KSR - NFL Cover Zero: The Best Games on the 2026 Schedule!

Episode Date: July 22, 2026

What are the most highly anticipated games on the 2026 NFL schedule? This episode of Cover Zero, Drew Franklin and Billy each pick five games of the season to name the Top Ten Games of the 2026 season.   Including only one International game and only one game a week!  Billy finds a game between two contending teams in a very desirable location! Drew is considering a Thanksgiving matchup, but which one will be the best game?  Drew hopes to find a 'snow' game and also considers the city attractions when choosing his games!  Join NFL Cover Zero and decide your favorite matchups of the 2026 NFL season!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human. Get Bell Pure Fiber Internet with Crave, Netflix, and Disney Plus from $94 a month. Price guaranteed for two years on Internet with a two-year term and auto pay credit. Visit bell.ca for details and to check availability. Bell, connection is everything. NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin is a production of the NFL and IHeart podcast. Welcome in to NFL Cover Zero, the number one show in.

NFL podcast decided by us. I'm Drew Franklin filling in for Matt Jones today. Matt is out this week in Aspen, part of his annual Aspen Fellowship, where he disappears for a week. If you remember last year, it actually sent him to South Africa, but this year they're in Aspen as they wrap that up. So we're without Matt, but we have Billy Rutledge here. And the two of us, I think we'll get through this just fine.

It's another summer episode, episode four of season two of NFL Cover Zero. We've had a lot of fun so far this summer. We started earlier this month with news topics. Then we drafted teams that we want to be fans of. We drafted quarterbacks last week. And Billy, I think we should have another draft today. I brought us a game. You ready to play a game?

Yeah, let's keep it going, Drew. What do we got? As you know, I've put it out in front of you. We're going to go over the schedule, and we're going to pick our favorite games on the 2026 schedule that we would like to attend as fans. So we're going to have like a fake budget that's endless. You can go anywhere you want to go. And we're going to pick five games each to come up with NFL cover zero's top 10 games the year.

A few stipulations. We can only go international once. It's a good budget. Okay. But you can only go overseas one time. And then the rest of the four will be domestic. But things like, you know, you can't pick two week one games. You can't be in the same place at the same time.

So we'll have fun just going over the schedule, picking those. And does all that make sense? It does. It would be egregious for me to pick the Hall of Fame game between the Panthers and the Cardinals for one of my picks, wouldn't it? I'm starting to get that itch, though, a little bit, Drew. It's right around the corner. And to get you excited about that one, did you see Carolina Mike was on America's Got Talent? What? Carolina Mike was on America.

Okay. Now the podcast has made it when our guy is on America's Got Talent. Is he still in it? Or what's, did they give him a golden ticket immediately? What happened? You know, I don't watch a lot of AGT, but I did see the clip of him singing. A lot of people sent that to me. So I wish I had the results.

Maybe it hadn't been decided. But, you know, I thought big platform here with us singing, if. I had 150,000. But he gets much bigger than NFL cover zero on AGT. So good for Carolina Mike. And the Panthers still taking that momentum from last season. Yeah, happy for them. As we play our game, I wonder, will you pick Carolina as one of your games this year?

No. Unless there's like a week 17 matchup between the bucks for the division again. We know how that ended poorly last time. Yeah, probably won't make my cut either. In front of you, I gave you a piece of paper. I did a little homework. Yes. where we have about 20 to 25 games to choose from.

As I said, we'll end up with the top 10. We'll do five each. International one time and can't, you know, stack weeks, can't go to three week two games. We're being realistic here as if we're a fan that can go anywhere we want throughout the NFL season. And like we're actually attending the game. So if I pick a Christmas Day game, I have to leave my family at home?

Exactly. You got to consider location, maybe time a year. You know, we've been to Lambo, had a great time, but it wasn't quite cold enough for me. So maybe I want to go to the frozen tundra when there's snow on the ground. Maybe I want to avoid that. Maybe I want to get a week one game out of the way. These are all things to consider, but most importantly, the matchups of which there are a lot of good ones on the NFL schedule.

Before we get to it, I know it's been a while, and we're going back in time in the NFL off season. But do you get into the NFL schedule release videos that produced the schedules we're about to go over today? I mean, kind of. I like to see a couple of like the first week one matchups because of, like I alluded to, I've got an itch. I need to scratch. But the international games has really taken a turn. Like how many, there's a few international games this year. There's like eight or nine, isn't there?

Yeah, let's see. They go to London a lot of London, been going to London a while. It's the NFL's All-Boy from home. Jacksonville has back-to-back London games this year. They're there week five and week six. I guess you just got to stay. There's no point going back to Jacksonville, right? You make two weeks out of it over there across the pond?

Yeah, and historically over these years, they've been a very common team in London. So maybe they would be the team that would turn into the London team that the NFL gets one of these days. There's already, what, three teams in Florida? Yeah. Too many. And Jacksonville, no offense.

But, you know, I wouldn't mind getting out if I was living in Jacksonville. I'd miss the hot tub. Did he get to see London? You're right. There are nine. They go to Melbourne in Australia. Go to Brazil. Spain gets a game this year.

Paris, Germany, Mexico. They've been international for a while, but they're widespread this year with the NFL. Yeah, and the Spain game, how about that one? Bengals Falcons as the international game. You've waited for the NFL and here it is, you get a little Bengals falcons. I've got to ease into that one. But let's just go ahead and get to it.

We know the rules. We know what's at stake. We'll run through this. We'll get our top 10 of what we believe are the big games we'd want to attend. And then, as always, we'll brush up on the latest news to end the podcast. But without further ado, NFL cover zeros, top 10 games we would like to attend. And sticking with the format for the first. fan base game, Matt picked first.

I picked second when we drafted the quarterbacks last week as if we're starting a franchise. So Billy Relage, it would only be right if you get the first pick in our top 10 games. Okay. The number one game I'm going to choose to select, I'm getting on a 16-hour flight to Melbourne, Australia. Oh, you're getting it out of the way. That's right. The first game in Australia is the 49ers in the Rams week one. can't wait for some football, so why not try it down on the Barbie?

You know, this is a great matchup between two of the best coaches in the league and Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVeigh. There's a little rivalry there. You get to see Miles Garrett for the first time as a Los Angeles ram and maybe Aaron Donald if he comes out of retirement. I think the Rams are the slam-dug pick for a lot of people to win the Super Bowl, but they've got to get past the crafty 49ers who won a playoff game, a road playoff game last year.

So two division opponents on a neutral site. I know they hate that problem. but give me the game in Australia for my first pick. How much did, you know, give me the little sliding scale here. How much was location? You just want to go to Australia and how much was the matchup? Because you're right. That's a huge NFC matchup to start the season week one.

It's a great matchup, but I think it's 90% location. I want to go to Australia. I want to experience the culture. I want to see if the sport that's taking over Europe right now can also take over Australia. And then also just to go to a game where everybody's got a different jersey on. I think that's probably the cool. part about the international games is that you get a lot of team support there. And I'm sure the Melbourne Cricket grounds will be a great place to watch a game.

So we each get one international pick. You got yours out right away. Not waiting around. You don't want to go to London. You don't want to go to Brazil, Paris, Spain, Germany, Mexico. You're going to see our friend Max Duffy in Australia. Outside of the football. I'm sure you're going to get a great game.

