NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - 2019 Week 1 Recap, Reaction to Patriots Signing Antonio Brown

Episode Date: September 9, 2019

A room filled with heroes – Dan Hanzus, Chris Wesseling, Gregg Rosenthal and Marc Sessler recap an action-packed Week 1 of the 2019 NFL season. The guys talk about Sammy Watkins' huge game (4:00), discuss what happened to the Browns (11:14), look at the thriller Colts and Chargers game (18:33), praise DeSean Jackson's performance and speed (29:45), react to Lamar Jackson's incredible game (42:15), evaluate Kyler Murray's debut (59:00), and give their thoughts about Antonio Brown signing with the Patriots (1:16:27).Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comNFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Hey, everybody. Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the 6th, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else.

It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The Around the NFL podcast. Praise to the football gods. Welcome to another edition of the Around the NFL podcast. My name is Dan Hansus, and I am joined in a room filled with heroes. Mark Sessler, Chris Wessling, and Greg Rosenthal. What is up, boys?

Hey, Dan. Week one, Sunday night. Football. Whoa. Football everywhere. Football in the morning here in the West Coast. Football in the afternoon. Football at night, we are flying. Football streaming after the Sunday night game for the first time. If you're listening to our podcast, you can check that out. That's on YouTube, but we're going to be doing that five minutes after the Sunday night game.

It's a beautiful... Every week, all season. It's the best week of the year. I know two of you might disagree. but I think it's the best football. It's a good week for you, Greg. So then it's a good week for every. Oh, we'll see.

Every week's a good week for Greg Rosenthal when it comes to the NFL. Mark and myself, yes, another dark start to another dark year to come. We'll get to all that. And, you know, looking at the landscape of week one in the NFL, you know, certain things that we kind of expected

came to fruition in week one. The chiefs would be unstoppable. The dolphins would be completely stoppable. James Winston would be a sloppy mistake prone quarterback. The Patriots would do something distasteful. All these things. We expected these things to happen. And they did.

But then there's the surprises that, you know, like the Titans would come out feisty and the Browns would come out drunk. Lamar Jackson would come out like the 2019 answer to Patrick Mahomes. Making the leap. I mean, this is the excitement of a new season of football because everyone thinks they know everything

and then the games start. And here we are, Wes. None of us know anything. We say this every September 8th or whatever it is. So here we are. Mark, you have anything good? I know it's been a bad day. No, you know what?

It's been a bad day as a football fan. At one point today, you said you were a Bengals fan. They kind of won me over for a brief moment. I heard some Gio Bernard whooping at that point. Then they lost me. But I think it's a perception-changing week, and the Bengals are part of that for me. But then week two tends to, you know, bring us back to Earth on a couple things, too. So I'm not ready to make any final conclusions.

It's a long, it's a long season. That wasn't even Mark's best quote. Which, what was Mark's best? I don't even know what my quote. Dan said, Mark's not dead. You thought he was dead, but he's not dead. And Mark said under his breath, not on the outside. Yeah.

I mean, you know, some things feel different. Some things feel very unoriginal and very similar to other years. You know, in Jaws, when Bro. and Quinn and Hooper, they're all under the deck and they're comparing the shark bites and injuries. That was Mark and I after the dust settled on the early games where the Browns, and again, we're going to get to it, lay an unholy egg at home, losing by 30 points of the titoons of all teams. And then the Jets do what the Jets do, which is drop a absolute heartbreaking, disgraceful meltdown in the third and fourth quarter. these are two injuries that are going to take some time to scar over, Mark. Until they play each other next week and one of us sinks into a deeper morass.

That was the time of the day where you guys seemed like less excited about the Marlon Mac 12-yard run I was honking about in the corner. Yeah, Greg somehow found a way again to not emotionally connect with Dan and I on a football Sunday. I mean, we don't have to pretend like everyone died. It's a football game. We're moving on. Oh, it must be easy to be you, Greg. Other football game. It must be easy.

I'm enjoying the other. games. All right. So we got all these games to get to. And we'll close the show, of course, by digging into Sunday Night Football with Greg's throne of these Patriots against the Steelers. So let's get going. And where do we want to start? Why don't we start? Yes, those unstoppable Kansas City Chiefs. Four man front for the Jaguars. As Mahomes holding it, firing it late, caught at the 40. Now 45, 50 in the open field at the 40, 35, 35, 20, 20, 10, 5. Touchdown. Kansas City. Sammy Watkins, a 67-year touchdown.

Right out of the gate. And the NFL MVP already gets more touchdown passes in this game than he did all last year against the Jaguars. There you go. Mitch Holth is he's got that week one excitement for the Chiefs Radio Network. Patrick Mahomes threw for 378 and three touches, all three of his scoring strikes to an unstoppable Sammy Watkins. And the Chiefs open up their season with a dominant 40 to 24 win over the Jaguars at the chlorine tank.

You know, this was a worst case scenario for the Jags. I watched this game and, you know, they get their defense worked over in their own building. You know, they got people in their bikinis and in their swim trunks and their margaritas. And they're looking to enjoy a football game. They're looking to get excited about the return of the dominant Jaguars defense. and I'll take an L there. I thought this was going to be a game where the Chiefs were going to have some trouble,

but they had no trouble at all. In fact, I'll say this, the Chiefs, as crazy as it sounds, they roll up about 500 yards, and they still left points on the field. There were some plays that they missed. At one point, Patrick Wilhomes tried a no-look pass to a wide-open Travis Kelsey in the end zone

and air-mailed it. There were a couple plays here and there that they missed, and yet they still roll all over the Jags. And for the Jaguars, yeah, not only do you get embarrassed at home, you lose Nick Foles, your free agent savior in the first quarter with a broken clavicle. He's going to have surgery. He's going to be out indefinitely.

So just a total nightmare. The chief's feeling good. The Jags look like they're in serious trouble. So many big stories from this game, I don't know where to start. But Gardner Minchu coming in, going 22 of 25 for 275 and moving the ball, at least in the short term, was interesting. I mean, I would have never. It's a very soft chief. defense by the time he was doing a lot.

Sure, but it wasn't the Jaguar's offense. That was a problem. I mean, the Chiefs put up 17 points in the first quarter and then had the lead throughout. And Minchu was moving the ball from minute one. And then the fact that Tyreek Hill had a serious injury in this game is going to miss multiple weeks. Almost is an afterthought. But that's a pretty big deal for the Chiefs as well. I mean, I think, you know, Dan, you talked about things that are expected and unexpected in week one. And for me, the thing, the full, the durability of Nick Foles has been a B-line through his career. And he fits when he has to come in and patch a team and play three or

four games in a row. But, you know, he's never started more than 11 games in a season. And when he was a starter, durability and injuries. And a clavicle type injury feels like a very Nick Foles type setback to me. And the timing of it is so disruptive. And I don't look at the Jaguars defense. This is, you played a high octane attack here. We can't just assume that they're going to proceed forward with the Jacksonville defense we've seen in the past. There were a lot of issues today. How many network TV recap shows on Monday will be rehashing the Eli to Coughlin speculation once again? Rejoining forces because they lost their quarterback and, you know, it's Danny Dimes time in New York.

Well, here's the thing. Yes, Gardner, the name, by the way, got to love it. Gardner, Minchew. By the way, in there. Gardner Minchew, too. Oh, the second. Yes, it is Gardner, Minchew Roman numeral two. Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Yes, he looked really good, 22, 25, two touchhuns. But this cannot be the Jaguars plan. And I just have to call them, call them out here for maybe Minchu turns into the second coming of Tom Brady is a sixth round pick. But Nick Falls has been injury prone. And the fact that you entered this season with a completely untested kid who barely got drafted just speaks to a level of preparation by the organization that it's hard to get. get behind. And when you look at the Jags and that division, you wonder if they are in really deep trouble. Because if Foles misses extended time, and you got to expect, none of us are doctors, well, Mark is. He doesn't talk about it. I don't. But you got to expect he's going to miss at least

a month. But it's maybe two months. And by the time he gets back, it might be too late. Well, part of week one, the reaction is to find out what's real and what's just a one week aberration. And I think you have to look at Jacksonville as the biggest losers of week one, just because they lost their quarterback. And they play the Texans and the Titans the next two weeks. So those are division games. I mean, they can look to some of the offense and see positive. DJ Charko did nothing for them last year, 146 yards.

Chris Conley, they pick up, has 97 yards and a touchdown. You figure the defense will get it going eventually. With all these week one games, and maybe we don't need to repeat this point more than once, I do, and everyone said it, the fact that none of the teams are playing in the preseason and it's so hot in a lot of these places, including Jacksonville. I think it's a factor. I do think there are just things that are going to happen this week that it's hard to know what's due to fatigue or that,

but it's a big factor. I would say this. If you're a Chiefs fan, you have to be excited about Lashon McCoy jumping in, 81 yards off 10 carries. And we've waited for Sammy Watkins to do this forever. Nine catches, 198 yards, and three touchdowns. We've seen games similar to this from him before,

and then he'd go for 30 yards the next. He's got to stay healthy. He does. Well, we have to mention Tyree Killers. They say for probably a few weeks. He went to the hospital today. Yes. And we should mention we haven't done a show since he signed his long-term contract,

which if you include the total deal is about $18 million a year in terms of the new money. Otherwise, it was a $14 million deal. I know we've seen a lot of surprising things, you know, cynical things since we've taped this podcast. This one hit me when it happened that it's one of the most cynical moves I've seen in NFL history. They basically looked at what happened with Tyree Kill in this child abuse case, and they decided, and I understand from Tyree Kill side, why he wanted to do it and said, well, that's worth about a 30% discount on your long-term contract. We'll sign you now, but take less money than would be market value. Of course he's going to take it. There's some talk he had financial problems, but I don't know. What's the other way to play it? don't reward someone that's had this his child taken from him

but once they bring him back you know that's not an option see how this season plays out maybe wait for an you know this was an offseason where a lot happened for him maybe have that play at you have the franchise tag I hear you can I ask you a question yeah can you name three teams in the league that operate that way at this point I don't I don't think

I think the chiefs and in general Andy Reid teams in general are going to take chances on guys with his I think they're a little more aggressive in that. And they saw an opportunity and they went for it. All right. We'll get more into that as the week progresses, perhaps. But let's move on now.

So the big loser in the AFC South was the Jaguars. Let's take a look at a big winner. Playfake, Mario de Roling right. They're going to screen it to Henry. Man is blocked in the flat. A lot of room. 30, 40, 50, 40, 40, 30, 20, 10, 5. And so.

