Chiefs won, Patriots won. Congrats, buddy. And the Ravens didn't allow 40. Hey. You got to take the little victories in like the defense showed up. Oh, they just were fumbling the ball after. Well, yeah.

And not giving the ball to Derek Henry at the goal line. It seemed like, I don't get that. Man, Brady was got, Brady seemed like he was going to fight the playboy. He was not happy. First out, first and only hour. We've got baseball coming up at 4 o'clock today. Chiefs toppled the Lions. Are they on the verge of frustrating the entire league?

Meanwhile, Rico Dowdle Revenge game. He announced it all week and then came through what grade will Brew give to the Dallas Cowboys. And finally, you heard it here first last week. Classic one. Drake May needs to be in the MVP conversation. And guess what? Now he is officially in the MVP conversation

alongside Nick Wright. have a wild brew we don't have bruce ballot coming up today tomorrow but is he going to be in the mbp conversation that's going to be a tough it is very tough at this but he could be in wild let me give you some solace he can he is in the conversation he's absolutely in the conversation but that doesn't necessarily mean he's going to be on the ballot i'm guessing but when you look it's he's got a case he's got a case and that covers our drake may conversation for today not true We start with a solid Chiefs win. Casey puts up 30 points to get to three and three.

Mahomes throws three touchdowns runs in a fourth. Here's Mahomes on his 300th career passing touchdown. It's extremely cool. I mean, I've been blessed. I always say it and I mean it. Like I've been blessed. I drafted here in Kansas City, a great community, great ownership. And then getting one of the best football coaches of all time and some of the greatest players

of all time around me. And so it makes my job be a lot easier when I'm really throw to some great ones. And let's continue it. Let's have some fun. And we've got a long career ahead. And we'll see how we can get to. Chiefs, since their 0 and 2 star, they're 3 and 1. Point differential plus 40, five more turnovers

than their opponents. And Mahomes TD to touchdown ratio, 11 to 1. And they're now scoring. That's a good graphic. They've scored in 15 of 16 quarters. I like that graphic a lot. They are, you'll like this. They have scored touchdowns on 33% of their

drives this year the highest percentage of any year since Mahomes first year as a starter. Wow. They look like they're back. What did they prove? Oh, no, I got to ask this. We changed it. Did they prove they're the best team in the NFL? We are so back, baby.

You know how we're back? The opposing teams whining about officiating. There's conspiracy theorists online. The offense is the best it's been since 2022 when Mahomes set the all-time yardage, combined yardage record. The defense, which I was worried about after we. week one has progressively gotten better. The Jags game, notwithstanding.

Rishi is back. We're done with it. The suspension's over. And if they're not the best team, who is? Are we going to, you're going to watch the Chargers of the Broncos this weekend, who are leading the AFC West, try their damnedest to lose to two of the three worst teams in football, no disrespect to the Tennessee Titans, and say they're the best. We're going to say the bills with that defense or the Steelers with that offense.

Can't say the Lions. Lions got their lunch money stolen last night. That's what people were saying before. The only, you could argue, my NFC Super Bowl picked the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and I do think they have been very impressive and resilient going through injury. But they're the best team in football. And we all know when it flipped. And you guys can let.

KW? How about this? How about this, KW? Because you'll like this. Okay. Post, tackle that turned the tide. This is getting on my nerves. The Chief's scoring 30.

They had done it three out of 28 games leading into the tackle that turned the tide. They've now done it two out of three. T, T, T, T, T, T, the tackle that turned the tide. What about you guys love The Light Show? Mahomes passer rating, 125 plus. I've been dying for it. in 28 games before the tackle the turn the tide. Two out of three since then.

Danny was on here talking about four touchdown games going into the Ravens game. Well, that was right after tackle the turn the tide. He had done it zero times in his previous 28. He's now done it two of three. That's pretty good. And so his numbers, of course, pre and post, the tackle that turned the tide are jarring

because pre it's like, oh my God. Are we going to have a third straight down year except this time they're actually also going to lose games. And instead it's like, nope, vintage Mahomes, as good as he's ever been. So, of course, we're dropping a banner because of course they're back, and of course we know the moment it happened. The tackle the turn the tide and the entire NFL season, because they're the favorites again. I didn't realize when you said tackle the turn the tide that it was going to be like...

