NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Around the NFL in 63 Minutes

Episode Date: August 28, 2019

A room filled with heroes - Ricky Hollywood, Ricky Hollywood, Ricky Hollywood and Ricky Hollywood go around the NFL in 63 minutes. With Ricky holding all the power, Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler, Gregg Rosenthal and Chris Wesseling quiver in fear while spinning through each team in 2 minutes.Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comNFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. The Around the NFL podcast is sheepish about their beggars. Welcome to another edition of the Around the NFL podcast. Presented by Sirius XM. My name is Dan Hansus. I'm joined in a room filled with heroes. Mark Sessler, Chris Wessling, and Greg Rosenthal. What is that, boys?

Hey, Dan. Feeling fresh right. now. You know, we've done this show a lot, this podcast. This is going to be our seventh season together. A lot of episodes. So whenever we can break out something a little different, a little new, and put a little spin on one of my favorite shows of the year, it just, you know, it makes you feel a little more alive, a little less dead inside. Well put, Greg. We, every year we like to do a double episode banger around the AFC in 48 minutes, around the NFC in 48 minutes. Well, we took a look at the calendar and what we wanted to hit before the season started and we said, you know,

the lightning bulb, or is it the light bulb? The light bulb goes over the head. Always a weird thing. Lower level idea. Yeah. And my dog, Mark with a C. Let's combine both conferences in one super-sized show. So not only you're going to get all 32 teams, you're going to get probably about a 70-minute banger. And I'll tell you this, we're going around the NFL in 63 minutes. 63 so that's three minutes two minutes per team would be 64 right and it's not a math error by the old zeuser I know that's your first thought we have decided Erica who as we know is growing an influence behind the scenes in NFL media it's only a matter of time for she sits us down and she's like guys this is so hard I was really dreading having this conversation but I got to move on

that's a good uh Rick Halliday two weeks from now pretty good we're not not there yet, but what we need to do to have any chance of holding on to Erica is to give her more pop, more power within the structure here. So what we decided and Erica agreed to was she gets the control. There will be one team out of the 32. We don't know which one it will be that Erica gets to step in and cut it in half essentially and give that team just 60 seconds. Erica, that's what we're doing. Yeah, I think that's a really great idea by me. I think it'll be really fun and I'm really thankful to you guys for giving me this you know sense of responsibility right before the show Greg asked me to drag in a refrigerator for him so uh things are going well over here

well it's something a good producer would just do i mean they would just ago this would have been the fridge has been outside of the producer i'm not a utility man gregg she's not an intern she's a producer doesn't matter like i'm telling you you think you think they're showing up to football night in America and the producers are letting the fridge just sit out in the hallway for a week? The producers are bringing it. Someone's problem solved. Yeah, and Greg, by the way, is not the one who should be pulling the refrigerator in the room. I don't even mind.

He's also very small framed. I don't sure he could even move the thing. Right, exactly. Can I mediate this, honestly? Please. Erica, obviously, and what kind of gentleman would we be if we're asking Erica to lug in the refrigerator? We'd be who we are.

We'll bring it in. We just need to figure out what's going on. You know, we're telling. We're not lugging in it either. Erica is going to pick up the phone and have someone help her with the refrigerator.

Exactly. It doesn't matter what's done. How about that? That's great. But also Greg on air was like, well,

if you were a good producer, you're calling me a bad producer? You produce your own show, Greg. I mean, can we revisit the common man rankings after this discussion? Please. Ricky, that was very fair.

Greg, that was unfair. And I think you should apologize before we get to us. I agree with that. You are a great producer, Erica. I'm just, you know, trying to... We know bad producers. Erica's not one of them.

Yeah, I'm your producer, I'm your friend, I'm your therapist, I'm everything for all you guys, and I don't get appreciated enough. You're easily in the top two to three producers of the 12 that we've had on the show. And you're climbing right to the top. I mean, Greg continues to be forcefully out of bounds with everything that rolls out of his mouth.

Just rolls. All right. I don't know what we accomplished there, but... We're down to 58 minutes. Something to see it. Again, we're going around the NFL in 63 minutes. And yes, Erica has the power to chop one team in half. We'll find out who that will be.

So we're going to start with the NFC. And we'll start in the east. And as a reminder, Greg, we will get two minutes for each team. You'll get a little bit of a sound. Do you have that, Ricky, when we're 30 seconds to play? I like that. And then another tone when it's... And then another tone when it's time to move on, okay?

And don't... And do not go over the time because Erica has all the power to step in again. This is a very big show for Ricky and let you know that you have gone over and you're not respecting the game. You're saying... So not even in this business,

which has happened every other year, like finish your winding long sentence. You're not finished. Your sentence is over. It's over. And we move on. It's over. And I feel...

for the team, the fans out there that only get that one minute. You know what I mean? That's kind of like an anvil hanging over this entire show. Well, it's probably going to be one of yours based on your behavior towards Erica up through where we are at this point.

All right, let's get into it. Starting in the NFC East. And Greg, why don't you get us going Hujiman, New York Giants? So much focus on the offense in New York and the quarterback position. But I look at this. defense. And I wonder, is this the most talent-poor defense in the entire NFC? Is it in that class? And if

they're going to have any chance, I think they need to have Janoris Jenkins to have a revitalized season in DeAndre Baker, their first-run pick, who's had a good camp to play well. If the two of them play well at cornerback, maybe this team has a chance. How did, Dave Gettleman, of course, he's the GM underfire in the Meadowlands. The guy that was all about the Hog Mollies, with the Panthers, and the Giants have such a proud history on their front seven of getting pressure. It's how they won Super Bowls in the Eli-era. How has it gotten to this point? I think he'd answer, they liked their defensive line. You know, they drafted Dexter Lawrence in the first round. They have Dalvin Tomlinson. They have BJ Hill. These are some high-drafted guys.

We've got to see them actually produce. And that's why, for all the focus on the quarterbacks, they're just in a bad spot. How are you going to keep up with the 28th, 30th-ranked defense in the league with those two guys. I mean, it's safety. You've essentially, you know, it's not exactly, they don't play exactly the same position,

but Landon Collins out, Gibreel Pepper's in. I think that's a downgrade. You gave away Snacks Harrison some time ago. I mean, the Gettleman project still is very much underway on defense.

If the offense, we could feel a little bit excitement about. If Daniel Jones clicks, defense, no. Well, like you said, they got rid of all their veterans. They didn't want to pay them.

And now, in order to turn this around, all these young guys have to, they have to be hits. I also want to ask, what do you guys think the margin for error is for Eli? Because I think Daniel Jones, since he played so well in the preseason, I feel like it's two games. I feel like we could see, if they were 0 and 2, I feel like we could see Daniel Jones Week 3.

They have a pretty easy schedule early, but any time they get two games under, I think Eli's out. Isn't that what Pat Schumer wants to play Daniel Jones as soon as possible? I think Eli gets September. That would be my guess. I used to think it would be Halloween, but I agree that that preseason opened some eyes, I think of an organization.

I want his last start to be Pat's week six. Chris Wessling, the Dallas Cowboys. Let me check my notes. Oh, no. The clock is ticking. Welcome to the Around the NFL podcast, Chris Wesley. This new wave of play callers we've seen in the NFL over the last five or so years, one of the things we've noticed is that running backs used to be tasked with creating their own space.

That's what a running back did. That's what a three-downback did. Running backs now, the play caller creates space for them. That's what the best ones do. And I think you see in Dallas, one of the reasons why there's no rush to get Ezekiel Elliott back in is that Tony Pollard is exactly the kind of running back you can create space for and he'll take advantage of it. He needs a play caller to create that space for him. We've seen it in preseason action.

