KSR - NFL Cover Zero: Let the NFL Games Begin!

Episode Date: September 8, 2026

Matt Jones and Drew Franklin start off with some NFL news and the Week 1 starters that won their positions in training camp.  The Rams and 49ers are preparing for their game in Australia.   Onto the Week 1 games with thoughts on each game from Patriots/Seahawks to Brroncos/Chiefs on Monday Night Football!  Where are the biggest possible upsets and which games will be the closest?  Plus, survivor picks and TD parlays! NFL Cover Zero is part of the NFL Podcast Network See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Whether you're a seasoned NFL fan or new to the game, there's one place to keep up with all of it, the league's newest podcast, the NFL Report, hosted by me, Andrew Siciliano. It is your home for everything football.

Breaking news, expert analysis, game picks, and hear from your favorite players too. Join me at an all-star cast of experts for everything you need to know from around the league. Get new episode to the NFL report Monday through Friday all season long. Listen to the NFL report. podcast on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The entire draft room groans because you just took the guy they wanted.

There's no better feeling than crushing your fantasy football league. I'm JJ Zachary Eisen, host of the award-winning late-round podcast. Before your draft, our players to target and players to avoid episodes tell you exactly who to circle and who to cross off. Listen to the late-round fantasy football podcast on the IHeart Radio. app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Mike Yam. And I'm Trevor Sykima, and together we host the NFL fantasy football show.

Are you ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Because if you aren't locked in with us on the NFL fantasy football show, you're already playing from behind. Whether you're a first-time player or a grizzled vet chasing another championship, we give you the advantage and the confidence you need to make every move counts. Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football Show on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. The new NFL season is here.

And you should be listening to NFL Daily as we march along to Super Bowl 61. It is in the name, NFL Daily. You'll have fresh content in your feed every day all season long. That game winning drive. Maybe it's Herbert. Maybe it's Gino. Maybe it's Mahomes.

We'll have the highlights. If Fernando Mendoza or any of the rookies are balling out, we'll break down the tape. Join me, Greg Rosenthal, and an all-star cast of co-host as we preview and recap every. every game, listen to NFL daily on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin is a production of the NFL and IHeart podcast. Welcome everybody. It is NFL Cover Zero. We are finally here for the season. Week one starts on Wednesday night. I am currently in Bristol, Connecticut. Billy and Drew are in Lexington.

And the season is upon us. It feels like we have waited I guess it's something about Drew doing a podcast about the NFL during the off season that makes it seem like it took a lot longer for it to get here. And part of it is it's later

in September. We're starting, I think, a little later than it is normal because of just the calendar. But it feels like this has been the most I don't know, the most I've ever been anticipating an NFL season. I don't even remember since I walked.

well we've each been NFL fans a long time and last year was our first season like really doing this podcast and getting together twice a week and on Sunday night so when that grind kind of ended it with the Super Bowl it got quiet we've been itching to get back

so even though we were doing those weekly episodes now we're ready to get back into the full swing I actually spent a little bit of time so I flew to New York today to then come to ESPN here in Bristol and it's about usually a two hour drive but there was all this traffic and it probably took me about three hours.

And I did something that I don't do during the season. And, you know, I would never disparage our fellow podcasters. That's not my style. But, you know, there are different kinds of podcasts, right? There's podcasts for NFL that maybe are like for entertainment. I mean, obviously, Billy Burns News. But we're just, we're trying to have fun. But then there are the people who like really break stuff down.

So last year I listened to the Athletics NFL podcast. Have you ever heard that before? I have. I've tuned in. They really nerd out on there. I mean, they nerd out. They use stats. I didn't know where stats.

And I was like, okay, I'm going to listen to their season preview. And they did two hours on each division. Okay. And that's a lot. They do 30 minutes on each team. That's a lot. So I was like, okay, what division do I know the least about. And I couldn't

pick the NFC or AFC South because they are the most boring divisions. And so I chose the AFC West. And on my drive from New York to Bristol, I listened to two hours of the nerdyest. And I say this with affection. I give them a lot of credit.

It's like, if you were around a gardener who really loves flowers and you were to just listen to them, be excited. These dudes and their nerdiness about football, they're so excited. They're being like, they're third in the box of the French, of the zone blitz, cover two, and you're like, too, unbelievable. So I will tell you, as we get into today, when it comes to the

AFC West, you're looking at the smartest person that you've ever met thanks to the athletic podcast. Well, I'm glad you're brushed up as one of the best divisions this year. You know, we previewed our divisions. Ours lasted more like nine to 12 minutes for division. Maybe. We got right to the point. That's right. They did a 10-minute breakdown of how Brock Bowers choose carrots. I was pretty impressed at how these guys love some Brock Bowers. So I'm ready when those games come.

And of course, we're going to get started with Wednesday night. But before we do that, you know, there's been a lot of news since the last time we got together. I asked Billy to find the five most important news item. for us to discuss. And Billy, go ahead. What do you got? Yeah, excited to get the season started. Heading into week one, the initial quarterback questions have been answered.

We've got... Wait, I like, you still have your NFL hat. Yes, I mean, the season's here. It's the best time to wear the hat, right? But for people who don't know, Billy is the only person on earth who just wears a hat solely with the NFL logo. No team. And it's a white, plain hat with just the logo. it is only you would wear that hat but it makes me really happy i got to keep the tradition of going

me and rob low i feel like are the only two that have this hat but um i'm a proponent of the shield about only got extended four more years uh on his deal dirt was that what the two items it was if you wanted to jump the gun a little bit okay yeah i hope you lead it off yeah we'll start there the NFL teams were notified sunday that commissioner roger godell now has finalized a new four-year extension that runs through the 2030 league season. That contract expires March 31st, 2031. At the end of his newest deal, Roger Goodell will be 72 years old

and will have served as the NFL commissioner for 24 years. It does feel like these commissioners stay in office. They're like kings of the British monarchy in terms of how long they stay. I mean, just in our lifetime, how many NFL commissioners have been in our lifetime? What is it? Just keep Roselle,

Paul Taglu Boone, Roger Goodale. It's like three and 47 years. Is that it? I mean, those are the only three I can name, and Pete was, but in the early 80s. So, yeah, it got to be that for me. I think that's right. And then even in the NBA, what, David Stern and Adam Silver,

that's it, right? Yep. In baseball, I guess, who's the commissioner now? Oh, God. Rob Manfred, is that a person? Believe so. He was at one time.

That sounds like a crime. And then I think Bud Selig, A. Bartlett, Giamatti, and Fay Vincent. Where am I coming up with these things? Yeah. Did you just black out? I think I did.

I haven't thought about the name Faye Vincent. Maybe ever. And I think I just said it. But my point is people stay for a long time. Roger Goodell is easy to beat up on. He's also technically her boss, so I'm not going to beat up on him. but he's been obviously insanely successful.

The league has probably quadrupled in value since he's been the commissioner, so I'm not surprised they extended it. No, not at all. I mean, all sports across the board are growing and getting more eyeballs on them, but nothing like the NFL. It has just exploded lately. Heck, how many international games are they this year? They're just to end of that schedule all the time.

He's made it global. For as far as growing the game, he's done about as good as job as you could. Also, you said it'll be a 72. He's a young-looking late 60s, whatever he is right now. Yeah, for 72. That threw me off when you said it'll be 72 at the end of this. But, you know, I can't ever, I don't think there's any moment where I would go, Roger Good-Dadell is a good-looking guy.

That wouldn't be the first thing I would use. But I will tell you, now that you tell me he's going to be 72, I got to give that guy a lot of credit. He looks like, he looks very handsome for a 72-year-old. And we're so grateful for that day. He called each of us personally and invited us to be a part of the NFL podcast network. So he helped us live out our dreams here. Congratulations, Raj, or Mr. Goodell.

That was a great moment when he did that. By the way, not to go back to Abe Bartlett Giumotti, but do you know Billy who his son is? No. No, who's that? Actor Paul Giumotti. Not a very common last name. Shriver got that. That's kind of a random, interesting thing, isn't it?