Yes. No. Flags on the field, 75 yards. Touchdown, Titans. Derek Henry from Marcus Mariotta. And just like that, an answer. Mike Keith, Titans Radio Network. Marcus Marietta threw three touchdown passes,

including that game-changing 75-yarder on a screen to big man, Derek Henry. And the Titans went into Cleveland and embarrassed the hyped up. Browns, 43 to 13, we'll give the Titans they're due in a moment. And I promise you, Titans fans, I know you're thinking you're going to get screwed over here. You will get your due. But we have to start with the Browns, who could not have looked worse in their most highly anticipated game in decades. Mark, what in the hell happened at the dog pound today?

I think what happened is the Titans. This is a team that came in with a defense that was underrated last year and came in with more pieces. I think Cam Wake as a pass rusher. absolutely ignited this defense up front. And they went against a piece of Cleveland's team that we were concerned about all through the summer, which was their offensive line. And Greg Robinson at left tackle,

already a known liability, gets ejected for, as he's falling down, kicking a Titans player in the face early in the game. They at one point, going into the second half, had five healthy linemen. And essentially, all of them playing out of position. They had to move Justin McRae to right tackle and Chris Hubbard to left tackle.

after Kendall Lamb, a filling for Greg Robinson was ruled out with a knee injury, about eight plays into being in the game. It was an absolute disaster. And if you want to look at the difference between last year and why didn't last year's offense show up, and you add O'Dell Beckham and you add all this business, why aren't they the team that scored 43 points? Because the offensive line unplugged entirely in Baker Mayfield, as much as he has the skill set to evade tacklers and maybe work behind a less than stellar line.

Last year's line did play stellar protection. down the stretch. He was harassed today. He was harassed into poor throws. I think the team also got down early. The Titans got in their head and they tired out Cleveland's defense that last year led the league in giving up big plays and they gave up big plays today. It took a little while for Derek Henry to get unhooked, but he had a couple big runs that set up big first downs and he had that 75-yard catch and run for a touchdown that broke Cleveland spirit. This was a Titans performance to remember. 4313, though, is not just the Titans. This is a total meltdown.

And here's the stat that will tell you that. Penalties, Cleveland Browns, 18 for 18. 1882 yards. So the Titans, and again, the Titans fans, you're going to get your due. But the Browns absolutely no-showed this game. I think Cleveland, and, you know, Freddie Kitchens, after the game was asked about this, 18 penalties for an insane amount of yardage, the most since 1951. for the Browns.

And if you said, can't happen. If you said, we're going to point back to some stats from 1951 for this year's Browns team, you wouldn't have thought it was that.

And Kitchens did not have a great answer after the game. He said this wasn't happening in practice. They had, every offensive drive in the first half was capsized by penalties and every defensive potential stop was capsized by penalties.

Jim Nance correctly called this the choppiest game he had ever seen. And I think Tony Romo sat there thinking this was a great situation for the Titans and Cleveland completely did not play up to anything anyone thought. It was an embarrassment. That choppiness was compounded, I believe, in the second half

by the hit that Baker Mayfield took at the very end of the first half on his throwing arm and his arm did not look right to me in the second half. I'm not making excuse for him. He did not throw with the same authority that he threw with. And I'll let you guys add to this,

but he left with his right wrist wrapped and they said it's nothing overly serious. He said he's fine, but we'll see if he's He was wincing in pain during that's another thing we all talked about leading up to week one what could hold the Brown's back if you can't protect the kid behind center

and Cameron Wake was a huge part of that he gets three sacks he continues to build his case I believe someday for the profile safety pro football hall of fame where you're going to have to include those CFL MVP's and he's got Dean P's now and Mike Freebo have built up a defense

where there's not superstars but there's playmakers especially at linebacker. Kevin Byrd's a superstore. Malcolm, you know, the secondary is a little deeper. I think there's a lot of reasons to like them. And I think the curse, as our friend Dave Damasek would say, of supposed to, was in play here. When the Browns fans were booing the heck out of their team, and it was 12 to 6, I thought, like, that's maybe the expectations and everything that they were feeling and believing all offseason.

The final score is very misleading in my mind. It was 15, 13, late in the third. I mean, this wasn't a blowout for three-quarter. I don't think it's misleading when Cleveland got forced into throwing passes. I hear what you're saying, but it's very rare that a team loses by 30 and gains more yards than the other team. That's what the Browns did. And the Titans, again, to their credit, they showed up and they bawled out. And when you have a team like the Browns that has a lot of hype around them, that fuels the opposition.

That's what happened a week one. Let's listen to Delaney Walker, the tight end, who had two touchdowns in this game. He was one of those players. is feeling very good afterwards. They sleep on us every year. I mean, what's new? I mean, that's a question you already knew. But we like being under the radar.

You know, they were who we thought they were. If you want to crown them, crown them. They still got to play football. And today we show we play better football. I think this, if Mariotta plays the way he plays today, and that is a huge if, I think this is the most complete team in that division, the AFC South,

and I should not have assumed that the Browns would just steam roll them like I did. Well, I think it helps that A.J. Brown, wide receiver, they've got something in him. They look today like a complete offense, which has been missing in Tennessee. You know, I will say this thing. I don't know where most Browns fans are, but like I feel like I've been trying to tell you all offseason that something concerns me about these expectations. And today, it's not that I thought this would happen this way, but in my mind, when you're thinking of possibilities.

It's a really long season, though. Even in a good 10 and 6 season, you're going to have major ups and downs, and I think this team is going to be a wild ride. I would just, I would point to the team with a shattered offensive line that has a lot of big, funny, interesting surprises down the road. No team, I think, has had a better month than the Titans because they watch Andrew Luck retire. They watch Nick Foles get hurt.

The Texans are absolutely right there, and they could benefit too, but, but with this win and those injuries, that's huge. Arthur Smith, OC, Titans, O.C. He is in that short list for coordinator of the year after that. We're getting Art Smith heat when you said to wrap it up, huh, then? Didn't feel it coming. Let's move on. Let's head to, oh, yeah.

You know we love it because it gets crazy at dignity health sports park. Single coverage, Keene and Allen out to the right. I formation, Echler and Watt, motion man from the left hash, Hunter Henry to the right side of the line. Hand off to Echler. Off the field. Echler in the end zone. Touchdown.

Chargers win. Chargers win. Have a day. Austin Echler. Spurt, touchdown in the afternoon. And give the assist to Watt with a beautiful block up into the whole nice screen by Austin Echler. And this one goes over that sticks, the move the sticks. We don't need his input here.

We got the call from Matt Money Smith. Our boy, KFIAM 640. Austin Eccler crashed into the end zone from seven yards out and the opening possession of overtime, clinching a 30-24 win for the Chargers over the Colts. at fearsome dignity health, sports park. The bolts recovered after Jacoby Brissette brought the Colts back in regulation with a touchdown and two-point conversion to force OT.

Greg, the Andrew Luckless Colts were looking for a feel-good start to their season, but the Chargers regrouped to close out a game they've lost many times before. They have a game where they fumble a punt late in the third quarter, where Philip Rivers throws a fourth quarter interception, where you give up a 24-9 lead to Jacoby Brissette.

think this is the Chargers being the Chargers. But when they won the coin flip, I thought they would win. I thought whichever team wins that coin flip is going to score and it's mostly going to be a touchdown. This game could have been in the 40s. Neither defense offered much resistance of the games that I watched today. It was the game that I felt I learned the least about both teams because I think they've just really played to expectation. I think they're both going to be really intriguing teams to watch. The Chargers defense was a little worse than I expected. Marlon Mack ran for 174 yards. Adam Vinatari missed three kicks,

including a bunny inside 30 yards that cost the Colts seven points. Vinetary in trouble? A bunny. Yeah, don't they call that? Not a nice little short kick of a bunny. It's kind of like taking a haircut, kind of inside baseball talk.

Like it. How many games a year? How many games a year is Venetary kicking on grass? That's a big difference for a kicker. He had an injury in the preseason. And he was, he has one of these. He has one of these massagers, which I bought really late at night, one night.

I just wasn't... That's all I'm going to say. One of these massagers that, you know, you really drill into your... He's doing that throughout the game on his leg. That's a bad sign. So he cost them to win. I mean, they could have won the game.

Let's get back to this massager. What's going on with that way? I would say as Greg solves his desert issues. They replaced by late-night shopping sprees, putting the Rosenthal family in doubt. You see the ads for him, those hammers that just like they... It's like painful. But, yeah, it's good on the back.

They can be more curious. I really taking his throne of easy thing a little bit too literally. Yeah. And, you know, Andrew Luck is gone. Jacoby Brissette's there. And he kept the cults interesting. And they almost stole a game on the road. So I think he played really well. Yeah, the feel good storyline would be that the he leads them to the comeback win and all that.

They don't get that. But still, there's hope and Indy for sure. There was limited possessions in this game because the offense kept going back and forth. Preset wasn't a superstar. But when it mattered, he moved them. and he had one throw on a third and long to Ebron, which would have cut the lead to two, and Ebron ended up dropping it when he hit the ground in the end zone.

But it was just a money throw, and you see Jacoby Brissette make those type of throws. He was a little slow to make decisions here or there, but 21 for 27, 192 touchdowns, and moved them when it mattered, and the line played really well protecting him and getting T.Y. Hilton off, Marlon Mack. So I think there was a lot for both teams to like.

I'm a little surprised at the chart. defense was so easy. Yeah, they gave up like the 200 plus yards rushing is not what I would have thought. But every time I looked up, I thought Keenan Allen was making a great catch. And also, if you're going to have a game like this from their collection of backs, Austin Eckler on the ground and through the air, winds up with, you know, roughly 150 yards. You got 125 on the ground for six yards per pop. Every game like this, Melvin Gordon just simply matters less and less because you're getting by. I am a little concerned. Six yards per pop, that was good. pop baby. See, that's inside baseball. I have some terminology.

Josh Jackson goes... Again, I'm new to the job, so... Six for 50. You're right. I mean, they, their offense looked, you know, as good or better than they did all of last year. They were ready to go from the first snap. It was just the Chargers' offense getting whatever they wanted. That would worry me if I'm the Colts. The protection for Philip Rivers, especially on the tackle, started to fall apart. Trent Scott, two sex. Late in the game. But other than that, Melvin Gordon's watching this, and I mean, there's no way they're going to pay him. You think he's watching?

he's got to be watching he's in the wilderness right now it it is impactful to his future he might be more i don't he he might be more likely to get traded than return to the charges i don't know to who patriots ninth round pick he hasn't sabotaged his value enough yet ninth round pick in 2074 when they extend the draft so salty let's go on on second and five from the 25 play action blocked from tyrant smith deep middle in stride at the five, walking in for the touchdown. It's Randall Cobb. Brad Sham, the Sham God.