We've also seen Alfred Morris average 4.8 yards per carry on 115 rushes with the Cowboys in 2017. So to me, all this attention on Zeke, they have the offensive line. and with Kellyn Moore now as the play caller, they have the play caller to still be a success on offense. I feel like Tony Pollard, if you were to line up the players that are new that excited you the most on game pass preseason. For me, Tony Pollard is top 10, top five,

and Kellyn Moore, pairing him with him, I'd like this situation. He's in your coordinator wheelhouse. I feel like Michael Gallup too. Michael Gallup. I can't help but think about Emmett Smith back in where it was at 95 when he disappeared for two games. 93 Cowboys lost.

both games. He comes back and they win the Super Bowl anyway. I mean, yeah, I guess they're set up well. Are we having this conversation now? Has it got to this point where we think that Zeke Elliott is not going to be here, week one? I think it'll be there in the end. Keep an eye on Xavier Rhodes. Their free safety. A lot of

people around them think, they need some people to step up. Xavier Woods, rather, to have kind of a breakout season. And they need it, because Byron Jones just coming off a hip injury, barely practice. Maybe he plays week one. Demarchus Lawrence coming off injury. I'd be a little worried the defense comes back to the pack. I hope Jared didn't poison that stream

with some of his glib comments in the media. Just get the job done. Washington Redskins, old Zeus, hey, what defines success for the 2019 Redskins? And if success means eight or nine wins in progress from rookie Dwayne Haskins whenever he gets in the starting lineup, is that enough to save Jay Gruden's job?

What kind of line is Jay Gruden working with here? And what is success for the Redskins? I think it might be, but it has to be the narrative must drive that Jay Gruden is the reason that Dwayne Haskins is having success and this Jay Gruden offense is the reason and I'm not sure after all the years we've had of him that that's going to take a lot.

If he wins eight or nine games, I might vote him for coach of the year. I mean, it's so lousy, this isn't a good team. But with that ownership group and all the years he's been there and has never won a playoff game or been to the playoffs? Have they been to the playoff?

Yeah, they have. Okay, but they haven't won a playoff game this fifth year. I don't even know if that will be enough. Right. You might be right. I think he's actually done a good job in one of the most difficult jobs in the NFL. But it's not going to get any easier. I wonder if he, does he have the juice to make a desperate type trade with Trent Williams where he maybe tries to get AJ Green back or maybe one of those Bengals players he used to be with? Considering their free agency involved doing everything without consulting their head coach. I would guess he doesn't have much. Seems to be powerless. To me, the measure of successes are, do you have enough young players who can. compromise who can comprise a nucleus by the end of the year because they don't have an offensive nucleus and i know that everybody's going wild over darius geis y'all must have a different runner than i saw last week i didn't he he lacked any explosion whatsoever and i just

wasn't impressed i think he needs he's going to need more time to become what they want but i kind of like some of their defense their front seven has some young players that i can get behind it's not a terrible defense they haven't i don't think been coached very well on that side of the ball. But you're right about having guys to build around on offense. Josh Dawson, it sounds like, won't even make the team. Maybe we're rated in the killer use of y'all there, Wes. And who starts first? Haskins or Jones in New York? Jones. All right. Let's move on. Mark Sessler, the Philadelphia Eagle. All right, on this show, I've talked about the Eagles starting 6 and 0. I also expect them to

win the division without too much flack. If my haughty predictions are destined to go south, It's because, A, Mark is vastly underrating the Cowboys. B, Doug Peterson isn't the same guy without Frank Reichen will be exposed. C, Carson Wentz won't live up to the MVP hype. Or D, none of the above. The Eagles are the class of the NFC. G.C. Mark. G.C. standing for good call.

I mean, we know Mark's writing out as intro is when Hottie gets in. Is there some highlighter over there? So you're saying you're on the train, leading the train that the Eagles are going to be good this year. I'm just saying, what's their weakness? I sort of asked, like, one of these things don't happen. Carson wins is not an MVP. Doug Peterson is not the coach we think. You know, I'm totally underrating the rest of the division or the Cowboys.

I'm with you. I would pick the Eagles to win this division and for all the reasons that you're saying. I guess there's a little bit, a little bit of nerves about Carson Wentz after two straight years ending on the IR. And we've talked about at length in recent weeks about their depth chart behind him. there's no Nick Foles as a backup plan but yeah it just seems like this team is really well set up Deshawn Jackson's been another subject of controversy on the show Greg thinks he's going to be a game breaker

West thinks he's over the hill that will be something to watch no that's more of a fantasy thing I just like it's unexciting to draft a guy who gets 800 yards and four touchdown that's fair they I think we all kind of almost agreed which is rare on this show fairly early in the opposite this might be the best roster in the NFL and now it's like we've gotten we said that for three or four months

and we're sick of everyone now, you know, says that too and is picking them to the Super Bowl. But just because we've been saying it for a while doesn't mean it's not true. I mean, they should be among, if not the favorites in the NFC. Well coached, great roster, franchise quarterback. A lot of guys coming back from injury if you had to pick one thing.

You know, McLeod, Brandon Brooks, Jason Peters. Fletcher Cox. There's quite a few. Need them to stay healthy. The NFC North, Minnesota Vikings. Kirk Cousins, debut season with the Vikings. Generally remembered as a bust. Let me tell you some of the things.

16 starts, fourth straight year without missing a game. 70.1% completion percentage, career best, 4,300 yards, second best, 30 TDs, career best, 10 interceptions, fewest in his four years as a starter. 100 pass a rating is second best. You know what? Counting numbers, blah, blah, blah. But I believe all of this is sustainable.

Dalvin Cook's healthy, and there's no reason why the Vikings can't have the best offense in football this season. Who disagrees? Why not? Tell me why they can't. They don't have Patrick Mahomes or Tyreek Hill. But they do have Adam Thiel and Stefan Diggs and cousins who's a numbers monster and Dalman Cook who could be a game-changing running back. Well, how about this? Be the best version of themselves, which they weren't last year because of their line. You got Garrett Bradbury, your first-round picket center. It starts there. If the line can be better, that's going to help everyone. When Wes mentioned a few weeks ago how an offensive line changing from one year to the next can just

transform a team. I've thought about that when it comes to the Vikings. Because I think on paper, especially because Bradberries look great and Gary Kubiak, you know, they're coaching them making the line better. The talent is good enough to go from one of the worst to maybe a top 10 line. And then I'm with you, Dan. I don't know if they're the number one offensive league, but in terms of efficiency, I can think they could be a top three or four type of DVOA team. They're not going to put up that many points, but they're going to be efficient. I think they have a high floor and a high ceiling. I thought you were going to get wild and say this could be a top five.

offense or something and you went straight to the top number one when your line stinks when your line stinks it's like you have all these shiny parts on the outside it's like a really fresh looking apple and you bite into it and the inside is like rotten dead animal on the inside that's what they were last year i i mean i i see all your points but have you seen dalvin cook's biceps and he is he looks he is in he's an 85 yard touchdown he's an insane human being that man can run and play football Moving on. Green Bay Packers, Greg Rosenthal. I want to know what kind of support Aaron Rogers gets,

and it's not from the receiver position, which we've talked about. I think that'll be fine. He can make receivers better. We haven't talked about whether he's going to have the same offensive line and if he's going to have a good running game again this year. And I think it's just a mystery with Matt Lafleur. We don't know what's going to happen.

