NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - 2022 Week 3 Recap: AFC Elites Struggle

Episode Date: September 26, 2022

A room filled with some heroes - Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler and Gregg Rosenthal recap a a packed Sunday of football, starting with the Dolphins outlasting the Bills and claiming their spot a top the AFC East (3:04). The heroes then run through a surprising Colts victory over the Chiefs (12:25) and Aaron Rodgers and the Packers handing Tom Brady the Buccaneers their first loss of the season (18:38). After the break, the guys talk about Lamar Jackson winning games and jacking up the price for his next contract as a result (24:49) and then talk about the Lions falling victim to a Kirk Cousins rebound game (38:38). Plus, it's a tale of two teams in Los Angeles, the Rams got things right and beat the Cardinals (46:25) while the vibes around the Chargers are low after a loss to the visiting Jaguars (53:17). Finally, the guys tell you why the Eagles may be the NFL's top team (59:32) and how the Bengals saved their season (1:05:23).  Note: timecodes approximate.NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. The Around the NFL podcast. Coming soon to a theater near you. In London is right. The O2 Forum Thursday night. From the Chris Wesleying podcast studio. It's Around the NFL. The flagship program, Sunday.

Week 3 recap, Dan Hansis here. Greg Rosenthal. Mark Sessler, Mark, I can hear it. You got a little bounce in your step. After the show today, we're going to be on the plane, heading over the pond. You're buzzing. International flights offer certain advantages. That's all I'll say.

Yes, yes, yes. We're going to have to keep an eye on Mark. Although, actually, you and I, like, we all have a lot of insane work to do on the plane, so we're going to keep it under wraps. We're company men. You've now said what you plan to do. Right. My biggest benefit is that it inspired a new.

song by Dan, Hansus. I hope you could share it with the listeners. I don't even remember what it is. That's just part of the pre-show banter. Okay. Probably something about sadness. It was about Dan being on the plane, you know. Oh, yeah, yeah.

It was a song. It was flying tonight on the plane. Which you've now adopted is. Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba. In your world. I'm going. In your worldview, that song, which is decades and decades old, was a prophetic song about you taking this flight tonight.

I think it's built to this moment. that's the problem with you is it it's a maybe it's what makes me great okay let's get to it it's the sunday flagship show and it really got off to it on a great foot about an hour ago the way things are set up in our office we watch everything in the newsroom together and our screens are a little behind so sometimes we need to roll over to where the bullpen is where davy and burgo and everybody else is hanging out to watch the game so it doesn't get spoiled the real time of these plays happen plus you can watch all four games at once great so we roll over greggie rolls over and just this was a reminder gregg that even the heroes let us down

sometimes gregg had tom brady driving on one screen gino smith driving on the other both of those their teams lost and you should have seen it was basically one of the saddest things ever i mean i've never seen dan happier i've never seen him um so just like Filled with CLEED, yeah, Glee inside to see a friend of his in pain. Two greats of the game going down, just minutes apart, Gino Smith and Tom Brady. It was tough. We'll get to those, and again, Greg, a total pro because he was expecting. You went through it for so long, Greg.

You've always good things happening to your football life. And now the reality of fandom is setting in and you're learning it's a little bittersweet. It's a real adult. We're going to get to those games. But first, let's start. in scorching South Florida second and 20

18 seconds left Alan he goes down oh he gets back up and tosses it to McKinsey who's trying to get to the sideline has to cut it back in

and his tackle with seven seconds left Ingram the tackle go clocking two lock it it's over it did not crock it

Miami one of the two I won the Oh, Jimmy Cephalo. You know, I talked about it last week with that great Jets one when Bob was choosing. You never get to hear Bob with Susan on an exciting call, great play-by-playman. Cephalo, since we've been doing the show, when do you hear Cephalo on a big call? You know, you have that miracle with Gronk, that one game, but like...

Once every three months. No, that's not true. Once every three years. Now you're getting closer, but this is real time. Thank you, Mark. you're gumming up the show already. Jimmy Cepleow with the call. The Miami Dolphins stopped Josh Allen and the Bills at the goal line.

Then after a butt punt, they stopped them again, or at least held them in bounds and then got the clock to run out on an absurd 2119 win over the previously unstoppable Buffalo Bills. Mark, despite what you said, football hasn't been this exciting around the Dolphins in a long time and the fact that you were able to get a win over the mighty bills here

at 3 and 0 Miami football is flying high. Yeah, I think like the narrative coming into this was how will Buffalo's secondary handle what Miami did to the Ravens last week with Tyreek Hill with Jail and Waddle? That wasn't really the story of this game. I think that you know, Buffalo's offense which broke the Rams, broke the Titans, very quickly, looked unstoppable.

They had increasing breakdown, meltdown scenarios in this game. And I would talk about four different plays. They had a, and they got increasingly worse. It obviously ended with that inability to spike the ball and stop the clock. But in the, earlier in the game, they had a drive that ended at the Miami 20, and then they went ahead and missed a field goal. That's on Buffalo-like so far. They had a 20-play drive that really, to me, I thought they could have said,

we were going to reestablish the tone in this game. It fizzled out into a field. goal. You've lost three points and I really think that should have been a touchdown. That happened at the Miami 11 that melted down. Then the drive before that final clock issue scenario, fourth and goal, Josh Allen, who's been perfect this season, rolls out, throws a completely bizarre on the run, off target, short ball to Isaiah McKenzie, who was just sort of sitting there in the end zone with his hands

out like he was going to catch a baby or something coming off a. burning building and the baby landed well short of Isaiah McKenzie's hands and so dead babies on the podcast the first the baby did not you know Buffalo it lived because the Buffalo had one more chance and then time ran out on that fourth scenario right there so that's that's wait till now the baby's dead well I don't I you know like like the Patriots do with their injuries I'm not going to give you the status of the baby we're coming up your monologue well well that's not a new thing you could tell because he's so excited that is not a new thing extra spicy today no but I mean

That, to me, was the story of the game. And I think this Miami defense where they kept the coordinator, they kept the system that was so smart for Mike McDaniel to handle it that way, the team to handle it that way. Their secondary grew hotter and hotter as the game went on, and they made Buffalo look human. Well, it sounded like the conditions were a huge factor. A lot of the Bill's players said as much.

They were dying. McKenzie got an IV at one point. But it's partly because their offense was tired. They had 90 plays in this game. and the dolphins had 39. You almost never see a gap like that. That's outrageous. They had 497 yards in this game mark,

and the dolphins had 212. You give me those two stats. And you would say, and I'm sure the DVOA will run the numbers, and Dolphins fans will be upset because we're not giving them their flowers. We should get to giving them some flowers. But you look at those numbers, and I'm sure some of the advanced analytics

will run the numbers of this, and they would say you would expect the score of like 33, 16, business. So, like, you're telling me about those key plays, but, like, how did the Dolphins get this done offensively that officially? Because it doesn't, like, to put 21 points up, sounds pretty good. It's crazy. So one of their touchdowns was off a Josh Allen, was off a fumble, and they had a six-yard

touchdown drive. Okay. That's a good advantage. They did have a legit nine-yard, 83-yard touchdown drive, but it did not, it wasn't coming through the big plays that were there in the past were not in this game. That was not the case. Then they had one where they took over at their old 28 and had a regular touchdown drive. So they had two efficient drives, but one was a difference maker that was a Buffalo turnover, deep in their own territory.

And, you know, Dolphins fans, you know, I just mentioned here, and they've been looking for the respect. Here's the respect. Like, the fans in this game were reported like a huge factor. Like both players, but especially the Dolphins players, where they haven't heard Hard Rock Stadium, this rocking and this loud in a long time. And I thought it was telling on that final play, you know, the Dolphins didn't send any extra rushers that Jalen Phillips and Melvin Ingram won immediately. And that's why they ended up winning the game on that play.

At that point, I still thought that they were going to set up for the Tyler Bass game winner. And Agba won immediately. So those three rushers up front beat the Bills offensive line, which has more injury issues. And that's the key play of the game. It's interesting seeing the throw. one of the plays you mentioned there, Mark, that when he did Josh Allen throw that ball short, it just reminds you that these guys are human.

And in these conditions, I'm really excited to see the rematch of this game. I think the bills to me are still the best team in the division, but this is what it is. I mean, they are now three and oh. They're the only three and O team in the AFC now of the Miami Dolphins. So this is as big as it gets. This is a huge win. And yeah, part of the Miami Dolphins experience is where they play their game. especially this time of year, that's an advantage.

And their players, they practice in that through the spring and summer, and that was a built-in advantage in this game that they took advantage of, and they were able to keep that. The game came very close. Can I mention one other play that I know Bill's fans are wondering why we haven't mentioned, that Matt Milano had a pick six against the Titans, Tua threw a terrible ball. It landed right into the midst of Matt Milano who dropped it.

I mean, there are just these, it's one of these games where I think if you're a Bill's fan, where you look so dominant. You could count 10 or 11 little plays that change this thing entirely and put, I think, a lesser performance by Miami's offense. It was enough because of Buffalo's mistakes. You know, they've been bad in short-yardage all three weeks.

And they were bad in short-yardage a year ago. So that's something they have to clean up and was a big part, I think, of why they lost this game. And if you want a visual for the frustration of the Buffalo Bill's experience, look no further than one of the great all-time. I think the all-time booth shot for a coordinator group. Ken Dorsey, the O.C, having a total connipion after time ran out in that game.

Very frustrating defeat for the Buffalo Bills who were going to be okay. Was that at the end, you see a hand coming. My favorite part is the hand comes in, I think, from another member of the bill staff who realized, oh, this is making Ken look bad. Yeah, let's save Ken. Oh, it makes them look good, I think, because he cares. Yeah, I'm sure he's not thrilled about it. But you know what happened was he's doing that.

He's having the conyption. The dude next to him looks up and sees the CBS monitor playing the connipion. Right. He's like, no. Probably a PR guy. All right. So there you go. The dolphins are three and a.

The bills, two and one. Two are looked okay, by the way, after the back injury. So, yeah. Was it a head injury or a back injury? So Ian mentioned, it looked like it was head. And then Ian tweeted out that his understanding was that he had tweaked his back in the first quarter on a sneak and didn't miss time. But, you know, it's hard to say he looked great. It just wasn't a great day for two or a terrible day.

But was it a head injury, labeled as a back injury? It was the other way around. It was a head injury, you know. But I'm saying, was it something, oh, let's call it a back injury so we don't have to worry about certain elements of keeping our quarterback in the game? Did you sense any of that as someone who hasn't watched yet? I thought it, I did not see back injury out of the gate, but I'm not one of these people that prance around acting like I can diagnose what's happening to a player physically.