Cowboys Radio Networked at Crescott, threw for 405 and tied a career high, with four touchdown passes that Cowboys rolled up. Nearly 500 yards of the Giants and a 35-17 win. The Giants scored the first touchdown, but it became very apparent, very quickly, that the Dream-Hun were badly outclassed. Wes, a lot to like about Big D on both sides of ball on this one.

Well, this was not your Scott Linehan established the run and stay with the run offense. This was Kellyn Moore getting creative with play action shots down the field, up tempo, spreading the ball around, very pass heavy offense in which Dak Prescott finished the game with a perfect passer rating. Michael Gallup, one of my favorite breakout candidates, over 150 yards. Amari Cooper, Blake Jarwin, Jason. Winston Witten, Randall Cobb, all fine the end zone. And most of the day, frankly, running wide open.

And you wonder how much of that is Kellynne Moore's playcalling and how much of that is the Giants' defense, which is among the most talent poor in the NFL. But this has to be a best-case scenario if you're a Cowboys fan, especially with Ezekiel Elliott looking at least a step or too slower than normal, which is to be expected if they're missing August. There are plenty of fans that they don't follow every single transaction and movement that a team makes in the overall.

offseason, and they roll in today, and they don't even know that Kellan Moore is maybe even the new play caller, but if you've been reading about him behind the scenes. Hey, listen to our podcast, you chum. Well, that's true. Check in, please, in the in-between months, if you care to. But, I mean, this is a huge development for, there were a couple of quarterbacks today that I thought new coaching and new coordinator helped flip the switch on him a little bit, and I thought Dak Prescott last year was an uninteresting watch. The entire offense was dull, totally different now. Well, it's not just Kellan Moore, who some people have been calling a Sean McVeigh

type of football mind. It's not just him, it's guys like Michael Gallup or another year better. It's that Travis Frederick, your all pro center is back. It's that Randall Cobb is looking really good, like he turned back the clock. He looked good. Jason Witton's back and I know that, you know, you can

time him with the sundial after the catch, but he even falls slowly now. It's like two strikers took flight and they're starting to move. Humanly intriguing. Do you guys hear what I was hearing there as West was talking just like put a shut it down the team of west yel has decided it's the cowboys he loves these cowboys i guess the broncos are in there though broncos are in but the excitement that west has that

his heart is open it's real and he's letting america's team in who what isunk it what is the weakness with this dallas cowboys team i don't see one you know you were very high in dallas even at the end of last year but especially almost erotically so which he was he was even asking for gregg's thing that you bought the thing to the five yeah you're like I said it. I don't know why. But no, this. It's like a hammer, though.

On the pain, they're messing with my wires, Greg. The Giants, it was kind of their season in miniature a little bit when you look at the final numbers. Sequin's going to get his 120 yards rushing. He busted off a 60 yard or early. He does some damage out of the backfield. So he's going to pile up yardage. And Evan Ingram's going to get his. And Eli Manning is going to flash occasionally look okay, but then look terrible other times.

And then in the middle of everything, it will always. be about where is Danny Dimes? And he comes into the end of this game, gets a few snaps in, loses a fumble, completes three passes. That's what this giant season's going to be about, I think. There's nothing competitive, I don't think. Week 1 is early to make such a statement.

But that feels like what this season's one. One little sandwich note, when we talked about our group collective sandwich bet of win, Daniel Jones, would take the field. I had a two-parter, and part was that he would take the field in week one and then start in week two. I do think Eli Manning probably needs to take a bad step off like a

city bus to not start next week, but there is time. I don't think Eli's taking a city bus ever. He was not a disaster. They did not convert a third down until midway through the third quarter, but this was not like Eli holding the offense back. There are plays in which

he looks like he's, you know, older than the General Sherman tree, but or Jason Whitney. And I think you walk away thinking on a team like this, they're just wasting time with Eli Manning at quarterback. Like, what's the purpose? Unless the, the The story of their season is going to largely be about James Betcher and that defense,

which does look so talent for. And if it is one of the two or three worst defense in the league, which it looks like it could be, it almost doesn't, it doesn't matter what you, I mean, they put up 470 yards of offense. That didn't matter today. 405 yards passing, a perfect passer rating, and a contract negotiation ongoing. Dak Prescott is in a very good place. And he has never looked better than he looked in this game. One minor footnote.

Yes. Is it about your sandwich prop again? No, no, no. We don't really care. No, no, no, no. Well, I know you don't because it's trending poorly for you. So, of course, it would get less airtime. Is it?

I don't know. But if anything trends less poorly for Dan, then it's off the show. Go on, Mark. As Greg knows, when you grow the beard, sometimes you get more of a rugged look. And I really like Pat Shermer what he's doing right now. And I will say he looks tough. He's already well built to be able. But also, let's cycle back.

Frank Reich, someone's been working on him, too. A lot of these coaches seem to be getting, they understand. He got to look at on that side with Chuck Begano. Yep. It's a hotness renaissance for head coaches in the NFL. You look at the, I mean, head coaches in the 70s and 80s look like humans, disaster zone. Weiled out of like cardboard boxes. Who are these guys?

Put police tape around the guys in the 70s. I won't even name them, but you know who I'm talking about. Now, these guys now, they're grizzled like Kevin Costner types. The next step is to go back to the Tom Landrier and let's get these guys in three-piece suits and top hats and all this other business. Let's just stay in the NFC. Let's change the topic because it's getting weird and move on to a different matchup in the NFC. West back they got weird once steps up here comes they look good he is going deep and it is caught and in for a touchdown to short jackson get the people what they want

got some more DJ oh it was down the right side line and went split it up and T jacked tracked it into his hand and the Eagles have an extra point separating them from the lead The hero of December 19th, 2010, comes up with another great play. All right, Merrill Reese and Mike Quit of the Eagles Radio Network. Oh, nostalgia. How beautiful it is. Carson went through a pair of long touchdown passes to Deshawn Jackson, including that one you heard. And the Eagles overcame a 17-point deficit to beat the Washington Redskins' 3227.

Case Keenum looked good early on for Washington, but the Eagles woke up and took control. Mark, D.Jack's is a. star for the Eagles. Let's snuggle up under a blanket with some popcorn and watch Silver Lining's playbook. Turn back the clock, baby. Yeah, I mean, this game started in a very weird way, and I think it got on all our radars downstairs where the Redskins and with Case Keenham running the show jumped out to this big lead, you know, against a team that I think in Philadelphia might be the best team in the NFC potentially. You got the Cowboys right there too in that division. But to me, it's so strange when teams or when players, star players,

leave a team. He went to Washington, so it's a revenge game to some degree, burned out there a bit, went to Tampa Bay and essentially watched his career fizzle out because there's 4,000 articles wondering why he and James Winston. But kept making plays, let the league and catches yards per reception last year. Yes, but I would say that you did not get the full Deshawn Jackson in Tampa Bay, to the point where last year there was trade rumors and all this other business hits the scene today, and it's like he just simply dialed us back to 2010, and it's electric. It's Andy Reid back in the house, but it's not. It's his protege. And I thought his performance changed the game entirely. Two long, deep shots that essentially woke up

the Eagles offense. And there were a couple throws in this game by Carson Wentz that reminded you, he was great last year, but that he's all the way back, the way that he can throw the ball on the move. And they got just enough from their ground game. And in Washington, you know, they felt like the team that game planned very well and got some nice play from Case Keenum. And I think I even said to Greg around halftime. This feels like the game where you're going to get the comeback. The Eagles were prime for the comeback because they didn't get unhooked early on. But the Redskins, all they needed to do, I thought, is that they could, like any team

with a lead, control the ground in the third quarter and get to the fourth quarter with that kind of a lead and make a couple big plays. Darius Geis, 10 carries, 18 yards. You didn't get enough from Chris Thompson. They became a one-sided offense in the second half. They didn't get any big plays. And I'd be concerned about them going forward. they showed up in this game.

They did not lay an egg the way that we thought that some teams would. 20 to 7 at halftime, to me, it was the most surprising thing that happened in the entire day that the Reds...

I agree. It was a very odd first half. Philadelphia. The Redskins lost Jonathan Allen pretty early in this game, which has to be big for... If their team is going to surprise at all, I mean, their defense has to be better than average.

And so to give up a lead like that has to be pretty disappointing. It all counts the same in the end. Like, whenever they even... Eagles are fighting for the wild card or the division race at the end. They can't afford to lose at home to the Redskins. So it's a big win. And the Redskins did not have Adrian Peterson to help them nurse that lead in the second half because he was inactive and after the game.

Let me read this quote from Jay Gruden, who was probably a little bit annoyed after getting beat and then being asked why all day wasn't playing. He's a first and second round back. So is Darius. So really, what do we have? About 21st downs a game. Probably eight of those are passes. 12 of those might be runs, and Darius can handle those 12. So if we have a game when we think we can run the ball 55 times in a game

in an eye formation, then sure, I'll get him up, referring to Adrian Peterson. The writing is on the wall. Adrian Peterson will be on the Patriots in T-minus 24 hours. Well, and I think we talk about Don's. It did not need him. It points to the fact that Jay Gruden probably did not want to go into the season with Adrian Peterson on the roster, and he has no control over the roster. sound like he's he's taking shots at someone else in the organization that prefers to be running

eye formations he's like let me run it doesn't want adrian peterson on this team it's it's so apparent it's bruce allen i mean he does he want i don't know who he wants on this team though you know there we he said a quote about his brother uh i think on the previous show that is he one of those guys that just uh not his brother that hates all his quarterbacks and it's like is j gruden one of those guys it's like doesn't like his players i don't know like there's a lot of you always hear a lot of things in washington about bill o'brien we were talking about bill o'brien that's right i still think jay has coached better than than you would expect for what he's been given over the last half decade i agree carson wince MVP watch get on the bandwagon i would i thought the red skin you look damn good in

this game the red skin terry mclaren their rookie receiver 125 yards i mean they have they have a couple players that there were five rookies playing on this team that contributed well. So there's something to build. They're not the dolphins. There's something going on here that is promising. All right, let's get this over with. John Shannon, alone in the backfield, takes the snap. Looks down the middle. Looks

left. Looks for John Brown. Get separation, makes the catch at the 10 into the end zone. Touchdown! There's a flag on the play. Touchdown Buffalo. John Brown got separation but a flag thrown by the deep official down there at the 13- And they're going to call defensive pass interference.