They've had a little bit of attrition. They used to have one of the best offensive lines. They've had some changes at guard. Is Brian Belaga still going to be good enough at right tackle? is Aaron Jones and Jamal Williams enough to kind of carry load more about Lafleur and his scheme. Can he help cook up a good running game? If he can, I think they're rolling and they're fine, but they're a mystery in terms of what they're going to do offensively,

and that's where it starts for me. Well, Derek Henry had the best two months of his career under Matt LaFleur last year, so that would tell me that he can fix the running game. I agree with you. I'd also look at that Titans offense and kind of wonder why Matt LaFleur was elevated to the degree he was in terms of the overall look of that team. That's fair? It felt a little bit in name.

I would wonder if the Packers, if they found out they got three weeks into the season, if Melvin Gordon was not with the Chargers, that they would ever swing a trade. We mentioned that a while back. You never know. I mean, they haven't had a great running back to pair with Aaron Rogers in a long time.

I'm really excited. Of course, Equan St. Brown is out with an injury now. But I'm really excited about MVS, Marquez Valde Scantling. He's ahead of, like, when you're pecking order, Devante Adams, of course, is number one? Is it MVS or is it Geronimo next in the pecking order, do you think, for Rogers?

It's MBS. Yeah, I feel like Allison's a slot guy. So he may get more targets, but MVS will be the big play threat on the outside. Then he got Jimmy Graham, of course, who's now a forgotten man. It's kind of gone on the other way now where people were pushing him up the last few years

as a guy that could still be elite. Now you don't even hear his name anymore, but maybe he's got, maybe that horse can, Nays. He hasn't made a play in three years. Maybe the horse can still match. Some whispers, is he going to make this team? But I feel like we hear that every year with Jimmy Graham.

Chicago Bears, Chris Wesley. Where do kickers come from? NFL kickers. Their moms. There's all this concern about the bears, and I get it because of the psychology of the missed kick and how much attention they're putting on it. But Eddie Pinero, who they traded for,

had won the Raiders competition last year before he got injured. and if you look at the rundown of kickers in the NFL here's where they usually come from cut by another team in September cut by another team in October picked up halfway through the season given a chance and then they kept the job

and that is the majority of NFL kickers the fact that the Bears actually gave something up for their kicker puts them ahead of the eight ball compared to how these people are acquired I just wonder if Mason Crosby or Graham Ganoe gets cut though you know that sounds nice but wouldn't they just go for one of those guys, no matter how well Eddie Paneiro looks the next week?

I find it funny if you're a Bears fan because you had one of the more promising seasons. They've waited for that forever, and it's because of offense too, not just defense. And then the entire narrative has been the kicker, and we're this far, and we're so close to the regular season. And the narrative gets hotter and more fierce. It's not quelled on any level.

I think he has shown something to this team, though. And that's why I don't think a Gano or someone else will replace him, replace him, because he did go through this absurd gauntlet and came out on the other side and it got lost in the mix when what happened in Indianapolis with Andrew Luck this weekend. But he split the uprights on a 58-yarder. I think he essentially earned the job barring some type of catastrophe in preseason week four. How about punching a few more touchdowns?

Right. And try to stop the regression on defense. I think one way they could do that, I was thinking about like, could Calliol-Mack go. to another level? He's had a whole camp with this team. He wasn't exactly 100%. He's a Hall of Fame type player, but can he have his defensive player of the year just a Cleo Max career season? Because that could make them even better. Detroit Lions, Mark Sessler. I'm trying to keep Lions fans to keep having them listen to this show still, because it's been an off season where all we do is sort of whip them left and right and kick him around, and they've got to be wondering what we think

about them. I think they know. They do know, but I see a few strengths. When I take a look, I like I'll obviously the line. You've got Trey Flowers, Mike Daniels, Snacks Harrison, Aishon Robinson, Deshawn Hand, all the Shons. You've got a receiver in Kenny Galladay, okay? I think Caryon Johnson, we all know it, is a fantasy darling. He's a potential huge breakout character in an offense that wants to run the ball a lot. Stafford can still mash. So what is missing? Why do we look at Detroit and say they absolutely cannot do anything to stir? A little chaos in this division. They beat the Patriots and the Panthers and swept the Packers, a bad Packers team last year. What is missing? Why can't they have an identity now today? I'm kind of with you on this podcast.

We do sometimes get locked into our narrows and we'll beat up on certain teams. I am guilty of this as well. Titus fans, no. But you know what? I would have liked to see their offense be a little more competent, fun, slash dangerous in the preseason so far. Give us something to hang our hat on. Maybe they're hiding something special.

Perhaps maybe it's that situation. But there is a creeping sense of doom about the Matt Patricia era for me, despite all that. The utter lack of blue chip players, that would be the issue. Yeah. You have some really good positions. You have above average starters at several spots,

but who's your difference maker? If he's going to be more comfortable to as a head coach, I think he's shown some signs of that if you've watched his press conferences, Matt Patricia, because you never know. It's a short career. This might be his chance.

To answer your question, though, Mark, I don't put, if they won 10 games, I think they're one of the 28 teams that can win 10 games. I really believe 28 teams are so, and win, and they're in that. They're just in a tough division. Wes, as we turn the calendar to September 2019,

is the quarterback still a difference maker to you? The one in Detroit? Yeah, the guy in Detroit. Never been a difference maker. Oh. Ooh. Dang, bro. I mean, I'm not the only one who's seen the stats, like, for years.

Matthew Stafford is, like, one in 30 against winning teams. The NFC. South. Andrew Luck never beat the Patriots. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chris Wessling. Football is a game of one-on-one battles. This offensive line loses way too many one-on-one battles. And my question is, how much is that going to be exacerbated by Bruce Ariens' infamous seven-step-drop quarterbacks getting killed behind his offensive lines?

Oh, dang. Does James Winston really have a chance behind this offensive line? He didn't against the Browns, and I know it's, I know it was only, you know, a quarter and a half, but sacked five times in 19 minutes. My one issue with that is that they're also on top of the protection, trying to get James Winston to be a totally different human being, where it's just throw the ball away, be safe, be smart, don't do what you're wired to do,

which is make crazy plays that turn into a lot of interceptions or something great. Bruce Arients isn't going to change at this point, and hearing him after the game blame his offensive line, just gave me flashbacks to basically every place he's ever coached. It's like, at some point if you just leave five guys in the block, in the NFL, your offensive line is going to fall apart and struggle and Ariens just keeps blaming the offensive

line, look in the mirror. Hmm. We're not in on Bruce Ariens. No, I mean, I think he'll be all right, but in that particular it's always a weakness for him. I mean, they also have a lot of talent on offense, which you could see them going out and dropping 35 points on a team if they can.

This is not the time to get shy about your love of James Winston. You got Bruce Ariens in the building now. I think he's got a good chance. You can all pay off for you after years. Hell, we've been talking of Chris Godwin on this podcast for four years now. Godwin Nation stand up. This is the time. Godheads. This is where it's going to all come to pass. Peyton Barber Nation, sit back down. Jason P.R. Paul, by the way, cleared to resume rehab activities. That would be a nice addition. I don't know what that means in terms of a return, but it's a positive step.

