NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - 2022 Week 4 Recap: A Football Packed Final Day In London

Episode Date: October 3, 2022

A virtual hotel room filled with some heroes - Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler and Gregg Rosenthal share their final thoughts from a week spent in London. The guys start with a wild finish to the Saints and Vikings game (3:20). The heroes then talk about the Eagles beating the Jaguars and holding on to their undefeated record (11:06) and the Bills rebounding with a big come-from-behind win against the Ravens (17:26). After the break, Cooper Rush wins a third game for the Cowboys (24:15) and a frustrating start to the Browns' season gains another chapter (30:25). Plus, Zach Wilson and the Jets spoil Kenny Picket's debut (43:35) and Patrick Mahomes beats Tom Brady on Sunday Night Football (1:37:12).  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. God save the king. From beautiful London, it's around the NFL, the week four flagship show. Dan Hads us here in a hotel filled with some heroes. Mark Sessler, Greg Rosenthal. We got Justin Graver on the ones and twos. and there are Yassica somewhere, somewhere, someplace being helpful.

Yes, it is our final show here in London, and it's been an amazing week that was topped off by us attending. Well, some of us attending Vikings, Saints, and it came down to the final kick as is fitting, given this country's love affair and the surrounding territories love affair with the kicking of the football in this sport of football. We did not get to go as a trio to the Sunday game.

You and I did, Mark, Greg hung back. He wasn't feeling well earlier today. But we had a great, great time at the hot toddy. I thought it was such a capping experience that we've had because, you know, you spend, when you go to a football game, especially as a media person, you get there hours before the game and you wander around. And we met with, I would say roughly,

150 people that have listened to the show for a long time and it was like we have a really wonderful listener group, a listener collection of people that like are into the show and like it was meaningful to do that and then a game which I think started kind of slow, started in a strange way, just got grew and grew in importance and sort of fire and we did miss having Greg with us, Greg, I hope you're feeling better, but we thought about you and a lot of people asked about you throughout the day. I mean, it was it was fun to watch it. here on TV. It's been a long time. The last time I was at home watching Sky Sports coverage,

I got in trouble. And we had a whole episode making amends to Neil Reynolds for it. But I enjoyed watching it here because you could see sort of what's built, even just through the TV. It just all felt so big. Like the game was perfect. Hearing Sanchise go nuts. We've got like a top five Sanchise clips from today was fun too. But more seeing like the Sky coverage and the fans that were there. It always, like, Falcons Jets felt like a Super Bowl last year. So I can only imagine by the end of this game the way that it finished with like a game. I always just kind of root for one of these games to be like classics to like deliver for these fans what they want. Like, this was a classic. It was great. It was a lot of fun. And we're going to get to that game

and every game that was played on Sunday in week four. Today it is 1.30 in the morning here in London will be on an airplane headed back to Los Angeles, tomorrow. Well, today, this has been the most bizarre week of my life in terms of trying to figure out what is going on. But that's not your problem. That's our problem. We will work through it. But first, we're going to tell you all about the day that was in our league. And yes, why don't we start at the Big Tot, at the Hot Tottie, at Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium where the Vikings and Saints did battle.

He said extra vinegar on the fish and chips. I hope you had an extra help in the bangers and mash. He's going to need everything he's got in that right layer. And nail this sucker. Good snap. Good hold. Lutz's kick on the way. And it is off.

The uprights. Double-doin. And it is over in London. Lutz pinballed it around. And it fell out. 28, 25. The Vikings hang on. by the width of the crossball.

Great call by Kevin Coogler with, of course, Mark Sanchez there. A double doink from 61 yards, you cannot make it up. The NFL London Games kicked off with a corker as Will Lutz's bid to become the first kicker in NFL history to make 60-plus-yard field goals on back-to-back possessions. You know, I didn't look that up, but I know it to be true.

It just, there's no way that that is not true. Felt painfully short in a 28 to 25 loss to the Vikings here at the hot toddy. The Vikings regained the lead minutes earlier when Greg Joseph atone for a PAT miss by drilling the go-ahead 47-yard field goal with 24 seconds to play, setting the stage after a big Chris Oliva reception for the Dramatics with Lutz. Mark, this was a fun game to be. yet for many reasons. We stated some of them just a couple minutes ago. But the game itself, like you said, after a slow start, turned into one of the better London games I can remember.

It really did. And, you know, we had a chance to go on field and talk about the game on the big screen in front of the crowd. Not a humble brag, Greg. It's just something that was part of our professional duty today. And at that point in the game, my take was just that, you know, the Vikings came out of this thing. Hot. Touchdown on the opening drive, 74 yards off 13 plays. And what I thought the Saints did at one point in this game was they really started to show resiliency and turn what was a touchdown offense into a field goal offense. Four field goals over five drives where the Vikings got very close and should have been scoring touchdowns, and they weren't. And so the fact that they pulled this thing out in the end is a big win for them.

I feel if you're Minnesota, I don't see you're a team that's fully there. I just don't. But this is the kind of game that typically in Vikings fashion would have been pulled away from them and they pulled it out in the end. Like they got the brakes. I mean, that's very on Vikings. I mean, this was a very typical NFL game. I feel like if you wanted to give a good example of what the NFL product is right now,

this was it. It's like a three-point game between two teams that both could be three and one or both could be one and three. The Vikings happen to be three. There's very little difference. You had your superstars like step up in the big moment. Justin Jefferson with that huge catch on Lattimore to set up the go-ahead points there. You had a terrible call that may have cost the Saints the game.

The hands to the face on Tyrone Matthew was a total phantom. It's rare that bad calls in the NFL are just clearly bad. Like there's no interpretation that it was as 100% miss. And they would have gotten the ball with the lead with five minutes to go if that call wasn't made. and then you had to end on a lot of fun and weirdness and kicking like this is this is the NFL in a nutshell that honey bet your call was

was one of the worst calls of this entire season so far I think it was the worst if I had to All right calm down guys So a lot of football was played That was just one play One call What I was gonna say was you're right It just is rare it's rare that it's so

It's rare that it's like so obvious That it's just like that wrong Got it so like You're right I thought the Saints defense did a great work keeping this game close while the offense figured its way and Andy Dalton in his first start of the season

I think the jury's still out on whether he's an upgrade or a downgrade he certainly was very good in the second half but they did not move the ball at all in the first half but I just think it's amazing to me when they set up for the first they like I said they set up for two 60 yard field goals the 60 yarder and then the 60

51-yarder at the gun. And it just shows you, like, the kicking game is evolving in the NFL. Like, that would be unheard of, to me, even five years ago. And now you're regularly seeing coaches sending out their kickers for 57, 57, 58, 59, 60. Whereas 10 years ago, you only do that if you absolutely have no other choice at the end of a game or an end of half situation. And the fact that he smoked the first one, that was right in front of us, by the way, Greg, right in front of where we were sitting on the press box area. And then the second one, to double doink, it's a very tough loss for the Saints who are,

you know, they are an epic comeback in week one away from an O and four start, but they're one and three. And the Vikings, yeah, I agree, Greg, or Mark, they are not a perfect team, but the NFC in general is not perfect. And they're out to a three and one start. and I think they're going to be okay and finding Justin Jefferson making him again the focal point

of the game plan, 13 targets and including a really well-designed rushing touchdown play near the goal line. Great job there. So I think the Vikings still to me looked a part of a wild card type team. Meanwhile, the Saints, Gregi, I know they're a team

that you felt very high about. They have a lot of work to do. They got to start finding ways to win games because it's going to get late early for them. Yeah, I wonder if they'll keep starting Andy Dalton. I think that probably will feel a little better with how the offense looked under him, especially considering they didn't have Michael Thomas. They didn't have Alvin Camero.

We didn't mention. They didn't have Andrews Pete their starting guard. Jarvis Landry didn't really do anything in this game. And yet the ball was coming out a little quicker. I wouldn't say Dalton played great either. It was funny listening to Sanchez, like root for these two guys, Dalton and Cousins, because they're like, they're Mark Sanchez. Chas types. And so just when these guys were late on all their throws, and both, both

quarterbacks seemed late on every throw the entire game, like it was just absolutely killing Sanchez. But at least the Saints found a defense. Like Marcus Davenport and Cam Jordan were dominant in this game. I think they combined for seven quarterback hits. It was the one good thing. It killed me to not be at the game with you guys. But I was able to put together like a highlight reel for you, Dan, of some Sanchez moments. Sundays with Sanchez. I love it. Yeah. I mean, I filled that role for you today. That was me. I appreciate that, buddy. What do we got?

How about Camp Jordan? Look like he's trying to find the baby and the king king and Mardi Gras. Trying to figure out what the heck's going on back there. And then he sees Kirk Cousins with the ball. Oh, a red rifle just turned into a sniper rifle. Holy smokes. Wow. He had a little extra vinegar on his fish and chips, man.

Two extra yards. You know, he's got a little bit of a discount Tony Romo vibe going for him. And I mean that I know it doesn't sound like a compliment, but I do mean it as a compliment. I think that's what I said. That's a good categorization to put him into. I enjoyed it. I enjoyed it very much. All right.

We'll get back to some thoughts about this game and some sights and sounds from the hot toddy on Sunday. But let's next a little bit later. But next, let's move on now to another big game. This one happened in Philadelphia. Eagles looking to stay undefeated. Lawrence and the gun. He's back. He steps up.

He's hit. He fumbles the football. But I think he hasn't. Let's see. Now the Eagles have it. That'll be the game. The Eagles have it. Lawrence did not get on it.

You put the onus on your defense and your defense comes through. Harbrage. Harbrage. Merrill Reese and Mike Quick, all amped up on WIP. The Eagles force Trevor Lawrence into five turnovers. Four of them on fumbles, including the game-clinching turnover on a Hassan Reddick sack in the final two minutes to secure a 29-21 win over the Jaguars. Greg, the Eagles spotted Jacksonville The first 14 points of this game

But their opportunistic defense Insured Philly would remain The only undefeated team in football Yeah, I came into this game Thinking like, well, which of the big tough football teams Like will be tougher Both offensive lines are good Both defensive lines are good

And in terms of that battle It was not a battle at all The Jaguars came into this game You know, first in rushing defense by far and they end up giving up 210 yards on the ground to the Eagles. Like they had protected Trevor Lawrence pretty well all season in terms of their past protection. And yeah, Lawrence fumbled four times.

One of them was a snap. It was definitely rainy conditions. But the other three were strip sacks. Asan Reddick with two of them in the second half. Like he seemed like he had two essentially game clinching forced fumbles. But the Jags defense and the Jags offense at least like kept. them in it for a minute and yet it to me it kind of felt like okay the eagles like haven't faced any adversity all year like let's see how they respond and yeah like 29 three points that's

how they responded there was the the james bradbury interception was huge in this too i i just like looking at both quarterbacks i know there was a lot of weather factor in this um does it change the way you feel i thought you know jalen hurts has been i had it been number two in the qbby index i think he's been phenomenal this season do you look at him or trevor in this game and just say it changes the way you feel about them, or was it more just this was a rough Sunday relatively for both of them compared to where they had been a week ago?

Well, I don't know. I think it was a step forward for Jalen Hertz. I know that numbers don't look great, but the fact that he ended up... Step forward, Gregie. Come on, take off the Eagles glasses. Okay, when... Well, how was it then? How was it?

When there's other games that are in like a driving rainstorm, like we just give teams a pass when it's like 11 to 10 at the end of the game. like Jalen Hertz was maybe the main reason why they came back and put 29 up on them. They doubled them up in terms of yardage. Like there isn't another quarterback in the league, I think, on fourth down where their coach goes for it, that's able to like run over the defender on the goal line, quite like J.

lyn Hertz did in the rain. And like, and that to me was a turning point. He made a lot of good throws in this game. I mean, despite the weather, I mean, it was really raining. You know, A.J. Brown goes five for 95. Goddard goes five for 72. to like, yeah, I thought he played well. They lost two offensive linemen, including their left tackle, like right away.

They overcame a lot, and people were like, oh, they haven't been tested. It's like, okay, that's fine. Now they were tested, and then they weren't really tested by the end of this. I mean, you've got to have games like this, right? Right. No, I only say that because he's been so brilliant that it's hard to take a step up from where he has been. But, yeah, certainly the weather is a factor. And I think, again, obviously you're getting a lot of credit being given and rightfully

so for the Eagles to Hertz, who's an MVP favorite, to this great dynamic one-two punch at wide receiver with A.J. Brown and Devante Smith. And then you have Dallas Goddert in the mix-making plays as well. But I think one thing that's under the radar still is that Miles Sanders has been so great so far this year. This is a guy that a couple of years ago broke out and looked like he had a chance to be knocking on the door of the Superstar Club. He took a big step back last year, never found the end zone once the whole year, had injury

issues. And in this game, in a driving rainstorm and bad weather at times 27 for 134, Greg, and two touchdowns. He's been another revelation for them. Yeah, and that I think goes to the point that, like, they could play this ugly style better than Jacksonville.

Like, they can beat you with the passing game, but at certain points in the game, they were just going read option screen and running the ball the whole time. Like they just turned back into the 20-21 Eagles. And it's nice to be able to have that option, especially when you're down 14-0. Like after that first quarter,

it was basically all Jacksonville. And then to more or less dominate the next three quarters, I think was like a show of force. And you put, we talked about a Lawrence a little bit here, but if this is played in regular conditions or nice conditions, like today in London, which was absurdly beautiful for a day that was supposed to be raining all day.

Is it a five turnover day? How much is that do you put on the weather the way this worked for Lawrence? Who, by the way, took a huge step forward himself last week and obviously it didn't work out for him today. Last two weeks. Yeah, I've been a little hesitant to... I think Lawrence has been a part of what's gone great for them,

but he hasn't been, to me, like a top eight or nine quarterback in the league yet this season. And he held the ball too long today, but yeah, it was crazy conditions. I think you put some of that on him, though still a lot of it was just decision-making. It wasn't like accuracy on throws. All right. So the Eagles remain undefeated. The Jaguars come back to Earth a little bit, but still remain frisky.

Are they spicy or they frisky? It's so funny because I was writing, I literally wrote a note, Jags, spicy, not frisky. but that was about at 14.7, so I might have to change it. We got to get to the bottom of that. I'm leaning towards downgrading them from spicy to frisky, but again, it's very difficult to say what is what at this time. Speaking of which, let's move to figure out what is what when it becomes,

when it comes to the Baltimore Ravens who had another chance to knock off an AFC rival and saw it go sideways in a big spot. Here we go. with three seconds left the snap is down Tyler bass the kick is up the kick is good the clock says zero the bills have won it in Baltimore the bills came from 17 points down to beat the Baltimore Ravens unbelievable what a game John Murphy WGR with the call yep the bills got it done they forced the big Fourth down turnover.

Josh Allen takes over at the 20 and drives his team down the field to the goal line. Tyler Best makes that short field goal as time expires. They win in Baltimore, 2320. This is a game that Buffalo is down 20 to 3 in the second quarter. And it is the largest comeback win for the bills, according to the AP, since they erased a 21-point deficit to beat the Pats 11 years ago. A lot of drama at the end of this game, because like I said, the bill's got a big fourth down turnover at the other end of the field at the goal line where the Ravens had a chance to go up three with a chip shot field goal from Justin Tucker and then ask their defense to hold. Instead, John Harbaugh decides to go for it. Lamar drops back to pass, doesn't find anybody, throws the interception, and then the Ravens can't get a stop.

and that's what leads to the loss. Afterwards, facing a line of questioning about his decision not to just kick the field goal and take the lead. Here's what Harbaugh had to say. You kick a field goal there, now it's not a three-down game anymore. It's a four-down game. You're putting them out there. You're putting your defense on a disadvantage

because they've got four downs to convert all the way down the field and a chance to, again, score seven, and then you lose the game on a touchdown. So then the worst thing, the other thing you think you're going to get the ball to two-yard line. So I'm very confident in their defense. Defense's ability to stop them down there with the ball

on the two-yard line. So we got them backed up if we don't get it. It didn't turn out that way, unfortunately, and we lost the game. So hindsight, you could take the points. But if you look at it analytically, I understand why we did it. Curious where you guys come down on this, I don't hate it. I didn't love the play call, which was just a straight Lamar Jackson dropback. But even then, Devin DuVernay was open for a moment, and Lamar didn't see him before he made the pass that led to the turnover. What were your thoughts? about this, Greg, when you watched it. Did you think this was the right play here?

Yeah, especially the way that game going, I wouldn't have faulted them for kicking the field goal just because they hadn't literally put any points on the board in so long that I would understand it. But I also always subscribe to like let your players try to win the game. Let Lamar Jackson try to win the game. There's no rule your defense has to go give up a touchdown drive to Buffalo right there.

They did. I'm with you. I mean, they opened strong. touchdown, touchdown, field goal, field goal. And then they went totally dark. And so you're searching at that point for a way out. And I think it's sort of two offenses where you feel like, look, whether it's Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson, you don't want to give either one of them a chance in the end.

It sort of reminds me of the game, the Browns game a couple weeks ago, where everyone was telling Nick Chubb, you got to go down and not score. And that's exactly what Buffalo did. And it worked for them. I mean, it was just kind of interesting to see, as a longtime AFC North follower, Marcus Peters, essentially going after John Harbaugh after the game. This is the stuff that's reserved for teams in total chaos. You just don't see that that often, especially not from teams like the Ravens,

like the Steelers, where the coach is high and mighty and is very rarely questioned. And to see it end that way, I think that. is a very, Marcus Peters is at times a volatile individual. We know that. He is, he is. But I guess, again, even with him, inside the Raven system,

he hasn't been the way he's been in other places. But just the fact that, like, players just simply did not agree with the way that that thing went down coaching-wise. And Harbaugh said after that the two of them were on the same page, I mean, I guess they were later. They weren't at that moment.

And it was just an interesting ending. And it's, I think we live in a world now, too, where in 1988, people weren't judging coaches and analytics and final moments and decisions this way. But now you're under such a microscope that even if you're John Harbaugh, you got a ton of questions to answer about how this game unfolded in the end.

There was a big roughing the passer call that wiped out. I believe it was going to be a second 15 year midfield for Buffalo on that final drive. And I think they did actually, the Ravens had a chance to live. let the bill score, and then they had a tackle of Devin Singletary at the three-yard line, Adafia away, brought down Singletary that you could have let him in there, and then maybe you give

your quarterback one more chance. But like Greg, you're saying they didn't score in the second half, so then you're asking them to do that. The only thing I'll take exception to in terms of what Harbaugh said was the logic, was I understand it. He's basically saying the analytics say to do it that way because you, even if you don't get it, they have to go 98 yards. That didn't happen, first of all, because there was the interception that made it a touchback. But the other thing is, you don't get it, your opponent doesn't get four downs down the entire field. It's a three-point game. So it's really, it's four downs until you get basically a little past midfield.

Then it becomes a three-down and stop situation, and you could hold them to a field goal. I don't know. It was a very interesting decision, and he would have been praised to high-haven. for it if it worked it didn't and that's just the way it goes sometimes right like what i what was happening in this game that lamar only ends up with 144 yards passing on 29 throws and josh allen for that matter only ends up with 213 on 36 throws like the everything about this game uh including that ending you mentioned o way by the way did confirm that they were told to let them score or try to strip the ball and he said he sort of mistakenly tackled

him by trying to strip the ball, but he said he was trying to say, because you could see the teammates go up to him and be like, what the hell, man, why did you do that? But to what you just said, I mean, the Ravens hadn't scored all game, anyone thinking that that cost them the game that they probably weren't going to score a touchdown there anyways. All right, we'll see if these teams meet again come January. Let's take our first break, and then we'll return with one of our friends from America. Rush under pressure, throws deep, skinny post, walk in, C.D. Lamb. He got clear and he walked the dog.

30 and a touchdown. Brad Sham, the Sham God, with the call on KRLD. Cooper Rush. He did it again. Filling in for the injured, Dak Prescott rushed through a touchdown to Michael Gallup in his return to the lineup. And yes, C.D. Lamb, who is really stepped. up the last couple of weeks. In the end, it was a 25 to 10 win over the commanders, and now

to talk that game, we welcome in a man from the hard scrabble streets of Cleveland, the great Nick Shook. Shookie, that's three wins in a row for Cooper Rush. You buying into Rushmania? Rush Mania, as long as it lasts until Dak Prescott's healthy to play again. I'm not buying Jerry Jones trying to push this quarterback controversy just to keep his team in the headlines, because we're going to write about him regardless of what he says. And so I'm not jumping on this train here, guys. Spoken like a true ATN writer, yes. Yes, absolutely.

Exactly. I got to fight for my territory here. He did have a great day, though. I mean, 107.5 passer rating that's pretty darn good. Statistically, as a team, it's not super impressive, but it was a total team victory against a squad that I think they're just better than, no matter whether it's Cooper Rush or Dak Prescott playing. And you've got to give a lot of credit to their defense as well,

because I think they looked at last week's game that the commanders played against the Eagles and all the sacks they racked up and they saw it as an invitation. And granted, they only sacked Carson Wentz twice, but they pressured him on over 40% of his dropbacks. So he was harassed all day. Their offense couldn't do much. Every time, you know, I got multiple games on and every time I look over, I see Carson Wentz dropping back on third and long and he's just getting pressured from all directions. The right tackle repeatedly getting beaten by Micah Parsons. It was just not a good day for Washington. It's another good day for Dallas.

Rush, who is not only 3-0 this year, but the first Cowboys starter to win his first four career games with the Cowboys. First four career starts with the Cowboys, Cooper Rush, but still, not buying that controversy nonsense. Get that out of here. All right, here's another stat. Here's another stat. As you've mentioned, the defense has stepped up. They are the reason that the season was saved when everything looked lost after they looked terrible against Tampa and the quarterback heads to the operating room. The Dauce defense has not given up more than 17 points in a game during Russia's run as starter.

It's the first time the defense has held the team's first four opponents to 19 points are less since 1973. So we talked about this, Gregi. We talked about entering the season, how the offense was a question mark, but the defense could be trusted, and that's exactly how that's played out so far this year. I think they've been even better than expected. I mean, Parsons isn't. better than expected. He's just great. But they're deeper at linebacker. I think they're deeper on

the defensive line. The secondaries, you know, has great continuity. I think everyone gets excited now to play the commanders who look like one of the worst teams in the league. And that's what this game got me thinking. I watch Washington and I think they're not a well-coached team. Like, especially on defense and they have, in theory, a defensive-minded head coach. I just don't sense they're a well-coached team. There's always guys looking at each other, and they're like, why are you doing that? You know, they're always yelling at each other on the Washington defense trying to figure out what's going on. Whereas you look on the flip side, Dan Quinn is one of the best coordinators in the league. And I think Kellen Moore, and you've got to give your boy Zaddy, Mike McCarthy,

in the Grateful Dead looking hat today, some credit, because I think, you know, they have done a nice job managing what they have on offense with Cooper Rush. Yeah, I would say that, you know, in this game, you know what you have. You know what you have in terms of Cooper Rush and how what he's capable of doing. But it was really nice to see Michael Gallup get back into the fold because this is a guy who, you know, you want to go back to the ATN writer thing. I've been writing about him potentially playing this week for the last month and he finally actually played this week. Oh, those are annoying. Yes, yeah.

And he finally made, he was able to play and make a contribution catch his first touchdown. pass. They get a little bit stronger at receiver, which then helps Cooper Rush get better as a quarterback. He's relied on Noah Brown. He got to C.D. Lam a few times. Their offense had some nice rhythms. The only difference between really him at quarterback and DAC at quarterback is that they haven't been able to finish

as many drives, which is what shows up in the total offensive numbers. You stall out a lot just outside of field goal range or just on the edge of field goal range. Brett Maher's been very good for them in that regard. So I'm curious to see if that offense takes the next step when DAC does come back. But I mean, who'd imagine that they'd be undefeated with Cooper Rush at quarterback right

Now, we were writing them off as soon as Dack got hurt. So it's a really good development for them. Sure were. I'll tell a bit, like, when Cooper Rush came in for Dack Prescott in that first game, he looked completely lost. And so what we've seen since is remarkable. Last week with the Cowboys, what I really found encouraging was the way they ran the ball. And just looking at the numbers today and just tell me what you saw.

I mean, you've got essentially, like they fell off a cliff on that front. That needs to be a strength of their offense, but it's almost more impressive that Cooper Rush pulled off what he did with almost zero ground help. Yeah, it's almost as if they responded to last week's tape by effectively running a lot of play action, a lot of rollouts and types of things that got guys crossing over the field to get guys open in more of a flow of an offense where you're play actioning a lot and getting guys open that way because they weren't running the ball effectively. And that's the one thing that Washington can kind of hang its hat on, not on a per-down basis,

but almost every game I've seen them play this year. They've been pretty stiff up front against the run. Not every single game, but, I mean, you go back to, you know, earlier in this season when they weren't. But today especially, they were better up front and Dallas adjusted accordingly. All right, Shoki. Let's now head to Atlanta, where your brownies were attempting to go three and one. Oh, but those frisky, frisky falcons, they were there standing in the way. Third and 23, Brissette, dropping again, throwing, and it is intercepted.

Alford holy smokes 55 seconds left and Dee Alford one of the great stories on this Falcon roster has a moment yes West Durham WCGC with the call it was D Alford stepping in front of the Jacoby for set pass in the fourth quarter with the interception, clinching a 2320 win for the Atlanta Falcons who scored points on their final three drives to take a win away from the Browns, a game. The Browns had been in the lead at one point. Shuki, how did this game play out? Was this a back-and-forth affair where you felt these were two fairly even teams or another

one that the Browns let get away? This is a game in which the Browns spotted the Falcons ten early points by driving all the way down the field, having command of the football, and coming away with nothing by going forward on fourth and goal. then giving up three, fumbling on the first play after the kickoff and giving up a touchdown and all of a sudden you're down 10 to nothing, then reversing the field entirely taking command of the game, tying it up before halftime, and then again failing to maximize an opportunity at first and goal from the one-yard line. The Browns left a ton of points out on the field today, and that's credit to Atlanta's defense for stiffening up in key situations.

D&Ps, we know what he does as a defensive coordinator. But when the Browns look back at this, they're going to really regret that they lost this game just because they had enough opportunities to win. And when it came down to it, when they were down by a field goal, everybody knew it was going to happen because you just saw it happen two weeks ago and to the Jets. They're not a team built to come back. They're not even a team built to come back from down three points in the final two minutes because they're not good enough as a passing offense to be able to make up that ground. So Jacoby Brissette rolls out. I knew he's going to throw a pick. He throws a pick game over.

And that's who they are right now. They can control it on the ground early and that's it. Well, I hear the fan frustration there, Shoki, but hasn't Brissette been really good? overall, at least entering this game. I know that he had the late interception against the Jets, but you had seen some real strides, especially his chemistry with Amari Cooper and Najoku had been making plays,

step back on that front, I imagine. Yeah, I mean, he was good in key situations. They shortened their offense. It was a running game. It was checking down. It was ripping the occasional one down the field like he had to Donovan People's Jones. His pass-a-riding would have been a lot better,

if not for that interception at the end. But the key component here in their passing game and why they struggle to put points on the board today, AJ Terrell shut out Amari Cooper, essentially shut him out. He gave up, I think, what was it, one catch on the day, one catch for nine yards. So he was a non-factor, and that really hurt their offense. But you can't put it on percent.

It's just the fact that he made the game deciding turnover by throwing the pick. I hated this going in for Cleveland. When you don't have Miles Garrett, you don't have Clowny, you don't have a lot of depth at the edge rush your position to begin with. But I want to ask you something because I think we've all, Greg and I at least have talked about the Falcons and Dan too. But like we've talked about the Falcons as a spicy offense that I think is really well coached. And I think of Arthur Smith is very creative. Kevin Stefansky came out of this game with a lot of critique that I saw on Twitter, just the way he handled this game in general.

Like, who do you think right now is quietly the better offensive coordinator, the better offensive mind between Stefansky and Arthur Smith? I think it might be Arthur Smith. Stefansky seems to cost the Brown's games here and there. Stefansky gets cute with his play calling. Arthur Smith has, and it's too cute, Arthur Smith has maximized the players that he's had in his offense in his first two years in Atlanta, especially last year.

Hey, today, he just said, you know what, we're not running the ball with Cordero Patterson. Let's go to the young guys. Caleb Huntley, get on the field. Get on the field. Let's run the ball 14 straight times because that Brown's defensive front, three-fourths of its starting line out of the game. We're going to run it right down your throat. Absolutely disrespectful.

And that's how they actually got back into this game and really took command. I like that you're bringing took command into the conversation. Well, Carson once can't do it. Kind of trying to take it away from Carson once. Exactly. What happened with Corderole Patterson in this game, by the way? I saw he scored an early touchdown, but he wasn't on the field near the end. Did he have a setback with that knee issue?

Not that I had heard. He looked like he was fine. It's just that they weren't necessarily getting much going on the ground with him. The Browns were pretty prepared. They were bottling that up. And then they turned to more of your traditional smashmouth runners, that Huntley kid. I'm telling you, man, he ran really hard, getting the extra yards as part of that drive where they ran at 10 straight plays.

10 straight runs right down the field. I couldn't blame them for going to those two guys and really just pounding the rock while having a guy who, like you said, dealing with a knee issue, you keep them on the sideline if you're finding success without him. All right.

You okay right now with the Browns? Would you sign off from two and two? I feel like you probably would. But it's been kind of a super frustrating two and two. The Browns could be 0 and 4, and they could be 4 and 0. Like they could be anywhere, right? They are an average team

so maybe it's about right. With a quarterback who's maximizing his abilities right now, and they just are what they are. And until that changes, that's what they're going to be. They're frustrating. They should have won this game, and they should have won the Jets game. And I'm not saying they're a four-and-o-type team,

but to be two-and-two and the way they lost those two games, there's a lot of coaching going on there. Well, it could be worse. You could be the Ravens and blow a 17-point lead on Sunday and blow a what was the lead that they had to Miami that they blew? 21, 30-10. Like that entire division feels like they've missed a lot of opportunities. It was not a good Sunday for the AFC North in general, as we'll get to a little bit later.

Shooki, we're going to have, we're going to have you on for Sunday night football, but why don't we keep you on for another game? We could use the help on this wild Sunday for around the NFL from London. Let's head to Charlotte. Snap to Murray, going to throw, and it's a fade right side for Brown in the end zone. Brown hauls it in, and it's a touchdown. What a catch by Hollywood! Does a snow angel on the ground in celebration after just a phenomenal catch

for probably the dagger in this ball game. Dave, pass for the call, KMVP. Mark Sessel, I'm going to start with you on this one because I know you were tracking this as well. Not a flying start for the Cardinals' offense, which has been the case all season long. but they did come on in the end and take care of a pretty bad Panthers team. 26-16 final, Kyler finished 207 and two touchdowns, added a rushing score as well. So how did this game feel to you, Mark? Was this just the Cardinals figuring things out in time before they had another disaster on their hands?

I thought they figured things out in time. I mean, I saw two teams sort of searching for what they are and what they want to be this season. And, you know, Shook, you and I have watched a lot of Baker Mayfield. We all have. And I thought Baker Mayfield just proved once again that he is just having one of the most meltdowny, regressive seasons you could possibly imagine. And it's not all him, but he's baked inside this offense where, I mean, of all the people, J.J. Watt, who went into the hospital during this week for a massive heart condition,

had a tipped ball that turned into a Baker Mayfield interception, had another tipped ball. on Baker Mayfield, who created a series of, like, very costly turnovers in this game. And it just put Kyler Murray and a Cardinals offense that also was just searching for itself for much, much of the contest, into a much better place in the second half. And they took a position of it. They had a couple short fields that they took advantage of. I mean, there was also a moment where Kyler Murray, like, clearly in his headset, was flipping out on Cliff Kingsbury.

I mean, there's just a lot of frustration by both these teams. And it was like one team sort of found their way out of it, but it gave me zero increased trust and really either of them. Kyler Murray is an incredible talent. But I'm not sure he's really at a place in his career where he can rescue the Cardinals' offense alone. He did today because of the position they were put in because Baker Mayfield simply should not be a starting quarterback with the way he's playing right now, in my opinion. Yeah, this is, I was really curious and why to do this game, A, because I'm a glutton for punishment and I've done every Panthers game this season, and it just gets worse. worse every week, but also more importantly, these are two of the worst teams in the first half offensively in the NFL. They both come out sleepwalking. They struggle to put points on

the board. They combine for a whopping six points in the first half because the only touchdown on the board was scored on a defensive touchdown by Frankie Louvo. So I wanted to watch that because of this, but what I saw was more of the same, which is what you just described. It's Baker Mayfield continuing to regress. Maybe it wasn't the injuries last year in Cleveland. Maybe he really is not a good quarterback anymore. The batted passes at the line are it's death taxes, is Baker Mayfield getting passes batted down at the line of scrimmage. It's just a week by week thing. No matter who they're playing, they all know the same

game playing. Clog up the passing windows. Put your hands up. You're going to knock passes down. They've got to pick off of it today. But he's out of sync. It's to the point where I don't even have to be hard on Baker Mayfield. You don't have to be hard. Nobody outside the team has to be anymore. The fans will boo him and let him know in the

fourth quarter of a game in which they're struggling again. And you're right. It's not all on him, but it starts at quarterback. This offense has no rhythm. And they have enough talent to be better than they are right now. I don't see a light at the end of the tunnel for these guys. I think they're on a long road toward nowhere right now. There was an incredible stat in this game.

The Panthers right now sit at 1 in 26 under Matt Rule when the opponent scores 17 points. That's not a lot in the NFL. One in 26. They've lost 24 in a row in that case. That's a lot of quarterback play situations going on in there. But, I mean, they're a team that, I mean, has a lot of. not figured it out in years in a row. And the Baker-Mayfield thing is not a solution.

I don't know. I think you've hit on it there, Mark. I think it is the quarterback play. I know rules part of it, but I mean, it's Teddy Bridgewater, who's Teddy Bridgewater. It's Sam Darnold, and now it's Baker Mayfield. I mean, how do you score points? Don't put those three together. One had an average NFL offense.

The other two are literally the worst two quarterbacks in the league during those years. It's a pretty big difference. All right. Well, I do put them together. could separate them. But there's a reason he was won and done and Carolina as well, Mr. Rosenthal. Yeah, because they make terrible personnel moves and that and that was that was one of them ultimately that they spent more money to get rid of them and get way worse. That's not the point. This

game reminded me of another classic Panthers Cardinals game. Ryan Lindley versus the Panthers in the playoffs where Ryan Linley dropped back to pass 32 two times and wound up with 56 yards as a team passing. And in playing the role of Ryan Lindley today was Baker Mayfield. But it was Joe Brady's fault, guys. This is a tough game. It was Joe Brady's fault. Don't forget that.

That's right. They fired Joe Brady too. By the way, they showed Ben McAdoo, the rock star, up in his booth at one point. And I was like trying to figure, what does he remind me of? And he reminds me my neighbor, Nate. He looks just like him. I just want everyone to know that. If you want to know what my neighbor Nate looks like,

it looks like the rock star, Ben McAdo. You've given us what we need on that front. Like that, you've quenched our thirst for that, on that situation. These might be my two favorite, least favorite teams to watch right now, by the way. And nothing I saw today did anything to change that. Shook, I don't know. Like, I was, like, we were co-covering this.

Had I known that you were covering, I might have, like, just simply folded off because it left me, I've not gotten a lot of sleep in this city. Just to be real, it's my own issue. But it was like I was heading in a micro nap scenarios like during the second half of this game. It was just like these two were refusing to pull me out of slumber. What qualifies as a micro nap?

All right. How long? Like 45 seconds? I don't know. 38 seconds where you wake up and you don't even know where you are. I was like, am I in central Germany? That's the worst thing. Am I in New Jersey?

I don't know where I am. There's nothing worse than a micro nap. Shoki, come back to us in a little bit to handle the chief. Buck's recap, will you? You know it. Yes, of course. Thanks, guys. Thank you, buddy. And thank you always for your help. Nick Shook, legend. All right, let's take a break, and then

we'll keep dive it into the Sunday that was in our league. All right, hit it. The Jets, very likely, a yard and a half away from a win. Zach Wilson takes the snap, handoff, Hall, up the middle, extra effort at the goal line.

The ball popped down. he might have lost it at the go line the jets think he got across the goal line nine seconds to go go the clock has stopped and an official through the bean bag signaling a fumble the runner broke the plane of the goal line therefore by rule that is a touchdown the jets have a touchdown breese hall did indeed break the plane before the ball popped down oh yeah on the week that we at bongos for days at the O2 Forum. Bob was Susan with the call for WEPN. Breeze Hall broke the plane.

And the Jets are soaring. Down 10 points and 10 minutes to play. Zach Wilson led his team on back-to-back touchdown drives to steal a 2420 win from the Steelers at Aquasure Stadium, which I believe. After shore, he's a diapers for federal. Wilson was six for six on the 10-play 65-yard drive before Brees Hall just reached over the goal line with that game-winning tote. And boys, here's the background on this one. Marky, we were at the stadium.

We left the stadium. We went to a private party that the... NFL was throwing, the NFL's U.K. office was throwing at a different hotel than the one we're staying in. And we watched, I would say, into late third quarter of all the early kickoff games, which are 6 p.m. here, 1 p.m. on the East Coast in America. And then once the Steelers went up 2010 and the place was filling up with all sorts of people. I mean, all sorts. I don't know if you want to get it. Why do we get to that after we talked this game?

We decided we had to get out of there. So I'm in the car. We're in the cab. Me and Mark, we get the help of a nice gentleman that works at the hotel to help get a cab because it was pretty busy in London at that time of night, surprisingly. And I'm sitting in the car and I'm just like, we're trying to figure out how we're going to do tonight's show.

And I'm like, you know, Mark, I'm annoyed because the jets are getting, you know, they lay down after a quick start in this game. And we've got to figure out how to do the show the right way. And then we get to the hotel and who's there. But Jen Kosky, one of our colleagues from NFL Network, a Steelers fan. And she's like, oh, this game's close. And I'm like, what?

Get up to the room. And all of a sudden the Jets are 30 yards from stealing a game. And they did it. And Mark, for the second time in three weeks, the Jets won a game in which the other team went full Jetsy. and, oh, by the way, ruin the debut of Kenny Pickett, and I knew I could see the headlines. Everybody bringing up that stupid Browns game from a few years back with Baker and Mayfield.

Oh, what a huge story in retrospect, making his debut. It was going to happen again with Pickett being the big star and the Jets being the clown that cried on the inside. But then something else happened, and somehow the Jets are two and two. It's stunning both of these wins they've had. Well, and you were in a low place at the, this party, which we'll get into in a minute.

I mean, you know, when Kenny Pickett came in, it had that classic thing. When you root for a bad team that's been a bad team for decades, what you specialize in, what your secret power often is, is you are the debut performance defense against someone whose career will begin in illustrious fashion. And I remember I told you, I said, this is where Zach Wilson needs to say to Kenny Pickett, maybe not verbally, but just psychologically. like you're not stealing this away from me because this is sort of my debut in year two here

and you kind of looked at me and said you're wrong, you don't get the Jets and I know where you're coming from but I think you forgot something that on the Friday Fun Show someone suggested, demanded that Zach Wilson be the hero of the week

and that's exactly what he did I think it was sort of was he six for six on that final game winning drive you know what? He sure was. At least you can say one thing about the Jets. All you've asked for is that they'd be entertaining. And 50% of the time

they've been entertaining. And Kenny Pickett in another world has this gigantic debut. Or are they perfect? No. But Kenny Pickett, take a seat. Next week, you can go do what you want to do. This was Zach Wilson's afternoon. Graver is cheering and that was rousing

and it was amazing. But I do feel like it kind of left out one key component which is that Mark locked up the Steelers on Sunday morning. Well, I actually, you're right. And also so did someone else, by the way. Yeah, but it's funnier. It's funny because you did the hero.

I thought you moved past this. Remember, we talked about this that you were going to stop mixing and matching your different predictions. You're going to be more baseline. You can't, Zach Wilson, Hero the Week, and then two days later, you're locking up his opponent. You are absolutely correct.

My only note from this game was I picked Zach Wilson as hero and the Steelers has a lock. That is a mess. It is reflective of my sleep patterns and my weak in general. I did not even recall that I did that. Someone pointed out to me that I did that with Zach Wilson. So that was discordant. That was a weird move. And I paid for it.

And you should be thankful that I paid for it. No, I was upset when I learned that you did lock against the Jets because it just feels personal. and it did add a little bit of joy to it was already a joyful moment. I have to say that... Wait, you feel that locking against the Jets is personal? Yes, he does. Yes, given... We talked about it like four times today.

Oh, really? But I thought you were going to say... I would say it was especially, you know what it was? I think it was especially because we're in London this week. Our lack of locking against the Jets over the year is our personal love for you. We would have locked against the Jets like probably three times as many times in the last 10 years. because, but we personally love you. That's exactly right.

I know why Greg is coming into the screaming headline that I picked the Steelers. He also. Well, it was just funny after that big stirring thing. No, it was more like we're working closely as like Warriors on the front line here in London. And then I was like, oh, but he wants my team to lose. It hurt my feelings. But we move forward from that. And I will say this, the Kenny Pickett debut, although it was very very,

very strange he threw 13 passes no pass ever hit the ground uh he had 10 completions uh and three interceptions uh including one that was a bad one in between the two jet scoring drives that changed the game and won the game for new york wait didn't they both hell mary didn't they all didn't they all hit uh stealers receivers in the hands the first two ones hit his receivers in the hands uh i'm not well i'd have to take a look at it the second one At least one of them was a really bad throw. And the third one was a Hail Mary. He did not play poorly at all.

So don't read into the three interceptions as a sign he's not ready to start. Now, Tomlin, after the game, didn't say he was going to be the week five starter, but that would be silly. Mitch Trubisky came, played the first half. I said on the podcast last Sunday night, I said they have parked themselves in a cul-de-sac as long as they're with Mitch Trubisky. And it was time, and they almost got a spark and made it happen and give him a full week of practice with first team and see what he can do. So, yes, Pickett did give them a spark. He also made some mistakes. The Steelers are a frustrating one and three. And yeah, like the Jets are, I still don't think they're a very good team. But all I want is entertainment and they've given me serious

entertainment value at the end of these games. And if you go on Jets Twitter, there's a bit of a stunning feeling to it all like, how are they stealing these games? Because this is what they do. They give away these games. So another nice night for Jets fans and an unexpected one. And by the way, that party that we left, right, Mark, that was a party where right as we were, you know, getting ready to leave because it was starting to fill up. It was very sparse when we got there. In fact, we were the only people that got there initially. But by 8 p.m. London time, literally the cast of Ted Lassow came in.

and then the entire Saints cheerleading squad and everybody was looking to get loose and have fun well no and I you know I would say today was also a day where you spent the first five six of the afternoon and evening realizing how lucky we are to do what we do to go to go to the London game to meet so many listeners and fans but then at that party it was the kind of the moment where I was like if I weren't covering these games

I would be hanging out with this were just essentially we didn't thrust into a gigantic visual feast and then we suddenly had to leave died to go watch Kyler Murray play Baker Mayfield it was like maybe some career decisions have been strange but overall it was just like we are such

professionals let me steer it this way that's where I got it that's what I got out of it we probably would have been because we're human swayed and pulled into a mire of all sorts of you know Greg would be doing the show alone So we were such pros that we got immediately into cabs,

came back and did what we needed to do. I can only imagine what we missed. There was a moment where before we headed up the steps, we thought to ourselves, hmm, well, you know, the time difference is vast. Perhaps we can go to this party and then record early in the morning before our flight, which made zero sense.

But that's how good this party looked like it was going to be. and, you know, that's the sacrifices we make for really you, the listener. Right, we lost all logic. For a minute, we lost all logic and could have perhaps changed our entire lives, but now our lives stay the same. So Zach Wilson up and down in the game for sure, but he also had a Philly-Filly touchdown catch in this game in addition to those big throws and a touchdown in those last two drives.

Kenny Pickett, we better see Kenny Pickett the next time the Steelers are on the field or might. Mike Tomlin is overthinking things. Let's go to a shootout at Ford Field. Another one. Two tight ends on the left side. Single tight end, right side, Penny, the single setback. And he gets it.

Straight ahead. He got a first down. He got a first down over his left garden center. Rashad Penny inside the 35. And count this one as a win. The Lions used their last time out, and it doesn't know. matter, 53 on the clock, and the Hawks are going to fly back to Seattle with an even

2-2 record and a great offensive performance here today. A great offensive performance by the Seattle Seahawks who took advantage of a weak Detroit defense that can't get a stop, it seems like this season, and really balled out. Gino Smith, yes, Gino Smith. Good job, Gregie. And Rashad Penny, big-time games, Penny with that third. down run that iced the game and allowed the Seahawks to hold off the Lions 48 to 45. Gino called it an old-fashioned shootout after the game.

Mark, it is, so listen, the Lions are the team of ATL. They have not won since they became team of ATL, but they still have the traits that are important. It's not necessarily winning. It's being an interesting, fun team, football team. They are because this is a game where they've been. didn't have DeAndre Swift, they didn't have Amonra St. Brown, and you thought their offense would take a step back, but they nearly put up a 50 burger and still lose because their

defense is pitiful, but give credit to Seattle. Obviously, their offense really showed up in this game. I give immense credit to Seattle. I mean, I think we're looking at two really faulty fractured defenses, and that's how you end up with this result. And Detroit's done this before where they get buried in a hole and they come roaring back because they've got the parts to do it, even with a few guys out. But this game, to me, you know, it went through many different moods. There's no doubt about it. This was a game with a fake punt. It had a 56-yard field goal. It had this crazy on-size kick at the end. Greg, you pointed out, I think on Twitter or to us, that Detroit, after the on-sides kick with just a couple minutes left, still had three

timeouts left. And they could have taken this thing somewhere else, and they did. And I mean, if you look at Seattle's drive chart, it's touchdown, touchdown, field goal, touchdown, miss field goal, touchdown, field goal, touchdown, end of game. And for the slamming and the annoyance that I have expressed, we've expressed about Gino Smith, I'll give him this. I mean, he made throws in this game. I mean, D.K. Metcalf, he does have some chemistry with D.K., like, D.K.'s results today essentially eclipsed his entire season performance up until this morning.

I mean, it just worked, and the Detroit's defense is an ample, fertile ground to go do this against, but that's fine. That doesn't mean every team can take advantage of it. We talked about Gino Smith as having the completion percentage thing. He does have this, but he made big plays in this game as well. Rashad Penny was on fire. And Pete Carroll, there was this moment where the camera, the broadcast camera was stationed behind Pete Carroll at the end of this thing, when there was just a couple minutes left. And he just sort of pivoted, turned around and looked at the camera and did this little Pete Carroll look where he, knew exactly what he was doing. It's like the Seahawks, this is what he advertised to us in the

offseason. It's not going to happen again this way. This was an anomaly, but it was a beautiful day for Seahawks fans. And I thought Gino Smith, he shut me up. He shut me up a number of times. And I don't know how good of a quarterback he is, but he's simply fit today. He made the throws. He does not make big mistakes. That's the thing he doesn't. And I mean, golf can play well too, but this was a Gino Smith day. And Greg, you take the floor from here. I mean, it's like, until the end, though, I appreciated that at the end. You were like, well, it's a lot of like, well, I have to give Gino credit. Hey, give it, give credit to you.

Well, of course you got to give him credit. He's, they scored 48 freaking points. Like, they gave up 45 points and they won the game. Joe Montana's never done that. Tom Brady's never done that. Aaron Rogers never done that. He has, and I know, okay, I'm just saying things that are true. Here are some other things that are true.

Just for now, it's not going to stay there, but it's like you don't have choice but to give them credit. They are the number one offense in the NFL, according to EPA. No quarterback in the history of the NFL has a higher completion percentage through four games of a season. Like, I'm not saying Gino Smith is one of the all-time greats. I'm saying right now he is having a ridiculous season that is so far above anything that I could have honked about this summer, you guys would have called me an insane person. He is a different player. He's, I think, so good before the snap. That's where that Eli Manning comparison came in. He had an

audible today on a 3rd and 16 where he saw it coming and he delivered a touchdown. And the one thing that's really different I think about him this year is he is better navigating around pressure when it does come. Their offensive lines playing well but he's been a little more mobile and a little bit able to buy time

and make plays in a calm way that like he hasn't done before but he also hasn't had five straight starts before, four straight starts before like this in a long time. Ever since making a leap he's made that leap I feel like I'm just thinking about what if Wes felt the way I felt right now

what would Wes say West would say you know let's talk in January but for the time being he's doing great I mean you can't for the time being me on this like this is a victory for all time no matter what happens from here at this I just let's see where things are

this is a small sample so far. But great job by Gino the offense. But I also really, they won't finish number one. It needs to be pointed out that the lions have a horrific defense right now. And let's hear what Dan Campbell had to say because

Dan Campbell, oh by the way, he needs to be showing results in year two here. And this is not a good look. And Aaron Glenn, who I quite admired as a player and it really admired him on hard knocks as a guy that looked like a leader of men, they're going to start being questions asked

about the leadership and coaching if this doesn't get better. Here's what Campbell had to say. Yeah, I mean, look, I don't know about that because there again, I go back to, man, I got a lot of faith in Aaron Glenn. I got a ton of faith in those assistants. And I think it's just, you know,

I think we sit down and and I think we look at everything together and because really, you know, I think more than anything, maybe it's time for a deep dive, you know, a real deep dive into it, players, everything that we're doing. But I also trust what he's doing and there's a reason why I hired him and and so I want to let him do his job

but certainly I'm going to I mean I got I got to look a lot deeper than I have they are the first team in NFL history to score and allow a combined 281 points through the first four games of the season so the offense has been better than expected and the defense has been worse than expected and in the end that adds up to one and three one random aside from this game dk mackoff had to take a cart to the locker room um because he had to to poop uh and then he took a cart back people were worried you know he was hurt but he just needed to go to the bathroom now this has happened a few different times uh lately and this is the same league where i i often get angry that we can't figure out how to have the technology to have a laser on the goal line

Can we get some sort of thing where there's like a bathroom on the side of the field so they don't have to run back there? We get some sort of port-a-potty type thing. They can figure this out so men don't have to be running back and taking poop carts. You know how embarrassing it would be to go into a porta-pottie and there's like 70,000 people looking at you? Like I'd be so self-conscious. Well, they're not looking at you. They're like waiting for you to come out and they're going to have like laughing and jokes and. Whistles.

I thought I saw, you know, because this was written about a lot in a lot of places, obviously. And including when it just liked like he was being carted off the field and people didn't know what it was. And RG3 was one that I saw, D.K. Metcalf just got carted off the field. Man, this game is brutal. Prayer is sent up. Wait, you got to look at D.K. Metcalf's tweet, though. That is so RG3, number one. But, like, he just, he retweeted.

He quote tweeted the video of him being carted off And just said that clinch walk wouldn't have made it We don't get every human gets what that means You know, it's like You know what else it is, Gregi? I know like Mark played the game Like we did. What?

Oh, of course. Taking off an NFL uniform, I think it might need a little bit more room than the porta potty offers. They're also very large men. I don't even want a porta potty I want a better version of it. RG3 did make up for

it later. Now he's doing bits when he's talking about the Chiefs game, which, you know, Shook's going to get to later, saying the Chiefs are running through the bucks faster than that poop ran through DK. Dan, I will tell you just as someone who, you know, I put on a football uniform hundreds of times as a youth. Hundreds?

Sure. I mean, we practice five days a week, two hours of contact every night than you played on Saturday. This was not 2022. This was a different age, a different era. And like, I would often have to come home. None of that sounds true, but go ahead. completely it's totally true but like you you if you needed to peel off your football pants with

the pads and everything you could learn to do it quite easily you could you could function i don't think that a porta potty would be impossible for a player i think it's more the what you're saying the spotlight on you thank you mark what is he doing in there one or like the first thing or the second thing that's what we're asking it'd be like a high class porta potty you know the types of portopodies they have like in the VIP sections of like a nice concert or whatever like this wouldn't just be your everyday you know crappy porta potty what What if, all right, all right, I'll roll with this idea. It's very late and I don't want to talk about it anymore.

But what if, since we're here, instead of a port-a-potty, there's kind of like a on the sideline, back behind the benches, there's a big square. And you can even, like, put a cool logo, like a toilet logo, and you stand on the square and then it lowers down beneath the field and a bunch of fog comes up. And then it downstairs is a full bathroom. And whatever you need to do down there, you do. Just another thought. people cheer like crazy when you come back up

like everyone it's a whole thing uh all right let's move to the desert where the Raiders were a wounded animal maybe dead they certainly would be dead if they couldn't beat the Broncos let's see what happened cars under center hands it off to Jacobs burst through the middle touchback at the five carries a defender

touchdown Raiders Jacobs tosses it into the stands, and he might have just sealed Las Vegas' first win of the year. There is the call from Jason Horowitz, K-R-L-B. Josh Jacobs was a man possessed in the desert. He was a man, you know, when we talk about a team's back against the wall and you say, well, that doesn't matter. Like, you can't play harder.

Josh Jacobs played harder today because he knew his team could not go oh and four and as a result he finished i feel like this is a take that uh playbond would take issue as a result he finished with a career high buck 44 on the ground two touchdowns and the raiders yes get that first win 32 23 over the denver broncos we were talking about the the brownies like did they deserve to be two for two and two maybe maybe not the broncos did not deserve to be three and one two and two at best and that's what they are the raiders greggie get their first win uh and they did it on the back of josh jacobs jacobs has looked so good the last two weeks it's it's why uh it's why we watch these game pass games because he his numbers didn't totally

pop against the titans but that burst that ability to jump cut and just make people miss was absolutely there a week ago. I was like, whoa, this is like rookie Josh Jacobs. The one that Wes was so excited about, you just mentioned, like, Wes loved Josh Jacobs that rookie year. It's hard not to. And this team is different when they can run the ball. I thought it was really telling that Devante Adams told Greg Gumble and Trent Green, the announcers, like that learning this Josh McDaniel offense was like Mandarin.

And it got me just like how complex it is. Right. And I'm thinking, okay, this is literally one of the ones. of the smartest wide receivers in the history of the NFL who's been in the league 10 years. It's challenging for him to get going with this offense. McDaniels hasn't had this sort of challenge in a long, long time. You know, he's had this Patriot system that's been the same for 20 years. And maybe it's taken some time for everyone to get up to speed. Derek Carr wasn't totally clean in this game.

But I think the tight end screens and the running back screens and the offensive line, which is, in theory, hodgepodge is starting to move kind of like those Patriots teams that I'm used to when they run those power formations and everything looked like it made sense today and they really controlled the game for the most part on the ground but they protected car well when they needed to and I thought it was just like okay maybe maybe here's a little Josh McDonnells here we go and on the Broncos side of things if if that is the Raiders is Mandarin I mean it felt like the the Broncos offense is ancient Sanskrit right now at least it did in the third quarter when the Broncos let this game slip away because they actually

started with some promise and there were moments in this game, Mark, where it seemed like the Broncos and Russell Wilson in particular were continuing to get a little bit more comfortable and he was moving on his legs a little bit more again, which I think unlocks things with this offense, but completely disappearing until the game had already kind of slipped away is just another warning sign that things are just not right in Denver right now. And since they were gifted two wins, they may be barely earned. They're going to be okay. And the West maybe isn't as good as we thought. But still, plenty of things to be concerned about there. I mean, I do see like Russell Wilson, he's 11 of 12 in the first half for 152

touchdowns. I mean, there was a killer Melvin Gordon fumble in this. But I, you know, we talked about like the most desperate, like depressing team out there a couple weeks ago. And it's like, is it Denver? I mean, this is so off brand from what was sort of advertised all off season. But I mean, I would just ask you, Greg, of these two teams, who is, who's the better team? I don't really care about the result today so much. But it's like you're talking about a Raiders team that under Josh McDaniels, maybe, I'm not saying a Patriots arc, but like that offense is going to, you can understand why it's taking time for them to kind of heat up and cook up. And then there's a brighter future ahead. With Denver, I just don't sense that the same way. I'm

if their quarterback is simply in regression? I think that they probably took, the passing game took a step forward for Denver today. They only had 12 first downs in the game. They had some big plays, but they moved it. I think Russell Wilson was better. But the running game was a disaster.

You know, you mentioned like different languages. They'd be Sanskrit. To me, they're more like a three-year-old where it's like they say a bunch of things and it's kind of cute actually. Sometimes they just say things and they're all messed up. but sometimes it like actually smashes together well and looks good but otherwise like most of the time it just doesn't make any sense that's that doesn't sound uh here here's the broncos backfield

update coming out of this game javante williams carded with a knee injury that didn't look great uh melville well actually it was kind of hard to see what happened what didn't look great was randy gregory rap sheet has reported that uh it's expected to be serious and there's not much optimism. It sounds to me like he expects a season ending injury. With Giovante Williams and Randy Gregory also might be serious too. Yeah, Randy Gregory

looked like an ACL the way he reacted, but we'll see. Javante Williams couldn't put any weight on the leg. So if he's out for the year, Melvin Gordon was benched in this game because he's now fumbled four times lost another fumble that was recovered and scored for a

touchdown in this game in a narrow loss. So you know he'd be in the doghouse if they could put him in the doghouse. And then Mike Boone gets some run in this game. And what does he do? All he does is drop a wide open, perfectly thrown Wilson pass that would have put them into enemy territory and given them at least a puncher's chance in the last couple of minutes to drive.

But it was a fourth down and the game was over. So a lot of issues. I think Wilson actually has looked when he factor in the end of the last game. And yes, his big playability in this game, he had a rushing touchdown. He made some plays with his legs. he had a couple really nice throws. The Judy throw for the touchdown was good. I thought there was progress.

Cortland Sutton had a touchdown in this game. Progress, but the backfield, the running game is brutal right now, and you lose a pass rusher now with Gregory most likely. And Giovante Williams was a potentially special piece of that offense, and it looks like you lose him. There's just a lot of reason to be pessimistic around Denver right now. Yeah, they probably had the worst Sunday of just about anyone, other than maybe the Colts, which would you get doing him as like.

It was nice to see the Devante Adams, Pat Sartan matchup, by the way. Like, this was a real Devante Adams is a God type of game because you can put one of the best cornerbacks in the league on him and he's still going to go nine for 101. And you know who did have a great Sunday? The Zeus are in London with my colleagues and my friends and covering football and the Jets come back. And I pivoted out of, I pivoted. it out of the Lions lock and locked up the arenas.

How you like them apples. That's good for you. Thanks guys. All right, let's move to Indianapolis. Canahill gives it to Henry around right end to the 15 to the 10 to the 5 to the end zone. The king, Derek Henry,

touchdown. Titans. They were packed inside so hard like sardines and he bounced it out side, goodbye. That was Justin Graver, the sardine. Actually, he's Dave McGinnis with Mike Keith WGFX. You know, that does remind me.

And it makes sense for obvious reasons. But when they did the national anthems at the game this morning, this afternoon, they come out and they do a version of the star spangled banner with the big american flag out then out comes the uh union jack flag and it's got saved the king lyric change and i don't like when i do a when i go to a concert and i have like a favorite song and then the artist comes out and he he's mixing the lyrics up and it's like no no sing it the way it is on the cd like on the record I like that.

Yeah. But I guess you have to. It is now no longer God Save the Queen, which I thought had a lot of pathos. I just like that. But things change, and now it's God Save the King. That's just a note. I'm going to die. It's almost 2 a.m.

So it's 3 a.m. Derek Henry rushed for a season high, 114 yards. scored a touchdown. Titan Stevens stepped up and made a couple, three stops late, to preserve a 2417 victory over the cults. and Jonathan Taylor, who was outplayed by Derek Henry in this game and exited with a potential high ankle sprain ahead of Thursday night football. Bad news, the whole round for the Colts. Now I bring in Gravedigger himself, who, man, he's real deal.

Like, Grave digger lives and dies. He lives and breathes it. He was pumped up and feeling very good about himself. He had his lady on his arm and watching his favorite football team destroy a rival. And then it got tight, but at the end, The Titans got the job done, Gravedigger. Three. Yeah, it was another game where the Titans do this thing,

where they, like, come out really strong, and they get up to a big lead. They've done it every game except the Monday Night game against Buffalo, and they've actually scored on their opening drive in all four games this season. And you're feeling great about the Titans, and you're like, wow, this team's cruising, and they get up to a big lead. And then the second half comes out, you're like, okay, do something Titans here, and the Colts made it interesting. interesting here. I have some fun stats for Titans fans. Titans had 16 first downs in the first

half. They had three first downs in the second half. They had 28 total net yards in the second half, including two yards in the third quarter. So as much as it feels great to get a win over a division rival, get back to two and two, tied for first place in the AFC South, there's some very real offensive concerns here with the second half offense of the Titans because it's been the same thing all four games this season. Yeah, but they're just trying to manage this part of the schedule. I hear you, because it is bizarre. They're like the exact same thing happened last week.

They survived it. This happened. You got outgained by 100 against a pretty bad Colts team. But I think there's some good things to feel, and that's a Derek Henry's backback. I mean, I thought not enough was made about him a week ago. Man, he had that burst last week. He has that burst this week. I know that numbers aren't totally there, but that's.

partly offensive line and the rest of the offenses in there. He just, he looks like Derek Henry. He has that juice. And for whatever reason, I had convinced myself because of that foot injury at the end of last year, maybe we weren't going to ever see that juice, but he's got that juice. Yeah, Henry does look good. The other thing, this is partly a usage thing and not having the time of possession and not getting first downs in fourth quarters.

But here's Henry's rushing stats in all fourth quarters this season combined. 13 carries for 17 yards, although the Titans were able today to actually ice the game on that final possession after they forced another Matt Ryan turnover. The Colts were a mess. I mean, Matt Ryan turned the ball over too many times. The offensive line cannot protect him. They just struggled to move the ball and they put together a couple drives to get back in this game. But when it really counted, they couldn't pick up first downs and they couldn't protect Matt Ryan. Like pass protection looks really bad for Indianapolis. Ryan, I wouldn't be surprised if this is the last season we see of Matt Ryan. I'm not trying

to be hyperbolic, but it's, I'm just not seeing a whole lot there. It's also what's around him. But if you're a cults fan, I wonder what the future is with Frank Reich, who's, I think, widely and understandably praised for what he brings as a head coach. Like, this team is a mess. This team is a mess. And I don't, I mean, I think there was pressure on the GM and coach going into this year. And the way this thing is playing out at this moment, I mean, you're the only team I think in the league that's been shut out by someone. And like every other week, you're no showing on offense. Your quarterback is old. You've gotten him past his prime. He's not protected. He's turning the ball over left and right. And we saw how the owner responded to poor

quarterback play less than a year ago, freaking out publicly about it. I don't like the, like, the essential overall arc of where this team is going or what it might mean for everyone. one attached to it. We have a new contender in the first coach to be let go on Black Monday sweepstakes or before, and Matt Ruhl is still the leader, but Frank Reich is making a hard charge and he also has an owner that's probably, like you're saying, very peeve. They have lost six of seven dating back to last year when everything fell apart in those last two weeks.

And here's a quote from Rike that I thought was just on paper anyway. Just told the story of a coach that knows there's leaks all over the ship. I feel like we're seeing some things that we want to see. We just need to play better. We need to execute better. We need to stop turning the ball over and we need to get more turnovers. And, you know, we need to run the football a little bit better and, you know, and start faster. We're fine.

We just need to play better, execute better, stop turning the ball over, start getting turnovers. we need to run the football. Oh, and we also have to start faster. But other than that, things are going great. Well, you know what's extra troubling, Dan, like if you have a bunch of leaks all over your ship is if it just starts raining all over that open roof in Indianapolis, that's right, the rainmaker delivers 2 and O on the season.

I spent the whole day thinking I locked this game up, but no, it was the rainmaker. Either way, it works. I'm going to ice you out because you iced out my lock of the Raiders. I mean, I'm undefeated. You've been iced. 20 carries for 42 yards. My biggest concern from the Titans perspective heading to this game

was being able to stop the run. And it was really not the running game. It was all these crossing rounds. I mean, I expected Dan to ice me out, but Graver icing me out. Look, I had faith in your team there. And then, like, diving in with more Titan stats. Go to the Titans Film Room podcast for more deep dives on this wonderful

affair for the Titans. Is that fair? Is that a good plug? Yeah, find me at Titans Films on Twitter. There you go. Good job. Let's take a break and let's almost go quasi-speed round to wrap up the show. People cut us some slack.

It's 3 a.m. We have a flight to catch in the morning. All right. We'll be right back. 31-yard field goal to tip. Here we go. Mason Crosby for the win. Snap, placement, screen to the right leg, kick to the upright.

It is good! It is good! Mason Crosby has done it again. He has booted the Green Bay Packers to a 27-24 victory in overtime over the New England Patriots. Packers Radio Network with the call. I don't know, like Mason Crosby's done it again. They had a stat that was flashed up right before he came out of the football. field there that he was 22 of 34 in such situations, close and late situations, which is kind of terrible, but he's been there forever and they've always had a ton of patience for

him. And in this case, he made the chip shot that allowed the Packers to survive a really game Patriots team that down to their third string quarterback went punch for punch with Aaron Rogers, but came out on the wrong end, a 27-24 win in overtime. for the Packers, who are now three and one after their season opening loss. And Gregie, I got to say, like, the Patriots don't do anything for me anymore as a villain for obvious reasons. They're not special anymore. But this is the first time where I felt I was kind of into their underdog vibe with Bailey

Zappy at the controls. And the exact moment I felt that way was after Brian Hoyer went out with a concussion. I don't know if you guys picked up on this at all and I just said I want us to go a little faster but like everyone that had any type of head injury today was instantly out of the game and never seen I would love to see the date of how many guys left the game left games with a concussion and the after the Tua incident

on Thursday night and the subsequent changes to concussion protocol and oh by the way the unaffiliated team doctor got fired by the players union that was connected to the initial Tua examination from week three So now all of these unaffiliated doctors who are like, we like our gig here, are like, you're out of the game, you're out of the game, you're out of the game. That's just the way it is right now and maybe for the rest of the season. But Bailey Zappy and the Patriots really was, they were fun to watch, Greg,

because they did not give up when that game could have gone sideways very early. Like, I totally am with you. I love their cornerback, the Patriots, Jack Jones, who had the pick six of Aaron Rogers. that was a great moment. The fact that they got that offensive touchdown was zappy was great. But I'm seeing a lot of back slapping, like, this is something that the Patriots can build on. And this was a great, you know, thing. And it's like, you get all that if you, like, win the game.

You don't get all that if you get outgained by like 170 yards and you have the ball at the 50 yard line in overtime with the first down off the punt return and you lose the game. I mean, they had so many chances to win the game at the end. And they made such curious play calls. The way that they were running in the second half, I just assumed when they got the ball a couple times late in the fourth quarter, they're just going to run, run, run, run.

But they ended up throwing twice in a row. And Zappi looked totally lost. Like the numbers were quite misleading. He looked like a rookie third three and quarterback who was taken late. Like it's nothing against him, but he couldn't do anything. And it seemed bizarre that they went to the pass. Oh, he made a couple throws, though, Greg. He did make a couple throws.

that's and given the guy who's never taking a snap on the center I would say in like he had all day to throw and they were wide open and he was almost like late getting to them I wouldn't say that they were like impressive plays but Greg I mean just saying you gotta be able to run the ball to get a field goal there run the ball to get a field goal there not get stuff twice and punt at the 45 that's a gutless pun defense gave up 440 yards or something and I if you look if you just factor in what we heard about that

training camp and New England's offense in general and that you're the third quarterback that's getting literally no snaps at all like to come in in this game and to essentially take do enough at least to get the team where they were against Aaron Rogers I mean I don't like Dan you pointed out that this might have been one of your favorite Bill Belichick coaching moments it just came close to being that I mean like yeah I feel like Bill Belichick is kind of floating and like in a weird space right now. It's weird to see Belle Belichick coaching a team that feels punchless and doesn't really have a larger role in the NFL season. He also created his own purgatory by not

treating Tom Brady with enough respect in my opinion. But I was talking about, but that's a whole other conversation. I was talking about the moment when Zappi's in and Hoyer's out and Mack Jones is out and Jacoby Meyer, who's the other emergency quarterback, is inactive and you see Belichick go over and he's talking to this kid who's never even taking a snap under center. He worked out of shotgun in college. And I can't even imagine what was going through that young man's head and Lambeau Field with Aaron Rogers on the side of the field. So the fact that he even made a couple throws,

I thought it was kind of just fun to watch. And for the Packers, they very nearly had a Romeo Dobbs touchdown that would have won the game at the end of regulation, a very close call that went against Green Bay. not holding down and surviving contact with the ground. But I'll give them credit. That was a game that could have turned into a disaster, and they did eventually wake up and answer the call on offense and get it done.

And you even saw Matt LaFleurie's face. I don't know if anybody else noticed this. They showed the replay after the field goal went through the uprights. He took off the headset and let out a big exhale because he was like, I was not expecting that game to be that difficult. I got the W though. Yeah, you're right about stepping up like Aaron Rogers. got them back in this game with, like, perfect throws that were well defended.

Amazing throws. The deep throw to Alan Lazard on third and ten, he had another one to Randall Cobb that, like, I don't think Belichick would look at those plays and think they could have done much differently. It was Aaron Rogers being Aaron Rogers. And then you're right, the Packard's defense surprised me. I thought the way they've played run defense this year and the way that the Patriots have run the ball, and they ran 33 for 167 today.

They ran effectively even today. I figured the Patriots would be able to run the ball down the field and kick back game winning field goal, whether it was regulation or overtime, and the Packers stuffed them both times. Let's head to the Swamps of Jersey. Jones fakes the hand off. He's going to roll to his left, looking, he's going to just run. Jones to the 15, Jones to the 10, Jones for the 5.

Jones in, touchdown Giants. 21 yards, Daniel Jones. I never thought I'd ever hear this song this late. It is on in New York City, kind of. It's actually Northern New Jersey, and also the Giants maybe aren't that good. But at the end of the day, they're three and one after a 2012 win over da-bearers. Daniel Jones, he was limited by an ankle injury in this game, even though he scored twice.

You heard one of those scores there. Bob Papa with the call on F-A-N. Tyrod Taylor, guess what? He visited the unaffiliated head doctor guy. He was told he's done. So they, the Giants and Brian Dable had to go into their bag and had to run Wildcat offense to close out a 20 to 12 win. Sequin Bargley, buck 46, in this game.

and he is having a monster year, Mark Sessler, and the Giants, whatever. You can only play your schedule, and they are three and one, and Giants fans, and I know this for a fact, are excited because, you know, there's been a lot of lost seasons in the last few years. Who's even? I mean, it's not that different than Jets fans. It's like, just enjoy what you have going on right now. These are two very atypical offenses.

The Giants ran for 262 yards and passed the ball. for 82. I don't know what year we would find that to be typical in. I mean, the Giants and bears combined for 215 passing yards, which is easily the lowest between two quarterbacks this season. And, you know, that said, I thought the Giants, like, with the way that they dominated on the ground, showed me something. It's like, I don't know what it is about them. They kind of are fun to watch, in my opinion. Daniel Jones threw the ball 13 times. Tyrod Taylor threw it three times. So it tells me that if Brian Dayball, at least, is using the parts he has and making the most of it. They've got a real issue at wide receiver.

Their wide receivers as a group today had three catches for 25 yards. So it's just this is a team just trying to sort of survive, I think, right now through some injuries in this part of the season. And the bears to me, outside of being able to run the ball pretty well in some of these weeks, are an unwatchable offense with a quarterback that I don't know what to call other than maybe the worst. quarterback in the league. And I don't mean the worst, but just like, Justin Fields is not developing the way that you would want. It's just not. And so Chicago's got so much work to do in the rebuilding. The Giants, to me, they got a couple great performances on defense as well. It was a weird game, but it was not, it was not,

it was not unexpected from what we would thought we'd get from them. It was probably the worst game of the day. I'm just being real. I don't think. Yeah, the, the, the bears are like maybe the worst team in the league with their offense as bad as it is. They're in the running for that. So the Giants taking care of business is not stunning to me. Let's see. I don't imagine they're going to win against Green Bay in London next week. I don't imagine they'll win against the Ravens the week after that.

But show me Giants and fight in those games and be competitive. And then maybe. And Gregie, NFC, that's quite muddled. We were down on the field with MJD doing a live hit on the old Jumbotron at the hot tie. which is always a weird experience, but cool. And he was making the case, oh, we're definitely watching two playoff teams right now, referring to the Vikings and Saints.

I'm like, oh, Saints, you sure? I mean, it's been a little sloppy. He's like, yeah, man. And, you know, I love MJD because he speaks with total confidence on everything football-related. Oh, yeah, man, absolutely. Look, look, dude, who else is in the NFC that you think could win the wild card?

And I'm not saying the Giants or a team, I think, could sneak in and grab one. But if you can steal one of these, next two games or at least play well, then maybe we could have some fun talking about the Giants as we get closer to Halloween and beyond. Well, let's find a quarterback to bring to London. I mean, it would be a real shame if they're starting a third stringer next week because we always talk about we kind of root for a good game. If they're starting a third stringer, I guess the Packers showed that they're no lock against third string quarterbacks today, but it feels like that would be a

tall order for the Giants next week. Absolutely. So we're in a hold. The around the NFL podcast is on a hold on the Giants. But good for you guys. Three out of four to start the season.

Yeah, you're selling. Yeah, I'm selling too. But like I'm on a hold on even giving you any like pop really for three and one. But I will give the 80s throwback uniforms pop. Like so you guys were killing me for liking the, the white out uniforms from a couple weeks ago. Like these uniforms today It was more you stated

I think it was the way you stated it As like it was a really important thing And I was like what? I don't think it was important I mean it's like also anything I'm saying At this point in this show It's what 306 AM I'd need to be taken out with an arrow at this point

But like I thought that watching Those old Giants uniforms Those are the first uniforms I ever watched I think And like it just There's something about this season This season and this team under Dayball Just feel like a different giant's experience

So if you can feel that way about the Jets I think Giants fans can make a similar argument. Meanwhile, Bears fans are like, we have the same record as the Jets. You just called us the worst team in the NFL. I think they're clearly, they're openly rebuilding and like they've got issues. No, I have not said the Jets are a good team. They're quite lucky to be two and two. But the Bears, I think the bears are certainly in the bottom three.

Maybe the Jets are in the bottom five, but that's beside the point. Let's move to, let's move. It's moving to an airplane. Maybe put me in a box. Just ship me back. Let's move to Houston. Oh, boy. Herbert, play action, rolling to the right,

throwing to Echler. He's got a lane. 10, 5, to the end zone, hits the pile on. Touchdown, Chargers. A three-pack of scores for Echler this afternoon. This one from 14 out. There it is, Matt Money Smith and Daniel Jeremiah on the call, K-Y-S-R, Austin Ackler has showed up.

He had 20 touchdowns last season. Hadn't been that guy so far this year, but scored three to leave the charges to a 34-24 win over the Texans. Justin Herbert, 340 and two touchdowns, big early lead. it got tight late, Gregi. And we apologize ahead of time to these two teams. We'll give you more love later in the week. But anything you can say about this game in terms of like a Cliff's Notes matter?

Yeah, like that even a Chargers Texans game, a 20-point lead isn't safe. It really looked like they were going to potentially blow this. I think the biggest development was their left tackle. They decided to start this rookie, Jamari Sailor, or Sailor, I think is the way to say it. And he looked great at left tackles. The best their running game has looked all.

Salier wasn't a failure? No. And they've been playing Storm Norton or whoever in those spots. Like, who knows if they found something, but it worked, it worked for today. And Justin Herbert looked fine. Good. They scored on five of the first six positions to build that 27 lead. And Joey Bosa, the first of a long time.

They're not going to have him in the lineup. So they get it started there. and the Texans now are 03 and 1, and at least they scored in the fourth quarter, because that hadn't happened until now. That did happen. I mean, they scored 10 points. It was a three-point game after it was 27.

7, and then Brandon Staley grew some stones here, Dan. You know how he's been kind of not doing the fourth down thing? As they were falling apart in chargering, they went for fourth down after giving up that huge lead in their own end only up three with like four and a half five minutes left and they hit it and then they end up hitting the touchdown later that drives a little stones there by standing.

What about our guy Damien Pierce who had a, I thought, this first sort of breakout play of the season today. Unbelievable run for that. Beautiful. I mean he lit it up last week too. There he goes. Cut. All the way down the sideline.

any other any other questions about his play I don't know I would ask Greg how we how he looked to him no we were kind of I was getting ready to move on and then you wanted to pivot

into a Damien Pierce conversation no let's table it till another day no because like I said we could hit Pierce and anything else connected to this game on Tuesday show

or perhaps the Thursday preview show but now we must move but he had a hell of a long run to really get the Texans going in this game. Thank you for your service. I know because I saw the highlight. I have a Monday night football recap in roughly 24 hours from now

with a special guest. All right, let's toss it to Nick Shook, who's going to handle the Sunday night football recap for us. Take it away, Pipe. You never know with these guys. From the two, Mahomes, escaping on the move. Mahomes stops, spins, flips it forward for the touchdown to Edward

Illair. Mahomes straddled the line of scrimmage, flipped it to Edwards inlair for the score. Mike Tarrico and Chris Collinsworth on the call for NBC. After getting just 21 points a week ago, week four Sunday night stars gave us 72. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs jumped on the Buccaneers early, avenging their Super Bowl, 55 lost to Tampa in the very same stadium with an emphatic 41 to 31 win over Tom Brady's Buccaneers. In this game, the tone was set early by Kansas City's special teams. Opening kickoff, they force a fumble, recover, go down, and immediately score a touchdown. Before you know, they're up 14 to 3. And in the second quarter early, they're up 21 to 3. That's the worst situation you can find yourself against

a high-powered offense like the Chiefs, which didn't look very high. high powered in Indianapolis a week ago, but this time around, they got everything ironed out. It was proven by their early score, by the fact that they took an early lead. They were able to take a 28 to 10 lead into the final minutes of the first half before the Buccaneers woke up. And for a moment there, it looked like they might be able to find their way back into this game. Tom Brady, engineering a 12-place, 75-yard drive cap by a one-yard touchdown pass to Mike Evans, the classic back-corner fade that they love to throw to Mike Evans.

That made it 28 to 17, but again, because they spotted that early lead to the Chiefs, they could never quite recover. The Kansas City Chiefs came out of halftime and continued their momentum offensively. They got whatever they wanted offensively for most of the night. And though they only came away with a field goal in that opening drive, it essentially continued where they were in the first half. A lot of that powered by, of course, Patrick Mahomes and the magic he makes, but also a nice little two-headed rushing attack is developing with the Chiefs.

Clyde Edwards-Alair and Isaiah Pacheco combined. on 30 carries for 155 yards and one touchdown on the night, bringing some much-needed balance to this Chief's offensive attack. And, of course, Mahomes, spreading it around. He connected with eight different targets. Travis Kelsey leading the way with nine grabs for 92 yards in a touchdown. And when they found themselves in a tough spot, maybe in the red zone, Patrick Mahomes and his magic making it work.

He had a really long scramble that I'm sure you've seen on your social accounts since now, where he had to scramble all the way around the field and then dumped it off to Clyde Edwards Allaire just behind the line of scrimmage for a touchdown. It was that kind of night for the Chiefs. No matter what they did, most of it worked. They outgained the Buccaneers by, you know, 30 or so yards, 417 to 3.76.

The Buccaneers, though, actually averaged more yards per play. 6.4 to 5.4. But the biggest difference in this game outside of the offensive power that Kansas City often displays was how they own the time of possession battle. They kept the ball for 38 minutes and 38. seconds, which is a very visually pleasing number. And it was also 17 minutes more than the Buccaneers had that night. And a big reason for that, third down success. The Chiefs constantly finding ways to work and continue their drives 12 of 17 on third down. Buckaneers 6 of 10, which is 60%.

That's pretty good. But it doesn't amount to the same type of numbers that the Chiefs are putting together when they're holding out of the ball for so long. You know, we came into this game. This is one of my sneaky underdog picks in that weekly underdogs column because, hey, If the Buccaneers could continue to play defense like they'd been playing for the last three weeks, I thought, well, they had a chance because their offense has been lagging behind, of course, but they were getting Mike Evans back. They were probably going to get Julio Jones back. They even got Chris Godwin back.

Maybe just maybe they could balance that out enough to get an upset win over the Chiefs. I was wrong. Todd Bulls' defense, worst performance since he's joined the staff in 2019, allowed the most points in a single game since he came over to the Buccaneers, the previous high, 40, which happened twice. in 2019. So they take a massive step back. Of course, it comes at the hands of the Chiefs, the most creative

offense in the NFL, doing it in a number of different ways. The Buccaneers' offense, you know, they continued to move the football. They looked more like the Buccaneers the last two years than they have for the first few weeks of this season, but nothing was quick strike. And when you're facing a team like the Chiefs and you dig yourself an early hole like they did

on Sunday night, that becomes an issue. They were able to move the ball down the field, but they were methodical drives. In fact, their quickest touchdown drive of the night, was the touchdown late in the game, where they covered 34 yards and 5 plays in a minute 12. And that is really a product of the fact that they got an interception, Sean Murphy Bunting intercepting Patrick Mahomes and put them in Chiefs territory. Otherwise, slow, long drives down the field to score touchdowns.

That's not going to be enough to keep up with these Chiefs. And ultimately, they ran out of time. They just simply ran out of time because of the early hole that they dug themselves into. The good news, of course, like I said, Mike Evans, he's back on the first. field out for that one game suspension, eight catches 103 yards and two touchdowns, but the Buccaneers couldn't really get out of their own way. Penalties killed their last ditched effort in the middle of the fourth quarter down 17 points, forced them to punt, which is kind of surprising, at least from my vantage point, because you're down 17 to the

chiefs, a team that you've given up 41 points to, you know you're not going to score quickly, you haven't really done it all night. You're going to punt it away, but again, you've got to preserve your opportunities to try and go down the field and make something happen. and don't dig yourself even deeper of a deficit. So that kind of hurt their momentum. They didn't really have much of a shot anyway. They scored that late touchdown. Of course, you know, to cut it to 10,

but at that point, they just simply ran out of time. No timeouts left after trying to stop the clock to get the ball back. Just wasn't enough. And on the flip side, the Chiefs, after struggling in Indianapolis, looking nothing like the Chiefs we've seen in the last few years, basically beating themselves in that game, handing that victory to the Colts. They'd come back into Tampa,

a place that they really wanted to go get that win. They wanted to avenge that loss in Super Bowl 55, and they did it with emphasis. Their offense was humming, running on all cylinders. Three touchdowns for Patrick Mahomes, one pick that he threw in the fourth quarter, which didn't amount to much in the end. Again, we talked about the rushing attack

and all kinds of players getting involved in the passing game. Let's keep an eye on that defense, though. These chiefs in the past, a lot of them have been about offense. This defense, you got to watch them, because they did give up 31 points tonight, but they forced two turnovers. They got after Tom Brady. an early fumble in the first half, giving them the ballback, allowing them to continue to build

that lead. A nice sack from Ligerius Sneed off the edge, that's what caused that fumble. You got to watch out for them, because if they can balance these two things out, I mean, they're already three and one atop the AFC West, and they're looking strong right now. You know, who needs Tyreek Hill when you got Mahomes and an offense that finds ways to spread around to other talented pass catchers? So a big win for the Chiefs, a win that was a statement game of sorts for them to close out the first month of the season. Buckaneers

meanwhile, tell you what, they look about the most frustrated two and two team I've seen it a long time. It's been offensive issues in the past. Tonight it was defensive issues and just not being able to keep pace with the team that they know is going to be in the running at the end of the season. If these buccaneers want to get back to the Super Bowl, they want to go win another

Lombardi as Tom Brady is not getting any younger, they might run into the same team that they did beat in Super Bowl 55. And if they put on a performance like they did tonight, it's not going to turn out well for them. So they know they got to get things figured out defensively. They You got to avoid the turnovers and they have to figure out how to produce points quicker. And oh, by the way, find a way to run the football because on the ground, they were horrible

tonight, a rushing net of three yards. A lot of that, of course, is a product of working from behind Tom Brady through 52 passes for 385 yards and three touchdowns. He completed 39 of them. They had to throw the ball. They were forced to. And when you become one dimensional, it allows opposing defenses to tee off, which is what the chiefs were able to do tonight.

So, again, great win for the chiefs. back to the drawing board for the Buccaneers. Not the worst situation to be in at two and two, but they still got things to figure out as they try to stay healthy and try to figure out how to manage this offense with the injuries that they've suffered on the interior offensive line, which we knew that was going to be an issue going to the season.

I haven't quite figured that out yet either. So 2 and 2 could be worse, but they know they got some things to figure out, and it's not super encouraging for them, but they are still the Buccaneers. They still have Tom Brady, and they're still going to be a contender. So big win for the Chiefs,

and a great way to close out week four of the regular season until we head to Monday night. But in the meantime, I'm going to send it back to London to the guys where they're getting ready to come back to the States. So Dan, Greg, and Mark, take it away, fellas. All right, we're back. Thank you to Nick Shook. Sincerely, thank you to Nick Shook, who has really stepped up, as he always does, helped us out. Last week, when we were getting on the plane to come to London, helped us out tonight when we are heading back to the states. And thank you, thank you, thank you.

one that helped make this amazing week possible for around the NFL. It was a great, it was such a fun, exciting time as it always is. The live show was something I'll never forget, the excitement around that and that experience. And none of this happens without people like Henry Hodgson, our friend, but also a major figure in the UK side of things, just moved back from California after 11 years to doing some heavy lifting over there. And he did some heavy lifting to get us to England this year. So thank you to Henry and the entire NFL UK office, Nick Pike, who helped us out today at the stadium. Matt Schneider, Charlie Yucer, Meredith, everyone over there in the stateside

U.S. office. Thank you to Yessica, Justin's wonderful girlfriend, who was a huge help to us all week long as well.

Any other thank yous we want to say, boys? How about Mike Berkowitz for setting up that show? But no,

I think I'm thanking you for ending the thank you so that we can go to bed. It is, wow, it's past 3 a.m.

It has been fun, though. Haven't you noticed, I was going to say, haven't you noticed this whole NFL, UK thing?

It is quite different than even five years ago. Like we've been able to see the growth kind of on the ground. It's pretty different from even five or six years ago. I was saying to you, Mark, when we were walking outside the stadium and taking photos with people and just soaking in the vibe, that it's hard to come home and readjust after the whirlwind that are these London trips because everyone treats us so well. And it's pretty amazing.

And yes, thank you. Special thank you to Mike Berger. who did a lot of the heavy lifting in setting up that live show, which again was the highlight of the week for me. So yes, it's not just us by far. It's a lot of people helping out. And Greg, we missed you today. I would let you know that we ran into so many people

that listen to the show and they're a really special audience. But a lot of them, their first question was like, where's Greg? We want to see Greg too. So just you were missed. You matter to these people as well. we it was not the same and we and we did tell them the truth that you killed a man and you're currently in a county lockup outside london i'm fighting i'm fighting the charges hard i'm getting out and um i didn't touch him well self-defense all right thank you and thank you to justin graver who

did excellent work producing all week and is such a weapon for us uh so thank you buddy as well let's go Yeah, enjoy editing this one for the next, like, two hours, Justin. God willing, we will be back with you on Tuesday. So make sure you're looking out for that. And, of course, the Monday Night Football Recap, I believe, is going down as well. So be on the lookout for that. Until then, Dan Hansa, signing off for The Quiet Storm, Bill Boss, the Grave Digger. Another trip to London in the books.

Unbelievable. This is a call.