Could have big implications later in the years. The playoff bracket shakes out. But what else you're doing in Australia? Is there a beach near Melbourne? I've heard that the surfing's pretty good in Australia, besides the sharks that are everywhere in the water down there. I've heard they have some kangaroos that I haven't done much experience with Drew. So maybe take in the wildlife. They got a bunch of rabbits, as we learned on our show many weeks ago.

So, you know, as long as it's not too hot, like I feel like there's like a dry heat in Australia that could probably turn you away or turn some people away. But I think I'm going to have a great time. And we already have our tour guide. And like you said, Max Duffy, you can show us around. Yeah, I've learned, you know, you're going to have to eat while you're over there. Cuisine's a big part of picking where you want to go. That's true. In Australia, they ate these like pies, like a chicken pie pie, but they have all kinds of,

they got lamb pies and several different variations. Mario is not in his head over here because when we did our cross-country road trip, we were somewhere around Denver, if I'm not mistaken, and maybe not Denver, we were somewhere. When you travel the whole country, it kind of runs together. But Max found an authentic Australia restaurant run by an Australian, and it was a must that we go and everything you could order from. They probably had 10 to 15 different options, but they're all based in like a pie,

and you just kind of eat it like we would a hot pocket. Well, I like pies, and as long as I can order it myself off the menu, I think I'll be fine. It was when covers you, I went to San Francisco, and Matt decided to order off the menu for me is when I became the picky eater that day.

I found the pies to be really good, but it was also December for us, so nice warm pie. It tasted good. We were cold, you know, it warmed us up. But Max told me, you know, they'd go swimming out in the ocean. They'd run off the beach and go get a big hot chicken pot pie and just barehand it while

they've been out in the water. That seemed a little different to me. They barehanded the chicken pot pie while they were in the water. I mean, they'd get out of the water, but, you know, if it's not, I'm not looking for a big hot steaming pie of whatever lamb and cheese and onion when I just got done swimming. I'm ready to embrace the culture. So if I need to eat a pie on a beach and watch a little NFC West, then that's what I'll do. That'll be my first pick.

All right, there we go. first pick in the draft. Billy Routledge is heading to Melbourne to eat pie when he is not watching the 49ers and Rams in one of the better games on the schedule. I like to pick. Could have got a lot of directions there. It's a loaded week one.

We have a Super Bowl rematch in week one with Patriots and Seahawks. And you said, nay. I want to hop on a plane. I'll be across the country, which I'm sure the players are just thrilled about doing. But also Matthew Stafford, maybe his last go-around MVP last year. It would be good to see him too.

And I don't know what time that would be for us. but you go to your game. Problem with attending NFL games is you can't keep up with the rest and everything going on. You can't red zone while you're sitting in a stadium unless you do it on your phone. But you'll be able to watch that and still catch up with all the week one fun. So I like the pick. All right, for me, my first pick.

Pick two in the draft. I'm not going internationally yet. Now that you've picked one, I don't have to rush into what I want there. So I'm going to stay domestic. I'm going to go to kind of three-fourths of the way through the schedule. I'm going cheat. at Bills for a holiday game on Thanksgiving. I know I want to do a Thanksgiving game,

and I've always wanted to go to Dallas. You know, it's always Cowboys or Lions, both having home games. Dallas is high on my NFL bucket list, and I was leaning that direction for Cowboys Eagles. But, man, you're telling me I can go to Buffalo where I fell in love with Bill's Mafia last year for Thanksgiving for a game against the Chiefs, the matchup that's highlighted the NFL for the last five years or more.

I get to spend the holiday with Pinto Ron in the tailgate, throwing mustard on people, eating wings, eating blue cheese on Thanksgiving. That is going to be my first pick. Send me to Buffalo for Thanksgiving Day game, Chiefs, Ed Bills. You may have the best number one pick just for the Pinto Ron reference and on Thanksgiving. Can you imagine what those guys are going to be cooking in those lots? It's going to be incredible. It already was incredible when we went to just a regular, regular season game when it was Bill's Bucks. on Thanksgiving, that would be phenomenal.

That's one of the biggest robberies in the sport over the last decade or so. Actually, some stats to that, Drew. In the 2020s, they've met 10 times. It's 5 to 5 between the two teams. But the regular season, the bills are 4 and 1. The Chiefs are 4 in the playoffs. See, you're talking football. There's a chance I don't even make it into the stadium.

And that only makes nine games. So, I mean, I may have got the stat wrong. But regardless, the Chiefs, Dominion. in the playoffs, so you might get a Bill's victory against an aging Patrick Mahomes in the regular season. And this is the new Bill Stadium, right? That's right. New stadium. I can see that for the first time. Had we not made this Buffalo trip last year where I had so much fun, honestly, wouldn't even consider this. I would have gone straight to Dallas for Thanksgiving. But I had so much fun there. Remember, there were people cooking fish in like file cabinets. Oh, the file cabinets.

I don't even remember how they had built a fire in the bottom and each drawer had something different. I think there might have been lamb in one of those. Of course, we mentioned Pinto Ron. They had meatballs in a bedpan. The ingenuity with the food there was so good and so much fun. I can't think of a better way to spend the holiday. Apologies to my parents and my family. I won't be eating turkey this year.

I usually cook the turkey, so good luck. Feed yourselves. That's true. Thanksgiving. You're gone because you're at a Bills game. And not just the food, just like how nice everybody was there. You got somebody gave you the code off their back as soon as. you got there. This huge fur wool coat that you kind of walked around like you were the king of the lot. The issue is they're also very generous with their booze. And I worry about kickoff for this one.

But you know what? I'll catch the replay. I'm sure it'll be a classic that will rerun on NFL network later in the week. So if I do have too much fun tailgating, I'll play catch up. But it's a great matchup, a new stadium, and I can't think of a better way to spend the holiday. So my first pick is Chief Set Bills on Thanksgiving. Get Bell pure fiber internet with craved Netflix and Disney Plus from $94 a month. Price guaranteed for two years on internet with a two-year term and auto pay credit. Visit bell.ca for details and to check availability. Bell, connection is everything. Overall pick, I'm going to keep it on a holiday, but we're going to move to Christmas Day,

where the Packers are at the Bears on week 16. And if you're an NFL fan, you know these two teams, not only one of the most historic rivalries in the sport, but last year, all three games decided by one score, all in a span of 34 days. They only played late in the year that included some Chicago miracles. Actually, Green Bay led late into the two games that were in Chicago near the end of the regular season and the one in the playoffs and blew both of those games. Ben Johnson, Caleb Williams, the darling in the NFL right now, as Caleb is the Madden cover athlete this year.

So historic rivalry, some bad blood from last year. I think Ben Johnson and Matt Lafleur can be one of the better rivalries in the sport. And so how many more games do the Bears even have left in Chicago? They could be moving to Indiana soon with a new stadium deal. So I get to take in historic Soldier Field on Christmas Day against the Packers. That's going to be my second pick. Another great pick. It's also going to be freezing.