We're going to decline it. And the bills are an extra point away from taking this lead. All right, John Murphy and Eric Wood of the Bills Radio Network. Eric Wood from my high school, elder in Cincinnati. That doesn't matter. West, too celebratory. Not today, Wes. We'll talk about Eric Wood another day.

Josh Allen connects on a 38-yard touchdown past the John Brown. Three minutes to play. The Bills overcame four early turnovers to rally, wiping out a 16 zip second half deficit crushing the jets the old zooser keith hansis and everybody else at the medal ends 17 16 new york was in complete control of this game uh that is until stud middle linebacker c j mosley exited the third quarter the bill scored in each of their final three possessions with moseley on the sideline And, uh, it's going to be fair.

Adam Gase and that Jets offense that I'm excited about and so many people are excited about was not able to answer the challenge, just a horrendous loss for the Jets and an amazing way to start the season for Frisky Bills team that will be playing. I sincerely believe this will be playing meaningly, meaningful football after Thanksgiving. Let me ask you one question. I was seeing reports that Devin Singletary wasn't even on the field until like midway through the third or fourth quarter. And then all of a sudden the.

bills were moving the ball was he a big factor that will change yes he had nine touches for 98 yards every time the ball was in his hands whether it was a handoff or as a receiver he was making guys miss and frank gore we all love the inconvenient truth and he'll he's fine as a change of pace guy and maybe near the goal line but singletary needs to be part of this offense more and i cannot stress when you guys watch us on game pass look at the difference in this game uh when c j mosley is in and when he's out because Mosley played as good a game on defense as I've seen a jet since peak Revis. What was the injury? It was a groin injury.

I don't know the severity of it, but it came out of the game in the third quarter. And that was it. And they just sliced them up. He's also the defensive play caller. And it did this game to me from a jet standpoint to ghosts of Jets past and Jets present that conspired to blow a game that you can't blow and might just, might just ruin their season. I'll get to that at the end of. this discussion, but they don't have any depth on this team.

So when something like a Mosley goes out, someone like a Mosley, and they have good talent. They have frontline talent on both sides of the ball. And when you look at the judge, it's like, oh, I could see where this team, you know, they can make a run. But if that goes awry, if someone goes down, they just don't seem to have the depth. And it happened to the secondary two in this game with injuries, but mostly in the middle on this one. And then, so that's on Mike McCagnan. That's the ghost of the past. And then Joe Douglas, who everyone that loves the Jets is excited about Joe Douglas, as am I. But they botched this kicker situation so badly.

And Carrie Vedvick misses an extra point after a Mosley pick six in the first half. It's not a great snap, but misses a 40-yard attempt at the end of the first half. The Jets lose by one point. Do the math. So it was a very Jets loss crushing. I can't tell you how crushing this loss was. My dad on text, he texted to me and my brother, Kevin and my brother-in-law Keith, he said, I just can't take it anymore.

My dad has never texted like that. But that was the nature of the devastation after offseason of hype. And that's where I think there was more hope coming into this week one than in a long time for your dad. They had a chance to seal this game late and the drive fizzled out. Sam Darnold in this game, do you feel like he is showing you something or is there more to go here? Donald and Adam Gase was pretty upfront about it after the game.

He said there were things for improvements to be made by Donald, but he was never comfortable in this game because the offensive line got worked over by a very good Bill's front seven. I don't want to take away from the bills here because Josh Allen who had four turnovers in the first half, two fumbles, including a botch snap on a fourth and one, two interceptions.

but he pulled it together, made big time throws in the second half during that comeback on those three drives, scored a touchdown with his legs, which we know he's going to do. And the Bill's defense, when it came time to lock it down and to get stops,

to get them back in the game, and then the Jets got the ball back with three minutes to play, down one point, and struggled. They needed four downs to get 10 yards in one inch and then went four and out.

And that is, yes, Adam Gase's offense needs work. And again, week one without preseason and all that. that, the offensive line. That's something to keep in mind. But the Bill's defense really won this game.

Yeah, I'm excited to watch this game more closely. The Bill's defense is where we've been talking about it all offseason, how good this Bill's defense could be. But it's really hard to lose a game where you win the turnover margin plus three. Seven times and 20 seasons. You have to be miserable offensively. And they were. They were as bad as the Bears were the other night.

they were as bad as any team really in the league was, they averaged 3.4 yards per pass. So whether that's the line or Darnold or Gase or all of the above and starts with the line, that's, you just can't, you can't win a game where you're averaging 3.4 yards per pass. It's a cruel twist of irony that the man who staked out kicker corner before anyone else was paying attention to this crucial NFL position

is now being undone by. That is the nature of being a Jets fan, Chris Wesley. All these ironies, they are always cruel and they come down upon you like an avalanche and I just have to live with that. Lavion Bell, by the way, it should be noted he was not the problem. He didn't have a monster game but he looked like Levi-on Bell. You'll see that when you watch the tape

and he also had a touchdown catch and a two-point conversion on a beautiful scramble and toss by Darnold. Count how many times if you do a shot, you'll get drunk and end up in the hospital, so don't do that. How many times the Jets throw short of the sticks in this game? I think it was a product. It's an Adam Gays staple. If Adam Gase has a reputation, it's

way too many short passes and a lot of throw short. But he was hired to correct that issue from us? I wonder, though. I wonder, because Donald did take a lot of deep shots last year under a terrible offensive coordinator. I wonder if there was such concern about the ability to protect him that that was part of the game plan. Didn't work.

But we'll see in week two when the Cleveland Browns come to the metal ends on Monday night. Why does it have to be this way, Mark? I don't know. Let's move on. Third down and three from the Ravens 17. Mark Abrams sets to the right. Jackson wants to throw.

Has all day going deep down the middle of the field. Looking for Hollywood Brown. He's got him. Dolphins 30. Leg race 20 and he's going to score. Hollywood Brown. His second touchdown on his second catch in the NFL. Oh my God.

83 yards and the Ravens are on fire. This is not an evolution. This to John Harbaugh's words is a revolution. Nailed it. Hello, Hollywood. Jerry Sandusky and Jared Johnson, WBAL, with the call. Lamar Jackson destroyed the Miami Dolphins. The South Florida native tied a franchise record with five TD passes, and the Ravens waltz to a 59 to 10 win.

This is the NFL at the stadium, formerly known as Joe Robbie. Greg, this was an outrageous mismatch from the jump. But, you know, let me now get out of the way. you could do your sexy man dance to your boy, Lamar. Are we watching the 2019 version of Patrick Mahomes? Is this his blast off into an amazing year two? He's so unique. I wouldn't compare him to anyone.

I didn't know you think of sexy when I do a little dance. It is highly erotic. I mean, it was. You're attempting sexy. It was definitely not attempting it. It was as sexy a football game as you could. This is a weird podcast. As you could have because they get out there.

and I give their entire organization so much credit for coming up with a plan to build around Greg Roman with running backs with Mark Ingram and Gus Edwards and Justice Hill and then the speed that they have on the outside. First play of the game is Mark Ingram 49-yard run. The next run is an 11-yard run. They have a direct snap to Ingram in that first drive.

The long touchdowns that they had are set up by the play action because they're bringing a second safety down into the box. They're only having one deep. Teams are saying, beat us deep, Lamar Jackson, we dare you. And everyone's going to be honking that, okay, this is the dolphins. Fair point. But the throws that Lamar Jackson made are beautiful throws against any NFL competition.

There were a few tosses into a bucket over the top of the defense. One to Mark Andrews, the touchdown that we saw to Hollywood Brown. Even the first touchdown, the Hollywood Brown, he hits him right in slide, in stride on a slant. Everyone played about as perfect as possible. It was a smart move by them to schedule, you know, UC Davis for week one. They'll have to play like a Division I competition later.

But, you know, it's a nice little win, 42 to 3 and a half time. Let's hear from Lamar Jackson, who, of course, there's been a lot of made of, oh, yeah, he can run and he made some plays as a rookie, but is this guy a complete quarterback? Well, he was feeling himself after the game, as he should be. Do you think you, I mean, people that you were throwing the ball. Probably not, but not bad for a running bat.

Oh. But, yeah, Officer Line did a great job. I barely had pressure. Receivers did a great job of getting open, catching the ball, scoring a touchdown. That's what it's all about, and that's what we did today.

That's how you make people shut up. He's got so much. I think he's just got that confidence that makes people around him like him, and if he has more performances like this, I mean, I don't know. Here's my question to you. It's too exciting.

Were the Ravens so impressive in this game that I should make them or Mark or whoever the number one game pass choice despite the presence of the miserable dolphins? I think so. I think that they made a blowout entertaining. I mean, half time it's 42 to 3 and by then the game's over.

But yeah, there were so many great plays. Mark Andrews, Justice Hill. I mean, there was a lot to kind of unpacking. Earl Thomas. Earl Thomas with a big interception. I mean, Ryan Fitzpatrick had no chance in this game. the Ravens defense played almost as well as the offense, they out gained them 643 to 200.

At one point, it was 300 to 50. And Ryan Fitzpatrick, but he actually, I honestly thought Ryan Fitzpatrick, and maybe I have to watch the game a little closer, I thought he played kind of well. I really did. And like, and that's how bad the rest of the Dolphins were. I think it's a great sign that you could get this kind of a game

from Lamar Jackson and the offense when Lamar Jackson is not facing a lot of pressure. And dolphins are not, when you're putting up 600 plus yards in the NFL and this kind of outpouring of points, it was halftime, they put up 42, Cleveland's getting buried. And I just start to think to myself, it is time to shift towards personal goals and away from the achievements of other men, because this is not working out for the vicarious person watching television right now. It's going to be a sleepless night.

Start taking a ton of HGH, start lifting, just get jacked, just become a totally different person. I mean, I don't know if athletic goals are the personal ones you should really go after. This whole thing, it's like it is a vast joke, but the Ravens about, I don't know how you could author a more dangerous, compelling start. The dolphins, I mean, it's just, it's terrible. And sleepless nights for Gloria Stefan, all of the Miami Sound Machine and the rest of the ownership group. I mean, this is the type of situation, it cannot happen. You can't have your team get to the point. I don't care about your organic fish tank.

you cannot let it get to the point where you have people pay to see your team and come to your stadium and then you're down 49 to 3 early in the third quarter. Josh Rosen played the third quarter by the way. That's not any hope. He's not starting. You are failing. You're going to play a lot of third quarters, it sounds like. Your number one goal as an organization, you cannot take hope away from the fan base.