It's a nice step. Todd Bowles Nation. Just like, stand up maybe. Does he have a nation? Go to the water fountain and then come back to New York. A lot of Nations. The Saints, Greg. Oh, the Saints. You're wasting time. Searching for notes. We're 10 seconds. I know. Now you're just making it. Eric is going to one minute you and there's going to be nothing. No, no, we're not going to. I think this defense is as stacked as it's been in the Sean Payton era. And I'm surprised that sort of the lack of national respect that it's got. And I like this linebacker group. I love the deep secondary. They can match up with anyone. I think Marcus Davenport is one of the players to watch in the NFC in terms of

like second year players that could break out. And I've just heard a couple like conversations. I think everyone forgets how great they were at the end of last year. That's the reason they should have been in the Super Bowl. Wasn't their offense in the playoffs? I watched the FS1 has been airing those old NFL films 30 minute recaps of each season. They still make them by the way. I thought this was like a bygone era. But I used to arrive like on VCR tape in late July and it was like a godsend. Yeah. Well, the one on the same. I happened to catch and they were very blunt about and then finally in the last three minutes

their season and chance of the Super Bowl was stolen from them by the officials. This team was a Super Bowl team last year. So what is to say that they're not going and what more motivation could you have than what happened last year? The defense, if you believe in Breeze still, the offense is going to score a ton of points. This team has a secret weapon. Remember Dante Hall, the joystick, kick returner for the chiefs? They've got a rookie named Deontay Harri.

who's 5 foot 6, and every time I see him return a punt, he gets at least 20 yards. The Saints have led the NFL in 5-foot-5 return guys that used to be beer men. Little Gerald Ice Cube McNeil action. I'm going to save a prediction. Our next episode is going to be our Go Get My Lunch Props. I have one Saints related. I want to share it so badly right now. Don't.

But I can't. Holster it. I can't do it. Holstering it. You're excited, Greg. This is your favorite team, really. No, it is not. You're two lane ties and all that.

It is not. Some years. They found some people. in camp, including Emmanuel Butler, undrafted rookies, been a sensation. Their first draft pick, Eric McCoy's going to start at the center. Carolina Panthers, a final reminder that the Panthers were six and two before Kim's shoulder went cabooy last year. Carolina was a top offense that had scored 99 points in their previous nine quarters

before the injury. Norv Turner was on fire. All or nothing producers were pooping their pants at the thought of documenting a Super Bowl scene. We know what happened next. My question is, now that they are healthy and hopefully Cam's healthy, the offensive line has hypothetically been improved. The defense had some much-needed parts added to it. Are we sleeping a little bit on the Panthers once again being a true NFC contender

and a chance to win that division? Well, I would submit that this studio is not, this podcast is not sleeping on the Panthers. We see them as a contender. I put them in the playoffs in the NFL.com predictions. I wish I had just picked them to win the division because, you know, have some balls. But your love of the saints precluded. You know? Because I'm with you.

I think they could be a top seven or eight team in the NFL for sure. I mean, in one beating drum that's been going on the whole time is Curtis. Samuel growing and DJ Moore's second year. I mean, there are some weapons for Cam Newton finally if he can. There's no chance that Cam's going to come back from this shoulder surgery and retire. Become like a Chad Pennington type scenario. No, all reports are he's throwing the ball great.

But they said that about every quarterback now. Oh, the velocity's up a tick this summer. That's fair. I don't know what to believe anymore. It's a really fascinating time for the organization though, because David Teper, their new owner, you feel like he wants to make changes in terms of his coach and his GM. They've had a great run here Rivera and Marty Herney.

So it's like they have to be a playoff team or else there's going to be a huge turnover. I'm with you. I feel like this is a playoffs or bust scenario for the coach and GM one. Tall order, because it's the one division I think of that just eats itself up every year. Like the Eagles, I think they're really complete. Like where is that? the weakness. I don't see. I think they're a pretty well-built team. Depth at the skill position's on offense.

How about Dave Gettlement? He'd be like, hey, you're making fun of my Curtis Samuel pick now? Give me a little credit up here in New York. Gettlement's calling for the credit a lot later. It's been a good month. Atlanta Falcons, Mark Sessler. Dan and I picked the Falcons a year ago to go to the Super Bowl, and we were embarrassed by Destiny by Mrs. Fate. Yep, she's married now to an industrial plumber. Mrs. Fate, but now the Falcons have dirt cutter, friend of Matt Ryan running the offense. They're healthy on defense. All the big names are back. If Mrs. Fate bangs us again, it's because of this fill in the blank reason concerning Atlanta's weak spot.

What is the reason? We can't just turn around, Dan, and pick them again. What's not to like? Yeah. Well, besides, you're not going to do it. I might do it. What's not to like with the Falcons? Do you trust their defense? Yeah, I would say four out of five years of below average defense when Dan Quinn's been there. Well, I think I, well, hold on, we don't see what they could have been last year had they been healthy. I'm ready to write them off. I agree. I'm not ready. I think they're an entertaining team. I think the offensive line that Dimitrov, you have to wonder if his era, I mean, it's been 11 years now here with that. This is unkillable. We can't just assume that first round picks are good on offensive line with rookies. That's what I mean. And they put a lot of

money and a lot of picks into their offensive line. That's kind of the key. Did that work? If that doesn't work, Dimitrov might be done. To your point, Mark, if we're going to give the Panthers a pass for the injuries last year. We should do the same for the Falcons because that injury bug ravaged them from week one and never let go. And I think Devante Freeman is a major X factor here as well because he's kind of forgotten now. Calvin Ridley. Calvin Ridley is in line for a major year two bump. But I think Freeman is a guy that kind of has been lost in the mix. He was one of the best running backs in football. And maybe he's breaking down. Maybe that's a situation. Or maybe he's going to return. And if you add one of the best running backs in football to that offense, look out.

I like the Derek Cutter thing is. It's a narrative buster. We don't have to deal with the last offensive coordinator. Everyone brings up every time you bring up the Falcons. And this idea that Dan Quinn is on thin ice, please. He's got to be in thin ice. Why, though? He's renowned to be a great coach.

I just think he's done a solid. You got to go find someone better than him. He just fired everybody. And if they had another dark January, I'd think he'd be in danger. All right. Let's take a pause here. A reminder, Hard knocks is almost through. By the way, check out NFL.com slash handsist.

The latest recap is up on the website, but also more content. The Hard Knocks podcast, an NFL Films Joint, hosted by Peter Schrager, who takes you behind the scenes talking to players, coaches, people that know hard knocks. And you know the Shregg bomb is plugged in. You know he's plugged in. He brings that hard knocks coverage with just a little bit of extra pop that you're looking for, right, Dan? Yeah, Shregers, well, he's fine. He's fine.

Schrager is the insider doesn't need to say I'm the insider He lets the results do the talking You want to be that guy Hard Knocks podcast Check it out every week Through next week

The finale Let's move on now To the final division In the NFC The NFC West Starting with the old Zuster Old Zuster San Francisco 49ers

I want to get the temperature of the room here Like most of the Football Gagnoscenti you boys were super high on Jimmy G in the Niners last year then came the slow start the torn ACL the summer of less than glowing reviews about the boy who would be Brady

working under the assumption that Wes purchased the new P-scale after the luck fiasco where do you boys stand in your trust of the 49ers today one pants totally dry okay 10 yellow flood total panic where you at

4.2. So you're feeling pretty good about the Niners. Wait, 10 is total panic? 10 is a tall yellow flood. I'm going on six points. I meant to be on that side. It's tricky to answer it. The way you're asking, I'm going to say six and a half.

In reality, I'm fine if they're great or if they stink. They're not going to be like personal stakes. Craig doesn't care about the 49ers. I'm saying, where do you stand? Do you believe this team is going to be great or good? I think they have more questions than answers. It looks good on paper. I'll put it at five, but the problem is a lot more.

Hold on the fence, Sessler. Well, no, but a lot more tends to go wrong in a season. Five. You've got to the answer is five. Because I, it's a total wait and see for me. Like, you can't, I just can't look at anything they've had over the last years and make an assessment. Is this a playoff team?

You got to tell you. No, not in the NFC. Not in the NFC. I think the thing I'm most excited. I don't think so either. I want to see Garapolo do well with Shanahan. The receivers, we don't know who's going to step up. The key for this team to me is Joey Bosa, D. Ford, DeForest Buckner.

If they're all healthy and have the type of seasons they could, that's the best trio defensive line, maybe in the league, and they alone, I think, can carry this team. This division, Rivera, Quinn, Shanahan, all these guys that are on thin ice. It's like, who are you going to go get that's better than these coaches? They're all going to flip-flop and just hire each other's coaches. Man, I love watching Matt Breed to run.

That's all I have to say, but. He is, like, he is taking Twitter by Storm this week. Also a setback for McKinnon. So who knows what's going on with him. The Seattle Seahawks. All right, all right, Mark Sessler. You know, sometimes as parents, we wonder what happened. A few years back, we were loose and free and staying out till 4 a.m.

With boundary pushing twins named Chardonnay and Ralph. And twins. But now dads are tired wearing dad clothes, folding laundry. Moms would rather fall asleep at 8 p.m. than dance under the light of the disco ball. The Seahawks were that vibrant young thing for so long. Have they finally become the tired, over-extended parents of the NFC West? or is there one more adventure in the tank?

I thought last season served as kind of a new beginning for the Seahawks rather than them holding on. Great analogy. If anyone, though, is kind of going out late at night and not worrying about it, it's Pete Carroll, you know. Well, that's true. About in the youth. I don't know if I look at the roster that way, but...

I think this team's on the couch with bonbons. There you go. It's a weird team. It's a weird Seahawks season when you look at the offensive line as one of the strengths. Remember that's all we ever talked about And now it's like I think actually they should be fine They should be able to run the ball well

If you have Russell Wilson And you have one of the best defensive coaches Of his era I just feel like that You start with like a six seven win floor And so the bottom's not gonna fall out I'm a little bum that you're speaking this way Greg Because I was hoping you were also gonna go against Seahawks

And then I could take your corner from last year When people overlook the Seahawks in the NFC And then all of the sudden they're nine and four I'm giving them eight wins You know, just, yeah, I'm with you. That's a boring, pulled-in. Oh, all right. Well, then I am on my own.

I'm on an island here. I think it's a double-digit-win team. Corner's open. Corner's open. I'm going to take the corner. Then you have to trust the coaching that much. Wow. What a big development.

Be careful. Be careful. See, Hoc's Twitter is strange. They're intense. Do you know, they ask you on your podcast, Beast Pod? I mean, there's a lot going on. Do you know in like a fantasy draft when your pick is up seven, six, five, four, three, and you have the guy that you want, and then he's there,

and you get to grab a, grab them. That's how it felt just now to get the Seahawks. I'm on the corner. And the same way that we don't really care about anyone's fantasy team, I'm not sure I care about that analogy from you either. Enjoy your fifth round picks and journeyman on the defensive line. Greg, the Rams. I want to see what Sean McVeigh does offensively this season, just schematically, because it wasn't just that they struggled in the Super Bowl. It was that game against the Bears and the Eagles, and the Patriots did a lot of similar things that the Bears did. And I just think after a couple years, McVeigh is smart. He knows he needs to stay ahead of the game, and he's one of

the most brilliant minds we've seen come into the league, and I just want to see what happens, because I don't believe in a hangover. I believe in this roster. You know, I don't see any reason why you can't just pencil them in and put them right back in the playoffs, and probably with the Eagles as the favorite for a buy, because I don't think the division is that great. Well, McVeigh is sort of known for running out of the same alignment, not mixing up things too much beyond, say, like the jetfly sweeps and the commotion going on in the backfield.

So I think it will be interesting to see if he gets more creative, comes out of those alignments and tries new things. And they can run anything from, you know, any formation. So they are creative. It's just, I think, what he's done, he knows. I mean, that's the story of the NFL. You always have to be evolving.

I know September essentially just does not matter. matter by the time we get into the heart of the season. But they have the Panthers, Saints, and Browns, two of those very good pass rushes right out of the gate. And I feel like this is a team that needs a fast start to quiet the echoes on Jared Goff and the rest. And that's a tall order right out of the gate. It's been a quiet summer for them.

And that's a good thing. I think after last year and all the hype, for them to be a little bit more under the radar is a good thing. And one of the guy that's under the radar, Cooper Cup, who tore his knee up last November, I believe, Jay Glazer wrote last month that Cups test scores coming out of his brakes, agility, quickness,

every test time better than it was before he tore his ACL. Well, that sounds promising. That offense wasn't the same without him. If Cup comes back and he's Cup right away, they're going to be fine. I don't know about the Todd Gurley situation. A little Darrell Henderson.

If there was any problem, it's the offensive line. Cardinals, Chris Wesleyan. Close out the NFC, West. Spotlight is on this offense with Cliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray. It was an offense that last year, according to football outsiders, finished last on first down,

finished last on second down, finished last on third down, finished last in the first half of games, finished last in the second half of games, finished last at home, finished last on the road. Not good. That's the offense.

While everybody's concentrating on that, I would submit that the defense might take the offense's place as last at home, last on the road, last on first down, last on second down left. This might be the worst. worst defense in the NFL, starting with a secondary that we'll be playing without its top two cornerbacks for the first half of the season. And a coordinator who really has never had success

as a coordinator. Vance Joseph. Yes. You paint a grim picture here. And it makes sense. Well, they spent the off season collecting everybody's castoffs and turning them into starters on defense. I keep saying like 28 teams could win 10 games. It might be 30. It might just be the Cardinals and the dolphins are the ones that are hard to imagine. It's really hard to imagine the dolphins. I mean, the Cardinals having a winning record. And Kyler Murray's staying healthy. Kyler Mania would have to take hold. And the thing here, it's not, you know, Vic Fangio is your head coach where you're

going to give him three. It's like, with Kingsbury is a very boom or bust scenario in terms of he walked into a situation where it's good because the offense was so boring. It's going to be more exciting, but there was so much work to do on this roster that they could still win two or three games. If they move the ball and they're exciting offensively, that's win enough for Kingsbury in year one. What about David Johnson?

David Johnson and Kyle Murray, if they're both looking great, you can't talk yourself into them being contention? Is the defense going to be bad much? Because of the defense. Yeah. And unless they're dropping 35 points, you know, this is going to be the run and shoot. Even then, how good are we talking about?

Like a top 10 offense? I don't know. What position is really good on this team? Maybe running back? Yeah, running back. Outside linebacker when Chandler Jones is on the field. Maybe quarterback, but there's a lot of learning to do. Half time.

Ooh, we haven't had that team pop up yet, the one-minute team. Oh, wow, that's right. So we're down to 16. How's it going? Riggi, how's the show been so far? It's going so fast it's hard to really get. Yeah, you guys are actually kind of interesting when you keep it tight. Did you make that call, by the way?

About the fridge? Yeah, about the fridge. Yeah, I'm working on now. I got my tool set. and I'm building it from scratch right now for Greg. There's water. All right, so we're halfway through. I mean, you just like walk by it every day for two months.

I have some respect. Self-respect. Why are we digging deeper into this pit? This is our halftime show. Look on Ricky Holiday Space right now. It's okay. I'm not worried about it. The fridge has become an issue for the podcast.

I don't like it. You know what? The old Zusser might lumber up and bring it in just to end this. That'd be smart. Situation. That'd be smart. Someone is dragging it in now. Oh, look at it.

It's coming in. Ryan Bartlett. Oh, yeah. Oh, he's a corn-fed Midwestern boy. Oh, yeah. He lifted it up. He's a lot of corn. Yeah, Greg keeps looking at his microphone like something's wrong with it, but I turned him down about five minutes ago.

So he keeps looking at it to see if he did something wrong, but his mic's off. And there are an act of war. A producer who has more power than anyone on a podcast. Here we go. Let's go. Go to the AFC. Still off. Love you, Recky.

He go. All right, here we go. Let's start with the New England poop triets. Center David Andrews could be done for the year after being diagnosed with blood clots and his lungs. Second year left tackle, Isaiah, win. Looks promising, but that's their third starting left tackle in his many years. Factoring in the unsettled line, the untested options at the playmaker positions,

could we be looking at an especially sluggish start? for the Patriots this year. Now, we know they're slow starters, but isn't there more reason to think than ever that the offense specifically could really struggle in the early going? I used, I don't know. That felt like the story during the entire offseason, and then August comes around and it feels like they're fine.

I just, you know, Josh Gordon's back. Sony Michelle is running better than he ever has. Jacoby Myers shows up. I don't know. I figure the Patriots. were just, they'll find a way to figure it out. They lost one of the best centers in football. David Andrews, uh, to some serious blood clots might end his season.

Yeah, I mentioned that. Um, like 47, but I'm saying that's the best offensive line they've ever had was last year. They brought it, they brought him back. I think when, you know, win should be fine, uh, at left tackle. He's looked good, but they have the deepest back field they've had. That's a projection, though. We haven't seen it.

We've seen it in the preseason a little bit. You're right. I mean, you haven't, you haven't seen it. Uh, but I think it's a defensive team. I'm wondering what. Bell, like if the momentum from the end of last season and the way that he can construct a pass rush through all these guys like Hightower and Van Noy. Winnevich.

Winnevich, you know, where it's not guys who win one on one necessarily, but it's kind of like you can line up in any situation. I don't know. I think Belichick is just loving this group. I think that Josh Gordon reinstatement is just massive for this team. And Belichick is very close to Tom Landry's 20 straight winning seasons. I think he absolutely, that is a goal of his. he is featured heavily on the Tom Landry football life

and I think that it is on his radar and he is going to burn to get this team to 10-11-12 months. It's on his radar that he was in the football life? No, that Tom Landry, that is one of the records that will never happen again, I think, in football. Buffalo Bills, Chris Wesley. From an organizational foundation perspective,

I think Josh Allen is one of the most fascinating players in the league this year. It's important for quarterbacks to command respect among teammates and coaches, but it's so rare for a quarterback with major issues and accuracy and decision-making to command that respect, which is why I find it odd that any time a Bill's player or coach speaks about Josh Landry, it's with the utmost certainty that he's going to be a star. Everybody is so confident in Buffalo that this guy is the answer and the leader.

And then a guy like Jordan Palmer who saw him in the offseason says he's got the most talented set of physical traits that I've ever seen in a quarterback. So to me, like, Kyler Murray is one of these guys who, from an organizational foundation perspective, is fascinating. But Josh Allen is, too. I mean, it's almost mythical his arm strength, and we know there's issues with accuracy, or maybe there is, maybe there's not. But you also forget that he led the team in rushing last year. He is an outrageous talent and as much talk as there is about Lamar Jackson for his two-way abilities. Maybe Alan doesn't get enough love for that.

He's truly a special specimen. I think I like what they did with the Cole Beasley, John Brown. Another team adding those two guys that may not, it's not going to wow you. These aren't like huge, like game-changing type talents. But it is exactly what Buffalo needed. They have a deep backfield. They're deeper than they thought they would be because of Devin Singletary in the backfield. And I think he can be, he's in position to make a leap where they were the most talent-poor offense in the league last year to some degree

and having to do crazy stuff with their playbook. Right. Can Brian Dable, you know, call the right plays? Because with that running game, you know, Frank Gore and Lashon McCoy look great in their preseason effort. And Singletary had a monster camp. Like Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen should have open throws. I mean, because of the running game, because of his running game. But quarterback is not just how hard you throw it.

You need touch. He has no touch. He's shown no ability. They're still talking about how he's firing in a hundred mile an hour passes. The organic fish tank with Mark Sessler. Let's drunkenly fall into that fish tank. explore why the organically reloading fins would go after Jedevi and Clowny in August 2019. Serenade me with your big brains.

I'm surprised this is getting so much criticism, people who are really in on, oh my God, they have to rebuild, they have to tank. I mean, the point is to have good players on your team. Good young players. And if they believe that getting Clowny for a couple pieces that they want to get rid of anyways, like Kenny Stills and Kenyon Drake or whatever it ends up being, and getting him sign-law, long term eventually, that's the way to do it. Like, that's fine.

To get him sign long term, it's not just, you can't just, there's no reason to bring them in for two seasons. Yeah, but if Kenny and Drake, if you're not in love. You have them, you have the power. Let's use this as like the framing. Kenny and Drake, a guy that's a talented running back that they don't seem to love. Kenny Stills, who's gone sideways with the ownership and let's say, I don't know, a third round pick.

What is, what is irreplaceable from that move? I feel like it would be a no brain. I don't mind giving that up. I just am wondering if you have. Even if you lose out, you get a draft pick out of it. You have for two years, it feels a little strange. to me, that's all. But that's fine. But I mean, there's, if they have them, they are by far the most likely team to sign them to a long-term extension, because that's just how the NFL works.

They'd have the franchise tag. And if they just give them money, I mean, that's, that's all it comes down to in the end. Like, if they just pay them what he wants, he'll... You know what pro athletes love? Playing in Southern Florida in Miami. I feel like that could be a big part of the recruitment process of the cloud. I mean, it sounds like he's into Philly and Seattle, so we'll see. Money will, could change that. What else he got? I mean, the dolphins, to me, I find interesting because of the Josh Rosen thing. You have to figure out what you have.

All this rebuilding thing was about going into next year's draft and getting their quarterback. You've got one that you think you want to look at, and the reviews have not been good. And for all the reasons, we thought that we would be ahead of Josh Rosen's arc of he's not a problem. Forget this millennial issue and all this other business. He's not someone the coaches seem to love wherever he goes. I played Ryan Fitzpatrick in the preseason by far. I mean, it's been mixed reviews. You've heard things like that,

and then you've heard things like the same old stories. It's hard to evaluate behind that offensive line. New York Jets, Greg Rosenthal. Is this going to be Joe Douglas' finest hour this week? I mean, this is Joe Douglas week. Jets fans didn't like that. I said they might add, you know, five, ten players before the season starts. They've already done, they've already added two veterans.

Tends a lot. Including, okay, we've got two, and we haven't even got the cuts yet. They made a trade for Nate Harrison. The bottom of this roster is one of the worst bottom of the rosters in the NFL. I think that's what's separated the Patriots, for instance, from other teams. They have a great 30 to 50. And I think if Douglas can have a big week, let's say Nate Hairston, this guy they just traded

from the Colts, ends up just being a solid contributor, keep stacking guys like that and you have a decent bottom of the roster, the sky's the limit. I think this is a playoff talent team at the top. He doesn't get his first real bite at the Apple until, obviously, free agency, in the draft process. That was the unusual nature of the turnover. in the front office for the Jets. But yes, this is his chance now

to start making the minor moves to try to add some gap. Can't you just imagine the Mniche meta you know, puff piece in mid-October going through all the guys they added in September? It's like, these are the Douglas boys. You know, no one wanted them. And now the Jets are five and three.

He's in a good spot right now. Because if the season goes terribly, he won't get killed for it. And if they overperform and things like that happen, he will be hailed as a savior. So, yes, as much pressure is there as, on Douglas, and there are reasons why people would have said, why didn't he hang back and wait for more job offers so he could weigh the different ones as opposed to taking what seems like

a curse job in general with the Jets? Well, maybe because the opportunity is here to really build something, and Sam Darnold's a big part of that too. I think the switch flipped on Darnold last December. I was waiting to see a little bit of what happened this summer with him too, and every little bit of evidence suggests that it did, and that is huge for New York. Douglas needs to find some pass rushers, some linebackers, period. He's like the eighths, GMs, it's cornerbacks, it's tight ends. The offensive line is set, but I don't know if it's going to be good or not. Hey, Joe's having out of pass rushes since John Abraham of 2005.

All right, moving on, the AFC North Chris Wesleying, Pittsburgh Steelers. I think I'm guilty of this. I spent the offseason hyping the Browns, and I still love their roster. But we know, and Mark has hit on it, they have a major concern. concern on the offensive line. And now I look at the Steelers, look up and down their roster, and where is the concern? I think some people think wide receiver is unproven, but haven't the Steelers earned the benefit of the doubt at that position by now?

Hell yeah. Oh, yes. To me, they have the third best playoff odds in the AFC behind the Chiefs and Patriots, and I see no weak spot on this team. Me too, because I like the secondary. And if there's a weak spot, it's like I want to see Mike Tomlin turn a sizable amount of talent. into a top six or seven defense, just hasn't happened. He's always in that 10 to 12 range in terms of defensive DVO.

Not a bad defense, not a great one. This should be his best defense. Well, that's on Keith Butler too, but I'm with you that I feel like, you know, this offseason and it's so interminably long that, like, we've come full circle where now we do see the Steelers for what they are, one of the best offensive lines in the AFC and lots of talent. And why were we ruling, not us, but people knocking them out of the playoff, picture three or four months ago. I mean, it's absurd.

I think it's because of your Browns. I know, but then that all becomes circus farce. We're now we're over the Browns. No, but please. No, no, no. Sit down. Take it easy. I'm saying it's because the Browns are the new kids on the block. So it's like we have to get rid of somebody.

The Steelers. We're done with the Steelers already. But the reality is the Steelers are not done. And for what I was just saying, this team is loaded. Great division. We didn't know that James Washington was going to come into camp a different player than he was a year ago. We didn't know that Deontay Johnson could be an impact rookie.

or that Devin Bush was going to be that guy they've been looking for to replace Shazir. Some of the young guys in the secondary, Terrell Edmonds, Cameron Sutton, supposedly looking really good. Cam Kelly from the AAF. You know, so that makes a difference. They need Rathesburg. It would be a little better.

I mean, I think he was, I think last year was probably his worst year. Football outsiders disagrees with you vehemently. They have him as one of his best passing seasons. Watch out for Devin Bush, too. Moving on to the Baltimore Ravens and the old Zuser. Sorry, guys. The popular line of thought this offseason is that the year two growth of Lamar Jackson will dictate whether the Ravens are an NFC contender or an All-Soran.

But that's obviously too simple. What besides a stumble from Jackson will keep this team from contending for a division title come December? Like what else? What's another chink in the armor? Yeah, go ahead, Wes. They lost more than half their sacks pressures and hits from their defense. Still surprised Drell Suggs isn't on this team. anymore. Tim Williams, Tias Bowser, these guys they've drafted in the past who haven't played

much at all, they're going to be taking major snaps now. Jalen Ferguson, they drafted in the third round, it'll be interesting to see what he does. But I think that front seven can they get after the passer because that secondary has been used to them getting after the past. I mean, Lamar Miller talked about recently throwing the ball 30 times a game. I'll wait, I'll see, I'll believe it when I see it number one, but 30 times a game to who? Like I, it just, to me, is not a wide receiver group that's going to get you out a lot of a lot of situations. I think Mark Andrews and Hayden Hurst are like the tight ends. And Willie Sneed and yeah, and the rookie Miles Boykin. I mean, you're right. We haven't seen Hollywood Brown except for a few plays, but he's an X factor.

But I picked him to win the division. I think they're a very solid team and they're right up there with Pittsburgh in terms of reliability factor. I have three, all three top AFC North teams in the playoffs, the secondary with Earl Thomas. I mean, I think he could be comeback player there. All those young guys you mentioned, rushing the pass or West, supposedly haven't stepped up, haven't had a good camp, and Pernell McPhee, their old friend, is probably going to start, which is a bad sign, I think, for them. Man, that would be kind of weird

if it was the front seven of the Ravens that let them down. You're so used to the defense carrying the load. I don't know. I feel like they've earned the better of the doubt for me the same way the steals with the wide receiver room that they're going to figure it out. That's fair. I'm with you.

Man, Mark, that's a tough division. It really is. It always has been. Nothing's changed. I think everyone assumed all these things had changed. Nothing's changed. The Cleveland Browns, Greg Rosenthal. All right, in Cleveland.

I had a whole spiel, but I'm now peaked by what Mark just said, how it's ridiculous, how now the people have gone away from the Cleveland Browns as we approach this season. Is this on your radar? I may not be level-headed on this, so if you had a logical argument, continue with it. No, I mean, you think, like, people are now dismissing the rounds? I think there's the exhaustion with the Browns. which if it were another team, I would totally be buying into and feeling that exhaustion.

So I understand. Take a look at that pass rush against the Buccaneers with Olivier Vernon and Miles Garrett meeting at the quarterback on every play. That'll get you fired up about the Brown. I feel like they may have to have some games where their defense, if the line is, the offensive line struggles and they are not scoring points the way people think, it may be the pass rush and the defense that has to get them out of jams and win some games. But I think they're going to be fun.

They'll be relevant and fun. It's my world. It's the team you have to say. It's time to move the fucking. It's my world. It's my world. Can I hear that again? That was agro. Shut the fuck up. I don't get a fuck with you have to say. It's time to move the on in peace. It's my world. Well, you heard the lady. That is untoward. Let's move on, Mark, to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Well, and I get another team that I, this fan base is on my back, thinking that I constantly kill him, and I do. So I'm going to give you a couple things I like about the Bengals beyond Joe Mix and A.J. Green. I like rookie runner Rodney Anderson, who looked great catching the ball against the Giants. He's been out of football for a year. This is my world. I like Ryan Finley, is Dalton's backup.

I don't know what that does unless Dalton gets hurt, though. I like the depth in two places. Tight end. I like the D-line, maybe wide receiver. But what am I missing? Is there anything here to make me look like any? anything other than a raging flusie for predicting doom for Mike Brown's play thing. I want to be more positive. Help me.

Is a flusie like a loose woman? Yeah, I'd be like a male version of a loose woman if I get this wrong. You hit on it. It's the defensive line. And maybe the names don't jump out, but just what we've read in camp and the depth that they have with Atkins, Dunlap, they think Carl Lawson's really going to step up. He's looked great. Sam Hubbard. I think Andrew Billings is a good guy in the middle. They have numbers there.

and I think if they get a good enough pass rush, it could be a better defense than we've seen. That's their recipe. We all agree that the other three teams in this division are either AFC contenders or very frisky with a very high ceiling, I think, speaking of the Browns. It just seemed to be in such a tough spot. I mean, it's almost a possible spot.