But as I said to start, I would like that experience. Like if I'm going to be at Soldier Field or Lambeau or even Buffalo, bring on the snow. Are you prepared to get a Christmas scene in Chicago? I'm layered up. That's right. I may throw a snowball at somebody during the game. I feel like if there is a good amount of snow, that is something that a lot of NFL fans do,

whether it be the tuck rule game or some others. So I'm for the wintry conditions of Soldier Field. You mentioned Lambeau Field. Was it cold enough for you that day? It was cold. Definitely cold. We had to put cardboard between us and the bleachers. In the metal seat.

Yeah, someone warned us about that. It was definitely cold. I mean, we were bundled up, but I wanted to, like, have to clear out snow. We didn't have as much precipitation. But it was cold enough. I got close to the full Lambo experience, but I'd like to go back. I'd never been to a snow game. I'd like to see a snow game sometime.

That's the Vince Lombardi in you, Drew, that it wasn't cold enough when you went to Lambeau field. And so hopefully it's cold enough for Packers, Bears, and one that could have some pretty serious playoff implications at Week 16. Yeah, late in the year. Also, a big part of this, as we said, you go to the game, but we have to hang out in these places. Chicago seems like a good place to spend Christmas. Where do they have that? There's the, is it, is it a millennium mile or? What is it?

Shopping? Is it a millennium? Excuse me? Magnificent Mile. Magnificent Mile. I don't know why I said Millennium Mile. Magnificent mile. You can get your shopping done, last minute shopping while you're there.

You were just in Chicago not that long ago. My bachelor party. Did you have a good time? I did. I went to the bean. That's where tourist attractions start and end in Chicago, at least for me. So you've already checked that off. And then there's also a beach.

They have a beach there. I don't know if I'm going to do much beach in on week 16 Christmas Day, but it's a concrete beach. So like you just, people pull up a towel and lay on the concrete, which is a little odd. I'm a Florida boy here. Megdue in the Midwest.

I've done Chicago winters. Kentucky played there one December, and I stayed out pretty reasonably late into the evening. And Matt and I had to do KSR radio the next morning. And I remember I woke up in a different. part of town, wasn't anywhere near where I needed to be. So I was like, you know what, I'm just going to walk it. I got to a point, I was walking over that bridge, over the river.

I thought I am going to die. Like, this is how it ends for me. I was so cold, I was shaking. And I had proper attire on, but it was so windy and so cold. I remember sitting down thinking, this is it for me. They're going to find me just sitting on this bench, turned in an ice block right on top of the Chicago River. So it can be treacherous.

You just did summer Chicago, which is great, but it's a different beast in December. In June, I was standing on the tram platforms thinking, this is a lot of wind. If it was zero degrees outside, I don't know if I'd be having a good time, but took in some sites, went to a Cubs game, had a Chicago dog. So a lot of culture there. And we'll have another one, Week 16. A great pick. I already love what we're doing here. I'm up next.

Let me scan this a little bit. What do you want to do here? Are you going to go on another holiday? So I've already done Thanksgiving. I still have international available. You know what? I'm just going to keep blowing off my family. NFL games. I'm doing a Christmas game with my second pick.

Okay. You're going to be in Chicago. We'll have to do cover zero remotely because I will be on the other side of the country at Ram Seahawks on Christmas Day. I'm going to spend Christmas in Seattle. I don't know what that means. I've not, I've been to Seattle briefly just to get on a cruise ship so I didn't get to see much. No, actually that's not true. We went to Seattle. That was our road trip. What am I talking about? That was just last year. I didn't do the space needle or all the hits. Maybe I'll, maybe they put Christmas lights on that. I'll check it out. But of most importance, Rams Seahawks, their three games last year, all classics. Seahawks won two of the three. All three games decided by a total of seven points.

Of course, the Seahawks go on to win the Super Bowl, but it could have been the Rams as well as they played them all year. So I'm getting a great matchup. I'm spending Christmas pretty far away from my family. They're not going to love it. You know, this will be my baby's first Christmas. She will be eight months at the time. So Avery, Dad will miss you. I'll send you a postcard. Or maybe in this exercise, I can bring her with me to Seattle. But I'm leaving my family for more football. And with my second pick, I'm going to Seattle. No better place to bring an infant than to the, what, 12th man is what they call themselves. And that would be cool to see the Seahawks home field advantage. Because I've heard about this stadium and how it's shaped in a way in which

it funnels the sound down. And, you know, they have this such a big advantage. And, you know, they have this such a big advantage. I expect Seattle to take a step back this year. Sam Donald can't do that again, Drew. They lose their... Not with that attitude. They lose Kenneth Walker, their Super Bowl MVP. That was such, you know, I think the Rams are going to be looking for some revenge

in that game, no doubt. And another game was some pretty big playoff implications late in the year. That's right. It's a rematch of the last year's NFC championship, as we said. Also, let's not forget, this is a $9.6 billion franchise we're talking about here. So I'm going to be excited to go see what I've done with the place.

see what the new owner's done. That's right. Maybe the new owner will be sympathetic to me since I'm just walking around with an infant in Seattle for her first Christmas. She doesn't want to be there, but I made her go. Maybe he'll invite us up to the owner's suite to I can see what billionaire life is like. Now, I've seen infants at NFL games. Normally you've got to go headphones, though.

The only way it's going to work is you cover up those ears because it can get a little loud at some stadium. Yeah, so Merry Christmas, baby. We're going to Seattle. Sorry, Habie. We're at the other side of the country right now. So to rehash, you're going to off. Australia. I'm going to Thanksgiving for the bills. And then we're both splitting up Christmas.

You're going to Chicago. I'm going to Seattle. We'll just have to be on different parts of the country for cover zero. What is your third pick? Well, I didn't plan it like this. But again, sorry to my family. Both of our families. We were just taking holidays away. The great games are on holidays this year, it seems like. I'm going to pick my Thanksgiving Day game. And that's Eagles at Cowboys. And you mentioned you always want to. to see a Cowboys game on Thanksgiving Day. I might be stealing your thunder there. But did you know it's the 59th time the Cowboys they played on Thanksgiving Day? They are 35, 22, and 1 and have won their last four games on Thanksgiving Day. Well, why not the Philadelphia Eagles to break that streak up? I love the pick.

We need to look in the mirror, though, about what we're doing. We're early in this game. And we're just abandoning the holidays. You're going to be newly married this year. You're telling me your first Thanksgiving and your first Christmas as a husband in this beautiful. marriage, you're going to work. This was part of the deal when we got a working with the NFL and I Heart Radio, the premier podcast of the NFL, we're going to have to travel to some games.

And I think the family understands that. The Cowboys won on Thanksgiving Day last year against the Chiefs. It was the most watched NFL regular season game of all time, that 31 to 28 thriller. So things happen on Thanksgiving for the Cowboys. I'm going to be taking in my Thanksgiving day in a, place that is, you know, historically the place to do it on Thanksgiving. If it's not Detroit, it's Dallas. So send me to Texas for Thanksgiving. See, my family would be supportive of this. I'm married a Cowboys fan. She would love to go. Growing up, I was in a Cowboys family.