Yeah, yeah, I mean, who knew? Not me. Well, why? Yeah, not you, barely. What's your favorite Paul Giamatti character? Well, I like what he's did all of his side interests in that showtime show, billions. Yeah, he's great. When the first episode comes on and the next thing you know, I don't know if we can get into what you see Paul Giamatti doing,

but it's not what I thought it was going to be. I will tell you that. I think that might be his best role. That are private parts with the high- Yeah, I was fake vomit. And he was in sideways. Well, this has nothing to do with the NFL. But nevertheless, I'm glad to have educated you.

So, congrats for Roger Goodell. And 24 years has been commissioned. That's really unbelievable. All right, what's next? Really, the only person I'd like to sign this hat is Roger Goodell. Maybe we can make that happen at the next Super Bowl. Would you, you really wouldn't want to have Roger Goodell sign your hat? On the NFL logo hat?

I feel like it's the only person that should. Wow. So you like having businessmen sign your, you don't want Joe Montana signature. No. You would like Roger Gooddales. Yep, I'll have them scan my digital business card at the same time. It will be a great meeting. But heading into week one, guys, some of the initial quarterback questions have been answered.

here are four of the starting quarterbacks for week one. You tell me which quarterback will have the best season. Atlanta is going with Tua Tungo Viloa as their starting quarterback with Michael Pennock still out. Las Vegas is named Kirk Cousins, their starter ahead of Mendoza, the number one pick. Kyler Murray is the starter in Minnesota over J.J. McCarthy. And Deshaun Watson has been named a starter in Cleveland. I would like to pass if those are my four choices. But if I have to pick one, I'll say Kyler Murray.

I mean, I actually think Minnesota's got a pretty good roster. He's getting me able to throw it to Justin Jefferson. So I think that gives him a leg up. So I'm going to go, Kyler, I'm not sure any of the guys will be great. Let's, the most recent decision is to, well, first of all, Drew, do you agree with being Kyle Murray or would you pick one of the other ones? I would definitely go Kyler, but only because situation. You said Jefferson, he also has Jordan Edison, Joanne Jennings.

That's one of the better trios of wide receivers in the entire NFL and a pretty good team. So it's not so much him as it is being in Minnesota, but I think that's the answer. It's also amazing how when when somebody has a bad quarterback, you can forget there in the league. Like Justin Jefferson, like, no one has mentioned his name in a year. But he's still probably the best wide receiver in the league. But I think people forget it because, you know, he's having to have so many terrible, if people throw it through him last year. I expect to see a little bit of a bounce back from him.

Let's go to Tua. I mean, it's clear the Falcons would like to have started Billy at quarterback, but just Michael Pinnock's, I guess, is just not ready. Apparently, he told the coach this week he was not going to be able to go. Tua makes me sad. Like, I just want to give him a hug. I don't want to see him get hit. I find watching him play football like really a painful proposition.

and I'm not even really joking. I kind of feel like I'm always worried he's going to get hurt. I really just kind of hate that he won the job. Yeah. I think of the Tua, you know, coming up in Alabama, being a star and how he was a playmaker. Now he looks so timid back there. He does have Vita Robinson. Kyle Pitts had kind of a breakout year last year.

I mean, there is a world where he could be good, but I just don't feel like anybody really believes that's going to happen. Thanks to my good friends at the Athletic Podcast, they were talking. about Tua's numbers, and it's easy to forget how good Tua was before those hits. I mean, he had about a year and a half where he played really amazing. He gets the ball out quicker than any other quarterback in the league. I think that's intentional, so he doesn't get hit. And how many games before Mendoza starts for the Raiders?

I'll say the midway point in the season. They'll get eight games in and then go to them. I'm not sure if you're a Raiders fan what you even root for. right? They play well, and they're in the playoff hunt. They're not going to play him, right? And if you play poorly, then you're going to play in, but you don't want to lose. You look at the Raider's schedule outside of division games.

They actually have a chance to win some games. Their schedule's not that bad. I don't know. I mean, if you were a fan, I guess you root for your team to win, but you want a same in those of play, right? Yeah, I mean, if Kelsons goes out there and wins you some games, that's exciting because you want your team to win, but he's almost first. 40 years old, your future is not with Kirk Cousins,

it's with Mendoza, so it would almost just be like some false hope or wasting time until you get to Mendoza. But I think Cousins is good enough that he'll keep it for a while until they give it to Mendoza at the end of the year to make the decision for next year what they need to do. With that team, I just want see Ashton Jit to play. I mean, we've had

basically two years where we, I mean, he's 25, 26 years old, and I just worry that we're going to look at his career and he's just never going to, because of where he got drafted, just I'm never going to be good. I feel the same way about Jeremiah Love in Arizona, right? I mean, he's just a rookie. But you do wonder when you get these running backs picked on these terrible teams,

you know, you just don't want to see their career just be wasted. And I kind of worry about it. Gentie, I think had, again, thanks to the athletic podcast, had the fewest yards per attempt of any part, even though I got a thousand yards, he ran it so much. I just want to see him be able to have a good year because I think he was so electric in college. All right, what's next? Listen to this guy, your yards per attempt stats throwing out on us. I mean, he did listen to a podcast. He did about the fire points of the game from four nerds on the athletic podcast, then maybe you could learn something too.

So we have our first NFL game in Australia coming up between the 49ers and the Rams. It's a 17-hour time difference between the Bay Area and Australia, and it's safe to say Kyle Shanahan is still getting used to the time zone change. Let's play a clip here. Do you tell me guys what you think? We did our totally normal routine. I'm not sure because we're, like I said, we're a little confused with. When I look at my clock and it says the time,

and then I try to see my family's time, and then it says the time, but it says yesterday. I don't even get how that's possible. So I feel like I'm in the future. And then also when we play on our Friday, which I think is a Thursday in the U.S. We're such creatures of habits. So I call today Tuesday.

No, wait. Sorry, I call today Wednesday, which is the first day we put in a game plan. But I think it's Monday. However, though, it's Sunday and the present. So, like, I'm going to mess that up all week if you guys asked me. But today is just our first day of the game plan, which is a Wednesday. We'll put in some on a Thursday.

Friday is the final part of the game plan. Saturday we walked in when we play on Sunday, which is a Friday in Australia and a Thursday in the U.S. So don't ever make me do that again. That's the best bunch of nonsense I've ever heard someone say. But what's odd, Drew, is I kind of followed me, sort of. I mean, it was dumb what he said, but I kind of was saying. but I kind of was able to follow him.

He was saying, I think it's tomorrow if I'm on California time. That's weird to me, but I keep the schedule as if it was for a normal week. So it's Wednesday, but actually it's a Tuesday, but then in California it's a Monday.

I kind of followed him, which makes me more worried something's wrong with me that I was able to follow that gibberish, but I did kind of understand him. I mean, I got to say, when we go to the SEC Turner, that's one time zone over in Nashville.

Even we get confused, you'll talk in Eastern Time Zone while some of us are looking at our phone. So I kind of get him being on the other side of the world having to deal with Australia. Did you see what happened with Rahim Morris, his assistant coach? No. It's time of change. So Rahim Morris, his 50th birthday, is September 3rd. Was September 3rd. They left San Francisco the evening of September 2nd and landed in Australia on September 4th.

So he did not get a 50th birthday. September 3rd just did not exist for him. So he's going to be perpetually 49. Yes. The time traveled and never, well, he never had the third. I mean, my guess is somewhere over the ocean. He was 50 for at least a few minutes. And maybe nobody noticed it.

But I like that. I think that's very easy. I knew a person once who was born on leap year, like on the leap, what do you call it, leap day, the 366. What do you call that actual day? That's the extra day. Leap Day, right? Yeah, February 29th.