The thing? Yeah, I thought it was just a one-off, like one show. Didn't you... Except... Look, you bring up some great stats. They did lose a game. he did throw a 99-yard pick six since the tackle that turned in time. I mean, he made more than a mistake.

I'm just saying. But let me ask this in seriousness for you go, bro. If he doesn't make that play and the giant scoop and score and take control of that game going into halftime, do you think we are potentially talking about a totally different NFL season? Yeah. Like, because that was the moment that game flipped. Well, I was just focused on Kelsey and Reed. fighting. I was focused on this guy turning

into a strip sack artist. Go ahead, bro. Are they the best team in the NFL? Let me be the voice of reason. There is no best team in the NFL right now. And after week six, that's just fine. Okay. Because every team

out there, including the Chiefs, have put some bad film on tape. No doubt. Right? And we don't have to go back weeks for the Chiefs, just a week. You know, so every team has You know, there's no bad team best team yet.

I will say this. I like the Chiefs, Nick, better than all the one-lossed team. So records, at this point, records, you know, most of the top teams are four and two. They're three-and-three, but they could be the best.

But Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Tampa Bay, and my Packers, but who haven't been playing great football. I like the Chiefs right now at this moment better than all of them. Okay. All right.

Here's why I, I am hesitant to say they're the best team right now because and I get that they are currently flirting with the supernatural funk remix. Okay. Yeah. Philly does seem to have their number.

They've beaten them three straight times. How many times? Twice in Kansas City. Twice in Kansas City, once in the Super Bowl. Now, again, that's when Philly's right. Right now, Philly had. look good, but they still beat them this year. And so that's where I just feel like I can't fully give them the best team in the league

yet. But what I will say, and this is what this is what we saw last night, Patrick Mahomes is without question. Everybody has said he's the best quarterback in the league, but a lot of people have felt like, well, not right now. He's the best, but not. Historically. He has, right.

He is clearly the best quarterback in the league. and Andy Reed is as good as anyone coaching in the league right now because remember I said years ago, you used to watch Mahomes and I would be surprised when they didn't score. That's how I'm feeling now. Like when they don't score a touchdown, I'm surprised. And with Andy Reid drawing stuff up, just with a decent core of receivers,

because let's not get out of line like they have some phenomenal receiving court. It's good. But just with a decent receivers, You can't stop them from getting eight yards or 12 yards. Like Kelsey now is always open. He's always open in the middle of the field somewhere. Like whenever they need a play, it's just like Xavier Worthy has opened everything up with his speed. And same with Thornton.

And now, yeah, Thornton. Juju all of a sudden is back playing well. Hollywood Brown, who we hadn't heard from in a while. And now you're about to get Rashid back. So the difference is Mahomes and Reed. And now they have some pretty good receivers. The only thing that stops the Chiefs from getting eight yards of play is calling running plays. Those are two yards of play.

And that part is a little frustrating. But go ahead, Kim. Well, you know, I'm a big margin of victory guy. Yeah. And this is what I wanted to see. Chiefs last two seasons, this is including the playoffs. Average margin of victory was seven. They only had three, three point wins.

13 point wins. Sorry, 13 point wins. Yeah. And they already have matched that already this year. and their average margin of victory is 14. So look, you do have three losses still. I can't just throw those in the trash bin, but the wins have been impressive. And listen, and I want to talk about Mahomes in a second.

It is, we will see how damaging those losses end up being. You know what I mean? Are they going to be a wild card? How many road games are they going to have to play? Is the buy even on the table anymore? All those things. And it is noteworthy that to varying degrees, the, The Chargers thoroughly outplayed the Chiefs,

but when the Chiefs had a chance to steal that game, one of the big three of the dynasty, Chris Jones made a mistake. You know what I mean? And losing contain. The Eagles game, I think the Chiefs were going to win, and one of the big three of the dynasty, Travis Kelsey, made a mistake.