I mean, I still, to this day, throw on an old school Cowboy sweatshirt, even though I'm Titans First for Thanksgiving. It's like her tradition. Some people get dressed up on holidays. We just wore a Cowboys gear around the Thanksgiving dinner table. I remember, remember those gigantic box TV. They're huge. Oh, sure. You'd have to roll them around. We watched Leon Lett and the fumble on Thanksgiving at his house on one of those gigantic TVs with the horrible

pictures. Like a 70-inch TV, and the picture was terrible. But we're all sitting around. We have our TV trays. I don't know if people still use TV trays. But my family, it's been about the Cowboys for many years. So high on my bucket list is to get to a Thanksgiving game. And if not for me hanging out with Pinto, Ron in Buffalo, this would have been my pick. So I

like what you're going with there. Well, and on Thanksgiving day, I feel like, you know, we were on the field. at that Bill's game. We kind of walked around. I didn't talk to Baker Mayfield when we saw him out there. Maybe I can get a little turduckin down. They've got chicken, or not chicken, not chicken turkey. I'm sure they're chicken.

John Madden was all about the turduckin. Maybe I can sneak a little something because you always see the guys diving into some food right after the game. Yeah, this is a classic. High on anyone's NFL bucket list. Respectfully, neither of us can make it to Detroit because we're going to be busy. But I would be just as happy to go into Detroit, too. I would love to see Thanksgiving football.

Well, now that the brown paper bags on the fan base's heads, you know, they got a lot of pride now with Dan Campbell. So, yeah, that sounds like a good trip, too. Oh, I'm going to be interested to see if any of us try to do the Thanksgiving Black Friday doubleheader because that would fit within the rules. Well, you just wait. We got more holidays we could get to here on our schedule. All right. I'm up next. I'm already booked on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Let's see it. Is there a game on my wife's birthday? No. I'm going to go ahead and get my international game out of the way. Okay. I'm pretty conflicted, though, because with the international game, for me it's not so much about the teams it's where do I want to go

I'm very well traveled in the United States I haven't got too many places globally I've been to Ireland and Scotland and Liverpool and Manchester in like one trip in like a week but other than that time in the UK in that area I haven't really seen much unless we're counting all inclusives in Mexico

so I really want to go to Spain but Billy what are we doing with Bingles Falcons in Spain like that's the game I get do it Tua is going to be slinging it by then. But I could wear my Cowboys sweatshirt against Lamar and the Ravens in Brazil.

A much better game. Brazil would also be a fun trip. Brazil be a very fun trip. You got a couple of options here. You know what? I want to see Spain. Okay. I wish I could flip the games.

I wish it was Ravens, Cowboys, and Spain. This would be easy. But now I'm going to go watch Joe Burrow if he's healthy versus whoever's playing for the Falcons in week nine. world-class food, some landmarks. They're playing in the home of Real Madrid, one of the most famous stadiums in the world.

Really, everything about it checks the boxes except the match-up. But I'm still going to go anyway. Well, speaking of food, Spain has the oldest, longest, continuously running restaurant in the world where you can get suckling pig. So I think you've got to make a stop there. Make it easy pig. Give me the suckling pig before I go watch the suckling falcons play the Bengals. That's very good. And then Cincinnati, I mean, man, they've missed the playoffs for three straight years.

They've got to start winning these games. These ones, the ones at the beginning of the year, because it feels like they always drop two of the first three games of the season or the first three. And then you've got to win these games versus middle of the road, NFC, South teams like the Atlanta Falcons. So I think there's some high expectations on Cincinnati to come in and win and take over that country as the official team of Spain. Well, listen, as long as the Bengals are healthy, as Joe Burrow has taught us this offseason, it's his LIS. LSU team reincarnated. That'll maybe be the best offense in the NFL, maybe even the best team in the NFL.

Who knows the way he's talking, if they can stay healthy. And then on the other end, I'll get to see Tua. Yes. If he's still playing, by then. Michael Pinnock's, whoever's behind them, Trevor Simeon. Kyle Pitts, who we learned signed a contract extension just recently. Really respectfully to Atlanta. You're bringing down my Spain trip.

But that's okay. I'm going to get this suckling pig that Billy's talking about. It's week nine. So I'm probably not missing too much in life at that point. I don't think. And I'm heading to Spain. In Spain, you know, they shut down the country to take a nap in the middle of that. Now I'm all the way in.

It's literally like, you know, it's like 1 to 3 p.m. all stores close. People are expected to go home and relax and rest. I mean, you will never see that in the States as we've got to make as much money as possible at all times of the day. But Drew, you could work in an afternoon nap on the regular. That's exactly what I need after tailgating with. my bingles friends. It's also funny, I'm going to see a team that I could go watch every weekend, really. They're an hour from my house in Cincinnati.

Living on the north side of Lexington, it is a very easy trip for me to go to a bingles game. But you know what? Why go to Pekore when you can go to Real Madrid Stadium in Madrid? And the drunkest fan base in Cincinnati? They could have a good time in Spain. And Spain just won the World Cup. Maybe that party's still going. Maybe I could catch the tail end of a World Cup celebration, watch the bingles.

That's my pick at number three for me. six overall. So that leaves us with two each. You're up next, Billy. All right. Well, I will go to a Bengals game myself, Drew, and I will continue the trend of holidays spending away from my family. Week 17,

New Year's Eve, Thursday, December 31st. Give me Ravens at Bengals. The return of Trey Hendrickson, as he is with the Baltimore Ravens now, and he will play in Cincinnati. Maybe the AFC North will be on the line during this game.

and Baltimore's got a new head coach and just like we said, Cincinnati hasn't made the playoffs in a while. I think both of these franchisers are at a crossroads right now. And that could be a lot of fun. Thursday night, New Year's Eve action for football. I don't think we've had that in the NFL, have we? I can't remember any. You mentioned the matchup.

I completely forgot about the Trey Henderson angle. Obviously, you know about the new quarterback. Derek Henry will still be Derek Henry at that point because he's not human. But when you said it, my brain immediately went to New Year's Eve in Cincinnati. You got you excited about watching the ball drop in Cincinnati? I am. You can honestly, you can come on home. Well, you know, maybe we'll find ourselves in a bar at that point.

Hopefully not too crowded. Cincinnati Nightlife may not be New York City nightlife on New Year's Eve, but I don't need all that, Drew. People wear diapers on Times Square to take in the ball drop. Can you think of anything that you would want to do less than sit in a diaper and wait for that ball to drop? And I might love New York City more than anyone in the world. Absolutely love it. I'll do anything there except go to the ball drop. I want no part of that city on New Year's Eve.

Exactly. So have a skyline chili dog in Cincinnati. Are you going to wear a diaper for that? Well, I mean, don't rule anything out. Maybe you need diapers in both places if you're eating Skyline with the drunkest fan base. Maybe you do need that diaper. But these are two teams that have some pretty bad blood for each other. But a night game on New Year's Eve, I think would be a lot of fun.

Great game there. I like it. You can celebrate on the banks. There's some good bars in Cincinnati. Or with it being an 815 game, as I said, you live near me. You could get home and watch Dick Clark and Ron Crest, RIP, Dick Clark. But you could be home and on your couch in time for midnight. Or maybe there's an overtime.

