KSR - NFL Cover Zero: Celebrating National Tight End Day?

Episode Date: October 27, 2025

Matt Jones and Drew Franklin start with the Packers win over the Steelers.  Jordan Love has 20 straight completions at one point.  Do QB's specifically target tight ends because it's 'National Tight Ends Day'?  The Jets and Aaron Glenn get their first win of the season with a comeback over the Bengals. The Eagles get past the Giants, but the focus is the Cam Skattebo injury.  The Broncos cruised past the Cowboys, is it time to believe in Bo Nix?  The 'Simpsons' curse continues and Matt reveals his favorite character.  A big game from the Bills over the Panthers. Matt is really concerned for the Bears after a loss to the Ravens. When is Lamar Jackson returning? Greg Olsen noted a change in coaching strategy on close field goals.  Matt offers his condolences on the passing of Fmr Jets OL Nick Mangold.  Looking ahead to Commanders-Chiefs on MNF, Drew wonders if the game could be a rout.  Are Eli and Peyton Manning the most popular former players? A surprising win for the Dolphins over the Falcons.  A historic performance from Myles Garrett, but the Browns lose to the Patriots. The Bucs cruise past the Saints and the Colts still look like the best team in football at 7-1!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin is a production of the NFL and IHeart podcast. The Cover Zero NFL podcast is here. Only one game ended up as a one possession game. Only one game even kind of was exciting. A lot of these games were over halfway through the third quarter. So it was a good time, I think, to focus on the other things going on rather than the game.

Yeah, we kind of knew this was ahead when the schedule came out and you had the point spreads. There was a lot of seven and a half point spreads, which in the NFL, you don't see that very often. And there were six teams that were off. So this is the one week of the year where you have the fewest games. It's lopsided matchups for sure. So even though it was kind of chalky, we knew going into this that it just wasn't going to be a bunch of contenders running into each other this week. So, but nevertheless, it's still, you know, still fun to do.

we had our we did Billy our Survivor League you and I are both still involved still alive Drew has been out for weeks so Drew doesn't ever get to play but I had the Colts you had the Patriots and now we both I mean we're both into week eight we would be starting to sniff the money if we were in this thing

for real right yeah I already am now it's all about team we didn't actually enter so there's no money for us to win well maybe something good will come our way yeah but I would have I would love to have done it You know, both of ours were very easy. And we still have a lot of good teams left, both of us. I mean, we've been fortunate. I've used Packers, Patriots, Colts, Broncos, Ravens, Lions.

I still haven't used the Bills, still haven't used the Eagles, still hasn't used the Chiefs. You've used Jaguars, Cardinals, Bills, Colts, Chiefs, Patriots. So you still have Eagles. You still have the Lions, some of the Packers. So there's still a lot of games to win. Exciting stuff. Yeah.

And our TD Parlay. I think you were the only one that came in this week. Yes, I had, what did I have? I had Taylor. I got Taylor, got one. Drew had what? C.D. Lamb did not get one. And you had Caleb Williams.

That's right. That was a really bad pick, as we'll talk about. So it's now 3-3-1. Me and you, poor Drew, just can't get anything working for you. Hey, I had my big Harold Fanon Jr. touchdown. Where did he go to school? Bowling Green. Bowling Green.

That's right. So I actually made a little money on a touchdown bed, just didn't do any good on the podcast. All right. Well, let's start with the game that just. finished the Packers and the Steelers Packers go into Pittsburgh ruin Aaron Rogers' sentimental

game, Aaron Rogers, who showed his softer side all week, talking about how he learned so much in Green Bay and he considers it home. He clearly was trying to reach out to Green Bay fans. I think he wants to have that moment that all those Green Bay legends get.

I feel like this week was his way to try to do that. Don't you agree? Yeah, you know, he was doing a sucking up, mentioned a lot of familiar faces on the sideline. But I thought the reunion was ruined from the moment they dressed in the locker room. Like this is like two iconic looks. It's the Rogers Homecoming. It didn't even feel like it was a Rogers Packers game, the way they looked out there.

Took away from what I was really looking forward to watching. What do you make about the Steelers decision to wear those? I mean, those are, I understand they were throwbacks, but some things should be left in the dustbin of history. Those are the ugliest uniforms of all time. Honestly, the pants, I thought they were. were naked from like it looked like they looked it looked obscene to the to the naked eye I think sometimes you should just leave the past in the past and those Steelers uniform they do them every couple years

and I hate them it's more of situational read the room like these are photos that are going to last forever it's Rogers versus the Packers yeah and you chose to dress him up like a bumblebee even the Packers weren't even wearing their normal uniform so it's like this big game yeah he looks like he was going to be in the blind melon yeah video So when they play these highlights back forever, and I'm sure they will, it's going to look ridiculous because they what they chose to wear. But also, this is more, we saw, this is when Rogers was looking a little older because they're getting pressure on him. He wasn't looking very mobile. He struggled a bunch of times.

This was really the first game in this iteration of Aaron Rogers, the Steelers, where he looked like age had hit him. He had, I think he was sack three times. But also, he just, he was a step slow. They, you know, they were up 16 to 7. and then the Packers just dominate in the second half. Jordan loved 20 straight completions. I was surprised, Drew, when they said they didn't know if it was the record, that no one has ever, like they don't have the record for most completions in a row.

They know it ties Brett Farr, but they don't know if it beats the other people. I find that interesting. Like they just feels like they have all the other stats. How do they not have the record for most completions in a row? That page is just missing from the book. They'll never be able to figure it out. But isn't there a computer that can figure it out? Like input all of it.

And it's just like, no, it's like that skid on Saturday Night Live with Nate Burgundy. Nobody knows. It's like AI can figure that out pretty quickly. But we'll just go with not knowing the answer. We don't know. But we know he has more consecutive completions at Aaron Rogers tied Brett Farv. But he was excellent tonight and they get the win. It could have been worse.

I mean, the Packers missed a couple of easy kicks. once again the Steelers field causing issues with the plant leg. Yeah, kicking was a problem. I will say Jordan Love, not to take away from his game, but it turns out just throwing it to Tucker Kraft was a pretty good move tonight. He was just bulldozing people. I think he had seven catches for close to 150 yards, two touchdowns. He's having a heck of a season, but this was by far his best game.

And a lot of times it was just love dumping it off, and he was running through the secondary. I don't want to be the grump. But I heard the phrase, national tight-end day today 150 times. I think Chris Hanson was paid by the mention

by big tight-end, right? Whoever big tight-end is, they paid him, because he said it over and over. What is it? When did this become a thing? About five years ago, I think Kittle created it.

It's just the day to get the tight ends in the end zone, and it works. Like the stats of tight-ins getting touchdowns this week is huge every season. You don't think that's a cool. incidents? No, I genuinely think quarterbacks, you get on the 10. If you can throw to your tight end or throw to someone else, you're going to force it

to your tight end because of this day. But wouldn't the defense is then key on the tight end knowing it's national tight end day? It's not stopping them. The numbers are there. Another big day. We're not done, but I'm sure it'll be close to, I think the record's 20. We'll probably have 15, 16 today. They were all day. I remember several. I mean, Harold Fannan was the first touchdown of the day.

So when do these other people get their days? No, it's the tight ends. They're underappreciated, Matt. No, they're not. The tight ends have way too much attention. Rob, first of all, a tight end just is going to marry Taylor Swift. I think they get plenty of attention. Gronk is on every commercial on my television.

