NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - 2022 Week 8 Recap: How many great teams can we find?

Episode Date: October 31, 2022

A room filled with some heroes - Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler, and Gregg Rosenthal recap all the action from Week 8, starting with 49ers-Rams (2:22). Then we hit Giants-Seahawks (10:51) and Panthers-Falcons (17:36) before Nick Shook joins to help cover Steelers-Eagles (24:50) and Cardinals-Vikings (30:20). Next, we discuss Patriots-Jets (37:42), Dolphins-Lions (48:10), Bears-Cowboys (55:32), Titans-Texans (1:02:39), Raiders-Saints (1:08:34), Broncos-Jaguars (1:14:38), Commanders-Colts (1:21:50) and finally close the show with Packers-Bills (1:30:21). Along the way, the heroes search for great teams - not just good, but great. And Marc finally picks a guy! 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 is the light at the end of the tunnel. From the Chris Wessling podcast studio, it's Around the NFL. I'm damned hang-de-hangs us with Greg Risengul and Dark Sessler. Yes, it's a very spooky Halloween edition

of Around the NFL, the week eight flagship, program. And how will it be very special a Halloween edition? If I would have thought about it, I would have said let's get some different music off the top. Yeah. Some layers. Yeah, but instead that

basically, that there you know. That sums up. This right now will be the extent of the Halloween nature of the episode I would imagine. But who knows? Maybe we could cook up a theme. I am with you that I would minimize the Halloween aspect too. Oh, wow.

Well, we've got a lot of great football. We're also grown men. Yeah. We've got kids, so that'll be great. But we have men, we have man work to do here. And I would just point out. Breaking down Sunday. I speak for Greg and myself that we, you know, it's that time of year where people are going through things, colds, the Little Sea.

But you're powering through tonight because you're a professional, an a raging professional. Wow. And I would move you into like warrior category to some degree. Yeah, it's not even there yet. It's just something I feel like is percolating within the sinuses at the start of the program. So we're just going to power through it.

Well, I only mention it to build rapport with you to avoid the... Yeah, I mean, bringing it up is like at all. Like, what's the point? We have so much to get to. Oh, okay. Dark. Dark Sessler.

Buried in a big spot, dark. Yes, it is the week eight flagship program. We're going to break down all the action from Sunday, a nice Sunday. We had the final London game of the year. We had, you know, talking about it. Last Sunday, the theme of the episode was, where are the good teams?

This week? Daddy's looking for some great teams. And I think we might have a couple teams in the NFC. If they're not there yet, I feel good about it. So let's start with one of those teams. And it is not, and I repeat, the defending Super Bowl champion. It is Norapado looking. Deropado under pressure throws to the back of the end zone.

Caught by Kristen McCaffrey. Touchdown! C.M.C. Dynamite! The 49ers have to lead. Beautiful call from Greg Popper and Tim Ryan, KNBR. I thought for a second that Tim had screamed, die, like to the Rams. It sounded that way.

but it was dynamite. And Christian McCaffrey was dynamite. He became the 11th player in the history of our league to have a rushing touchdown, a passing score, a receiving score in one game, and the Niners continue to just pants Sean McVeigh in this rivalry. A 31-14 win for Kyle Shanahan's dudes at SoFi Stadium, or as George Kittle called it,

after the win, Levi South, because there were a lot of people in red in that stadium. Mark, the game started well for the Rams, and it looked like we were going to have a classic back-and-forth NFC West game, and then San Francisco just imposed their will, and a lot of that ties back to CMC, who is everything they could have asked for, at least today. Well, these were two teams that both wanted Christian McCaffrey. One of them got him, and it played all the difference today. and this was a huge Sunday for the Rams. You're coming out of your buy.

Your season has been dipped in chaos and disappointment. You're not looking like the Rams team that we're used to under Sean McVeigh. So you go into your buy, what do you do? How do you adjust? And after the first half, I thought, I think they have. I think Sean McVeigh has figured out a lot of issues here because Matthew Stafford was kept upright, well protected. Those issues didn't seem to be there.

They can't run the ball and we know that. And there's no way to solve that immediately. but they had found a way to go toe to toe to toe to toe to body part with the nineers. No, toe to toe to toe is like the well-established. It just seems sort of stupid to me. But I guess it's because it's just you're a little bit, you're an inch further than the other person than you are than they are. Wait what? Anyways, but now let's break this down further.

Would you like it should be elbow to elbow? What are you looking for? Anything you want, really. It all started to crumble in the third quarter. They opened up on third down. they were six for seven the Rams to open up on third down. They just looked like they had solved other issues. And then they had like a 20-yard third quarter where the Niners and a special,

it was just essentially Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and you got the version of Jimmy G, which almost always seems to be outside of that playoff game against the Rams. Pristine, he threw the ball great. And the Niners just looked to me like the team that understands who they are. They went out and got the asset in Chris McCaffrey, who was utterly unstoppable and looks like he's going to fit in so well. It's like a Shanahan fever dream scenario, just the way they can use them.

And the Rams, they're not that team right now. I mean, they had the ball five times in the second half, four times, I believe. Five times, and they had four total first downs. And I listened to Sean McVeigh after the game because I'm with you. I think this was a huge moment in their season. And to get beat like a drum like that where the offense completely falls in on itself and then the defense struggles too was surprising to me. And I was curious what he would say.

And it's funny, he was really talking about how the defense in the secondary and the second level had a lot of things to clean up. And that's not what they expected. I'm just thinking, like, you're right today. They didn't expect that defensively. Yet the fact that they go four first downs and five second half drives, like we're getting used to that with the Rams. And we're getting used to them losing big. They've lost by 21 to the Bills, 15 to the Niners, 12 to the Cowboys, 17 to the Niners. And three of those are at home.

They are a team that loses big. And so much of this, to me anyway, when I look at what's wrong with their offense, they can't run the ball. They have zero balance. It puts so much pressure on Matt Stafford, who's not playing at a high level this year, and he does not have a supporting cast that he entirely trust. Cooper Cup is Cooper Cup, and we'll get to him in a minute here. Alan Robinson is finally showing signs of life, but obviously has not been the difference maker, they thought. Tyler Higbee had a drop in this game that kind of, you know, swung things over to say. Francisco permanently in the second half on a catch that would have been at first down and maybe

even a touchdown. That was really the last sign of life for Los Angeles' offense. And, you know, even when they're down, Mark, in the second quarter, they had first and goal from the one or whatever. And they tried to run it twice. And it was like not going to work. And they did actually score on the ground on a Matthew Stafford scramble where he gets creamed by the pylon and gets in. But you're thinking of yourself, like, that's one of the big issues here. They don't win up front. They can't run the ball, and everything is just disjointed. They have zero confidence in their ground game, and you're right. It becomes magnified in the red zone, right near the goal line, where they need someone to step up and be able to do that.

And, I mean, we're seeing teams around the league with bad offensive lines who have turned towards the run successfully. And the Rams just seemed disinterested in that happening. And on top of it, I think the Niners own them psychologically because the second half of this game, the Rams just started to become totally unglued. Alan Robinson had a big catch and then turns around and gets a personal foul for taunting. It's like, come on, this is the last thing you need right now. You're not a rookie. You're a veteran player. And the second half was a meltdown.

I know I'm going to get burned by this, but I feel like Jimmy G's played better this year for the most part. There's been the killer moments and that's just always going to be part of it. Maybe it's just I got used to the Jimmy G playing through a torn shoulder last year and that was so bad that now they've got Garapolo back to kind of his normal level, and you get CMC, the fact that they had CMC throw for a touchdown in this game, and McCaffrey ends up with 183 yards from scrimmage. That's almost as much as the Rams had. And Shanahan talked after how he put that into the playbook on Thursday

after asking his staff, like, oh, can this guy throw? And they found some throw that he did four years ago. He did that because the Rams wanted it. He is sticking it to the Rams. Like, this was like a two ships passing in the night, and the 49ers absolutely owned them. And I think that's him sticking it to his friend. Keep in mind here.

Yeah, 26 touches for McCaffrey. So he is now fully loaded. And they did this, the Niners, abusing Los Angeles in the second half of this game without Debo Samuel, who missed the game with an injury. So you just, it just shows the. And when I talk about, hmm, could the Niners be great? It's like this version of Jimmy G, obviously, 21 to 25 with two touchdowns and no picks. But when you have them fully, you know, you have C. MC fully uploaded. You get Debo back.

You have Brandon Ayuk, who's come to life in recent weeks. You have George Kittle, of course. There is a lot of potential here for San Francisco. When you also factor in, the defense as it gets healthier is going to be a problem as well. So at four and four, yeah, they're right in the mix of a muddy division. But I think they have more upside than almost anyone in the NFC, this side of Philly. Because their ceiling is just so different other the outside of the Eagles. And when they're on like this, you know, they've had injuries.

Some of their bad games have, I think, tied to. defensive injuries. Number one, if they get healthier and healthier, and you know, critiquing the idea that went and got McCaffrey and it was expensive, I don't think there's any critique at this point because he went somewhere where he can be used well. And today he was absolutely unstopped. He'd have a couple fumbles.

They were lucky the Niners recovered, but I'll take that along with the upside and what he did and how he electrified the Rams defense. And one last point on the Ram's side. They had Cooper Cup in the game with a minute to play down three scores. Keep doing this stuff. Throwing the ball.

and he gets his ankle rolled up on. He was able to walk off under his own power. Seems like he'll be okay. But at the same time, McVie is banged up too. McVe said, like, I don't know. I shouldn't have done that. I wish I could have done it differently,

but he didn't. And that almost cost him. That's their season. If Cup goes out, I don't know what season Los Angeles has, but right now it's not looking good. In other news, in other games. There was only one game that had two winning teams.

And it was at, The stadium formerly known as the clink. Remember that? Yeah. Nobody knows what it is now. It's Lumen Field. Let's check it out. Gino going to throw again on first down.

Pumpfay. Going to throw deep. Got a man in the corner. He did it. Lockett. Seahawks. What a drive led by Gino Smith. Tyler Lockett was not going to let this one get away.

He hung on, 33 yards out, and the Seahawks go on top, 1913. Oohie. Steve Reibel with a call, K-I-R-O. Gino just keeps delivering, Gregi. Yes. Tyler Lockett caught a 33-yard touchdown pass from Gino with 9-18 to play. They then got a turnover on a kickoff, scored another touchdown, and that was that.

A very close, tight game of the Giants turns into a 27-13 win over New York who had entered the game, of course, six and one. So they dropped to six and two. But this game, Greg, another great effort. Yes, by Gino, but also by the defense, which is now stacked three games in a row. And I'm not saying we're ready to put the...

I said the Mariners almost there. We're not... I'm not alone today. I'm not saying I'm ready to put the... Seattle Seahawks into the great category, but they are very firmly now in the good team category. And again, this is one of the bigger surprises in the league. They are. To me, they're the team that everyone's trying to tell me that the Giants are.