There's a delay for some reason. And we get the midnight during the game. In the jungle. Yeah, maybe a little rain delay. lightning delay or something like that. You're rooting for a lighting delay. Week 17, we need a little lightning delay so we can get the ball to drop

during the Ravens Bengals game. All right, I like it. Hopefully Lamar will be healthy. I didn't have us having two Bengals games in our top 10. Back to back here. Well, it's a big year for Joe Burrow and Zach Taylor,

who I think if they don't make the playoffs this year, they'd probably make a change there. All right, good pick. Again, you and the holidays. Yeah, sorry. just trying to get away. Sorry, folks. Mom, dad, fiance, she'll be wife by then.

You're committed to the game. Well, just like you bringing your child across the country to the 12th man. Yep. And we're doing it for our family here. You know, she needs to see Seattle on Christmas. And maybe your wife can go with you to celebrate New Year's Eve. Get that first New Year's kiss as a married couple. Come on down to Cincinnati.

Yeah, and Pay Corps Stadium. So you have two more to select. I do. And I've got one more. Where are we going next? I'm going to keep it away from the holiday games. use my international. I'm going to be a little more regular with this pick, but I am traveling to the other side

of the country again with another NFC West game, or at least an NFC West host. I want to watch the bills for a second time in my five picks. They're at L.A., the Rams, week five, Monday night football. These are your

last two MVP's in Josh Allen and Matthew Stafford. Two Super Bowl contenders on each side. Could even be a Super Bowl preview, who knows. And two years ago, these teams met it was 44 to 42 an absolute shootout Josh Allen was on the losing end

but he had 400 yards and six touchdowns neither he nor Stafford had a touchdown it was just an offensive shootout I just use the word again those two just went back and forth Rams getting the win I think we're in for a great rematch in Stafford's likely last season we all know as you said because you're going to see

the Rams in Australia maybe Aaron Donald's playing got the Miles Garrett Angle Super Bowl is in L.A so I go ahead and get a little preview of what's coming up in L.A. Also, who doesn't like a good trip to L.A. So I'm excited about this match up and spending some time in California, Week 5. I remember that game. You said it was in 2024. December 2024. It was the color rush uniforms, I believe, because it was like ketchup and mustard. We're playing a football game in front of us. And I don't know where we're at on the color rush uniforms, but that was an all-timer.

Like, that was one of the best games I've seen, I guess not in person because I wasn't there, but it just on TV. It was just so exciting. So I like that. Two heavyweights. when it comes to Super Bowl favorites this year. And you're an adopted member of Bill's Mafia. So it would only make sense for you to spend your Thanksgiving there and then also go to a Monday Night Football game this year. And at this point, I've already been to Buffalo twice, both stadiums. Now I get to see how Bill's travel.

A little road game. I've actually seen, I went to Bill's Titans Monday Night Football in Nashville a few years ago. Great game. Another thriller. Titans won it in a close one. But this is before I loved Bill's Mafia. I got to see them on Broadway. they are maniacs.

They are absolutely crazy. I attended a Bill's wedding the day of the game. I got up early because I'd stayed the night before, and I'm just on a coffee walk with my wife. We walked the little bridge there. I mean, we were talking 10 hours before kickoff, and we just happened to see two Bill's fans getting married on the bridge in Nashville,

and we got our picture with them. We stood in as witnesses, and they had like a little Nashville street performer playing music for them. So I attended a Bill's wedding in Nashville. I've seen what they're like on the road. Now I can join them. LA as they go up against the Rams. So you're telling me Browns Spider and First Lady getting married in the tailgating parking lot of

a Browns game last year. Wasn't the only NFL wedding that there's been or you even know about? No. I'll try to pull this up on the fly. I love that they were just getting married on the bridge. Yeah, at like 10 a.m. on a Monday morning. Before, or I guess after Titans built, or was it before? Was it Monday night game?

It was the day of the Monday night game. So there's like people on their way to work. And we're just out getting coffees trying to get some steps in before we, you know, hit Broadway. You don't want to get to Broadway too early. And we look up and there's this lovely couple getting married. Well, I hope the bills won for their sake that day because there'd be nothing worse than to get married and then go to a losing game. But that is the NFL, folks. That is where love can find each other.

This is Drew's showing me a picture of here. Oh, you got a video of them on a bridge. Yeah, he's wearing a red suit with a blue shirt. Wow, that red suit's pretty bold, too. There's a little jagged edge that they were playing for them. The speakers out too. Great time. Also, more from that night.

Another video. Titans 1. We got stuck in an elevator. You've been stuck in an elevator? No, that's a nightmare scenario. Oh, buddy. I don't recommend it. How long?

Well, actually, I say we. We were back at our hotel. We went up in groups. My group went up first, and we get out, and we're waiting for our friends to come up because we're going to a rooftop bar, and we're waiting, and we're waiting. And then we hear yelling in the walls. And I'm thinking, oh, no, these idiots, they, out of excitement for the Titans, did the jumping in the elevator move? Oh, no.

No one in this group is under 230 pounds. They get stuck between floors, and I can hear them yelling, and they call me to go get help. So I have to go down to the front desk through the other elevator, because there's two elevators, get help. And then meet the maintenance man on this floor. And that's what this video shows. I'm sorry, this is a podcast. I keep showing videos. Maybe Mario. I don't know if my friends would want this on camera, but we have to like pull them out.

And they're all sweaty. But we had just left Nissan Stadium when those idiots thought they would jump in an elevator. So the elevator's not on the floor exactly. So you got to kind of like crawl out of there. Yeah. We prod the door open and pulled all them out and then kept the party going. So it was really an eventful Monday for me with Bill's Mafia in Nashville. Yeah, I think I'd take the stairs next couple times after something like that. But luckily you were on the outside of that elevator, not actually in it. Yeah, there you go. See the maintenance man?

Just got a nice ponytail. How long did it take for you to get help? Was it like a 30-hour? I will say everyone worked pretty quickly. They weren't in there more than 10 or 15 minutes, but it was an uncomfortable 10 or 15 minutes. That's not bad. Also, look at this beautiful couple. There's the photo of us being witnesses in the wedding.

Now that is, who did you say was Bill's? Yeah, Bill's fans. I mean, look at the group. Mario, maybe we'll have to post this because I'm talking about a visual here on a podcast. But look at the bride's dad. He has beautiful long hair. He's wearing a red shirt and blue tie. Just a heck of a Monday going from being in a wedding

to helping friends get stuck in an elevator pulled out of a stuck elevator after the Titans beat the bills on Monday night football. What an eventful day. So that's what I'm doing in L.A. Get Bell, Pure Fiber Internet with Crave, Netflix, and Disney Plus from $94 a month. Price guaranteed for two years on Internet with a two-year term and auto pay credit. Visit bell.com.ca for details and to check availability.

Bell. Connection is everything. All right, so we both have one pick left. I have run out of holidays to avoid my family on, so I'm going to have to pick something else. I'm going to go a little selfish here. And I'm going back to Chicago. Give me Bucks at Bears Sunday night football week nine.

Got to see my Bucks in action somewhere. But this is an interesting moment. I mean, both teams are about to go on their biweek. And the Bucs have a ton of division games after this moment. So I think it could be for both teams. teams, are you ready for the final stretch of the year? Week 9, Sunday night football action. The Bears play New England, Seattle, and then Tampa Bay from week 7 through 9.

