KSR - NFL Cover Zero: NFL Week 1 and Playoff Picks!

Episode Date: September 4, 2025

Matt Jones and Drew Franklin get prepared for NFL Week 1 and have watched more preseason games then they usually have in the past! Matt explains why he won't be playing fantasy football this season.  Is there any chance we see an opening night upset from the Cowboys over the Eagles?  The Friday game overseas is always a bit of a wildcard, so you never know what will happen! Could Taylor Swift be the halftime show at the Super Bowl?  Ravens/Bills on Sunday Night Football could be the best game of the week!  Matt ranks the remaining games in Week 1 in order that he'd like to watch them.  Matt and Billy explain how they'll be watching all of the games.  Matt explains why he's all in on the Jets.  Is the NFL headed to an 18 game schedule to even up the home and away schedules?    Matt talks about revamping a sports bar he's part of and how meals get voided.  Back to the Week 1 schedule with the remaining games.  Don't you want your QB to be handsome?  Matt believes in the Bears season, but how does he feel about the home opener on Monday Night Football? Matt and Drew give their OFFICIAL Playoff picks! We wrap up with 'Survivor Picks' and they're 'Anytime TD Scorers'!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. It's episode two of the NFL Cover Zero podcast. We welcome all the folks who listen to episode one or who just came upon this one as their first one. Please like and subscribe. Maybe give us a rating. Say something really nice.

It's kind of exciting, Drew. to have new listeners who are not from where we're from. We're both from Kentucky. Like I just got to follow on Instagram from the Chiefs fans of Nashville, which is very exciting, very specific. So if I ever go to Nashville and I want to watch a Chiefs game, I will go where those people say. You know, that's drivable.

We could go meet up with the Chiefs fans of Nashville if we ever need to. Yeah, I like the Chiefs fans of Nashville. I mean, I'd say maybe Taylor Swift's relatives would be part of it. But so thank you to all those folks. You can follow us. He's Drew Franklin, KSR on Instagram. I'm KY Sports Radio. So feel free to join us.

Now, episode one went really well. We did the rankability or excuse me, watchability of all the teams. But, you know, there are actually games now. This isn't theoretical. We are recording this on Wednesday afternoon. Games start tomorrow night. Are you feeling the excitement? Oh, I'm very excited.

I mean, I watched a lot of the preseason, probably more of the preseason than the average viewer. Got a good little taste of it, but now I'm ready for the real thing. And as always, we have some marquees games right out of the gate that I'm looking forward to. I watched more of the preseason this year than every preseason in my life combined, which is I watched three quarters of a game because I don't watch the preseason. I always turn on the NFL Hall of Fame game, get excited, and then say, this is awful. But I did watch some of it for the local announcers, etc. But now I'm ready for the regular games.

I do have to ask you, I don't know this about you. Do you do fantasy football? Like, do you do the, hey, I got Mar Jackson and quarterback. Like, do you do that? I don't. And there's a story 10 years ago, I did like we got together like in a group. We did the draft. It was a thing.

I had an incredible year. I might have lost like one week. A lot of it was luck. I think I had like. I think a lot of it's luck. Well, I think I had a running back, maybe like, so far back, maybe it was like when Stephen Johnson was first put on the map, whatever the case, Stephen Jackson, excuse me.

But at the end of the season, I'm a runaway winner, and the commissioner says, no one paid at the beginning of the year but you. And I had to go person by person and be like, hey, you owe me 50 bucks from September. Did you ever get it? No, and I got like three of the guys, but it completely soured me on fantasy, and I haven't done it since. You know, one of our fellow NFL podcasters, Bobby Bones, who I think does a podcast with the NFL,

with Matt Castle, he invited me to his league. And it was like him, eight of his college friends and me. And they had a draft. They drafted every year. And they used it like a lot of college friends who do. They talked trashed each other, et cetera. And I felt bad because I didn't know any of these people. So I did like a whole year where, again, I never met any of them.

I think I came in like fourth or something in the league. And then the next year it came for the draft. And I was like, I feel like I really didn't participate. So I just came in and was like, you know, you suck to these strangers. You know what? Like, yeah, you can do that because you drive up a nasty car. And I don't think they liked it. I don't think his friends thought that I should be doing that since I didn't know them.

So I didn't get an invite again after the next year. So I did two years. And then I got cut from the league. That's what I miss is the trash talk every week. You know, now it's become this big thing to have a bet. I'm just still so mad from my league 10 years ago when the commissioner didn't collect the money that I'm boycotting it.

I'm jealous, but I don't do it. So we're not in it, which means we won't be like during the year talking about who's the two things I never want to hear anybody about talk about their fantasy team or a hand in poker. Anytime anybody talks about the two of them, I punch them in the face. And so we're not going to do that this year as well. What we are going to do is talk about the games. So I think we got to get started Thursday,

night football, you're going to have Mike Tarrico and Chris Collinsworth live from the city of brotherly love where they'll give out their gaudy Super Bowl rings. It is the Eagles and the Cowboys. You know, normally this would be a celebration of Philadelphia. We've seen over the years, though, sometimes the team that is in this game will get upset. But the Cowboys seem like such a rudderless ship that I feel like this is almost a gimmee for the Eagles. Is there any reason I'm excited about the game, but is there any reason it has any chance of being close?

I don't think so. I think the spreads a little high. It's like eight and a half. But the Cowboys, we all know the recent news. Not a great PR situation for the Cowboys as they come into game one of the new season. But just as a neutral observer of the NFL, I love a good rivalry game right here. Even if I don't think it's going to be very close, I love that we have Philadelphia, Dallas, first one up on our TV. Whatever you think of it, that's one of the better rivalries in the league.

So I like Thursday night football because the NFL always, for the first game, they always bring a concert in. But it's like, it's usually not a huge star. They save those for later on. So they'll go, you know, they'll come in. They'll be like, for the game, 98 degrees. And then they come out and sing, I swear. And people get really excited about it.

But it's week one so they can just kind of give you anything. And you'll be excited. We're getting anything but Michael Parsons. Yeah, exactly. Every year there's always one massive upset in week one happens almost every season. Any chance this is the one? I mean, is there any chance that we get a Cowboys saying Jerry Jones middle fingers up, shirt off in the center of the field getting a victory?

I won't write off and upset at all. That's why I think the spreads a little high. Rivalry game, game one, we don't know a lot about these teams. Eagle's secondary, what can they be? Maybe Dak goes back to his best form, has a great year, or the real scenario, the Cowboys win this, get all their hopes up, and they fizzle out as the year goes on. That would be the most likely scenario.

There's only two, there are two sort of results I'm looking for. One, Cowboys win. Philadelphia fans, I like to see them frustrated. But, you know, they can't get that first. They just won the Super Bowl. And they won a few years ago with Nick Falls. So you can't really complain if you're the Cowboys. So an upset is cool.

But second, I want the Cowboys to lose by like 35. Because I have to tell you, I've said on these here airwaves before, nothing is more entertaining than a Cowboys postgame show when it's over. Because there's two radio stations. There's one that's official Cowboys Radio, and they'll come on and they'll go. You know, I think if Dak just starts seeing the receiver better, he's going to be able to. Oh, next week, CD Lamb will be more integrated.

in the offense. And then you go to the other one and they're like, Jay Jones needs to be sit off on a raft. Like the two combinations, it's so great how much they diverge from each other. I like to see a big route for late Thursday night falling asleep to ranting postgame shows. We rude for the star in my household.

Is that because of your wife? Well, I grew up a Cowboys fan because the Titans literally didn't exist. And then they, being from Western Kentucky, when a pro team pops up an hour from your house, You're allowed to pick up a new team. But I haven't forgotten when I was a child, my bedroom was decorated in the cowboy stuff. So I haven't forgotten that.