George Kittle is everywhere. I feel like I get plenty of tight end attention. I think it is amazing to me how much this was mentioned over the course of the day. Because why tight ends were scoring touchdowns. That's why I was. mentioned so much. Why do they need to be appreciated? Well, it's probably Scott Hanson, who you heard say National Tide-end Day a lot. If it was Chris Hansen, then they'd have some other issues. Oh, did I say Chris Hanson? Please be seated.

Take a seat. I'm doing laundry. Hang on. I'll be right out. I left some cookies. No, I did this would be, I'm happy for him. I did like Tucker Kraft after he scored a touchdown. Did you see did a headbutt except the other guy had a helmet on and he did. Yeah, he was on fire tonight. I don't know what got into him, but he was the whole game for the Packers. I don't think you should do headbuts without your helmet on. That should be a rule, but it's National Tighten Day. Celebrate it as you please. I did like the play in this game where Zach Frazier, the center for the Steelers,

did you see that he thought they were running the hurry up, so he got down on the ball, but they were in a huddle. And I guess the rule is once you touch the ball, you can't get up. So he just had to stand there while they were in the huddle. just holding the ball with his butt up in the air. I enjoyed that. Immediately regretted getting over there. It's probably hard enough to stand that stance long enough.

You got your whole team behind you meeting and you're just, you're stuck with the pigskin. But give him credit, intelligent to realize he couldn't get up, right? I mean, you know, a lesser player might have gotten up and joined the hundle. He realized he could not do it. High IQ, not high IQ enough to not touch the ball. Yes. But enough that once he did, he knew he was stuck. But if you're going to make the mistake, you,

You stuck. Are you, I feel like this was a show me game for the Packers there, 5-1-1. I think it's odd to say about Green Bay, but I think they're the least talked about really good team in the league. We talk a lot about Daniel Jones and Baker Mayfield and Drake May. And then, of course, the Chiefs, the Eagles and the Bills. But I think people aren't noticing a 5-1-1-packers team that blew out the Lions in week one. I think it's because starting week one, they look awesome to have that big win. but then it just was kind of like, even though they're winning, it was just blah games.

I mean, you tie the Cowboys. Cowboys were giving up 50 points a game at that point in the season. You have a tie there. So even though they're just trudging along, outside of the Lions one, and then this one tonight are the only two big statements. Can I say I'm glad that Aaron Rogers didn't win? I'm a great A hater. You're a hater.

But isn't it okay just to have some things that you just, like, disproportionately dislike, Why can't that be mine for Aaron Rogers? I have one more, the Patriots, Patriots fans, and Aaron Rogers. Can I not just dislike them disproportionately to everyone else? And National Tidane Day. Well, I mean, this is a one day year. That's three things. We're five minutes in the show.

Well, I don't hold a grudge against tight ends all year. But I enjoyed watching him lose. I like the fact the Packers did get the last word. I thought about you a little bit as he was losing because you are number one Aaron Rogers hater. You actually didn't even have to tell us that. We know we've picked up on that throughout our Steelers conversations this year. So I'm glad the Packers got one. But he's been better than I thought he would be.

But shouldn't you be against the Packers? It's a division rival. I should. Do you not have that like Packers' animosity as a Bears fan? I'm a Bears fan, but we've never been good. Especially not against Packers. So, and we have, and there's no, it's like we're Kentucky fans. I hate Tennessee in theory, but we've lost 38 out of the last 41 years in football.

I can't just spend my life worrying about it. It's just going to happen over and over. And on that, I guess Aaron Rogers was kicking your butt a lot when he was at Packers. So either way, you hate both sides of that. I think he won 14 straight games. So, I mean, it's, you know. But Packers get the win. The game of the day was probably oddly Jets Bengals.

Bingles were up 3824 with just seven minutes to go and they found a way to blow it. The Jets win 3938. Let's talk for a second about sweetness. I thought watching Aaron Glenn get his win, seeing how happy everybody was. I'm a sucker. I've told you this before for watching people celebrate and be happy. I was really happy watching Aaron Glenn and the Jets celebrate. Yeah, I thought Aaron Glenn would work out a little better.

And the only reason I thought that is just from watching Hard Knox years ago, like everyone else. But, you know, someone that's just casually rooting for him, doesn't have a rooting interest in the team. I also was excited for them to get out of the funk because it's just been so ugly for them so far this year. And to do it on the road, you didn't have Garrett Wilson or Sauce Gardner. I mean, people were ready to throw Justin Fields away. So even though Bingles fans are going through it right now,

I was happy to see the Jets get won. Bengals were one of the bigger Survivor League picks. We did not pick them, but I think they were the second most pick team in Survivor League. So they're now all out. A couple things. First of all, Justin Fields, when the game was over, he said he cried in the closet.

He was so happy after his owner basically threw him under the bus this week, saying, you know, how do you expect us to win? He didn't say Justin Fields' name, but with a guy like that at quarterback, then to go and win, that has to be great redemption. Yeah, and, you know, football's a tough guy sport. You know, times are changing. I was good on you, Justin Fields, for admitting you weren't in the best place there for a while. Good for him to say that what he was going through.

A lot of football players. He said, I didn't hear that. Just, I was crying. It was in a dark place. You know, it's, first, what do you say? The crying was before the game. Yeah, he was crying. He was in a dark place.

The lead up of the game. Before they got the win. I thought he was crying because of the wind. So then he was saying, I was admitting. He was in a dark hole all week. He said he was going to be vulnerable and then he admitted it to the top of week. That is amazing that he would admit that. And on the field, they were asking him what changed.

And he was like, honestly, not to be kind of cliche, but had a lot of talks with God this week. And, you know, just was very open about how he was in a low spot. So even though it's been bad for him all up until this point, good for him to get a win because it sounds like he was really going through it in the last few days before that game. Maybe it'll make people not be as mean to Justin Fields. We don't forget they're humans sometimes. He has always seemed to be, I mean, he was our quarterback for a long time. I always liked him. I didn't particularly think he was very good, but I always did like the guy.

So I thought that was great to get a win. Is this one of those situations, though, where you're doing it? I mean, the owner. Does he get to come in the locker room and celebrate after? I don't know. They did kind of put it all on fields up until this point, so they got that win. I don't know this is going to solve any problems for him or the Jets moving forward, but that was a heck of a comeback. He, all right, so on national tight-in day, it was a tight-in pass that was the winning touchdown.

That sort of goes towards your theory. Yeah, they got a little creative there. They went for two down eight. Okay, so let's say, well, let's talk about that. So they were, they go down and they go for two. They're down eight. Now, the reason people do this is exactly what happened. If you get it, then your next touchdown, you just win.

And if you don't get it, well, you can go for two again the next time. And the theory is, if you're a team that can go greater than 50% on your two-point conversions, it's the right thing to do. More teams are starting to do it, but a lot of teams still don't. Would you have the guts to do it? Really, I was watching live. And in the moment, my brain did not think do that. you know like anyone else i'm just you know they scored waiting for the field go the extra point

kicker to trot out but then once they did it i thought you know what didn't cross my mind i did the matthew just explained so i was with it but i'll admit that that's not something i think of when when i've seen a few teams do it i remember mike tomlin did it in a game i've seen probably three or four teams do it i can't remember a game where it made the difference i've seen people do it and then they didn't score the last touchdown or the other team went and scored points so it didn't matter. This is the first time I've seen it work. And so since it worked, I think it's kind of brilliant because, you know, I mean, if I'm the Jets, if I scored on the second touchdown, I probably would have gone for it anyway. Like, you know what? You don't have anything. You're 0 and 7.