I hate when I see people prancing around, like skipping through the street. It's like the fake. That's an elbow sprain. The Twitter doctors love to prance. Yeah. All right. Let's move. Oh, no.

Who did it? There was some collateral damage here. Who locked the bills? The Wessling. Five people. Yes, it was the Wessling Brothers. Locked the bills. And they, you know, Nick's video made it seem like he was going to go with the dolphins.

He was like, the dolphins are hot. They're at home. But then they pivoted for the bills. Do they have a win yet? They did get a win. Oh, they did. Cincinnati Zoo Falls. Let's move.

move on to, listen, okay, so the Bill's superpower in the AFC, they go down. How about the Chiefs? They got the winless Colts up in week three. They're going to roll, right? Blake Rock is at 10, waiting on the snap, takes it, looking left. He's going to fire up. Bill, it's broken up, tip. And intercepted by the Colts, intercepted by the Colts.

It's Rodney McLeod. Colts have it. Interception. Two seconds left, and the Colts are going to win. Oh, Matt Taylor, WFNY, after Matt Ryan connected with Jolani Woods for the second time. 12-yard touchdown passed with 24 seconds left. Rodney McLeodd gets the I-N-T with just two seconds remaining. It capped a upset win for the Colts who knock off the Chiefs 20 to 17.

The Colts improved to 1-1-1-1. That's kind of fun. The Chiefs fall to 2-1. Greggy, what's going on with the Chief's offense here? That's something I wanted to talk because I looked at the box score. They had three points in the second half. Both their touchdowns came off. Turnovers where they had a short field.

Are we back in this place again? We're worried about Casey's offense? A little bit, yes. Over the last two weeks, if you look at their yards per play, you know, it's under five and a half. And that's why I wanted to lead with that play by Stefan Gilmore, making the tip. Gilmore made some good plays on third down early covering Travis Kelsey.

Their defense kept them in this game when Matt Ryan and the offense really struggled other than they picked up one TV where they got the ball at the five-yard line and then they had this last drive, which we can get to. But the Colts defense on the other hand made them feel ordinary for much of the day. And I didn't feel like Patrick Mahomes played bad. But then I thought, you know, they only had nine drives in this game. And there was a lot of punts. And I thought at the end of the game,

it was going to be a repeat of the AFC championship game. When instead of 14 seconds, it was 24 seconds. And yet, and they were getting into field goal position. And Juju Smith-Schuster, at least according to Tony Romo. And this is why you draft Tony Romo first overall? He really believed that last interception was on Juju Smith-Schuster, faking out Patrick Mahomes, not sort of reading the coverage or reading what was happening on the Blitz right.

And you could see Mahomes double pump and then four. forced it into it and Juju kind of fooled Mahomes on that play and they are working out some king's offensive and that is the reminder of while Tyreek Hill is 3 and O and thriving in Miami despite the week one destruction of Arizona we're seeing a chief's team that very much looks like it's trying to figure out itself on offense here's what Mahomes had to say after the game about their offensive struggles we just didn't play good enough especially on the offensive side of the ball starting with me obviously we we missed some kicks and stuff like that. But at the end of the day, we had multiple opportunities to score.

So, I mean, we have to find ways to get the ball in the end zone. And that starts with me. You can't just get yards. We've got to be able to get in the end zone when we're down there. I mean, so they are hurt at the kicker position because you have Matt Amadola who missed an extra point, missed a field goal. And I saw, I mean, you saw, if you're watching the game, Mahomes before the half was very frustrated and actually sort of jawing with Eric B. N. And me about the fact that they didn't have a lot of time, but they didn't really go for a touchdown at that point. It would have been tough to do. I think it was more the idea that like, what are we doing kind of hanging back? We're in a game where we're trying to work out some issues because

flip side, this is great for the Colts. I mean, their season would have been in total turmoil. But long term, I'm watching Matt Ryan and he's, he, when he's got time, he's Matt Ryan, but another five sacks today, another fumble. Two fumbles. Yeah, it seems just to be a sitting duck back there. And a long term, this was a, that's a major concern for the Colts. Greg, is it fair to say It's kind of a miracle win for them because they got Pittman back and he obviously played a role in this. But Jonathan Taylor is held under three and a half yards of carry. The quarterback loses two fumbles.

The chiefs are your opponent and somehow you kind of steal a win. That's huge for the Colts. It is because you never know how these seasons shake out. These teams will be different in December than they are now. And the fact that they could bank a win like this when they average under four yards per play on offense. I mean, they were just lost. in terms of what they wanted to do offensively.

And on that game-winning touchdown drive, and that was a beautiful touchdown throw and a nice catch by Jolani Woods. He had two catches today, both touchdowns. And that drive ended up taking up eight minutes. Each team really only had three full drives in the second half. So it was one of those types of games. And it took eight minutes in part,

16 plays, 76 yards, because on 4th and 14, Chris Jones, the Chiefs defensive tackle, got a penalty just for some. something he said to Matt Ryan. I would love to know what he said. Well, and the ref was right there and heard it. Otherwise, it wouldn't have happened either, probably.

He was on top of Matt Ryan, and he stayed a little extra and kind of looked down on him. But they didn't throw the penalty for that. They both got up, and Ryan said something, and Jones got in his face, said something back. And at that point, it comes out, and that ends up being the game-winning drive. So there was, like, a million things that went against the Chiefs that I think were somewhat lucky for the Colts. They also went for a fake field goal, Dan, because they had already missed. uh four points from their kicker amandola it's like in blackjack you start just dig it in yeah get deeper and deeper into the hole when you start trying to catch points why not stick just and

read in there maybe he can save the day he could have been better but good call all that said like the normal chief's offense would have put the game out of reach before then and they didn't what is the normal chief's offense I guess we still don't know yet okay we watch week one and we're like oh we do know what it is yeah well that was the cardinals defense you know and mohomes put it on himself I thought Mahomes played quite well for the most part. Their running backs had 29 yards on 17 carries. Well, we watched Mahomes with that one two-point conversion, which was vintage Mahomes. He had an insane two-point conversion.

He had insane, like, sidearm to keep a drive going. He needs a little more help right now. All right. So Patrick Mahomes went down, but, I mean, Tom Brady. Tom Brady is at home. Tom Brady will take care of business. Aaron Rogers, he can't touch Tom Brady, right? Let's check in at the pirate ship.

snap to Brady, Brady looking, waiting, scrambles, right throws, end zone, tipped up into the air. It is incomplete. Over. It is incomplete. Devonre Campbell ticked it up into the air in the right side of the end zone. And there is your dagger. The Packers defense finally gets the stop. That is Wayne Larravee with the call.

WRNW. And Rogers threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns. but it was the Packers' defense that got that stop. After Tom Brady threw a beautiful, well, it was really a great catch by Russell Gage, but a 90-yard drive with 14 seconds remaining, cutting it to 1412. They go for two. They cannot convert. So the Bucks fall.

They lose for the first time this season. And the Packers, another team, like the Chiefs, trying to figure some things out, Greg, on offense. They score just enough to get by the Powerhouse Bucks. There's so many similarities with these two teams because their quarterbacks don't look quite like they were because they don't have the receivers. You made it, you know, out before as you're leading into this game, like it was some heroic underdog matchup that the Packers could win a game when old Tommy doesn't have his number one receiver. Mike Evans doesn't have his number two receiver. Chris Godwin doesn't have his number three receiver. Julio Jones doesn't have his left tackle.

Donovan Smith doesn't have his center. And at the end, I thought. I thought it was going to be like one of those magical Tom Brady moments, and I was crushed because of that. Because it just was feeling like one of those Patriots games where they somehow stayed in it because the Bucks defense, to me, is right there with the best defense in the league so far this season. I might put them number one, and they did a great job keeping this game close,

and he drives down the field, and then it's a delay a game that ends up beating them. I know Devondry Campbell made the great play on the two, but at that point, I felt like Tom Brady and the Buc's offense had lost, lost that game because of sloppiness. He took a delay a game that backed him up to the seven. And then he's like looking for Todd Bowles. He's like, how come you didn't take a timeout? You didn't have any timeouts, Tom Brady?

And it was just like, oh. After that delaying game, Mark turned to me because he had joined us in the bullpen at that point and said, hey, listen, you know what? Actually backs him up and lets them do their offense a little better. I think that's going to be better. No, first of all, that is how I speak in the newsroom. Just to clarify. They were going to run it, though.

They even started to run the play. Mark didn't say that. But I told Mark, that's the kind of. announcer trope when that happens. Oh, this actually gives them more to operate. Which is absurd. It was also telling. They called the run, though, for Lenny Fournette on the original two-point conversion,

which I think tells you about the relative lack of confidence in Karaman and Gage had a better day and Jalen Darden and Cole Beasley. They're a tough watch right now. They are. I mean, their plan is not, their plan was never, let's throw 13 balls at Russell Gage. He's a nice piece who should have been getting like, you know, the third, third receiver treatment. Then you've got Cambrate getting six targets. Leonard Fournett five catches off of six. These are who you're throwing to. He had 42 attempts and they only ran it with the running back 12 times.

I mean, Leonard Fournett 35 yards on the ground. So I mean, I'm with you. I think they're one of the more dull offenses to watch, but it's not their fault. They're missing like five or the six people. They just got to survive until the cavalry comes home. It opens up to playbook a little bit. Evans will be back next week. He was suspended. We don't know about Godwin's Godwin or Julio. But the Packer's defense. What is it, Julio Jones? What happened? What is this injury now?

Is this so unexpected at this point? I think we've come to learn this is the world. Then week one already feels like it happened about 10 years ago with some of the things we were talking about in this very studio. It's a worse knee injury than expected. I think Jay Glazer had it as a torn PCL or something. That's what Col Beasley made a catch today, I believe, didn't he? I mean, Cole Beasley, yeah, comes in out of Tom Brady's DMs.

Get his ass. He literally was like DMing Tom Brady and got himself signed. I thought they might use him a lot. There was a report. He made a diving catch to keep the first drive going, but he was not... How does everyone have Tom Brady's number? Like, they don't have... Their careers didn't intersect.

I think it was Instagram. I guess they follow each other. Packers' defense deserves credit for holding up without Jaya Alexander. That's a big loss for them. They did get Bactiari back in this game finally. But he did not play the whole... Was he in and out of the lineup? There was a series I saw him on the bench.