I still root for them as a secondary team. I remember you used to walk around like in Alvin Harper socks and nothing else at the bars sometimes. And I was like, what are you doing? Oh, I had this picture above my bed. It was obviously Photoshop. But it's like Texas Stadium, welcomes true Franklin. Like my grandmother found it in some catalog. But a big Cowboys fan growing up.

it just died as time went on like the Cowboys. Yeah, I like the Eagles to win fairly easily. But I'm looking forward to it. I love Chris Collinsworth. Chris Collinsworth, to me, is kind of the modern sound of football. I still forget that Al Michaels is not on the game. I think I've said probably 15 times Al and Chris. I guess he's now with Herb Street on Amazon.

But I'm missing him. I feel like Al and Chris, they were like good buddies. They both sweater vested together. and I just, I kind of, I miss them being on TV. Chris and Slide. I think it's Mike Tarrico. I like Mike Tarrico. Yeah.

Everybody likes to Chris Collins wear a slide too when he comes in from off screen. So it would be good to see that again. Well, didn't they go Friday night? Always a wild card. They're going, they're in Brazil. Sal Palo, one of the biggest cities in the world, they're going. I saw today they, you know, when people go to a foreign country, sometimes we forget just to be normal, you know?

So like they would, these American journalists would ask the players, they were doing the interviews and they were like, hey, hey, hey, Travis Kelsey. Can you spell Brazil? And you're like, you don't have to act. Well, could he? You don't have to act like you're going to a mystical land that no one's ever been to. It's just Brazil. But you get the chiefs and the chargers.

The NFL hire influencers to go. is I speed? I show speed. This should be a big game for him. This would be a big game for him if he's going. I believe it's like the announcers are I show speed, Mr. Beast. And Al Michaels. And Alex Earl.

That'd get a lot of viewers, those three. So it is on YouTube. Yeah, I think so. Okay. Just regular YouTube, not YouTube TV. As I'm saying it, I'm in my own head. Like, how does this work? Do you just log on YouTube and there it is?

Say, you laughed. That's what I thought like about today. I'm saying it. Do I just go on to YouTube and search football game? Like, where is it? I got my cooking videos over here. The Chiefs Chargers pulled up. I mean, I did find when Kelsey and Taylor Swift did their podcast, I got on YouTube and it was just there.

So that's what all happened with this game too? Yeah. No subscription required. Who's on the guy? Who calls it? I do, I'm not kidding. I think they have YouTube influences. I don't think they're the main announcers.

But I think you can watch a game where like Kisanat, just does backflips up and down the field. I would tune in for that. I mean, I think so. Do we know who's actually doing the game? I'm trying to pull it up. Here, we'll get Billy our producer to look at it up. I'd like to know who's on it.

It's Chiefs and Chargers, another division game. You know, last year the field got all messed up. Presumably that will be better. So this is a chance to see if the Chiefs can kind of bounce back from what was a mediocre regular season last year. For the international games when I get to wake up at 9 a.m. And they're just on TV. This one, I think we're kind of maybe an hour off.

Time change. Isn't that crazy? I don't know. What's the Brazil time? I think it's just an hour off. It's not like the London games where we get a little early morning. You have some information, actually? Yeah, we got a little Rich Eisen and Kurt Warner in Brazil.

Oh, Kurt Warner. Nice. Rich Eisen, ESPN Network or ESPN and NFL and Kurt Warner. It's YouTube, right? It is YouTube. It is YouTube and YouTube. exclusively. And am I right that like I show speed is in it? Isn't there a YouTube influence thing? Yeah, Mr. Beast, uh, Kisenet.

I was just saying they're all doing something. Yes. I haven't read the. Look at that. See, you left at me. They're doing something. I literally named the only three people I know on YouTube and they're all there. All three of them are involved. Yeah. Shows the NFL knows its audience. They know exactly who you wanted to see in this game. I wanted to see Kaysenat and I show speed. Well, I, um, Well, good. And robe grill. Robe grill?

I'm dais. I just pulled it up. What's a robe grill? I don't know. What does that even mean? Is that robe like wear a bathrobe? That's the person's name. 4.15 million subscribers.

Really? What does he do? Goes to NFL Games in Brazil. I'm looking forward to it. Okay, good. What about Todd Chrysling? Is he there? Actually, he just got out of prison.

So he could be there. Okay. So. I always wonder, and I actually heard a player talk about this recently. I mean, we consider the travel on the players, but he was talking about, I think they played a game in Ireland. And you have your routine of your diet. And maybe Ireland doesn't have what you go out and eat every meal. And that they have to, some teams have to, like, ship entire, you know, meal plans to these countries just to get ready for the games.

And you're required to samba. It's got a samba. You have to samba. Well, they have the vivizales. What was the big World Cup thing they had there? Yeah, where they go. No, that was South Africa. That's a different continent.

Well, World Cup was here. World Cup was there. Maybe they add them too. They opened the World Cup in the stadium in 2014, so maybe there's still some paraphernalia hanging around. Well, I'm excited about it now that I know where to find it. I know it's on YouTube. I'm excited about it.

Although, actually, I won't be able to watch it. I'm going to Red's batting practice that night. They're letting me attend batting practice. I'm going to give L.A. some pointers. He hadn't hit a home run since early July. I'm going to tell Ellie Dale Cruz, you've got to wait on the ball. While you're sitting there watching Ellie

because at YouTube, you can be listening to I show speed on your phone right there behind home plate. Do you like the chiefs in this? I don't love the chiefs. I don't either. I like the chiefs. I don't love the chiefs. What's the spread? The spread is, they're three and a half point favorite. Three and a half points, yeah.

If I were going to bet, I'd bet the charges. I think I'm just going to call it. I think I'm taking the charge. Yeah, against the spread, I would definitely take the charges. As far as the game, you know, it feels like whenever there's a premium showcase, when the world is watching, the Chiefs usually step up. And I feel, you know, yeah, Travis Kelsey would be married to Taylor Swift, but I show speed is going to be there. And Kassanet and Roe Grill. And more importantly, Rob Grill. And Taylor, or, excuse me, Taylor, Travis and Patrick are going to want to make sure they're ready.

So I will take the Chiefs to win, but Chargers to cover. The Chiefs also have a big advantage. I feel like here lately, the NFL is like, just put the Chiefs in this game. Last year, they played on every day of the week or Tuesday. Christmas, yeah, just make it the Chiefs. They always put them on Christmas, Thanksgiving. They make them play on Arbor Day. That was too far, by the way.

The Arbor Day game was completely unnecessary. They're big. If they don't know what else to do with somebody, just send the Chiefs there and they'll take care of it. Now, throughout our game picks here, we also don't want to act like there's not news. We love news. News happens in the NFL all the time. And Billy, our producer, is going to come in and give us in-between games some news. So, Billy, I have not followed the headlines.

Give me our first headline from the NFL news. Yeah, here's a piece of news for you, Matt. Today, Roger Goodell was on the Today Show. And he confirmed that he is a Swifty. Who's on the Today Show? Roger Goodell. No, I'm like, the host, every day? Regular host.

Is it, so Matt Lauer's not on there anymore. Is this Hoda? I think she retired, didn't she? Well, then I'm behind on my Today Show. Today's show, it's not Katie Couric. It is not Deborah Norville anymore. Oh, Jenna Bush. Isn't she on it?

George W. Bush's daughter? I'm usually watching Good Morning Football during this time. Yeah, Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin. I've never heard of that. Al Roker, of course. What? Al Roker's still going? Yeah.

Good for Al. If I had told you Al Roker was still on there, would you believe that? I wouldn't have. Good for Al. Wow. Who's Craig Melvin? Is that what you said? Craig Melvin.

Never heard of that guy. Co-anchor. And then who else? Carson Daly and Jenna Bush. Carson Daly is on there? He's also the host of the voice. Wow. Carson Daly is that?