So why not do it that time? You get two shots at the apple. That's, or two, that's a mixing metaphor. That's a riot. Ryan. You don't want to shoot the apple twice, right? You would like to bite the apple twice. I think that's what I was saying. Whatever you would do with the apples. But yeah, if you shouldn't twice, it better be gone the first time. Of all the teams of the NFL to pull it off, it is the Jets. Like you said, oh and seven, we're on the road. What else we got to lose? My quarterback's just been thrown under the bus. I got a coach that can't win a game. Let's go for it. And that even goes down after they got the two-point conversion, throwing the half-back pass to Mason Taylor to win it, getting the winning touchdown. They were just very creative there in

that comeback. The Bengals fans booed after the game. I follow a lot, well, obviously we're close to Cincinnati, so I follow a lot of Bingles accounts, many, many, many longtime Bengals media people saying the worst loss of the Zach Taylor era, and I saw one guy say one of the three worst losses in Bingles history. Is it that bad? I'm not a Bingles' story. They aren't playing their backup quarterback.

They just signed two weeks ago. That seems like an overreaction given the circumstances. but they were looking good. That offense looked great. Flacco had a rushing touchdown. He ran and picked up a third and 12. It looked like the Bengals were going to... And they scored 38 points.

Yeah, it looked like they're going to run them out of the stadium. T. Higgins always plays well against the Jets. He had a big touchdown catch. So Bengals, a lot of them just assumed they had that game won. And then that fourth quarter, everything flips with the Jets getting clever, as we mentioned. What if I told you it's the fifth time in the last two seasons, Billy, that they've scored, the Bengals have scored 33 points and lost. That is...

believable, actually. I mean, that says a lot about that defense. Yeah. I mean, to score 33 points five times and lose during the course of that time, that's a bad sign. Zach Taylor, he set up for the game, we need leaders to step up. We've now seen this with Tua. One could argue he's the head leader. I guess, well, your leader leader is still in street clothes.

He can't step up too much right now. Yeah, and Joe Burrow just moved there a couple weeks ago. I guess is he calling out Jamar Chase? I guess maybe more of the defense. Yeah, Jamar Chase had 10 catches again. He's been on fire. I don't know if you're in the locker room being a leader, but I would say Zach Taylor, this one's on you.

I think it is. When your offense plays like that and you let the Jets come back and still one in your own stadium, I think you need to look in the mirror. And maybe like that could be the game that keeps you from making the playoffs. I mean, if they win that, they're four and four. Now they got the Bears coming in next week. That'll be a huge game, I think, for both teams. But, yeah, you had your brain.

You had the Browns lose, Steelers lose. Yeah, I mean, this was your chance. This was your chance to make up games, and they didn't do it. Beat the Giants 38 to 20. Sequin Barclay had 150 yards. First time he's gotten that all season long, got a touchdown. But the game, Eagles win. Hertz has four touchdowns.

But you see how much Cam Scataboo has, taken over the league in the sense that all anybody wants to talk about is that he got hurt. Yeah, just one of those graphic injuries. One of those, I don't need to rewind it, watch it back. If it pops up on Twitter, I'm not hitting play. I saw it one time, that's all I need to see. You knew he was done the moment you saw that ankle turn. Had surgery right away, took him straight to the hospital, had surgery.

But just that dude's been such a fun favorite. The Giants just found some swag with him and Jackson Dart. And for it to be taken away like that, I feel awful for Giants fans. and Scataboo. That was hard to watch. I feel bad because the Giants, I mean, like this is a guy. I mean, we have a younger guy that works at this show, Mario, who was already his favorite player. Like, a buddy of mine's kid was saying to me, I asked him who his favorite NFL player was, and he said Scataboo. I mean, you talk about a guy that had just taken over the league in a few weeks to have him go down. I just think that makes everybody really sad. He did

try to get up and play. I'm surprised he didn't. Just kept going. Well, adding to his legend, And when he's on that cart, I guess you got adrenaline. Dude seemed unfazed. He's high-fiving his teammates. He's headbutton dart. I think a lot of people would have been bawling their eyes out, towel over their face, just grimacing in pain. And he looks right at it.

And, you know, he's upset that it snapped. But he's a tough son of a, I don't know what I can say on here. But he even did a let's bleep and go. Right? Yeah, he's become beloved by a lot of people. Kind of reminds me of the Jeremy Lynn run in New York, Short-lived. You're going to make him Jeremy Lynn?

That's kind of harsh, isn't it? I just hope he gets back. I think that's disrespectful to the Scataboo. No, no. If you know Ball, you know Jeremy Lynn went on a run with the New York Knicks. What if you know, Bob? First of all, don't act like, look at you acting like you know bad. Like you don't, we know who Jeremy Lynn is.

That's not some obscure person from, it's not like you're talking about Mark Eaton. You're talking about Jeremy Lynn. we know who Jeremy Lynn is. Lin's sanity, perhaps. Yeah. Scatibu. But I think this is an injury to a rookie, and that was just a guy that got really hot. Yeah, that was a guy that had like five good games.

That's the difference. I get that difference. But, you know. Apples and Apple's the rest of his career, he's the Jeremy Lynn of running backs. Poor Cam Scatibu. If you were going to do a New York comparison, I would have maybe gone like Namath, you know, football, injury. Well, Navith had a little more success than Scatibu. He did win a Super Bowl.

But, I mean, it's a gruesome leg injury. I mean, you're doing... Oh, Thaisman. Oh, Thosman, excuse me. Well, regardless, the Jeremy Lynn, the Jeremy Lynn crossing sports, no injury. He tried to correct you, and then he was wrong, too. Yeah, that was Joe Thaisman. But it was New York, right?

No, it was Washington. Well, who's the New York? The Jets have a gruesome injury. Who am I missing? I'm not crazy. I don't know. Vinnie Testiburty, maybe? Okay.

Well, I'll put a penny comeback. Maybe it was Jeremy Lynn. There isn't a Jets gruesome injury. I'm not dreaming that. You think Jeremy Lynn got hurt about the Jets? At a Jets game. Okay. He came out to the coin flip.

He just came to watch and he got hurt. He scored 30 on Kobe, flipped the coin into the Jets game. Why are we talking about the Jets? It's the Giants. But nevertheless, 3820, you have been one of the few people in America defending the Tush Push. Today was the low point of the Tush Push. First of all, a couple people move before it starts. Then they fumble it.

Finally, somebody's figured out how to stop it. They cause a fumble, but the refs blow it dead. But they actually blow it dead after he fumbles. But then they come and say, well, actually, his forward progress had been stopped. But he was still moving. I didn't understand that call. If I were the Giants, I would be livid. Brian Dayball, who always looks like his hand's going to explode, it was twice as big.

It was about to explode. Is that the play that gets them to change the rule next year? Yes. the tush push is not bad because the Eagles found a loophole and they're good at it. The tush push is bad because the refs continue to miss false starts, fumbles. It seems every week there's a just obvious mistake where the refs blow it. And I don't know if they're just not getting a good view. I don't know what's happening.

But we have too many examples of missed calls and it has nothing to do with the actual pushing of the tush. There's just a lot of blown plays here. But isn't it also bad just because it's not. entertaining? I mean, part of when the NFL makes rules, part of the reason they make the rules is entertainment. I mean, part of the reason, you know, it's, you can't defend receivers like you used to be able to, is an entertainment part. They wanted there to be more passing yards. They wanted to be there to be more points. Isn't just, it's hideous to watch a good enough reason? I've never wanted to take it away from just because they were good at something.

It is hideous to watch. But that's not why I'm doing it. I'm doing it because I don't like watching it. It's boring. I didn't mind that. I just thought they found a loophole, let them do it. But when it's gotten to the point where you don't know how to actually officiate a game when they're doing it. And you've got guys laying down trying to create tabletops on the other sideline. It's just getting turned into a little bit of a clown show around the touch. But you agree.

That was totally a fumble. Yes. I mean, I got absolutely robbed. And they didn't even blow the whist. First of all, I didn't realize you couldn't review forward progress. I mean, in general, I don't mind that. I don't mind if the ref blows the whistle not reviewing his decision to stop forward progress.

But in this case, he hadn't blown the whistle yet. So if he hasn't blown the whistle, I don't understand how that's not still a live ball. Kvon, Tivodeau, the guy that ripped it out. He had the ball in his hands when they blew the whistle. He was pretty, he had interesting comments after the game. During his interviews, being very critical, he's at his locker, and a teammate leans over and says,

hey man you're going to get fine he's like but anyway great call great call by the ref so teammates leaned in and corrected him as he was lighting him up for that yeah well I think I would do it too you know what well that's all that's easy for me to say it's not my money but uh eagles get the win they're starting to look a little bit more like the Eagles the game of the day on paper was going to be Broncos Cowboys which the but it was never really a game Broncos win 44 28 I have to tell you I missed half the second quarter and half the third quarter and watched episode three of hunting wives oh i don't even know what that is what are they hunting oh you've never seen hunting why no what's interesting is they're hunting each other billy and love oh okay i get it thought it was a pack of wives hunting something

have you not seen this it was on netflix oh it's very scandalous i i can't even go into what all happens do not watch it with your parents or children it's a it's a it's a it's a steamy show is the kids say. Must be. It's to take your attention away from Bow Nix. And episode might be the steamyest episode. And that I decided to take a break from Broncos, Cowboys, and do episode three of hunting wives.

Then when I came back, I was looking at Dak Prescott a different way. I was questioning his motives. Everyone was looking at that press got in a different way today. He didn't play well. This is a game. I watched every snap with sound. I was really into this. Cowboys offense took a big step.

back, but really it was more about what Bo Nix was doing. The Cowboys defense has been bad all year, but Bo Nix is really, really, really looking good. He's had eight touchdowns in the last two weeks. RJ Harvey had three touchdowns. The Broncos offense just carved him up. But I still don't

believe in Bo Nix. Bo Nix gives you one of these and then you're going to get a loss to somebody bad. I'm still kind of ambivalent on Bo Nix. I think he giveeth and he taketh away. This one, it's hard to gauge because it's the Cowboys and Russell Wilson scored 50 on them.

I mean, everybody's scoring on the Cowboys. But it was like he was throwing on the run. He was picking up thirds down with his feet. He just looks like he's getting better and better with each week. And the Broncos are looking like a for real contender too. Wouldn't you, shouldn't we have just picked Denver by the fact that the Cowboys haven't beaten Denver since Troy Aikman and John Elway were the quarterbacks? This is my favorite stat of the entire Sunday slate.

Okay. That the Cowboys have not beaten the Broncos since 1995. You'd think at some point you would have found a win. They're 0-8 since 1995. And that's amazing, you know, part of it is they only play those teams every four years. But still, you're right. You would think once in a, you know, we've gone through a lot of administration since then. They would have been able to get one.

Well, Cowboys shouldn't be 0-8 against anyone, really, if you're the Cowboys. But you know, there's a Simpsons curse here. I know you're a Simpsons guy. What's the Simpsons? There's an episode before the streak started, same year. Homer wanted a piece of the Dallas Cowboys. He wanted to be an owner of the Dallas Cowboys. Cowboys. He was dreaming about it. And then I guess there's a Hank something. Hank gave him a piece of an NFL team, but it was the Broncos instead. And he was upset because the Cowboys were defending Super Bowl champs. Broncos stuck. But stunk, but since that episode, the Cowboys have never beaten the Broncos and the Broncos are already in.

The guy who works at the bar? He gave him the thing? Hank Scorpio. Is that a thing? I was research the episode because I don't know it very well. I'm not watching. I know it's a big curse. Cowboys fans are aware of it because in the episode, Homer's complaining that he got the Broncos instead the Cowboys. Okay. Since that episode, it's flipped. Hank Scorpio. Hank Scorpio.

A parody of Richard Branson. Oh, see, I didn't. So that wasn't a regular character. It was just a guy like in town gives it to him. Parity of Richard Branson. Who's your favorite Simpsons character, by the way, since you brought that up? I didn't watch. What's the name of a little kid?

Bart. I know part, Billy. Look at you. You act like I've never seen this. Homer. No, I understand the main characters. I'm talking about the little chubby kid who... Ralph.

Ralph. I'm a big Ralph guy. Ralph Wiggum. I'm a huge Ralph guy. He might be my favorite character. I'm in danger. There's a TikTok clip of like the 35 best Ralph moments, and I actually have it saved on my face.

So I could just watch them. I'm a huge Ralph fan. What about you? I don't know many of the deep cuts. I guess there's a Ned Flanders. I'll say Ned Flanders. Bards too easy. I can't say Bart Homer or Lisa Marge.

I'll go Ned Flanders. I'll take yibidi-doo, skittily-do. I'll take him. Do you have one? Yeah, Ned was my answer. I'll go Mo. It was my other favorite. When I once went to Universal Studios in Orlando,

they have a Simpsons part of it, right? And I was dating a woman who went to Harry Potter world, and I needed a break from all things Harry Potter. Too much magic. So I went into Mo's Bar. There's a Mo's Bar. And first of all, they only have one kind of beer, Duff. Good.

Which is what they have there. So you could just order Duff beer. But on the TV, they were playing a Simpsons, like, two-hour episodes, and they just play over and over. And I said to the bartender, who is dressed and supposed to be Moe, which think about that. You get a job,

and you just have to be Moe the bartender every single day. It's not like a career. And all the bartenders there are named Mo. They are not allowed to have their own name. We have to act like they're all Moe. And I said to him, these episodes, like, do they repeat a lot? And he said, it's a two-hour loop. And I said, so you just hear the same one every day?

And he just starts quoting the... Oh, no. He just starts saying... in the dialogue and I went, you by the end of that would hate the Simpsons, wouldn't you? Especially those particular episodes, wouldn't you just despise them? So I was wondering, is this like a part-time gig or is this a guy who in 40 years is going to have like pension? Like I was Mo for, I did that same thing every day. And I saw the same six episodes over and over.

Over and over. But if you think about it, if you're them, there's no reason to have new episodes. So you want to put the ones that are the most famous because that's what the people coming in would want to see. I'd be so mad if I win. They didn't have it on if I'm a guest. That's exactly right. But the name tags all say Mo. It's also hard to get somebody's attention because they all turn around.

But nevertheless, let's go to the Bills and the Panthers. The Bills win 40 to 9. Anything you cared about in this game? besides getting to see Andy Dalton again, probably for the last time. I watched more this game than you'd probably expect. A lot of rushing touchdowns. Josh Allen had two. James Cook had a big game.

This is one of the rare games since you're a national tight-end day hater. Ken Kade never got in. So this is one of the games that didn't celebrate National Tight-in Day. I'm surprised you didn't like this one. Is this the last time Andy Dalton plays? No, because I would have thought that five years ago. And he'll just keep popping up. When he popped up a few weeks ago in Carolina, I'm like, I forgot he was even in the league.

I want him to get one more game. You can't go out losing 40 to 9 at home. Because, you know, like, you're going to always remember your last game. You know, you can't remember your last game. Like, I used to have a television show. And I got to let go of it because of a certain Senate candidate in Kentucky. For those of you listening in the rest of the country, just Google it. And I still remember my last show.

It was in a brewery in Pikeball. And they'd already told me we were canceled. But they made me do one more show. And we had to go in there like, make sure you do the ad reads. I'm like, I'm not doing the ad reads. You've already fired me. But I still remember that show. Chris Tomlin and I in a in a pipe will think.

I don't want this to be Andy Dalton's final memory. A couple of interesting stats here. James Cook had 216 yards. Huge day. First time a guy's gone over 200 yards this year in a game rushing. And then Josh Allen became the second quarterback of all time to have 70 rushing touchdowns. Only Cam Newton. is the other one. The difference, though, is

Josh Allen's still got a long career ahead. Like, he's going to obliterate that record, right? Oh, definitely. He made it look so easy. One of them was a little bit of a sneak, but he's just so dang big and he'll fight for those yards. Both ones, both of the runs he got today looked like

he could have had him with ease. Josh, I don't know if he'll win MVP because it'll all depend on how the bills finish, you know. And they also lost at home to Patriot. I mean, they're not tough off. Yeah, they have a couple of them. I just, I just, love watching Josh Allen play football.

I'm kind of a bit of a Josh Allen fanboy for a team. I don't really root for them from a distance, whatever. I like the Bill's crowd, but don't really care for the bills, what they do. But I do enjoy watching Josh Allen play. Bills and Eagles both had lost two straight games a couple weeks ago, and you wondered if they were hoping they both kind of came back going this game. I want to go back just a second. I forgot to talk about in the Cowboys Broncos.

Pickens, George Pickens. You were noting Billy his mouthguard situation. Oh, yeah. So George Pickens has a pink mouth. guard and a yellow mouthguard, and he had neither of them in his mouth. So I just... You mean while he was playing? Yeah.

So they both just dangle. Like C.D. Lamb had a mouthguard. It was white, and then he didn't wear it when he's not during a play. George Pickens didn't wear his mouthguard while he was during the plays. So he has two of them. And they're just going everywhere. And he doesn't use any of them. No.

I like it. I love anything George Pickens wants to do. He's had a resurgence in Dallas. I know he's got a little bit of attitude. maybe sometimes there's some sideline antics, but he is a constant highlight reel with Prescott and C.D. Lamb this year. What is the thought, though, behind

not using, having two mouth cards and not using them? I mean, if you don't want to use a mouth card, that's fine. But I guess you can have one just in case. But if you know you're not a user, why would you have two? Maybe you're rotating. One's like, uh, rotating two to not use?

Maybe one, I'm blocking. I'm putting my blocking mouthpiece. Or I'm, you know, I'm going deep. I'm running a route. It's my route running mouthpiece. He doesn't use them at all. And he can rotate them in and out. They dangle a lot.

They'll throw them in and out. But they are just swinging. So you're saying it could be like a poker tell. Yeah. He uses this thing based on what he's going to do. This is going to be a slant. He's got the yellow one in. He's like the guy in rounders with the Oreo.

Yeah. He's just switching him out based on the situation. Okay. All right. Well, maybe we should scout that and see. My bears took an embarrassing loss to the Ravens. It's 30 to 16. It's not even so much that they lost.

It's that they were bad. Caleb Williams was terrible. It's that, you know, I had gotten the point that I was kind of believing in him, and now there's two straight weeks where it's been bad, but he was awful today. Probably his worst game for the Bears. The Ravens win a must-win game for them. They were one in five.

They had to win this. They win it with Snoop Huntley at quarterback against a pretty good Bears team. Henry, Derek Henry, got a touchdown to Matt. the fifth all-time leading rushing touchdowns. This is a bad loss for my Bears, and I'm pretty upset about it. Yeah, and online, I checked in on some Bears' websites. There's some big concerns about Caleb being the guy, as you can imagine.

It looked like earlier in this year you might have something, but that interception he threw down three back against the end zone. Yeah, you lost it right there. I mean, that's the game. It's 1613. You've scored before you get a stop. You've got the ball, and then you throw, you essentially hand them the points. That's the game.

And that was such a bad throw. It was late. It was to a guy that wasn't open. And it was in a part of the field. You can't do that. I mean, that was all of the problems with Caleb Williams in a nutshell. Ben Johnson also, the coach was kind of harsh on him after the game. You just cannot make that throw.

I didn't have Huntley having the better game. Huntley completed his first non-passes, went like 18 for 22. He had a big game. But Williams just a huge disappointment when the Bears really had it rolling. Had you won like four in a row, I think, offense and turned? in the corner looking good and then that was just embarrassing today. And that's going to be a tough because the Ravens defense stinks. You look at their schedule. It looks like

when Lamar doesn't play, okay, they're giving you one here. You got a chance. This is that, you know, you could be five and two. You could be tied for the division lead if you get this. Instead, you take the loss. Now, what about the Lamar issue? Lamar was issued as put as

questionable Friday. And then on Saturday to decide he's not going to play. A lot of people saying, John Harbaugh, when it was over, said, look, honest mistake. Yeah. What do you think? Can you get away with just honest mistake?

It's like, oh, you know, that's over on the medical team. I was over here coaching defense. What was the mistake? That's a pretty big mistake. They had him on scout team, so they knew he wasn't going to play. That's a pretty big mistake because of the gambling aspect, because the line changed so much. From six and a half to one and a bar.

And I don't think there was any funny business, but you got to be careful, especially when it's one of the best players in the entire league. you know what that's going to do to gambling. And I don't know how much. They should have watched the news this week. I don't know how much it changes preparation on the Bears in, but it's a big deal that I've...

No, it says, of course it changes preparation on the Bears in. If you think you're getting... It probably changes preparation in this game more than any game in the year. Like, Lamar is the one... If you think you're getting Lamar, it's a completely different game plan. I mean, more than it was like, I think it came out like Friday afternoon. point.

I don't think they were expecting. It didn't it? Or was it Friday 9? Friday they listed him as a full participant in practice. Yeah. And then it came out Saturday. So, I mean, when they say as a fight, here's what I think they did. They listed him as a full participant, but they didn't say he was on the scout team.

Right? Well, he did participate. Well, Harbaugh did say. He brought the water out. Harbaugh said he was a participant. We just weren't clear on what the rules meant for how you label them. So that's probably it. Come on.

Like him jogging over on the side. There's probably somebody who could answer that question. Oh, it's funny business. Yeah. Well, I don't think it made any difference. Lamar plane did not cause Caleb Williams to make that throw. No. And Hunley looked really good.

Now, the Bears also had something that, again, we don't have stats that say this, but three emergency missed field goals. Oh, not just the Bears. This week, there were three emergency field goals. There was one in the Bears game. I mean, that's what I'm sorry. That's what I meant. Did I say in the Bears?

So there were three emergency miss field goals where they came on, clocks running. There's a name for it. It's called what, like the... It's like a fire drill. Yeah, but they have a name for it. Like they have something. It's called like, I don't know, sniper or something.

Anyway, they do it. All three of them were missed. Now, Bill, you have a theory that I like about this. Yes. So we've heard a lot about kicking balls and how these teams are able to, I guess, form their balls, rub their balls a certain way, the way that they like them, I guess,

before the game starts. And so they can use their kicking balls when they kick. But during these emergency scramble drills, they have to use the ball that's out there. And they can't kick it as far. So we've seen a lot of these... So you're suggesting that the reason we've seen all these kicks, which see, you're not the only one suggests.