And I've said that over the years about my jets. I've said it about your Browns mark. You can't do that. And you could fish tank and maybe in a couple of years. end up being good and then everybody will look back and say that was the right move. I don't buy it. I don't think this is how you run a sports team. I hate this trend over the last half decade that the only thing that matters is putting

yourself in the best position possible to ultimately win a championship. That's not the only thing that matters. Only one team per year can win a championship and maintaining your fans' interest throughout a season matters. Playing interesting football matters. It's worth something. It's valuable. People pay good money. the money that even things they can't afford to come see you you can't put this out there

be better browns fans that the issue though is browns fans i think would disagree i i no no no no not saying it doesn't work necessarily but you guys can go ahead go no i'm saying the browns have not guaranteed themselves a championship by tank now but they're happy they have no stephen ross you don't have to tank to rebuild yeah that teams for a hundred years have been rebuilding without tank this isn't the NBA i have no problem though, and this is a disaster after week one for the Dolphins, with trying something different in the NFL, especially for certain teams that have struggled for decades, and that is the Dolphins.

They've really never been a remarkable team. I like the idea of trying something different in terms of team planning. My problem is that you're asking a coaching staff and a flock of players who aren't here for the full rebuild. They're going to get rid of half of these players that are being asked to toil week to week. It's not a personal goal. You're involving hundreds of people, and it's a big ask. My old boss, Mike Floreo, reported that agents, plural,

received text and calls from their players after this game saying we want out of mind. It's embarrassing for them. That's not how it should be. And I'm not putting that on the players. I'm saying you've created such a bad situation that that's how your locker room is, I mean. It's what happens when you trade. I feel bad for Hanson Hank. I feel bad for Dolphins fans.

It's what happens when you trade for the guy who was like, that couldn't be the Texans left tackle and just put them in your lineup in week one. All right, let's move on. Second and 10 from the Falcons 19. Dalvin Cook is the tailback, Thieland Emotion to the right. Now emotions back to the left, handoff Dalvin, sprints out to the left.

Gets a block from Thielen, walks into the end zone. Touchdown! Galvin Cook with the Viking second touchdown today, and it's 13-0 Vikings. Paul Allen, the Vikings Radio Network, Mark Dalvin Cook went off for 1-11 and two touches. Kurt Cousins threw the ball just 11 times.

And the Vikings' defense handled the rest. They dominant 2812 win over the Falcons at home. Anthony Harris had two interceptions and a fumble recovery for the Vikings D, which had no problem shutting down Matt Ryan, Dante Freeman, and the rest of the Falcons offense. Wes, after last year's disappointment, this had to be an ultra-satisfying start for Skoll. Yeah, Cousins only throws it 10 times.

and after the game, Adam Thielen says that Dalvin Cook, you're seeing that he's not only a great running back. He might be the best one in the end of the end. The best. I don't know if I go that far with Zeke Elliott still in the league and Sequin Barkley, but Dalvin Cook has looked

since preseason started like a different running back this year in Gary Kubiak scheme. I think it's perfect for him. This looks like a different offense. And the defense looked phenomenal. The Falcons couldn't do anything. A miserable game for the Falcons

who Caleb McGarry, tackle who missed most of August, just looked about three steps too slow to be dealing with DeNeil Hunter. They rotated him with Tyson Brallow, and it's to be expected that a rookie is going to look slow against DeNeal Hunter, who's one of the fastest defensive ends in the league. And then their other rookie Chris Lindstrom first round pick after the game, Jay Glazer reported that they fear he fractured his foot. So you've got the biggest question to me about the Atlanta Falcons going into the season

was their offensive line, and it's an even bigger question heading into week two. Tough week one asked to go to Minnesota and face this veteran defense. But I'm sort of floored that they didn't score until nine minutes left in the game. Like the Atlanta Falcons under Matt Ryan? I don't know. Unusual. I can't. Did Matt Ryan look like Matt Ryan?

Turnovers. Turnovers, but turnover is caused by pressure. Matt Ryan did not look like the best version of Matt Ryan. No. It was not a good performance. And Xavier Rhodes, who, Greg, you questioned, because he, he did have a bad year last year. That's fair to say that. But he shut down Julio Jones today until garbage time. I mean, this feels like a Mike Zimmer

Dreamland fantasy from outer space. Like, you're having your quarterback throwing the ball 10 times. Yeah. I don't know if that's what Kirk Cousin wants, but he's got to like it a lot better than what was happening last year where he was running for his life and there was no flow to the office. That he hasn't thrown that few passes since Pop Warner. Well, Kyle Rudolph. That's a lot for Pop Warner, by the way. Ten is that's an air raid for Pop Warner. Kyle Rudolph, after the game, again, another elder high school graduate Panthers. That's fun.

There's a lot. Said, we're going to celebrate the NFL's 100th year by setting the game back 100 years with our offense. I don't know. I mean, it worked today. Is that what it's always going to be like? No, but, you, Dan, you called this a top five, three, or one offense. Yes, I did.

And you know what? I think they kind of went into cruise control, it seems like, from a distance once they got to 28. This game was in hand in the first half. What about Devonta Freeman, not just, it was. Is it baked into all the other issues? He had a bad fumble, and I do think that the offensive line was such an issue. And you're playing a good defense, too.

I didn't get enough of a view of Devante Freeman to make any grand proclamations about how he looked. All right, let's move on. Play clock at eight. If God takes a shotgun snap, look, he left all the way. He throws him to the goal line. He's got Tyler Higby. Touchdown, L.A. Gough and Higby with contract extensions this week.

Connect for the score. With 637 to go. It's 2920, L.A. That's our boy, J.B. Long of the SPN 710. Good dude, Wes's neighbor, and plugged in. He's not a guy that shows up with the lunch pail on Sunday and doesn't know what happened the six days before. No, he's on it.

Jared Gough connected on a touchdown pass to Tyler Higby. Goff's only scoring throw on a quiet day. And Todd Gurley flashed when the Rams needed it most in a 3027 win over the Panthers in Charlotte. Greg, Gurley didn't carry the load for the Rams on Sunday, but this was still a positive for a running back who needed one. It was so positive. I think

the Rams couldn't have drawn up a better win because you go on the road, you beat a really good NFC team, and you do it by pounding the rock late, which I know they want to do. They had 166 yards. They face some adversity. They give up a lead

that looked to be in hand, only a three-point lead in the fourth quarter, and they give the ball to Todd Gurley, who didn't look great in the first half by any means. They're running game, their offense. Everything looked like they hadn't played in the preseason. But Gurley ripped off two runs on what was really the decisive touchdown drive where he looked like the old Todd Gurley. Then there's a third down where he has one man to beat. He has to use that vision and patience that we've seen out of him. He does it. The Panthers, you know, go right back down the field,

cut it to three again. What do they do? They just hand the ball to Todd Gurley two more time and he closes out the game. And I think for a team that came into the week with offensive line questions and girly questions are loving winning what was sometimes an ugly game, but our two teams, I think, are really talented and winning on the road is pretty special. Can I ask you a question? That's good for the Rams. And if I look at a bright spot for the Panthers, we're throwing around best running back in the NFL right now. Is it me or does Christian McCaffrey? It's talked about a lot in fantasy, but in real life, I feel like he's not brought into this discussion enough. Well, that's because of Greg. 200 plus total yards. 10 catches 81 through

the air, 19 rushes at 6.7 for carry with two touchdowns? I thought it was... What more does this guy need to do? He's a superstar. I thought it was one of, if not the best game he's ever played, which is a strong statement because he's had other stat lines like this, but I felt like a lot of this was on his own. And we used, we always joke about, you know, whether he can run between the tackles. That was the question going into the last year. But I don't know. I think he might be going to another level of his ability to run between the tackles because he ran over a couple people, including on the goal line, a play that really reminded me of Alvin Camara,

where he showed great balance. He took a strong tackle at the two-yard line and then just kept driving his legs forward. He had, I don't know what the percentage is. It's over 60% of the team's yards. I mean, they were held to 343. He had 210 himself. What was the old Dion Jordan line?

It looked like somebody inflated his shoulder pants. Right. He's a big boy. He looks like a he-man figure. You know, Cam Newton averaged about six yards. attempt, didn't throw a touchdown. How did he look? I thought he looked good in the first half. The Panthers

out played him. The Rams and were down by 10 at halftime. And Newton kind of seemed like he was getting rid of the ball quickly, did not play that great in the second half. Their offensive line, I thought, was a problem. We keep saying this in every game, but their communication. It's a lot of new guys or guys in

different places. They were missing Greg Little, who had a concussion as well. And there were a lot of plays where Wade Phillips and the Rams front did stunts. and they just were not picking up the right guy. Like Christian McCaffrey was trying to block Dante Fowler or Clay Matthews just got in free with no one blocking him. And they just seemed like they were all scrambled.

It was a good day for Wade. So Curtis Samuel, 3 for 32, and they said that Cam Newton didn't even try a deep shot down field. Are you, is there anything going on with the arm? It wasn't deep, but there were two plays to Samuel where he could have had a much better fantasy day. And those were two throws that Newton missed. They were touch throws.

No, his arm looks strong. He had a third and long out across the field that looked like vintage Cam, but it wasn't his best game. I see three rushes for negative two yards. I guess he's just a little bit of a different player now. Or maybe they're just working them in slowly. I remember that happening last year. That's a really good point. They didn't even sniff trying to run, do a called run for him at all, which is a very different Cam Newton than we saw in the past.

There's also the quietest and Aaron Donald game I've ever seen just about. And they still win. there's no offense in the first half, a lot in the second. And if people like me were wondering if the Rams were going to do some different stuff this year, they didn't. I mean, they played those three receivers every single down, basically. They didn't play Daryl Henderson, the rookie at all. Malcolm Brown got good run as Gurley's.

They were one of the teams that we needed to see a regular season game from to put some of these offseason questions and narratives. Put it away. These two teams kind of look like two teams that are already, okay, these are the teams we see. They're kind of what we expect, and I think they're both going to be good. Brian Burns look good for the Panthers. All right.

Let's move on. We have our first tie of the season. Murray and the gun. Cardinals down 24-22. Johnson now, wide to the right, so it's an empty back field. Cardinals can tie it here. Shotgun snap. Murray back to pass.

Throws to the left. It is caught by Kirk into the end zone and we're tied at 24. Some Murray magic down the stretch for Arizona. Never a doubt. Dave Pash, and you know he's the Wolfman, Ron Wolfe of the Arizona Cardinals Radio Network. Kyler Murray rallied the Cardinals back from 24-6 down to force overtime. That's the two-point conversion you just heard. And Arizona and Detroit traded OT field goals, a 27-27 tie.