Is it called Leap Day? Yeah. Okay. Anyway, I know somebody born on that day, and they were like 28, so they just say they're seven, which is weird, but yeah, I guess Raheim Morris gets that too. I also saw it to ask Kyle Stanley and what he thought about Australia, and he said something like if it's a really

Melbourne is a really nice city I just assumed it was all brush woods and kangaroos which tells me he only got his info like from a cartoon I mean he did he really not I mean Australia is the size of America did he really think it was just brush

yeah he watched Crocodile Dundee one two and three before your trip this has been a very eye-opening trip for his shed ahead he's learned about Australian culture and how clocks work. Well, we know he didn't do well in school, in social studies, geography, or physics. So I wonder what Chanham was good at when he was growing up. What do you think about the Rams and 49ers have taken different approaches where the 49ers

went a week early and the Rams are going the day before the game? I cannot imagine that going the day before the game is the right thing. I mean, obviously, we're not going to know because it'll just be who. won and maybe they would have won or lost anyway. But, you know, when I fly to Europe, which is only six hours, like I'm dead for the first two days. I walk around and just, I don't know what time. To go 17 hours, I mean, I think their theory is we'll just never be in a time zone.

Like they're doing it like they're going to leave. I think your theory is they're just going to never leave Pacific time. but that feels like it can't be the first people to ever think of that and no one else has ever done it so i just i i think i've got to think the 49ers have a better method yeah i think the rams are being arrogant like we don't have to go we're the rams we're the favorite we'll just show up when we want to times old don't fly to us but i was reading australia appreciates the 49ers for going so even though it's a Rams home game, Australia has embraced the 49ers. They're kind of against the Rams.

So the 49ers stole the crowd by showing up. And even though Shanahan didn't know there was more there than Brush, they appreciated the playing. So all of Australia is going to cheer for San Francisco. Yeah, because they at least took the time to go and be there for a week instead of just showing up and walking off the plane. I think San Francisco went because they just wanted to get away from the cancer box. they have their right next to the stadium.

I mean, they are, I mean, they just need to get, I understand they're probably healthier being in Australia. No, they actually left in May for the game. They've been there all summer. It would make a lot more sense. Well, so that game is going to be Thursday night, but what will the time be in Australia when they play? 10.30 a.m.

It's a morning game. on a Thursday. I think it's on a Friday to the Friday there, but Thursday night does. They're not saying a Friday morning football game in Australia. That's really strange, isn't it? Yeah. I mean, you got to roll out of bed pretty early. If kickoffs at 1030, I mean, that's got to be unique.

We are so arrogant in America. We're like, we're going to come to your country, but you're going to rearrange your schedule. around ours. Whatever we want, that's what it's going to be. And I hope and whether you're good with that or not, that's the way it is. Oh, and both teams are coming for a whole week so we can see the players around town. No, one of them will. The other one is just going to show up to the airport, go straight to the stadium and go straight on.

The other one is going to act like you don't have a country or a time zone. Well, well, good luck. I'm pulling for the 49ers because I actually, I think we should respect the fact that time zones exist. And there isn't effect on the body and flying. What's the next? Two more, and this one really affects you, Drew. The Dallas Cowboys will be without pro bowler left guard Tyler Smith for at least the first four games of the regular season

after he undergoes surgery on his left thumb. Smith is only 25 and has been named at the Pro Bowl each of the last three seasons, joining Larry Allen and Zach Martin as the only guards in franchise history to appear in the Pro Bowl three of the first four years. Drew, you worried about the offensive line with a lot? out Tyler Smith. When you said this one's going to impact me, I thought whatever was coming next was really going to impact me.

You know, that stinks for Cowboys. I think you all are friends. I don't plan to block him, but that is a big loss for the Cowboys. I personally will be able to sleep tonight knowing this for the Cowboys. It does. Why didn't you think that was going to affect him so much? Well, the Cowboys are kind of his second team and the offensive line without their Pro Bowl guard. I mean, I'm a little worried about DAC these first four weeks.

That's true. I figured Drew would have a take. Don't have a take. It's a big deal, especially starting off of the rivalry game, but I'll be okay. Don't you worry about me, Bay. I'm going to be okay. Please, sit many cards and letters of sympathy to Drew Franklin about Tyler Smith's thumb injury. because he usually is struggling during this time.

Can I ask you a question? I'm not trying to be insensitive. But how bad can its thumb beat? Like, what is, I mean, they'd have surgery. I understand, but like, can't you put like a thumb cast on? They tried. He tried to play through it, but it wasn't feeling well, I guess. How long was he out?

Well, he's on IR, so he's at least out for the first. four weeks. I mean, I'm not trying to say he's not tough. Okay, but I just, I feel like a thumb. I don't know. With the linemen, you got to have that grip strength here. You got to grab them if you're not able to grab them. So I can see how do it.

Okay. That's right. Well, I didn't know you have to do that. Maybe that's. I guess that's true to when you're, when you're, you got to. Okay. Well, that's how Tyler Smith does it. Well, I hope he ends up.

Okay. And more importantly, Drew, I hope you are okay with this news. I'm Brett Coleman. And I'm Trevor Sikima. Have you ever watched a game and wondered what really made the difference beyond the final score? That's exactly why we created NFL Prox. Got a man wide open. Sayhawks!

Every week, we use exclusive next-gen stats insights and NFL content to break down the biggest stories, matchups, and moments from around the league. We go beyond the box score to uncover the numbers, the tendency. and details that help explain what actually happened on the field. Fires it out in the flat to Barclay who beats one man, spins past another, leaps over at third. And don't worry, this isn't just a show for stats experts. We use advanced analytics to help tell the story behind the game, turning the numbers into insights that every fan can understand and enjoy. So whether you're a casual fan learning more about football or a hardcore fan who can't get enough analysis,

our goal is to help you see the game in a whole new way. If you've ever wanted to know why a playwork, how a matchup was won, or what most fans missed on Sunday, NFL Pro delivers insights you simply can't get anywhere else. Listen to NFL Pro on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. The new NFL season is here, and you should be listening to NFL Daily as we march along to Super Bowl 61. Last year, we had Mike McDonald, Sam Darnold on the field after the game. But that was last year.

If you're a football sicko like me, NFL Daily is your kind of show. It is in the name NFL Daily, fresh content in your feed every day all season long. Matthew Stafford coming off his MVP season. On a dazzling darts from Matthew Stafford. Big time trades that shake up the NFL. A.J. Brown is loose. And of course, those Seahawks. trying to run it back and win another Lombardi trophy.

The Seahawks win Super Bowl 60. They are bringing the Lombardi back to the northwest. If it's happening on a football field, NFL Daily will cover it. Listen to NFL Daily on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. You know the feeling. You make a pick in your fantasy draft in the entire room groans because they wanted that player.

or you grab a small school rookie off waivers and you start him right before he goes off in primetime. There's no better feeling than crushing your fantasy football league. I'm J.J. Zachary Eisen, host of the late round fantasy football podcast. Before your draft, our players to target and players to avoid episodes tell you exactly who to circle and who to cross off. We've got data-driven analysis, historical trends, and the strategies that separate winners from the rest. And your dominance doesn't stop with the draft. All season long, we have our 15 transactions, 10 trends, sleepers, and the mailback, data-driven, quick-hitting episodes to help bring home that league trophy.

Listen to the late-round fantasy football podcast on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, everyone, I'm Mike Yam. And I'm Trevor Sykima, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Show. Fantasy season is upon us. Are you ready to dominate your league? Because if you aren't locked in with us on the NFL Fantasy Football Show, show, you're already playing from behind.

Every episode, we're going to dive into the biggest fantasy headlines. Injury updates that you'll need before kickoff. The best starts and sits across every position. And matchups, you can exploit to destroy your league mates. You know, we're talking sleepers, breakout stars, and the guys you cannot afford to bench. From rookies on the rise to longtime stars still at it, we cover it all. Whether you're a first-time player or a grizzled vet chasing another championship, we give you the advantage.

and the confidence you need to make every move count. Weekly analysis, hot takes, and unique insider knowledge all in one place. Does fantasy dominance sound appealing to you? Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football Show on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And finally, Tom Brady told Sports Business Journal he plans to fulfill his 10-year, $375 million deal with Fox and potentially stay beyond it. He said, quote,

I hope they'll have me through the end of the contract. I love getting to enjoy the game. I love watching good football. There's such great camaraderie and chemistry we all have together. This is despite his ownership stake with the Raiders and various other business dealings he has. Yeah, I mean, I don't know what it takes to get Tom Brady out of bed, but that's a lot of money. With that said, I want to make fun of Tom Brady because his leather pants, commercial,

and all that is ridiculous. But he's gotten better, true. I mean, I actually thought he was really, really bad when he started. But I actually think as he's gone on, I don't think he's the best announcer, but I actually think he's gotten pretty decent. Yeah, and even though he's Tom Brady and he's got, what's the name of the company again, Billy, I'm always afraid to call it the wrong thing because it's so outrageous.