What happened to Jesse? For me? Carson's not doing TRL anymore? I used to rush home. I'm not sure who surprised me more. Craig Melvin or Carson Daly on there. Okay, so he was on there. What did he say?

He confirmed he's a Swifty. And then he hinted at the possibility of Taylor Swift performing at the Super Bowl halftime show this year. Said it was a maybe. Well, everything's a maybe, I guess. It feels like she should do. If you're going to do it, this is the year. You and your husband will be off knitting and, you know, going. to pottery classes starting next year.

So this is the year she should do it. And then, of course, if Travis is playing, he wins the game, they go off into the sunset. And she definitely, she's going to go. I think it's happening. The internet even found, you know, she's all about leaving the Easter eggs and the nuggets everywhere, giving hints. And when she did the Kelsey podcast, there was like a little Lombardi trophy on the shelf and a few other things that the internet thinks might have been hints.

And isn't it also like her number? is 13. Yeah. And this is his 13th year in the NFL. Numberology, I think she calls it. Yeah. I saw on that podcast. She also said on that podcast that she, they asked Jason Kelsey said, what do you do for fun? And she said sourdough bread. Mm. Which I think is actually a really good answer because, you know, unlike you all, I still occasionally, you know, I'm single. So I'll have to meet somebody new. And inevitably one of the boring first questions is, what do you do for fun? There's no answer I can give that doesn't sound like I'm the most boring person in the world.

You know, I watch the Gilded Age. It's seven hours of radio. I read long walks. Sometimes when it's crazy, I play golf, but, you know, I've been hurt my back. So if you can answer something like sourdough bread, That's a unique, I mean, I think. Are you saying you're going to still Taylor's answer? Like on your next day, you're going to say sourdough bread?

That would be bad because I don't know. But it would be nice to be able to have something unique like that. Like she said sourdough bread. And I thought, well, that's a very unique answer. Also a very homely answer for a megastar that can do anything she wants on the planet. Maybe even on other planets, she has so much money. But she's like, no, I just like to sit at home and bake. She needs.

Yeah, she need bake. Like to have a little sourdough in or free time. That's a thing, right? Neat. Yeah, with a K. What does that mean when you roll it? Yeah, you're just kneading the bread. You're just wanting.

You're getting roughed up and ready to be baked. All right. Well, good for her. I don't know what that has to do with this game. But I'm doing Chargers. Excuse me. Chargers cover Chiefs win. You know, I'm just going to go the upset.

It's episode one for us of picking games. I'm not going to sit here and be the guy picking all chalk. Let's go Chargers in Brazil. Love it. Sunday Nightfo. I'm kind of doing these games in order of my interest in. Sunday night football, Ravens, Bills. What a great game.

Can't believe we get this. I mean, this is probably the best game. Once again, they slide Torrico and Collinsworth back in. They get all the good stuff now. Lamar, Josh Allen, two most exciting guys in the NFL, probably. The game is in Buffalo. They started drinking yesterday. it's going to be

it's going to be awesome. Plus, my mom is going to be close to Buffalo at that time. And I'm not going to tell you where she is, but let's just say it'll be 150 miles away. Okay.

Draw a circle around. Yeah. She said to me, she goes, do you think there'll be traffic? And I was like, not where you are. 150 miles. From the state. I think you're probably good.

No one's going to put you through a table. You're going to be fun. They might be in a different time zone. I think you're going to be all right. But I'm excited about this. Who's more fun for you to watch? Lamar, Josh Allen. That's tough.

I mean, when this was announced, just thank you NFL, the one game off, Sunday night, wrapping up the weekend there before the Monday game where you have essentially what could be an AFC championship. I got burned on the Ravens pretty bad last year. I never make future bets. I hate like just half. having the receipt in my account.

But last year, I bet on the Ravens to win the Super Bowl. I really thought Lamar was getting over the hump. They had my guy, Derek Henry, even though I want to vomit, seen him in that jersey. I thought it was their year, and they burned me. I'm not putting faith in the Ravens again. This year, I think I'm going to make a futures bet on the Bills. I'm going to ride the Bills to get over the hump. Somebody's got to get over the hump this season.

If the Bills don't win this year, it's never going to happen for. I mean, this is the year. I think it's set up well for them. They've got probably the best roster. They were the best team, I think, even last year. And it just, you know, they ended up losing a game at the end. How about a week one game with potential implications? No, this is definitely, this is a seating game in week one, for one.

For sure. First Sunday night. Yeah, for sure. This is a seating game. I think for both these teams, they sit there and they look at how their season ended. Both teams ended with like a pass dropped that if they won, they might have thought they'd won the Super Bowl. So I can't wait for this. This would be the best game.

just so you know, we will go, we're recording episode three live right after this game is over on Sunday night. So it'll be in your feed probably Monday morning when you wake up. I'm going to take the bills only because they're at home. The game is in Baltimore. I would take them. Baltimore, a one and a half point favorite here on the road in Buffalo. Really? Yeah.

But I also like the bills. As I just said, Ravens burned me last year when I believed in them. I do think Henry is still Derek Kennedy. and they're going to be right in the mix at the end of the year. Why would the Ravens be the favorite? I'm not sure. No, like, that doesn't make any sense to me. I mean, a lot of people have Ravens as the number one power rank team,

but, I mean, you're going on the road into Buffalo. At night. Yep. I mean, I guess it won't be cold yet, but still, that's really surprising to me. That's my first, they know something. It does make you, it's a little fishy. They know something. What do you think they know?

The outcome. Derek Henry fell in love. He might already be married, Billy. Just for the record. I have no source. He probably's already married. But, yeah, it feels like they might know something. Yeah, but I like the bills here.

Bill's year. Bill's year. Okay. Josh, speaking of married, Josh Allen first married game, right? Yeah, he married Haley Stanfield. Yeah. She's in... So he's laser-focused.

She's in centers, right? Yep. Yes. It's great movie. First married girl for him. She's, she's, I... Josh Allen, had to spend four years of his life in Wyoming.

And then he moves to Buffalo. And then he moves to Buffalo. You know what? He deserves to be happily married to Haley State and family after all that. His mind is probably blown on these road trips to L.A. and all these big cities. What is this? That's right. He goes to New York.

What, golly? He wants to play the Jets every week. What? New York City. Haley, can you believe this? Do you think he goes straight to the Applebee's? times where. That's exactly right.

They got pizza open all night. I don't know why. This is what you are going to be used to all season long. We're just getting started. I'm just telling you, that's what I think he sounds like, having spent Wyoming in Buffalo. All right. Looking at the Sunday day games, there's a lot of matchups that are kind of, but the 430 game I ranked fourth is Lions and Packers.

For me, I put that fourth as a fourth best game because I want to see. see, you know, I think it's Mike, although he may not play. I got a lot of angry messages one podcast in from people telling me that Micah did not hurt his F4, F5. It was an L4, L5. They were like an F4 is a plane, an elf, an L4 is a lumbar injury. So I apologize to all the spine specialists out there that I screwed up in episode one. We don't claim to be a medical podcast. We are an NFL podcast.

We're football guys. We don't know about L-4s and F-F-Fs. Lombars. Another big one with huge implications, though, for as the year goes on. I think this will be the closest division. Yeah, I mean, this is a – but this is a division where I think teams are going to drop it because all the teams are good or potentially going to be good.

Do you think Michael plays? I would think he should probably sit down, right? He's got a – when you have an L-4. Yeah, I mean – Well, and an L-5. I mean, he could play if it had just been his L2 or his F2, but being that 4, you don't want to further risk injuring that. L4.

Yeah, that too. Bingo. No, I think he sits out. I think he sits out. Yeah, I do too. And it just adds to the suspense. I still am going to take, well, actually, we went to week one last year in Green Bay, and they lost.