I think you're going to learn a lot about the Bears. And if Baker Mayfield's healthy, I like the Bucks chances, even on the road. I'm not sure about two trips to Chicago, but this is a great game. Have you, I know we saw your Bucks last year in Buffalo. That was a 1 o'clock game. Have you ever been to a prom-time NFL game? Like I just mentioned going to Monday night football. Yes, I have.

It's a different animal. The night, like, atmosphere is different. And even for, like, a Thursday night football Jags Titans game, which I've been to before, it's just it gets a little bit more amped up under the lights. It's like you know that you're the only game on TV. Correct. Even though you're there, you can feel the broadcast is different. All eyes are on you.

The night game makes it special. Even though it may not even be meaningful, like a lot of games, it feels like a different beast when you're at a prom-time game. So I like the Sunday night football. You're right. I'm going to Chicago twice. I guess I loved it so much on my bachelor party. I've got to go twice.

But again, like they might be in Indiana soon. So it could be not the same moving forward after this year or maybe after a couple years. Maybe you should just get season tickets and sell the other games and just go to your two. You got Christmas and then what is this one? Week 9 Sunday night football. And I guess I'm standing in for Matt today. And that's why the Bears allegiance is coming out of me since he's not on the show. You know, this one might come to fruition.

We've talked about going to this as a podcast because two nights after Bucks Bears, our Kentucky Wildcats play Kansas in Chicago in the Champions Classic. So you could go watch both your teams. You could watch Bucks on a Sunday night, hang around Monday, go back to the Bean, take more pictures of Bean in case you forgot what it looks like.

And then on Tuesday, you could watch college basketball. Now I know why subconsciously I want to keep going back to Chicago. It's that Bean, Drew. You see your face in the Bean and you just never go. Life isn't the same after that. Well, enjoy your two times. Chicago. I will. So what are you going to round this out with? There's a lot left.

I mean, none of us have picked week one Super Bowl rematch, Pats, Seahawks. Well, no one's picked the Pats at all. Ravens play at Buffalo. Remember week one last year that game? The comeback? Yes. We sat here and watched it

on this TV right here, yeah. Yeah, we're like, well, let's go and start the podcast. This game's over, and then we have that epic comeback. But I'm already going to Buffalo once and seeing the bills again in L.A. I can't pick that one. I think I'm going to copy your format, and no one else out there listening to this will agree with this as the 10th best game on our schedule. But I got to see my Titans one last time in Nissan Stadium. Oh, yeah, they're moving into a new stadium next year.

So many memories. I just talked about going to Monday Night Football there, being a part of a wedding, helping people get out of an elevator. I've been to playoffs games there. They've not gone well. I went and saw the Ravens rip our hearts out in 2008. I was in there wearing my Chris Johnson jersey. Shout out Chris Johnson. I had a CJA 2K jersey on.

We had Kerry Collins at quarterback. We lost on a field goal. When the Ravens went to kick the field goal, I turned around and put my head, like, face first into the bleacher seat, and like a Ravens fan behind me, like had a hand on my back. I didn't watch you go through. I just felt the energy of the crowd, and that's all I needed to know that the Ravens had won.

I was also there for the playoffs against the Bengals just three or four years ago. Titans were a one seed hosting in the playoffs. I was convinced we're going to the Super Bowl and a young Joe Burrow rips our hearts out in that game. Now that I keep talking about it, not a lot of great playoff memories, but I have to say goodbye to Nissan Stadium. So I pull up the schedule.

I want to be at the last game. I don't need to go to week whatever against the Colts. I don't need division. It's not the best division in football. I want to be at the last one so I can cry and I can walk that bridge one last time. and it just so happens, they're hosting the Steelers. So I can also wave goodbye to Aaron Rogers.

Oh, yes. Week 18, Steelers at Titans is my pick. Goodbye to Nissan Stadium. Goodbye to Aaron Rogers. It's a game no one will be talking about at that point in the season. Can't imagine these teams are in contention, but I got to say farewell. Wow. Very poetic to end this little game here for the last game at Nissan Stadium.

I love that, not only that, but you'll get Aaron Rogers' final game because there's no way they're making the playoffs this year. If he's still healthy at that point. If he's still, yeah, even in it. We'll get to him in a little bit with the news. But we got some stuff on him. But I like that, Drew. You were really bringing me back down memory lane there. The Kerry Collins, was that the 13 and 3

year for the Titans? Yeah, he was balling. Yeah, that was a strange anomaly of a year for Titans fans. But I'm going to miss Nissan Stadium. I spent some time in Nashville. I interned at the local radio station down there, met Marcus Marioita on the streets one day. It'll be a little bittersweet,

don't you think? It's a good time. It needs to go. The new one's looking good. I was there recently driving by. It's coming along. But there's the upper foundation. Like, you're just sitting on these cracks and you're like, is this building?

Okay. Like, it's already, to be not that old, it's not in the best shape. Well, now you get to host Super Bowls now. That's the whole point, right? Is you get a dome and you can play these games in February. I just thought of another Nissan Stadium memory. Did you know that I was at every game during COVID when there were no crowds? Everyone?

Didn't miss a single one. I was on a banner in the end zone where there were no fans and they printed out big not like a cutout in the crowd I was like on the wall in the end zone for every game to the point Josh Allen who played at Kentucky plays for the Jags obviously Josh Heinz Allen now that's right he did an interview he was a JAG to preview I guess maybe Kentucky had a bowl game in Jacksonville

and you know it's the Zooming day he's raw at home and I'm on the Zoom I'm not even asking questions. And he goes, Drew? I was like, why is Josh Heinz Allen calling me out? He's like, did I see you on the wall at Nissan Stadium? I think he might have scored a touchdown that game and ran towards it. And there I am on the wall, big smile on the Titan shirt. So even though I wasn't there, I was there.

I had no idea. Yep. A friend made that happen, the new someone in marketing. It wasn't like a little bitty thing where I was blending in with other people. It was a pretty prominent location. Well, a good person to do it is somebody that's been a loyal fan for all these years, even though you wavered a little bit with Buffalo last year and the Titans kind of broke up with you via email last year as well.

Now you're still all in, though. Of course. I will love them forever. Listen, couples, they go through things. Sometimes you fight. Sometimes you fall in love with a guy named Penel Ron and his meatballs in a bedpan and the mustard. I stepped outside my Titans relationship for one Sunday for a few hours, had a little fling with the bills.

But just like they broke up with me via email, we got back together because love is. love Billy and I will love the Tennessee Titans forever, even if I don't know how much success is in our future, I will still be there rooting along. Well, speaking of couples going through things, we're going to be going through some things after we're going for New Year's Eve, for Christmas, for Thanksgiving, and all the important holidays. That's a fun game.

Yeah. I'm glad you get to the Bengals and Bears so much. I guess. I'm going to two Bears games and we both are going to be watching some Bengals games. You in Madrid. Can't wait. What am I getting again? Suckling Pig.

Suckling Pig. Yep. And me and Bill's Moff here are going to take over L.A. in week five. Looking forward to that. But those are NFL Cover Zero's top ten games. In theory, I don't know if those are the 10 games of the year. But as we set the rules, that's how it shakes out.