Oh, good nut. Yeah, he's got that and he's dating everybody. He's still Tom Brady and doesn't want to be, you know, Anyway, I just want that little sound drop of just Billy going, oh, and then what you said. Can we just make that a drop for other things? Anyway, go ahead. At the end of the day, he's still Tom Brady, and he wants to be the best at everything he touches. So when he was getting roasted and criticized that first season, we knew he would get in the lab and get it right for the following year, and he did get much better.

Well, there you go. Thank you, Billy, for the news. We're, I guess since it's the first week, what things we'll be moving the show to twice a week. One will be a wrap up. We'll start those Sunday night. So you should be able to get it either late, late Sunday night or most likely Monday morning.

And then we'll do another one at some point during the week. And during the one during the week, we will preview the games. So let's just get started through Wednesday night, Patriots at Seahawks. Steve, I'm sorry, three and a half point favorite at home. It's going to be, this is normally the game that's on Thursday night. Now it's on Wednesday night with Mike Trico and Collinsworth. Do you like them redoing the Super Bowl to start the season? I do.

I'm actually watching it right now on NFL Network, a replay of the Super Bowl, as I get ready for Wednesday. So I'm already have some Patriots Seahawks in my life again. Now I hope that the game one of the season is better than the Super Bowl, because that was not very exciting last year, and I think it will be. I think we're due for a good game, but I am glad if they start with this.

Not that we need a reason to get excited about the first game, but making it a Super Bowl rematch. I think is awesome, and I hope they continue doing that every year. Yeah, I kind of don't like it. I wish they had them play. Well, they probably didn't want to put them against an NFC West team because they were worried that people wouldn't like the game.

I kind of wish this was later in the year, but whatever. I don't understand, though, why. it's three and a half. I mean, they just pounded them. The Seahawks essentially have the same team, basically. You know, any difference is they lose Kenneth Walker and they're after Merriam Price. I mean, what makes the Patriots better?

And you're going from playing at a neutral site to playing in the Seahawks Stadium. I mean, why shouldn't I just assume Seattle's going to pound them? Now, the counter to that is we have a history in this game of the team of the team, the whole Super Bowl winning team gets upset. That's happened a number of times over the years in this game. But why shouldn't I just assume the Cocks are going to crush them? I think the big thing you nailed it is Kenneth Walker was the difference maker in the Super Bowl. One MVP, had all the yards.

He's gone. So you're starting a rookie with a new offensive coordinator, just kind of a new-looking offense. Even though quarterback and receiver are the same. They were all over Drake May, sacked him like six, seven times in the Super Bowl. I think they'll clean that up again. Remember Will Campbell, just getting roasted. Surely Will Campbell

would be better. And then the Patriots adding AJ Brown and Romeo Dobbs give May a little bit better targets. So I would say those are the reasons I think the Patriots will keep it close. I still like Seattle to win, but I think though Patriots are going to give a much better game even though it is in Seattle on the road this time for those reasons.

Yeah. Well, I don't know who you do. So let's just, ready to pick against the spread. We're just going to pick the winners. You have to keep track, Billy, as usual. Okay. I'm going to thank you all. Who do you have?

I think the Seahawks win, but I do think it'll be very close. It'll be a Phil goal game. I'll take the Patriots then. Oh, okay. Billy the Contrary in there. All right, Thursday in Australia, the 49ers and the Rams. The game is on Netflix. I don't understand when I turned on Netflix,

the ad for this game is Alex Earl and her sister in uniforms. Are they going to be on the game? Are they? Is this the new mashup? You know, Billy had the stranger things NFL. Now Alex Errol has the new Netflix zone. I don't know. I just every time I, when I turn on Netflix, an ad comes on, and one of them is in the

49ers uniform, and one of them is in the Rams uniform. And then some guy comes out, and he's like, you two have to play. And they're like, oh, my goodness. And like, that's the show. And then they start crying about Braxton Berrios. So I'm like, I don't understand what that, what that has to do with the game. but maybe, I guess maybe they're going to be involved. All right.

Well, just another reason to get excited about the post-day game. I didn't know by, like, I said Ashton. Is that her sister's name? I haven't watched keeping up with the Earls yet. I only know Alex. The only reason I know Alex is because a woman that I know told me once she was her hero. And I said, why? And she was like, I don't know.

And I thought, what did she do? And she was like, well, she does makeup videos. And I still didn't understand what she. I legitimately don't know why she's famous. Like even with Kim Kardashian, there was this moment you'd be point to. Like, what is she famous for? I've tried to seek this out too and couldn't get an answer. I completely understand that she's famous now and I understand that what she's doing now are famous things.

but I started and found the catalyst to get her from point A. How she got to make. Boy, V. And something was down here to get her up here, and I don't know what it was. And you know you're famous when your brother and sister just get to be famous too. But they just made the others. Like, her brother is now apparently famous. And I don't know how that happened either.

And then her dad, I saw her dad somewhere, and her dad was like, you know, well, I think her dad like dated a real housewife or something like it's just a wild scene and they're gonna be at the 49ers Rams game who's gonna win? Uh, you know, I thought I had to figure it out,

but now that you're telling me out, Cheryl, it's gonna be the car to this. You know, I'm picking the Rams to win because they're loaded, but I think there's something to this their arrogance of going late.

So I would pick the Rams. I would pick the Rams. But I'm with you. I'm not going, going to allow the Rams to defy the laws of physics. I'm not. And disrespect Australia. And they need to respect science and Australia.

And so I pecking the 49ers just for that. Wow. You know what? I was going to go Rams, but the disrespect of Australia, we just can't sit with it. But I will add that... Australia is nice people. And they won no part of them. I think they're going to leave the plane running.

They're just going to walk off, go to the stadium, I'm going to get right back on. I'm going to eat. I'm not going to drink the water. They're going to just literally land in the parking lot and get out and play and go right back up. Poor Rahim Morris sacrificed his 50th birthday so you're going to Australia. Sean McVeigh cannot be bothered. I'm on the $40.

That was his 50th birthday and he missed it. That's insane. All right, Billy, who you got? I'm going the Rams. I think Kyle Shanahan disrespected Australia with the kangaroos and Bush comment. I think Miles Gets. Garrett has a great first game with the Rams. He was saying it with love.

He was like, you are better than I thought. I don't care. It was disrespectful. Drew, did you pick 49ers there? Well, I was going to go Rams, but then the disrespects of Australia, honestly upset me mid-sentence, and I flipped. Okay. Opset me too.

Bears at the Panthers. Bears are only a three-point favorite. Caleb Williams goes on the road. I can go ahead and tell you, this is the kind of game, The Bears lose week one like every year. I'm going to take the Bears, but I don't think I believe in it, but I'm going to take Chicago. Both of Carolina's tackles are hurt and not playing in this game. I think that's a huge deal for Bryce Young.

That's why I'm going to Bears. Otherwise, I might, even though I like your Bears this year, just to be different, I might go Panthers. But with them being so banged up on the offensive line, I think that's too much for the team to overcome in this game. I will also know two things. Every year, there are two things that happen in week one. One is there's a ridiculous upset that nobody sees coming that ruins people's survivor leaks, right? That happens every single year. So one of the things we have to look at is which one of these games is going to be that.