Kiss your sister. Doesn't feel good, does it? Nobody likes to kiss that sister. Murray and Kingsbury looked completely lost for three quarters, Wes. But then they got it going. Their longest gain

by late in the third quarter was 12 yards. Cliff Kingsbury said the first half was one the worst displays of offensive football he's ever seen. Kyler Murray have four batted passes in this game. Kirk Cousins led the NFL last year with 17

all season. So this is an issue. Then again, the lion let the Cardinals back in the game. Kyler Murray looked great in the fourth quarter and overtime. And he showed, I believe, impeccable touch and accuracy on a couple of deep balls. To me, the turning point in this game was Larry Fitzgerald on a play that nobody saw because they hadn't tuned into the game yet, sold out for a ball. Unbelievable.

30 yards down field when they could not move the ball at all. He just absolutely sold out on a dive like he's been doing for 15 years. And it brought life to the Cardinals. it gave his quarterback confidence and is Larry Fitzgerald doing Larry Fitzgerald? It was such a quintessential diving Fitzgerald play where he goes all out, belly flops, his two elbows hit the turf first.

He holds onto the ball because he never drops the ball and he makes a big play when the team needs them most. You know, it is a tie, but if I'm a Cardinals fan and we have a friend Jason Summalt who we were actually Dan and I texting with where the three of us were discussing a pact.

Like a triple Earth. removal scenario. But I think Zumwald and other Cardinals fans should feel encouraged because sometimes a tie is a win because what this did in a way exuberant. It buried a week's worth. They were down 24 to 6. Let's say it just had wound up

finish right there. Everyone is telling you that everything that they plan to do this offseason and they're in Kyler Murray and Cliff Kingsbury, as you call them K1 and K2, is a gigantic disaster and needs to be recycled immediately. Instead, all those stories and probably a ton of

articles I specialize in this. You write the article your 1800 words in and the game changes and you've wasted your time and you wasted everyone else's time. Not anymore. But I'm just saying like how many of those articles were being, you know, cooked up by these hot takers and they're out because they came back and tied the game and there's some hope. It was so bad. The performance was so bad through two and a half quarters that even if you're a fan in the back of your mind, you're thinking is Kyler Murray too short? He's a little guy. Is Clipped Kingsbury in over his head? Have we drafted a quarterback in the first round two years in a row that will not click in NFL circles? There were Cardinals fans tweeting me.

I guess we'll be drafting another quarterback number one overall next year. Wow, these are, this is, yeah, this is week one. And this game especially feels like a week one game where there are two offenses that haven't played under their current coordinators at all. It's a rookie quarterback. And the fourth quarter is so bizarre. You know, I don't know if that's fatigue or if it's a coaching failure by the, the Lions, or what it is, but it's just, I want to see these two teams again.

It's a massive, massive disappointment. I'm with you, Greg, but. They have to stack wins. You got to win that game when you're up 24-6. There's no excuse. I just want to say, though, there's a huge portion of NFL fans that are not baked into 18 seasons where they do freak out over week one. And if you watch your team, Patriots fans are no different.

Everyone freaks out week to week. It's not every fan's job to not respond emotionally to week one. It just isn't. It's just they, they go. do their work week, and they come in if you see your team get torched, you're going to respond emotionally. You're not going to have a stoic approach to it. I'm talking about my approach of what these teams are going to be. I don't know if this tells us anything about the Cardinals. Did they show you anything that was just creative? No, no. I don't like what the Lions did

down the stretch. An 18 point lead. And we talked with this on the preview episode. This is the line's upcoming schedule. Home chargers at Eagles, home chiefs, at Packers, home Vikings. Got to win that game. You have to win this game. This was such an important game. Or you don't. Sometimes a week one game isn't just one game. It can really hurt your season because it sets you off on a really bad trajectory.

A loss isn't as bad as, you know, a tie isn't as bad as a loss. But this was pretty damn bad if you're a lion's fan. Patricia's had a few of these types of games. It's painful because I can't overstate how much the Cardinals were outclass. It looked like they were in a lower league than the Lions for three quarters. And the one positive for the lines is they have a stud-tight end to T.J. Hawkinson. This guy is the truth. Thank you.

All right. Let's move out. First and 20 now from the 44 of the Bengals in motion is Venet. Back out to the right side. Russell from the shotgun with Penny in the backfield. Play fake to him. Russell has time. Rolls, stops.

Down the middle, lock it. Has the catch. He is in. Touchdown. Seahawks. play action by Russell rolls right and they pull this one out of the bag of tricks a 44 yard strike to noee Tyler Lockman and I was just about to ask Dave how many catches does Tyler have today he's now got one for 44 at a touch

Steve Rable the Seahawks Radio Net oh jaunty Seahawks Radio Network Russell Wilson Tyler Lockett 44 yards to pay dirt first play the fourth quarter. The Seahawks withstood a career day from Andy Dalton in a 21 to 20 victory at the clink. Is it still the clink? It's still the clink, right? It'll always be the clink.

Okay, good. Dalton threw for 418 yards. That is a career high. John Ross caught two touchdowns. How about that, Wes? But the Seahawks were able to hold on and get it done. Mark, not the most dominant effort. I think people predicted the Seahawks

winning this one going away, but they won. If I'm not mistaken, I believe in Greg's picks column, did you get the exact score to this game? Or am I, I thought you had this very tight. Goose said that, our social media friend. I didn't confirm it. I had a one point win. I know that for the Seahawks.

Well, I would say you came closer than most. And I've been really rough on the Bengals, and I would look at them right now. And again, we get it. Eric Locke and change. But in a tough environment against a team that has never, lost a game in September at home since 2010, the Bengals showed up, number one on defense. I thought that they played one of the best, and they were good on defense before the injuries

hit last year. And they seemed to me to be come in, and it was guys like Carlos Dunlap, Nick Vigel, Drake, or Patrick played a great game. Sam Hubbard, they put the clamps on Seattle early. And Andy Dalton, obviously, someone that historically, you know, the ceiling, we put it right at the middle at the league, at the Dalton line, and everyone's kind of surpassing him. I think that with Zach Taylor, I saw a completely different player in one area. He got rid of the ball quickly in this game, and suddenly he winds up with 418 yards and two touchdowns. And it wasn't perfect, but they didn't have AJ Green. And I feel like the benchmark scenario for the Bengals and the pass is when AJ Green's not on the field, Dalton starts to do Dalton things and the team melts. There was a

scenario here, three drives in a row where I think they gave the game away. If you're Cincinnati, there was in a pouring rain, Dalton lost the ball on a windup. Then they had Randy Bullock miss a field goalie should have hit, and then Gio Bernard got stuffed on downs when they should have scored points.

There are three red zone drives in this game where the Bengals came away with no points. That hurt him a lot. And then Russell Wilson, and you got D.K. Metcalf who wound up with 89 yards, and a big 42-yard to set up a Chris Carson catch and run for a touchdown. And he had another big leaping grab. You saw his size and his ability as an athlete

made a difference in this game. Seattle threw a lot of weird weather. It was pouring rain at one point and I loved it. I love seeing this insane. It was kind of like you've been there in the summer when you get caught out in the woods and then just suddenly the rain is on you and all your clothes are soaking wet and you have no idea where your house is. That kind of rain. And then suddenly it's like a bright sunlight two minutes later. I have no idea of the scenario. I'm just saying it was a It's been a while. We live in Los Angeles, but yes. It was a cool game where the, I thought the elements played a factor at one point.

And, you know, this was not the greatest Russell Wilson game of all time. They put a lot of pressure on them, but they fought out in Cincinnati with a few less, close out a few more drives. And this is not the team that I thought they were that's going to go four and 12 and get smacked every week. What an encouraging thing? That was quite an impressive filibuster by Mark there. Well, no, because, you know, what, here's the thing. because sometimes in football games

you can't see the rain the way the camera angle is. They had the camera. He was talking more of the whole thing. Well, no, but they had the camera at field level and Dalton at one point is just standing there

and you can see each individual it was raining downpore drop and I thought it was a cool cinematography moment. It didn't react your love of football after the early game. That is important. I love any game. It changed what I thought about the Bengals.

I know I've been to Kellynne. I said I'm a Bengals fan now. They made me a fan for a little bit. Well, Ryan Yunt downstairs. class the other team from Ohio. Ryan, one of our producers for NFL network downstairs. Is Ryan a producer? Yep.

Yes. He really got after you over some comments you've made on this podcast about Cincinnati being a low-rent organization. I called them a mom-and-pop, basically a mom-and-pop corner store selling, you know, 99-cent noodles and $4 red wine. He didn't like that. He took this Sunday with the Browns Travesty is a chance to get even. And I saw the rage in your eyes.

No, you know what? That was early, though. It is every Sunday in our newsroom, someone's going to come up and take a shot, or they do the thing. So sorry, what happened to you? That's almost worse. But you know what? I deserved it because I had been ripping into his team all summer and they showed up today. I noticed all those names you listed on defense.

They were on Marvin Lewis's defense last year when they were terrible. And the offensive line, we thought they were tattered. No, A.J. Green, this has to be, for this coaching staff, if you're a Bengals fan, you are truly encouraged to put on that. kind of performance. I was going to say, I know it's not, it's not the Legion of Boom in Seattle anymore, but he played on the road. Dalton played 10 years with, 10 years of Marvin and never threw for 410 yards without AJ Green there. Absolutely. But I think they should be, we had no idea what we're going to see from either side of the ball from Cincinnati. Seattle talked about how they'd be tough to prepare for it because their defensive

coordinator is Lou Anarumo, who I think we've mentioned about three times. What a fun name. He's been hired. And they were good on both sides. That said, I think Bengals, fans, if there was a Bengals fan that was a host of this podcast, they'd be saying same old Bengals. This was so... I know. I know. They were just saying heartbreak because until the fourth quarter, this was

similar in dominance in yardage as any beatdown in the entire NFL. 356 yards at one point the Bengals had to 125 for the Seahs. They were beating them like a drum. They were physically dominated them and you would love to come away with the win. To me, it was the defense

held up as long as they could because you're always to get the Russell Wilson surge near the end. It was the offense not closing those drives. But we talked about this team as a three or four win outfit with no hope. And I see the opposite going forward. We'll see. For the record, Greg, there will never be a Bengals fan as a host of this podcast. Well, who knows?