They're not going to lose two years in a row on week one. So give me the Packers. to win the game at home. I'm going another upset pick. Going to Lions. What's the spread? Is it an upset? Green Bay's three-point favorite. The odds for that division actually changed with Micah.

Lions were a favorite to win. Now the Packers are. But I'm sticking with the Lions. Why do you like the Lions? I mean, you're lost both coordinators. I know. They're my pick to win the division, and I think, I mean, this game will go a long way and winning the division.

Do you have Hayton Hutchinson back? He was out most of last year, but you lose two coordinators. You know, that's tough. I mean, you lose the offensive genius. People talk about Ben Johnson like he's, you know, Todd or McVey or Shanahan. You think they overcome it, though? Dan Campbell's the type of dude that'll walk in and take a cheesehead off someone's head and just take a big bite out of it and spit it out and kind of get his boys fired up.

So even though those were, I mean, obviously two of the best coordinators anywhere last season, I still think their operation will be just fine. Yeah. I mean, he doesn't seem like an end. intellect to me to begin with. So I feel like he's a man. I mean, no offense to him. But he feels like a man, like a CEO type, more than a X and O guy.

So maybe he can find people who were as good or close to his good to replace. I remember when he kind of debuted on Hard Knocks, we're getting the first look at him. I remember thinking, this is never going to work. That's when he went. And then he absolutely turned them around. He was like, you know that Metallica song. like stare into the soul of the sea of the depths of the abyss and then you look at it and say tackle it in the ass you want me to clip that that was great that was exactly what he said I think we leave it

absolutely yeah I don't know that's exactly those are his exact words but it was It was something like that. Like an SNL character, breaking my character over, just giggling at your Dan Campbell. I don't think that was exactly what he said. But it was probably paraphrase. That's another one to welcome our new listeners that don't understand us. Yeah, exactly.

So, Lyons. Lye. Packers. Oh, my. Billy, give us another piece of news now. We can break that up into the next thing. Yeah, so this news comes from the Pat McAfee show. Do you guys watch that at all?

Only if I'm forced to do in a barbershop. I'm familiar with it. Yeah. Well, Scott Hanson was on the Pat McAfee show. I'm fine with that. I don't know why I said that. I've been to a barbershop. He said that the NFL Red Zone will contain commercials in some capacity this year.

His new intro will be... Somebody has to pay for this podcast. Seven hours of Red Zone football starts now. Yeah. I was amazed they for so long did it without commercials. I would just ask this. I understand you've got to have commercials. I wish there was an option, though, where you could still get it without commercial.

Speaking of that, do you have our log ins for Red Zone? You need to ask them for that. I don't know if I do. Let's see if... We need to try to get that. But anyway, yeah, I... It's sad, though. I always thought, what was it, Scott?

Hanson. Hanson. And then what was the other guy's name? Andrew Siciliano. The fact that they could stand there and not use the restroom for that long, I was always very impressed. Yeah, it kind of felt like it was heading this direction when they merged, but it does kind of take away what made it so impressive was you knew exactly you were getting on Red Zone. It was just nonstop.

We just assumed they had catheters and we're getting, you know, fed through a tube there to get through the show. They fed through a tube. Not the same tube as the catheter. I'm not someone that even watched Red Zone, but I've seen a lot of people there are upset. I love it. You don't watch it? Well, I get Sunday ticket, and then I do YouTube TV, It has made it hard for me to consume regular games because I love it.

I think it's one of the best products any sport has ever come out with. And I'm not even being a shill for it. I think it's awesome. I had the direct TV version, so I got Andrew Siciliano, and I thought he was great. And then last year I had Scott Hansen, I thought he was great. I mean, so it won't stop me from watching it. But I, you know, it's a little bummer. It's a little bit of a bummer.

It was kind of the last thing where commercials hadn't. Oh, yeah. I would subscribe and check in on it. I'm just kidding, but go ahead. I would subscribe and I would check in on it, but I got my routine. Main TV, Titans with Sound and the Side TV with four other games on Sunday ticket and that I could rotate. That's kind of every Sunday you can expect that. Red Zone, it was just a little too fast-paced for me.

It was part of the reason I can't sleep at night because of the Red Zone. I was so used to it. Well, you know, the, now they have a commercial. break. And as somebody who's done a lot of radio, when I do, you know, I host an ESPN Sunday morning NFL preview show. And sometimes, you know, you try to use the restroom during the break. One time a couple years ago, I jumped up there like a minute left and I was like, I have to use a restroom. And I ran and I tripped over the cord and hit my head on the couch. So then I come back and my head is pounding.

I've cut it. I've got like a little string of blood going. I'm like, it's sunny morning. It's Madmeyer and you have to get through. So, you know, Hanson and them having a bathroom break, got to be careful. He said they're not going to miss a touchdown.

Does that mean they're going to look at every game and be like, okay, they're all on the other side of the phone. Because I don't want to miss live. That's the point of it. You're bang, bang, bang. But they've always missed some live. Like they'll come back and, yeah, They give you, you're on one and then sometimes they'll break in.

So I think it's a great product. The commercials are a bummer, but it won't ruin it for me. All right. My next one is Steelers Jets, not because the game will be great, but the whole Aaron Rogers, you know, Justin Fields. Although I feel like Justin Fields has got to be like, you know, I played for them last year. No one has mentioned. I think you're the first person to mention him this week.

No one seems to care that it's the different. for both. It's all Aaron Rogers. I will be watching and booing Aaron Rogers. I'm going to boo Aaron Rogers. We can have him as a guest on the podcast, and I would just booing the whole time. So I'm all in on the Jets this week. He's got to run it back with the American flag and just recreate the whole entrance, right? You want to do I.

We got to redo this. Yeah, my first big New York entrance didn't work. Let me try it again. Honestly, you say in Justin Fields, I'm on an NFL podcast right. He's going back to that stadium where he did the flag. He actually kind of has to do that. Yeah, you got to just replay it all over. Although he might have some bad memories from that.

But if you're a Jets fan, you just got to be like this guy. They have to. If you're a Jets fan, if he comes in and then plays well and beat you. Oh, especially if that. I just mean seeing him, period. You got to have negative feelings. Even though bad circumstances and injury did not work there. If he comes back and plays well and, you know,

Pittsburgh has a great game, leads Pittsburgh to a big one. win. Of course, that's even worse. You've ever been to a game at that stadium? I have. Monday night football. Yeah, I was at WrestleMania there. I've told the story in other outlets, but the New Jersey train system shut down. They didn't.

Somebody did not plan that 95,000 people would be trying to leave WrestleMania. And I don't know if you remember this. People got stuck in the parking lot. But I loved it because I think it was the closest that if the zombie apocalypse ever comes, what's it going to be like? the Meadowlands parking lot that night after WrestleMania, because people were physically assaulting each other, trying to get in cabs and ubers. And as we drove away, I looked back and I was like, it's Mad Max.

You know, when they're all in the car and there's axes. So I've never been to the Meadowlands outside of that scenario. So I want to go to a game this year. I'm hoping the NFL will send us just so I could have a better experience of that entire thing. I also had a very unique experience there. were going to Monday night football and I had, it was four of us and I was in charge of the tickets, but I was trying to wait to the last minute because they're all coming down. So I'm on the train looking at tickets and I'll lose service and I think, oh, I'm starting

to cut this a little close. We get to the stadium. I buy them outside the stadium. Walk right up to the gate, scan in, four tickets. All good. We're inside. We get to our seat. The guy I bought him from had been scanning in at another part of the stadium.

We both get to our seats. We both have the same ticket. Oh. He even says these are. my season tickets. I show him my money's gone. He shows he got my money. And he's like, well, they're yours now, I guess. He ends up buying me a beer because we think it's so crazy. We both get it on the same. So he was going to not come. He was sitting at a bar with his best friend waiting to see if the tickets would sell. I mean, we waited until like 15 minutes for kickoff.