Secondly, there's always a game where like two teams play and you get a result that then at the end of the year looks absurd. I think last year the Raiders beat, they beat the Patriots or the Steehawks in week one. They beat somebody and it looked redid. So those are the two things you have to watch. I'm going to predict, I'm picking the Bears. But the Bears Panthers are to me a contender for Panthers win. At the end of the year, you go, how in the world did that happen? I can see that.

But I'm going to pick the Bears. The new NFL season is here. And you should be listening to NFL Daily as we march along to Super Bowl 61. Last year, we had Mike McDonald, Sam Darnold on the field after the game. But that was last year. If you're a football sicko like me, NFL Daily is your kind of show. It is in the name NFL Daily, fresh content in your feed every day all season long. Matthew Stafford coming off his MVP season.

On a dazzling darts from Matthew Stafford. Big time trades that shake up the NFL. AJ Brown is loose. And of course, those Seahawks trying to run it back and win another Lombardi trophy. The Seahawks win Super Bowl 60. They are bringing the Lombardi back to the northwest. If it's happening on a football field, NFL Daily will cover it. Listen to NFL Daily on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

I'm Brett Coleman. Have you ever watched a game and wondered what really made the difference beyond the final score? That's exactly why we created NFL Pro. Got a man wide open! Touchdown! Seahawks! Every week, we use exclusive next-gen stats insights and NFL content to break down the biggest stories, matchups, and moments from around the league.

We go beyond the box score to uncover the numbers, the tendencies, and details that help explain what actually happened on the field. fires it out in the flat to Barclay who beats one man, spins past another, leaps over at third. And don't worry, this isn't just a show for stats experts. We use advanced analytics to help tell the story behind the game, turning the numbers into insights that every fan can understand and enjoy. So whether you're a casual fan learning more about football or a hardcore fan who can't get enough analysis, our goal is to help you see the game in a whole new way. If you've ever wanted, wanted to know why a playwork, how a matchup was won, or what most fans missed on Sunday,

NFL Pro delivers insights you simply can't get anywhere else. Listen to NFL Pro on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. The NFL never stops and neither does its newest podcast. The NFL Report hosted by me, Andrew Siciliano. It is your home for everything football. Williams, drifting, sprinting for space. in all kinds of trouble put it up for next to the end up. We're tapping the biggest news stories, giving you expert analysis, fantasy previews, game picks, and more.

We fly around every single play. We dominate every single play. Want to hear from the league's top stars ahead of the biggest matchups? We've got you covered. They're a really good football team. We've got to have all hands on deck. Join me at an all-star cast of analysts for everything you need to know from around the league. Get new episodes of the NFL report Monday through Friday all season long. Listen to the NFL Report podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You know the feeling. You make a pick in your fantasy draft and the entire room groans because they wanted that player.

Or you grab a small school rookie off waivers and you start him right before he goes off in primetime. There's no better feeling than crushing your fantasy football league. I'm J.J. Zachary Eisen, host of the late round fantasy football podcast. Before your draft, our players to target and players to avoid episodes tell you exactly who to circle and who to cross off. We've got data-driven analysis, historical trends, and the strategies that separate winners from the rest. And your dominance doesn't stop with the draft. All season long, we have our 15 transactions, 10 trends, sleepers, and the mailback, data-driven, quick-hitting episodes to help bring home that league trophy. Listen to the late round fantasy football podcast on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I was Patriots at the Raiders beat week one last year, so you're right on there. But I'm going to go Bears too. I'm sorry, Carolina, Mike. Do you think he's at the game and performs, or are we over him now? We're not over him. I will say he continues to hang on. Like, I mean, he told Myron, my co-host on ESPN, he called Miron up and said, what are you doing? doing like November 16th or whatever.

And my iron said, I don't know. And he goes, I'm performing at the Minnesota State Fair. Yeah. We take, yeah. We should go. How much can he do? I just, do you think people at the Minnesota State Fair even know who he is? He's got to just do that one song on repeat.

So if you're anywhere near his booth, you're just hearing it over and over and over. over and over. Yeah. Well, to the people to Minnesota State Fair, let us know

how it goes if you're, if you're able to go. Falcons at the Steelers. Drew. Oh, boy, we got 42-year-old

Aaron Rogers versus Tua who Miami paid to go away. This one's exciting. This is a battle of two guys that, yeah.

This is also Mike McCarthy versus Kevin Stefansky, little debut games. I'm going to go with pit just because I can't put faith in anything Tua is running. But I also don't like pit this season either. But for this game, I will go with the 42-year-old before he falls apart as the season goes on.

I don't think I've ever heard anybody call the Steelers pit. That's the first time I've ever heard that referred to like that. I don't think it's short for Pittsburgh. I just never heard anybody use that expression. Yeah, I'm going to go Atla to keep it close, but I think the Steelers ended up winning the game in the end. What do you got, Billy? I'm rooting for Tua. I'll pick my fellow NFC South Atlanta Falcons.

Okay. That's a nice little upset to start. Ravens at the Colts. Ravens are a three and a half point favorite. I thought that number would be higher of the debut of Jesse Mentor. Who you got? I'm going to go Baltimore here. this is Daniel Jones first game

in a long time. He just got paid, but he's coming off in Achilles injury. So I'm going to go Lamar Jackson, winning ahead to head with Daniel Jones. And Baltimore has said they're going to get more under center and play action, which plays into Derek Henry. Even though everyone thinks his time has come,

as I keep saying, Derek Henry's not human. It will have another big Derek Henry year. He outplays Jonathan Taylor, and I'll go Ravens win a close one. I will tell you, if you were to listen to the athletic NFL podcast, and by the way, I'm not asking you all to do that. It'll put you to sleep.

But what I am, not that I'm also don't want to criticize, and I'm sure they're good people, but they love Jesse Minter. They were acting like the charges were going to fall apart without Jesse Minter and that the Ravens got the best coach. I think one of them said he was a lot for coached year. So I'm going to believe the Jesse Mentor hype. Give me the Ravens,

to win because of Jesse nuclear mentor. What about you, Kelly? Yeah, I got to see it from Daniel Jones again before I believe him again, so give me Baltimore here in a clean sweep for us. Yeah. Coming off from Achilles for Daniel Jones, I don't know how this year is going to go for him. Maybe the best game, you know, certainly besides the opening game, maybe the best game of the weekend.

Bill's at Texans. this could be these could be two of the teams who come into the year thinking they can go the Super Bowl. I'm going to go, like, I'm going to take the bills, but I don't feel confident in it. I think, I don't know who Josh Allen's throwing to. But in general, I feel with Josh Allen, like I feel with Patrick, or did with Patrick Bowms, which is given the choice of a toss-up, I'm going to take the better quarterback. And I think he's a lot better than C.J. Stroud, although I do think C.J. Strat will play better this year than he did last season. Yeah, C.J. has got a lot to prove this year. They need him having the best defense in the league.

He adds David Montgomery to help him run there. I'm good. I don't really think this is an upset. But I'll take the Texans getting the Bills week one. As good as Josh Allen is, I'm going to trust the Texans defense. They beat him last year, sacked him eight times in that game. So I'm going to say they get his number one more time. I don't think it's a huge upset. I mean, it's one and a half points, but I could easily see it. What about you, Billy? Now, DJ Moore is who Josh Allen will be throwing to, your former Bears receiver now with Buffalo. I don't even count him.

He stinks. We, like, gave him his walking papers. I waited, even last year we were good, you kept thinking, oh, okay, what's DJ Moore going to do it? It was never, he said two straight teams tell him to leave. I don't know why people think DJ. DJBOR is going to be better. who they've had there.

But last year, who were they throwing to, like, at the end of games? Brand cooks or something. I mean, you're, I just don't, I don't buy DJ more. But go ahead. I'm going to take the bills in this one because C.J. Stroud, who do you think you are turning down a $50 million a year deal in this past week or so? So give me the bills in this one. Say that again.

Say that with like. C.J. Stroud, who do you think you are turning down a $50 million a year deal? Give me the bills in this one. Who do you think you are I am? See, I need, yeah, I need, let's try it one more time because I'm trying to get, I want you to say it with your chest. C.J. Stroud, who do you think you are? I am. Turning down a $50 million deal a year. Give me the bills week one. All right. I like that. Okay. Browns at Jaguars.