What if we're all, what if like we pass it on to our children? It's like interconscious coming out, the Freudian thing again. What? Yeah. Somebody else, not me will be hosting. I said if there was. I meant like in another universe where one of us was a Bengals fan. But if you wanted to, you know, spin it forward, what if, you know, Johnny Wesseling,

who takes over in 2042 decides he likes the Bengals. I can assure you that no Wesleyan will be a Bengals fan on this podcast. All right. Let's move on. Controlling father alert. Foreboding. And here they are. Ford on one side, both on the other.

Buckner and Armstead inside. Winston drops out of the shot. gun forward and both all over him intercepted the keller weatherspoon going back the other way touchdown san francisco how many interceptions they have last year they have today how many pick six they have today two on opening day and a third interception by nizancho earlier in the game two pick sixes in one day Greg Papa and Tim Ryan of the 49ers Radio Network. Yes, Richard Sherman and Akello Witherspoon returned to interceptions for touchdowns by James Winston. Robbie Gould had three field goals.

The Niners, 3117 win over the bucks on Sunday. Jimmy Garapolo and his first game back from ACL surgery threw for a buck 66 and a touchdown. He looked okay. He also threw a pick six. But to me, the story of this game was James Winston, Bruce Ariens, of course, and his Buck's debut, there's this idea that it will be Ariens that gets Winston over the hump. And perhaps that will happen because this is just one game. But on Sunday, this looked just more of the same. Winston looks good sometimes. Other times he looks reckless. And his mistakes kill his team. And that's why this Buck's team has not won in the year. years that James Winston has been there. I think that's the most disappointing way to start, you know, with a new coach or a new season is when you just keep repeating the same mistakes that you had under the old coach or the old

season because the, the Bucks defense did a great job. They prevented the, they kept the 49ers to 256 yards and they scored seven points on their own. So you can't ask for a better performance of the Bucs defense. James Winston lost the game with those throws. I know that for most of the game, the 49ers offense did. didn't look that impressive. Did their defense look good?

You know, it gets kind of, they look fine. I don't think it was a great effort on either side of the ball, really. I don't think it was an incredible showing by the Niners. I think, sorry for giving you this game, by the way. Thanks for falling on that grenade. I had to, somebody had to take it. I want to tell you something about, I want to tell you something about this game. In the first half, there were four fumbles, two interceptions, one block punt,

four touchdowns negated by penalty. You don't see that every day or ever. Preseason week five. I believe it might have been five fumbles. Four touchdowns negated by penalty. Cameron Braid had two on one, two great touchdowns on one drive. Yes, and George Kittle had the other two. That's crazy.

Unbelievable. And 12 total penalties in the first half. It was a very sloppy game. And neither team to me jumped out and flashed as a team to get wildly excited about at this stage. But I guess that was just the storyline for me that, Winston would have really been nice for Winston here in week one would have been to have a game where he just plays like I said a clean game, makes good decisions, doesn't put his team behind the eight ball, doesn't have turnovers that change the complexion of the game.

And it was like we were watching the same guy over the past three years. The thing that we said about Tampa Bay was you're coming off a season or two where from a yardage standpoint, how could you, at best please try to match what Todd Munkin and Dirk Cutter did, where you are pouring out 400 yards a game. There were mistakes. So come on, Bruce Ariens, reduce the James Winston mistakes and keep the production from guys like O.J. Howard and Chris Godwin, who we've been talking about for 90, 120 days,

he's held to 53 yards. I mean, James Winston, Blake Bortle's level turnover scenario over the last couple years, to me, this guy's playing for his future. I don't know why you'd possibly, if this continues, go into next year with the same thing. Well, of course. He's on the last year of his contract and he's going to need to have a good year, a very good year to come back. And so far he hasn't shown that that's going to happen. This is one of the rare or almost the only 49ers win under Kyle Shanahan where the defense led the way. So if nothing else, that, I know it was ugly, but that's a positive. Bosa got a sack. Armstead got a sack. D. Ford got a sack. So some of the guys they picked up showed up and they move on needing better Jimmy G play. about we move on. All right. Before we get to Sunday night football, the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers, let's talk about a former stealer who is now a New England Patriot. Yeah, we didn't

get a chance obviously to break this down over the weekend when it broke on Saturday. But yes, after, and we don't need to go into the soap opera that led to the end of Antonio Brown with the Raiders. We all know it was a disgrace the way it all played out. Brown gets his release. And then A short time later, he signs with the New England Patriots, a one-year deal worth up to $15 million, including a $9 million signing bonus, $10 million guaranteed, and $5 million in incentives. And as we record this, the Patriots have their Sunday night football game well in hand against the Steelers. And it seems like everything is going very well for New England once again on the throne of ease. But one thing that they lost, and I can tell you this, because if you saw our text chain on Saturday afternoon, one thing they lost in this was Chris Wessling. Wes, you're very upset about this.

Share your thoughts about the move. I find it repugnant. The whole thing from the Raiders angle with Antonio Brown to the Patriots brushing aside everything Bill Belichick has ever believed about team building to sign this guy who has done more. to undermine the team concept than any football player I've ever seen in my life. I find it repugnant. The Patriots waited for Drew Rosenhouse to bait the mother mongoose out of the hole. They slither up to the nest. They unhinged their ravenous jaw, and they swallowed Antonio Brown whole.

I love it. And to this point, the NFL has no issue with the snake entering the den. They have no idea how to deal with this brand of social media sabotage that Antonio Brown unleashed to get his way, to get out of a contract that made him the highest paid receiver in football. And I think a strong leader in the NFL would investigate how this happened these actions and put a premium

on integrity and competitiveness. Think about if you're the Steelers, by the way, and Greg, you're going to get your side of this, of course, as well. And Mark, you could chime in as well. Think about from the Steelers' perspective. They own the rights to Antonio Brown, the player. They could no longer deal with him. His personality was such that they had to part ways they believed with the best wide receiver in football.

And they had the control of his contract. So they send him via trade to the Raiders. And that's where it just feels, I'm thinking about it from a Steelers perspective, how this all now works out, that you, the one thing you have left is you could decide where to send this guy. And the one place, obviously, you would never send him is the Patriots. And Antonio Brown, by sheer force of will, and I know we tend now in the media and fans to, always side with the player whenever there's any type of contract dispute. But to me, this showed me when this can go wrong.

And I think that I agree with Wes in the sense that this didn't feel right. This did not pass the smell test that he is now a member of the Patriots. And a lot of people. But if he was a member of the Browns, then it would be fine. It wouldn't, like, if he, because he was going to sign with some team. He had multiple teams that were interested. I don't think, from my perspective, I don't think you should be able to through just abhorrent behavior and doing everything that's against what it should be to be a professional.

I don't care what industry you work in and then be allowed to get your way the way he did here. And I'm not as down on the Patriots from the stance of what an ugly thing to do. I think it's more on Brown's side, the way this worked out, how he gets what he wants and everybody else gets left hanging

except for your Patriots. I just wonder, though, it's not like he had a master plan to make less money and lose his job with the race. I mean, I don't think that was, I don't think... Can we talk about the Chris Mortensen report? Sure, that he... Did he sought out social media experts to find out how to gain his release from the race? So that was, so that at the point that we got to, what, late last week, where things had already

gone pretty sour between him and the Raiders. And really, it's just from his side. At that point, Chris Mortensen reported that he contacted a social media expert. Basically, you know, wanted to use social to maybe get booted off the two. team, which is wild. It's unprecedented. The video that he did where Gruden is talking was like the production value was incredible. The fact that he put Gruden's voice on it, it's just almost mind-numbing.

I just feel like, hey, well, it's also wiretapping infractions. Right. We're living in the Truman show. But here's the reason why the league isn't going to look at anything, because the Raiders at this point are happy with the result that they don't have to pay him anymore. They're not happy with how. I don't care about that. I'm talking about the integrity of the game. But what would you, what could you stop?

You can't stop. You cannot allow this guy to go wherever he wants. You cannot allow an hour after he's released, Drew Rosenhael has an agreement with the Patriots. It stinks to high heavens. The Patriots tried to give up a first round pick for this guy. And the Steelers said, no, you're our rival. We're not going to do it. So they find a workaround.

I don't believe he ever had any intention of working for, working for the Braers. It's not like the Patriots are those social media experts. It's not like the Patriots had anything to do with whatever is going on with Antonio Brown in his own life or with the Raiders or his interaction. You don't know that. You don't know what they've been saying to Drew Rosenhouse behind the scenes? Well, to be fair, I mean, when you... Sure, but you don't either. I don't just throw up random accusations.

No, if we're going to say that it's not random at all. If it's a leap to question some of the timing elements here, then it's also a leap to say that the Patriots are just this sort of innocent flower that Antonio Brown lands in their lap. They're absolutely complicit. I would love to know if I, forget the wiretapping stuff they put on John Gruden, which, by the way, is a California law that was broken, which the Raiders, because they got, because they don't want to deal with anymore, going to let that fly. And that's fine. That's almost humorous at this point. But I would love to be a fly on the wall to understand everything that was said between Drew Rosenhouse and the Patriots, dating back, and when it was said, because the timing is so convenient and so quick, and it was so expedited. And you've got video of Antonio Brown running out and John. jumping around his pool because he did get his wish. We can use the money thing. He wanted money. You can say that he...

At that point, he obviously wanted out. He didn't... Whatever the organization... And we talked about it. And this is why I'm not overly worried. I didn't have a strong feeling of them adding Antonio Brown positive or negative of just... How? What do you mean?

How? It's disgusting. Like, how are you a Patriots fan and you have no issue with a guy who went AWOL in the most important game of the year for the Steelers and then just did this to the radio? I don't... And you're fine selling your... sold for this. No, I don't, I don't like the Patriots because I think they have a higher, a higher moral standard than other teams. I look at, what's the breaking point? What, what would

you say, hey, I don't want my team doing this? But I don't, I don't know, I guess I don't understand why does Antonio Brown cause this outrage compared to a lot of other players that are on the Patriots. No, but I'm saying that are on the Patriots right now, that are on the Chiefs. The Tyree Kil signed the contract. Hey, there are different types of character issues. There are all field issues, and people mix this up all the time. And then there is team. Right. And this guy has undermined team, and it doesn't bother you.

Well, here's why I think Bill Belichick probably decided that it was worth the risk, because it obviously is a risk, that he's not the Raiders. He's not John Gruden and Mike Mayak running a Mickey Mouse operation, maybe in their mind, or whatever. He's saying, I've taken in players before. I have a quarterback. None who have done what Antonio Brown has done. I have a quarterback who's, you know, the greatest.

of all time is a great leader who says I'm a million percent in that wants Antonio Brown on the team that I and as a fan I'm I like just watching football I don't like watching the Patriots because I've never believed that they are somehow better than other teams that they've had a lot of characters go through that team that are unsavory just like every other NFL team so that's why I don't really understand the why does Antonio Brown cause as much outrage as a lot okay Because of what he's done to the team concept in a team sport. You grew up playing tennis. It's not a team sport.