So they just get up from the bar, walk over, and we entered at the same time and get to the seats. But after he saw that he had got my money and I'd paid, we just laughed it off. And he just kind of wandered around our section. He'd come over a little bit and squeeze in. But That was my one MetLife experience. Maybe NFL we can go to a Jets or Giants game so that we each have a different interaction with the Mettelands. It's not even what it's called anymore. MetLife. They still call it to Mettles.

In general, it's the Mettelands. Who you like in this one? I will not pick the Steelers out of principle. So I'm going to take the Jets. Which is a shame because I kind of like the Steelers before this, but I will not root for them as long as he's on the team. So I'll take the Jet. Remember episode one, we ranked teams on watchability.

I had Pittsburgh at number 32. Not a big Steelers guy over here. So you're taking the Jets? I'm going to pick Steelers. Oh, come on. As much as I don't want to see it, I just think the Jets are that bad. I don't know that A-Rod's going to light him up and have a big game. I think he's a little too over the hill, but Steelers win and cover that.

All right. Now, so every week I'll do the Big Five. So that were my Big Five. Now let's do the sort of second tier. Yeah, I'll watch them if it's on. Raiders and Pat's Pete Carroll goes back to his old

stomping ground the Patriots have Drake May got a new coach your guy Mike Vrable I miss him should be I don't know if this game will be interesting

but this feels like the kind of game where the Raiders win and then like in week seven or eight the Patriots might be pretty good and you go how did that happen so I kind of like the Raiders here in sort of a weird one o'clock upset.

There is a guy, however, that does, there's a radio station that's called Serious like betting. And, you know, they have like good people regularly during the day. Then sometimes like two in the morning, I think they just let guys in off the street. And sometimes I'll be driving. I'll hear this guy. When I hear his voice, he has a very distinctive voice. It's like,

his thing, the only thing he ever says when he makes his picks is, West Coast team going to the East Coast, they're going to be tired. And I've heard that for years. So when I see one o'clock game, West Coast team going to the East, it's just the serious X-Eb 2 a.m. Watch out pick. I get it. I get it. I got to go with my guy Vrabel, though. I want the best for him.

You know, it's one of those breakups. Like, well, you know, at least he can be happy. I want him to go find. So you're rooting for him. I am. You know, even when he had the Titans rolling a little bit. She didn't read for Cal Perry when he went to Arkansas. Well, that's what I was going to say.

Even when the Titans were rolling, we always knew we were borrowing variable from the Patriots. I mean, he's one of their all-time legends. He was always a Patriot in Titans closing for a while. So you feel him like maybe. So I want him to, I want it to work for him. Like Kansas fans probably knew at some point Roy Williams was going to go back to North Carolina. Yeah, we enjoyed him. But we always knew that when that.

opportunity opened he would jump at it also uh it's kind of it's not quite taylor swift but you got cardy b might be there for uh diggs the stephan digs debut um i enjoyed on a serious note i thought i didn't know they dated they date oh it's it's the second biggest relationship in the NFL of entertainment what's uh i mean i've heard of cardy b what's her big song like give me a carty b song that i would know what are you laughing at what are you okay before you look it up mr computer what's the Cardi B, so. I mean, there's a lot of them. Okay, well, why don't you name one, Smarty? Is it appropriate here?

Yeah, I was going to ask what's already. Maybe. I mean, WOP. Oh, that she does Wob. Yeah. Oh. Well, I know Wop. And up.

She likes the one syllable. Yeah, I know Wob. It stands for other things. Drip, Wop, up. I think we're starting to see a little routine here with the songs. But, yeah, she could be there. I only know Wop. Watch the Patriots game.

Wap stands for Wop. watch our Patriots. There you go. It's safe. Don't look it up. That's what it stands for. You don't need to Google it. Am I talking you into the Patriots here? No, I'm still going with the Raiders.

Trennerson into preseason? Oh, yeah. All right. So give me another piece of news here. Well, you may have heard that Roger Goodell was on the Today Show recently. He made a comment. Craig Melvin's on there. It's good.

He made a comment and said that moving to 18-week schedule would be a really good move. And not shortly after that. interview, the NFLPA interim executive director, David White, told the Associated Press, he hasn't had any conversations about expanding the regular season. Yeah, but the Players Association is going to ask for, you know, something in return. Because, you know, you had an extra game. That's a lot of money, right? I mean, that's the money for the TV deal.

And the players are going to want more money. I think that's reasonable. Do you like 18 games? I mean, we used to be, when I was a kid, it was 14, now it's 16 for a long time. now it's 17. 18 would make sense so you'd have the same amount of home and away games because right now, you know, you get one more than the other. Even though it's been 17 for a little bit, my brain still will occasionally when I'm making

pick, you know, 8 and 8, you know, doing the math on 16. So I never really have gotten all the way in on 17. So let's just make it 18 for being even. Would there still be a by week? I'm never going to complain about more meaningful NFL games. I didn't see that detail, but the current collective bargaining agreement doesn't end until March of 2013. So we still got a while.

So you got a while. My guess is they go to two preseason games and then 18 regular season games. That'd be about the same amount of time. You know, again, when I was a kid, there were six preseason games, which is crazy to think about now. Didn't know that. That's a lot. Well, I hope there's 18, but at the same time, there comes a point where, you know, these dudes wearing tear will start to add up. You'll have guys up there just in a full cast trying to finish the year for their team.

But I'm for more football anytime I can have it. Yeah. Well, who knew Roger Good. Who knew the Today Show? provide Jenna Bush ask hard questions. I guess we need to tune back in. Let's take a break right here. By the way, I just got a message here, Drew.

So for people who don't know that are not regular listeners bars, we own a sports bar in Lexington, Kentucky. And, you know, we closed for a little while and reopened to kind of revitalize. And one of the things we do, we got this system, which most people had 10 years ago, but we kind of just got recently, where when things go wrong, we know why. So we just got the report of orders that are voided why they were void. Okay.

Can I read you the spillsheet? Well, that way you can fix what's wrong. Right? So like, for instance, one of them, uh, server error. It was, it was, it was entered wrong. And so I had to void it and put the right thing. Got it. Like that.

One of them was food was missing items. Fix that, right? Okay. One of them was kitchen is backed up, had to leave. All those are. are reasonable. This one, this customer,

it's, I think it's on them. Customer changed mind. You don't get to change your mind after the food comes out. Yeah, I was going to say, at what point in the process,

are you three bites in and you change your mind? You can change your mind. You can change your mind while you're ordering. But you cannot. Like, after you've ordered 10 minutes, It's like, you know what? I was thinking about it.

I'm glad they didn't do that in front of me. Here you go, Mr. Franklin. The customer is always right unless you're being ridiculous. You cannot change your mind. Imagine being at a nice steakhouse. Here you go, Mr. Franklin. Medium rare, blue cheese topping, baked potato. Oh, it looks good.

You know what I change my mind? I'll have the spaghetti. Take that back. Eat that cost. I didn't like that. So I need to investigate that more. All right, a couple more mid-tier excitement. Bingles Browns, these two teams that I feel like they open with each other quite a bit.

The Bengals had some crazy streak where they had lost to them, like a ton, and now they've kind of flipped it. This is one of those games. The Bengals are so bad at the beginning of the year. I believe they've lost something like 63 straight season openers. I mean, they are bad the last few years. Can't lose this one. I know it's in Cleveland, but Cleveland has, you know, my great uncle, a quarterback right now.

Bengals, if they want to sort of have a flip from the last couple of years, got to win this game, right? You know, the last few years. I think it's the most pressure any team has in week one. Yeah, the last few years, the Bengals have kind of really crippled their playoff chances by losing games. They're favored earlier in the season. This year, they start out with a couple winnable games. They absolutely cannot lose week one, two. I think you go to a minute, so to week three.