I'm going to make your prediction. This is the kills people's fantasy. This is the leader in the clubhouse for kills their Survivor League. Oh. Yeah. I mean, I could totally see there is a world where Deshaun Watson comes out and plays well because everyone hates him. And the scores like 13 to 10 and the Browns win this game. I'm not predicting that.

I'm going to predict the Jaguars, but it is my leader in the clubhouse for Kill Survivor League's early game this week. What about you? I like that you're going that route, but I'm going the other way. I'm going to say the Jags kill them. Yeah, I'm looking at like 27 to 10 here. I think this will be the biggest deficit of any NFL game, week one.

I'm sure the only way to credit. Pretty good. I should have points very close to suggesting that. anyway, but I just don't trust John Watson whatsoever. Yeah. Don't mean, don't get me wrong. I don't trust him.

But I'm not, let's not, I'm not becoming a character witness for the man. I'm just saying, I think there's a chance he can upset. Am I picking the Jaguars for the record? But go ahead, Billy. I will go with the Jaguars as well.

Homefield Advantage with the Hot Tubbs. It's the second biggest spread of the week. at eight and a half, but we're just picking games here. I'm going, Jags. Let me give you one digression. I just came I ate tonight in West Hartford, Connecticut. And I was talking to my mom when I parked my car. And I parked it on a, they have like a little downtown area, and I parked it on a side street. And I don't really know the town or the streets. So I was talking to my mom, not really paying attention. When I got out of the restaurant, I realized a couple things.

One, I didn't remember what street I had parked it on. And two, I wasn't certain what car I was driving because it was a rental car. And not just what car, like even what brand of car. Because, you know, I just got into a car and drove it a lay. And I have a key where they, where the beeper doesn't work. You have to use the stick, you know, the way you've, whatever you call it, the key, right? And as I'm walking, looking for it, I'm like thinking, I don't know what I'm going to do. Because let's say I don't find it.

I don't even know what to tell like the police or any, like what, what kind of car do you have? I don't know. Where did you park it? I don't know. I would sound like I was a complete maniac. What color? I don't know. I, well, I couldn't.

I knew it was like light, but I didn't know if it was base. or white or gray. And I just basically wondered and finally just ran into a car that I thought could be it. And I had to stick my key into the cars to see if they were it. Because I couldn't know. And I luckily ran into it or I'd still be walking around. Be bad if someone walked up, you're just trying to stick your key in their car. Did you think this for Juru?

I didn't know, honestly. But luckily, I found I could say. still be roaming around West Hartford. Saints at the Lions. Oh, what an exciting game. Tyler Shuck, year two. Who's excited about his head and point favorite? I'll go for it.

I mean, I got to go to the Lions here. There are secondary as a little hurt right now, but I don't believe Alvin Kamara is going to be available a while for New Orleans. So it's the Tyler Shuck show, and I will take the Lions to win that one rather easily. Yeah, I'm going to take the Lions as well. I think it'll actually be It's a bounce back here for the Lions

I think they have a great season Give me the Lions and a route What do you got to build? I'm going with the Lions too But I am a Tyler Shuck believer So I think he'll do pretty well this year Despite the loss in week one I believe in him too

I still think they're going to get crushed Your team the Titans Play the Jets in a No one with a Pulse Will watch this game except you What do you got I will absolutely watch this game this is the must-win game of the season for the Titans.

Robert Sala revenge game. You got Will Levis over on the Jets practice squad, giving up the playbook. It's Chris Johnson's going to the Ring of Honor in Nashville. Is they who signed Will Lettis? I didn't know that. Yeah, they're cheating. They only signed him, so give them all the plays from Nashville for week one. Don't do it, Will.

Don't take their money. Oh, that is what happened? Well, they don't say that, but I mean, that's alleged. They go out and get them right away from week only. Probably the best chance he has to make a team. For Will, yeah, I mean, you have Gino Smith and Cade Klubnick in front of you. I mean, a lot of people don't want to be in the Jets organization, but that's about as good of a path as you can have in front of you for a starting job.

But the Titans have to win this one. You can't have Robert Solu losing to the Jets at home week one. The Titans, they're scheduled. They have like four brutal games after this, so they have to win this one. I'm going to say the Titans do it. I think the Jets are going to be better this year. I don't think they're going to be good, but I think they're going to be quite a bit better change. Both coordinators had a really good draft.

I mean, I hate to do this team because I think the Titans could be really, really bad at the season, but I'm going to take the Jets to win in Nashville, Biller. Drew talked me into it. Tighten up, baby. Give me Cam Ward at home with all the bold men, dable, Sala. The last home opener in need for the team. Oh, that's right. Oh, all the tradition.

The motivation game. That's right. Did you sit down? Yeah. Did you see last night at Ole Miss, Louisville, at Nissan Stadium, they're just using like old Titans cups at the concessious? Tanna Hill and right, tendery cups. I like it.

Got to get rid of the old inventory. Next week, they'll have Kerry Collins' cups out there. Yeah, I love it. I'm Brett Coleman. And I'm Trevor Sikima. Have you ever watched a game and wondered what really made the difference beyond the final score? That's exactly why we created NFL Pro. I've got a man wide open.

Jayhawks! Every week, we use exclusive next-gen stats insights and NFL content to break down the biggest stories, matchups, and moments from around the league. We go beyond the box score to uncover the numbers, the tendencies, and details that help explain what actually happened on the field. Fires it out in the flat to Barclay, who beats one man, spins past another, leaps over at third. And don't worry, this isn't just a show for stats experts.

We use advanced analytics to help tell the story behind the game, turning the numbers into insights that every fan can understand and enjoy. So whether you're a casual fan learning more about football or a hardcore fan who can't get enough analysis, our goal is to help you see the game in a whole new way. If you've ever wanted to know why a playwork, how a matchup was won, or what most fans missed on Sunday,

NFL Pro delivers insights you simply can't get anywhere else. Listen to NFL Pro. on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. The new NFL season is here, and you should be listening to NFL Daily as we march along to Super Bowl 61. Last year, we had Mike McDonald, Sam Darnold on the field after the game. But that was last year. If you're a football sicko like me, NFL Daily is your kind of show. It is in the name NFL Daily, fresh content in your feed every day all season long.

Matthew Stafford coming off his MVP season. On a dazzling darts from Matthew Stafford. Big-time trades that shake up the NFL. A.J. Brown is loose. And of course, those Seahawks trying to run it back and win another Lombardi trophy. The Seahawks win Super Bowl 60. They are bringing the Lombardi back to the Northwest. If it's happening on a football field, NFL Daily will cover it.

Listen to NFL Daily. on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. The NFL never stops and neither does its newest podcast. The NFL Report hosted by me, Andrew Siciliano. It is your home for everything football. Williams, drifting, sprinting for space, in all times of trouble, put it up for next to the end of time. We're tapping the biggest news stories, giving you expert analysis, fantasy previews, game picks, and more. We fly around every single play.

We dominate every single play. single play. Want to hear from the league's top stars, and of the biggest matchups, we've got you covered. They're a really good football team. We've got to have all hands on deck. Join me at an All-Star cast of analysts for everything you need to know from around the league.

Get new episodes of the NFL Report Monday through Friday all season long. Listen to the NFL Report podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, everyone. I'm Mike Yam. And I'm Trevor Sykima. And together, we host. the NFL fantasy football show.

Fantasy season is upon us. Are you ready to dominate your league? Because if you aren't locked in with us on the NFL fantasy football show, you're already playing from behind. Every episode, we're going to dive into the biggest fantasy headlines. Injury updates that you'll need before kickoff.

The best starts and sits across every position. And matchups, you can exploit to destroy your league mates. You know, we're talking sleepers, breakout stars, and the guys you cannot afford to bench. From rookies on the,

rise to longtime stars still at it, we cover it all. Whether you're a first-time player or a grizzled vet chasing another championship, we give you the advantage and the confidence you need to make every move count. Weekly analysis, hot takes, and unique insider knowledge all in one place. Does fantasy dominance sound appealing to you? Listen to the NFL fantasy football show on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Ingalls. Bingles, three and a half-favor, Bill, you're going to be at this game. So all of you go first. Yeah, Baker Mayfield playing with a chip on his shoulder.