This has been widely agrees that when the kickers massage and do all the things they do with the balls, that that makes them easier to kick. But you're saying we're now seeing this because they're using the regular ones these emergencies. Correct, yes. That's a interesting theory.

It makes sense to me, Drew, right? They don't have time to switch it to the other one. It almost makes me wonder, if you're doing this drill, you probably don't have a timeout. But if there's any kind of trick where you could get away to get some down period to try to get the ball switched,

if it truly is that much harder to kick the one that they've been playing with and can't switch out. Santos for the Bears, his was 56, and he came up short. And you're not seeing guys come up short on that length. So that would seem to suggest there might be something to that. Yeah, could we like take a penalty?

Move us back, but give us time to switch the ball out if the ball's really that bad. Oh, so you mean switch it? We got like take a five-yard. Is there like some kind of trickery here where you can still try to get your ball out there at the clock? On the emergency, it would be a runoff. But yeah. I'm just trying to think of any way you can still try to get your ball out there because that is a big difference. If you're a kicker in the whole game, you're used to having that one because of the circumstances and you're hurried out.

You just got to roll with what's there. Well, this is a good chance to do our mid-show news here. let's, we'll start the first one on kicks. I saw an interview with Greg Olson from Fox, who said a really interesting thing. He said that basically nowadays, the NFL coaches have agreed that inside the 15th, there's really never any reason to kick a field goal.

And his argument was this. First of all, obviously seven is greater than three. But he said, coaches are starting to think, look, if I make the kick, the average starting has been the 35 yard line all year. So they're going to get the ball at the 35 if I make the kick. If I get stopped inside the 15, at least they have the ball inside the 15. So he's like, I'd rather have the chance at the touchdown than get three points and give them 20 plus yards.

I'd never really thought of it like that. But that's actually very interesting and seems to make sense to me. Yeah, there'd have to be, I don't know, maybe fourth and five. I don't know where you would get your cutoff of where you're going for it. But it absolutely makes sense, especially with the new kickoff in your spot. And in the NFL, you're going to trust your defense. And if you get stopped, all right, and they still got to go 85 yards. I mean, it wasn't that long ago that you got it at the 20.

And now, again, trying to encourage kickoff returns. It's now all the way the 35. So that actually, it's not just now when you see teams go for it, I'm not going to think, well, it's just they want to go for a touchdown. They literally are like, and if we don't, we've pinned you back. Yeah. We've seen this is end-of-game situations, but it's the new kickoff, one completion and the field goal have ended games now. The kickoffs have really been an advantage for the offenses.

So I could see why. Would you change that? I know Donald Trump hates these new rules. Would you change them? It's taking some getting used to, but it's just part of the game. I should like them. Yeah, it's a strategy. You need a good kicker that can place it.

And you're starting to get. it returns. And like having a good kick return, I might move the returner, the people, the defense like five yards up. I think they're kind of getting too, I think it's too easy to get to the 35 or 40 now. But at the same time, I like it. I think like the last couple of years were just kicking them in the end zone. That wasn't any. We were getting nothing out of that. Yeah. You also said you saw a video of Greg Olson coaching seventh graders. Yeah. So Greg Olson and Luke Keekley, the former Carolina linebacker, are both coaches on a seventh grade middle school tackle football team.

And there are some great clips of them just being NFL intense and serious with these seventh graders running around on the field. They're like they're yelling at them? Yeah. Yeah. It feels like they're teaching them NFL concepts. But they're also very positive. They're teaching NFL concepts to seventh graders.

I think so, yeah. That'd be pretty cool. Imagine your seventh grader in that Charlotte area and those are your two coaches. Yeah, that would be kind of awesome. Who's the coach on the other team? Yeah, I hate me there, guy. Can you imagine Drew and I are like pull up and we're like, who we play today?

Greg Olson and Luke Kay. Well, they went undefeated and they only allowed- And they only allowed one touchdown all the year. Sounds about right. Okay, good. Yeah, they got a guy from Lopsided. Getting off work at the insurance company late for practice to coach his kids and look at them seeing those guys.

Billy, I'm looking at my notes here. I have my next note, Jackson Dart Construction. What did I mean? Jackson Dart Construction. I mean, I could see him running a construction company later in his life if the quarterback thing doesn't work out. But what do I mean by Jackson Dart Construction? I don't know what was going on. Well, I'll tell you what, if you're listening to this and you know the news about Jackson Dart.

I must have been writing something else and then somebody mentioned it. I bet I wanted to say something else. And then Jackson Dart was on TV and I wrote his name down. I was going to say the opposite. You were going to write Jackson Dart something. and someone said the word construction or you heard it and you wrote that down. And there were people working outside of my house. Well, I don't know.

It's fascinating. This is going to be a cover zero mystery. What did Matt need mean when he wrote Jackson Dark Construction? I'm trying to think of other word completion? I don't know. Did you think back to Kickers for a second? Did you think it hit the wire Thursday night? Yeah.

Yeah, I think it did. Al Michael said it and then he came back and said they tell me that it didn't. But he didn't seem to believe it when he said it, right? It sounds like you got a call. No, that absolutely you saw nothing. Yeah. That happened earlier this year, too. No, he was, I think he was talking about the one earlier this year.

He was saying this is the second time it's happened. It's happened twice the season. And then he was like, actually, now they tell me it didn't happen before, which I thought was kind of funny. You could hear the skepticism in his voice. It's the game where I've become convinced now I can do hoodie and suit jacket, thanks to what's his name. Big Witt.

Big Witt. He wears it a lot. He wears it on. That's his go-to look. Do you for it? It's one of those things. Like, I'm not going to tell him not to do it. I don't think I could pull it off yet.

Yeah. But he has started it. It's kind of been his thing. It's a trend that's going. Yeah. We should also note the passing of Nick Mangold, the offensive lineman for many years for the Jets. He was 41 years old, died after kidney failure. I thought one of the really most beautiful things I've seen in a while was this morning when the news broke Rex Ryan, his former coach was on the air on ESPN and he got very emotional talking about it.

What a tough thing for him to kind of, I guess he learned while they were on the air. That's raw to have to do that. But I thought he did a great job, told a couple good stories about him. From all indications, beloved teammate and a big part of the Jets organization. Jets fan favorite. His family, when he retired, just stuck around. I think they still lived near the facility. And then just add to it, he's originally an Ohio State guy from just outside of Cincinnati.

And then the Jets go and beat the Bengals in Cincinnati near his hometown of Centerville. So I know a lot of Jets fans thought that was poetic too coming right after his passing this morning. But that was a very, very, very popular guy gone too soon at 41. Yeah. I mean, anytime you know the name of an offensive. of lineman. That means he's either good or very popular, and in this case, it was both. And died at a very young age. So prayers to everyone involved and rest in peace. And very cool that the Jets get their first win in that scenario. Monday night football commanders and chiefs,

no Jaden Daniels. It's going to be a route. Am I going to be just like listen? When they get to the fourth quarter guest on the Manning cast, are they going to be talking about the game? not. I don't think they're going to be talking about the game. This is this is going to be a blowout. I went to bet in any time to any time touchdown score and like there's only chiefs listed. You have to keep scrolling just to even find a commander to even pick. I mean, even the books, think very little. What is it? 11 and a half. Yeah, it's big. The not going to be a lot of points on the commander's end. I think it's going to be a chief's route. Yeah, the game, I mean, on paper, when they schedule that game, you think, oh, you get current Mahomes and future Mahomes in a game.

you don't get that so probably not going to be that close I was really you might get Paul Rudd? I feel like they have Paul Rudd alike that would be a good game guess who's going to be on the Manning cast

they had what's her face Heidi Gardner when the Chiefs lost to the Jaguars who are other famous Chiefs fans I feel like they have a lot they have a Jason Sudakis does he have a project coming down yeah

I mean Taylor Swift Taylor Swift. Oh, I guess she is a cheese. That would be a good get. You know, they're the kind of people, though, they can get them. They get crazy guests for that. They have like somebody big every week.

Well, they're going to have a lot. They're going to need some time to fill after this game. Are they the most universally liked former football players? Like, in terms of approval rating. I think so. Who has a higher approval rating than them? I think it's them. And I'm an example.

I did not like. either one of them at all. I mean, Peyton is a Tennessee guy, rival to Kentucky. Then he goes to the Colts, which is a rival of the Titans. But anything he does,

I enjoy. I mean, even going back to when he hosted SNL, that's when I first thought, man, this guy actually has a personality beyond being a football player. Well,

they're kind of corny dads, even though they're not really that old. They feel like, I think the quarter zips are part of it. They still have like old-miss frown. haircuts. And I think it's just like, I don't know. Everyone likes them, though.

I mean, the mannings are like Dolly Parton. You know, most of these former players, like Tom Brady's got supporters and haters, right? Nobody ever thinks about Joe Montana or John Elway. But the mannings are probably the most popular former athletes. And they're everywhere. Their production company, I did just turn on what's the? the new the Chad Power show, you know, Manning Project. Everything is manning this, manning that,

but it's all good stuff. So they've like found this whole second career of creating content outside of football. And it's been really fun to watch. I do enjoy that show. All right, dolphins, Falcons, dolphins win 3410. Tua said he woke up with two swollen eyes because he was sick.

He then said the Dolphins medical staff fixed that. I wonder what they did. I saw that eye. He said his eyes were like swollen shut. How do you think they got them open? fancy Miami Magic down there. I was wondering when I first saw a picture if he had, we got punched or something with all the turmoil they've had, but it ended up being just

an infection. They've been awful all year, and they just roll the falcons in Atlanta, where Atlanta's been really good. I know Kirk Cousins was playing, but still. Yeah, I mean, Kirk Cousin is one thing, but they held Bijon Robinson. I think he had like 25 yards. He's been awesome this year. He did nothing. Tua, who

has been throwing it to the other team all season, no turnovers, four touchdowns. Something happened in the last week, they looked like a completely different team on offense and defense. I think Mike McDaniel is now just intentionally trying to look more ridiculous. He is looking like a Vegas pit boss in the 70s with his glasses. And he just, he looks more and more like an art director. No one would think his job was football.

But he did get a win today. So I've predicted him to get fired after every game. He doesn't. I think it would be funny if he did get fired tomorrow after he won. He'll get fired after you win. He has been invincible this season. We keep saying, all right on Monday, we'll probably see the news. Finally happen.

But nope. Just keep showing up to work. Finally got a big win today. And I thought the Tua thing was done too. I did not think Tua had any more life in him, but he had played a great game today. He's hanging in there. It's the visor. Yeah, I like the visor.

He said he hadn't worn one since high school. He's going to keep wearing it. The visor's an underrated head accessory. As you get older and you get a bald spot, then it becomes less of a, but a visor in general, I like, keeps the sun out of your eyes, but it doesn't make your head sweat. That's right. Your head can breathe. Your head can breathe. It's a very good combination.

I haven't switched to that yet, but I feel like there's an age where you just go visor mode. The mannings look like they would wear visors. Do they wear visors? Oh, I bet the man. First of all, new balances are cool now. Did you know that? Yeah, yeah. Dad, hand shoes.

That's exactly right. I'm going to get Mario some up. Texas beat the 49ers 2615. Your boy George Kittle, who created National Tide-in Day. Did he get one? Both 49ers tight-ins got one. He shared the love. Fortunately, that's all the points they scored.

Yeah, that was the only time they scored. Mac Jones had a rough day. C.J. Stroud, though, 318 yards. Huge win. I think this was a win. Houston had to have to kind of keep their season afloat, and I think they got it. Well, I don't think they got it.

They did get it. Didn't have Nico Collins, which adds to how impressive Stroud's game was. And then just like we mentioned with Bijon getting stuffed and doing nothing, they completely shut down McCaffrey, who had a huge game last week for the 49ers and was... What do you only have? One point of eight, like third quarter only had like two yards or something. And then he got some at the end. I think with Catherine and Bijon both were under 30 yards.

I mean, both had just terrible days after they've been had a good week last week. And credit to the Texans for shutting them out. They went up 16-0 and it was, didn't keep up from there. they pulled away and won it pretty easily. I will say this too. And this is no offense to any. I mean, the Houston Texans, I'm sure their fans are wonderful. They're good people.

The Houston Texans are, for me, football melatonin. When they come on, especially if they're playing a home game, it's something about, it's kind of dark in there. I don't really think anyone is that exciting that plays for. them and I just end up dozing off as soon as they come on. I don't know that I can remember minutes of these games. I'll have them on and then I'll go, oh, yeah, C.J. Stroud. There's there some empty seats in there. They'll make them play at one a lot, even though they should be not a one o'clock games.

It's even earlier for their home crowd out there that helps with the attendance. It's like when they make Oklahoma play college football at 10 a.m. Local time, just because that's when TV wants. That's kind of how they are. Patriots beat the Browns 32-13. We do have to say Miles Garrett five sacks, Brown's record, and he could have had more. He was mad they took him out there at the end. Yeah, I saw Stez maybe like only the second or third time.

Someone's had that many sacks and a loss. I didn't even had that many times in general. But he was pretty frustrated. He's a one-man team. I don't know if they could trade him or anything. But we're wasting a generational defensive player on the Cleveland Browns. Yeah, he's going to be one of those guys who's considered one of the best ever, but never played for a good team. I'm trying to think who are guys like that in sports that are definitively considered great,

but also we never saw him play for anyone good. I'm trying to think. The NFL has to have some guys like that. Probably going to think defense because of – Yeah, it's probably going to be somebody on defense. Oh, he's an offensive lineman, but Joe Thomas is like that for them. People will always say Joe Thomas is one of the great offensive linemen, but I don't know the day if he even played in a playoff game.

Maybe he played one. So really all the Brown's great. that's our list. If you were great for the Cleveland Browns, I'm trying to think what other guys are like that. Dale Murphy. I don't know if he's considered an all-time great, but he was like a great player in the 80s

never sniffed a playoff game. A lot of times these guys in these scenarios will go get two years somewhere for one last shot. That's why I wonder if Garrett will get that opportunity. I hope he does. The Patriots fans were chanting MVP about Drake May. I'm not at Aaron Rogers level. hate of Drake,

but I'm getting there. I'm getting a hater status. I don't know why. He's good. Another big game. Five straight wins. But I'm starting to root against him. I need an intervention.

Well, he had a big game today because Mike Vrable changed up a long tradition with the Patriots. So what was the tradition? When Vrable was a player, when they played the Rams in that Super Bowl in 2001-ish. Yeah, they all got introduced. They famously came out as a team.

It was like, and now introduced as one full team. You know, they made a big deal out of it. They're holding arms. But that stuck with Belichick and the Patriots for 25 years now. And then today, Vrabel said they've earned it. Let's start doing the player intros again. Because every the team, they announce them one by one. You run out.