Billy, that was a lot of fun. I wish we could even pull some of them off. I think your Bucks bears. It can be done for NFL Cover Zero. Sounds very doable. We get busy this time of year, but I think we could pull that one off. Actually going to Christmas or Seattle on Christmas, I don't know if I'll be doing that.

but it was a fun, fun exercise. Moving on, as we do as always. We wrap up our podcast with the latest news. It is the offseason. Training camps are ahead, so it will be getting newsy quickly. But here lately it hasn't been a ton of stuff. But, Billy, we do have a short list of topics of things

since we've last recorded an episode. So what do you want to start with? Yeah, let's start with Tom Brady, the goat, you could say. He is reportedly in negotiations with the WWE regarding a possible appearance at WrestleMania 42. in Las Vegas. I don't know if you saw this over the weekend. Him and Logan Paul were doing this thing

where they're slapping each other and they're flipping each other off at the World Cup final. You know, Gronk was in the ring at WWE over nine years ago, but do you think we will see a Logan Paul, Tom Brady, match up in the WWE soon? I think so, and I hate this. I'm not even a Tom Brady fan,

but he's the goat and he's a legend. Why are you... You think it's cheapening him? Yeah, why are you hanging out with the Paul's? This is something I would expect like Jackson Dart to do. Like right now, why he's still young? Why is Tom Brady flipping off Logan Paul in a World Cup match? I know it's the stage feud to build up drama for whatever they're going to do and make money.

But of all people, Tom Brady, I wish he wasn't doing it. People online were calling it divorced dad energy. And I kind of agree with that. Tom is kind of, he's entered this new phase of life where he's doing all these different things. He's also associating himself with the Paul brothers, like you said, Logan Paul has offered a million dollars to fight any NFL player, and that currently stands. I think Leveon Bell wanted to take him up on that offer, and then he backed out of it. But that's who we're talking about here.

Levyon Bells of the world, not Tom Brady's. So, you know, my radio co-host said, you know, that was probably a childhood dream of Tom's, and that's a cool event to be a part of. But I'm with you. I think it cheapens him a little bit. I need less of the Pauls. We've had too much Pauls. They're fine, but we've had too much of them.

And it's like Tom Brady's even elevating their status by associating with them. You're Tom Brady. You have all these business ventures going on. You work for Fox. You own an NFL team. You got all these companies. You're doing roasts. You don't need to hang with the polls.

No, but he's now a part owner in the Raiders. And they just drafted Mendoza number one overall. So you think he's got his hands in that right now. But when it comes to like pop culture, he's doing a little bit of everything. The roasts, right? There was a Tom Brady roast recently too. I did enjoy the roast. I had no problems with the roast. That was a good. I liked the roast, too.

Kevin Hart did a good job as the host of that. So Tom Brady, you might see him in the WWE ring here pretty soon. I will not because I will not watch. Get Bell, Pure Fiber Internet with Crave, Netflix, and Disney Plus from $94 a month. Price guaranteed for two years on Internet with a two-year term and auto pay credit. Visit bell.ca for details and to check availability. Bell, connection is everything. Speaking of quarterbacks, Netflix's Quarmitz,

Quarterback Season 3 came out recently. Actually, both two episodes are out now. They are following four quarterbacks, Baker Mayfield, Jaden Daniels, Joe Flacco, and Cam Ward. And Drew, I watched the first episode the other day. Can I give you some highlights from it? Please. Because I'm not sure if you've seen it yet or not. It's on my list.

But when you have an infant at home TV shows, you don't see as many as you used to. I understand. But, you know, I've enjoyed this series. I think it's taken over Hard Knocks for me as my favorite. kind of off-season NFL show. Joe Flacco was benched by his son in fantasy football. I always appreciate that. I did catch a clip of that on social media.

A big fan of that. Yes, they just love giving it to him, honestly. And him going from Cleveland to Cincinnati is going to be really interesting. Cam Ward, his mom stole the show, I think, in the first episode. She was telling all these stories about Cam. You went into his childhood bedroom and saw the pictures of Kobe Bryant on the wall. And then she had his first speeding ticket frame. and she had kept it all these years.

And I guess Cam had waited until they got to church for him to tell her that he had got a speeding ticket. Well, that did not go over well for her. She has kept the speeding ticket all these years. So to see Cam and his mom was, I thought, pretty cool. I like my quarterback's IQ that he thought, you know, he thought that through. Where should I tell her this bad news? Oh, she can be that mad in church.

I'll hand it to her then. I like that. That shows some forward thinking. And I also like Cam, kind of seeing behind the scenes about him. I think he's kind of got the temperament to be a good NFL quarterback. I was just hating on my Titans a little bit. I love him. I'm excited about Cam.

You think he'll be good? I'm excited. It's all about a lot of stuff around him, but I think he was a great pick and has a bright future. Baker Mayfield started off the episode, and it was a lot to do with him meeting his wife. We didn't see a lot about his NFL journey or not. I expect a lot more Baker and a lot more trash talk

because there's not many better offense, like quarterbacks that can trash talk as much as Baker Mayfield. So there's still a lot more to be. discovered there. And then Jaden Daniels, I mean, I had forgotten how good his rookie season was. Oh, yeah. He was rookie of the year, led Washington to the NFC championship game. Before that injury, which has not happened in the series yet, I'm going to be catching that up soon. I mean, he was maybe the darling of the NFL. So seeing him work through that process of instant fame was pretty interesting, too. His dynamic with his mom has been a popular topic. Does it cover

in there? She's in it. Yep. Not so much. of she's my agent, why that's a good decision over getting another agent, but she's very involved with everything that he does. Yeah. And people have said, kind of like Lamar Jackson, who I think his mom also represents him. Maybe not the best decision, but that's what some people say. Well, for our purposes, it's got our quarterbacks in it, and then the Flacco story's great. Jane Daniel, that's a fine edition, but I'll make sure I see it. In fact, when we get done here, I'm going straight home. We got bad weather in Lexington. Maybe I'll just go ahead and knock out a couple episodes. Speaking of quarterback, Steelers

quarterback Aaron Rogers, who has remained distant from his immediate family over the years, posted pictures on Instagram over the weekend with his mom and his dad and his brother. I like that. This has been a big talking point about Aaron Rogers since he's been in the league. You know, it's weird when people don't talk to their

parents. Like, you've got to get to a real bad place to just not associate with your parents at all. So even though I'm not an Aaron Rogers guy, it's important to love your family. So I'm glad that all that they had going on whatever it was. It's been speculated about. But I'm glad that they're back on the

same page. Well, I think it's been for a while, too. I think the reported feud started in 2014. His brother Jordan Rogers went on The Bachelor, I think, or Bachelor at one of the two in which some of that dirty laundry was aired. And it's, you know, we are the podcast that makes fun of Aaron Rogers, as Matt

likes to do, but he was our last quarterback in the draft the other day. But good to see him making up with his family over the weekend. Yeah, and I mean, I'm going to see him in WKT and Nashville. still playing. I'm glad it's working out. Do you worry that we're going to be in an Aaron Rogers situation?

Do you think our family will be estranged when they see our schedule before we're going? Yes. That's actually a great point, especially since I'm just getting married in the month of August and you have your first child, I think the timing could not have been worse for our escapades here. Matt's the main hater of Aaron Rogers. I'm not the biggest fan, but I will say the man can throw the football. It's a little sad seeing him rot it out this long. Who knows?