Joe Burroughs coming back from injury. You don't know what you're going to get out of him, please. Who day, who lose? Give me Tampa Bay. What was that? Was that trash talk? Who day, who lose? Oh, yes, who name?

Who lose? Give me the box. Tampa Bay. I'm going to take the Bengals, although, you know, their history is in Week 1 has been brutal in the last few years, even when they've been good.

But I think they win this one. This is a Burrow, I think if he can stay healthy with Zbigia, if I think Burrow has a massive season. So give me the Bengals. This is the healthiest they'll be all year. They will look great. Bengals win big.

And, boys, I'm excited to have great news. I didn't have the answer last year. year or last week, but I do now, our DoorDash guy, he made the team. Oh, he did. Dante Myers, but I have even more to his story that I didn't reveal last time. There's been new, new things that make you love him even more. One, he made the team. He paid his own way with DoorDash money to get a tryout in the CFL before this.

Had to pay his own way, just to even be there. But after the Bingle signed him to be in the preseason, Joe Burrow texted him and said, hey, do you want to work out in the morning? Are you in Cincinnati? And he said yes. But the thing was, he was not. He was in Atlanta. And he got in the car and drove through the night to work out with Joe Burrell the next morning. So all in on our boy, all in our boy, Dante Myers and the Bengals week one. Hope he has a long... He drove by our house. Like, he drove right by my exit there. If he would drove from Atlanta to Cincinnati, up by 75. He got his car, drove in Chattanoon, though, for Jilco Mountain.

And ended up with that is cool. Did he even tell Burrow he did that? No. And Burrow found out later. But he was living with his parents. When Burroughs said, you want to work out in the morning, he said yes. And then just walked out of his parents' house and got to go. That's awesome.

Now, that's a great story. So Dante Myers, that she says his name Moore. Yep. Yep. Dante Myers. Yeah, Moore is a quarterback at Oregon. All right. Well, yes.

Cardinals Chargers. This is the biggest spread of the weekend. Charges a 10-point favorite. This is another potential. ruin, because this, I think most people, if you were just looking at the Survivor League, you would take the Chargers because there's not a lot of times you know they're going to win, but this also feels like the Cardinals can win the game like this. I'll take the Chargers, but this is a Survivor League killer right here.

Yeah, I'm high on the charges this year. I haven't picked them to win that division, so got to have them beaten Arizona in week one. I will trust the circus coaching staff to get Herbert looking good behind that offensive line this year. I say they win big in this one. Yeah, without Jeremiah I love, I think it'll be tough for the Cardinals.

Jacoby Brissette may throw over 50 times in this game, but I'm taking the charger. Yeah, Packers Vikings. This is, who has the main feed that afternoon? Is it Fox or CBS or is it both? They both play an afternoon game this? That might be what happens this week. So this is probably the Brady game.

So this is a spread that doesn't make sense to me. Minnesota is the favorite by a point and a half. So that seems weird to me. I would have assumed Packers by three or three and a half. So I was way often guessing this. That worries me. Same way that, you know, anytime I see that, Anytime it's just so diverse or different than what I thought,

it freaks me out. Still, I'm going to take the Packers, but I feel like I could see Minnesota win by 10 and say, hey, Vegas Gave is the hint, and I didn't do it. Drew? I will follow Vegas to take Minnesota. It's got to be, there's no Michael Parsons. They got the Josh Jacobs situation.

They lost their top two receivers, so they're new there, even though the Packers should still be the much better team. being in Minnesota, I guess that's how they got to that. And I will say, Colin Murray shocks the world and goes 1-0 when in his first game. You know what? I'm flipping.

You got me. You're right. Vegas is giving it the hint. And you can't, when they give you a hint, you have to listen to them because normally they don't do it. So I'm taking Minnesota. Packers are also a general public team where they get over back because there are so many Packers fans.

So Minnesota is still the favorite. Then I'm flipping. I'm picking a bottom. Vikings. What about you, Bill? Great move by Kevin O'Connell to go with a different quarterback. I'm going to take the hint. Give me Minnesota. All right. All three of us, speaking Minnesota. I bet that doesn't happen on many shows. Dolphins Raiders.

Drew, I'll let you go first on this one. I don't even know who the dolphins have except H.A. in these days. So I'm going to say... Well, I know Millie Willis. But I don't know who he's throwing to. But I'm going to trust Malik Willis's legs. And the one player I know with him, I don't know. know the Gentie situation.

He's still questionable at this stage as we record this. So I will say the Dolphins still a win in Vegas behind Malik Willis. Yeah. I kind of, I mean, I think the Raiders can be all right. Genty, I think, what is it, Washington's binding, Brock Bowers, lines better. Kirk Cousins is going to be effective. I'm going to take the Raiders to win it.

Oh, what do you got, Billy? Yeah, I'm going to be screaming. You like that after he throws for four touchdowns in this game. Give me the Raiders. Commanders at Eagles. This will be the Fox game. You know what, Billy, I'll let you go first. Man, tough offseason for Jaden Daniels.

I think it gets even tougher with a blowout loss against the Eagles. I mean, it's not easy to go to Philadelphia, especially week one. I think with AJ Brown gone, not reading a book on the sideline, they'll focus on ball again, give me Philadelphia. Well, has anybody's PR taking a bigger hit in two years than Jane Daniels? His rookie year, I mean, it was so much fun to watch. He had that hell marry against the Bears, and everybody thought he's the future of the league,

and now he gets booed at LSU Stadium on Saturday when they announce his name. They installed a stadium. That was brutal. You know, the commanders, I think I saw him beating the Eagles. like once the last five or six years, even at least once every year. I don't think it'll be this game though, Drew out. We'll take the Eagles in week one.

Me too. I'm in a tough spot, though, because I'm not a commander's believer or a Jaden Daniels believer, but on our fantasy draft, I ended up with Jaden Daniels, so I kind of need him to be something in year three, but I don't think we'll see it in week one here. Washington also has two new coordinators figuring out new operations on both sides.

I will take the Eagles to win here. I saw a story that the commander's fans are kind of all agreeing to call the team the commies, which is, which I kind of like. Honestly, if I was a commander's fan, I would call them the commies too. But that would mean that the Washington team has gone from like the most right-wing offensive name in the NFL to the most left-wing. like they would have hit both sides of the political aisle as far as you could get you got to kind of respect that drew like they're they're going for the extremes yeah and then someone's gonna be like hey guys why don't we just go get what would be the bulldogs or the wildcats

we're the Washington moderates yeah let's uh let's get back here in the middle i do like though i think if i was a commander's fan i would call them the commies all right setting on football uh i feel like this is the I think of game week one every year. The Cowboys play, the Giants. Dallas is throwing a three-point favorite in New York. I'm going to go. I'm going to go with Cowboys.

I think they're going to be really good, at least to start the season. They're going to put huge offensive numbers. I think Dak would be a good kind of long-shot MVP pick, actually. So just give me the Cowboys. We get a Kleenex here as I try to talk about Tower Stipp. It's going to be hard to round. in the Cowboys week one with his thumb injury. All their one back,

but the Cowboys spoiled John Harbaugh's debut. I'm not a believer in Jackson Dart or Cam Scataboo. I'm glad they had fun as rookies. It was a fun show to watch, but I don't think that's going to work out long term there. Cowboys show that week one. First of all, I sold Scataboo stock before it was even, before the IPO even happened.

And I'm, I'm low on Jackson Dart, too. What do you have, Billing? I kind of like the Giants. I mean, Scadaboo's on the fantasy team. I am a believer in Jackson Dart and his running ability. Could be a survivor pool pick, but I do think Dallas's offense is too much. Pickens, Lamb, DAC, like you said, Matt, maybe an MVP type of pick.