You get your moment, say your name. But the Patriots hadn't been doing that. And he went back. He got rid of the Belichick way today. It takes a little guts to do that, but it's good. Because sometimes something can make sense in the moment. And then we don't feel like we could ever change it. It's like after 9-11, we started singing, God bless America in the 7th.

the second inning of baseball games. And in that moment, that felt like this is great. But in a July game where it's eight to one Cincinnati over the pirates, sometimes I'm like, I don't know if we still need to continue singing God bless America in the seventh inning, but nobody wants to be the guy that stops God bless America. Yeah, imagine you're sitting in that conference table and you're like, hey, guys, I got an idea. I really hate to bring this up. But what if we stop doing God Bless America?

They're going to fire you on the spot. Do you throw you out of us? Yeah. But that's what Vrable had to do. But Vrable was kind of stopping God bless America. He was like, we're not going to be team first. He had to go, look, I get it, Belichick, Patriots Way. I was a part of it.

Completely get it. But let's let the guys dance and have their music. I do think it was important they were playing the Browns because he needed to make a game that they would win. Oh, I couldn't lose. So that people then wouldn't say, you know. And it helps that he was a part of that original team. I think that helps him be able to throw that tradition away too. And just for the record, I'm not anti-God bless America, if anybody's clipping this.

Anti-Drake Mae, Aaron Rogers. God bless America. But I'm just saying, I don't know if God bless it. It's 25 years. I don't know if we still need to play it because it's in the seventh inning. I still think God blesses America in the fifth inning. It's a great song. You know.

You just mean it's hard to stop a tradition once it starts. I would argue that of our patriotic songs, The actual national anthem is the worst of the three. Oh, here comes in all of it. Now he hates the Star-Spickle banner. I don't hate the Star-Spick-A-Barre. Do you want every game played in London? No, America the beautiful and God-Bless America are both better than the national anthem.

I'm afraid what's going to come out next, really? Well, do you agree with that? What do you think about the Statue of Liberty? I'm for it. It's beautiful. Now, it was donated by France, but I'm kidding. I like the Statue of Liberty. Am I the only one that thinks America, the God-Bless America are better than the next?

Beautiful song. You're probably right. I just haven't broken it down. You just don't think about these things. Bucks beat the Saints. You're a Bucks fan. I didn't watch. I saw Tyler Shuck played,

but otherwise didn't watch any of it. Yeah, it was a sleepy game for both teams. I mean, it was seven to three at halftime. You guys both predicted Saints to win, and that did not happen. Thanks for bringing that up.

What about all the games we got right? Who predicted Saints to win? I think you guys both took the kids. I never predicted Saints to beat the Bucks. Well, you took it to cover. Your Tampa did get stopped, what? seven of eight plays at the one yard line? I mean, it was Mark Stoops-esque, just run it up the middle.

How many times in a row can we do it? But this is a big win for them. Just, you know, before their by week, they've got a two-game lead on the NFC South. So another good victory. What I did see of this game were sad shots of the crowd for the Saints. The Saints fans get shown in the crowd more than any other fan base, in part because they're festive people. They're usually dancing and partying, but they look so sad today. All these people, People were dressed in not just beads. They were like fluorescent and people had on Saints gear. They had the no limit versus cash money battle the night before on versus. So people were very excited about that.

And they just looked so sad during the game. It made me sad. Yeah. You got to understand while they're sad. You put that outfit on. You're so excited. And then you're watching Tyler Shuck. Spencer Rattler.

Spencer Rattler. Part of the problem are both of their neck. names. That too. That too. I mean like. And Shuck, it's not even, it's hard to get Shuck out of how he spells it. I feel like I wouldn't, Rattler and Shuck would be the name of a law firm that couldn't

even be on the side of the bus. It sounds like a bad sitcom. Rattler and Shuck. By the way, you know what's on Netflix now is Franklin and Bash. That's actually who I was thinking of when he's on Railer and Shuck. I'm just going to tell you, if you want, if you want a guilty pleasure. I'm not, don't act like it's deep. Okay, it's not deep.

That's Mark Paul Gossler and then that one guy who's in all those like a American by road trip movies. But Franklin and Bash, if you want to go to sleep show. So it holds up. I remember when it was new. It's been a while. Well, I haven't seen it since then, but it's back in my rotation. It saw it on there.

I also don't do it my first watch through of Gossip Girl. Not good. I've already got to that one. Yeah, I'm probably going to quit. Finally, Colts beat the Titans 3814. As usual, I give you the floor to rant about your Titans who got obliterated once again. Well, we were a 14.5 point underdog. You don't see that very often in the NFL, but that was a lock.

As you can see, Colts win by 24. It is our second loss of the Colts this season by more than 20 points. We also have six double-digit losses already this year, and it's only week eight, if anyone's keeping up with that. just a great time to be a Titans fan. Mike McCoy, it's been a pleasure. Thank you for serving us for two weeks. I don't think you're going to be the answer. Our kicker, Sly, it's been nice knowing you too.

As always, let's just clean house. Ward will keep you, but there's just, there's nothing to hold on to be excited about. How does it feel that you've lost the city of Nashville to Vandy? Oh, wow. That's a good point. Thank you for that. I mean, you have.

Vandy is much more, Nashville is much more of Vandytown now than they are a Titans tan. Also adding to it, this might be a little deep in the Titans fandom, but we had a long-time radio announcer, Mike Keith. You might know Bill. Yeah, I knew him personal. Sack! What I mean? You knew him personally. I used to work for the Titans radio. Oh, that's right. You did. I forgot that. Okay. Well, I miss him dearly. It's his first year without, he left to be the Vols play-by-play guy. I saw him in Lexington in the elevator and I said, miss you, Mike Keith, Titans, you know, we could really use some happiness right now. And he just kind of grunted at me and that was our conversation. I thought Mike Keith's

walking off. Mike Vrable just beat us by 50. Our pets. Heads are falling off. Derek Henry just broke a record with the Ravens. A.J. Brown's starting to get touchdowns in Philly again. It's like it's unbelievable what we had just a few years ago and now it's all gone. Would you like to have Diego Pavia?

Yes, actually. Give me Diego Pavia. Let's just be the circus team. I think it'd be more fun. Theo Vaughn would at least come here. I want to have to beovian in your city and he chooses to go to the Vandy games instead of the Titans. Everyone does.

Nate Bargotsy does. Game Day. Kenny Chesney. There's no doubt about it that Vandy is the hot team in Nashville right now. Yeah, well, there you go. The Titan, it's just, it's so bad to love a team and there's no hope. And you get up and you sit down and you turn it on, you watch the pregame, and you just know what it is, but you do it anyway. Well, you're a loyal fan.

Colts 7 and 1. Believing in them? Yeah, I've been believing. But not Super Bowl believing. No, I've been Super Bowl believe it. I've been Daniel Jones MVP, believe, although Taylor had another 3 TD game. He's the star. Yeah, he already has more.

He's like third or fourth of the year. So I actually would argue Jonathan Taylor should be the MVP. He won't get picked because he's running back, but I would actually argue he probably should. My Daniel Jones take is a couple weeks old. Taylor just keeps getting three touchdowns. It's incredible. Well, all right. Thank you all very much for joining us.

If you know what I meant by John. Jackson Dart Construction. Let me know. It was either about Jackson Dart or about construction. We're going to figure it out. I'm fairly certain it wasn't about both. But if you can figure that out, let me know. Tell your friends, this has been NFL Cover Zero.

NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin is a production of the NFL and IHeart podcast. For more podcasts from IHeart Radio, visit the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.