And I'm not going to just make this an anti-Giants thing. But you will. But I will. What else am I going to do? They are the team, I think, that's got more staying power of these two teams. Because I think when you look at it, they're really talented. They have good players. They have six or seven rookies playing key roles.

They're getting better and better. Gino is number three in QBR on the season behind Mahomes and Allen. At a certain point, I'm just believing that he is in terms of accuracy right there with any quarterback in the league. He put the ball on the money again and again and again today, and his receivers couldn't come down with some tough catches, but he kept putting it there and he came through. But the defense playing as well as they have the last three weeks lets me feel that Pete Carroll's got something here. It's a young group. They changed what their approach was in terms of getting more attacking.

Their special teams has looked really. good. Kenneth Walker, yet didn't look great, 18 for 51. The Giants seemed really determined to stop him. But the play he made at the end to get the game's ceiling touchdown was an incredible individual play. And I look at this team and I see a clear top 10 offense who has D.K. Metcalf who apparently can't be injured and he's back in the mix. And I see a very competitive defense. And I see a lot of verve out of their coach. And I think why not the Seahawks long term. And that's why I locked him up correctly. Very nice. Well done. A little dicey.

It seemed dicey at the time, but again, that's part of me. I keep underestimating, you know, you came at me. I took that personally on Thursday. Then you came into the office today and you're like, oh, Greg's really sweating it out at 10-10. I felt good about the lock though the whole time. You had a little bit of a tight butt there early in the fourth quarter. We could hear the nerves in your voice. Because the Giants were hanging around in a game where they didn't look like.

You signed up for that journey, though. So I think it was a valiant lock. I mean, the thing is, a couple weeks ago, we looked at Seattle differently because their defense with just an open barn door. And it's totally changed. And I think that is something that, like, some of these better teams, if you actually have a version of defense that can impact games like this, I'm going to believe in you a lot more. The offense has been there all along. I feel like this version of Pete Carroll, he just clicks with Gino Smith. They seem willing to be super aggressive down near the go line, throw the ball, and not have the media tell you that your quarterback, Russell Wilson, must cook and we must have that.

constant tension between coaching quarterback. He kind of just wants to roll with Gino and Gino's making the throws. I want to say to that point that Pete Carroll absolutely should be in the coach of the year category or high up in those rankings. I think he should be the leader in the clubhouse. This is a team that nobody thought could do anything. And clearly I think part of Gino's great season, it goes back to like the coaching, empowering Gino and making him seem from day one that he was somebody that they could just

with not just be a game manager so i just give credit to carroll on that um and you know in the nfc west which we thought was going to be a very different type of division uh Seattle doesn't it doesn't seem crazy that they could win this division no they chose Pete carroll ownership over russell wilson and i kind of killed him for that at the time and that's looking that's looking pretty good right now it is Pete carroll went for and i feel like so many times the missed fourth downs get brought up a lot. But the successful fourth downs that absolutely change the game

don't get brought up a lot. And Pete Carroll went for fourth down twice on their first touchdown drive in the second quarter and they got it both times. And both were like an easy field goal range. One was on the 20 and one was inside the 10 and one, you know, they got it to lock it

and the other they end up running it in. They nail it both times. And I think it's because he's turning a new leaf too in terms of aggressiveness and realizing this is an offensive team, let's go for it. And I did accidentally call Seattle the Seahawks, the baseball team.

I blame Jerome Boger, lead official of this game. After the play was over, sideline interference. The coaching staff of the Seattle Mariner was in the restricted area. 15-yard county. After the enforced with his penalty, it will be first in 10.

I said the Seattle Mariners. I believe he did. What is Scott's service, Mariner's manager, doing on the sideline? It is my favorite thing that's happened in the entire football season so far. Well, the best... It's a tough year in the NFL. Well, it has been a tough year, but also I think if I were a ref and had the chance to click on the mic, I might go do some of those things on purpose,

especially you get in the... You're on the show now. It also was the best penalty of the year, because the reason Pete Carroll got that penalty, and it was Carol, is because he was so fired up watching Gino Smith scramble for a third and long that, clinch the game. And since they apply the penalty after the first down, it didn't cost him at all. So like coaches should run onto the field and get in the way of the ref every time they're

in that situation. He looks like he's like 25 years old. I know your mom's always thought he was kind of a zaddy. And he's like getting younger as this team is just giving him life. He has immense life energy. Always has. I find him remarkably attractive as well. It runs in the family. All right. So that was an important game between two winning teams. Now the best game of week eight found in a very unlikely place snap spot here's coo for the win kick is away and drive home safely young way coo from 41 yards wins the ball game arthur smith and Atlanta are four and four my goodness indeed west Durham get out the bongos This game deserved it.

Yes, it did. WZGC, good call. The Falcons kicker, Young Way Coup, one of the best in the league, splits the uprights from 41 out after the Panthers missed two kicks that would have won the game, including a long extra point, which we'll get to. The Falcons, 3734, the win over the Panthers. So it is the Falcons holding on to first place.

Mark, this was a game that looked like it was over and then it wasn't and there was a lot of drama along the way before Koo put things away. And then it was and then it wasn't and then it was and then it wasn't and we have David Ealy somewhat of a reluctant Panthers fan in our newsroom and I could hear him intermittently

like screaming about something then going totally silent about something then screaming and then go totally silent and this game had all those ingredients I mean they were these two teams alternated 10 straight scores at one point. It was just one of those games where it became completely derailed. And poor Eddie Pinheiro, I don't enjoy watching kickers miss high-octane kicks

and PATs in these situations because they're already typically outside of Justin Tucker's coolness. You're like a man on an island inside of most NFL locker rooms, I would imagine to some degree. And when this happens, you have no friends. I mean, to miss the PAT that would have sent salted the game, you send it into overtime, you get the ball back on Marcus Marriota's terrible interception on his 29th birthday. Eddie Pinero set up for a 32-yard gimme. I mean, you should be doing that. If you had 12 beers and you, you were an NFL kicker, you should be kicking that 10 out of 10 times. I mean, you like to see that. So it was a lot. And he misses it. But, and it's Eddie Pinero, you know, that will be his last kick with Carolina. You could, you could bet that.

And it just, it's funny when kickers really get the yips in a game like that, you could tell right away. Even though it was an extra point, it was a coin flip, extra point length, less than. It was a coin flip in overtime. It felt like, yeah, he could definitely blow this. And to your point also, like, he was getting a lot of pats on the back at the end of the fourth quarter when he missed the long extra point. But after the second one, you can tell it was just like, everybody's like,

are you kidding me, dude? Like, we're fighting our butts off here and you just killed us. But you've got to put some heat on DJ Moore, too. You've got to praise him for the incredible touchdown he had that allowed the Panthers to tie the game. But the call taking off his helmet while celebrating, which I don't necessarily believe in, but it is what it is.

That led to an extra point that would have won the game for Pinheiro turning into, what, a 45-yarder? Yeah, it turns into a thorny-situation. Which, by the way, he might have missed. So I have put, you know, it's the same length is the field goal. Who's to say he wouldn't miss the extra point? Not that you want to give DJ Moore some credit,

but I did see some people be like, DJ Moore giveeth, DJ more, takeeth their way. I mean, they're not equal. He completed an unbelievable catch where he sort of slowed up halfway and the throw from PJ Walker, rolling left with under 20 seconds to go and no timeouts. That was the play of the NFL season.

I got up out of my seat and I just started sprinting down the aisle towards the Ely. I was like so excited. Towards the Ealy. That was just like that was the Kyle Murray play essentially. That is a perfect example. Well, I also had picked them and, you know, I was excited.

It just seemed like, it seemed like the play of the year. Like it was one of the more magical moments of the year. Terrible coverage by Atlanta. My goodness. To miss that kick is crazy. Well, Atlanta was down multiple, multiple defensive backs today. They had a guy they brought up out the practice squad who got injured during it. That's the state of where their secondary was.

To put it in perspective, Anthra's got the ball there with 36 seconds to go and no timeouts needing a touchdown. And they got the touchdown with 12 seconds to spare. That's almost impossible. Yes, almost. Two things I wanted to add, hey, Kyle Pitts, fantasy owner support group talked about it on Thursday. Last stand, we got a nice day. We got about 90 yards of a touch.

Let's stay the course. And along those same lines, Arthur Smith, nice to see you treat your quarterback, Marcus Mariotta. like a real quarterback and not like he's Tim Tebow, letting him throw the ball. Guess what? Marriota, he made some mistakes, but he also made some throws as well. We made a killer mistake, but he can throw the ball pretty well. You know, give your guy a chance to make plays, and he made more plays than he failed in this game, and they got to win. One thing I think that gets lost in the drama of the game, like, Dontaformant, like, is, has been awesome. And he was dominant today, and I have a guy now.

I have a guy. Okay, we'll talk about it. Yeah, I've talked about Dantta Foreman before. You'll shut up, I'll tell you who it is. Tyler Algier for the Falcons, I love this guy. And he's my guy. We're going to have to check. You don't control that.

Sit down. We have to check. I will, I will remove you from the building. I feel uncomfortable even having this conversation. I will send you, I will send HR a fiery letter about all the things I know about you. Can you explain why? Because I'm just. Do you want to get into that game, Mark?

I'm surprised. I don't think Foreman. I don't think Foreman is really guy eligible at this point. He's been around, but Algeria, yes. Guys can be good. Well, Alger, what was it about his 2.8 yards per carry today? It's been the past month. It's not just today.

Like, go watch the Browns game. No, I like him. He's a feisty runner. He's been powerful. They brought him in out of nowhere, and he's like, he's 511, 220, and looks like 800 bricks stacked up. And he made a great play as a receiver today on the 25 touchdown and made a couple of games. We're going to submit it to the board.

It will be probably a... You're not picking a guy that's like an all-pro. It's like a project. That's how I see you. It's about a six to eight-week turnaround, the review process. But we won't be in touch with you. In your world. This bobs me out.

In your absurd world. I have a point too. This game bums me out, though, because just for kind of, they would have been a four-way tie at the top of the NFC South. The Panthers would have been in first place. And like, it would have been like another team that was sort of in the mix. They're not. But it's like, they ruined, it just ruined everything.

Eddie Pinheiro ruined everything. That had never happened in week eight, and it would be the first time there was a, like, a four-way tie this late in the season since the 1987 strike shortened campaign in the NFC East. I don't know where you go next, buddy, but we feel for you. That could not have been fun. All right, we'll be right back. Hey, this is Matt Jones. Now, I'm Drew Franklin, and this is NFL cover zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different.

Did you see the Colts Pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Oh, my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL.

Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. what's up everybody Daniel Jeremiah here and I'm Bucky Brooks on Move the Sticks we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development

to team building philosophies coaching trends and how front offices construct winning rosters every week we study the tape talk to decision makers and share the insights you won't find anywhere else

is the kind of conversation that connects the dots from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow we break down the draft analyze matchups and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day plus we dig in the coaching strategies roster construction

and the trends that shape the league year after year whether you're a diehard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level we give you the full picture if you want insight that goes beyond the box score this podcast is for you don't miss it listen to the move the six podcast on the iHeart radio app apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts welcome back there is only one undefeated team in football and i kind of get the feeling it's going to stay that way for a while let's check in with the igles hurts looks fakes still looking he is going deep down the far side and it is a j brown again above a touchdown 29 yards boom a j brown puts on the burners

me in the corner of the end zone and it's a touchdown oh my goodness mary Earl Reese and Mike Quick with the call for WIP. Good times in Philadelphia Pro Sports. A.J. Brown had three touchdown catches in the first half. And Jaylen Hertz through four touchdowns as the Eagles roll to a 3513 win over the Steelers. And that's not a surprise necessarily the final score here as we welcome in the great Nick. So shook. on Halloween, but it's just another reminder of, like, how easy Philadelphia is making it right now against their opposition.

Everybody's so shook when Nick is in the gym. He doesn't skip a gym day because of a manufactured holiday where you dress up in costumes. Nick, how old? I mean, that cannot confirm or deny that. But those weightlifting sounds you hear, that's actually A.J. Brown packing on the muscle and then using it to dominate. the Steelers secondary this afternoon. I felt bad for Mika Fitzpatrick because each of the three touchdowns, it was Mika closing it over the top and just being woefully late or out of position

to make a play. And the entire secondary looking like a bunch of fools. He made them into whatever he wanted to make them. He dominated them this entire afternoon. The Eagles had no problem going to him passing the ball around the yard. They ran the ball pretty well. Miles Sanders kept it off with a touchdown. It went from seven to seven.

to a much greater difference between the two teams. It was never really in question. In fact, it was so over, and the Eagles had so little fear of the Steelers' offense that they put Jalen Hertz on the sideline with 11 minutes to go in the fourth quarter. They knew it was over the news. A resounding victory. Nice move with TNF coming up. We got the Eagles and the Texans in a bizarre Thursday night football match.

I guess showed me the Eagles can win in so many different ways, because there's been weeks where A.J. Brown's been a little more qualified. and they've run the ball a ton and they've, it kind of depends who the matchup is. They absolutely victimized Pittsburgh today. I mean, Akilo Witherspoon got benched at one point. It seemed like they were moving the secondary around. And I mean, these were the throws. It wasn't just A.J. Brown's the catches.

Like, Jalen Hertz, like from last year to this year, in terms of his improvement on some of these throws is startling. And like, he was absolutely on the money today. And I also got a Pittsburgh team, when you go play other sort of half-baked operations, You can hang around, and they do do that. But then when you go play Buffalo, you get your doors blown off. When you go play the Eagles, you cannot hang around because they are a middle of the pack, not fun to watch offense right now, and they've got very little on defense other than their reputation.

Yeah, Philly's one of the big three, obviously, and these teams that don't come ready, they get embarrassed. And let's listen to Jalen Hertz talking about 7-0. You know, it's just a uphill climb. That's what we always talk about. It's an uphill climb. So that's what it is, you know what I mean? And I honestly feel like there is no arrival. There is no arrival.

You will never get to a point where you say, I've arrived. There is no arrival. There's only the journey. And I've embraced that journey. And I'll continue to do that and take it day by day and just try and climb. Shooki, that's the old Stephen Tyler in the amazing video. Life's a journey, not a destination. remember that one probably not you're much younger you were like four at the time

i don't want to close my eyes oh here you go wrong talent but still that was good all erosmith songs from that era sound the exact same anyways it was a good song there was seven of them but it was good go ahead no i mean i totally agree i don't see why the eagles should believe that they're not going to be the favorite and be a team that's going to continue to remain undefeated their schedule sets up really nicely for them they don't face a team of the winning record for like the next month. And I think one of the teams that could potentially have a winning record is the Colts. And I don't believe anything in the Colts either.

So, you know, we see 6 and 0, 7 and O from the Eagles. I can see 11 and no, very realistically because no team has really challenged them. There was a moment a few weeks ago when they were down 14 nothing to the Jaguars and then turned it on on a sloppy Lincoln financial field and dominated them in that game. You know, I don't like to get too hyperbolic with teams because eventually you're due for a loss and eventually you're going to run into some struggles. But right now, the way their offense is operating, because they can attack you from so many different angles.

A lot of teams have a hard time shutting them down or slowing them down. And their defense continues to get better, especially up front. They harassed Kenny Pickett all day today. It was just like, it was two teams in different leagues right now. And I know the Steelers are working through some things and they got a rookie quarterback, but it just wasn't much of a competitive game after, you know, the first quarter because the Eagles are just soaring at a different level right now. We talked about possibly forking teams.

It was a question asked on the Friday Fun Show. And I think the Texans were the only team we even could come up with. But I think in this AFC, which is awfully deep, and I'd be pretty ready to fork this Steelers. I would join you on that mission. I think they're forked. Yeah.

Let's move on to a more competitive game, Nick Shook, in Minneapolis. Now Madison heads to the backfield. Cousin shotgun. Short drop, throws right, and touch. Totsdown! J.J. Osborne has given the Minnesota Vikings a 34, 26. A lead.

And we figured it out. They finally figured out how we can beat that blitz. Paul Allen and Pete Versage. Paul Allen's my guy. If someone were, like who's your guy? Like I said earlier this week or last week. Joe Burrow, he's my favorite guy. In the booth?

Paulie Allen. That's it. We should get him on the show. Good candidate for that. K-F-A-N with the call. Yes. Kirk Cousin threw two touchdowns, ran for another score. and cook, season high, 111 yards on a score of his own and a 3426 win over the Cardinals.

Shoki, I'm looking for great teams. Good's fine, but I want great. The Vikings on a five-game winning streak, you're not ready to put them there, are you? But let's talk about it. No, I'm not. And the main reason is, you know, this is a win that you have to feel good about, but you also have to feel a little bit concerned because they really should have won this. game by multiple scores. They left at least six points out there in the first half.

They had a blocked field goal. They went, they threw it on third and one and fourth and one. When you have Dalvin Cook, you know, ripping up. Massive gains on the ground. I didn't agree with that, but they won the game. And, you know, KJ. Osborne gave them a lead and it gave them a win, but it took to Darius Smith sacking Kyler Murray on the final play of the game to really seal it. They should have been done with this game, you know, four or five minutes earlier in the game. And they allowed the Cardinals to have. hang around. And the Cardinals, an offense that's basically relying heavily on DeAndre Hopkins right now, who is definitely back. That's why they're good. They're not great. That's why the Vikings are not

yet great. But it is nice to string all these wins together. And it's an NFC North that's very wittable. So keep on going and maybe you sort those things out. This is obviously not what we predicted for this division going into the season. But I need to see them be a little bit better. Maybe they'll figure it out in the next month. They were given some gifts in this game too by Kylo Murray through that terrible interception to Harrison Smith. There was the play where the Cardinals were forced to or chose to kick a field goal because the shotgun snap hit Kyler Murray in the face mask or right around the head when he was staring at the sideline,

which that kind of thing seems to happen in them weekly, some sort of discoordinated scenario between center and quarterback or X, Y, and Z. Greg Dorch muffed that punt, which was huge for Minnesota. I mean, a lot went their way, and you're right, it came right down to the end, and they also benefited from the Cardinals just looking totally chaotic on that final attempt to go tie it up with Kyler Murray, dancing around and getting taken to the ground twice.

I feel like I see that every week, too. Well, they're missing four starting offensive linemen, the Cardinals, including D.J. Humphreys, which was a late decision where we didn't know going into it. So you're losing your setter, you lost your guard for the year, then you're down a couple of tackles. That helps explain it, but I think one thing the Vikings have done a good job this year is they take advantage of those matchups.

Adairia Smith had three sacks and four tackles for loss today. and it reminded me of the Dolphins game where he ate up their backup tackles but that's sometimes what these games come down to when the other team is missing some of their good players can you just crush that matchup and Minnesota's got enough star-ish players their running games getting going

their pass rushes getting going and they have Patrick Peterson playing well again Shook where it's like any one of these stars kind of steps up in a given week and they're six and one. Yeah, Patrick Peterson had a great pass breakup up in the end zone early in the game that prevented them from scoring what would have would have been a game tying touchdown. I was like, oh, look, it's Pat Pete of old.

He's been pretty good this year. So that all works out. Yeah. But you know, you talk about those random stars that come up and make plays. Kirk Cousins, he hit his highest ball carrier speed on his rushing touchdown in his career with the Vikings. It was like 18 point something miles per hour. It looked fast.

I was stunned. That's pretty fast for him. I would have guessed if you would have just said what would be the number because I don't even know what a slow guy. runs in the NFL. I would have said like 16.5, but 18. Nice, dude. Well, what was the old saying? Everybody runs 20 miles an hour. Yeah. Yeah. Well, that's mostly he was kind of close to that. Yeah. You know, this quote, oh, go ahead. Keep going, buddy. Well, I just to kind of tack on what Greg was saying, it was, it was, it was the KJ Osbournes. It was, you know, some of the other guys,

Zadarius Smith stepping up and crushing a matchup like that. It was timely plays again in a game where they had left enough room for the Cardinals to come back. They had to possess. session two times in the second, or in the fourth quarter where they could have gone down and taking the lead. And both times their defense stepped up. And that's what was most important is winning those close games, I guess, even if you give the opponent more room to get back into the game. And here is a interesting quote with that in mind from Kirk Cousins. And he said something like this a couple of weeks now. I thought we were a really good football team last year. We just couldn't find the inches in too many games. Why we found them now? I don't know. Now, you could

either read that as a shot across the bow of old friend Mike Zimmer, or you could read into it if you want, as Kirk Cousins basically telling us, hey, we're actually kind of a regression candidate. We're going to finish 10 and 7 or 9 and 8. But right now, things are going great and we're happy to be 6 and 1. I mean, if they went 9 and 8, they would have to go 3 and 7 the rest of the way. You know they got a 4 out of 5 in them. We've seen them do exactly that in the past. I don't think it's got to have it. I just want to throw one bizarre revenge game narrative out there that Patrick Peterson threw out after the game, he said that he's not happy with the Cardinals.

And this is a future Hall of Famer most likely in Patrick Peterson, who played a long time for the Cardinals, that when he was late in his Cardinals tenure, that someone unannounced would print out articles and comments about his poor play from the internet and then put them at his locker. And I think he was like hinting that like ownership was doing this. I don't know who would do that. Maybe it would be coaches. and that he's kept that with him, those printouts.