I'm going to go Dallas, despite my love for me do. Even if he's good, which I don't know he gets. But even if he's good, he's going to get hurt. You can't play like that. Like, you can't. Josh Allen's the only person who's. can play like that and not get hurt. Everybody else gets hurt.

You can't play football and be afraid of an injury, Matt. Can't do it. I understand, but you don't have to go head first into these linemen like he does. But we'll see. One IQ thing that you're right about, Matt, I saw the Giants this week brought in O's the Mentalist, and I thought everyone was aware that that's a scam now and they're all falling for it. So if they're so gullible to still fall for that in training camp,

which other teams did years ago, then they're just, they're not ready for it. They're not ready for the real thing. So that guy still doing his thing. It works on Can Scataboo and Jackson Dark. So he's not, it's not odds. It votes. Yes.

I believe it's all. See, that's even worse. But Giddley, well, are you going to be O-Z and then tell everybody your name's O's? You know, it's like, you can't, yeah, it's like if my name's B-R-E-A-D and I'm like, no, I'm breed. He doesn't be a name bread. What was the NASCAR driver? It was Joey Legato, who, I remember after he won his first race,

somebody said, everyone calls you sliced bread. And like, they didn't explain why they called him that. And I remember I was sitting in two of my friends, and we were like, why is his, are they not going to explain why people call him sliced bread?

That's the weirdest thing. to call somebody. And then I guess the producer must have told him because they came back from the break. And the answer goes, by the way, the reason they call him sliced bread is because he's the best thing since slice bread, which is still doesn't make the nickname better. And by the way, I don't think it stuck. I haven't really heard that since. But it also got me thinking about the slogan. Why was that afraid? It's the best thing since sliced bread. It feels like sliced bread was, it feels like slicing bread was not a great invention. Anyone could have done it.

At the time, it probably blew their minds, though. I feel like cavemen could have sliced the bread. Here, I have this object. Here's bread. I'll cut it. Well, if that we can have sandwiches, before, you just had to eat the whole loaf in one sitting. Now, it's place bread. You always have people figured out that they can break it apart? No.

New concept. Sandwiches blew their minds. They still have recovered. So, Tony, if I was Julie Lugano and people are like, we're going to call you sliced bread because you're the best. I'd be, okay, start over. All right, Monday, not football, Broncos at the Chiefs, a big game for whoever's going to end up winning the AMC West. Chiefs are a three-point favorite. My home's back.

Jaylon Waddle's on the Broncos. You've got, can you, your kid was, or, sorry, there's, Kid from the, why is my name blanking from the city hawks? There's a running back. Walker, Wall of the ground. He's going to call him Kenneth Wilson because I know I've got named Kenneth Wilson. David Walker from the Seahawks, who you got? Oh, this is going to be such a good game. I'm going to take the Broncos.

I almost said Chiefs because I think Kenneth Walker is such a difference maker, but I'm going to trust the Broncos to blow up the Chiefs just a little bit more after the F. F. West got flipped upside down last year. This game's in Kansas City, but I'll still like the short upset in this division. Billy.

I think Denver's a sneaky pick to go to the Super Bowl this year for me. So I'm going to take the Broncos to win in Arrowhead week one. So I might have learned this stat today on my drive. Over the last two seasons, excuse me, last year, Kenip Walker, Jr., had 44 explosive plays. That's runs of 12 yards or more for the Seahawks. In the last two seasons combined, the Chiefs have only had 42 with all their running backs. Combined.

Yeah, you all should seem impressed about that. That is a bright of light as that. I think he's going to make a massive difference for the Chiefs. Now, I still don't know if they have any wide receivers and Travis Kelsey. It's like 900 years old. But I do think he makes a huge, huge difference for them. As long as he's healthy, he will be healthy of this game. So I'm going to take the Chiefs to win out.

To Billy's point, one of the better all-around rosters in the league. But Mahomes versus Bo Nix. I agree with you. I think the Broncos roster stacked, but I still don't believe in the quarterback in the end. All right. Well, guys, thank you all very much. much, Billy. Thank you for coming in tonight. Right now Florida State and SNU are playing on my television.

I just got the electricity back on. Did you see after electricity was out for an hour and a half? Yeah. Mike Norvell probably wishes it was still off as they're losing 7-0-0-0-2. Do we want to do the touchdown parlay this year? Well, we want to do two things. We want to do our Survivor League and the touchdown parlor. Okay.

So let's serve the Survivor League. Who won it last year? Was it you, Billy? It was me, and I think I almost went the entire year. Yes, you did. So, Billy, I will let you make the first pick. We can't pick the same one, and we rotate. So we'll go, Billy.

I think I got farther than Drew, so we'll go Billy, need, and Drew. And then next week, we'll switch it around. So I'm picking winners, correct? All you do is pick a survivor. But remember, you can only use the team once throughout the year. Right. So I will pick the Jags to beat the Browns as my week one survivor pick. Okay.

Well, if you're going to do that, so you can't use the Jags for the rest of the year. So that's probably the best pick. I'll take the Chargers to beat the Cardinals. That would be my only time using the Chargers. So, Drew, who do you want from the rest of them? I will take the Lions beating the Saints. All right. So we each each use one.

Now, this is our touchdown same rules, right? You'd have to pick someone and then you can't use them. What was our rule? You couldn't use the position. How did we do this? We picked a different position each week. So, like, I may go quarterback, Drew would go running back. You'd go either.

We would switch the positions around. All right. So we'll flip it. Drew, you go first. You can pick either quarterback or running back or receiver. Since he was quiet in the Super Bowl, I say Jackson Smith and Jigba finds the end zone against the Patriots in the first game of the season. All right. So you're taking Jackson Smith and Jigba.

Is that right, Bill? He can't pick him again the rest of the year. Is that correct? That's correct, but if I can keep up and remember who's everybody's picked. That's why you have to write them down. That's right. That's what I'm doing. And it's actually score a touchdown.

That's right. It's actually physically score a touchdown. And quarterback's a rushing touchdown. Yes, that's what I mean. Quarterback, I'm going to take, let's see here, who plays somebody bad? I guess I'll take Jamir Gibbs. and take a running back against the Saints. I'll take Gibbs.

That means Bill, you have to take a quarterback. Okay, I will go Jackson Dart. There we go. So there's your, those are your touchdown picks. Guys, thank you all very much. Everybody, with the listeners out there,

please subscribe if you have not yet to the Cover Zero feed and tell a friend or a neighbor or your mailman. We will see you next week. 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. Whether you're a seasoned NFL fan or new to the game, there's one place to keep up with all of it, the league's newest podcast, the NFL report, hosted by me, Andrew Siciliano,

it is your home for everything football, breaking news, expert analysis, game picks, and hear from your favorite players too. Join me at an all-star cast of experts for everything you need to know from around the league. Get new episodes of the NFL report Monday through Friday all season long. Listen to the NFL Report podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The entire draft room groans because you just took the guy they wanted.

There's no better feeling than crushing your fantasy football league. I'm JJ Zachary Eisen, host of the award-winning late-round podcast. Before your draft, our players to target and players to avoid episodes tell you exactly who to circle and who to cross off. Listen to the late round fantasy football podcast on the IHeart radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Mike Yam. And I'm Trevor Sycambe, and together we host the NFL fantasy football show.

Are you ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Because if you aren't locked in with us on the NFL fantasy football show, you're already playing from behind. Whether you're a first-time player or a grizzled vet chasing another championship, we give you the advantage and the confidence you need to make every moment. move counts. Listen to the NFL fantasy football show on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. The new NFL season is here. And you should be listening to NFL Daily as we march along to Super Bowl 61. It is in the name NFL Daily. You'll have fresh content

in your feed every day all season long. That game winning drive. Maybe it's Herbert. Maybe it's Gino. Maybe it's Mahomes. We'll have the highlights. If Fernando Mendoza or any of the rookies are balling out, we'll break down the tape. Join me, Greg Rosenthal, and an all-star cast of co-hosts as we preview and recap every game. Listen to NFL Daily on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.