And then the Jags game, I believe the Chiefs were going to win. And the biggest of the big three of the dynasty, Patrick Mahomes, made a mistake. Like there are, you own that, you wear that, and they lost those games fair and square, that in an odd way gives me slightly more confidence than if it were. Other guys were relying on that you can't really, that you think, hey, they're going to keep making that mistake.

But go ahead, Brew. I was going to say, I agree with that point you made. I was going to say this. One of the huge differences, when any of the other elite teams lose, the sky is falling. not only among the media in their locker room. Detroit, we saw them unraveled last night with Brian Branch who we'll get to.

The bills, I mean, bills aren't quite as bad, but still there's some there. Obviously, Philadelphia. I can't even say it's because the Chiefs won Super Bowls and these other teams didn't because Phillies won a Super Bowl. And it's just Baltimore. Like, whenever they lose, it's just they crump, it feels like the season is on the brink. when the cheese were freaking two and three oh and two there was nothing

coming out of that lock room that's leadership from Mahomes and from Reed and on Patrick before we move on just quickly because I get so I've gotten so frustrated with some of the criticism of yes he's great but where are the numbers and this and that whenever we see these graphics that are just stat based like the one

so this is him this season in ranks where his numbers are now this year at an MVP caliber. But the thing we saw on the broadcast last night that I thought was instructed, where it was fastest to 300 touchdowns. And it was him, eight games faster than Aaron, and 13 games faster than Marino,

and 22 games faster than Peyton. Those three guys were known just for stats. Like, they were kind of, you know. At that point. No, really, to this day, they are not considered great postseason players. varying levels, but great. Those guys for their careers combined

are 34 and 33 in the playoffs. And Patrick, who is outpacing them in the numbers, and then also is the second greatest playoff quarterback of all time, it did feel to me like he was a little beyond criticism, but he wasn't. He needed to be back playing at an MVP level, and luckily he is.

And for a guy who loves Baker Mayfield and loves Patrick Mahomes, I got to tell you, MVP and Super Bowl, collision course. Patrick versus Baker for the MVP, Chief versus Bucks, preseason pick for the Super Bowl. It's sure looking like it to me. No, that's it. I mean, it's right now. Meanwhile, on the lion's side, Detroit didn't get a few got to have it plays in the team that we thought could be the best team in the league looked solidly mediocre. Here's Dan Campbell. Yeah, I'm disappointed, you know, I'm disappointed. because, you know, it's been a long time since you're watching somebody kneel it three times in front of you, and it's not even close. You know, you're down two scores. I mean, we got work pretty good. So, yeah, it's disappointing. It's really disappointing.

Detroit came out of the gate pretty fast. We've got some trick plays, looked good, and then the rest of the game, they only scored seven points outside those first two drives. Brew. Did the Lions get exposed last night? I wouldn't say exposed because they still have a great chance to win the NFC and get to the Super Bowl. But the two winning teams they've played this year have beaten them. Sound like. Yeah, by two touchdowns.

Green Bay and the Chiefs. The team, four teams they've beaten have a combined record of six and 16. All right. So I see two major differences between like the Detroit and these, like the Chiefs or some other elite elite teams. When you need to get a stop or even if it's just a big game against another elite team,

Detroit can't get the stops. Maybe obviously they've been banged up. They were banged up last night. They were banged up last season. So maybe that's it. But these are their last several big games. Last night, obviously, they give up 30. Green Bay, first week, they give up 27.

Last year in the playoff game against Washington, they give up 45. Last night, the chief showed you, they played great defense throughout the game, but Detroit, you talked about the chiefs punching them in the mouth. Detroit came out and punched the chiefs in the mouth. They were rolling a 10-minute drive, and then when it gets to the goal line, the chiefs stop them. And I get it that the trick play worked, but it was illegal. But still, the chiefs manned up and stopped them at the goal line.