I get it, but it's football. Like, to me, it's not that. I agree he's been a bad teammate. Right. But it's not that serious to me if he's been a bad teammate. I watch it because they're fascinating to watch as a football operation. I love the sport. I love the way they game plan every week.

And to me, Antonio Brown is a fascinating player. And to see him on that team, it's going to be interesting. And here's what I would go with in terms of Anthony Brown. He's been in the NFL a long time. All this nonsense has happened and really expedited and ramped up since the end of last season. Oh, no, those reports that the Steelers have been dealing with it since 2012. My point is, he's been in the NFL a long time. And when you go through all those years, there's production in all of those years.

And so because Bill Belichick to me, and look, a lot of Patriots fans weren't happy about this. Our friend Burke, our producer, Erica Tamposi, they hate the idea. And I say, they'll be fine with it in two weeks. And I say, I say Bill Belichick, to me, has earned the benefit of the doubt that he can integrate people into the team or he'll get rid of them quickly. Let's, right? Let me just, from my perspective, put a bow on it.

My hope now is that Antonio Brown becomes the Trojan horse that destroys the Patriots, that all this ego, the Patriots had of this belief that we could take anyone and fix them. Even someone who might be, let's keep it real, have some mental issues. because there's a lot of evidence pointing to that, that just because the Patriot way will take hold and fix him, if there are football gods,

Antonio Brown will keep up his act, and the Patriots will live to regret this. My fear is, and the fear of many, many football fans is that what will actually happen is Antonio Brown will become a perfect soldier for the next four months, catch 115 balls, and the Patriots will go 18 and 0.

That is the fear here. I don't think the football gods, and guys, said, I don't think the football gods, based on everything the Patriots have done that have offended various people for various reasons from Belichick Day 1 till now, are that upset about this? I don't think that they're going to be quite as appalled by this situation as some of us are. Bottom line, I don't think they view it that way.

And I don't think, I don't know. There's no such thing as football God. Okay, but I think you see, in general, if we're going to point, if we're going to point to them with the football gods too. I just, I don't, I don't think, I don't, I don't view Antonio. You know Brown is a home run Trojan horse in this situation because there have been characters that have gone in New England, either he produced or been let go quickly.

I know you're saying the worst hope is that they fix him or they change. They don't, it's not like they change anyone. He's the person who he is. They're just playing a team sport and can he act in the way that they want their players to act? There's going to be a lot in the building, a lot of pressure on him, to basically get in line and they've done it before. And if it doesn't happen, I think they'll just cut them and move on. Like, it's not like, to me, it's still just football.

It's not that serious. And when we're talking about a sport where we're giving contract. Ask Mike Mayock if it's serious. Ask Derek Carr if it's serious. I get it. But look at some of the players on that team. Look at what some of the players on that team have done throughout their careers that are allowed to continue.

He embarrassed Mike Mayock. Called him a cracker reportedly. And no, yeah, I mean, oh, hey, good. My Patriots signed him. That's fine. It's only football. It's not that. It's just like.

It's incredibly disrespectful. Let's stick a pin in this. It's a pin in this. I knew there was going to be fireworks. I told Bartlett behind the glass. We're going to hit this topic. Greg and West are going to go out of each other. We're just going to try to stay out of the way.

I don't feel like I'm going out at anything. And then we're going to go to Sunday night game. What can you do? But obviously it's an interesting topic. And we will be tracking it. Sunday night. That's a Patriot. 42. Brady backs up, stands in. He's going to throw a long boat to a wide open door and said.

He's going to hit him his stride at the 15 to the 10 to the 5. Touchdown Patriots. You can come in this building. You can go home and tell everybody, hey, we at least got three. We're on the board. 58 yards. Freakant strike. Right down the guy nobody talks about. All this kid does keep working. And you strike for 58 yards. Start the buses. Bob Sochi and Scott Zolak, the Patriots Network. Some things change. Some things don't. Tom Brady throws three touchdown passes.

Philip Dorset, scores two touchdowns. The Patriots destroy the Pittsburgh Steelers. 33 to 3 at Foxborough on Sunday night football. Again, you predict things on Thursday and think you're smart. And then Sunday comes around. and it's a disaster. I thought that this was going to be a great game. I thought this would have been a great way to punctuate a great Sunday of football.

And the Patriots just embarrassed the Steelers. And I know this has long been the story of this quote unquote rivalry that the Steelers always are on the short end of it. But Mark, what surprised me was just how easy this was. Ben Roethersberger and Pittsburgh's offense had no answers for New England's defense. And the Patriots offense just cruised along as if. Nothing has ever changed because it seems like nothing ever will. It's not a rivalry. I'm tired of hoisting up these matchups as rivalries because Pittsburgh has never taken down New England

in any game that actually had high consequences. It had absolute high consequences. If that's the highest consequence where Pittsburgh punctured New England on 11th, week 15 last year, and then where do those teams wind up? I mean, you've got to be kidding me. because in general, New England has punched around the Steelers left and right, and this tonight is about as embarrassing a loss as Pittsburgh could have pictured coming into this year, and there were high hopes again.

And, you know, we're another team. We've talked on this podcast tonight about three or four teams sabotaged because of offensive line injuries where players are gone and your quarterback looks one-eighth of what he should, and your entire offense has lost its flow. And the Patriots lose the center, a very valuable. part of their offense. And for years on straight, they've lost offensive linemen left to right.

Tom Brady this evening sacked once for seven yards, throws for 341 yards and three touchdowns. And this is to go, not to get back into this whole thing, but we talk about Trojan horses and teams crumbling from the inside if you're New England because you make this choice or pull that lever, no.

Well, you're talking about two different things now. I'm not. Organizationally, the Patriots are never going to crumble. That we know. So when I brought up the Trojan horse, I mean just bringing in someone as destructive as Antonio Brown has been to his last two teams. That's a different conversation.

We'll see how destructive he is. But in general, the Patriots mask over. There's perceived roster flaws better than any team and on any sport in this country. And they do it year after year. And Greg, I understand what you're saying, that there is a competition between the Steelers. But if that is the high water mark of when Pittsburgh,

you know, vandalized New England, then it is not a rivalry. It is not a rivalry. I'm not going to listen to it anymore. It's not. I'm not going to listen to it. Well, no one's talked it up as some great rivalry. It's been one-sided.

It's a joke. That was a good performance by this. A lot of fire at the end of the podcast. Well, because, you guys are furious about it. No, you know what? It's not fair that Greg constantly has to defend something that he has not a part of either. But at the same time, let's not. It doesn't have to defend it.

Well, right. Enough with the straw men. This is not a rivalry. This is what the steelers, if anyone in Pittsburgh, considers this a rivalry. They need to look at themselves in the mirror. No one expected this performance. No one expected Josh Gordon after not seeing him too much in camp to have that sort of

performance where he tosses Joey Hayden aside. For Philip Dorset to have a great game. For Julian Edelman, who wasn't around that much, I guess we could expect that. Isaiah win was a big factor in this game at left tackle. They lost their right tackle at the end of the game. Marcus Cannon, that is their thinnest position on the roster. so we'll see if that ends up being a factor. But it's a total disaster for the Steelers, especially.

Well, I wouldn't even say especially, both sides of the ball. But offensively, I'm not that shocked that the Patriots shut the Steelers down. I think the Patriots defense has a chance to be the best Patriots defense in 2004. And there's nothing they did tonight that I'll change it. They're so advanced in terms of the intelligence that they have in the secondary and in the linebacker group that Belichick, who's really taking a strong hand, and this defense is going to be able to change up his strategy from week to week. And you saw it.

And this was a tough spot. Patriots got helped out by the schedule makers getting the big game like the Steelers on this opening night when they raised the six. At home. The Steelers also. You're going to get it at home to raise your sixth banner in open. Well, that makes sense. The Steelers lost in every way conceivable in this game.

They even lost in the injury battle because, yes, Marcus Cannon suffered what looked like an arm injury, looked really serious at first. He came off the field. We'll see what happens with that. the right tackle the pads. But Marquis Pouncey, Steelers center, knee injury. We'll see what's going on there. T.J. Watt, their expert pass rusher, hip injury.

We'll see what's going on with that. Juju Smith-Schuster. He limps off with an ankle injury late in the game. We talked about earlier in the show that the Jaguars had maybe the worst week one, and that will be hard to top, considering you lose your quarterback. But the Steelers are not far behind because remember, if, and I'm not going to use the R word, mark. But if the Steelers and the Patriots are both going to be fighting for playoff positioning and hypothetically a buy down the line, don't forget now, Patriots have

the tiebreaker. So now Steelers have to be one game better than New England. This is a week one game with big ramifications, not to mention the psychological ones of New England just toying with an opponent this Sunday night. It was not even close. Not even close. From the jump, the Patriots absolutely whipped ass. Maybe New England will, you know, they've gotten Miami next week. You can go find out how you measure up against your former defensive coordinator now down in South Beach undermining that organization from the ground up. It's a long season. I'm not saying that they're going to struggle. It will be different if they come out of the gates flying. Like it's been a few seasons since we've seen that

from the Patriots. You know, we certainly saw it in 2007. We've seen it in other seasons from the Patriots. So they can take different routes, but it's a very deep team. And it's still, It's still uncanny to me to see Brady now that he's a year old or he's 42 years old looking that Brady-like. And for the Steelers to have coverage bust that reminded me so much of the 2016 AFC championship game I was at, I believe, where they went up and down the field and just out-coached the Steelers. Or 2016 Bethel High School. An ominous start. If you're a fan that does not want the Patriots to be a dominant presence, this is an ominous. start this. I don't want them to be any presence.

Oh, you're not going to get you. The one thing they lost this weekend was Chris Wessling. Okay. All right. All right. Good stuff, guys. Week one recap in the books the next time. And remember, this is streaming on YouTube. So you could check out our Twitter handles and we are, we'll send the link out.

And you could check this video out, this podcast out, if you please. And we'll be back Tuesday. on our schedule, Sunday night, Tuesday night, early Friday, dropping with the preview pot. So check that out. Dan Hansa signing off for Quiet Storm, the mailman, the old boss. Fire! All sorts of friends behind the glass. Ryan Bartlett and company, thank you so much.

Till Tuesday. Right on Kew. Get over that wall. Hey everybody, Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move to Six, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else.

It's everything you need to understand. why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast.