NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - 2023 Week 9 Recap

Episode Date: November 6, 2023

In a room full of heroes - Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal, and Marc Sessler recap Week 9 of the regular season. The heroes open the show by discussing the Eagles beating the Cowboys (02:15), the Chiefs beating the Dolphins in Germany (12:48), the Texans coming from behind against the Buccaneers (27:41) and the Vikings' improbable win against the Falcons (39:02). The heroes wrap up the show with Seahawks at Ravens (50:58), Bears at Saints (58:57), Commanders at Patriots (01:06:00), Colts at Panthers (01:12:34), Cardinals at Browns (01:18:21), Rams at Packers (01:24:34), Giants at Raiders (01:32:16) and finally Bills at Bengals (01:43:00).  Note: time codes 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. It's Bongo's time. From the Chris Wesleyan podcast studio, it's Around the NFL, the flagship program. Week 9, Dan Hans is here with Heroes, Greg Rosenthal,

and Mark Sessler, and boys, I have to say, came in, to the office today, or I should say, you know, settling in for the 10 a.m. or the 1 p.m. Eastern games today. And I'm thinking to myself, oh, I don't know. I do not know because, let's face it, the KC. Miami game had a nice ending, but it wasn't kind of what we were expecting or hoping for, which was like a glorious shootout. And then I looked at six rookie quarterbacks starting on the slate for Sunday and even beyond those six rookies, a bunch of like backups or kind of journeymen.

dotted across the landscape and I was thinking this could be a bad Sunday rough seas and then Gregie the game started and we got some bangers I think this is one of the most exciting Sundays we've had in 2020 I think this is the best Sunday not only does it have the most big game so that's important and I think the Dolphins chiefs was intriguing in that it felt like a big game and we'll get into all that but if one Sunday deserves bongo is just as a Sunday this is it I'm all hit it yeah I think there's almost no close second place I mean it's a delivered in ways that I think to the point where this is the first Sunday that I recall the three of us gathered around Dan's screen watching the end of one of these games,

holding hands, embracing together. That hasn't happened a lot in the late window. We love football. NFL is kind of undefeated when you can get like mini classics out of Texans, Bucks, and what was the other one, Vikings, Falcons in week 10? Yeah, some unexpected bangers today. But yes, I think everyone expected Philly, Dallas to bring the goods, and it did. So why not start there?

Let's head to Philly where the Cowboys were looking to make a statement and the Eagles were looking to keep pace or maintain pace atop the NFC. Eagles are five seconds away from going eight and one. Will it happen? Prescott back again. He steps up. He pumps, he fires, and is caught, but he's tackled. Tackled a C.D. Lamb at the two-yard line, and the game is over with the Eagles win.

What a heavyweight fight we've witnessed. This is great football. There you go. Merrill Reese and Mike Quick with the call WIP. It was. It was a great fight. We talked about it on Thursday. It's like, hey, Dallas, win a game and make a statement.

or go back and forth, you know, show up. And they certainly did. But ultimately, despite the Eagles kind of doing everything they could down the stretch to blow that game, the Cowboys. And this was a theme in this game just were falling short time and time again, ending with that CD Lamb reception and tackle inside the five yard line. Final score. Eagles 28, Cowboys, 23. Mark, a lot of places to go here. Yeah. But it is that frustration.

So many places, Mark, to go here as you begin the show. But it's that Cowboys, that pain, Mark had some anxiety about starting to do it. Not at all. The whole show rides on you nailing the tone of Cowboys. I don't need to nail anything. And summing it all up succinctly. Sure. Well, we'll see if that happens.

That's not my skill set. And we're going to go through them, but the Cowboys had so many little micro moments where they could have stole this one and yet they fell short each and every day. There were, because I think the theme when we previewed this was to your point, like, okay, asking for a win at a pocket or everything else is worthless is a lot, but don't go and fold the tent out of the gate. And they did not. I thought you got a really high quality game out of Dak Prescott.

Cidilam gives you 191 yards. I mean, a lot of what you were asking for happened, but there was this like ongoing tussle with like the football gods and demigods and various like mythological figures. in this one. And there were these cowboys moments. Nymphs as well. Nymphs?

You name it. Elven creatures. I mean, there is all happening above the field here. Trolls under bridges. Trolls, yes. The whole, like the whole kitten cabood. You're doing great so far.

Keep going. Yeah, like we're right on. No, but I think it started for like, to me it started with these little moments. Like Luke Schoonmaker getting down on fourth and goal from the Eagles one. It's 28 to 17 at that point with 10 minutes to go. And it's like the Cowboys on the next drive, They score a touchdown after forcing a punt.

But it's 28, 23, and you get this moment where Dak Prescott is racing towards the end zone on the two-point conversion to make it a three-point game, and his foot just goes out of bounds. And it clouds what has been a really good DAC performance. On the next drive that they have, it is still 28 to 23. It's fourth down, and it is the rare bad throw in this game where he's not aiming at CD-LAM, but Jalen Tobert. it's an off-kilter toss out of bounds.

The Eagles get the ball back. There's about a minute and seven left at this point when DeAndre Swift fumbles the ball, but the Eagles recover. Right. They still are forced to punt. Dallas then gets the ball back with 46 seconds. They go on a drive that is sort of a maddening drive.

It had like five plays and five penalties on both teams. And it ends with that play we just heard with C.D. Lamb, short of the goal line on 3rd and 26 to end the game. But like even though these things, went against Dallas, it felt like the Eagles were inviting the Cowboys to take the game away from them in those final minutes. It was 3rd and 26 because Dak gets sacked on back-to-back plays. And Greg, the Eagles allowed 56 yards of penalties that allowed the Cowboys to get to the

six-yard line. And these are penalties not just bad in terms of, you know, not taking care of business at the end. It was stopping the clock and making what seemed like it would be almost an impossible ask on the Cowboys on that last drive where they really seemed to be in the driver's seat and they just couldn't get it done. Right. Bradbury gets hurt on the first DPI.

He's been having a bad year. There was a, you know, just a mental mistake by Hassan Reddick. There was an encroachment by Carter. And yet I look at this game and it's a fun game to analyze because I think every part, every aspect of both teams had great moments and bad moments. So it's not easy to like pin blame or this guy's the hero.

But ultimately it's another game. We're at the very end of the game. It's Philly's pass rushers who make the best. biggest plays in the game. The two biggest plays in the game to me are those two back-to-back sacks. And when it comes down to it, they have so many different ways that they can win games. And we've seen it this year. They haven't been able to run the ball the last three weeks. And they've been able to survive that. And it's Carter and it's Josh sweat and it's Brandon Graham like it ever was. I was getting flashbacks to the Patriots

Super Bowl with that play that Brandon Graham almost ended the game. I thought Doc did a nice job even just holding on to the ball. And yeah, the Cowboys are going to be really wishing that they had taken these opportunities because I think they played the Eagles well. But it's just not surprising to me because Philadelphia has so many different areas and it's always those guys up front on defense that end up closing it out.

Let's talk about some injuries that the Eagles incurred in this game. Jalen Hertz will start here. He gets whacked in the knee right before the half and he limps off the field. They show him coming out of the tunnel after the half and he's got a real limp. And it's like, uh-oh, what's going on with him? And he promptly leads them right down the field for a touchdown after the game didn't make up any, didn't make anything of it.

But it was a scary moment for them. They also appear to have lost Dallas Goddard, one of their most trusted targets. The tight end went down hard on his arm. After the game in the locker room, you saw him in a sling. And it looked like he's going to be missing significant time as well. So they don't get out of this clean. We mentioned the secondary injuries on that last drive. So Philly paid the price, but they're eight and one.

They get a buy. They get a, they get a, they're going into a buy now to get healthy. They're 8 and 1 and the Cowboys are now five and three. And it does, although this was a much better Dallas showing than we saw against San Francisco. God, that's, you start to get that feeling if you're on the, on the Cowboys, like, are we ever going to get over the hump against these guys? Yeah, because, you know, in a long season, there's real estate that can be made up down the road. But losing this game puts you in a tough spot, puts everyone in a tough spot.

in the NFC East. And it's not, we're not too far away to think about which one of these teams is going to get that one buy. And it's like, this was a kind of a necessary lever pull for Dallas,

I think, to make a statement and like, you know, make up ground. And the opposite happened. And yet I don't come out of it. I come out of it with more faith

that Dallas, this version of a Dallas team could win games on the road in the playoffs. If you get this, except they still feel like it does come down to these final moments. And it's like, I want to trust them,

I do trust them more after this game, but Philly seems like an almost impossible foe in terms of their matchup. Well, Dak's playing really well. They end about gaining... He played awesome, I thought. He thought it was great. I think he's been near perfect for three weeks,

although that one throw to Tolbert, really, it was a big spot and it was like the one really bad three. Gregie, that's what I've been talking about with CD Lamb. I mean, I know he's been huge the last two weeks of them, but this guy cannot be covered in this game. He's in one-on-one coverage in the end zone. Give C.D. Lam a chance to win a jump ball and win that ball game.

And that one spot, yes. That one spot, yes. but they did target him 16 times. It wasn't like he was... And Ferguson is stepping up as a real guy. I mean, he has replaced Dalton Schultz and maybe not extra, but he's at least replaced Dalton Schultz.

They have certain things to be proud of. I did think their defense was disappointing, you know, especially in the third quarter, but in the first half of this game, Dallas is putting up touchdowns, and the defense is just letting Philadelphia do the same right back. And the Eagles get touchdowns

in four of their first six drives. But you can't kill them that much when they force, three, three and outs in the fourth quarter to set it back up for the offense. And so that's why I look at this and both teams have a lot to work on and a lot to improve. But you said the one

seed, look, Philadelphia's next three games before they play Dallas again is at Kansas City and then Buffalo and then San Francisco. So we could be in a different situation before that Sunday night game against Dallas. And I'll throw out the next two games for Dallas or maybe against the two worst teams

in the league or two of the three worst teams. You got Giants on their 14th string quarterback and then at Panthers. So, like, I mean, if they could have found a way in this game, they really would have had some momentum and then who knows where this division goes,

it's still wide open because the Eagles, as much as you cannot take away anything for a team that has one loss as we get deeper into November, you don't sense that this is a juggernaut. Like, this is a team that still has some things to work out if they want to actually hoist the trophy at the end of the year. They're figuring it out and winning as they go to. they can't get better.

I mean, they're healthy. You can't, you can't demean them for that because that's one of the hardest things to do is to win while you're, you know, not playing your best ball. But I don't get the feeling that they're playing like at a high level, at least compared to what we were seeing from them last year. I think that they keep getting compared to themselves from a year ago. And you're right. It's, and they were such as contrast last year's team to the Eagles team from the year before. And so we want what happened last year. And it's like, it's been imperfect.

But I love the buy coming up right now because I don't know, like Jalen Hertz has been. testy when been asked about his knee. And when he went down today, I did not look good to me at all. Well, and he looked slow on a play before that knee injury even happened where I forget which Dallas defender ended up running him down, but I'm just thinking like that would not have happened

if he is healthy. I just, I don't know if a buy solves all that, but it couldn't come in a better time because they're banged up all over the place. And Goddard was playing really well for them. 24 and three with Jalen Hertz as the starter. That's including the playoffs in the Super Bowl. Damn good. So it's even better in the regular

season, but 24 and 3, I mean, they, I think winning becomes a habit. They're winners. They find different ways to win. They can win any style of game if they're not running the ball like they haven't been able to last two or three weeks. I think that's concerning, but they still can find a way. They have the same DNA as the next team we're about to talk about, a team that did outlast them just barely in the Super Bowl, where when it does come down to those last couple minutes, the Crucible, they always seem to find away. That is the Kansas City Chiefs, M.O. Let's head to Germany. Good job, Mark. Very nice. Or the Dolphins at the Kansas City 30. Chiefs lead 14 to nothing. They'll throw it in the

near side. Tyreek Hill hit right. This number. Fubbles. Oh, no. Kansas City. Tyreek out of the chance and a fumble recovery. Up the sideline. Here comes. Mike is a great. He's high step. Ten, five. Touchdown. Kansas City. Mike Edwards hit Jare Keel right in the stomach. The ball came out and Brian Cook would not let the play in. Welcome to Germany. Chief Safety, turn this up. All day long.

Chief Safety, Brian Cook took a fumble return 59 yards for what turned out to be the decisive touchdown. The Chiefs were up. 21 zip after that late in the first half. They hang on for a 21-14 win over the Dolphins at Deutsche Bank Arc in Frankfurt, Germany. Great vibe. They're a great scene. Great job by Rich and Orlovsky and McCordy and the whole crew there. That was a good vibe, good game fun.

The comeback fell short when Tua Tungovailoa could not handle a snap on fourth and 10 from the KC31 with 103 to play. Greg, this game was, again, it's, it's hard to what it's confounding watching the chiefs this year because everything is so hard on offense and, and we're right now back into this, it's two weeks in a row where you're just like watching and you're like, man, Mahomes is going on and off the field and the, the punter keeps coming out. And I thought it was an interesting, it was kind of funny, quite frankly, moment when before the, their last possession, their last real possession, um, They had done nothing in the second half. And there were about, I want to say around three minutes left. Don't hold me to that. It was about two to four minutes left, but I think it was around three minutes left. And they come back and they say, Matt Nagy, the offense coordinator, called the chiefs over and had a spirited, spirited things to say.

He was fired up. And he was basically, you could, you could probably guess the context saying, I know where we've sucked in the second half, but let's close this damn game out because we're the chiefs. And then what happens? Three and out again. And they had to be a totally curious third down play call there too. Bizarre. I don't know. There are a lot of things where it's just like scratching my head about what's going on with the chiefs.

But anyway, the defense got the big stop in the end. It was the defense that saved them. It's a defense, Greg, that has, you know, this team, you know, in position again for home field advantage. But it's hard not to think about the other stuff. It is, but they're very, they're symbolic of this season. Like, these are the two best teams in terms of seating heading into the day in the AFC.

This was a showpiece game. I mean, the NFL network looked at this at the beginning of the season. They thought, ooh, this could be great. And it ended up being a winner. But like 20, the rest of 2023, defenses are winning. Like points are down, yards are down, big plays are down. Everything is down. And even in a game like this, it's kind of about the defense.

The Kansas City Blitz forced panic from Tua Tunga Violo. on that fourth down play with all the movement that was happening before the snap and the offensive line. And that was the case for most of the day. They lead the NFL in negative EPA created when they blitz. And you saw it on the last two drives. The Dolphins got two different chances after they had already caught up 2114,

which was largely because of their defense, holding the chiefs under 50 yards, 50 in the second half, forcing a turnover on Mahomes, which gave them a short field, and they took advantage of that. And they give them two different chances in the fourth quarter to go make a drive. And the dolphins are driving on one of them. And Willie Gay hits Ahmed for a negative six. And that was on a run blitz.

And then Tua sack the very next play for 11 yards. That ruins one drive. Then they get the ball back. Moster hits it for over 40 yards on two runs. And it's the blitz again. Those next four plays a couple times that gets to him and disrupts them. And I kind of wish I'd seen Rahe Moster again because he, was cooking at that point. And I do wonder, and McDaniel regrets that because ultimately their

passing game was out of sync and had a lot of self-inflicted wounds. But a lot of it was because the chiefs were making them overthink. Yeah, the dolphins, you know, atypical to everything else we've seen this season, except when they seemed to play Super Bowl contenders, did not convert a third down until six minutes left in the third quarter. And it looked like it. And it's like, I thought this was one game where Tua and Miami kept getting into second and long, third and long. They were not making the plays they couldn't run for three quarters. They couldn't do much.

And like I, this is a star, even though defenses might be, you know, trending up and across the league. Like all we, we ask questions about Kansas City's offense week after week and that's fine,

but they have like a Super Bowl level star defense. Like Trent McDuffie is, has been out of this world. And like these guys are making plays. And I thought that today, Steve Spagnola, like to basically undo Miami's passing game the way they did,

um, was a real feat. And it leaves me with some, questions about Miami because when they've had to go and play the better teams, this offense is not shown up the way it has against lesser competition. The offense hasn't been good enough against good teams. That's, yeah, they're now 0 and 3 against, you know, every big team they've faced. And they can, and, and the offense fans go like, oh, that's just, great today, by the way. Their defense played outstanding. It was their best defensive showing

and they said, oh, that's just, you know, everyone's talking about that. It's like, well, it's true. Like, that is now three true Super Bowl contenders you've faced and they've all beaten you. And this one you lees you made it interesting but you got your butt handed to you at the half and then weren't able to dig out of the hole and yeah you got to put i mean you got to put the loss on two ultimately i think because there are two plays two plays again if you want to be you want to be seen as a contender you need to get bigger when the when the moment rises when the crucible of the game arrives late in the game he has cedric wilson open wide open for a touchdown and he boosts it. He throws some type of moonball up there.

It was a miscommunication. He clearly thought Wilson was going to look at the coverage, break off the route. And he was wide open. He beat his man and was, and waving his hands and didn't get close to him. And then right after that, he's unable to hold on to the snap and that leads to the turnover. Here's Tua on those two plays that essentially decided things. With what happened with me and said, that was just miscommunication. And, you know, in big time moments, those things like that. can't happen so you know I got to throw a better ball you know it was just miscommunication there and then with with the last play of the game and I'm

always going to blame myself I you know I got to catch the ball so whether that's getting in a better position to catch it or whatever it is can't end the game like that when we have an opportunity like that against a really good team. And I'm not going to flame Tua, like, overly because, listen, ultimately, it was against a very good defense and the snap could have been better. And if there's a miscommunication there, there is. But at the same time, you have to find a way in that spot. And he didn't and they didn't. No, they're an offensive team. And they were sloppy. Sometimes the game is lost in the first half. Like, Tua's best throws of the day were totally blown by his teammates. They also had injuries on the

offensive line. I think about the great back shoulder. had to Tyree Kill except in the first half, except there was an illegal shift on Cedric Wilson where he just like messes it up. That's points, Dan. Like that's either three points or seven points. They were inside the 25 at that point. I think of the beautiful ball to a through to Tyree Kill that he just dropped.

Those were points. That was in field goal range. That brings it back. And then you think on the other side, not that there was incredible offensive execution, but sometimes it's the little plays. And Rishie Rice making that diving play on third and five, near his own end zone to keep a drive going when they were really struggling.

That ends up turning into a touchdown. It's kind of a boring answer, but it's like they just executed better. Like the Dolphins' offense had a lot more mistakes than the Chiefs. It does not look this way in the box score, but I thought that the Chiefs were little moments of hope where they got some helping hands. Because the Dolphins defense, Vic Fonjo, did a nice job of essentially removing Travis Kelsey from this game. But Cadarius Tony had little moments. Sky Moore had a big catch on second and double.

12, Jared McKinnon had that catch and run into the end zone. It's like, it's a start. Rishie Rice, I think, is like becoming the guy you hope he can become. And it's like it doesn't look like a wholesale operation at this point, but it was a better than, it was better than other weeks, considering Kelsey was erased.

I respectfully disagree. I thought it was more disheartening as the season's going deeper now. And it made me think about how, oh, the trade deadline just happened. And they sat on their hands and didn't bring in another real weapon here. I thought Rishi Rice, he gets the touchdown on the

first drive. He has that great catch there and that's good. Those are only two targets he had in the game. And there are other moments in the game where you're just like looking, who's going to make a play? That the three and out after the Nagy come to Jesus conversation. It's

third and what, half a yard? And that's sort of on Mahomes and or the team. And this is what, and Mark, you know this. The Chiefs, Brown's playoff game a few years back on that, that ballsy call. with the backup quarterback on third and short.

Like they've had so many plays in their back pocket where they, they're confident they could execute a pass play in those situations. But the fact that that was like no hope. I was like, who are these guys? And I don't know. I don't want to say because Kelsey could easily go off Greg for 10 for 205 and three their next game. So I'm not going to say anything.

I'm just saying like there's been a lot more quiet games from him this year than last year and he's 33 years old. And there's no one else around him. that's truly picking up this. You want to talk your shit, talk your shit. I got it, Travis, just a little bit. I think I would not talk any because, look, he's on pace for like 1,200 yards. Yeah, but we could say that all day.

It's the weapons around him. I keep on seeing that. And I've thought the same thing. You mentioned on the Thursday show. You see it on Twitter. It's like everybody's going nuts about the Chiefs offense, but they're 7th and DVOA. And those are like, but it's like, no, they don't pass the eye test as a truly dangerous offense anymore. I agree with that.

It's the people around him. And I think that play at the end, at some point, you got to grow up and let Patrick Mahomes sneak the ball. The game was literally over. There was one player between the A and the B gap. There was one player between the center and the two guards. Miami decided to set up in that spot. Like, we know you're not going to sneak it.

Like, if that's Tom Brady, if that's Jimmy Garoppel, if that's anyone, you're just tapping the center on the butt and you're going to half a yard and it's over. And Mahomes, they haven't... They don't like it. Well, they haven't done it once since he got hurt doing it. So you either got to be able to run forward with Pacheco for a yard or in that scenario, you have to give him the choice to do it.

One last thing I want to say on this game is I think Brett Veach is loving this game because Trent McDovey made that play. And Trent McDovey might make the Pro Bowl this year as a cornerback. And Trent McDovey is on the Kansas City Chiefs in part, in large part, because they traded Tyree Kel. He, they ended up making trade so it's not as like thin, as clean, but they got Trent McDovey in the trade for Tyreek Hill. And this is the vision.

Not that he's going to replace him, but here's the vision. We're going to get a couple picks, including one first rounder, a premium player. They ended up getting McDuffie and Carlisthus in that draft, and those are two premium players. They absolutely aren't. That's one reason this defense is what it is. But flip side, I think Brett Beach would acknowledge, like, yeah, not only have we not replace Tyreek Hill, like it is potentially our Achilles heel this season. You know what's gone?

The BAPs. the big ass plays. They're just gone from the offense. And that's what Mahomes built his legend on. And he was able to win the Super Bowl last year and the MVP without BAPs also. But now you're stripping off another layer this year. And there's just, it's not bad.

You play to win the game. It's seven and two. They're a different sort of team. I know. I understand. Maybe I'm just a little. I kind of wanted 41.38 today. Yeah,

I'm with you. I think Frankert wanted it. But you know what? They ended up getting, I was worried. When it was 21 nothing, I'm like, man, is that, is this, they going to get a stinker? I can't believe it. And I was the one early in September saying, let's let the cheese figure this out. But I'm just, I guess the reason I'm now with like, um, honking about this is, it's like, we're a little too late in the season now.

And again, after the trade deadline to still be asking, when are they going to figure things out? They are the, they're a, I would say because of the schedule, they're a sizable favorite to be the one seed. you are less concerned than I maybe but no I'm just saying just they're seven and two and their schedule and I hear you and you have every right to be confident in the team and I like there's seven to two with Mahomes

and Reed and things could be a lot worse it's just a little strange watching them now just weird all right you know what else is weird I did like the ref making a call in German oh yeah out of the gate I'm sure that was planned just

here's not offense Number 83. I don't know. Are we going to have to be hooked on phonics for this game? Was that? Did he say false start in German?

It's a VAR, Rich. It's a VAR. Oh, goodness. It's Chis Claypool. Moving. That game happened about 27 hours ago. It just came to my mind now. But like it was, it seemed like they probably...

6.30 a.m. kickoffers. I think they cooked that up probably before. Like, the guy knew he would be saying that line. But there you go. You know what else is weird? Remember, on this very show, a Sunday late in the season when we were like freaking out because Lovie Smith

I don't even remember the circumstances anymore but wild stuff went down that allowed the Texans to win a game that allowed the number one overall pick to go to Chicago. Oh, does that? Greg love that game. And it was the Texans now locked in at number two and there was so much freaking out about it because why would Houston win that absurd game

and they were not going to get the guy that they want davis mills his finest moment against the cold right and so that led to uh the carolina panthers trading for the first pick and getting bryce young and we'll get to that later and the texans having to quote settle for cj stroud that feels like a very silly thought now first down of the butts 15 10 seconds to go cj gets the snap CJ looking, throwing to the end zone. Yes, yes, yes. And Dale with the reception, rock and roll. My goodness.

What a comeback. Oh, you got it. Oh, it deserves it. You got it. Strut. Strut. Stroud. Strap.

Stroth, Stroud, Stroud, Stroud, Stroud, Stroud, Strop, Strop. C.J. Stroud threw for five touchdown. and a rookie record, 470 yards. What? The final yardage and touchdown coming on a brilliant touchdown drive when they were down four with less than a minute to go. And I love this quote. Shout out to the AP.

Here's what he said. Give me the ball. Call the plays. I'm going to make the plays. And he did. He's a rookie lifting the Texans to a 39, oh, keep it going. Lifting the Texans to a 39, 37 win over the bucks. Let's welcome in a friend.

Mark Vandemeyer's got, he's got that rock and roll play call. We're going to start hearing that again. Nick Shook. We got you one and done today, but man, it's quite a one. CJ Stroud, he just locked up, he just locked up rookie of the year. Offense rookie of the year. And I'm wondering where he's going to be on the next QB index. Top top, top eight.

Let's go. It's tough that you'll do this to me right now. I mean, what was it? In 12, 13 for a while, 470 yards. You just said it, the rookie record for most yards in a game. He also posted the highest next gen stats passing score of any quarterback in the league on Sunday at 96. And it was a game that was absolutely fitting of that score. Do I, can I explain that score to you?

Please do it. Okay. But, no, we got to keep moving. Yes. Yeah, yes, exactly. Guys, this is a game in which the Buccaneers went to halftime in relative control. Okay. Let me just break this down for you real quick.

They come out. They kick a field goal. It's 20 to 10 early third. From then on, they were outscored 29 to 17. The, the Texans drives from there. This is how stupid this is. From their first possession in the start of the third quarter, go touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, field goal, kicked by a running back, Dario Ngublewale, by the way.

Oh, we'll get to that. Kami Fairbairn was smart. Punt and then a touchdown drive that covered 75 yards in 40 seconds with no timeouts with a rookie quarterback. Okay, this was one of the greatest games I think I've ever seen, not because it was perfectly played football, but just because it was incredibly thrilling. It had everything. And the final play of significance made me shout in my future mother-in-law's spare bedroom at her house.

Okay, that's the type of game it was. Nicholas, are you okay? Luckily, she wasn't here. I can't believe this buck's defense, too, it's a sign that the way they've constructed this roster where like Carlton Davis is getting all this money and their defense is getting all there and they're built on this defense. And Davis gets fried for three touchdowns in this game and they give up 39 points. to a rookie on the road. Like, even if they had found a way to win this game, it's sort of an indictment on the structure.

Like, what is it about Stroud and Dell and Dalton Schultz who was getting after it? Noah Brown, who had a 75-yarder and Nico Collins. Like, what did you see today from them that just, like, made this performance special? It was interesting because the first half, it was a lot of C.J. Stroud kind of hanging on to the ball for a while and not really being too sure of where he wanted to go with it.

And then it started to open up with some deep passes over the middle, the deep ends, kind of the thing that you see Miami do so well. Houston started to do that well. But what was most intriguing to me was something that Charles Davis pointed out in the broadcast, which is that a sign of respect or appreciation for who C.J. Stroud is at this point in his very young career was Todd Bulls calling off the blitz, which I think hurt them because he realized I can't afford to sacrifice those defenders to create pressure.

I need them in coverage except Stroud sat back and picked them apart. I mean, dimes all over the field. It was poised. It's a lot of the stuff that we've talked about with Stroud for most of this season, but it was just amplified. Fourth down. Fourth in goal, they can't kick a field goal because they don't have a kicker. What does he do? He finds Dalton Schultz in the right corner of the end zone with a perfectly placed pass. They need a huge conversion late in the game. He drops a dime on tank Dell the next play he throws the game winning touchdown. It was that type of play from the

second half on. It wasn't a four quarter performance. They went to halftime he had 130 passing yards. He finishes with 470. An absolute second half explosion. It's halftime adjustments. and it's a guy really dealing with adversity and proving to be wise beyond his years, which has been the story for this season and why I think the Texans fans have every reason in the world to be so optimistic about their future

because they have their guy. They have a nice little home. Everything changes for Texans fans. I mean, you have to win or lose. What is happening right now is like a franchise altering moment. And we came into this year kind of wondering like, is C.J. Stroud at a disadvantage

because we don't really, if anything, we're curious about the lack of talent around them. They have three 100-yard pass catchers today. They don't run the ball that really well. That doesn't matter. They're terrible. They had zero run. They literally are the worst running team in the league.

This time was Devin Singletary's turn and absolutely nothing, 13 for 26. Yeah, I just, I think the thing I took away was after Baker Mayfield goes and does what he does, this is a rookie. The look in C.J. Stroud's eyes was one of total calm, like on the sideline. And then he just goes in there and, like, executes complete magic. And it's like, this is a quarterback. that is change he is the one of the biggest stories of the entire season and this fan base was lost at sea and now there's like intense hope and that's that's how quickly it can happen it's and and the texans now and quite frankly before everything that turned his career into what it was or what it is now they had a guy and doshan watson that looked like it was the future and some organizations walk the walk the earth for decades looking for a guy and they might have found another one here in strad i never thought i'd live to see the day that

Dalton Schultz went 10 for 1.30 in a game. Three players on the, on the, uh, Texans went over 114 yards receiving in this game. And it does cover up because I want to just give them a little love here, uh, that Baker and the buck's offense had kind of been in a funk, uh, the last few weeks. And, and he had led, Baker led a great drive late in the fourth quarter to put them ahead and it looked like it was a game winning touchdown pass to Kate Auden. Um, and it wasn't enough. Yeah, the Buccaneerner. I thought finally kind of lift themselves out of the doldrums offensively. A lot of that had to do with Rashad White, who finally started to find some success on the ground.

It started to happen, I think, in the week prior, but really picked up this time. He's also a good pass catcher. He totaled over 100 yards from scrimmage combined between those two efforts. And he found Mike Evans for a long pass that ended up on the goal line. They were converting. They were keeping up. It's just that they gave Houston a little bit of a peek through the door and they went right through the door. They just knocked it down.

I'll tell you what. You talk about Deshaun Watson and how he had that period with them and how he was, you know, superstar and everything else. If it's me right now, if I had to pick between Deshawn Watson and C.J. Stroud and building a franchise, it sounds hyperbolic, but I'm saying it definitively. It's C.J. Stroud. The kid has an incredibly bright future. This is like a Justin Herbert level effect with the Texans, I think that we're going to see. I don't think that's a hot take. I think there's probably about 30 front offices that would be right there with you. I think also like the Bobby

Sloic, you know, Chanahan-esque offense has a little, this is a well-coached team. Like, kind of all over. It's a complete sea change from what they went through the last two years. I love this list, but I'm glad Stroud got to the top of the... This is a record, by the way. Most yards in a game, that's a big time record. Especially because there's... It's actually a lot of, like, slightly older players at the top of list. So I was like, wow, he's going to pass all these legends of the game.

The list is kind of bizarre. Mark Bulger was next. But he was like an old weird rookie that was somewhere else before. Aaron Brooks, underrated career, but still. Jeff Garcia, an even older rookie. He was like 30 when he was a rookie. I don't know what he was doing. And then Kellyn Moore.

Kellan Moore threw for 435 yards. No, he didn't. It was like one of those week 18 games where no, or 17 games where no starters were playing, I think. But yeah. Have we heard from Dimeco Ryan's on the show? Let's listen to Dimeco Ryan on his young star quarterback. It's a gusty performance from him, right?

It wasn't all clean, but he gutted it out. He was tough in the pocket, made some plays, right? Made some big time throws for us. And the receivers, they were reliable for him. They made those catches. They made tough catches, made big plays for us. So it's all those guys working together. But CJ was just a very gutsy performance by him.

And before we say goodbye to Shook and good job. D'Amico Rines. I think he's going to stick for more than one year. Coach of the year. It's funny how it works out. It's funny how you get coach of the year sometimes when, you know, a quarterback falls into your lap like that. Not taking anything away from him.

That's pretty nice too. Yeah. It makes you look good having a great young quarterback. The Texans running back. who kicked the field goal because the kicker was hurt say his name for me shook so i don't mess it up darya ogunboale let's listen to the call um on k ilti al tughan boale the running back for the lead snap is down the kick is up and it's good darya guanboale for three and the texans are back in front are you kidding

changing of the game today and how it's played and how rosters are filled out. That is a stretch. I'm okay. Well, I think at least we might have seen Gumbawale's career extended a couple of years. Just like, let's keep him on our special teams for a while. We got a nice backup picker. Is that a joke? I hope it was.

I hope he's just having fun. He's caught in the moment. He's enjoying himself. Anyway, bottle service, Daray. You could stay all night. Yeah. Chuck, thanks, bud. Hey, he's got the best swag of any kicker in history with the dark visor.

You'll never see that again. You'll never see it again. It's such a good call. All right. Thank you, buddy. See it. Imagine, I imagine Shook on like in a nightclub.

He would take up some real estate. His fist pumps and knock you out. I can imagine him working the front door like your ass out. Yeah, he would fit as a, he is a bouncer architect. That's fair. Yeah. But you could obviously see Shook in a bouncer roll. yeah but imagine him owning the dance floor and it's like people are giving him a wide

birth because it was immense size and strength but the ladies they're still finding their way the show like you've spent some time pondering this let's move on uh let's head to the other big fun surprise silly quarterback performance it went down in atlanta 11th play of a 69 yard possession. Dobbs back to pass on third down. He stays in the pocket. Fires to the end zone. Touchdown! Brandon Powell, the former Falcon has beaten the Atlanta Falcons with a six-yard touchdown pass from Josh Dobbs, 3028 Minnesota, with 20 seconds ago. Oh. He did it.

They say you never go double bongos. You want double bongos? Love it. It's a big week. I think it's worth it. These two games are so, they're bongos. They're bongo worthy. This is like dropping the A bomb and not like having any meetings beforehand.

You just hit the button. But I like it. Dropping it twice. It was bold. But you know, it's interesting. Because you know I love the bongos. but actually I think I would like you to play another song if you may

producing Eric from the chair and I think Eric knows what I'm talking about hmm hmm you know the team of ATL crank it the team

team of ATL Only one team can earn the right Now's the time to shine a light On the team R-R-A-T-M-E-N-A-T-L This is a very special honor Entering Sunday I had already given up

Even the thought that it could be something that was still in play for 2023. We said it was too late. It felt like it was. And then a couple things happened. The Kirk Cousins injury. The spirited play of the Vikings in recent weeks. Josh Dobbs ending up on the roster.

And then Josh Dobbs just, he doesn't even know the names of his teammates. Never needs to. But he knows how to make them winners. It's like a redo of what we saw with Baker. in the Rams last year, the ubiquitous journeyman through two touchdown passes, including a go-ahead six-yard to Brandon Powell, 22 seconds of play. He ran for a score five days as well, five days after being acquired in a trade, 31-28 outlasting the Falcons. And Greg, I'm not saying, you know,

this is, we have to vote on these things. But it's interesting, it's interesting that the Vikings are supposed to be dead. And yet, there's a lot to root for for this team, including this quarterback who seems to keep Forrest Gumping his way into very interesting places in his life. I mean, there is something about this team. They have got juice. They have got mojo, whatever you want to say.

This player, Josh Dobbs, maybe he could just be the player of ATL. I mean, we've been honking about him all year, enjoying him. And what he did today was special. And the way that they talked about it after the game that, look, he hadn't introduced himself to anyone yet. O'Connell is literally describing the plays into the headset as he's talking to him. Like, okay, first, you know, he's going this way and then to do this and this, that.

And Dobbs is able to process it all. And it's not because, like, oh, they had a second, a change of heart and Jaron Hall was struggling or that Dobbs ended up starting this game, surprisingly. No, Jaron Hall actually went down the field and looked quite good. the rookie quarterback right off the bat. He was five for six for 78 yards and had a couple rushes, but he gets a concussion on a running play. And Dobbs comes in there after not taking any snaps all weeks and his fourth down scramble to get away from Falcons defenders and eventually pick up the first down on the game winning drive for 22 yards. To me, was one of the

NFL plays of the season, Mark. It's almost like a redundant tail in the sense that Dobbs has done this three places now. And I mean, the one, O'Connell did say like, you know, but he didn't win the first ones in the other place. No, this is, no. It just was like, Tennessee last year. Right. But he was like, he was like respect. He played well and gave a good.

But there was a drum beat of this play. This one finishes too. There was a drum beat of this play in Arizona. And I know that it was like, oh, we don't live enough with the with the cardals and stuff. But it was like Dobbs was doing this, especially on the ground. I mean, we even had like an NFL plus segment about Dobbs's ground ability. It's like he led them in rushing today. Who I heard that segment?

Yeah. You. Just say I. I because you wanted to spotlight that. Well, no, but it's a team effort. But like, um. It was very flashpoint focus of you. Well, also, I was thinking we did it like, well, this is going to get snowed under because it's not timely.

He may not even start this week, but bang, like the NFL God said, that will not be the way it is. I would back this as team of ATL in a second because we're right back to them winning strange one-score games with a quarterback who's got a little bit of magic to him. And it doesn't matter what's happening around them. I mean, you want to, in terms of like the story around it, two weeks ago, you nominated them for the fork. And that was when they still had Kirk Cousins. yeah there's something interesting you did i don't recall that but does anybody remember anything oh yeah that's right that's right um let's let's let's let's let this let's sit on this for a couple days okay and we'll i would just say the team we just talked about the texans are in that world for me

too so they're very similar they're both angling for the seven seed right now let's come back to that on wednesday show how about that but yeah but jaron hall poor kid he he he does look pretty good early on and then he makes a faithful decision uh to believe that his legs and the speed that he had in college was enough to get to the pylon and the NFL and gets absolutely destroyed at the goal line which leads to him leaving the game quickly and sets it up for Dobbs.

And it's very easy to just do like the glossed over version of this and be like Dobbs was amazing. And what, but he was a nightmare early on. And it felt like it was going to be. He took a safety and then he had really bad ball security and lost a fumble immediately after that that set up. Atlanta first and goal from the one.

Of course, they didn't score a touchdown. And of course, they didn't give it to be John Robinson three times at the goal line in that spot. Maddening. That's the falcon. But at least they got it to Johnny Smith twice. Tried to. But once Dobbs got settled into the game, that's when he really started to cook. And it's just a credit to him because that's a nearly impossible situation.

So, you know, credit to the Vikings who started O and three. And they are in playoff position in the NFC. And they've done it without Justin. Jefferson for a month and he's going to be, I think he could come back as soon as what next week? He could. I think the latest reporting calls some question whether it'll be that quick, but we'll see. And they lose KJ. Osborne to a concussion in this game as well. Running back Cam Acres, who's already dealt with an Achilles injury in his career, had another Achilles injury in this game. That is the, so I don't know if it's, you know, the end type of Achilles

injury, but that doesn't sound great at all. Their left tackle got hurt during the week. Derisaw, who's a pro bowler and ended up getting downgraded on the injury report. They didn't have him either, and they won. So from 0 and 3 to 5 and 4, and, yeah, it was a really, it was a fun game to watch. And it just shows you, you know, the power of these games sometimes where you just don't know what's going to happen. I don't even know how they were competitive, the Vikings, and they win somehow. I've got a, I've got a theory, their opponent. that they were playing the Atlanta Falcons,

a team that looks at opportunity and looks at great players, and they just find a way to blow it, to blow things. And Heineke, you know, you watched it closer than me, but I was keeping an eye on this one because I was just fascinated by it. And he made some mistakes, but he made some good plays, too. Like, they were running the ball. Like, this is a team that I just don't trust them.

It was why I said it on the preview. I was like, four and a half points is way too much for this, Falcons team against any team with some self-belief. And there's something about him that's just, it's just bad vibes. Was Heineke any, was it another an uptick over Ritter? Or is it just like the Heineke, we've seen in the back. Definitely an uptick because I think Ritter is one of the worst quarterbacks in the league. Heineke is, uh, he was true to foreign, basically.

Yeah. And what Greg said is true is that, uh, he plays with that. He plays with more confidence than perhaps he should. Uh, and he, he threw the ball a lot. He pushed the ball down field. He had a very bad interception in the third. quarter that really hurt them. They really is a game that. Also had a game

winning drive. Like they should have won the game. They go up four with two minutes to go after like their best drive of the game. They had multiple opportunities that first and goal from the one as an example. And there were different spots in this game where they should have really took control and instead they left the door open, which is like the opposite of

like the Eagles and the chiefs of the world. Like middling teams or poorly coached middling teams always seem to find a way to let teams back in and blow games. And I think if things are evening out for the Falcons after kind of being on the lucky side of the ledger early on. The Senate of C South is gross. And this seven seed for Minnesota, it's attainable.

You look at their schedule. If they can settle Dobbs in there, I'm assuming he'll keep the starting job if Hall gets healthy, but who knows? You got it now, right? Yeah, I don't think you ship. Because this is all they, when they pulled the trigger. I think they were excited about Hall and then they were excited how that went. So it was a tough break for him as a rookie, but yes.

But now that you saw it, you saw Dobbs. The thought in that building now is, okay, now let's get him comfortable. Let's actually hear him like, you know, he can learn some of the names of his teammates. So let's actually hear Josh Dobbs introduce himself at his post game pressure. What's up, y'all. Josh Dobbs, honored to be in Minnesota, introduced myself to everyone. Oh, class act. What a flex.

And you mentioned that this is not the first time he's been thrown into. active duty out of nowhere. That's all he does. He's comparing this to when he got thrown into the playoff, basically a play-in playoff game last January. Here's what he said about that. Last year in Tennessee so we had

per se a couple first team reps. We played on a Thursday. So, played Saturday to Thursday game. So a quick turnaround late in the season second of the last week of the season. So it didn't get a ton of reps, but we at least got two walkthroughs, a chance to communicate it on the same page. This one,

was, you know, kind of like, learn as you go, hair is on fire, hold onto your seat. But guys were able to respond. You know, obviously being in a similar situation allowed me to be able to, you know, not be too prideful. Communicate when I don't know what's going on, but also tell the coaches, hey, what I need to be successful. That is a fiery leader, and nice job by the Cardinals giving away your best quarterback. Wow, I don't think they regret it.

I think Kyler Murray is probably a little better. Not anymore. I guess. Don't agree. I think they're angling to get an even better quarterback in April. See how that works. I think everything ended in its right place, which is Dobbs in the middle of a playoff race.

All right, let's take a break. See, let's ruminate. Let's just let that sink in. Team of around the NFL nominee, Minnesota Vikings. Got some candidates. And some competition. All right, let's take a break. All right, we're back.

It's time now for the Sunday Drive presented by the first ever Toyota Grand Highlander. Hit it, Eric. Mark Andrews alone, split to the left. Inside handoff, Keith Mitchell, praise and tackle. He's in the 35, 30, leg race, 20, rookie to the 10, touchdown, Ravens. Keaton Mitchell, and with 29 seconds left in the third quarter, the Hayes in the barn. Hey, that was Jerry Sandesky, of course, WBAL. Hey, Keaton Mitchell, you're a celebrity now.

The 5'8 undrafted rookie from East Carolina, a child, practically, who had zero NFL carries before Sunday, ran for a buck 38 and his first pro touchdown. And the Ravens absolutely hammer. Greg's beloved Ravens absolutely hammer. Greg's beloved Seahawks, 373. Um, Greg, I think I kind of hinted at it on Thursday. I didn't love your decision to lock against Gino because you've been kind of defending Gino for weeks. Yeah.

Like you're kind of maybe getting a little contrarian like and, and pushing back against this idea that Gino hasn't been playing well. Yeah. And then I didn't see this game, but it doesn't appear that Gino played well once more and the result in part is a total blowout. I, I'm with you. I'm with you, but I think if Gino is your main takeaway, you've got

a major agenda. I'm just saying the fact that you locked against Gino after telling me for a month straight that you're not watching I locked it because I think the Ravens are the best team in the league. That's like I think it's not even that close. And so I'm going to be locking them when I can. They're

going up two teams, a six and two teams. You put us in a tough situation. That's all. You know, some would say it was, you know, foresight. Five hundred and 15 yards to 151. I haven't seen two lines as uneven in this NFL season. The Ravens ran for 7.7 yards per carry today, not counting the two kneel downs at the end.

They had 300 yards before the neodons. Keaton Mitchell is a dude. He had more yards over-expected than any runner in three years in this game. Where was this guy in the practice squad? He was hurt earlier in the year, an undrafted rookie that they had some high hopes for. I believe, and then, yeah, kind of getting ready to play. And almost every one of his runs, he broke a tackle or showed really special speed. Gus Edwards is obviously running really well.

They are a truly dominant offensive line right now. They're on a heater. And that's kind of why I'm just with the Ravens because they have two dominant lines. They have the offensive line that did that. Then they have the defensive line, which held Seattle to 1.9 yards per carry. So right there, the running game, it's all. over there. Gino Smith was harassed. He was sacked. He made bad decisions, certainly in this game, but the pocket was collapsing on him almost every play in the first half of this game. And when they

didn't, they batted down his passes three times to end drive. So this thing was a total woodshed situation, but they're scary, 29 first downs mark to six. And that is not, that is not about a quarterback. It's not about Lamar or Gino. It's not about anything other than that. and one team just beating the ever-living crap out of the other team on both sides. And beating the ever-living crap out of a good team from the NFC. A good run defense, too, by the way, going into this game. Right. They shattered the lions.

They've done this weeks later. And this was a team that, you know, came into the season with a new offense. And it looked that way, even when we were back in London. They look a completely different team at this point. And it's like if you can, if we're in November, if you can control the offensive line and the defensive line, this way. I mean, there really is probably no ceiling to them. I mean, Seattle's had a number of games where they ran the ball really well, and it's like 1.9 yards per carry. Kenneth Walker completely removed. And you've got guys like, if you're the Ravens, Keaton Mitchell, out of nowhere, becoming

a star. You pick up Kyle Van Nuoy having a big game. It's like they're doing everything right, and you didn't need to put everything on Lamar Jackson alone today. He's got all these pieces around him. Very scary situation for the AFC North and the rest of the AFC. Lamar didn't even play in the fourth quarter. So you get, and they had more sacks and points allowed in this game. And it just, it just, this is Greg, if you're a Ravens fan, you just want to make sure this keeps rolling and you're not peaking too soon. Because right now, it's, you know, if I was still in the power rankings game, this team has a very real case now to be number one for the, the play they put together really going back now about a month. Right.

It's, it's them getting healthier. I think on the offensive line was. step one. And even in the secondary, they have gotten healthier. A lot of those, they had so many injuries early and they were surviving him and then they get these guys back. But you mentioned Van Nuoy, Madabike, like Brandon Washington. They were just, they're all controlling it. And Tony Romo, I think, did a good job describing why Mike McDonald's so tough to play against, the defensive coordinator, just that every snap, they're like lining up. They look the exact same. And then they scramble you by moving post-snap and mixing up the coverages and being so unpredictable.

I think that's really good against good mental quarterbacks like a Gino-Smith where Gino's just holding the ball and doesn't know what he's seen. And I think that bodes well for matchups against the Burroughs and Mahomes and Josh Allen, that it gives you a chance that they're a really well-coached.

It's not just about talent. They're a really, really well-coached defense. The only defense, Dan, that has a better percentage of, since the merger of touchdowns allowed per drive is the 2,000 Ravens. That's where the 23 Ravens are right now. I'm not saying they're that good schedule is a big part of it,

but when they've played pretty good offense is Seattle and Detroit, they've laid it on them too. Gino completed fewer than 50% of his passes through an interception. Lost the fumble too. That one wasn't really on him, but he could have had another interception. Are we about to go to our third Raven Super Bowl in our time here, Dan? No. Well, we don't know that.

That's four straight games. James Regino with at least two turnovers in a row. So there, listen, Drew Lox's backup. So that's, we're not there yet. But he's got to start cleaning things up. Uh, we'll see if he does. But man. Ravens, man.

They're good. You don't want to peak early though. You don't want to peak early, but you also want to win your division. You'd love to get as high a seat as possible. I know who's nervous about the Ravens guy in the black jacket right there. Why? Browns are up next. I mean, they, they shattered the Browns a couple weeks ago.

I think the Browns should be nervous. I don't feel too much about it. We'll see what happens there. So we're just lying to each other. No, but it's like, I mean, go take care of business if you're for real. We'll get to the Browns down the road. And that was the Sunday Drive presented by Toyota. Let's go places.

Learn more at Toyota.com slash Grand Highlander. All right. Let's keep moving. I mean, the lock competition's over. I mean, you are just, you want to talk about hot. I think it ended a couple weeks ago. It's over. Yeah.

Enough with this and that's not true. How many times do you lost so far? One. I mean. We all lost it together, actually. Give him a little round of applause. Give him a, give Greg the lock competition is already over on November 5th round of applause. Yeah, I stopped thinking about it around Columbus Day.

We're literally, we've got like 60% of the season to go. We're nine weeks through. I know, but Greg, that's how you'd answer anything to do. It's 22 weeks out of 22 weeks. This is about how we feel. All right, let's head to the Super Dome. Up by seven. Two-16 to play in the football game.

Come on, Dyson, do something, kid. Looking to four, he's in from behind. And the ball is out. The ball is out. Still out. He's a lot of Pete Warner picks it up. Pete Warner has it inside the 20. The Saints did yet another turnover.

Forced by DeMario Davis and then Pete Werner finally picked it up. Wow, what a huge play. The Saints are. roller coaster my cost with the call there w w l this is a game that you know they kept leaving that door open for the bears they should have closed the game out in a couple different ways uh in the second half and they just couldn't do it because that's just this team that's in their DNA but also in their DNA is when their defense gets hot they cause a lot of ruckus and they did uh against the bears forcing five turnovers uh intercepting Tyson badgent three times

they recovered two fumbles and that final play was the difference in a 24 to 17 win. That was DeMario Davis Sack, Pete Werner with the recovery. So the Saints get it done. Winning the turnover battle, 5-0 will typically do that. There was a crazy stat out there, Greg, that they're one of the few teams in the last like 20 years, I want to say, that were plus five in turnovers and still didn't cover. and that that tells a story of a team that didn't quite take advantage of all their great field position and and what happened after those turnovers. But let's stay positive that the Saints, I believe are in first place in the NFC South as we hit the midpoint of the season.

And there's some things to be positive. On the offensive side of the ball, you have Chris Alave, we were talking about him on Thursday, kind of joined us, rejoined us amongst the living at a touchdown. he made some plays. Derek Carr is playing mistake-free football. And Taysam Hill is really, he's on a heater as well right now. He had a touchdown reception. He had a touchdown pass. And I feel like, Mark, they've found a nice little flow to this offense now where it's

Carr, it's Taysam, it's Kamara, and a team that's had a lot of trouble in the red zone. you saw some of that starting to melt away in this game because they're starting to just kind of find their identity a little bit on offense. At last, I don't like the game ending with downs, a punt, a misfield goal,

and the end of the game there for the Saints. But I think you're getting, I mean, Carr, if he's healthy, last couple of weeks, there's some hope there. I do think that they continue to be like a nasty secondary.

And it helps to play a Bears team that I think has been better of recent weeks, but you're still dealing with Tyson, I mean, like, like this is that, that should be a gimmy and like they're you know they're five and four they've got the second third most wins in the nfc i mean but i don't know if i trust them at all i mean bayon puts up you know 220 yards average of 7.3 yards per cent they actually outgain the saints they

there were moments where it's surprising was actually moving the ball well and he plays with the it's not like first half they did pretty yeah he plays he plays with some like swagger again maybe a little bit unearned at this level but still you like it like he obviously believes in himself. And, uh, but he started throwing the ball up for grabs and that's never going to end well. I want to give also a special shout out on the defensive side of the ball to cornerback Paulson Debo. Um, the, the defensive player of the week award, it's a wrap. Uh, two interceptions. He forced the fumble and he recovered a fumble. Um, so that is, that's like the, the equivalent of like the egot, you know, when you get the Emmy, the Grammy, the Oscar and

the Tony. Yes. I mean, that's, that's for a defender. He did that. They gave that out weekly. He is coming off as good at two games as a cornerback can possibly have. No doubt last week was the best game of Paulson of Devo's career. I was really surprised when he won the starting job over Alante Taylor. They ended up moving in the slot. That is a great cornerback trio with a Devo playing like that. So it sounds like Montez Sweat played well too, led the bears and pressures.

Yep. He popped up here and then not a dominant outing, but obviously he makes them better. And I thought in general, and Justin Fields is next. throwing so he's edging towards playing they're on a short week this week so you'll probably get one more page and start but there were things to like they looked like a professional offense in this game lukez he called a good game but the the turnovers just killed them and that will do it we should mention uh montes sweat signed a monster extension you know what i loved about that last week yeah it happened like over it's like last week he's like you know yeah i'm interested

potentially but i want to take a little bit of time and see that thursday yeah what i feel about you know, like my experience here, like, bang, two days later, a ton of guarantee money. Let's do it. Yeah, here would you like four years and, uh, what was it, $98 million extension? And people are going crazy. Like, oh, they paid too much. And it's like, oh, calm down. It was, first of all, was the extension.

So if you do the whole deal, it was like 20 per year. It's like, that's what they would, he would have cost more than that in free agency. I actually, it's weird to be defending the Bears front office, but I have no problem with that trade and definitely don't have a problem with that contract after the trade. No, and you know he's, going to, he's a consistently right. He's a good player and like it'll look good in a year or two. And my last

thought on this game bringing it back to, you know, Taysam Hill, who's 33 now, former BYUute quarterback, a favorite of Wes back in the day. He, after when he caught the touchdown in this game, he became the first NFL player since

Giants Hall of Famer Frank Gifford who retired you know, 50 years ago, 60 years ago to score 10 or more times each as a passer, 11 times, runner 26 times, and a receiver 10 times. Dennis Allen said after the game, that's pretty impressive, right? Half the guys in our locker room

would have no idea who Frank Gifford was. And sure enough, Taysam Hill was not aware who Frank Gifford was. And this would be the point where I would do that and I would get really like up on my high horse about it. However, I'm like 25, 20 years younger or older than all these players. And I only really knew Frank Gifford

because he was Catholic. husband for the most part. And the Monday night football announcer, but yeah, I mean. So I can't like get like this is that was a long time ago and it's more a tribute to how he is one of one in this league. You might not think he's like

a big time player, but nobody else does what he does. This year he is a big time player. He led them in rushing today by 20, he doubled Calvin Camarra. I mean, it's kind of ridiculous. I mean, Sean Payton signed into those three or four contract extensions over the course I know those contracts don't look as bad anymore.

I'm like actually, you know, 13 of years. not too crazy for Taysam. Greg, this is always a dark portion of the show for a certain segment of our listeners. It was once the throne of ease. It's not so easy in New England. Sleasy. It's pretty sleazy-in-fact.

Let's head to Gillette. Snap to Jones. Washington brings forward. Pressure up the middle. Throws over the center of the field. That was popped up the air. Picked off. It is picked off.

Cuan Martin at the 32-yard line. And Washington's going to get a win. England they had not had a turnover yet there you go they get it and it is the young guy kwan martin all right game over bainstein and julie donaldson with the call wb ig yes mac jones through that interception would you say guan martin kwan i'm seeing as jartis in a different spot. That's his nickname, though. It goes by that, yeah.

All right. Well, good job. By Mr. Martin, whose interception helped hold off the Patriots 20 to 17. It is the first game, obviously, for the commanders after trading away, both young and sweaty. And it is a game in which Mack Jones was outplayed by Sam Howell, who threw for 325 yards and a game tying touchdown. Mark Sessler. what was going on there today. Patriots made it interesting out of the gate.

This was the game that happened, huh, Mark? Well, it was a slightly flavorless game, to be honest. The Patriots kind of just did Patriots things from wire to wire. But I thought you got the best throw of Mack Jones' season. When you say that, what does that mean? This year, dull to the eyes, not productive, like not a lot of inspiration on offense. They crack through that with the throw I just mentioned, though. Got it.

A touchdown to Hunter Henry was. the kind of throw that makes you believe in Mac Jones, but then he's going to go do things later in the game that erase that belief to some degree. Remandre Stevenson had a 64-yard run for a touchdown, and Jalen Rager and Cole Strange on that, you've got to watch this, like, some great blocking on that. And so it's like the Patriots were hanging around,

but I think for me, I come out of this game that, yes, Washington, move on from those defensive linemen, move on and away from this season spiritually and probably their head coach, but I kind of believe in Sam Howell. I know we've sort of seen evidence week after week, but he was doing some wild stuff in this game where it's like he just seems to see the field in a certain way,

do stuff kind of off schedule, and then has the daring do to whip the ball where he wants to and some incredible things unfurled in this. I thought that, you know, this is a classical Bill Belichick will take someone like Sam Howell and put him in a blender, but I think the opposite happened, where he made enough kind of throws and unpredictable in certain terms of like not what you'd expect

where he'd go with the ball and it was successful. And I come away at least believing in their passing game and believing in what he can do in every possible way. The problem is the odds on him having the same coordinator next year. I don't think that... I don't think that will, like, really matter, though. I don't think... Why not?

I don't think that's... Because I don't think this is like a Washington... How about this? How about this? From this perspective... I think it's really well coached. If we all agree that... And I know the commanders, and I think a large... portion of their fan base, if not all of them,

see this kid as somebody with an actual future at this point, that he could be a guy for them. You've got to make decisions that put him in the best position to be successful. So, like, I know after the young and sweaty trade, the idea is that we're heading towards a cleaning of the house, but, you know, what if they keep winning and they hang around in this NFC playoff race?

Is it actually not the house cleaning that's coming and the change behind the scenes? And maybe that's more, if they actually really do think they might have something here, that kind of changes a lot around how you view where they're going. Well, it also could potentially, if they really played well offensively, be a candidacy for Eric B. Enemy to just stay, and Ron Rivera goes. Like, I like that better.

You're not losing, like, you're not losing, like, O.C. every week. I mean, he just, I think, like, he seems to thrive. I know he had a terrible interception in this game, too. And that's going to come when you're, when you're young and you're just beginning to do all this. But, like, on third and long in certain situations, like, he just uses his legs. He got them out of jams. Like, certain throws.

Like, it's like, the situation never seems too big to him. And, like, the deeper, the holder in, it's like, he's the kind of quarterback that gets you out of it. And he did it a number of times today. I just think that the Patriots are so sloppy. Like, special teams penalties. They benched J.C. Jackson and Jack Jones to start the game and won't say why. Like, that, when you said, like, Patriots thing. Well, Belich just said they played.

Like, but they each one set out the first two or three drives and the other set out the entire first quarter and they wouldn't say why. They're the usual starters. It's probably some punishment that he doesn't want to talk about and just it's a lot of that. And then the game ends with a good enough pass from Mack Jones, a pretty good pass actually

into a very tight window. And I saw something on Patriots.com that he threw into tight windows something like, you know, three times as much as Sam Howell because other offenses actually create open, receivers, but the Patriots don't have the players or the scheme to do so. And Juju Smith-Sewster is one of the worst free agent signings this team's ever had. You know, it goes off his hands to lose the game.

Pretty fitting. Well, and before that, four straight punts. It's just they can't get out of their own way, even in a game where they had some of their better plays early on. Jeff Howe reported that both Jackson and Jones entered the game late due to performance issues, and neither of them seem very happy. Ed said the vibes are not good and the Patriots are. two and seven for the first time since Bill Belichick's first season as head coach way back in

2000. And they're also winless and non-division games. They're the only team in the NFL without a win outside their division. Rough, rough times. Let's take a break and then we'll finish out the games. All right. We're going to keep moving on here. And, you know, after the incredible C.J. Stroud performance, boys, I, um, I actually,

I X to this doesn't still doesn't work I tweeted hey this in the late window this would be a good good day for our guy Bryce Young to throw a couple touchdown passes and have a nice little day and it's not going to be five touchdowns

in 470 yards but don't don't fall on your face and make a uncomfortable situation worse second down at eight the Colts 34 yard line Colts 20 Panthers 10 13 51 to go here in the fourth quarter play action Bryce Young throws it left

time and it's picked off by the Colts we're running the other way with and it's Kenny Morgan he's at the 30 20 15 10 five touchdown two of the day a pick six by Kenny Moore touchdown I in D Y number 23 have a day it's 26 to 10 and you see the shot on the telecast of Bryce Young pulling the chin strap off walking dejectively back to the sideline he threw two pick sixes to Kenny Moore at home on Sunday in Charlotte and the Colts cruise to a 27 to 13 win that snaps a three game losing streak for the Colts and gets them you know back in the AFC playoff hunt Gregie you tell me where you want to start

we could look at from the Bryce Young side of things or we could talk some cults here I want to set up where that pick six came from because it was 20 to 10 at that point Young had probably the worst half of football definitely that I had seen him play seven for 14 for 34 yards in the first half holding the ball too long

had the pick six how was the play calling I know we've had a change in play callers not a I mean not much positive was happening you know that when you're seven for 14 for 35 yards. Just holding the ball and nothing down the field. And then they came out for the second half.

I was thinking the same thing. I was like, okay, let's show up in the second half. Had one of their best drives of the year, I would have said. It wasn't all Bryce Young. It was a running game two. 15 plays. Get a touchdown. Get a stop.

Then he hits a 50-yarder to Hayden Hurst. We're cooking here. Okay. And that was the moment that he threw that pick six. So the air just completely went out of the stadium. And I couldn't help but thinking, man, was that a play where the height did come into play? Because it was a screen pass. You just never expect to pick six on a screen pass.

And the play was blown up a little early. Like the timing was off. But there were multiple defenders and offensive players in between. And he threw, you know, he hit like a four iron when you needed a pitching wedge, you know, to go up nice and high over the thing and have a nice touch pass. That was good off of that. You're an old caddy, aren't you? I was the guy in the bag room that would wash the guy's clubs.

Well, that's not, that is exactly the cat. You watch the balls in the back room. Also, yeah, the clubhouse attendant. Also, if it was raining, you go to the bottom of the hill and you drive the guys up the hill who don't have their own carts or maybe you hold the umbrella stuff. The rich guys. Stuff like that. Yes.

Bryce Young, I mean, I don't think he's going to be working at a golf course or anything like that. I'm not as worried about him. At this pace? That's what I'm saying. I'm not as worried about him as you. I certainly, you know, don't think it's a big deal to me. I know it's uncomfortable for Panthers fans.

But I've seen enough that I'm not worried about him having like a solid NFL career. I've seen high picks look like so much worse than him. I can see it. Everything around him is bad. But it's also obvious that Stroud and even Richardson when he was in there, like showed really special stuff to get more. I'm not saying that I feel like they have a bust on their hands. but it just stinks. I mean, it stinks

or everybody connected to that building right now. I mean, they beat C.J. Stroud and the Texans literally last week. You factored that game in too. I thought he looked good in that game

and he gave me evidence that he can do it. I think it's compared to what we saw C.J. Stroud do in front of a national audience today. Like the Colts end with five scoreless drives and you take away the two pick sixes and the Panthers are right in this. The Colts didn't even top 200 yards. I mean,

Minchu, they had a couple drives early in this game where Taylor got going. They went field goal, touchdown field goal in the second quarter. They only had four drives in the first half. After that, they did absolutely nothing.

The Panthers defense played well enough for them to win. And they didn't. It's tough. This was his worst game, Bryce Young. Even if you took away the pick sixes, I would say this might have been his worst game. And I think that part of it is the disappointment, too,

that did seem set up well for him to take the next step today after having that nice win last week. And you're at home against a struggling Colts team. And it doesn't work out. So Colts have a chance here, by the way. They're four and five. They've got the Patriots in Frankfurt next week on NFL network there. I think they only play two winning teams the rest of the season.

What? Did us? No, Germany, like you try to stay awake watching the Patriots. I mean, that's an old rivalry. Manning Brady, remember? I'm sure we'll see some nice ones. I think they had the second easiest record based on strength of schedule the rest of the way, the Colts. So they can't just, they're not totally out of it either.

They just can't get in their own way because they feel like they're prone to get in their own way a couple more times. I don't think they're built or special enough in any area and with Minchu as their quarterback to win enough of those games. They'll probably more like, you know, go eight and nine, something like that. But they do have a chance. Hey, moving on. You can only play your schedule. and you don't you don't ask for you know you don't give anything back or say oh you shouldn't you know put too much into this game no forget about that because everything evens out

the browns had the cardinals today and they also got Clayton tune and the Browns in that situation absolutely should dominate and that they did my friend Deshawn Watson under center hands at a hunt running right side had some blockers in the backfield there forces his way in for a touchdown. Kareem Hunt on a three-yard touchdown run. He's third of the season. And the Cleveland Browns now have a 26-0-0 lead. And for Kareem Hunt now, he has scored in four straight games for the Browns.

That's four straight with a rushing touchdown, the longest active streak in the NFL. That was very informational. Well, Siciliano. He's on. NFL fast channel this morning. That's where he is. Paul Keels with that call with Nathan Seguera, WKRK. The Cleveland Browns got Deshawn Watson back in the lineup.

He threw two touchdown passes. And then they leaned on a defense that once again dominated in a 27 to Zilch win over the Cardinals. Mark it is the first Brown shutout since? Man, I'd have to go back to. maybe even Bill Belichick in 994? I don't think it was that far back. I will get back.

First shot out since 2007. And you got Watson back. How did Watson back? We'll get to the defense in a bit. You know, I think one thing that's been consistent with that offense is I thought Amari Cooper's sort of shown chemistry

with anyone who's in there to some degree. And there was a great 59-yard pass from Watson to Cooper. Some good things, a little bit better than what we've seen from Watson. also just felt that there were a couple plays where it was like, did this guy, like, work with anyone in the

off season on, like, his... I just seemed like the Deshawn Watson of old. Like, there was some weird footwork in this where he's just throwing the ball. It just didn't look like Deshawn Watson, the guy that we knew. And so it was better than, like, the ugliest aspects we've seen from Watson,

a little bit of an uptick, but I don't trust him right now. Well, he'll have a tough test next week against Baltimore. We'll get to that during the week. I'm with you, by the way. You've been talking about Cooper all season, and it's one of those, like, Cooper's had really great seasons mixed in with lesser.

I don't know why that is, but if he was on a better offense, like, he would be putting up 1,400 yards. Yeah, he's made plays every week. Another helmet ricochet touchdown, which I've never seen before. This was very strange. And now that he has two in the last two or three weeks. Maybe that's in their playbook at this point. It was also how they lost last week's game.

So I guess helmet ricochase give it and helmet ricochet is taking away. That's true. I mean, yeah, and got to watch this game, but statistically Watson looked like he, he played okay and the fact that he made it through the game, they're just, I feel like you're just trying to get to the point where he's no longer, it's like this soap opera around him week to week. Is he going to play? I think we're there. We'll see. If he stays in the lineup and builds off this, we'll see because we've been saying it all year, Mark. If you can just get, you know, solid quarterback play with this defense, you could do damage in the AFC and in that division. They're five and three. And the Cardinals stink. They're one and eight. But again, like this is they can flex on teams. And it is that's, I think a very interesting game next week against the Ravens because it's a real gut check for them. Well, the Ravens totally outclass them in the first matchup. So I think it's like it's an opportunity for Cleveland to suggest who they actually are. This defense though, and yes, it was the perfect situation where Clayton Tune is just simply not ready to play. The team has broken down post Josh Dobbs. They were out yardage. 326 to 58. No, no, no, no. What? That's a typo. No.

They had 58 yards? If I know Mark. The entire game? 58 total yards. They had it. What? They won for 12 on third down. Like I wrote down, you just don't see games like this.

I don't recall. This is like destroying your younger brother in Madden or some sort of computer outpost. If I know you, Mark, and I would have been the same way, so I don't want to project here. I would have been rude. like how those last few Cardinals drives, you're like, don't just get like some random big play. Don't like go on like a 70 yard field go drive. I want these beautiful, ridiculous stats for the podcast later.

They don't deserve to go over 58 yards. Josh, I think it was Dubo of the Associated Press said they're the 14th team since the merger. That's a long time ago to be held under 60 yards. You know who else was hoping that they weren't going to give up a field goal at the end? People like me that started the Browns and fantasy. Oh, I'm sure they get that 29 point out. Here's a parallel, Mark, that I want to tell me if you agree, because we talk about the dolphins when they've been playing lesser opponents, they don't, they don't just beat them with their offense. They embarrass them. They have that ability. And I'm seeing the same thing with Cleveland's defense where they have this ability to just level up and really humiliate an opponent. But there are still questions about how that defense plays against big time competition. So again, I do like that. I think that's an ideal. That's a lot. That's a good. an ideal parallel because it's like

when the Ravens started to crack through and become what they were with their ground game the first kind of hints of that were lashing Cleveland's defense right up the middle and I think so the next week is a big test but how often does this happen? Shook noted this as well that 50% of Arizona's

48 plays went for zero or negative yards. That just doesn't happen in the NFL. And that's not the first time we've had this type of conversation on the Sunday this year about the Browns. They've done this to a couple of teams now. Absolutely. Half the plays went for zero yards or less. I would notice, I would note that their left tackle, Jedwills went out with what looked

like a very painful knee ankle injury, carted off. Uh-oh. Keep an eye on that. Marky's Goodwin was hurt. They traded away Donovan People's Jones. So we'll see. I mean, health could be a factor. But the Browns are five and three.

There's a lot of drama around this team. There has been for a couple of years, but they're in good position now as they head towards the second half. Let's move now to Lambeau Field where the Packers are trying to get their mojo back. Jones in the slot right now. He orbit routes to the left and they fake the past and Joe swing it over the middle on Musgrave 10 the end zone touchdown and a dagger. Excellent bowl fake by the quarterback Jordan Love he found Musgrave wide open at the 10 into the end zone for the touchdown it's 19 to 3 Green Bay. You know I know it's different when you're beating up on

Brett Rippin in the Rams as opposed to Matthew Stafford. But again, like with the Browns, the Packers needed a game like this. A nice rocking chair win, take care of business, which they did 20 to 3 over the Rams, snapping a four game, losing streak. Yes, you had

the dagger there, as explained by Wayne Larravee of WRNW, but you also got Aaron Jones back in the end zone, and I believe I believe that finally they scored a touchdown in the first half, which is something that just has not been happening this year.

So Greg, you tell us if it was a sign of things to come or just, you know, catch an opponent at the right time at home. I lean toward the ladder. Look, they ran for 184 yards. Aaron Jones and Dylan combined for 113. Like, for them, that's an explosion. And some of that was early. But Brett Rippin and the Rams offense was essentially non-function.

even on Jordan Love's best play of the game, which was a deep shot to Watson on that game, you know, ceiling drive, although at that point it was 13-3, and it felt like the Rams weren't going to possibly get the double digits at any point in this game. Christian Watson skies up for a pass to catch a 37-yard or wow, they finally hit a deep shot, especially after Jordan Love missed Watson, who was wide open earlier in the game, he underthrew him, and Watson heard his back. and his chest. Oh, no.

And was in the concussion protocol all in one place. So it was like even on your best play of the game, there was something to be upset about. And there was like a lot of sloppy offensive play by Green Bay to keep this more of a game than it should have. It was 10-3 still entering the fourth quarter. So I didn't come away too excited except for... You didn't sound excited.

Sorry, Packers fans. I tried. very. No, but listen, that's what I was wondering about. Yeah, the defense dominated. I told Mark, I said if there was one game to not watch so far, of all the games this year, this would be my choice so far. We haven't gotten to Giants Raiders yet, but yeah.

But that's sort of, I want to see Giants Raiders. I don't know why. Aiden O'Connell or whatever. It's the opposite of what we think November football is, because it's like, if you're the Rams, you've lost your starting running back. You're stuck with Brett Rippian at quarterback. It's just like. You did it again.

That's how I'll always call him. that. Yeah, you're handing off to Royce Freeman. I mean, Ripian. You can, you can get a... I think it was his dad is literally Super Bowl MVP. I know, but I've been Mark Rippin. I've been calling him Rippian since like the early 90s. It's weird because that's how I see it with the way it's spent. I'm remembering you calling him Rippian over and over again. And this is back in

Culver City. Yeah. This is, I'm actually surprised Brett Rippian has been in our life that long. Oh, that's fair. How much more Brett Rippian do we need to see, by the way. There's got to be somebody better. Well, yeah, they thought John Wolford, I think, was better. And the Bucks wouldn't let him off. They also did draft a quarterback who was winning national titles in Georgia. That hasn't worked out. Well, yeah, he's not available. And so that was their plan. That was maybe a question of a plan to begin with, but it's not working. And McVayden helped him by going run, run pass seemingly every. Can't do that drive. And that's the old

Nate Hackett move. It does not work with a quarterback. You're trying to hide. You just end up putting them in worse. You're trying to protect him and the team, but you end up putting him in worse situations in it. My name's Nathaniel Hackett. It's nice to see you out here. It's okay to throw on first down, pal. Okay, let's come up with one positive thing about the Packers and then

move on. Who's their guy Carrington? Oh, Carrington Valentine, their cornerback who started. They traded Rezola Douglas. Like, he looked quite good this game, so maybe they knew what they were doing there, inserting a young player. And Jaya Alexander played really well and said that he feels healthier than he has all year. So maybe

And I'll throw one more out there. Why not? Give him something. Wide receiver, Donatavian Wicks. Four for 49. They need somebody else to step up, especially Watson misses time. But he was.

Oh, dang, Greg. I'm trying. He had the most Packers play possible. Big fun behind the glass. I'm trying, bud. He was reaching for a first down. You know the play I'm talking about, Randy at the beginning of the second half

when it was only 7-3, and he dives for the first down, and he just slams it on the ground, and then the Rams just pick up the ball. No one had touched them at that. So that was a fumble. It's absurd. And finally, let's give the floor over to one of the great actors of his or any generation

who's finally asking the question that apparently everyone has been sitting on quietly. Samuel L. Jackson tweeted, at what point do we start the Rams coaching conversation? Double question mark, double slammer viewed over 500,000 times as a couple hours ago. Is that a thing? I don't know. If I'm like, if I'm like Sean McVey, it's... Wait a second.

Oh, no. Sammy Jackson thrown out a flashpoint focus? I don't think that... Sam L himself? This is not the year for it, Sam. I don't think that he's... This is not. I love that he's invested enough in the Rams

that he's acting like an irrational fan. Because I think that's... I think the most irrational... Bring up the tweet again. The most irrational of Rams fans that are too emotional in the middle of a game maybe they're sending out that type of tweet. Well, you never know what else is going on.

It's not one that I trust this football acumen, but you know. It's the wording that I enjoy and also that his like avatar is a picture of him with a very serious face. At what point do we start the Rams coaching conversation?

Somebody had to say it. A group convo that he's part of with a bunch of people discussing. It's truly brutal because the Rams, they could be in the mix. They should have been winning this. Like this was a great case for Matthew Stafford to make the Pro Bowl this year

because like the difference between him and Brett Rippian is them either winning this game. You don't do it too now. Wait, now I'm doing it. I love it, Greg. We are a professional podcast here. His father won the Super Bowl MVP. One of the great teams of that era.

The 1992 Redskins were a super underrated team. And they stomped the bubble. They destroyed people the entire way. Best Samuel L. Jackson film. Mark or performance. For me, Pulp Fiction. Jules. I mean, now that's all I'm going with. What else am I going to go with? You could go

with the Jackie Brown character. He played real scoundrel. Jackie Brown. He is a scoundrel. How about deep Wait, what was the shark one? Deep Blue C? No, probably not that one. But I can't say the full line because I can't. But one of my favorite lines in all of Quentin

Tarantino universe is when he says, bully for you. or was it bully to you, bully for you? For you, I believe. I can't finish it, but it was like a great delivery.

Yeah, I think people probably know what the next, you know, a few words. Classic Samuel. Dackey Brown would be a good choice. All right. And deep Lucy, you know, you could throw it out there.

It's one of the more populist works, but all right. One more before Sunday night football? We got to talk about it. Giants Raiders. That's what we do here. He gives it to Jacob. Every game.

Following the offensive lineman. This has got way more juice than Ram's practice. Way more. You have to watch him. Tell me if he's got a few golf juice. Before it popped out of his hands, his second rushing touchdown of the day. And the Robertson pick is a Jacobs touchdown. And it's 20 to nothing here late in the second.

Um, yeah. New York City We take out that fork, Dan? I mean... Yeah, well, I think it's time. Time. You know, if they didn't blow that game last week, I thought they had a chance to make some noise.

But also, there are a couple other factors going on with the Giants right now. By the way, I was in Vegas this morning. I was there over the weekend. I checked out the U-2 show at the Sphere, which was incredible. Only good thing James Dolan's ever done. Great time.

I loved it. And there were a lot of Giants fans flying into Vegas over the weekend. And I'm watching that game. I'm like, oh, my God. People spent a lot of money to go to this game, which was a easy, I mean, easy 30 to 6 win for the Raiders. And remember, this is the Raiders that are in absolute tumult. they call it the dead cat the dead cat bounce uh it's a temporary um uptick in i guess some stock

performance but also in the case of sports teams um they'll probably go back to stinking next week maybe probably uh but with a new head coach the raiders uh Antonio pierre shout out to you buddy congratulations uh your first uh win a new offensive coordinator um a new well no they didn't name new general manager yet, but he, he gone. And, um, a new quarterback, Aiden O'Connell, uh, they easily take care of business with Josh Jacobs, um, not averaging four yards of carry because we can't do that, but he did have two touchdowns, uh, as they jumped out to a 24 nothing half time lead. So the Raiders almost impossibly like under the, you know, you just think they must be a train wreck based on all the reporting. We'll get to a little of the Josh McDaniels drama that dropped this morning. They're four and five. He's. And somehow in the mix in the AFC, I'm not saying they're a team to take seriously, but they're better than the Giants who are two and seven, yes, forked.

They're out. I apologize for keeping them alive. This is not like a Jeff Saturday scenario where like the bump in their first game was like, well, that can't possibly last. I don't know what will happen here. But Antonio Pierce, who Mark Davis got to know better during this season,

has the locker room. Like we can get into the Josh McDaniel stuff, but it's like, I think in a way, this is like kind of like a lot of vented frustration. We've all in our lives, like, had bad leadership over us and, like, it can suppress you. And I think, like, this is a team with talented players. They've had it all along. It's just been such a hot mess that their record isn't a joke to me or a fraud from who they really can be. And it's like, I don't know.

In a weird, in a weird bottom half of the AFC, I kind of think this coaching switch came at the exact right time and saved a lot of worse stuff from happening. They did not play a very good team today. I mean, this is an all-time fired coach principal. It's Brad Spicer, the Spicerack's favorite. I mean, he locks it in. To have this, like, taking Josh McDaniels away as the fired coach principal, it's like an extra bounce, you know, because they were trying to say that they weren't celebrating

at practice, but they all seemed kind of like they were celebrating. And it's crazy that they hadn't scored 20 points in a game all season. It had been the longest streak of not scoring 20 points in a game in Raiders history, other than a Jamarcus Russell stretch. so they won't break that. And they had 24 points a half thing. I mean, you kind of can't make these kind of things up. The biggest halftime lead they had before this game, Dan, was 2010.

It was against the Denver Broncos was the last time they had a half-time lead this big. Do you know who the coach of the Denver Broncos at the time of the Raiders having that big of a half-time lead? Josh McDaniels. How about that? You can't write this. Yeah. not a guy that's going to get

another head coaching job that's just my no my theory I don't know if it's true or not I think it's a solid theory there was a report it was reported by Ian

but also came from all different directions so this was something that was not a well kept secret that the Josh McDaniels firing came after a a revolt against him like you remember

the John Voight character in varsity blues where they all revolted against him before the Bobby game like where they it was a team meeting this from Ian and others in which everyone took turns basically venting and getting emotional and angry with McDaniels and how things how he goes about communicating practicing everything about him and it went so went so far from where McDaniels thought it was going to go that he actually waved in Antonio Pierce at one point to

kind of almost stand up for him or the coaching staff rather than face the music. And then in that Thursday practice ahead of the Monday night game, uh, it was reported that he was like a ghost basically and he wasn't even really coaching the team and he wasn't correcting anything and he, and sure enough, they get beat up on Monday night football and he's gone the next day. That's a pretty, we've heard a lot of crazy stories about thing, you know, you feel like you've heard it all at this point, but just the way that has been reported and explained, that is a crazy ending to Josh McDaniels.

as head coaching career in the NFL. And, yeah, Pierce is obviously a guy with no experience and there's not a lot of talent on this roster, but they now are completely free of that dark cloud and they're playing free and easy, obviously. At least they were on Sunday. Well, I mean, Glazer's nugget, Jay Glazer's particular nugget that Pierce brought up,

you know, the Giants team back in 2007 saying, like, no matter who we played, we thought we could, we could beat them. We had a game plan to beat them. Like, it's all about self-belief, no matter what situation, in. And then after he finishes the speech that McDaniels goes up to him and says, don't ever talk about the Patriots like that. I mean, that's just. I mean, he's cited the Patriots and you know who was the play caller of that team. Josh McDaniels. The fact that

if this is true, and this is where I almost start to feel bad, like he's getting piled on. And I'm, I don't doubt the truth of the story. But man, that makes him look small in that moment. Yeah. Crazy. I mean, Brian Dable's not having a great coaching situation. Yeah, we're burying the lead here somewhat. I mean, actually the Raiders winning that big and Antonio Pierce's first game is big, but Daniel Jones going down with the knee injury that looks like a potential torn ACL is just a really sad way

for this already, really sad giant season to get even deeper. And listen, the Jones thing was really a tough watch too because of what happened. They are Tyrod Taylor's and I are. We know Tommy DeVito is a guy that really, He has no business playing in the NFL and they wouldn't even let him pass against the Jets last week. So Jones takes a shot on his knee and he just missed a bunch of time and he knows there's a lot of pressure on him after he signs of the contract. He stays in the game, which is a credit to him and he drops back to pass and when he plants his back leg, he just collapses.

And he limps to the tent and now we're hearing that it's a potentially serious injury. It's probably the end of his season. And, you know, this is a, I mean, In terms of disaster seasons, I don't think there's any team that from where they, what they thought of themselves on September 1st to where they are now on November 5th. Like you can't even script the worst case scenario to a giant fan. They wouldn't believe you that could be as bad as it has been. And I don't know what happens the rest of the way.

I don't know how many wins they have. Certainly you fork him here. But now you've got to realize the tie rod's out of the picture with a rib injury that had him in the hospital for a couple days. Daniel Jones is out for the year. and you just you don't have anybody now to hold down the fort they they could be heading towards the top three pick now well you cannot stick like this version of to Tommy DeVito into the lineup it just doesn't even seem vaguely safe like I don't know unless you're trying to you know well I don't have you I don't know there's some interesting franchises now with a chance for that one pick Giants Patriots yeah I don't think there's anything else really to share from this guy I was happy as a local New Jersey kid DeVito did throw a touchdown late in this game that avoided the shutout. Now he could always say I threw a touchdown, but

like this guy shouldn't be starting games in the NFL and they don't have another option on the roster right now. I mean, I wonder if you, if this is when Carson Wentz returns to our lives or someone like that because it's like this is just if you're Brian Dable, you can't coach the way out.

The only thing that could make their season more depressing is if Carson Wentz becomes their quarterback the rest of the way. But I don't disagree, but they might just, they're a proud organization and maybe they will make a move like. that just to try to... Don't you have to make it to the finish line? These two quarterbacks, Drake May and Caleb Williams, are quite intriguing that I think

some of these teams that are buried. You just ride it out? You just DeVito it out here. I mean, it reminds me so much... You never go full DeVito. It reminds me so much of Ben McAdoo's second season. I mean, Ben McAdoo, people kind of forget, went to the playoffs like Brian Davel, went 11 and 5, actually better than Brian Daible, and didn't make it to the end of year two.

now there's not as much like off the field bumbling and you know rough press conferences from table and there's I don't think there's any chance he would get fired but it's the reigning coach of the year it's very similar though it's very similar to how Mcadoo is two years

I mean he's back and having that terrible like luck with the health of his players the previous coach had yeah I can't remember Joe Judge being somewhat popular after the first year even though they didn't have success and then that thing went sideways it's been a really rough run for the Giants since that last

Super Bowl. All right. Next up. And finally, a huge Titanic AFC Sunday night football matchup. Big third down and seven play coming up. Williams in the game. He lines up to the left of Joe Burrow. Joe has the ball.

Under pressure, dumps it off shore, caught. Drew Sample has a first down to the 10. Nice. He's in. Touchdown. Beautiful. Bengals. Drew Sample catching a short pass from Joe

Burrow and doing the rest on a 22-yard TD. I mean, Drew Sample's just going to make you miss. That's how it works. That's what they say. That's what Drew Sample does. Dan Horde with the call WC-K-Y. It was a showdown of AFC Titans, only

one could be victorious and unfortunately for our producer Eric Roberts. It was the Cincinnati Bengals who came out ahead with a 24-18 win. The Bengals now, after their slow start, have really solidified themselves in the AFC. They're now five and three.

And, man, that is going to be a great division race with the Baltimore Ravens. The Buffalo Bills, meanwhile, fall to five and four. How about that? Four losses now here as we reach the midway point. Not a lot of people would have predicted that. And Mark, the Bengals, you know, got a little dicey at the end.

They needed a conversion after a late Bill's score and two-point conversion to put this thing game away. But they were clearly, again, we're the better team just like they were in January's playoffs. Yeah, I didn't feel like immense tension around what the end result would be. You know, they went into a few corners here. But what I love is when Buffalo comes storming back, they make it 24 to 18, that Burrow and the Bengals turn around, and Burrow hits that 32-yard. shot to Tyler Board, Tyler Boyd, to essentially set the table for Joe Mixon to seal the game. And it's like, I just trust this passing game, this passing offense right now to do it,

where it's like it's not so much a negative thing on the Buffalo Bills, but it's just like this version of Cincinnati and this version of Joe Burrow, they detonated the Niners a week ago. They're the one team that has shown the DNA to be able to beat both Kansas City and Buffalo. And here we go. We're sailing away. I mean, I love, it's three now. And we're locking things up.

We are locking things up. We never, and the Westwood. We didn't even discuss it along with the West Brothers because there was no sense of drama around it. We knew it. And one more. I love that call, Mark. I'm glad you brought it up because so many teams would have opted to try to milk as much of the clock as possible, maybe run it twice. And then all of a sudden it's third and six and you're on your own end.

And then who knows what happens. but instead, and Greg, as they so often do, Zach Taylor says, Joe, you are the man. We trust you. And if you can throw a 30 yard out here, hit it. It's crazy because it's not like it was like a safe pass or a play action pass or anything. It was just a straight dropback. And that's how we're going to start our three and a half minute drill, four minute, kill the clock.

They haven't run the ball great for much of this season. And they didn't tonight, but they were able to in that last spot when they absolutely, needed to get a first down. But to me, it's just like, what do you do with Joe Burrow? Seeing these two games back to back where last week you could argue is one of the best games any quarterbacks played all season, this wasn't quite there, 31 for 44, 3, 48, and two touchdowns because it wasn't as spectacular. But it wasn't that far off.

Like, the bills had no answers because when they blitzed them and there was the whole thing years ago, like, you can't blow, you can't blitz Joe Burrow, you can't blitz Joe Burrow, he's going to, he's going to cook you up. and earlier this season when he couldn't move, you could blitz Joe Burrow. So what did they do early this game? They blitzed them quite a bit, and he was always getting rid of the ball.

I'm thinking of one where they dove right at his feet. He gets out of the play, makes the play. Second reaction to T. Higgins. Even the play where Drew Sample scores the touchdown. But when they don't try to blitz, the bills don't really have a pass rush. Von Miller's not right. Russo, it wasn't happening.

And when you leave him back there, he picks you apart. And that was where he got the big, place to play to chase too is when they don't rush more than four so when he's like this it's just like it's tom brady like it's montana like it's whatever he's just throwing dots all over the field he's that special and again we talked about it after the niners wipe out um he is obviously healthy now he had another scramble in this game gregg and i think you're right um and what you know what they talked about in the off season about some of his training he's moving so well um this is a guy that

had a fairly serious calf injury that blew out his knee in a gnarly way as a rookie and yet he's never looked more spry and when you put it all together the level of confidence he plays with the actual physical ability I mean we locked it up and I felt

confident because I just think Burrow and that building in primetime is pretty much going to beat anybody including the bills yeah I mean there was when you talk about his confidence because we've seen I think you saw it visibly on his face against the Niners, just this relief that his body was back.

And there was a point tonight on a third and six, and this is what triggered a field goal. They didn't score here, but Burrow had this incredible, like, quick release shot to T. Higgins that went down to the Buffalo 7 first and goal. But that throw and that connection and the way you threw the ball, it's like, to your point, I think last week was the best quarterback performance we've seen all year. But tonight there were elements of the same thing. Maybe it wasn't as complete a dominant. performance. I was a little bit more up and down, but I can think of one

underthrow deep to chase. But other than that, like, he is doing things on a weekly basis where it's like, this is the quarterback of the AFC right now for me. Well, you're also getting Higgins involved. This was T. Higgins' best team of the homes is like, what? Well, no, I don't mean like career-wise, but if you look at the two quarterbacks, Burrow right now in the last two weeks is like a sizzling watch. Sure. You're saying who's playing the best at this very moment. At this very moment. You had to take one quarterback. For one game next week.

Josh Dobbs. Getting Higgins involved 8 for 110, he hasn't been doing anything this season. You got Tyler Boyd, who's finally making big plays again. And then there is something about this defense, and I know they gave up the late touchdown, but there was like a stat, Paul Dana at the Athletic had that, you know, over the last two years under, you know, Captain Luo and Arumo, they were 21% better than any other team in goal-to-go situations. and I'm going to extend that out into the red zone here

where they get the fumble on Dalton Kincaid and the bills of another drive that comes up short and there is something if you look at like this last month where they look like the Bengals defense and to me the Bengals defense is like not amazing between the 20s but they just have a knack for locking it down and they coach it up well once it gets near the goal line and limiting points.

And that fumble doesn't happen without Jermaine Pratt punching it out. He's always one of those guys, yep. And I'll use some Paul Dainer reporting as well. He does great work for the athletic. And this is a testament to Captain Liu, of course, Joe Burrow, but Greg, in our ongoing discourse around Zach Taylor. This is all under Zach Taylor's watch, that they are the best team in football over the past three years when it comes to putting games away. When they score first, they are now after tonight 21 and 2 in the last three years.

And they have that ability, again, like we were talking about, it's kind of a little bit of the theme of the show today. The teams that know how to take care of business, even when they're not playing at their best and just kind of grind out wins. Those three teams are the Bengals, the Eagles, the Chiefs. Those are one, two, three in this metric. And like, they're just in a very good place right now. And it's funny because earlier we're talking about the Ravens and who's better than the Ravens right now and you can make the case. Nobody, the fact that they're in the same division and only one team is going to be able to come out of there with the home game.

and potentially a buy. That is the best division division race in football as we look at to the second time. Well, all four of the teams in the division would be in the playoffs as of this moment. But I don't know, maybe you disagree, but I think we have a

no disrespect to the Steelers and Browns, but there's a very different buy between Bengals, Ravens to me, than the other two teams. Well, I think like Cincinnati, like everything that we thought about them changed in the last couple of weeks. And like, Cleveland's got an excellent defense.

I think their offense is very, up and down. The Steelers obviously are an up and down team. Like, yes, Bengals, Ravens is, and they play in a couple weeks, is essentially like this sort of ultra clash waiting to happen. And this is a huge test of the John McDermott era and defense. Right now, there's nothing about their defense that's special. And they lose Terrell Bernard early in this game. We know they've lost Milano and Dayquan Jones and Trudevius way, and they're not getting those guys back. It's a long season. right now they're they're really ordinary especially on defense on offense you know they're they're good

they're not quite good enough and they're certainly not consistent running the ball enough to make up for it but they just don't make sense if they're an ordinary defense but they are the bills they do have josh allen the dna's all in there and there's a a million teams over the last 10 years in NFL history that were kind of blah after nine weeks and so i think they have a chance to be a different team by the time they get to the playoffs, but they're not that team right now. And they can't take on too many else. Here's another kind of ongoing conversation we had going into the season that

the feeling that this is such an important season for the bills, not because they don't have another chance to win the Super Bowl. They have Josh Allen. But like this core, this group of bills, like I sense again that this team is just, I don't know, Eric, behind the glass. You are a hardcore bill. fan like do you get a do you have a level of confidence at this point when they face these fellow

titans of the league that i feel like a couple in the last couple of years you probably always felt pretty good going into a game like this have you been shaking the confidence at this point no this season's different i don't know there's there's something missing and every point's like there's a second piece missing on the offense and we were kind of hoping that was concade and he's kind of come around the last two weeks especially with knocks you know being out with the wrist injury he's good tough tough fumble but what are you going to do that's a that's a That's a big play by the Bengals defense, but no, there's some, it's a hard

watch. Like, they always sneak in this last little touchdown to make it kind of close at the end that kind of makes the box scores a little better. They did against Jaguars. They came out on the right side of the Giants game. This one, again, Josh Allen kind of went down, they went for two, made it look better on the box score where something is not there.

It's weird. Yeah, and I think Kincaid is a great development, and it was you know, that was the hope even in the summer, but it almost tonight came in replace of like, until the end, Stefan Diggs had, you know, a massive touchdown and two-point conversion, but largely taken away, Gabe Davis taken away. Like, you're leaning on different people, but they're not special characters. And so I look at Concades Knight and be like, I like that, but it's like the

bills can't work themselves out of a corner with so many weapon-rich layers like the Bengals can. For as much, like, you know, crap that Josh Allen got for doing the hero ball stuff, even that's not really there like that like he had a weird like interception that he just kind of missed the throw today he overthrew some like something he made some great throws today too and that's why there's reason for hope but yeah but those plays are there in the back yeah I mean yeah you know what he can be with something is something is missing I don't know if it's you know Dorsey and the play calling but that seemed healthy at least yeah you know the shoulder was a concern going in you don't want him getting 44 of your 68 rushing yards we are kind of back to like we need

Josh Allen to run and and I and one thing I like the schedule makers you know all these teams seem to be playing each other down the stretch bills have a couple easy games but then they have a an at Philly they got they got another and at Kansas City coming up so all these teams are playing each other coming up the bills being in third place at the midway point was not what we predicted and the Jets and charges play on Monday night the Jets can find a way in that game you got the Dolphins took a loss at six and three the Jets could be five and three bills five for interesting division going down the stretch.

Interesting. Anything else? Good Sunday. No. Fun. Yeah. It's almost like the, it is that the Germany game and even the Sunday night game, maybe you wanted a little bit more, but everything in the middle that you weren't expecting as much from.

The middle of the sandwich. Very nice. Worked. And the bread was fine. Fine. But it really was, no, it should be the meat. Right. It would be those.

We've now finished eating the sandwich. Yeah, but the main We've lost the sandwich The main course It's gone Yeah Was Eagles Cowboys And that delivered

That was the meat That was the meat Okay I think we got that It's kind of gross But I don't even back in on meat No it's not

I'm not saying that Just like Everyone Sessler How's that double Cheeseburger We didn't even notice It until he's halfway through it Chom Chom Chum

Chum chum chum It's just like The inn I don't make those sounds He's like You make it Bloody Bloody as hell

When the waiter's like Yes sir It's time to go Oh, okay A man after my own heart You sound like someone that woke up in Vegas It's time to go Eric, please hit the fucking music

We gotta go All right Good stuff Thank you everybody for listening Thank you Eric and Funk behind the glass Till Monday night He the call

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