The second difference is Jared Gough versus Patrick Mahomes. Gough is a very good quarterback, but he can't make lemonade out of limits. Mahomes can make something happen when it doesn't appear he has the help or when it's just the situation calls for. Yes. Golf, I mean, look, and I'm not trying to take anything away from golf. He has probably the best tandem of running backs in the league with Jamar Gibbs, Jemir Gibbs and David Montgomery, arguably the best tandem of receiving. receivers in James Williams and Amon St. Brown.

And then he's got Sam Laporte is arguably the best tight end at this point. So I'm just saying Mahomes can make something happen when he has to golf, not so much. So that's the, that's the two differences. So I listen, I do the, to be fair to the Lions, the Ravens game was a big game, but they still, the Ravens move the ball. To your point about their defense. Right, right. They scored 30.

Right. They forced the fumble on Derek Henry. And last year when Detroit beat lost to Buffalo, Buffalo, Buffalo scored 48. Right. And so here, listen, I thought that was, I did not think that was a fun trick play. I thought that was a canary in the coal mine that this lion's team isn't as tough as they think they are. And I think we saw it the whole game. You can't even barely see the blue line. They're so close. You guys, you're supposed to be the biting kneecap Detroit Lions. You have David Montgomery.

Run the ball. You're throwing a pass. By the way, Tony Dungey said he saw them do this in practice. They did it illegally in practice too, which made him think the rules had changed since he was coaching. So, like, that is a fine, cool thing to do in a game you're winning by a lot. If it's first down, there's a lot of instances where that works. It obviously was not one of them last night. I thought that was embarrassing.

I thought, and I don't know how many, if you guys have noticed this, first team all pro, Kirby Joseph in the last 12 hours, and he's not a very, you know, super high volume Twitter user, has sent out 24 tweets talking about the officiating last night. That to me is not a great sign from one of your veteran all pro defensive backs, and we know what the other all pro defensive back did. And so I also thought Chris Collinsworth's point was correct, which is as great as this team is, and they are a bowling ball of butcher knives rolling downhill when they're ahead.

The limitations golf does have do show up when you're behind. When teams are not afraid of that run game, which it's very rare they're in these bad scripts, but they were in the playoff game in week one and in this week. If you can make them play, as coach would say, left-handed, not the way they want to,

then all of a sudden they're not hanging 40 on you. So I still think they're really good, but I thought that was, those are fair critiques. Lions hosts the Bucks next Monday. Drama post game, Juju Smith-Schuster gets shoved by Brian Branch. Scuffle ensues. So here's three pieces of sound. And then we're going to show the play that Branch said he was mad about. Take a listen.

I mean, we play the game in between the whistles. They can do all the extracurricular stuff they want to do, but we play the game in between the whistles. I love Brown Branch, but what he did is inexcusable. And it's not going to be accepted here. It's not what we do. It's not what we're about. I apologize to Coach Reed and the Chiefs. I did a little childish thing, but I'm tired of people doing stuff in between the play

and reps don't catch it. Like, you're trying to bully me out there. I should have never did it, but it was childish. So here's the play. He's trying to get after Mahomes. and some say it's from the side. Some people say it was from the back. Either way, we think this is the play that he would reference Bruy.

And Mahomes also flexed at him when Mahomes scored. That's allowed. Yeah, this is allowed too, by the way. Okay, well, if it's from the back, I don't know. Okay, I mean, it literally was allowed, but I agree. It was borderline. I'm not sure if it was legal or not. But yeah, that's fair.

Go ahead. Just reaction to the scuffle. Well, first of all, what Dan Campbell, that's what leadership looks like. like he didn't come and talk around it. He wasn't afraid to call out one of his better players who obviously he doesn't want to lose. But he said we have a standard and we are not going to tolerate that around here.

So I thought that was great. He gave respect to the chiefs and everything. As far as Brian Branch, he should be suspended for a game. Wow. He should be suspended for a game. No question about it. You got to do something. He should be suspended for one game.