We'll let them have that. But you've got to be two and O as a Bengals fan. Wasn't it last year they ruined everybody's Survivor? League by losing the Patriots, I think. A year before that, McPherson missed like a chip shot extra point against a team. They should have beaten. Bengals fans can be crushed this early. It's the Browns.

It's an in-state rival. It's flaco and everything going on up there. You've got to get it done. Burroughs healthy. You got the best quarterback wide receiver duo in the entire league. This has got to be a win for them. Got to win, right? Absolutely.

Sure, it's a road game. doesn't matter. You got to win this. Got to win. I think they will. So I will take the Bengals. The other mid-tier game I have is 49er Seahawks. Another game that will have implications, potentially at the beginning of the year, you look at these two teams.

They have two of the easiest schedules in the league. And really, especially the 49ers schedule, we went over it the other day. I mean, the 49er schedule is just absurdly easy. And this on paper is like their second hardest game of the season. and it's the one they open with. If they win this, watch out.

There could be a run where I don't even know if they're that good and they have an amazing record. I will say the 49ers and Seahawks play this game at 430 nine different weeks during the season. I thought it was just on the loop. They're like, here you go, the 49ers Seahawks again. Oh, listen, Lions Packers is your main game. We will now switch you to 49ers Seahawks.

We'll take you out live. Please join Matt Versaigian. But I think this will be a good game. Interesting to see what happens with Sam Darnold. Who do you like in this? The 49ers receiver room is held together by the tape right now in Band-Aids. But I'm going to take them here. They need to win.

I think they're more of the 49ers we saw in the Super Bowl a couple of years ago than the team that went 6 and 11 and was crippled by injuries last year. They got to start fresh this year and get back on the right track after last season. I'm going to take him to win. I guess Ricky Pearson might be the only receiver that's healthy, but he's a pretty good one. I'm going to take the Seahawks. I still think the 49ers is going to have a great record. But I think in this particular game setting and all this, I think I'll go with the Seahawks.

Billy, it's going to know a news item. Yeah, some big injury news today coming out from Jets, right guard, Elijah Vera Tucker. he is out with a significant arm injury. It looks to be a tricep injury that will likely hold him out for significant time this year. A 26-year-old was a first-round pick in 2021, and in 2022, he had the same injury but on the opposite arm. That's bad luck. That's bad luck. So we'll see if...

That's insane because, you know, you see that sometimes with like ACLs, because you end up putting too much weight on the other one. Right. I wonder if that happens with triceps. In some ways, it's like, well, I've already been to... through this. I know the rehab. I know exactly what I have to do, but that is crazy to be the same injury. Elijah Vera Tucker. Yep. He was just named a captain for the first time as well, too. Yeah. So it's on the Jets. Same thing they have with Aaron Rogers. I mean, different injury, obviously, but I don't know that I will ever, there's never been a moment in my life that I was

strong enough to contemplate a tricep injury. I'm not sure I've ever used a tricep. I have one. Never put it through much. Yeah, I have one too, but it's been pretty sleepy. Most of it's, you know, bunch of episodes I would have to do something to get, you know, is there any tricep exercise except the one thing where you just like go backwards? What is this, Mario? That's not. That's a different kind of exercise. Isn't that a tricep exercise?

That's why I don't do it. On podcast, people can't see what I'm doing. That looks hard. Well, it stinks for him. This seems for the Jets. They just always have constant bad luck. Yeah, especially an injury. I mean, the season's about to start,

and it's the same injury you've already had on a different limb. Awful news for him. It makes you think about, was Ron Del Moore, freak injury and back-to-back pre-season just a few weeks ago. You hate it. You're right here at the edge of all the work you put in, and you're going to have to miss the year. If I put 32, if I put every team's right guard in front of you.

Wow. What are the chances? you would have any idea who any of them were. They don't have their jersey on. They're just in normal street clothes. I give you all 32 starting right guards. I would have certainly failed the test. I'm trying to think if I could even get four or two.

I don't think you could get one. I could get the Titans. What's his name? Sorotsky. He was a draft pick a few years ago. And you think you would recognize him not in Titans gear. Yeah. Okay.

I'm challenged flag I couldn't even do my own team Tampa Bay I don't know that I've ever known a right guard ever for any team okay again smarty pants give me some right guards of the past

yeah I'm sorry I don't have it I cheated and sent a left guard too knowing you wouldn't catch me so you don't know a right guard either not one that I would you know recognize what is Quinn Nelson Nelson

He's a guard. Allie Marpet. That's my one. He's retired. I thought wasn't she a lawyer on a television show? Ali Marpet. Oh, no. Sorry, that was somebody else.

I got another one. Yeah. Zach Martin. I've heard of him. I could spot him at least. Yeah. I couldn't. No, I certainly can recognize him.

Two. And of the people you've named, I've heard of one, Zach Martin. Big beard, cowboy. Yeah. Quentin Nelson. I said Quentin Nelson. Were you not listening? I'm sorry.

Is he a right guard or is he a left guard? Now we're getting into it. I know Quentin Nelson. Yeah, you said that. Sorry, I popped him ahead. Dan Orlovsky would always tell me, people don't understand what Quentin Nelson means to the Colts. And I was like, no, they don't.

Why would anyone understand that? Listen, our guy. He went to Notre Dame. I know way too much about Quentin Nelson. So if he's a right guard, that's one. Our guy, Freddie Maggard, who covered Kentucky sports with us here in Lexington, he covered Quentin Nelson's draft. He talked about Quentin Nelson, like Quentin Nelson invented the sport of football. You know, Dan Rolovsky has like triplets.

And Dan Rolofsky, I think, have had the choice, would have named them all Quentin Nelson. That is how much he... I can't you be more like Quentin Nelson? Let's say it to all three of them. All right, let's go through these quick. Cardinals Saints. Cardinals are I think they're

set up to have a good year Offense is improved Kyleer if he can quit playing Call of Duty I think it have a good season and I think the Saints are going to suck So I'm going to Cardinals Dolphins and the Colts

This is a loser Their coach gets fired I just I mean these two are good chances For first coach get fired Like one of Mike McDaniel if he loses this game at Indianapolis with Daniel Jones at quarterback.

That's my thing. I can't pick the Colts with that quarterback situation. It is on the road. I know the dolphins aren't exactly knocking on the Super Bowl's door, but I cannot pick Daniel Jones in an NFL. I'll take the Dolphins Giants at the commanders. Commanders. Buy a lot.

Commanders. You think things are going to go well for Russell Wilson? No. I think Daniels... He's married to Sierra, right? Correct. Yes. I think the commanders are going to come down just a little bit,

but they won't be threatened in this game. Russell Wilson, I've noticed, kind of changed his swag. I don't know if you know, like, now he's, like, dressing like he's, you know, like he's dressing, like, Sierra clearly got his closet. It was like, out go the polos and in comes, you know, Versa—I don't know what designers are, but Versace, name a name a designer of choice. He'd be careful. Jackson Darts still.

all the attention in that room. I saw a guy tweet and it was a reporter to that guy. I don't know if they're in the locker room or sideline, but the Giants Colts, Davele just went up to Jackson Dart and hugged him and said, I love you. Who said that? The coach, Giants coach. That's not good if you're Russell Wilson.

You got Dart already. When the coach is saying he loves the backup quarterback. And then you've got James in the corner eating his Ws. I saw a picture online of somebody with Alex Smith and Patrick Mahomes. and they were like Russell Wilson and why does everybody, let me ask a question. Why does everybody think Jackson Dart? Like, why is he supposed to be so great?

He was pretty good at Ole Miss. But remember, I mean, that offense, you don't make any decisions. Lane Kephton tells you who you're going to throw to before the play. Like, why are people so confident he's going to be good? I think the report is that he has aura. He's one of the stars of the preseason. I have had an orres too. I have to take medication for it.

Different one. If there is such thing as being a star of a preseason, he was one of them. Yeah. If you look at the risers, you know, everybody does their stocks after preseason. But it's great hair. It's more of the big one. It's great hair. I don't know how much that's playing into everybody's thing.

I think part of it, I think when you're handsome, people want you to be good. Got an X in his name. Jackson. Yeah. I think that helps. His name's dark. I think it's a really good point. If it was J-A-C-S-O-N, I don't think people are outside.

Where's the headband? But the, see, but the hair is key. handsome get you a long way when you're a quarterback. To be honest with you, I kind of want my quarterback to be handsome. I mean, think about the great quarter. Peyton's the only ugly one. Right.

I mean, no offense to Peyton, but I've got a big forehead. But like Tom Brady, handsome, Aaron Rogers and his prime, pre-vaccine stuff, handsome. Mahomes, handsome, Montana. Rothesburger at one time.

Probably had a lot of it. as Tom went on I think His head got bigger Yeah No but in his prime Handsome Burrow Oh come on

Jalen Hertz Handsome Jaden Daniels Uh Joe Namath So who are the ugly Quarterbacks Well Peyton Peyton catching strays over here

Was John Elway good looking I wouldn't say that Maker play Oh I'd say John Elway was a good looking guy You think so? Yeah I'm just going to rank the hottest quarterback series

Is this what people want on the gun zero? Yeah, I think it's what people want to know. What about way back in the day when the guys looked like they were 50 years old? Well, I mean, why a Tiddle was not the most handsome quarterback in the world. He played with a horseshoe. He was bald. He played like with a horseshoe. Stabler.

Stabler. Stal's my country coming up. Stavler. I think once TV started. You know, Terry Bradshaw, maybe not the Aitman, handsome. I think there's something to my theory. So I think Jackson Dart, that's partially why people are excited about.

Yep, in New York. And Brian Daveo loves him. Jimmy G. Well, he hurts because he's too handsome and thus not good. I'm a Jimmy G. Truther. I think he's going to do well with the Rams. As a matter of fact, let's just go ahead and get to their game. Rams Texans.

I didn't put this as one of the games. It could have been in the sort of mid-tier games. It's just, it's hard for me to. ever get excited about watching the Texans. But these teams, both these teams could be good. Yeah, at least the Texans picked to win their division, even though I might go against that. I like the Rams here.

I think the Texans are due for a little bit of a come down. AFC South's terrible. I don't even know if they'll win that division. Yeah, I'm going to go, I'm going to go Rams. You know, with Jimmy G, he's probably going to play, right? I'm going to go. I'm going to go with the Rams.

Let's do Panthers Jags, the Chris Myers. special. Liam Cohen makes his debut. I'm excited to watch. I actually will watch a little bit of this one just to say hi to Chris Myers. I always miss him during the offseason. I'm going to see Liam gets up with W.

in his first one. Give me the Jacks. I'm going with the Liam Cohen experience well. I think he'll be good for Trevor Lawrence. And you have to turn this game on just to see what they're actually doing with Travis Hunter. I mean, if they're truly playing in both ways, that's going to be pretty insane to watch. You think he will? You think you will?

They'll do it a little bit. I don't think he can consistently do this for a career even this season. But I think early on, they're going to try it out. It'll be fun to watch. See if he does it. When's the last time you're like, man, I want to turn on a Jags game? You haven't. But I think Travis Hunter now has made it to that point.

Yeah, my news note here is Travis Hunter was listed as the starting wide receiver but backup corner on the Jags depth chart that just came out. Starting wide receiver backup corner? Yes. So I can see like they play him at wide receiver a lot and then doesn't get much action at corner. But then, but gets enough that so that you're able to say he plays both. Who's the last play?

I mean, I know occasionally they would throw Dion out there at wide receiver, but not regularly. Has there been a guy? Who's the last one? I can't think of anyone to do what he's trying to do. I mean, sure, they've put a corner at wide receiver here and there to try something. Sometimes you got a special. They would put a receiver in to try to.

But like listing a guy on offense and defense on your depth chart, I don't. Doesn't happen. Titans Broncos. I'll let you take the floor. I love them. I just. I don't have a lot of faith. Maybe Cam Ward can be something special and have a Daniels' commanders' like surprise a year ago.

But I don't think he has the pieces around him outside of Calvin Redley. So I'm going with the Broncos here on the road. Yeah, I'm going with Broncos too. It's like the one time the Titans aren't on at one o'clock too. Yeah, four o'clock game. This will be on in exactly 3% of the country. Be on in my house. But Broncos, Broncos would be, are the pick for me.

Spreads eight and a half, though, I will say. That's pretty hot. And then Monday night, my bears make their debut. J.J. McCarthy starts for the Vikings. Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson. Cale's got all the weapons. Feels like a perfect time for my team to get their heart destroyed. I want the bears to win, but I will pick the Vikings because it's the kind of game where we get our hearts broken.

I'm going to believe in you. If you won't believe in your team, I will. Thank you. I actually believe in the McCarthy Viking experience, but I say in this first game one, it'll be too much for him, and Soldier Field will eat them up on Monday night football. I love it. I hope you're right.

I wish I could go, actually, but maybe I will go. Why not? Life's short. What are you going to do? I'll go. Yeah. All right, so those and what? Any other news items?

There's one more. You guys didn't mention the Bucks Falcons game, and Tampa Bay Bucks right tackle, Luke Get a key just signed a four-year $90 million extension. with 50 million guaranteed this week. So I forgot to mention bucks. I mean, that's for the NFC South, you could say. Maybe I should have mentioned that.

Well, that's the thing. You never know if you're going to get to all your games mentioned. Here, who signed an extension? Luke Get a key. It is the right tackle for the bucks. That's really a big news item. Well, you got to invest in your offensive line. You just wanted to say that because you're a buck.

No, you're the bucks fan. Are they winning? You can't forget the bucks. Yeah, they're winning. They're at home. Okay. I'll take the... I'll take the...

Well, that's a great start. It's drivable. I'm taking Atlanta. Hot Lanta. I think Falcons win. Another game that couldn't pay me to watch, but I'm going to take Atlanta. What are you got?

You're going against Maker Playfield right here? Yes, this is Michael Pennix Jr. It's time for him to make his name. Again, just like I picked your bears, I'll pick Billy's bucks here. even though we're not exactly sure where it is, I think they'll handle the Atlanta atmosphere. Actually, it's going to be somewhere in between. They're going to play in Mobile on the way. All right.

So now it is time for our official. Let's do it. Let's do our official NFL cover zero playoff picks. I'm going to go first. I'm going to do the NFC. Let's start with. Philadelphia Eagles will win the NFC East in the NFL. I'll take Green Bay.

In the NFC South, I'm going to take the Atlanta Falcons. And in the NFC West, because of the schedule, I'll take the 49ers. My wildcard teams. I'm going to go with the commanders as a wildcard team. I'm coming out of nowhere. The Bears, even though they lose in week one, will be one of my wild card teams. And then I'll take the Rams as the final wildcard team. Those are going to be my seven teams.

Lions missed the playoffs for the NFC. Give me your NFC. I will start with the NFC East with our defending Super Bowl champs. Even though the commanders will give them a fight, I think the Eagles win the NFC East. NFC North, this one's going to be a little closer. Packers are favorite favorites that flipped with the Micah Parsons trade, but I'm sticking with the Lions. Yes, the Packers will be better with Micah, but it's still the Lions Division. I will go to the NFC South with Billy here.

I will pick your bucks. That's probably just because I watched an entire preseason game of the Bulls. and they look good beating in my Titans. But I actually think Maker Play field in those running backs will have them winning that division. And in the West, it's a little torn between the Rams and the 49ers. I'm going to go with the ramps.

Devante experience will work. I don't know what Matthew Stafford will be, but maybe your guy, Jimmy G, leads him to the playoffs and wins the division. And wild card? Wild card teams. Packers, as I mentioned, they'll be in contention with the Lions, but won't win that division. 49ers, I just said, and then the commanders.

All right. You're going chalk. I went a little bit off the beaten path. Also, I got a buddy. Do you all hear me all right? My sound went out over here. You're doing great. You're doing great.

Let's go. I'm going to go to the AFC. Bills, win the east, easy. In the AFC North, Ravens, easy. AFC South. Jacksonville Jaguars end up winning the South. Liam Cohen and Trevor Lawrence, surprise everybody and take it.

In the AFC West, I'll go with the Chiefs. My wild card teams are going to be the Broncos. I'm going to go back to the north and get the Bengals. And then the last one can go a lot of different ways. I'm going to say the Texans even squeeze in and get the last one. Because the Titans and Colts are so bad, they'll add up those wins. Those are my wildcard teams. What about you?

All right, I got my sound back so I can actually hear myself. I'm pretty chalky in the AFC, but I'll start with my upset pick, which you also just picked. I'm going to go with Duval in the F's South. Look at that. Both of us picking Jackson Yeah, I just think the Texans They're not as good as they were a year ago. They're fluky. They took advantage of a bad division. The Jaguars have come up. They're going to take that one.

And then East, got to go with the bills, heavy favorite. North going with the Ravens, sorry, bingles. And then West chiefs also there. My wild cards, I'm going to do two out of the West, Chargers and Broncos. And then I do have the Bengals making the playoff as the other wildcard. Neither one of us. pick the Patriots.

No, that's interesting. And you don't even pick the Texans in the playoffs. No, no, no, no. We had two West teams in the Bengals. All right, there you go. Okay, every week we're going to do a couple of sort of predictions for the week that we will keep score of. We'll start with, we're going to try to do a Survivor League. I ran a 50-person celebrity Survivor League last year, and it was over after week four

because everybody missed so many games week one. you look at this week one slate, there are almost no gimmicks. I mean, trying to just get through. I tend to want to pick the Eagles, but I don't want to be out night one, right? Like, that would be the worst to be in a Survivor League. I very rarely make it past week one. I'm going to take the Broncos over the Titans. That is going to be my Survivor League team.

Now, the rules of this are once I pick, Drew can't pick the same team, and then Billy can't pick that one. And then next week, Drew, can go first. I'll go last, etc. So I'm going to take the Broncos over the Titans as my Survivor League. Of course, I can't use the Broncos for the rest of the year. Drew, I will let you go. What do you got? I'm going to take Washington playing the Giants.

I like that one. Washington's got a pretty tough schedule. If I'm going to use them, let's just go right out of the gate with the team that I think is going to be pretty terrible. You're at home, so I'll take the commanders week one. All right, Billy. Yeah, he took my pick. So I'm going to have to scramble here. But you guys got me on the Liam Cohen train a little bit.

I'm taking Jacksonville at home. I mean, that's a lot of belief. You might be out right here, Billy. That's fine. If Bryce Young can get it done week one, then he's made a believer out of me. Wow. All right.

So Billy takes none of us pick the Eagles, which is probably, I would say the Eagles are probably going to be the most common pick. Eagles, I guess maybe commanders will be the other one that will be the most common picks in this league. I'll be honest. The thing that deters me from the Eagles is being Thursday. I don't want to be the first person eliminated and then you got to wait two days.

Same with Friday. So I think it's hard to pick those early Thursday games. It's just embarrassing to be out before the weekend. Definitely is. Then the other thing we want to do is guaranteed touchdown. So to add a little wrinkle, when Drew picks one, I'm going to let you go first this week. When you pick one, you are picking a person and a position. Okay.

So if you pick a quarterback, then Billy or I have to pick a running back or a wide receiver and vice versa. And it score a touchdown. So if you throw it as a quarterback that doesn't count, you've got to actually score it. So going first, you get to pick the player and you take the position off the board. We will tally over the course of the year how many people get right. The position thing is an added wrinkle. I'm counting for purposes of this tight end as a wide receiver. Okay?

tied in as a wide receiver. And if you want to pick a defensive one, here's what I will say. If you want to pick a team to score a defensive touchdown, that is also available. And you get two points if you pick a defense and they score a touchdown. So there's some value in reaching out and trying to get a defense. So there you go.

You quarterback, running back, wide receiver slash tied in or defense, but defense is worth two points. Drew, what do you got? Earlier in the show, I mentioned I don't play fantasy. my fantasy is anytime touchdown bets I love it I bet one every single game 1 o'clock spray the board

I have a player in every game and I already had picked one out it's actually I've already bet this and it was my first NFL bet of the entire season that's how much I like this we're going to Ohio where Joe Flacco will find in Joku against the bingles for a touchdown so that's a tight end

and it's a little bit of a long shot it's plus 250 for a touchdown bet that's some good odds I'm shocked that you could pick anyone and you're picking Najoku. I'm going odds. Listen, as the season goes on, anytime... But you don't get odds for this. This is just a point.

This is my life. I've already bet it. It was the first bet I made of the entire NFL. I can not believe you're going with Najoku. Buckle up. Anytime touchdowns is what I do. You all can have your... Unbelievable. Take your Sequan Barclays. Take your Derek Henry's don't want it. No, it's not fun picking Sequan Barkley to score touchdown. I'm having fun.

Flacco hits in Joku against that Bingles defense. You can only pick a person once during the year, just for the record. So, like, you can't ever pick Najoku again. Do you want to waste your Najoku pick right here? I can't stress this enough. I've already made the bet. I bet it before any overs, unders, any week one bets. I am on Flack.

All right. Throwing it. Billy, what do you got? I'm not going to overthink this. Christian McCaffrey scored in 16 straight NFL games. It's an NFL record. He's coming back from injury. I think he's got to score week one.

Interesting. I like that pick So you got McCaffrey Well that leaves me I can get a quarterback Or I can take a run into defense The unders are pretty good In the first game of the year

But I'm not going to take a defense yet I'll only do that if I get behind I'm going to take a quarterback I'm going to go Jalen Hertz Right if you're giving me a quarterback to take He's playing against the team It's not very good Tush pushy-wushy

So I will take Jalen Hertz with my pick as well So there you go You got Najoku, McCaffrey, and Hertz. And if you want, we could do, should we do an anytime parlay for NFL cover zero? I'll have so many touchdown parleyes on Sunday. Well, we should do it at Najoku. So I'll tell you what, if you're a listener of this podcast, if you bet the Najoku McCaffrey hurts touchdown parley and it wins, you can be happy.

I'm not going to give you anything because I don't know how many of you. I don't even if you were going to listen to this. So it might be a lot, but you will have won a lot. I mean, that'll probably be, I don't know, that'll pay very well, don't you think? That'd probably play, what, 30 to 1 maybe if you got all three of that? Yeah, I was trying to pull it up on the fly. It's a little harder to do than I imagine. But I got a bit of a long shot in there for us, which is definitely going to hit.

Yeah. So there you go. That's our, that we'll be keeping that competition. Guys, looking forward to it. We will be Sunday night here late at night, typing, the next episode and that was a lot of fun. I hope everybody feels completely has all the news they need to get ready for the week. I feel like everyone can now watch the games. They were excited but didn't know what to watch. Now that they've heard cover zero, okay, Aaron Rogers is going back to

me. And now I know what Dan Campbell sounds like, right? They didn't know before that. That was the hollad of the podcast, to be honest, it wasn't hot quarterbacks for you. No, I think you're a hot quarterback, right? I mean, maybe one week we'll just write them. Yeah, some Wednesday. Historically hottest quarterbacks. Thank you very much. Don't forget to like, subscribe, review, tell your friends, wear it on a billboard.

It's 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. IHeart Podcasts. Guaranteed human.