Seems like Bruce Ariens like. It does not seem like an owner's going around doing that, like taping the article to his locker, but he was mad and he got his revenge. That was a real revenge game. All right, there you go. The Vikings improved a 4-0 in their building, and if they do win the NFC North, they play a home game in the playoffs at least one. Shuki, you're home, but I know you're heading to the gym now

because you've got to get one last pump in. I just keep having this vision in my head of Michael Bidbroke. will, flying his Cessna into an airport, getting off with like a leather backpack over his shoulder, and it's just stuffed with news. Right, right. And some, you know, some little rolls of tape to go post in the locker room. That's a cute little trick. He had an assistant set up, hook up his printer to his laptop, and he has all these around

the NFL articles from 2017 ready for stuffing into a locker. Shook would never be stuffed into a locker. We know that. Bye, no. See you. All right. Shook is gone, but we. move on and let's head to the Meadowlands where the Jets had an opportunity to change things

at MetLife Stadium and an opportunity that's all it was. Snap back to Zach Wilson. He's pressured again. He's chased to the right. Matt Wilson in pursuit. Now wise, a throwdown. A throwdown fifth. The close got another.

Coming back to the 3540. Far sideline 50. Go. Devin down the sideline to the 40. Stepping out of bounds after his second. Pick of the day. I bet you. It's a pretty good call.

You got to admit. Shut up, Craig. WBZ with the call. That was Bob Sochi and a sentient power-aid bottle. I think it's Mountainberry is the flavor. And usually I don't agree with a sports power drink. But I think, yes, Zach Wilson did deserve to be benched in this game. Devin McCordy had two of the Patriots, three interceptions of Zach Wilson, Nick Folk,

former jet kick five field goals and bill belichick got another win passing george hallis on the all-time list final score patriots 22 jet 17 that's more disappointment for jets fans and we'll get to that in a moment but let's start with the pats um who listen they're not they're certainly not a great team i don't necessarily think the patriots um are necessarily even a good team but in this in this season i think they could be a playoff team if they do things like they did today which is superior on special teams have a defense that got off the mat after monday night's embarrassment and played well in this game and lean on a running game that is very good with stevenson leading the way and that was enough because uh at that point if you're a well-prepared

team that wins in different phases of the game against a unproven immature i'm not saying immaturity as like a person, very immature as a quarterback, Zach Wilson, just let him beat himself and his own team. And that's what happened. This loss was totally on Zach Wilson, but credit to the Patriots for basically forcing the Jets to lean on their young passer and it didn't work. He just doesn't have it. I mean, there's too much stuff happening on a weekly basis. You talked about not wanting to see the old Zach Wilson backwards figure eight scenario where just whenever there's pressure or heat on him coming towards. and like he will do something really madcap.

He'll do something disorganized and just whip the ball into weird places and like it costs them to get the game today. Zolak said throw it up in the middle of the play. I've never heard that before. And I know Zolak is a little different, but he essentially was saying I know how Zach Wilson plays. Well, I'm sure Zolak did that a lot in his own career. Right.

The most gifted quarterback. Rarely got in. I don't think he had many attempts in his career. Well, for a reason. And saying like throw it up like this is our chance. to actually score, and it was almost, you know, the only way the Patriots were getting in good field position was getting these turnovers from Zach Wilson, and then he does it for you. At that point, like, that is a problem.

This game turned, Jets up 10-3 late in the second quarter. They pick off Mack Jones, who's no good either, by the way. Mac Jones gets picked off, pick six for Michael Carter, 17-3, Jets up late in the second quarter, but no. Oh, that killed them. A late hit was called on John Franklin Myers. on Mac Jones. It was borderline at best.

It wasn't like one of those roughing the passer calls that you go nuts about. You could see why it was called, but it literally turned a 17-3 game into a 10-6 game after the field goal and then the Patriots just started piling up field goals because they don't really move the ball through the air.

The Jets defense was good in this game and then Zach Wilson imploded. And let's listen to Robert Sala. I thought Mike White was elevated to the number two spot on the depth chart, which I thought was notable over Joe Flacco. I thought he should have been in the game in the fourth quarter. After the game, Robert Sal was throwing his support behind his young quarterback.

Where have I heard all this before? We got faith in Enzi. He's played good football. He's been, he's taken care of the football since he's gotten back. And he's shown flashes of good football. So everyone in locker room size is back. I don't know about everyone, because Elijah Moore was asked about his chemistry with Zach Wilson. Here's what he had to say.

How would you describe your chemistry with Zach on the field? I can't. I don't even know. I couldn't even tell you. I don't get the ball. I don't know. The problem is that that's not the first quote like that by a wide receiver. There's just been disenchanting with the fact that post-Joe Flacco, you know. Well, it's been Elijah Moore. Mostly it's been in the media about it. I may have missed it. Zell Menz has been having problems since he got to the team. Yeah, I just, there's got to be chatter.

I'd love to be on their group cell threads or text threads where it's like, hey, you know what, for all Flacko's ills, we were throwing the ball for 300, 400 yards a game. It's disappointing because without Breeshall, obviously, they have like a lesser margin for error. They're going to need their defense. And it sounded like their defense could have won this game. Absolutely. Play very well. 288 yards for the Patriots, three point.

eight yards per carry per play, which is really low. And Patriots fans were all begging for Mack Jones to be benched at halftime. And analysts were saying they thought Mack Jones was going to be benched at half time. So it's strange that the Patriots, yes, they win the game, but they finished the game with five drives where they were in position to put it away. And in those five drives, they went four and out three times and got one first down. And so I think there's more legitimate questions. I haven't been as worried about Mack Jones until this game.

But now there's real questions about Mack Jones in his direction. Because the difference, there is a big difference between him and Wilson. I mean, he did play 16 games, Dan, as a starter and was really productive and was like a mid-level starter. And the fact that he's taken what now looks like a step back and it seems scrambled as a second-year starter. He was the best thing about their season last year. And now he's like the thing that's holding them back potentially. Let me clarify.

I'm not saying that Mack Jones is at the same level as Zach Wilson. Jones has done way more in his time. I just in general, not overly impressed by him. And he really did get bailed out on that pick six because that could have changed the Patriots and the jet season that roughing the passer call. But I'm not making excuses. And a lot of people obviously in my Twitter saying, oh, Dan, it's going to be really hard for you tonight. He's like, no, it was much harder last week when they won and lost Breece Hall and Elijah Vera Tucker. because and you guys are giving it to me a little bit

and I got other stuff like, Dan, why are you in a bad mood about the Jets? Like they're five and two because I kind of saw this coming. Like when you lose the engine of your offense in Brees Hall and then you have to turn it to Zach Wilson in a big moment against Bill Belichick, what we knew about Wilson going into this game,

I was hopeful that they were going to win, but I was never very confident because this always felt like an outcome. And in general, on the Friday, fun show. I talked about how this could be it for Zach Wilson. This could be the moment that we remember him by good or bad. I still feel the same way that Zach Wilson is probably not the dude and Jets fans are now beginning this dance again where we're starting to look ahead and decide whether or not we need to get a new quarterback. They need to show significant growth with him

at the quarterback to invest beyond this year. There's still a lot of season left. They get Buffalo next week. That's not going to be any easier. But this was a huge moment for the Jets and their fans. The stage was set, and the quarterback lost them the game in a really ugly way. And that's disappointing to me, but not stunning because we have a lot of that. Good. And I don't mean good about what happened today, but you want to find out that you don't have something in Zach Wilson as fast as possible. Versus one of these merry-go-round scenarios where we're hearing about all offseason how Zach Wilson's going to grow in X, Y, and Z.

This is a good team. They've got a good roster. You've got a good general manager, a good coach. Don't get sabotaged by the wrong quarterback for another week if you don't need to. But the thing with these two teams are they're trying to make the playoffs this year. And I don't think I think Belichick is going to stay loyal to Mac Jones and stick with them for a while. But that's going to be a question. And to the Zach Wilson point, that is a question because they have a whole locker room full of guys who are trying to make the playoffs.

I don't think Joe Douglas or Robert Salas jobs are going to be in danger. at all anymore. But they want to get to the playoffs too. And you eventually owe it to those guys. And he's going to make them make a decision at some point, partly because we've seen what the offense looks like with Flacco. And not that it was great, but it was an NFL offense. It was a passing offense.

And this just isn't with what do you really want to see? He's the worst starter. You know, he's in the mix as the worst starter in the league. Zach Wilson against the bills. If they don't make the decision now, that could be the executioner song. But you know what? To the point, like I said last week, When Breeze Hall went out, it lowered their ceiling.

It's a developmental season for the team. I want to see Zach Wilson. When I say I wanted him on the bench at the end of this game, I didn't mean bench him for good. I meant get Mike White in there and see if you could get two scores quickly and steal another game. But this absolutely is a developmental year for the Jets, even if they're improving.

And you need to know whether he can play or not. And there's starting to be more and more mounting evidence that he just doesn't have the ability to do what, Mark? Play the guitar. Play that guitar. The guitar. He's not a musician, which is sort of a problem for some athletes. Keep an eye on the Patriots trade market here.

Nelson Aguilar, Devante Parker, and Kendrick Bourne combined for three targets and two yards in this game. And I was interested to see rap sheet talking about, like, kind of all their receivers are available this weekend or this week. Like all these teams of Brandon Cook's past being connected to Brandon Cooks this week. I love these teams telling us that these mid-range players that you wouldn't send a bag of rocks for are available in trades. It's like, great.

Thanks for the update. You've really nice reverse psychology. That's Kendrick Bourne, leading receiver from a year ago. Come on. If you thought the Jets today were depressing, well, guess what? The Detroit Lions are the team of around the NFL. That is not going well at all.

Let's check in. That was a mistake. And two out of the shotgun. Back to throw now, looking, throws it. Touchdown Miami, Mike Gersickey. The Dolphins have their first lead to this football game. 11-yard touchdown, Duckey's fourth of the year. What's the problem, Greg?

They're always just so chill on the Dolphins broadcast. It's a little more verb. Let's get excited. You're not into Jecine Cephalo. I love him, but it's... That was a great play. Doesn't sound like love. And a great comeback, you're right.

Tua, red through all his progressions, found Mike Jaseki late in the third quarter for the touchdown that capped the Dolphins rally from a double-digit second half death. I agree. I mean, you got to be pumped up there in a big spot. Dolphins Radio. Anyway, 3127 win over the Lions, maybe because it was so inevitable, because playing the Lions, it doesn't matter because you know they're going to give you infinite chances to score 30 to 40 points. Anyway, Tyree Kill, 12. He's going to have 2,000 yards, by the way. Tyree Kill, 12 for 188. Jail. He's going to have 1,700 yards, everybody. It's insane. Eight for 106 and two touchdowns, and Tua has another win.

So, Greg, let's start with the Dolphins. Yeah, let's be positive first. Let's start with the Dolphins because they're five and three. They're now tied with the Jets behind the bills in the AFC East. And this was the game personally I wanted to see. I expected it. In fact, I predicted it on the Friday Fun Show exactly what happened. Just light up a defense, score a ton of points and get things rolling.

Not just big numbers, big, like, score. points and they did in this one. Right. And in a tough spot where their defense gives up 27 points in the first half. Their defense doesn't get a single stop. There was not a punt by either team in the first half of this game. So Tua was in a spot where he had to keep delivering and responding with points. I think this was, if not the best game of Tua's career. It's this and that Ravens game earlier than this season. And I say that because just the decisions were all pristine and you can say, oh, it's the opponent. Yeah. but you still have to make those quick decisions

and deliver to the right guy in all the different spots. You mentioned how he was like on the third progression with Gassiki. Their offensive line played fantastic, but he had 13 completions that went 10 or more air yards. 10 of those were in the 10 to 20 range

and that's where the dolphins live. He's just accurate and he was sloppy last week. He was not sloppy today. Every pass was right on point and yeah, he has to like kind of run up to get it deep to Tyree Killer and it feels like it's a little underthroat.

It doesn't matter. It's still 40 in the box score and a count. The one thing that with Waddle and Hill is they seemed like today and other weeks, they're so open. Yes. They're just sitting, I mean, and he's making those throws.

So I made a couple good throws and a couple scrambles too, which were I thought real in improvisational plays too, like on top of that. He's a good fit for the offense, right? Because, yes, he's not the guy that's going to Herbert. you with bombs, but with the guys and their skill set, get the ball down to them at 12 yards

downfield and then let them get 40 yards. I mean, the Hill and Waddle had 20 catches for 300 yards, essentially. We've never seen anything like this in terms of a wide-out duo. Right. And the scoring ended weirdly at the end of the third quarter. The dolphins have kind of a ball control offense. It doesn't feel like that because they have such chunk plays, but their games often have sometimes have very few possessions

and the Lions only had the ball three times in the second half. So after scoring 27 points in the first half, they only had it three times in the second half. They had like two pretty quick punt. And the Dolphins offense, the way they're playing here, like you punt a couple times against them. You might

not get the ball back for a while and you're done. The game really turned on the final play of the first half. Josh Reynolds dropped a touchdown, which would have given the Lions 31 points in the first half. and it would have made the two teams have 600 total yards, which I was rooting for because it was just like a nice round number.

I was going to tweet it, but he dropped it. That's the tragedy here. Right, he dropped it, and then they kicked a field goal. And then there was a play on fourth and long late in the game where the Lions were trying to take the lead back, where I thought Goff played through a pretty good ball, giving Reynolds a chance to make a play. And again, he didn't make a play.

It was right on the goal line. It would have been a big play, and that was that. Let's now has become part of our sentence for our, let's face it at this point, mistake of selecting. Thank you for acknowledging that. Don't try to distance yourself from this, Mark. We're noticing you're doing that every week. You voted with us. I am acknowledging that I made a mistake a month and a half ago.

We are all on the same. We sink together on this, Mark. I never said I didn't vote for the Lions. I am simply saying it was a terrible decision, and I'm accepting one third of it. Mike, you were, yeah, you bailed after like one game. I don't, but I'm not, you're like Eliza Moore, the second, any little rock on the boat. Mark's like, see ya, guys. You're doing it right now.

You're doing the thing where it's like, oh, Mark, like, you're not being a no. It's like, I made the mistake. I am part of the process that I'm calling faulty. I'm just calling it faulty where a couple is like, no, we're sticking with. It's like, we have to stick with them. But it is a sentence, and it was a bad job. I believe that the Raiders team of ATL from about five years ago that you rubber stamped this is your chance to get even a little bit

because you went down with the Raiders that year when I picked the Vikings as the team of ATL you spent you spent two months acting like you weren't part of that process there we go so point the finger back at yourself for how you behaved years in years past

there it is you're trying to settle a score no I am telling you I'm not sitting oh it was you and Greg and look at me I had nothing to do I mean we have video and audio evidence I still think you'll rally lions well Greg you're the psychotic one. The rally to four wins. Part of our sentence, I was going to say, is Dan Campbell hearing him sad every Sunday.

Let's listen. My thought is that as frustrating as it is, I know how close we are because we are still talking about one play. And the hard thing is to just keep doing your job, you know, and staying in the thick of the storm. And the easy thing is to go down below and get under the blanket and eat all the food and whatever. The guys who are going to stay on the deck

and just continue to do their part because they know the sun's coming. Those are the guys we're looking for. See, Dan and I are under the blanket right now. We're eating the food. That's where he's telling you not to go. That's where the people with no courage go. I would like to go there.

In our defense, it was confusing. We're on the deck waiting for the sun. You're meant to be up on the deck ready for battle. We can't get out. Once you're in, you're in. But it's been bad. They've been, I think, 0 and 5 since we selected them. It is particularly cruel and can't get a whole lot worse than 905.

Like we would be on top of this, whether we had picked them or not. But man, the way they lose these games, they are, every game has like a moment. They are in all these games. They don't have a pass rush though, and I don't know if that's going to change. Aiden Hutchinson and the rest of the defensive line just, they just can't get any pressure. It's killing them. All right, let's take a break and move on to happier things. Hey, this is Matt Jones.

I'm Drew Franklin. And this is NFL Cover Zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts Pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Oh, my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining.

And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your. podcast. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. What's up everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development to team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week we study the tape, talk to decision makers, and share the

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Welcome back. I'm not looking for good. I'm looking for great. And with that in mind, let's head to Big D. Fields in the gun. Back to throw. Parsons coming. He flushes out left.

He stops. He dumps it short to the 25. Still moving Montgomery. Fumble the ball. Recovered by. Dallas. Micah Parsons is on the ball. And he's still, he's still running. He's still moving with the ball to the 10, to the five, to the goal line. Parsons recovered a fumble and brought it all the way back.

Freakish, Brad Sham and Babe Lofenberg, KRLD. You know, the, the Micah Parsons' L-T stuff that we talked about, whatever. You could be on that debate. You could say it's too premature. You could say he's at that level, potentially. But that's the type of play. It's like that was LT-like. He flushes Justin Fields out of the pocket. He runs the play down, 12, 15 yards downfield, picks up the ball, then has the smarts to run,

even though it seemed like he was down by contact, and he scores a touchdown. That basically iced the game, a 49-29-win for the Cowboys. Thank you to Justin Fields for hopping over him. Right. That was remarkable that Fields just to get out of the way. missed him by inches allowing that touchdown to happen. But let's face it,

Cowboys probably would have taken over and scored a touchdown anyway the way this one went. They scored the first four times they had the ball for the first time, and I believe eight years, Dallas did. And while Chicago was game and they were competitive for large chunks of this game after falling behind huge early, they were just ultimately overmatched by Dallas.

And the reason why, Mark, I'm saying, maybe we could put Dallas into the great category, not in the big three, but in that next spot below is because now you're seeing the offense clicking in concert with that defense that we already know could be one of the best in the league. Right. The defense is NFC title game worthy.

It is potentially Super Bowl worthy in this 2022 campaign. And they got to the record they were at and won with Cooper Rush and made a thing out of Cooper Rush because it was the defense propping them up week back week after week. When you go look at what Dallas did today. And if you look at the last eight quarters of Dak Prescott, some of his throws today in the way that they just absolutely fried

Chicago's defense, which looked good against the Patriots. Weakona's had some good games. One scoring drive, 1180 yards, 8, 69, 675, 854. They're just able to string together plays, make passes through the air. Tony Pollard, I'm

with you that Zeke and Tony Pollard are a good combo, but Tony Pollard is a starting running back on any other team. Flatout looks awesome. And he's better than Ezekiel Eli. Well, I think there's just debate where it's like we're not meant to say that or something. But it's just like he just looks to me like a better version of a starting running back. But that's fine.

That's a good problem to have. And they've got weapons all over the price. And if you're going to get this version of Dak Prescott today and the way that they called plays, they're fringy on great. I never really believe in the Cowboys with this whole thing. That's my issue. I think they could be in this world. The Zique Pollard thing is really a Gera-driven.

narrative more than anything else because he's paying him so much, at least for one more year. Fantasy, too. It's fantasy to you. And Zeke has, he has value to the team on some level because he can grind out yards. He's a good goal line guy, obviously, but I think it's clear to anybody that watches these games. The Pollard is the better,

more dynamic running back. And I do think even whatever Jera says, because Jera loves Zeeke too, so he's showing him some respect, you're going to see it in the box score more and more that this is Tony Pauler's backfield. Right. It was the proof of concept game. Okay, we Don't have Zeke. Let's put up almost a 50 burger on a pretty good defense. This game, you know, changes a little how we see the Cowboys.

Not that we should need to see Dak Prescott playing well, but it's nice. It's just been a while. And like the Bears a week ago, changed who I think they can be this year just in terms of a frisky team that's watchable. And in this game, you know, move the ball. Fields played better. You know, they ran the ball. Great. Again, I think Dallas showing that they can put up this type of offensive performance does put them in the great category because the numbers would tell you, Dan, that they're already pretty close to great. They were third or fourth in DVOA as a team with average quarterback play at best going into this game. And now you have Dak Prescott. If you get normal Pro Bowl Dak Prescott, that's cooking with gas. Yeah.

And I, like in the power ranks, for example, they're an easy number four for me this week, like they were an easy number four last week. So they're interesting and potentially getting better. Chicago ran for 240 yards on the ground, which was, this is kind of a weird game, and they jumped out early, and then you can see Dowell's kind of let up a little bit. On defense, we'll see if maybe the defense now is coming down to Earth a little bit after the off, after carrying the offense. It's a long season. This stuff can happen sometimes.

But overall, I feel very confident about the Cowboys moving forward. We're back to a place where, like, Justin Fields had 46 yards passing at the half, but something that's happened in them over the last. couple of weeks you mentioned it, Greg. I think Fields has gotten better as a passer. What he does on the ground legitimately scrambles defensive coordinators, and they're just a great running team in general. And so, I don't know, it felt like the entire run

of this podcast, the Bears have been a frustrating watch. They had a couple playoff years in there, but you weren't buying it. This team is enjoyable. And even today, there were moments in big plays where it's like, I'll sign up to watch the Bears weekly. And we haven't really given them credit for doing anything in a long

time because they didn't deserve it. Yeah, Fields is getting better and he was good in this game. He doesn't have a lot around him. And I talked about on Thursday, after that great emotional win over the Patriots in primetime, you trade away Robert Quinn and then the defense doesn't even show up until half time of this game. But you scored 29 points on one of the best defenses in the league. So that is progress. This is a developmental year for Chicago.

And I think we're seeing some good things despite this loss. I also like when Jerry starts getting frisky after the game. And they're six and two, which is great, and they look great, but they're still stuck in that division where they got some ground to make up. And they're looking at the trade market, he said, and they said they feel good about their chances there. I didn't know where you're going with this at first, but now I do. And he said also, well, there's some guys that aren't even on other teams that are available.

And someone was like, oh, O'Dell? And he was like, oh, I didn't say that, but he did it with like the winking grin that Jerry is like. I'm just a good old boy. You know me. I was like, okay, I can see that. Like, if I'm Odell Beckham, I look at the Rams, and I look at the cowboys, and it just makes sense. You know, I'm just an old huckster at heart. He's smart.

I'm not going to tell you a thing. He got far as a Junebug. I got three whiskers in me. Whiskers? Whiskeys. Let's move on that. We can't say anymore. Give it to Henry, 25, 20, 15, outside to the 10, puts a move on to the five, stiff arm, dives.

over the pylon, touchdown, Titans. That was a man-sized run by the man. Derek Henry. What a great run by Derek Henry. He's not a man. Derek Henry's the big dog. Feed the big dog, and he will growl and bite and destroy. Mike Keith with the call WGFX, Derek Henry for the fourth time in a row against the Texans.

over 200 yards on the ground on 32 carries. I mean, he's one of the great running backs of his error in a future Hall Famer, and he could do the stuff that Adrian Peterson could do in his prime, you know, like one of those dudes. Anyway, that's all they needed, Derek Henry, because even with Ryan Tannahill out of this game, boys, and the rookie quarterback not doing a damn thing you had, Derek Henry. And that tells you, Mark, like, what's special about. a guy like Henry, what separates him

from other great running backs. The entire Houston Texan staff and every player knew that the Titans weren't going to be able to move the ball if they didn't run the ball, and it didn't matter. Henry just got the job done, and Tennessee keeps winning as a result. That's like the most powerful, like a powerful version of an athlete where

it's like everyone knows, here comes Derek Henry. You know what it is? Imposing one's will. Yes, I think that's well. Also, let's impose his will 32 times and have the quarterback throw 10 passes. Which was a smart decision. Yeah. I mean, That's what you want the Browns to do with Nick Chubb and other teams to do. I mean, in this case, it works.

I mean, they could give the ball to Hilliard a little more. Dantrell, Hilliard goes eight for 83. I just worry, Derek Henry gets these 32-carry games, and he's had a few lately. But it's crazy that he kept the 200 yards and two touchdown streak against the Texans going. It's reposterous that he's done it four straight times. And it is exciting when you can just see something special in sports. And one of his first runs of the game, he was slobstress. through the Texans line and just like jumping back and forth laterally.

And you're like, wow, he looks as explosive as he's ever looked. And I hate when teams like the Texans tack on 90 yards on a garbage time drive because the yardage in this game was 354 to 71 before that drive. That's how much of a dime came it was. You had Davis Mills who took another big step back after taking a step forward last week. He had 17 yards, I believe, through the air in the first half of this. game it was it was not it we'll bring a grave digger here because i know he's feeling hot even though a j brown uh proved to be godlike for another team you could just forget about that because not

only did the titans win again uh you locked it up just like i locked it up just like mark locked it up did i get everybody good job all sticking with that well it's called nobility i think that was great so we stuck we stuck with the titans because the texans stink and that's what it comes down to, Justin. Three stickers. Yeah, the Texans were not a good team today or this season, I guess. The Titans average... Hashtag, Insighton.

Titans average seven yards of carry, and that includes Malik Willis' five carries for 12 yards. They threw one pass in the second half, and it was like... Wow, it's Mike Faber's dream. It was Malik Willis rolling out of bounds, literally jumping out of bounds, and throwing a pass right before he landed out of... Like, it could have almost been counted as him just being out of bounds, but that was only pass I had to throw on the second half.

And just, like, everyone in the stadium knows that the Titans are going to run it on every play, and they still pop off seven yards of carry is unbelievable. I don't know if that doesn't work in January, as we've seen, but, and it's not going to work probably if Malik Willis is starting against the Chiefs next Sunday night, which is a huge game for Tennessee in terms of a measuring stick. But ultimately, they have things under control. Malik Willis didn't show me a lot, but like we said, they didn't really give them a lot to do in this game.

But I'm feeling good about Tennessee. Again, they're built very well to succeed in this landscape of the NFL. I think you tweeted, Justin, that they are in line right now as the second seed in the AFC. They are going to be in that mix because I think they're going to continue to grind down teams and close out games. Yeah, the offensive line still looks like a really great run blocking unit, even though they cannot pass protect very well. But if you want to just break down Malik Willis really quickly in his first NFL start, I would say, eight of his 10 passes were really bad. And one of those includes a throwaway that, like, he should have run the ball for, like,

at least 20 yards, and he threw it away. He missed Chigaquanko on, like, a tight-end wheel route that would have been a touchdown, just, like, late and overthrew it. His interception was late and off target. He had one really nice play rolling out to the left where he, like, the arm angle rolling left to throw to get the ball to Robert Woods on the biggest completion of the day for 16 yards was a really fantastic play. But even that one was, like, him sitting in the pocket, holding it too long,

and then making something happen afterwards. But, like, he's not processing quickly at all. He's not seeing the field well, and he's not getting the ball out of his hand. Let's get Tannahill back in the lineup, basically. Yeah, they need it. And by the way, he was. Good thing they had the Texans this week. He had the ankle and then came down with some type of stomach bug or something, Tannahill,

some type of illness. And this worked out perfectly because you took care of business. You give him more time to rest, get the ankle right, and hopefully they're ready to roll against Kansas City. That's going to be a good one. It's kind of an example if you're Ryan Tannehill. It's like, oh, you don't want to get injured and be out of the lineup. But this was the guy who was in theory breathing down your neck.

And it's like, let's press pause on Malik Willis for a bit here. Yes. Let's head to the Superdome where strange thing in the NFL on this eve of Halloween. Only one team showed up. It's tricky. It's weird. It's hard to be competitive in that scenario. Dalton to pro looking, looking.

Clubs it across the middle. Camer has got it. 25, 20, 15, 10, near-sighted, he will scoot into the end zone. Alvin Camara does it again. Three for three, three TDs for AK. My favorite thing about Alvin Camara is if he's near the goal line with the ball. Not so much on that play, but there was another run where it's just like he's going to get over the goal line. He is the best finisher in the league.

maybe Derek but he's a star is my point Mike Haas with the call at WWL three touchdowns yes for Alvin Kamara and a 24

zip win over the Raiders this came after Kamara after that ugly lost Arizona on Thursday night in the locker room

after the game really gave it to the team and demanded that they clean up their act and be better and Greg that's what a leader does he then backs it up

with a big time play and the Saints are off the mat and the Raiders are off in space somewhere. Yeah, I don't know what happened with the Raiders here and we'll get to them. But I like that Pete Carmichael, their play caller, made a point to get Camara the ball early and often. I think it was something like six or eight of their first 12, eight of their first 12 plays was to Camara. And all game, Dalton was looking for him on the checkdown and sometimes as a primary receiver.

And I think that's why they kept Andy Dalton as their quarterback. It sounds silly. but he gets Camara the ball. And I think that is a window into who he is as a quarterback versus who James is, who just never takes checkdown and is bad at the short game. And what this team needs is a quarterback who's good at the short game because they don't have their wide receivers right now.

The fact that they went up and down the field on Vegas without Jarvis Landry and Michael Thomas was impressive. But the fact that they shut out the Raiders who had been scoring 33 per on. defense was way more impressive and gives me way more optimism that this team could bounce back to Frisky because their defense has stunk all year and you could see it from the very first snap. They were so active in just getting after Derek Carr, Davenport, Jordan, even Peyton Turner,

their first round pick were just getting after them and they ended up with a goose egg. They had 100, I think, 19 yards until their garbage time drive, the Raiders for the entire game. I mean, I just wonder if it's the Raiders that flat out stink after. after I spent two weeks thinking, you know what? They've changed their identity under Josh McDaniels. They're going to run the ball. It makes Derek Carr much more efficient. Like Devante Adams disappeared today.

It's like whatever they think they were, came into this game trying to do, they couldn't do. Easy on the criticism of Derek Carr because he's going to be the Jets quarterback next year. Oh, that should be a fun off season. Yeah. You know, I'm a little mad now in retrospect that this had all the trappings, Gregie, of a classic cornered animal game. Same. For the Saints. They were at home.

after like half a bye week against an inconsistent opponent and they just whipped up on the Raiders. Who are a mess? Let's listen to Josh McDaniels, who, by the way, for the second time in like three or four weeks, got called into the principal's office to speak with Mark Davis before he addressed the media. That's like a two strikes.

I don't like that. Three strikes, maybe you're out. Let's listen to Josh McDaniels. It's not going well, Gregie. I have to do a much better job of getting ourselves ready to go here. that's that's we're better than that and uh you know i apologize to raider nation for for that performance and uh again i own that that's that's my responsibility so sessie was really annoyed that this was not his game this was the all-time sessie dream

it was 24 nothing early in the third quarter early in the third quarter this game was put to bed early in the third quarter, and it ended at 1244, I think, Pacific time. That's clean. It was like over so early. It essentially was a second half party for everyone in the Superdome, like, and there was no let up to it. Meanwhile, Mark, you're saddled with Carolina Atlanta, that wouldn't end. Yeah, it went on until about, you know, 430 Eastern.

But I, you know what, like to say you like a game like this, like it's just a rarity in this 2022 season. It never happens. Shout out to Chris Olavay, who went 5.52. But I just watch him every week, and he can do everything. He is the best rookie receiver in the game this year. And he's like a, he's a number one. If anything, he was undersold.

He's carried this passing game, Olave, as a rookie. It's pretty impressive. Yeah. And at some point, I imagine Michael Thomas will come back. But there is on the path, on the path to friskiness, getting those two guys on the field together, or a healthy version of Michael Thomas would be very interesting with Alvin Kumar Healthy and Andy Dalton.

They got a chance. A little tasem thrown in. All right. Oh, yeah. It's not over yet. Can we just, can we see them string together like three wins? Once again. I mean, there's such a give me a break.

Yeah. Yeah, I want to see more. But this shows they're upside. I think the Saints are enjoyable on many levels and they have been, but it's like I could also see them dropping the next two games and us talk about the defense falling through the floor again. I agree, but this was like a proof that they are better than they've shown. There's something in there.

Something in the mix. Okay. Don't check the stats. I don't disagree necessarily, but I would like a little more proof. I mean, we're not sending an NSC title game right now. We're just saying, okay. All right. I can't even imagine what the NFC title game is going to be at this point.

It's going to, I mean, show me team number two. Eagles, Cowboys, Three. Eagles 49ers. I mean, there's some good teams here. Let us take a break. Be right back. Hey, this is Matt Jones. Now, I'm Drew Franklin.

And this is in. NFL cover zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts Pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Oh my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining.

And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Toyota, the official automotive. partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. What's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the game from scouting

reports and player development to team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week, we study the tape, talk to decision makers, and share the insights you won't find anywhere else. It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots, from college football prospects

to the NFL stars of tomorrow. We break down the draft, analyze matchups, and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day. Plus, we dig in the coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a diehard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture. If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. all right let's head for the last time this season another grand success over there in

England the London series capped with the Jaguars of course now it's up to the Broncos defense first and ten at the 25 shotgun snap Trevor Lawrence looks right throws right that ball is going to be intercepted the ball is intercepted by Kwan Williams his first intercepted as a Denver Bronco, and it may have very well sealed the deal here in London. Unbelievable play by Williams, David Logan with a call K-O-A. He's got some ligament damage in his elbow, and the whole arm is all got a cast on it, janked up, and somehow he makes a diving catch to seal that game.

Trevor Lawrence once again fall short in a big spot, and the Broncos survive and get a much-needed 21-17. win over the Jaguars at Wembley Stadium. Russell Wilson, not overly impressive here, Gregi, but at the same time, and I'm not like the biggest fan of the at ESPN team, but they did set the table nicely ahead of the last drive where, you know, this is a big drive for Russell Wilson and the Broncos immediate future and he led them down the field for the go-head score. So two touchdown drives for Wilson late.

allows them to escape and exhale. Yeah, he did not play well in this game. I know you hate the grading, but he will not grade well, I assume, on PFF. But the way... I don't have a problem with grading. I have a problem with Aaron Rogers telling us that his grade was great. Yes, that was not great.

But the way it ended was perfect. He started that drive you talked about with one of those old TD, sexy deep balls to KJ Hamler. That's what he does well. You know what else he did in that drive? he scrambled on third down to keep it going in the red zone. We need to see more of that and then they end up running the ball in. He did make some big plays in this game, even if it was sandwiched around a lot of ineptitude

and missing open receivers. And I think that's huge for them. We heard some whispers, you know, some reporting that, who knows if Hackett is going to make it through the whole season here. And this was a game that you never want to get left back. in England. So I think it's massive for them in the same way that it's crushing for the Jaguars. Because I guess we've probably given up on the Jaguars,

but I don't think they've given up on themselves. And this is a humbling win, I feel, like to not be able to close out. I think on both sides of the ball defensively and offensively, there's big questions for the Jaguars. It feels like every week to the, if you're a Jaguars fan. We debated a little bit about Trevor Lawrence. I don't think anyone's saying Trevor Lawrence has fully arrived. but it's like on any level.

But there are misthrows every week and there are last minute turnovers and there are just too much left on the field and it kind of masks over the kind of game you got from Travis E.TN and was fantastic today. It's like can the Jaguars learn to close? Could the Broncos learn to play offense at all? And at least we got halfway there today.

Do I think it, does it change what I think about the Denver Broncos? Not at all. Yeah, I think that, I mean, they get to the buy. At three and five, they are, no one's idea of a real contender right now, but it would have been a disaster if they didn't find a way to win this game. And, you know, I've said it myself.

I beat the drum a little bit like, do we have to every week talk about whether Trevor Lawrence is living up to the hype? Well, now we're about halfway through his second season and he was picked one spot ahead of Zach Wilson. I think he has longer rope with his organization than Zach Wilson will have with his potential. So much better players to the eye.

Yes, he's had moments for sure, more moments than Zach Wilson. but maybe not a ton more. It's and it's a little bit, it's a little bit depressing to see this game where he throws a red zone interception on first and goal from the one in the first half. He throws that pick on the final drive

and you're waiting for him to kind of make that arrival and it's just not happening. So Jacksonville fans, I can only imagine the frustration you're feeling because you keep waiting to hear about this guy that you were told was this generational talent and he's yet to arrive. I felt like today was a turning point for that.

Just looking at Twitter and some of the Jaguars reporters, I think in this spot, I think he averaged four yards per attempt and those, that first and goal interception was inexcusable and was the biggest play in the game to me. I even throwing it, by the way. Right. But either way, him throwing that in that spot,

they should have been up 14-0, which good luck for the Broncos coming back. I just see the ball not going where he wants. He's better this year. He's getting closer to being a league average starter. but he's just not accurate. When he sets, and that's why blaming Urban Meyer for everything didn't make sense,

there were so many times last year where he sets in a clean pocket and just misses the target he's throwing to. That said, I feel I'd have much more patience with him and not even consider anything other than continuing to develop around him. I agree with that. He's not like a bottom five disaster

that we're ready to jump ship on. It's also not a lot of island Jaguars games where everyone's watching Trevor Lawrence. There's a lot of people just looking at a box score thinking, you know. Phil Wessling, our friend, his daughter Josie, wanted to let us know that we're too hard on Justin Fields. How about you start picking on Trevor Lawrence every once in a while, too? And so this little segment, I think, was for her.

She's a Fields fan. And she's like, how come Trevor Lawrence doesn't take any grief? I disagree with some of this analysis. I feel like Chicago, we've definitely given their quarterback some pop the last few weeks. And Lawrence, we've been kind of on top of following his arc, which has been underwhelming to save the least. All right. And by the way, I did, if you're a Broncos fan,

you're looking for positive signs behind just the win. Russell Wilson giving the interview after the game saying Russell Wilson stuff. And then KJ. Hamler comes and gives him a big bear hug from behind and tells him, oh, beautiful throw, baby. So I was like, okay, maybe some of everyone's getting a little bit swept away about this guy being the most hated man in the universe. Yes, Mark. Well, I would just say, like, having lived in, I know a huge cross-section of Broncos fans.

They are irate with what's going on. Yeah, but I don't think today changes anything. Inside the team. To another point, another one of their players, I think it was Tyree Cleveland, tweeted out, like, we're all going to be doing knee highs on the flight home. And I don't understate that, underrated. Just like at least they feel like the world's not on top of them right now, and they're having fun with it at least.

We being the football public, we're all out on Russell Wilson, and he's certainly played very poorly this year, but maybe it's not total anarchy inside the locker room. That was just maybe a little... Come on, y'all. Russell Wilson. We will see. Very exciting. A little peek behind.

See, I really wanted Nathaniel Hackett to be a great part of this season, and it got about as dark as possible as quickly as possible. Yeah, he's in a lot of trouble still. Let's move on to Indianapolis, where the commanders were looking to get back to 500. in motion camp sims heikie keeps it goes for the end zone what's the call touchdown touchdown washington a one-yard run by heinegie see that's a you know team down in miami listen to that call they're talking commanders football bram weinstein with a call w b i g taylor heineke that guy's got grit.

Dan Campbell's going to be on the phone looking to trade the world for Taylor Heineke after he goes in from one yard out after connecting with the ever underrated Terry McLaurin on a deep strike to put them at the doorstep of the game-winning touchdown,

which they got 17-16 over the Colts were dying. That's a huge game for the Colts to win that game, but they can't find a way to do it in the first season. start for Sam Ellinger. Mark. Ellinger.

Oh, he hit you with an Ellinger in a big spot. Anybody hear that? He hit you with it, Ehrlich. I didn't hear anything. I don't know what I'm even talking about. I'm for once not going to get involved. Does that, we're in the flow of the show, Justin. We're having conversation.

We're trying to bring this thing in for a landing. And you didn't get in my ear. You came over into the broadcast to correct my personal pronunciation. I think that's a look at, me moment from our producer, which is becoming more frequent. It's a little troubling. Anyway, let's talk the game.

Thank you, Justin, for the correction. Okay, now he's dying inside even more than Frank Reik is right now. You fired. All right, go ahead, Mark. Oh, boy. I mean, McLaurin had an incredible 42-yard catch and run in this game before that. He's one of your guys, right, Frank? Yeah, I mean.

McLaren? It was really a West guy. It's a star. You could have star guys. I mean, Gino's a star. He's my guy. I mean, Greg, but your thing is, like, I'll have 82 people I'm friends with that watch football. Oh, yeah.

I'll take – I'll take – 96% of the guys, and it's just being – It's become a tired trope at this point. Oh, yeah. Greg likes players. Oh, yeah. What a terrible thing. He's loyal to football. I'm loyal to football.

Graver's back. To something, at least. What else would I not loyal to? Ripping the ball away from Stefan Gilmore on that final catch, too. Man, that was a nasty little thing at the end there. Wait, what am I not loyal to? Can we imagine living with me? Like, there are 82 bits.

There's 82 bits a show where it tells me what's going on with this show. So, enjoy yourself. This is your fault, Justin. We were professionally bringing the show in for a landing. Yeah, you guys want us to let get these games. This is the game of the year. It's got to get a game of the year. We're going to give it 15 minutes.

You guys are going to like it. All right, Mark, let's try this again. Did you begin the point? I couldn't remember. I just think Terry McLaurin is like the absolute beating heart of this team. But Taylor Heineke, to me, where I think it was like when he was announced he's going to come in for Wentz or even before when it was suggested that he could come in and replace Wentz at some point if you kept getting these Wensian games. And it's like he just

brings something that kind of the classic quarterback energy thing where he's going to do a couple wild things. He had a terrible interception by Shaq Leonard. He was really lucky in another third and one. He didn't get picked. But then he goes and does this and creates the win. And they're kind of alive in the terrible NFC because of him and McLaurin together. and a defense that did their best with Sam Ellinger. Ellinger, to me, I'll wait another couple weeks. I do see a couple things. He made a couple big throws in this.

He can run. What's funny? What now? What now? I just realized we're on camera and I just picked up my backpack and was going through it, looking for a power cord. It had nothing to deal with. Okay.

I can never tell him in the show. I have nothing else to say. I have nothing else to say. Well, we can get an hour and 40 minutes into the show. By the like, give me the quarterback on the command of the show. that throws to Terry McLaren. Who is that is Taylor Heineke? That's the guy who should be playing for the team.

Right. That route that McClorn ran to set up the game winner where he, I don't know if I've ever seen one quite like it, but he absolutely turned Stefan Gilmore around and ate his lunch. But this was a gag job of the highest order from the Colts. This is a brutal loss. They were ahead 16 to 7, a two-score lead against Heineke, who at that point had had a touchdown all day in the fourth quarter. They get the ball back two different times.

They go three and out, and then the end of the game. Reich chose to kick a field goal on fourth and three at the 21, chose to kick a field goal on fourth and two. Or fourth and two on the goal line. From the Washington, too. That drove me nuts. And then he also punted, and I know it would have been, oh, it would have been bold to do it,

but it was fourth and inches on their own 35 to win the game. game up six and he decided to punt it away and the defense couldn't hold it. So this is a full team like absolute implosion. I do think some of that, like I was way too conservative. There's no excuse for it and it stands out in a season where we're in where everyone's going for it all the time and you should be. It just simply makes more sense. But I think part of it is like the fact that Ellinger was at your playing quarterback. Yeah, but Jonathan Taylor is you're running back. Yeah, but Taylor looked all right in this. He had his ankle re-taped in the middle of the game. I mean, I think their offense is just simply limited in general.

I think I want to see more from Ellinger. I just don't really buy the fact that they really see him as a potential future solution a quarterback. I'm not really basing it off of this. I think we talked about when they made the announcement, why they might have done it. He can move. He can run. He made a couple big throws in this.

There's a little bit of chemistry with his wide receivers. He also had a terrible fumble where it's a Jonathan Allen sack in the end. But he walked into, he lost the ball before. we're even walking into pressure. And it was just like a classic. It's your first NFL game, you know, but they're going to hand games away now when they had a chance to get back into it in the AFC.

16 points. It's not going to get it done. I can't believe these two teams have combined for a seven and one record. No, seven, eight and one record. They are kind of the example of where the middle of the NFL is right now. I can't believe the commandos are four and four on this three game. How about the Hinekees doing it? All three have been absolutely crazy.

The Packers won. Like they earned it somewhat But they kind of stole all three It's amazing the commanders And how about this? NFC East has been a bit of a punching bag On this show over the years And deservedly so

Because it was bad for many years In the last 10 But you have the Eagles at 7 and O The Cowboys 6 and 2 The Giants 6 and 2 And the commanders now Rounded out the group at 4 and 4 I mean they are literally on pace

To be one of the greatest divisions of all time If that paced out That would pretty much do it In terms of you almost have to win Every out of division game To get records like that I want to make one thing clear. I'm not buying in on Taylor Heineke.

I think we've learned now that there is a ceiling here and it is what it is. And seeing Carson Wentz again, that would make sense at some point. You did give up a significant amount of assets to acquire him. But ride the hot hand while it's here. Yeah, like at this point, there's no compelling reason to put Wentz back in there. Can you guys just grade this tweet from Adam Schefter or this move from Taylor Heineke? Like on a 1 to 10, what do you guys think? For every game that Taylor Hineke plays at least 60% of the snaps

and the commanders win, he earns a $125,000 incentive. So basically every start, $125,000 extra. He puts that bonus to a new pair of Jordans in the colors of the team that Washington beat. This week, new blue and white Jordans. I mean, it's just information that might have knocked out a priceless childhood memory out of my brain. and now I have that in my head.

Yeah, unnecessary. Did not need it. Did not need to do that? A disaster. Did Heineke just end Jordan? It's been 40 years. They've been on fire and that's it. I wish I didn't know that.

Strangely, I feel strongly how angry I am that that's now in my brain. It's like another sneaker head. Same. I mean, that was why I brought it up. Another white bro with money into sneakers. Great. Me and all my friends are jerks. Greg has so many sneakers.

Well, it's not alone. But I don't really spend, mine aren't like fancy sneakers. It's an archetype of clothing horse. All right, which takes us down the yellow brick road to Buffalo and Sunday night football. From the one again second to goal. Alan's going to keep it. And he's got Dawson Knox, but he can run it. Now he'll throw it and it's Knox.

And it's a Buffalo touchdown. Mike Tariko with the call for NBC. Josh Allen, two touchdown passes, including that score to tight-end Dawson Knox. As the bills jump out ahead ahead early on the Packers, as expected and as expected, Coast to victory. Final score, 27 to 17. The Bills now 6-1, undefeated in Orchard Park in three games. Packers fall to three and five. Greggy, you know, Green Bay didn't get rolled over here.

I think a lot of people probably expected this game to get ugly and be maybe some type of statement on both the Bill's dominance and how lost the Packers were. We didn't quite get that, but also not a very surprising outcome today. No, but we got a feel of how inferior the Packers are in that when Matt LaFleur comes out after halftime, he talks about how he wants to see a good effort and play some feisty football in the second half. And, you know, they did. And Chris Collinsworth is giving them kind of like moral victories. Like, yeah, they did play pretty feisty. They only gave up three points in the second half. Josh Allen threw a couple weird picks, but it was never competitive. This was the same Packers team

that ran on third and 16 late in the first half rather than passing. That was like a, hey, is that really the Packers? And by the way, it didn't stop the bills from still going down and scoring anyways. They were trying to get the bills to burn timeouts. It's the same Packers team who started really running the ball and committing to it down three scores in the second half because that's the only way they could score. And even then, they're kicking field goals. So yes, there were some positives and Dobbs had a play and Tore had a play. But it was like they went into this game knowing they were vastly inferior, especially because of their defense. And I left this game still feeling like they're vastly inferior, especially because of their defense. I'm with you. I mean, I didn't, I like the

idea of them committing to the ground because of the problems they've had all season long. They could have maybe tried this weeks ago. I also looked at the second half and didn't think that they really thought they could win this game. I don't think it was managed in that way. I mean, it was such a commitment to the ground game when you're down by a ton and it was working to some degree, but it really didn't work at all in the end if you think about it. I mean, a little malarkey, a little shenanigans from Josh Allen, who mean a Kimes joked, went out to Halloween as the 2018. Josh Allen in the second half there but the bills I mean kind of coasted in the second half I thought in this I think yeah it's a testament to their might that they didn't bring their A game and still took care of the Aaron Rogers team and yeah there is the Packers go over 30 attempts on the ground they go over 200 yards on the ground so you can look at that as a positive if you're a Packers fan in terms of okay we can still do that and Rogers made a couple throws and maybe Toray becomes somebody they can

can be interested in as having a bigger role in the offense after that long score. Maybe, maybe not. It is interesting to me and Collinsworth brought it up. And I've been thinking about this all season on a day where, you know, Devante Adams had one catch for three yards in a shutout loss in New Orleans with the Raiders. Once again, there were times in this game where it was like, all right, the running game's cooking for Green Bay. Now this is where you hit him with the Devante Adams slash play for 40 up the seam and like you don't have that and the Packers are missing it and it just, Greg, for me, like big picture with the Packers, it still strikes me so odd that they let it get to this point with an aging quarterback where they're scrambling to find

a guy to fill that void when the Super Bowl window is ostensibly open. The past is the past, but again, it kind of reared its ugly head a little bit. Right. There are four games back in the lost column of the Vikings. I mean, it's red alarm time because I think both sides. of the ball you're concerned about. I keep going back to the defense because I just haven't seen much fight out of them this year until the second half of that game. But you think of the difference in these defenses to start the game. The Packers knew they were inferior coming into this game.

And they got a quick three and out. And I was like, oh, okay, here we go. Then they come back the other way and Tim Settle gets a sack that kind of ruins that drive for Green Bay. and Tim settles like a free agent pickup. They're not doing anything. Then they get back to a fourth and three after that sack, and Ed Oliver pushes the pocket, which makes Aaron Rogers throwing in completion on fourth down.

And it kind of explains so much about both seasons because that Bill's defensive line has been awesome. And they were great again in this game, and it's why they didn't really do a dropback throwing. If you're getting as much pressure as them on defense without blitzing, like they don't even need Trudevius White back there. I mean, I think if you look at the Packers, too, They were compromised when they lost Quay Walker to an injection.

Devandre Campbell went out with a knee injury. I mean, they were talking about two linebackers coming in there that had played like a combined six snaps all season. The other injury I would look at is Jordan Poyer, the safety for the bills, went out with an elbow injury. And they don't need that. Him and Hyde at the same time is troubling. And I just, I still love watching Josh Allen.

I know he threw those two picks, but he also had three or four throws under pressure. Like, I kind of don't care if he threw those picks. Right. Outrageous. outrageous and I love that it would matter if the Packers had a little more juice I just for some reason it didn't feel like they were really ever seriously challenged on any level in this game but the fact when he got smacked on the goal line by Adrian Amos early when he made that 20 yard run on what was it third and 20 or something like that which was one of the key plays

of the game and then he gets up smiling like I'm the biggest badass in the world and then when Kenny Clark who's 300 pounds flattened him in the second half a hip Alan probably shouldn't be taken. And Alan gets up wanting to fight Kenny Clark. Kenny Clark didn't do anything but hit him. And I just like, it would be fun to have as your quarterback for the next 10 years, Bill's fans. Yeah. And it's a great time to be a Bill's fan.

During the telecast, they showed the renderings for the new stadium that they hope will be built in a few years. And Alan. That's not a dome, by the way. I mean, it's going to be much more, it's a much easier experience for the people sitting in the seats, but you don't dome. Sure. I'm with you on that, but you just want to make sure, like Josh Allen, and I'm knocking on wood if I had some, stays healthy, and they get to January with a chance to really,

because that's a, and what's been a strange, weird year, made all the more strange by the destabilizing failures of the Packers and Bucks in the NFC, the Bills making a deep run and perhaps even getting over the hump, that would make this one of the more memorable seasons in recent memory. I'd like to see it. And if they get the running game going like they did, the first half tonight, too.

Like, they just feel unstoppable. They came into the season as everyone's Super Bowl favorites. And they're legit. They're even better than I expected. And if, like I said, if the running game, if they keep adding elements, it's like, it's scary. With all due respect to the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles, the pills are the best team in football.

We saw it again tonight. Good stuff. Gang. Greg, Mark. Justin behind the glass Mark loved this game we were up there watching he would have liked the score

to be even more lopsided but after last week's commandos game and him divorcing the Packers forever they crossed Mark on a level that he is just his favorite team

is the team playing against the Packers Greg are you saying commandos on purpose you've done it twice tonight I'm just curious I was wondering the same thing

I think you are I've heard other people calling them the Commandos but now I think it unconsciously seeped into my... I'd also suggest that some of your angst that you put on me over various distant wagers is a bit of a projection on your ups and downs. But I do think in this case, it's apt because the Packers annoyed me beyond comprehension. Thank you. Thank you. And one last note,

because I want to end things on a positive for the whole group. I have pulled some strings, Mark, in the your guy situation. Okay. Great news. I have expedited successfully the processing for you. it was at six to eight weeks I got it down to two to four weeks so we will know in about a month give or take barring any other unforeseen delays whether it is processed that player

who I do not recall it was Tyler Algier Oh yes Tyler Alger We were going to be tracking his upward battle to get over four yards per carry for the year it's going to be good That's roughing the cessler

What I have going for me is my raging apathy on this front There's a drop You can't take that away from me That would be If Mark had a band name Raging Apathy would be it That's amazing

That'd be wonderful That's kind of like a One of those new metal bands Like the poster would be hanging in A.J. Soprano's room in 2000 Raging Apathy All right that's it There you go

Justin's in a little like funk When to hit the music The play out music You're trying to lay out And he's still just a little bit off But otherwise An excellent producer Thank you to Grave Digger and everybody for following along.

Yeah! So Monday night, he the call! Woo! You know, I'm going to do. This is an IHeart podcast.