He turns against the buck. Yeah, no, suspended for a game, and hopefully he'll learn from this. But I'll be quick. It should be suspended for him. In a weird way, does the Jalen Carter corollary work against him here? Which is, you've got no penalty whatsoever. Remember the Jalen Carter, they're like, he was suspended, but he already served it. He served it.

Listen, big picture. So my youngest daughter didn't have school today for the holiday. And so she was able to watch the whole game. and I said to her, I was like, this literally never happens. She's like, what do you mean? I was like, in professional football, sometimes there's scuffles before the game,

there's often during, never after. The moment the game's over, there's prayer circles, there's hugs because the game is so inherently dangerous and violent that it feels like a boxing match sometimes at times where guys hug at the end. So this is rare. I also, KW, what does your kid say

that really makes you mad sometimes? cry about it? Yeah, literally, Brian Branch. I mean, he seemed a little choked up and I don't know what in the NFL the penalty for bullying

is. Is JuJU going to have to sit out the next couple recesses? I'm not sure. But it's professional football and you're the biting kneecaps team. You're the we're bigger, stronger, tougher team and you're out here refusing to shake hands

and then punching Juju Smith-Schuster in the face. Mahomes couldn't believe it. Like, Mahomes couldn't believe it. And so, listen, I'm sorry. But that's a tough look for the team that's supposed to be the bullies. Because they got bullied during the game, then after the game, and then when it asked the teacher to do something about it. They're bullying me?

They're bullying me? It's pro football. The Cowboys streak of A-Games is over. I think it's odd that we pixelated. I love it. What grade will can't give it away. That's next on FS1 of the Fox Sports Challenge

Series 6M. Game in the sixth. I'm sorry, Coach. I know you're a Blue Jays guy, but I am now firmly in the Mariners camp. Blue Jays looking, too. Because the big dumper. Well, that and I like George Kirby a lot.

Blue Jays looking to even the series right after First things first. ALCS, a game two. Next on. Fox and FS1. You can stay right here. Back to the gridiron. Bake show out of your cooking.

Heisman moment, even though he already has a Heisman. Third and 14 with the Bucks only up one. Baker converts. Bucks score. Tess flips. Baker serenaded with MVP chance. Here he is after the game. Chance MVP start rating it.

It's week six. So got a big one next week. So it's awesome to have the support. Don't get me wrong. But we're, We're just getting started. Did you feel the building shake? Feel the building shake?

It did. It did? I did not. Was there an earthquake? He's the mess, man. The building shake. You got a pirate ship. Baker this season, 5 and 1, that's tied for first.

Total yards. He's fourth 280. He's got 12 touchdowns, only one pick, and a passer rating of around 109. That's sixth best. Did the Bucks put the league on notice, Nick? I mean, they should have already been. Did you hear Tess Johnson after the game? It's so good.

Tess Johnson, the rookie who, that's his first big play in the NFL, he said he heard them chanting MVP after the touchdown and he said to one of these teammates, man, I haven't really even done anything yet. And then his teammate had to tell him. They're not a thing. And it's like, oh, that makes more sense. It was a great kid. Listen, right now, coach, I think if it were voted on today, he's the league MVP and it's not

close. Again, through this point of the season, I also think that the Bucks, if we can throw up their schedule real quick, are positioned incredibly well to be,

I believe, the one seat. This middle column all year was going to be the brutal one. And then the right-hand column was going to be on fire going into the post-season one.

And so they have given themselves such a margin of error now where, in that middle column, if they go two and three, they're seven and four going into the softest portion of their schedule. And so, and what is most impressive to me, coaches, they are not Niners level, but almost Ravens level, ravaged by injury, and it hasn't mattered.

And every game Baker makes one of these. Third and 14, gameish on the line, and just an awesome Baker play. So yeah, I mean, I don't think anybody wants to play them right now. Yeah, I agree with you, Nick. I would imagine the league has been put on notice over the last couple years with Baker. Last year, he throws 41 touchdowns. And now he had the high number of picks, is 15 or 16.