I think he was mostly in there, but I think they tried to limit some of his snaps, but he played the majority of it. And he looked good. The first two drives, even though that Todd Bulls recovered, the first two drives were like kind of Aaron Rogers in his aging,

you know, end of his era period, like at his absolute best. He was like out-coaching Bowles personally on all these third downs where he knew exactly what was coming. The magic number here, before we move on, we're going to take a break,

that you would have never guessed. Although we kind of were on this a little bit going into the game because it felt too early and with all the injuries and the Packers trying to figure themselves out. This just felt like too early for this game. 600 is the magic number. That is the total yards between the two teams.

315, 285. I want to see these guys play again in January. I know. We knew this was not going to be some high-octane showdown. We knew that. Just kind of a bummer. I also like that the Brady Rogers sort of like meat in the middle of the field was you know. Little man? It was about as cold as it could be. Did you see the Josh

Allen to a meet in the middle of the field? It was like, they had just, like, play the most epic Super Bowl game. I think they were just totally exhausted. It was like Federer and Adal on Friday night, just, like, crying on each other's shoulders. I know who they are. I know one of them's retiring. Familiar with them. It was emotional, I imagine.

Yeah. Yeah. Two warriors of the clay. I don't know. I think this is a good side for the bucks, by the way. They'll be back, and a good sign that Romeo Dobbs looks like a real ball play out there. They got some time. Eight targets, eight catches.

All right. Let's take a break, and then we continue on with the flagship show. all right we're back let's head next to the house that bobby craft built jackson out of the gun on third and one takes the handoff lamar will keep it he's got room he's the five he walks in touchdown lamar jackson with a knockout shot on third and one lamar sends him flying for the exits in foxborough i don't know actually i don't know if there was a taxpayer subsidies involved there if it was all privately fun funded by the owner?

We don't know, right. That was about 20 years ago. Sure. He probably couldn't research that. Maybe. Lamar Jackson through four touchdown passes, also ran for a touchdown. This guy's out of his mind right now. That was Jerry Sandusky, by the way, WBAL.

And the Baltimore Ravens shook off that bad beat last week to the Dolphins with a win over another AFC East foe, the Patriots, 37, 26. And now we welcome in a friend of the show. And just imagine because now he's getting ready for his marriage, the revenge body against any remaining body fat

he might have. Imagine Shook's body on his wedding night. I'll just leave it there. What's up, Nick? Weird. Well, no, I think it's apt. Well, you put me in a strange position

where now I'm imagining that. And let's just leave it. You've thrown you off your access. Shucky, and by the way, Nick Shook, because we're going to be traveling to London town tonight, Shook's taken us home and closing out the podcast with a little Sunday night football discussion.

So thank you for that, Shook. Lamar Jackson totally out of his mind. Today he became the first player in the Super Bowl era, this according to the AP, with three or more passing touchdowns and 100 plus rushing yards in back-to-back games. He is unconscious. And the New England Patriots,

who are not a bad defense, like everybody else, have no answers right now with Jackson. No, no answers whatsoever. They got him to throw an interception, and still that wasn't enough. They got one of his teammates to fumble, and it still wasn't enough. And especially in that final moment there where the Ravens do get the ball back. And Lamar puts it on his shoulders, goes right down the field, a couple of long completions, runs it in himself. As they said, the knockout blow in a game to the Patriots had every chance to come back and win in.

Credit to the defense, of course, but Lamar is the headline with five total touchdowns. And this is what I wrote in the what we learned is every time he has a game like this, his price just increases. this is he just kind of punctuates what how important he is to this franchise and the credit really and i know you guys have all noticed this through three weeks now is the fact that you know greg roman has gotten so much you know criticism for their offense is predictable they can only run the option with him they still can't throw the football they have answered those questions this season thanks in large part to the development of rsad bateman devon duvernay had a day today we know what mark andrews brings to the table and lamar delivering the ball to all

all of them. Mark Andrews made an incredible touchdown catch in this game over a defender. I think he had less than a yard of separation. He's basically, the defender was in his lap when he caught the touchdown pass, but it's all thanks to Lamar being able to get the ball to him and his unpredictability. He can make, you know, guys miss, even in the pocket. He avoided getting sacked by two rushers, Josh Euch and Matthew Judon, both coming at the same time. Neither could get him. He extended the play, gets a first down, did that on a few occasions today. Not only keeps their offense afloat, but also allows them to explode for both. points at times. I mean, they put 37 points on the board today. It didn't even really feel like

that many points. And yet, this is who Baltimore is. So, I mean, he's, he's fantastic. As long as you have this version, this healthy version of Lamar, who's thriving in the passing game, obviously confident of his legs, he's a cheat code. Here's John Harbaugh, who understands what he has and probably is nervous about what could happen after this season. You don't have him under contract. You know what has to tell me about Lamar Jackson. You know, I mean, I'm just, I believe, I believe in them. I love them. You know, I just believe them.

The first day we draft him. I kind of like that, Gregi, because it's like, hey, remember Lamar, we believe in you before anybody else. I mean, give us a discount. He's not going anywhere. Yes, he's not going anywhere. You know, they can franchise. He's not going anywhere.

And you're right, Nick, that the price goes up, but that's a great problem for them to have. It's the best version of Lamar Jackson we've ever seen, you know, as someone who, at times almost felt like I was defending Lamar's play from the pocket during his MVP season. It's still okay to acknowledge that he's at another level right now as a passer. And as a decision maker, he knows when to run, when not to run. I mean, the speed's still there. When they run QB power, he just goes. But I watched this game pretty closely too.

And it honestly didn't feel like the Patriots were playing bad defense. They were getting beat by perfect plays that they were in position for. Or that just like, what can you do other than like tip their hat to the, the throw to the corner of the end zone? Who is that too? Duverne was just like outrageous. It was outrageous. Duverne with great job getting his feet in bounds. But you talk about perfect plays.

The perfect play to me was pulling a page out of Kansas City's playbook. The little shovel pass to Mark Andrews along the goal line for an early touchdown. Andrews almost dropped the ball, hangs on and gets in the end zone. That's the stuff that they can do now, that they can hit you from all angles. It does not matter what situation they're in. Lamar is able to capitalize it on that. And you're right. You're defending his pocket performance and everything.

His MVP season, he was spectacular. But like you said, he's better now than he was then. Does he make a few mistakes here and there? Yeah, of course. But the total picture, the total package which you get heavily outweighs that. And if they can put it all together on a week-by-week basis, this is why a lot of people had them win in the north. I mean, they look strong.

I also thought this was the best game we'd seen from Mack Jones. And we just watched on the YouTube feed that he was obviously heavily limping at one point and looked was an agony after that game. We're waiting to find out what that injury was. That could essentially be their season. But did you, let's say against healthy again, did you think that Mack Jones played his best game of the year so far? I mean, the bar is kind of low because they've been off to slow start offensively through two games. I don't think it was a great game, but it was good enough to win. Mack also kind of sunk them.

He threw a pretty bad interception on a desperation, even the back of the end zone in the fourth quarter. that had no chance. It was a prayer. And it wasn't his fault, of course, that Nelson Aguilar fumbled. That should have been a nice catch and run that could have got them in position again. So it wasn't terrible. It wasn't a spectacular game. He led the NFL and completion percentage over-expected today. I thought he had some dimes. I thought it was an encouraging game. For them to put up 450 yards of offense is encouraging. You can't have the turnovers. But it was like a close game. You had Aguilar, as you mentioned, running in Ravens territory down five points with about five minutes to go. It wasn't like it was a, it was a

one-sided game. But if he's out and there's some Twitter doctors believing while they're prancing around that it might be a high ankle sprain, who knows, it might be worse. Developing news from Mike Giardy, our reporter. The Patriots fear, and there is speculation still here, but this is Giardy and we like Giardt. Patriots fear that Mack Jones suffered tendon and or ligament damage. That doesn't show on x-rays. So that there's still, but their fear, and as he's screaming, going down those very same steps that Tom Brady once went down after blowing. out of Zaycel in the 08 opener. You have very huge concerns here, Shooki, about the Pats

because if they don't have Mac Jones, like who is there back on? Brian Hoyer. Brian Hoyer. Oh, my goodness. Season over. I know he kind of looks like you, Shook. So that's personally, he's got a Brown's tie.

But like, that is not a good look. That's the recipe for 5 and 12. Yeah, I mean, you know what you get with him. It's a low ceiling. He's not going to make a ton of mistakes, but he's not going to elevate you in any degree. Just imagine him on his wedding night, Shooker. Brian Hoyer.

Why should we? I would rather not. I just want to say this. Devonthe Parker has first breakout in. How about he just like storms in? Now it's getting more uncomfortable. Might as well show draft day at the wedding. All right.

Sorry, Shooki. Let's move on. Oh, oh, yes. Mr. Sessler, Lockebrothers, Inc. Once again, and the great, great lock it up. ATN lock it up on Twitter, let us know with an excellent NES throwback cover for a hypothetical video game in which we lock games. The lock bros. The lock bros.

We are now 11 and 2 when we tag team a lock. So that's something to keep a lot. Well, I had suggested after week one when Dan and I did this shook that we locked up a team and we won. I was like, let's do this every week. It's like, no, it's not. Actually, that's a great idea because we're dominant when we team up. But it's got to be the right. I think we've showed when we are both aligned, it's almost always right.

Right. I just picked blindly and then you seem to do the same. I have a trophy that says otherwise. All right, Chuck, let's move on. Well, so do I. To Carolina. Mayfield in the shotgun. Pumps.

He's got Leviska-Schanal. His first catch at the panther. He's got the three. Make a guy miss. Make a guy miss. Make two miss. The sky's in front. Three breasts.

Her head. Touchdown. Laviska. Chanel, welcome to Carolina. Wow. Let's see that. And this Shroff of WBT with the call. That is Leviska-Schnault, who was acquired in a late training camp trade inactive the first couple games.

Now he gets a big opportunity. It makes the most of it with a 67-yard touchdown pass from Baker-Mayfield in the fourth quarter. And it is the Carolina Panthers that defeat the New Orleans Saints. 22 to 14. It snaps a nine-game losing streak from that rules team. Maybe my pep talk on the Friday fun fun show had an effect. I like to think so. Shooky, Baker only threw for 170,

but with the way I guess New Orleans is playing offensively, he needs to make a ton of plays right now. Yeah, I don't want to sound like a hater, but that throw that we just showed was Baker's best throw of the day, and he had to throw at about 15 yards to the flat. And Levisquist Chalte did the rest of the work. I mean, it's still an offense that, is struggling.

Christian McCaffrey broke 100 yards on the ground again, but they got the win, and that's the most important thing. And a lot of it has to do with the Panthers defense, which gave up a ton of yards, but did not break. They bent a lot, but they did not break.

And they made some key plays. Mike, one of my favorite guys in this team for the last few years, Frankie Loubo with a nice strip of Alvin Kamara early in that game. Oh, Frankie. They returned that, you know,

hey, oh, Frankie. Hey, back in my five yards, you get more space. Open up your playbook. You can run something else. Hey, who needs Baker Mayfield when you got Frankie Louvo over there. Hey, Uncle Tony,

What do you think about Frankie? But yeah, this This defense, yeah, you know, the Snow Patrol. Greg, this is your group, the Snow Patrol. They made their first appearance this season. They got a takeaway, and that was enough because the Saints' offense can't get out of its own way. James finally connected with Chris Olive once. It felt like a holiday because he missed him about four more times.

This offense is struggling for New Orleans right now, and it's a surprise they even got 14 points. Yeah, I'm reading here that Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry and Trequant Smith I'll leave with injuries in the second half. Anything serious there potentially? Thomas was left with a foot. Jarvis, I don't think, return it. He got hurt pretty early.

Tracon Smith came in because Jarvis was hurt and ended up making a difference, but none of it mattered. I think we'll stay tuned to a lot of those updates up. And they're heading to London, which is, that is not a good sign. Like, they're often should be much better this year because they have all these receivers,

but it hasn't been through three games. Well, I don't think you have a healthy quarterback either. Right. And I think there's questions there. This is a very interesting time, I think, for the Saints heading over to London to play Minnesota will be there at that game. And I just get the sense there's a lot of tension

and there's a lot of pressure on this group because they kept everyone together. And I'm just keeping an eye out on for drama with this Saints team. I'm just keeping an eye out. That's all. You know, we're going to be in the city. You want a drama nugget? Yeah, let's hear some drama nugs.

Notice today? First sideline shot of Andy Dalton. Well, that's, look, I think he maybe should be playing in this. game. Jamis has fractures in his back. But that's more like a nugget of, you know, the Fox announcers keying in on a potential storyline. You're not saying was there a shot of like Andy Dalton looking suspicious or looking like an eye roll after a James Winston passed sailed over receiver's head? Anything like that. That's what we're looking for.

Andy Dalton will make that one expression, stoic and EB Stoic on the field too. The Ginger Man's eyebrows, they are very expressive. I'm not sure that was a nugget, but I mean, it will note it. We'll note it. It's noted. To crumb. Absolutely. Anything else? Yeah, think about it with the Saints, by the way.

They have a near miraculous win against the Falcons in week one. They are that close to 0 and 3 right now. So, Greg, you're right. And when you have a banged up team now, including a quarterback, reportedly playing with four fractures in his back, enjoy the 10-hour plane ride and the strange week to come in London and the out-of-your-sorts unique prep week to come. This is a tough spot for them.

Wee. Their opponent feeling good. Shooki, we're feeling good about you closing out the show. So thank you. We'll say goodbye for now. And then you'll rejoin the audience and a little fireside chat with the great Nick Shook. Yeah, you know, coming to my office, we'll chat. And they'll be on a plane safe travels, guys.

Thank you, buddy. Thanks, Nick. Thanks, Shook. All right. Let us, there goes Nick Shook. Always a pro. Speaking of the Vikings, the opponent of the Saints in London, they're feeling good. Cussons out of the shotgun with no timeout.

trailing 24-21 takes the snap straight drop he's going to fire right yes j osborne you're so cold-blooded touchdown and the vikings have taken a 27 24 lead and this place has broken up Paul Allen and Pete Versich KFA and I mean the bonga we just need the Lions team of ATL Read the room, Graver. Read the room. This is not a celebration. You want to celebrate? It was a great back-and-forth game.

Oh, no. I mean, that's not how this works. I don't think we could put you on a plane after this. Well, but he's traveling with our equipment. Yeah. Oh, his other significant other. Yes, God. So she needs...

She can do my job in London. No, Mark's angling to spend time with your girlfriend. That is inaccurate. She is a very nice person, but I... Just take the L here, Graver. Take this L. The Minnesota Vikings come back on the Detroit lines, the team of ATL. KJ. Osborne with that go-ahed, 28-yard touchdown pass from Kirk Cousins with 45 seconds to play.

And it was a tough one, boys. You know, I was watching this with my brother, Kevin Danger, hands us today. And they have it. They have it. They're up 24-14 in the second half in this game. They get a huge stop. Minnesota, turn the ball over on downs and it's 47 with 232 to go. Wow.

And Detroit takes over. They get in position where Dan Campbell has an option with about 70 seconds left in regulation. Go for it. Punt the ball away, play defense and hold off. Or try a 54-yard field goal from Austin Seibert. That's what he goes with. He pushes it wide right, gives the Vikings a short field, and Kirk Cousins does the rest. After the game, this is what Dan Campbell had to say.

He took some ownership here. I regret that decision, 100%. I really do, Dave. I hate it. And I do feel like I cost our team. I really do, man. And that's great. And being accountable as a head coach is very important.

But it is, once again, another reminder with the Lions, and they're a fun watch. not as fun today when they lose their top wide receiver and their top running back to injuries but they haven't figured out really how to win yet and this has been happened this happened last year

but they were more talent poor last year they're still learning how to win games and they let this one get away they should not have lost this game it's going to be a tough one to swallow especially if they are what we think Mark which is a team that can be frisky and hanging around in December

in the playoff race well now another team that could be in that wild card race has a big tiebreaker Oh. Well, they are frisky. Right. Like, I mean, you know, they would have been nice to pull this out because it's a division game and it would have confirmed the fact that, again, they ran the ball really well. I just think they've got weapons that people wouldn't have expected in the passing game.

I mean, we knew St. Brown was good, but Josh Reynolds had six catches from 96 days. I don't know if you need or want Jared Goff to be throwing the ball 41 times, but I don't think Goff, who I think gets typically kind of just slammed and panned by people. like I think he's right here just so he's been playing pretty well I don't think you have but I'm just like you guys are usually he's been playing pretty well he's playing playing fine I've killed golf for you want to know in part the reason why he's throwing the ball a lot they had the ball a lot in this game they ran a ton of plays but also DeAndre Swift is having he has a recurring issue here is it a foot or an ankle I think he has an ankle injury but now he also has a shoulder injury on top of so he's banged up and Amon Ross St. Brown is hurt in this game and he's banged up and you saw when you take those two guys out of a primary role in the offense they kind of came down to earth and that's going to affect Jared Goff because like we've said with Goff if he has these weapons and the offensive line is protecting him he could absolutely light up a defense right but they were definitely hurt by the injuries and to credit

the Vikings that was a game that was slipping away it looked like it was over after that midfield turnover and they showed some gumption boys after especially a very ugly Monday night lost to Philly. Right. 2414 entering the fourth quarter division game. That's massive. The Lions injuries, as you mentioned, have been cascading. I mean, they've been missing two or three offensive linemen this whole season and then with your weapons. You feel for them. And Lions fans, you know, I guess we're being welcomed into your den. Into your den. And this was a painful one. Don't put it on us, you know.

I hope that's not the case. No, no one would. They wouldn't because this has been happening before we came along. But somehow I feel a little responsible that they were up 2414 in our first game and then have just like a total heartbreaker. No, I take no responsible. This team has been losing for like four eons. Like we've jumped on and there is an interesting team as they've been since we've been born.

It's too bad. That game-winning touchdown by Cousins, too. It was a confusion. What? That's not, I mean, there were a couple Wayne Fonce teams back in the day. Scott Mitchell. Oh, yeah, but this is getting there. Bad miscommunication in the secondary in that winning touchdown.

Touchdown. Nobody says it that way. That'd be weird if I did. Jeff Akuta had a good game. He's a guy that's a bright spot. We talked about Rodrigo. That's huge because he looked like a bust. But what they did, they shut down Justin Jefferson.

Justin Jefferson got, again, quieted. That's two straight weeks after looking completely unstoppable in week one. So there are definitely positives because what I really wanted to see from the Lions is growth on defense because that's when you could really start to buy in if they just could have gotten that last stop. But Dan Campbell's right. He should have never went for that field goal unless you got Justin Tucker. You should have punted that ball away, in my opinion, pin them and then give your defense a real shot to get a stop. They're not good enough to make that stop at midfield at this point

And I think Campbell knew it And he instantly had regrets Interesting because he would have gone for it Right? Or go for it or go for it What was the down in distance? It was fourth and four at the 36 I mean they

So you're in an in-between area where punts are weird The lions have been like one of the heaviest Fourth down go-forat teams in the NFL In the last two seasons Fourth and fourth the 36 Yeah that's a go for me But I don't Evans to Betsy

It is it is Mark It's a go That is not from right now Justin Jefferson Kirk does it again though you know 10 a.m. It's like that was we talked about on Thursday

that was so says he looked as bad as any quarterback in the league on Monday night against the Eagles and of course he comes back and he wasn't lights out tonight he missed today he missed some throws but he made the one

he's wide open too. I don't like this Justin Jefferson 14 yards business off six targets I mean they're that's they've got to figure that out when you have the year he had as a rookie and then you're one of the defining storylines of week one

obviously teams are like all the way zoned in on him and it's on our friend Kevin O'Connell But they weren't ignoring him before Remember that the storyline after week went Oh now he's being moved around And now we know how to use him to his best abilities

It's like all right Now what Kev Well I mean We were the one saying that And you're making Kevin Cohn That was like it was one little kick out the door For Mike Zimmer and his previous staff Like you didn't actually even know how to use this dude

All right well Now find a way to adapt to the adapt adapts to the adjustments being made. You know what I'm saying. Let's take a break. All right, we're back. Let us move on. Check in with the defending champs.

It's a jet sweep. Cooper Cups got the edge. 2010. Cooper Cup. Speed bird. Touchdown, L.A. Did Cooper Cups for today? It's Sunday, of course, he did. That's why J.V. Lowe is one of the best.

nice line KSPN Cooper Cup with a 20-yard touchdown run at that point in the game he was the team's leading receiver and rusher that's what he means

to this offense and it wasn't a big offensive day by the Rams Matthew Stafford in fact didn't throw a touchdown pass I don't know if that's happened since he's joined Los Angeles but the defense

the defense a true great team you can do it on both sides and they shut down and throttle Kyler Murray 2012 final Rams over cards Rams approved to 2 and 1, cards fall to 1 and 2.

You know, a funky, weird game in some ways, not the most thrilling game, not the shootout, maybe some of us thought. It could have been Alan Robinson let a goal line pass go through his hands. That could have been a touchdown for Stafford. Kyler Murray threw for 314 yards, but he did it on 58 attempts. And, you know, the Hollywood Brown move is working. Let's start with the cards in that he certainly does have that chemistry with Kyler, and he went 14 for 140 on 17 targets.

But there was a moment this game when they were down late by two scores, and they took over deep in their own end, the Cardinals. And you kind of need urgency, and you need a quick score there to stay alive. And there just wasn't there, Mark. They have an inability to be explosive on offense, and there's too much wait for Kyler. to bring magic, worked last week, not this week. Yeah, I mean, if you take the 20 minutes or so last week

where the Cardinals turned electric, their offense has been a sputtering disaster, lacking urgency. I mean, I think it is a coaching to some degree when, you know, you're playing a good Rams defense except a Rams defense that got flamed by Buffalo and put out a bunch of points against the Falcons. So this shouldn't have been an invisible spot for Arizona if their offense is for real. They start with four punts, none of those drives. Three of those drives don't go for more than eight yards.

One doesn't go, the one goes for 16. Then you're kicking field goals. Do you want to be a field goal offense tried to survive in this division in the NFC in general? I just see a team that we, they started slow last week too. Kyler started slow. The parts around them did. And it seems to just be a problem to get going early and to keep pace with the team. You can't attempt to come back every week.

And if you're going to, you can't do it in sluggish nature that we saw today. Yeah, I think the Rams are just trying to survive this early portion of the season. They were down two more cornerbacks on top of their other injuries. They lost Havenstein in this game. I don't know if he returned the right tackle, which would be a massive injury. And it almost feels like they're just kind of warming up into this season. And it's nice if you can get some wins along the way, which they've done. They also got Aaron Donald a sack today.

And that's his hundredth. He is the fastest defensive tackle in the history of the NFL to reach 100. Sacks, reportedly a quality player. Yes. Yeah, and that's what we were talking about it last Sunday, Mark. I feel the same way after this game, where the Rams are not playing at peak efficiency by any stretch, but they maybe have a quote-unquote Super Bowl hangover, but they've won two of three here to start the season, and you assume they're going to get better.

One aspect of the game that was getting better and then cease to be getting better because you cannot fumble near the goal. line when you have a chance to ice a game, Cam Acres. He was, you know, he was going to be the highlight. He took over early in the second half and had a great drive where he carved up the cards on the ground. And you were going to reward him. To you, that's like the, that's one of the most important things you do as a host is reward

players with highlights. Yeah, you got to reward people for achievements and hard work and Daniel is flying tonight on a plane. Reward yourself potentially sometimes. Cam Acres had a 14-yard touchdown run and I was thinking myself, you know what, that's nice. The Rams need a run. game and just when you start to feel good about it yes he coughs the ball up in the fourth quarter gives the cardinals life but like i said and and cam and mcvay had a moment on the sidelines where it

didn't seem like he was headed to the doghouse it's more like bro protect it we're going to be all right belichick would have buried him under six feet underground somewhere he would be gone he would be gone so the rams fine move on get the w the cardinals still very unimpressive other than a magical second half and big time play in overtime that's where we're at with this oh by the way You get all hot in the pants, Greg, about Tony Romo and this and that. I only care about Sundays with Sanchez now. Mark Sanchez is the breakout star for me of the commentator game right now. And he said some funky stuff last week and it led us wondering,

did he just even admit that he has like a joke writer? Here is another Sunday with Sanchez. I just love his game. He's going to have to change his name to Shakira, man. Whatever. Wherever, wherever, that guy's ready to play some football. He was talking about Squarnick. That's a 22-year-old Shakira single.

And it's not even like a Hips Don't Lie reference. I don't know, even know that Shakira's like. A lot of people. Yes, you do. She was a huge star in Colombia and around the world, and then she put out an English-speaking language and had that as the big breakout hit. It was like 1999.

But it's like, whatever, whatever. Let's in a be together. Yeah, you've heard that. Unless you've been locked in a house. My hips are mountains. But the way he said it, like, you don't, like the words, like the lyrics aren't what you think of when you think of Shakira. And Shakira and Skowarnik don't even sound alike. I mean, it was like, like that's a stretch.

Well, you know it. These are pre-planned bits. There's nothing. I don't know what's going on. Certainly a stretch whenever, wherever, released October 2nd, 2000. You're right. I do remember that time. I mean, I just said that you collect the album.

Santa's say the words, whatever, whenever, his hips, I don't know. It just, like, didn't. Also, I wish someone for Shakira would have helped her out. She named her first album, uh, laundry service. That's just not a great album title. But, you know, career was launched anyway. Oh, we have a lock. Oh, that's right.

I locked it up. All right, there you go. I've locked against the Cardinals all three weeks. Really? Unfortunately, they've played the, they play the Panthers next week. Wow, look at you. And you're two and one. And it would have been perfect if it wasn't for that little.

guy Kyler last week. It would have been perfect too if it wasn't the guy with a giant helmet and the little feet. Let's move on, check in with what happened across the street. Bloodbath for the other L.A. team. To give us to James Robinson. He's got it in more. 40.

35. 30. 25. 20. 15. 10. 5. Touchdown on fourth down. James Robinson broke loose for the score. Yeah, I just realized Greg doesn't even, because he was more in age 32 standing up. He doesn't even know the pop culture reference. He just dropped

the Scooby-Doo reference. Greg actually turned into a bad guy from Scooby-Doo. Right. And I would have gotten away with it too if it weren't for you rocked the kids. That was the point. That was the point. You don't know that. You don't know that ref. Everyone knows the bit. At the, you know, the amusement park. I mean, we know it from watching Scooby-Doo. He knows it because other people have referenced Scooby-Doo. Is that what you're saying? Frank Frangie of the Jaguars Radio Network with the call. James Robinson. Man, he's looked good.

all year long coming off that Achilles injury. He ran for 100 on the nose and a touchdown. Trevor Lawrence stacking good games now, 262 and three touches. And guess what? The Jaguars beat up the Chargers and the beat up Justin Herbert. 38 to 10. Whoa! And Mark, tell us it wasn't this bad.

And by the way, the Jaguar's snapping 18-game road losing streak. You know what? I don't like the way I set you up there, Mark. The Chargers will get to. But how about these Jaguars? I tell you, like, Doug Peterson, it's one of the things where it could have gone sideways because all off-season long,

we sort of guaranteed that they- I don't think he is right now. I don't think he is because it's working. Like, we said Trevor Lawrence would benefit be the primary beneficiary, and he is. Like, when is the last time, if it's ever happened, that at one point the Jaguars today, field goal, field goal, in a row, touchdown, field goal, end of half.

You know, it was like one play. touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, and just sent the chargers into another dimension. But now, to be fair, I think number one, two weeks in a row, Trevor Lawrence has made major steps. And I have to give you watch this game. What I think about him is that he seems to, so clear this just wasn't the case in last year's disorganized attack. He's well-coached. He seems calm. He at one point had a rusher all over him and made a calm completion.

It's like last year this stuff was not happening. He's got great chemistry with Christian Kirk. James Robinson's running the ball the way that you mentioned. And they were playing a Chargers team that were extremely vulnerable. It starts with the fact that Justin Herbert is playing with cracked rib cartilage, and it shows. I think he's not wanting to take the hits. I think his downfield velocity is affected. That said, he had a throw in this game that kind of reminded me of last week after he took the hit and made the incredible completion.

But Joey Bosa went out of this game. Kenneth Murray went out. That had a lot to do with zero pass rush and getting run all over. Roshan Slater, your star left tackle is gone. Corey Lindley was gone after last week. So your offensive line is reduced by two quality players. Keenan Allen wasn't in this game. J.C. Jackson wasn't.

Kenneth Murray left with an injury. Jalen Guyton. This is unbelievable. Yeah. So, I mean, that doesn't take away from the fact that Jacksonville just, they took advantage of that and blew the doors off. But this wasn't the Chargers team that we expected to see. And Brandon Staley, this is a bad loss.

I mean, I don't care who's injured. Everyone's got injuries. This is just a bad loss. I think Brandon Stanley's lost. How was Justin Herbert playing with two minutes to go in this game with damaged ribs that you don't know if he's going to recover from that at any point this season? If you have a chance to get him out of the game and not take any more hits and prepare for the next game, what are we doing, man? They, you know, responded, Staley did by saying Justin, that was up to Justin. No.

And it's like, same as last week. It's not up to Justin. He insisted he didn't want to let down his team. It's like you can make decisions on how to handle your best players, that those are important. Now, the chargers are devastated, I think, after this game for a number of reasons, but you still want them to handle it better. Lindsay Theory of ESPN said the locker room cleared out as quickly as I've ever seen from a home team in the NFL. and she said it was interesting that today's a crossroads for them,

how it was handled only two team captains available after the game to address the loss with reporters. And of all the injuries, and they're really concerning. Joey Boso with the groin and, you know, Keenan Allen didn't play in this game. They've really missed Lindsay. They're not the same. I mean, Lindsay is a pro-ball type center.

The injury to Rashon Slater, and we'll get the, the final. final word on what it is, but to me it doesn't sound good, that could absolutely change the course of their season. Because if you're starting Storm Norton and Trey Pipkins for a long time or for the rest of the season, it's just, even if Herbert's healthy, it's not the same. This is the most ominous feeling we've had about any team we've discussed on this show so far. This season, I would say.

Ombus vibes about the charges right now. For a team that is historically disappointed, there are a lot of breadcrumbs. It's still very early. It's only three games. Casey Jackson didn't, that's five pro bowlers. Literally five pro bowlers. Let's give the Jaguars just a little bit of love, though. I mean, James Robinson.

That division's theirs for the taking, by the way. Yeah, it is theirs. James Robinson has come back off in Achilles better than any running back in my memory. He has made all the different. Like Urban Meyer is at home watching this being like, hmm, that guy. Should have maybe leaned into that guy, James Robinson. That, like, that guy's good. The crazy thing about Trevor Lawrence, though, is I don't think he's, did he look,

did he have to make spectacular plays? I think it's nice almost that he's not making spectacular plays the last two weeks. He looks like a system quarterback and they're building him up because I think the spectacular plays because of his talent will come. The fact that they're this good with him just kind of moving the ball with quick throws is a great sign. Yeah, I don't think they're putting it on him to make those kind of plays yet, but his floor is raised a lot. A lot.

It's awesome. Good job. Jack's fans deserve it among the best fans in the NFL. NFL. All right. According to Greg. I mean, I don't disagree, but I don't know how we're measuring that. So let's move on.

Let's talk. Zusser's got work to do on that plane, by the way, because I do the power rankings. And the dolphins just beat the bills. And it's like, do the dolphin? Are they the number one team? Are you going to put them over the bills? Is that how this works, though? Just because I mean, it was.

I got to watch it. Right. But I mean, I don't know. I got to watch it. But there's a case to be made. Yeah. Where were they before the Dolphils? I think seven or something.

I think there is one other team, though, that maybe if I feel like it's too soon for the Dolphins to get that type of love, there's a team in the NFC East. Oh, I like it. You're right about this. He's back. Hurts looking.

He's firing. Devontes-Smiths out. He caught it in the corner of the end zone. Again, he went skyward. The Slam Reaper. How did they get that off? You know what? They don't have a number one

and a number two receiver. Play of two number one. Oh, my goodness. Oh, Philly is lit, and Merrill Reese is caught up in the hype machine as everybody else. But you know what? Hype isn't the right word because we're seeing results, not receipts, results. Jalen Hertz, the Devontas Smith for the touchdown. And once again, it is the Eagles who are just dominating with an easy win, 24-8.

eight over the Washington commanders who were down 24 zipping this game before safety. Obviously, they got a attack on score here to make it somewhat respectable. But Mark, both sides of the ball humming for the Eagles right now. Absolutely. I mean, think of what their secondary did to Minnesota a week ago. This game, different units step up entirely. And it's the offense who at halftime had 322 yards to 50 for Washington. was not with a tilted time of possession. It was essentially even. They just, Jalen Hertz just

simply caught fire in a disconnection with Devontas Smith. And it is A.J. Brown, who like, if you're going to handle one, you can't handle the other. And it is a true pick your poison type scenario. And Jalen Hertz makes all of it so much harder to defend because if you're off him, off he goes. And the defense on the flip side, you know, Carson Wentz, we've seen him go good half, bad half. And so certainly we saw the bad half again. So would the script follow? the way it did last week. Well, there was no chance for it to because the Eagles

absolutely separated Carts and Carson Wentz into about 45 parts with a no team's done this. Nine sacks. Well, that doesn't sound like a game pass I want to watch. Nine sacks in this game.

Are you guys interested in a reel of Carson Wentz getting back? So, yes, I am. Here it is. Back goes, Wenz. He's looking. He is sack. They got on.

Sacks number one. Wentz back. Wentz pumps. And they've hit him again. Back goes Wentz. He is being tripped up, and there's sack number four. He's being harassed. He's hit again.

They've got him. Here comes the rush. They've got him again. And that would be sack number nine. It does. It feels little mean. But it was like every four minutes in this game. And Wentz certainly is someone who's going to hold onto the ball and walk into a couple of these.

We've seen that before. Didn't look like he had a chance in the little of what we just saw there. Washington's line has not been that bad this season. It's not been a, that has not been the story every game. But like, he's not. He did have no chance, and their offense was completely defunct, and there was no comeback in this one. I want to hear from Jalen Hertz here because one of my favorite quotes of the young season came from Jalen Hertz talking about Devanta Smith, who, by the way, had a career high, 169 yards, and a touchdown on those eight catches. A. J.J. Brown also had a good day in a touchdown. So, yes, they are humming here. Here's what Jalen Hertz had to say about DeVontas Smith.

By the eyes, he may be a little slide, but he plays like a big boy, and he is. his numbers called, I know you answer the phone. By the eyes, he might be a little slight, but he plays like a big boy. He's a guy when his number is called. I know he'll answer the phone. Yeah, I couldn't believe the narrative after week one of like, like, whoa, is Devante Smith going to get lost in its offense? It's like, have you watched Devante Smith play football?

The only concern I ever has that he stays on the field, because you look at him, and he is slight, but he's tough despite that. and they have two ones. That was a great way to put it. He is an incredible young receiver. Everyone hits on early receivers lately, except for Jalen Rager. Like, you can't miss. Every early receiver the last few years has been amazing.

And coming off of that package we looked at of when's getting hit, Braylon Graham had five QB hits alone. They had 17. They're putting up crooked numbers in terms of QB hits. I've never heard of 17. Is that a record? I mean, if you have 17 QB hits and then you have the, offense playing the way it is it's pretty much perfect it looks like it there's just there's no overt

weakness at this point my way too early week three MVP rankings i got lamar hurts josh allen one two three i think that's right yeah that that would be my top three that is an unbelievable situation they have cooking in philly now like we saw at the bills things changed they will be challenged soon enough and they will you know even go down and they have to stay healthy they don't want to be the next charges but where this team is you get why everybody including Merrill Reese's feeling. This is better than I ever could have imagined, but one of the reasons I picked them to win the Super Bowl

was because I thought they could get the one seed because the schedule is cake. And you look at the schedule ahead, and they're going to be decent-sized favorites until about week 11. Yeah, they are well set up to get the number one seed potentially, especially with the issues for the Cowboys this year. All right, let's take a break and then roll on.

Welcome back. All right, the defending AFC champions don't have a win entering week three. what happened at the medal lands let's talk about it burrow back to throw blitz coming throws over the middle caught by tyler boyd breaks two defenders sprinting down the middle of the field of the 20 15 10 lunches for the end zone touchdown nice angles on the final play of the quarter as tyler boyd pinballed off two defenders and took it to the house you guys know it's one of my favorite things i love the partner in the booth who just forgets that he's

being paid and is just cheering for his team. I mean, they are getting paid by the Bengals, so. Yeah, I mean. That felt desperate, though. That felt like we're O and two and we need this. Dan Horrid and Dave Lapham with the call WCKY, Joe Burrow and the Bengals, you know, it was too easy

today. They got the big win and the offense looked like the offense for the first time in a long time. I mean, even before the playoffs. Burrow threw three touchdown passes, the defending AFC champions. They get that first win over the season. They just take out the Jets 27 to 12.

They made some, Greg, you've taken some pot shots at Zach Taylor in recent days. And I thought he made a smart move. He picked up the black polo and he pulled it over his head. And he said, I know we always, when we win the coin toss, we defer to the second half, but we need some more urgency. Okay. They win the coin toss for the first time, I think since Taylor's been the coach, they say we take the ball, they go right down the field, they score a touchdown.

And that was kind of over at that point. And, you know, the score looks like it wasn't a total blowout, but this game never felt competitive. The Cincinnati Bengals were a much better, more complete team, cleaner team, less mistakes, better protection of Joe Burrow. The running game is still a little meh. But other than that, took care of business against the Jets team that other than a two-minute miracle there against the Browns has been bad.

I mean, you talked about the Chargers as the most ominous team that we've discussed. And so tonight I think you're right. but as of a couple days ago it kind of was the Bengals because they were in a rough, rough spot and you're right. I mean, this is a get-right game, and I'm not sure it's a true measuring stick

against the Jets team that... Just got to get W. They have issues, but they came on and did it. I thought Burrow looked good from what I saw, but I am concerned because I think what set them up in weeks prior where they can't soften up a defense

is that ground game. And when I only see Joe Mixen running for 24 yards off of 12 carries, that is not what was happening last year when they were good prior to the playoffs and in the playoffs. They were dominating teams, especially in their own division,

with the ground game. And so I just want to see that down the stretch fix itself or I don't think this is a Bengals or Fine situation. Well, this is probably Joe Flacco's last star, at least in this stretch of game. Zach Wilson's reportedly going to be ready for next week. There's no reason to think that they're not going right back to them.

what were you most disappointed by? Because I'm actually surprised, you know, we talked before the show and you were pretty down on the defense, Dan. But, you know, I look at the box score and it doesn't look too bad, five yards per play for the Bengals. You know, a game where they lose the turnover margin

four to one, I would be, you know, normally pointing more fingers at the offense. But you seem disappointed at like Salas' defense, which does look good on paper and I think it's had moments this year, but it's been a little up and down. I'll tell what I like about the defense. Obviously, they did a good job stopping the run.

this week, last week, against the Browns, not so much. They give up too many big plays. There's too many miscommunications. I like Sauce Gardner a lot. And he played a role in, once again, Jamar Chase being very quiet. He even gotten Jamar Chase's head a little bit, I thought, at a point in this game, even though Chase did have a touchdown, six for 29. But in general, the defense has been a difference maker.

The pass rush does not get home for all the talk we heard about how deep their front seven is, how Carl Lawson's back. I'm just, I'm not seeing them taking that step defensively. And on the Flacco side of things, listen, you could argue for a team that's in transition and trying to build,

this is kind of fine the way it ended up playing out because there's no, there's no indecision here. Flacco cannot move and more problematic beyond just the Stone Age aspect of it is, he can't hold on to the ball. Every time this guy gets hit, that ball is out.

So in addition to having zero mobility and to make off platform plays, he is a turnover machine. He threw two interceptions, fumbled a bunch of times. It's time to move to Zach and see what he can do. And if he can't, it could get ugly. You got to find out. We got to find out now. But good win by Cincinnati.

They get to one and two. And I think they got some of their mojo back to. Let's see if that carries over. Let's now move on to what went down in Nashville. Speaking of teams that need a W. They get it off. Carr throws short. It was hit by Cole and then Bayard knocked it down.

It's 24 to 22. Nice job underneath by Cole. A job by Byer, too. You knew right where they were going with it. Mike Keith, Dave McGuinness, I'd call WGFX. Yes, the Raiders pulled within two late, but it was the defense. gets that stop. The failed two-point conversion is the difference for the Titans who get that win in the cornered animal game, 2422 over the winless, still winless, Raiders.

And I believe there was a report after the game that Josh McDaniels, oh, by the way, now off to another rough start to a coaching career. Although it got off to a really good start in Denver. Six and O. Of her things absolutely imploded. He's going the opposite direction, and I believe there was a report that he had a meeting with the owner. A long meeting with Mark Davis before the press conference. So it's not just like you're going to have this meeting, but we're going to have this meeting in a way that every reporter knows you're having.

No, Bueno. All right. Grave-digger. I know, although bad job by you, Justin, let's be fair. You should not have picked against your team. Reverse jinks. No. You know, come on.

Maybe you learned from that. Ryan Tannahill throws for 264. He has two touchdowns, one passing, one rushing. Derek Henry finally gets going a little bit. How, in the first game, post-Tailer Luan, losing your left tackle, do a knee injury. How are you feeling about them at the end of this game? Still a lot of concern, to be honest.

The defense was allowing the Raiders to pretty much march up and down the field. But it was nice to see the offensive line got some real push in the run game in this one, and that has not been the case the first two weeks. Henry had some holes. He was also bouncing off defenders, spinning down the field, picking up yards after contact, just like Derek Henry that we've gotten used to. So it was nice to see that. Even without Taylor Lawan, they could run the ball effectively.

the pass protection wasn't great but Tanna Hill did a good job getting the ball out and avoiding pressure except for one near disaster strip sack that the Titans jumped on at the end of the game that could have been pretty terrible

but... Raver's not on the plane if that happened. I mean they didn't score in the second half so you must have been sweating it felt very much like the Raiders Cardinals game but the difference here is like the two point conversion doesn't happen for the Raiders. The Raiders aren't that close

to winning a couple of these games. It felt like the Titans' Giants week one game where the Titans get up to a big half-time lead and then completely do nothing on offense in the second half and give up some big plays. The Titans' run defense also didn't look very good. The Raiders ran the ball 19 times. They averaged six point, sorry, they averaged 5.1 yards per carry, but they only ran it 19 times, and that's part of being down by two scores for the second half. But the Titans' run defense has not looked good all season, and the Raiders didn't really take advantage of that.

It would just be happy with your win. I am happy, but the Titan's secondary was pretty brutal in this game. They were, if they were brutal, I mean, Devante Adams ends up with 36 yards. And then Mack Hollins has 158. I know he had a big 60-yard playing there, but he still had eight catches. I mean, that's not really the script you would imagine for the Raiders.

So Terrence Mitchell, who was signed off the Steelers practice squad by the Titans earlier this week, played a ton of snaps outside at cornerback. Caleb Farley, Healthy, played one snap. So what does that say about Caleb Farley's development? Probably not good things. But Matt Collins was torching Terrence Mitchell I mean he looked totally lost down the field

And Devante Adams his usage is puzzling to me Because I get it They're moving him around a lot To try to like throw off the defense or whatever He's lining up inside a lot He was in the slot a lot in this game But when he was in the slot The Titans would have the nickel cornerback on him

And then a linebacker was like there to bracket him Because he kept running these little short routes over the middle And wasn't really that open very often And I mean 10 targets like seeing that he had 10 targets is actually surprising to me after watching the game. It didn't feel like he was that much of a go-to guy for them. Well, they need a second guy. Renfro is hurt and hasn't produced.

Waller could have caught a ball at the goal line that ended up being picked off. I mean, that's about as big a play as you can have in a game. It flips the seven points to the ball to the other team. They remind me a lot of the John Gruden Raiders in that those teams always moved the ball and couldn't finish drives. I don't know if it's a Derek Carr thing or what, but that was a team that could move it up and down the field and couldn't really capitalize.

The whole Raiders thing, this whole offseason, which now I'm peaked and slightly... I'm annoyed now. They spent all offseason saying like, hey, you know, you're counting us out in this division, blah, blah, blah. You don't understand what we are, but it's like your own three. Come back to us, Raiders. You're the only O and three team in the league.

And by the way, come back to us NFC West. You're not that impressive to me either right now. Not so much. Not right now. The game was the Red Zone for sure. Raiders 2 for 6 in the Red Zone. Titans scored touchdowns in their trips to the Red Zone. That's what we'll do.

And to what you were talking about earlier, Greg, that's three losses to start the season for the Raiders by combined 13 points, and they had a chance to win at the end of all of those games. But still, the vibes also ominous. Not Moribund, but ominous. Let's move on. Fourth down and 18 at the 38.

Snap, Smith drops back. Atlanta trying to get. get there. Here's Gino to his right, going to throw down. Field intercepted. Richie Grant's got this one. 15 slides down, 19-yard line. Richie Grant comes up with his first career interception. That was Gino Smith throwing the interception that doomed the Seattle Seahawks in a kind of a fun game to watch between two teams that probably aren't going to be dancing. They won't be prancing either, making erroneous injury guesstimates, but they won't be dancing in the playoffs either,

but they can entertain us on a Sunday in September. That's how I felt. 27-23, Falcons over Seahawks. Marcus Marriota had his obligatory turnover in the fourth quarter that almost killed his team. But overall, I thought he looked pretty good in this game. Cordare L. Patterson, man, what else can you say about this man? he's had 141 yards on a touchdown.

I hope you didn't have him on your bench and fantasy. I did. Whoa, really? How good is your team? Not very good. Kyle Pitts, Drake London, they both make an impact. So the offense of the Falcons continues to be frisky. And when it came down to it, Gino had to make a play there.

He could not make the play. So the Seattle Seahawks dropped their second straight. It was tough. Gino on the move, playmaking, not really a strength. It did remind me of last year's couple games before the Jaguars game where he played pretty well and then at the end it fell apart. I mean, he had a great game until that moment. 325 yards, two touchdowns was almost perfect in the first half.

Both teams are going up and down the field, but he hasn't put together two great halves. And as much as Pete Carroll is talking about, like we got to, you know, let Gino throw more. He's earned it. I don't know if 44 throws is the recipe here for the Seahawks and giving up more than 10 yards per throw to Marcus Marioada. I mean, their defense is a mess. One of the bottom five defenses in the league and having Gino throw 45 times.

It's asking a lot. Let me check out this FACTA, Greg Rosenthal tweet three hours ago. If you combine Gino's first half against Denver and his first half today, you'd have a beautiful baby. Instead of you have an orphan. I think that was funny. I think that was a great tweet. It was like if you combine them, like if they made love to each other.

No, no, no, no. You just had a beautiful football baby born. That's the problem because that's what you have to do to squint enough with Gino Smith to concoct him into. You don't have to squint. He's performing as well as you could possibly hope. The rest of the team is not helping out very much. And like, yeah, they're not going to win trying to throw the ball in a million things.

No, I just think Gino Smith is who he is. And like, I think he also, he is when he's protected and things are good, he's a clean, quarterback, and he's, I think he's impressed me more than I thought he would have overall. But I think what Pete Carroll and John Snyder were trying to sell to Seahawks fans before this season was, Gino Smith will be enough if we can run the ball really well, and that's what we plan to do, and if our defense is competent, and the defense is incompetent, and the running game is, eh. Well, that's a great point, Mark.

Well, it is. It's actually dead on why Gino Smith is crumbling week to week. And these teams feel like they deserve to be one and two, so that I kind of. I kind of like that the Falcon's got to win, but I'm hurt. Gino was legitimately very good in the first half in this game. Yeah. They just couldn't put it together. And just heads up to Fox.

Just, and this goes for all telecasts. The world we live in now, there's a lot of drones out there. And every once in a while, a drone flies into an airspace where it's not supposed to be. And it led to a five-minute delay in the game. And it's unfortunate. They throw to a commercial break. You use the bathroom where you get a drink or whatever you want to do. Come back, sit down.

ready to watch the game. I don't need you throwing it down to the sideline reporter telling me drone update. Don't care. I could guess what happened. I'm with you and I find it unnecessary like it happened. Wait, what did you want them to do? Just move on. Sorry. Well, they had to say why, but it happened in a Patriots practice last year. But Conor or our friend did have an added nugget that the telecast, which I think is adding something to, it said that the drone had appeared over the University of Washington football game yesterday, but then simply went rogue and began flying over the stadium today. Like it wasn't control.

It just took off on its own from a technology angle slightly concerning. Well, the most accurate tweet, like the truest tweet I saw all day was from our friend Danny Jameson who said this whole drone thing felt like a Mark Sessler sandwich prop that was never made. Like this was your cornered mark. Which is why Dan dislikes it, I think. Right, predicted it to happen. Yeah, I was going to say Tommy Lee Jones and the Fugent have had it right.

I don't care. Well, I didn't kill my wife. Don't care about that either. Well, that would be notable. He is a U.S. Marshal. His job was only, and that was, by the way, improvved by Tommy Lee Jones, I don't care. His job is not to decide guilt or innocence of Harrison Ford's character, the great Richard Kimball. His job is to bring him to justice.

You reel him in. And then you put him, then Tommy Lee Jones goes on with the rest of his day. So what he told, what he's trying to tell Dr. Richard Kimball there is like, hey, man, it's not personal. I'm doing my job here. Well, that's your opinion. I think it's a correct one. Great movie. One more.

Then Sunday night football. Matt back to Mills. Passes tip, intercepted in the hands of Rok Juan Smith, tripped up by Mills. Do a dance, baby. Do a dance. The tip pass into the hands of Roquod Smith on the near side. It's picked off. Bears' defense turns them over.

Jeff Joniak with a call, WBBM, Roquan Smith. Big pick. That seals another Chicago Bears win. The Bears are two and one after a 23-20 victory over Lovie Smith, the former Bears coach, and the Houston Texans. Gregi, good job by Khalir Herbert here, stepped in for an injured David Montgomery, and the Bears, all things considered, have to be feeling pretty good about where things are. Good job by Herbert, good job by Roquan Smith.

Good job by both of these teams serving up a highly entertaining game back and forth. We set the over under at 12 and a half. Right, a lot of offense in the first half. I ended up taking this game in the end. And I was thoroughly entertained, and it couldn't have been a more bear's victory. He wrote Juan Smith, who even before that interception was one of these stories of the game. He was absolutely everywhere, 16 tackles in the game, and then making that interception. That's a Bears, like, historical linebacker type of game.

And then the running game, like, had to have Bears fans going crazy that they put up 281 on the ground, mostly Herbert, who, to me, has looked even better than David Montgomery. Hopefully Montgomery can get healthy. they did not need them today running defense it was a bears type of win this is there are teams like this that pop up i can think of a so it was boring no the game actually really was entertaining i i really was it was back and forth i can think of teams like this terrible 2009 eric mangini team that started like oh and 10 and then they're like we can't do anything that modern offenses do so we're just going to run the ball nonstop and you go look at the eagles last year where the

herds was a different quarterback you just run the ball nonstop and so i would if I'm Chicago, because that is how they climbed into the game with Green Bay a week ago. This 40 attempts for 281 yards at 7 yards per carry. But behind what we thought was a terrible line, not a terrible run blocking line, apparently. Didn't you sense Mark was going to give us the old, the Mangini Browns dropped a bomb on the Patriots story there? I thought we were heading that direction. That was the next season, and that had to do with, that was not the same approach. I was so excited.

But this game would not have looked like that one. So that would have not been a good place to insert that memory that I've used more than 40 times on the show. I thought it was coming and I was excited for it. I'm just saying if you're a Bears fan, you can look at this and say if they can take this approach, you're two and one. Who thought they'd be two and one?

Sneak these wins in this rebuilding year and win any way you can. It says a lot about your coaching staff to be this flexible. This might be the high point of the season or they might be three and one next week after playing the Giants. There are some concerns. Justin Fields looks to me like, like the most lost quarterback in the NFL.

Today was a nightmare. The fact that they won this game with him throwing as ineffectively as he has, a couple really bad picks. And just a couple of plays where it just didn't seem like the entire passing operation knew what was happening. It was a little bit of a miracle that they could win despite that. So that part of the equation is concerning. And yeah, they've run it now 104 times, Dan, this year.

And doing a little quick math, they've passed it 45. I mean, when was the last time that's happened in the NFL? That's insane. They know who they are, at least. How did David Mills, David Mills look? Davis Mills. That interception is brutal. Get me on this plane.

They were inside the 10-yard line. David Mills was a guy in the crowd, though. I want to know what his experience was like at the stadium. He's like the brother of Brad Pitt from 7. He looked like a real NFL quarterback who made a bunch of a nice plays, but he had two terrible interceptions that... Did we talk about Damien Pierce? He looked pretty good, right?

Pierce looked great. Mills, you know, they had a, he had an interception on the goal line where he forced it in there, and it was a bad play by him. I think a nice play by the Bears. That is why I always do that, by the way. David Mills is the Brad Pitt character from 70. And it has been in my head for the entire Davis Mills run. But Mills did that, like, young quarterback thing.

He, like, predetermined what he was going to do on that Roquan Smith intercept. And even predetermined, I'm going to look them off, and then I'm going to go back to this guy and throw it no matter. And he did look him off, but he didn't look to see if it had any effect on Roquin Smith, who didn't bite on it at all. And so it ruined an otherwise pretty good game on it. Justin Fields was his own worst critic in this game. He said that he played like trash.

So obviously a lot of work to be done on that offense. You want to see them grow as an offense and get more, you know, some offensive fireworks in the passing game. But they've won two out of three and they get the Giants and commanders sandwiched by the Vikings over the next three weeks. So we'll see where the bears are at. All right. that's it for us right that is that's it yes we are going to um now sign off gather our personal affects i'm going to go eat at the huddle get it's get some dinner and then head to los angeles international airport the tom bradley benson no see you're doing what i do the david mills

international uh whatever um nick shook is going to take us out here with the Sunday night football recap between the Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers, and you will hear from us next on Tuesday from London. God willing, thank you to everybody for watching the stream. Until next week.

On to London. Cherio. Crykey? Nope. Neither. 12-yard sack choosing not to lose that last time out. Cost him of 15 seconds. Doropolo just trying to get it out. Wilson.

and on the run. Lost the football. Denver's got it. And Denver's got this one. Mike Torrico and Chris Collinsworth on the call for NBC. Sunday night is home to the bright lights of prime time, but all games are not created equal. And if anybody had any questions about that, they learned that on Sunday night. When the Denver Broncos pulled out their second straight win from the jaws of defeat, with Melvin Gordon's one-yard touchdown run, pushing them past the one-and-two-49ers by a riveting final of 11 to 10. Yes, it took. took one sustained drive for the Broncos to get past the 49ers and perhaps more importantly, exercise the demon that has plagued them for the last two games.

That demon being the fact that when they get into goal to go situations, they can't score a touchdown. They finally did that tonight in the win over the 49ers and then hung on with some great defensive play calling, you know, daring Jimmy Garoppolo to play the side, giving him the sidelines, daring him to play the middle of the field where they force an interception. predictable interception and really a kind of a bummer for the redemption narrative that Jimmy Garapolo was riding into the week. You know, a guy who came back, restructured his contract, ends up in the starting role again for the 49ers, you know, by unfortunate circumstance. And he's here to prove

that he should have been here all along, that maybe his time in San Francisco is not over. And 49ers fans were unfortunately reminded of why the franchise was trying to move on from him with his decision making in this game. That's not the only turnover he had. The only other bad play he had. Dan Orlovsky got some great new company in the rare club, the unenviable club of quarterbacks who were seen, well, essentially cemented their legacy by running out of the back of the end zone to get a safety. Those two points actually mattered a whole lot for the Broncos considering the fact that they won 11 to 10, but it's far from the only statistics that mattered in this game that was, well, pretty ugly. Okay, one for 10 on

third down for the 49ers. That's not going to get it done. Six for 19 for the Broncos. Also really not going to get it done. But unlike past games for the Broncos, they were a little more organized. They came out of the huddle and actually had the play called and were able to get set before the play clock ran down. Those Broncos fans didn't need to count down the play clock for them as they had in a sarcastic tone in the week before. But for a second straight week, the Broncos come away with a win that kind of doesn't really feel like a win, but they all count the same. Broncos now two and one tied atop the AFC West in the division in which was supposed to be the most difficult in the history of the NFL. Somehow, some way, despite all their

disorganization, they're sitting pretty. Thanks in large part to the way their defense played in this game, forcing three turnovers in this game against the 49ers. The 49ers offense takes a step back. You know what you get with Jimmy Garapolo. He's a quarterback that doesn't have a super high ceiling, but can manage a game for you. Unfortunately, he has not often been the quarterback that can go win a game for you. And once they found themselves trailing by just a single point, he proved again that. that he was not quite that guy. He finished 18 for 29, 211 yards, a touchdown in that fateful interception. Niners also lacking a huge contribution from Debo Samlin who got

dinged up in this game, finished with five catches for 73 yards, but didn't make an impact on the ground. You know, coming into tonight's game, I picked personally, I picked the Broncos in a one-point win, 17 to 16, a more conventional score. Before this game, only one had ever ended in an 11 to 10 score in the history of the NFL. We now have 10. but it was a difficult path to get there. The Denver Broncos constantly running into the same struggles that have plagued them to the first three weeks. Russell Wilson hanging out of the football too long.

The offense stalling, making mistakes either with penalties or just inaccuracy. There was a situation in the second half where, or actually late in the first half where Russell Wilson and the offense start on their own one. They get all the way down into the Niners territory. They're sustaining a drive. And then a false start on Jerry Judy knocks him back five yards.

Then a holding on Garrett Bulls, knocks him back another 10 yards. Before you know it, a promising drive ends in a punt. Another situation happened to them in the second half where they were also forced to punt. And for a while, as many people were watching and expressing on Twitter, we were wondering if maybe this would end in a 7 to 5 game, which is a score fitting more of a baseball diamond than a football field. But luckily the Broncos did find a way to get the offense moving, failed on the two-point conversion, which left it at 11 to 10,

but they were able to hang on defensively. That's kind of the story for both of these teams. Two really good defensive performances. If we get past the offensive struggles, they were kind of caused by defenses. You got good pass rushes from the Broncos. Randy Gregory came up with a key sack. Joe, Nick Bosa, excuse me, making key sacks per usual or at least causing pressures. Niners putting together pretty good defensive performance overall.

Even guys in the back end of the defense, Charverius Ward being another one breaking up a big pass that Russell Wilson attempted for Jerry, Judy, in the second half. But you do, you know, you come away from this game kind of feeling like, hey, you know, the Niners at one and two. they don't have a ton of reasons to be optimistic because Jimmy Garoppolo is their quarterback, but then again, this is a game they're going to wish they had back because they know they could have gone and won it if things had, you know, played out a little bit differently. Broncos, meanwhile, got to feel fortunate to be two and one, considering all the things they've run into, still not organized offensively. Russell Wilson, missing open targets on third down. The offense, still not hitting that rhythm, and inexplicably, play calling,

going away from the running game when it's proven to be their strength. They still are not running the ball enough and they're still not getting Javante Williams enough carries. I looked, I took a note down during the game where I thought, you know, Nathan O'Hackett and his offense kind of looks like, you know, he's playing Madden right now. And he just can't resist calling that deep shot. It's, they've been running the ball all the way down the field, but you know what? I got to mix it up. I got to throw the football.

And before you know it, they're behind schedule. So luckily for the Broncos, they were able to end that goal to go touchdown this streak with that touchdown in the final quarter. But as Chris Collinsworth said in the first half, there are some things going on that they are just not together, and it looked like that for much of the game. You got to give credit to the 49ers for playing solid defense, of course. Offense, like we said, not so much. Niners also were without Eric Armstead for the first time in a long time. But they're going to have to go back to the drawing board and figure out, hey, how do we get better than one and two right now? Because this is

our situation going forward. We are a team quarterback by Jimmy Garapolo. We're without Elijah Mitchell. We got to use Debo Samuel more than we did on Sunday night. The bright side for both teams, not that it matters all that much unless you're a fan of special teams. It is the one third of the game. It's the third phase of the game. Punt coverage was incredible. Multiple punts down to inside the five, down to the one or two yard lines setting up long fields. Neither team really able to dig themselves out of it. The Broncos able to get across midfield before they again ran into their own struggles. But overall, Sunday night football, we've seen better games. We've seen, I guess we've seen worse games. You hope that the Broncos

kind of get things sorted out. The reason I picked the Broncos going to this week is I was on board with Greg Rosenthal. I pretty much thought, you know, hey, you know, they can't run into these issues forever, right? Eventually they're going to get them ironed out. Well, they didn't quite get them ironed out on Sunday night, but they got them ironed out when the time, I guess, was most important late in the game, be able to sustain the drive Russell Wilson using his legs, doing something that he hadn't done for the majority of his first couple of games of the Broncos this season. Things that we got used to seeing him do in Seattle, extending plays with his feet, scrambling for yards, not making mistakes with the football. He did that in that final drive, and then he ripped a great pass down the sideline to Cortland Sutton, great back shoulder throw that set them up for a score.

For the first time, we saw shades of what this offense should be with Russell Wilson at quarterback. We'll see if they can sustain it, but they come away two and one. They're moving on. Victorious, Niners, meanwhile, got to go back and figure out what went wrong and how they can set up going forward. Not much else to say about this game other than that. You know, it is what it is. It was a Sunday night, I wouldn't call it a clunker, but it wasn't the most entertaining game.

Luckily, we got Monday night on deck tomorrow, and the guys are on their way to London as I speak. Right now, they're getting ready for a full week's worth of coverage as the NFL starts its international series over in London. So for Greg Rosenthal, Mark Sessler, Dan Hansis. I'm Nick Shook. Wrapping up your Sunday night coverage, flying solo here. those guys fly across the Atlantic Ocean.

And as always, heed the call. This is an IHeart podcast.