Maybe you'll surprise this. But he is, you know, on the Mount Rushmore guys that could just sling it. But I would not have guessed he would outlasted Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh. Not at all. So it's going to be an interesting year for the Steelers, no doubt. But good for the Rogers's. Rogers' is. A couple other things.

The Titans are going to induct Chris Johnson into their ring of honor in this season. He's the first Titans only player in the Titans Oilers franchise to receive this honor. It will be on September 13th against the New York Jets. So you got to think they may be up at halftime when they do the ceremony. I didn't pick that game. Recently, Chris went public with his ALS diagnosis. He had six straight seasons of 1,000 yards rushing, just under 8,000 total yards. That's fourth in Titans history.

And C.J. 2K. What was that? 2009 that that happened? Yeah, just incredible. It was like watching the video game character the way he would run, break tackles. all those other years were good too but the 2K year was special as I mentioned I had a Chris Johnson jersey

I'm so glad the Titans aren't waiting around to do this we saw how quickly ALS has moved through him and impacted him so I'm glad he's going to get his moment too many times in situations teams and franchises wait to recognize somebody when they're gone and don't really get to live it and appreciate it I'm glad

they're prioritizing getting him up in the ring of honor and letting him have a celebration in Nashville because that is in a place that's been loaded with running backs. You know, Eddie George, Derek Henry, you can go way back to Oilers' days for others. That's true.

CJ was special, and I'm glad he's going to get that moment. Little surprised he's the only Titans only player. I guess Eddie George was an oiler back in the day. Yeah, it's hard to believe, but I guess if you're counting anyone that played in Houston, like even McNair was in Houston for a little bit.

There should be more, though. I mean, they've been the Titans for 17 years now, 16, 17, 18 years. right he'll be he'll be one of them I'm sure well he's he's been a raven so he doesn't fit the category well I guess that's true I guess I just didn't mean that they played for the oilers as well but yeah good good on the Titans for getting it done early glad it's happening also he's brought back the ice bucket challenge I've been seeing that going around lately oh maybe we should do that in honor Chris Johnson you got to be challenged

so if anyone wants to challenge us I guess we will a couple more two more we'll end this thing at 510 in the morning Saturday Sequin Barclay's house was robbed or at least attempted to be robbed. Two suspects broke into his home while Barclay and his family were home. No one was injured and the suspects fled the scene. Barclay is now added to the list of high-profile NFL and NBA athletes who have seen their house broken into over the last, what would you say, like three, four, five years or so?

Yeah, this has been crazy. Burrow was a very popular one. We learned that this ring was targeting these players when they knew they were, you know, if I'm watching them on Sunday night, I know they're not home. I just can't think if anyone I'd want to mess with less than an NFL player. You see the quads on Seyquin Barclay, and you're like, that's who you're going to try to rob? I don't think that'd be a very smart decision.

But, you know, strange that he was home with his family while it happened. You know, I've got to think that could probably shake you up after something like that happened. Absolutely. Scary situation. I guess all these guys probably have to be ramping up security at home. You know, the little little ring camera can only go so far. People are robbing you when you're home in the middle of the night. So scary, scary stuff and odd that it seems to be the NFL that's targeted so much. I haven't really seen any of these stories out of other pro leagues.

Well, you remember Joe Burrow was the victim of this a couple years ago. And so like you said, they were kind of waiting until they were playing. And I now guess they're getting even bolder. But everybody's okay. Nobody was injured. Suspects left. But they did enter the home just this past weekend. I bet you no one's Robin Miles Garrett or Aaron Donald's house.

Well, you'd think that. But Sequin, I feel like it's on that, right? But you're right. You know it's Miles Garrett's out. You're probably not going to go in there. And finally, we had a good time talking about bad celebrity golfers on Cover Zero the other day. I want to take you back to the American Century Championship in South Lake Tahoe where all those celebs were playing. Did you see the viral clip of Jerry Rice and what he did?

This came out right after we talked about it last week. I wish we had seen it before. Yeah. So Jerry Rice is, you know, teeing off. And right after he tees off, a heckler yells four. But this is right after he hits. the ball. So it's a little early on the four. Seemed intentional. Jerry immediately turns around and goes under the ropes and starts running

after the heckler that has already started to walk away. Jerry is asking the audience, which one, which one as he runs towards this heckler after a few brief words, he then comes back and that's the end of the fiasco. But it is a little jarring to see Jerry Reich, who is 63 years old, holding a club going under the ropes and chasing a heckler after somebody yelled four. And Jerry Rice can still move at 63. He still got a little quickness in him, doesn't he? Fully supported Jerry Rice here. I mean, glad he didn't get his hands on him and do anything he regrets.

But it was an intentional yelling at his back swing. People are getting a little too confident in themselves. Lately a lot of it is online. But people, even in golf tournaments, think you can do this. I'm glad Jerry gave him a little scared there. Let him know this is unacceptable behavior. Well, like even like in NBA games, I feel like we see this where the fans are right there. And sometimes, you know, a player will fall into them or make a comment that can be heard very easily by these players.

NFL's a little different since the sideline is a little farther away. But you see this often in the NBA where people have to be escorted out or banned for life after they think they can say these things to professional athletes. It's like when I'm behind my car windshield drew. Like I just don't act like myself. I'll just start screaming at people. I would never scream at because I'm behind that windshield. And I guess I think I have some security there. You mentioned it doesn't happen in the NFL,

but let's not forget D.K. McCaff with the Lions fan last year. Almost happened there. Fans just need to calm down. Cheer for your team. Heckel a little bit because that's part of it. But when you're just intentionally being a jerk, you need to be brought down a notch. So Jerry Rice, of all people, going full sprint through the golf course there.

I had to have been jarring to the person that thought they were being cute. Yeah. How crazy would that be? if he came up to you after you've walked away. Like, you think this interaction's over. Jerry Rice taps you on the shoulder to say, hey, that wasn't cool. Yeah, of all people, Jerry Rice, a Hall of Fame legend. You know you're sitting there just full of regret, wishing you hadn't done it.

I think it was a young person. Probably thinking my dad's going to kick my when this video comes out. No, Jerry Rice just chased me down on the golf course. But good for Jerry. This is where people say shrink the game in golf. This is where we need to shrink the game. Show us some respect, especially to Jerry Rice. Yeah, I mean, that's the greatest.

receiver of all time still, right? Certainly in the conversation. Yeah, I mean, I'm going to selfishly put Mike Evans in that conversation. He tied Jerry Rice's record for consecutive thousand-yard seasons to start a career, so he's up there. Yeah, I'd say Jerry's probably still the goat. Maybe we can debate that on another podcast. I think this was a great podcast, Drew. Good job filling in with Matt on.

Matt'll be back next week. Maybe we'll do another draft. It's been fun summer content. But this one was a blast kind of going over the NFL schedule and learning how much Billy loves the Bengals and the city of Chicago. I guess so. Billy was fun. We'll do it again. Until then, thank you all for listening to NFL Cover Zero. And we'll be back next week as we get closer and closer and closer to the season. 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 Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.