16. But prior to him coming to Tampa Bay, he had only had one winning season. Now he's got back-to-back winning seasons. He's got the production that he had. And what I like most about Baker is as he talked about the guys who are catching past this warm and the fact that they weren't known, entities and how much trust he has in him because he's been through a transformation. He goes from, you know, the level he was coming out in the draft.

Then he's got to go through this whole sort of down period, find his footing, find a new home, do all these things to be successful again. So I think he probably appreciates those other guys who are now trying to get their opportunity. And instead of looking at it as like, oh, I'm playing with these guys that, you know, aren't what maybe I'm used to. it's like, yeah, they can step up just like I had the ability to step up after people doubted me. And that's contagious in a locker room

and it excites everybody who gets put in there. Yeah, to that point, Coach, I mean, no Mike Evans, no Chris Guy and Bucca gets hurt during the game. Bucking Irving out. Burkey Irving's out. Six starters on offense are out and they keep winning.

So look, I don't think beating San Francisco as banged up as they are and lost Fred Warner is like puts the league on notice. Next week, when they play Detroit, if they beat Detroit, especially Detroit coming off a bad loss, that will put the league on notice that, okay, they could win the NFC. And then when you factor in,

they're going to get some of these guys back, too, that are injured. They're looking great. And I agree, Baker right now is clearly them. I do have concerns, though. What hurt him in Cleveland is, he eventually got hurt, and then he played hurt. And the way that he plays, it's great and it's exciting, and it shows his toughness.

but it's typically not sustainable. Coach, I agree with you. Coach, I agree with you, but I just very quickly, unlike some of the other great quarterbacks in the league, I don't think he can be great playing any other way. You know, like this is, I just think, and Baker. Well, he wouldn't have made that play.

And so he, listen, he has an incredibly strong arm, but he is undersized. He's not super fast. His toughness, and I know this sounds corny, but like it factor is what makes him him. So I don't think he can dial that back. You're right, it's risky. You just want him to be great without being reckless. Yeah, no, that's fair.

All right. Talk about the Cowboys in Carolina, Brew. Rico Dowdell warned you all week. Former Cowboy goes for 239 total yards from scrimmage, 183 on the ground. Dak had three TDs, but it wasn't enough. Here's Dowdell and Dak. Take a listen. What's your message after the game?

That wasn't buckled up. Great job tonight. Great job last week. He told us to buckle up. He got the last laugh. We got a hell of a group of running backs. I love my team, but I miss the guy. That's nice.

Dak is just a great guy. Here's your report card. We were talking about the potential to have three straight A games, but the Cowboys came up short. What great are you giving? giving Dallas this week. Wow, what people like about my grading is I grade on a curve. But I know who, where did you get that data from?

Yeah, where is that coming? Well, I just, it's out there. All right, it's out there. Yeah, that's right. If you're not the sharpest knife in the drawer, I don't expect you to write like Shakespeare. Okay. I expect some misspelled words, maybe a tad bit of plagiarism even. But I don't hold it against you.

I don't hold it against you if, if that's what you are. Sure. Okay. Okay. This week was a little different or yesterday because the Cowboys had done such a good job, not hiding their shortcomings, but working around them. Where I thought, you know what, they're capable of some high level work. All right.

And as that game progressed, I realized, you know what, I'm watching a tomato can. Oh, no, no. And I had to alter my expectations. Okay. Now, the Cowboys were playing a tomato can, and I know they've played some decent games this year, but still, they are a tomato can in my book until further notice to Carolina Panthers. It was kind of like the tomato can bowl, all right? But the Cowboys had to show, Coach, that we are the kings of the tomato cans. The Cowboys are a tomato can.

I'm sorry. Chicago beat them up. They've beaten the two New York teams. They did tie my Packers somehow some way. But that's what made me think, oh, maybe they could do something. And before you get mad at me for calling them a tomato can, it is the fact that they are a tomato can that kept them from getting another F. I'm giving them a D instead.

Okay. Because they're, you know, hey, I'm only expect so much. They're doing the best they can. Yeah, they did the best they could, coach. I think you're being too hard. And I think that's because you understand. estimate the Carolina Panthers. And that's the problem with anybody who plays Carolina

is they go into it and they think, okay, we should smoke these guys. And what's Carolina done? They've had some pretty bad games, but they've also had some pretty impressive games. They're 500 right now. So if you go into it with the expectation that they're going to walk over the team and then the game's close or they end up losing a close game, you're extremely disappointed because of your expectation.

But I feel like you're, your grading might be a little bit unfair because of your expectation from Carolina. So it should be an F game? No, I think you could make a higher because he's saying Carolina is a better team. I think Carolina is better than you give them credit for. But because you've already graded Carolina so poorly, that's why you bring this grade down even more. Listen, Bryce Young hadn't had a passer rating greater than 90 all year. He had 1.15.

Rico Dowdle coming off an excellent game had another great game which is so weird because I was told that trading Micah Parsons would fix their run defense and Rico Dowdle is a running back right and for those checking in

on how the Cowboys defense has been without Micah Parsons the answer is the worst in football This has got a... What, KW? I mean, does it change? I'm wondering, like, we're like, the Ravens are going to get better.

No. They, they, this is... I am, and I know coach rolls his eyes at me about it. I am telling you, this year is going to be proof positive that as far as a singular player's impact on a defense, we were underrating Micahus. because it is largely the same personnel,

plus Kenny Clark, who is a good player, not a great player, but a good player, and they have snap become the worst in football. So I, like... No one would have helped me yesterday? What? Keeping Rico Dowdle. Okay, well, that too.

That would have really helped him. He told him what he was going to do. He's in the post game of last week. Oh, look at this. Is Drake May through the doorstep of Destiny, and on the doorstep, of the MVP. That's next on first thing,

first thing, on FS1. When I told you, Drake May was in the MVP conversation, I was met with the Soldier Boy response. Drake? Well, 3 TDs, 261, perfect passer rating in the first half.

That was good. Here's the updated MVP odds. Josh Patrick Bake Show. He's right at a little more. Stavard Coff. We're moving up. First of all, what are these from? Draft.

Drafts. Yeah. There are sponsors. Yeah. Why? Yes, there are sponsors. But what's your issue with it? Just tell me.

I would line shop if I were you. I'm just saying. Oh, you can get you. Drake has longer odds also. Better odds. Well, no, then you would want them here, buddy. I don't understand. You don't want a better than 15 to want to be a GOD.

I just want him up. I'm number one. I'm not talking about making money. Ego. Yeah. Brew, is he in the MVP conversation for you? He's in the conversation. There we mean, it's clearly Baker right now.

Classic one. Mahomes is obviously moving in. into it. And it's hard to even hold the three and three against Mahomes because most teams are four and two that are, you know, players are in it. But Drake is in it. Thank you. He might be on Ruse Ballet. Like he is, warm my heart. As you look at the numbers, obviously he's got the great win against Buffalo. He's played for his last five games, he's got a pass rating of over a hundred in each of those games. One four. Three of them are over one. Yeah. Is it 140 in those three games? One 40. 101, 155. One. Oh, yeah.

So he's playing great and he doesn't have an all-pro receiver, even though Diggs is kind of turning back to clock. He doesn't have an all-pro receiver, doesn't have an all-pro running back, probably even a pro-bowl running back. So he's doing. No, definitely doesn't have a pro-bole runner. You never know.

You never know nowadays. You're right with injuries. But I'm just saying, like, he's in it. And he does have Josh McDaniels who did turn Mac Jones into a pro-bowler very early. Yeah. Some say that's the most impressive coaching feet in the history of the NFL. And I think that you're seeing the development of Mac Jones and the value of that relationship. And I think also having someone like Mike Vrable who brings a different mentality,

and there seems to be an extreme confidence in him. And to me, similar to Harbaugh with Justin Herbert, that has an effect. And if we're going to talk about Baker in this conversation, let me just show you something quickly. If you compare the two guys right now through the course of the season and Baker is at third, this is where Drake May compares to Baker Mayfield throughout the course of the season. And a lot of those categories, Drake May is better. So total touchdown just in the conversation? 1212.

12. We've got the two running touchdowns that Baker doesn't have. So if Baker is where he is, then Drake's got to be. Yeah. Yeah, part of that, listen, part of MVP, this is the interesting something like Bruce Ballot and the odds. The odds involve, there's projection built into it. Like, that's why Mahomes' three-and-three record is not held against him. Oh, that makes sense.

Because they are, they are assuming the Chiefs are going to have a good record, and he's playing at this level. And so it's also. And that's why Allen's number one. Correct. Allen's number one because they think they're going to have an awesome record. And so their projection piece of it. But I want you to be able to, this is a great moment for you. You should really enjoy it.

Do you think so? Do you think it's going to fall off a cliff? I don't necessarily think it's going to fall off the cliff, but I think that you're cliff adjacent. At Tennessee with a new coach, so maybe they get the new coach bounce, but maybe not. Home against the Browns, home against the Falcons. At Tampa Bay, tough, home against the Jets. The Drake May MVP conversation is going to get louder and louder.

And I just want to say, Hubs, can you put me on here? I don't really break this out all the time. My antennas are up on Patriots chemistry alert. Watching this team, the locker rooms, like, hold on, do you guys really all love and support each other? Yeah, basically, can I just say something? I buy that, but also basically every winning team but the Eagles has great chemistry and losing teams seem not to. Like that seems to go. And also to have this level of success after being bad for so long, that, that, that,

vibe check. Right. Four wins. It's, it's, listen, I, this is,

there are right now, it looks like eight teams in the AFC that are very viable playoff contenders, and seven get in. And so it's Buffalo, New England, whoever wins the North, indie Jacksonville,

KC, Chargers, one of those teams are going to be left out. Drake keeps playing up to this level. It won't be the best. Are the bills on upset alert? Uh-oh. Well, guess it would be in front of the AFC East. Well, Bill's play the Falcons tonight.

Thanks, Burke Hart. I appreciate it. Wild is legit on tilt. Okay. How many yards does Atlanta allow passing? Exactly. You don't know because I wrote the script. Atlanta allows 135 passing yards, which is lowest in league.

Bills allow 154, which is second best. Can I? Is Buffalo on Stency Upset alert? Um, yeah. Do you think so for real? Yes, I do. For real. I do think they're on sneaky ups, I think Atlanta, fresh off a week, or a week off.

It's like the Bills played Sunday night, emotional loss. Atlanta had a full week. Atlanta's also had an incredibly weird year. Yes. You know, week one, they play Tampa. They miss a kick, you know, to potentially tie it. Yeah. Week two, they annihilate Minnesota.

or one of and they get they then get annihilated themselves by Carolina they bounce back against Washington so I don't really have a beat on them I feel like I do have a beat on Buffalo which is I think their defense can get got so yeah on the road Monday night I think they're on at least sneaky upset alert sneaky fair no that that is fair I do think Buffalo will pull it out I'm giving that to them because they're coming off a bad loss they're going to want to erase that from minds the loss to New England and get a win. But the beat on Atlanta, Nick, is outside of that strange game against Carolina, they've actually played good football.

Yes. They couldn't beat Tampa. So now, they're on alert, but I think bills will hold off. I wonder if we just had kind of like the Drake May coming out party against Josh Allen. Could we see that for Pennix? Even though you can't really throw on the bills. Or is it just a huge problem? Or is it just a lot of Bijan all the time?

I think it has to be Bijon. Listen, I think Drake, Drake has the chance. to be a great quarterback. I don't think Pinnix has, I think Pinnix is pretty limited. Really? Yeah. I also think if you guys are watching from Toronto,

please Kevin Burkhard, Emmy winner, an all-time great. Tomorrow or next time we do this, toss it to one. No, I would like, his feelings were hurt. I would like happy to do it. Okay. Thank you.

Coming up next. We'll see you tomorrow at 3 o'clock.