I mean, they're announcing that an undrafted rookie, Damien Willis is starting at wide receiver like weeks before the season. That's not, most teams aren't doing. in that. I think if you look at their, if you look at their, they were such a good drafting team, you look at their first round picks over the four last four or five years. They have not panned out for injury or play, and that's where I think started, things started to go south a little bit. They've had a lot of bad luck on that offensive line combined with bad drafting.

Cedricabouillet and Jake Fisher killed them for a few years, and now Jonah Williams out, Billy Price looks like the year after you get taken number one overall as a center, you can't even beat out a journeyman for the starting job? Yeah, I mentioned, I wonder if they'd trade for for Trent Williams. be tasty moving on to the afc south chris westling the tennessee titoons

we mentioned it earlier we've seen the stats on on matthew stafford against winning teams kirk cousins similar 185 winning percentage woeful can't beat good teams winning percentage terrible you know who can be good teams

who marcus mariotta has the third best record of any quarterback against teams with a winning record since a 2015 season Only Big Ben and Tom Brady have better records. So how come they go 9 and 7 every year? They're not good.

Because he's always hurt. He's inconsistent. You don't know which Marcus Mario is going to show up from week to week. He can beat good teams. We've seen him in the playoffs beat good teams. I mean, all right. So I don't know if he's the one beating them, but does he pass the eye test on any other level of someone you want to build around

for the next three or four years after what we've seen for the past four during the regular season? I'm not there yet to build it. I would not give him a contract right now. But like I said, there are games where he looks the part. He looks like a guy you want to build around it, and then the next week he takes 11 sacks against the Ravens. I feel like he could be the third starting quarterback we see yanked after one of these guys getting pulled for a rookie.

I just think this may be short there. I guess my counter, Wes, and you know how I feel. But at what point is that just who he is? And it's not waiting for it all to click. Maybe he's just an inconsistent, injury-prone passer. That's Nash is brilliance, but also driving nuts. I agree with you. I think that is who he is.

And that's who they have to evaluate. That sounds exactly, by the way, like Ryan Tannahill, their backup. If anything, I think he's been kind of consistent. He's been kind of middle of the road. I haven't seen the flash of the brilliance too much. From season to season, but not from game to game. Consistently inconsistent? Is that fair? I guess. I mean, he hasn't been surrounded by great talent.

I'll buy that. They've rotated coordinators. Like, there's a lot of factors. That's why he's going to need to get help. I think the offensive line is worth questioning, especially with Luan out for four weeks. Saffold struggled a little bit in the preseason. Frable's got to cook up some stuff with his defense here, make them a little more noteworthy. The Houston Texans with Andrew Luck out the door.

The AFC South is Deshawn Watson's playground. No, it's his property. Everyone else is renters and all you doubters, all you Bill O'Brien haters, jealous of his hands-on leadership, and dimpled chin have to deal with it. DeShon Watson is a fucking savage in that pocket and he'll skip back to the playoffs

with his friend's nuke and JJ and maybe Jadavian, sorry you're all wrong. Not even throwing it out for a question. That's a statement. Well, so wait, that's why you've liked the Texans last five years? Because of his dimple?

It makes sense now. It does. I didn't really like ever totally put it together. I said you guys are jealous of it. That's all. I mean, I don't know if I've ever thought about it. You mean the dimple right in the middle of this little chin there? Absolutely.

It's very strong. It's not dominating my mind. Masculine. I don't really. understand your Texans bit. I think I need somebody to explain it to me. It's not a bit. It's like I get behind a team that was really good last year. Right. They're offensive line. It's kind of like the whole Bob Costas thing. Mark used to like him during the prime of his career. That prime is long over. There's nothing more to understand. Or I believe in a team. I don't

understand what's so hard to see about that. I think Watson has the potential to be one of the top five quarterbacks and football, and he showed flashes of that last year. I think you're right. And I like- Andrew Lacan, why not think that he could take this division over for the foreseeable future? And it almost felt like O'Brien coached with handcuffs on because he didn't want to put Watson at risk in the running game or being nearly as creative as he was during Watson's rookie year.

And I think you'll see you a little bit more of that. Listen, Wes, all the things you point out, whether it's the offensive line or maybe the lack of depth on both sides, all fair, the running game doesn't drive you crazy. but you know what I don't think this division is flawless by any means secondary looks terrible pretty weak to me if you put this same team in the AFC or AFC North for instance I wouldn't be as excited I think their offensive line gets eaten up week after

week I just made Taco Charlton and Carrie Hider look like the steel curtain last week a lot of teams have offensive line struggles not all teams have a coaching staff and a quarterback that can overcome it just wait I'm not sure they have the coaching staff that can overcome. Just wait. Moving on. Oh, you guys are going to look so bad on that one. Colts, Greg Rosenthal.

I can't wait, Greg. Whatever. You know, they wouldn't give the coach of the year last year to Frank Reich. He just lost out to it to Matt Nagy. How about he gets it this year in his version of Chuck Strong? I don't know.

Jacoby Strong. Whatever it is. They're going to rally. And I think it's because Ricky Halliday's, you know, the favorite fantasy pick, T.Y. Hilton is still going to be a monster. Don't worry that you lost.

Wait, you took Hilton and Luck? Yeah. Yes, I did. Jesus Christ. Here's the thing. Double shot. Hilton was catching passes from Berset in camp and mentioned that he had caught 29 to 30 targets. Brissette throws a beautiful deep ball that is unquestionable.

What do you mean? What am I doing? Andrew Luck to T.Y. Hilton? That's a great thing. How was I supposed to know? How was I supposed to be? I would have stared clear of Andrew Luck. That is a little aggressive.

He was walking with a limp for the past six months. I'm in, I'm in on these Colts after watching Reich just rally the troops, and I think there's a lot to like, especially offensively, and I think Brissette can keep the train moving. Hilton, by the way, kind of disappeared off the radar when he had extended play with Jake Briscott. Slides me off a piece of that. Two years ago, was it?

When that team was a disaster. Well, you know, Dan, your little Texans with all this. One thing about them is they seem to have constant, constant, like, disorganization chaos going on upstairs between the coaching staff. Every eight months, they're firing a GM. The cults are tight as a full. Fist, GM, coach, quarterback, entire roster. They're all on the same page.

I noticed Mark and I were only two of 30 prognosticators to pick them to... I stuck with it, baby. Mainly to sink it to Dan. Let's see what happens with that. You guys are in your feelings on this culture. No, we're in our logic. Our logical minds. You didn't even win the division last year.

There's a defensive rookie of the year, uh, underdog can't even win the division with luck last year. Now you're going to win it without them. Well, what happened in the playoffs? What happened in the playoffs when it matters? There's some serious AFC South Heat going on right here. You know what? It's America's division.

This is the podcast right here. Jaguars, Sessler. Jaguars, if you're John DiPhilippo and you're angling for a comeback after being fired less than a year ago in Minnesota, all right, you've got your boy Foles. But what's around and behind beside Leonard Fournette?

I'm a little concerned. You don't have Zach Ertz and Dallas Goddard anymore at tight end. You've got Jeff Swam, James O'Shaunice. He sounds like an Irish harp duo, and rookie Josh Oliver, who's missed the entire preseason. No Jaguars receiver crossed 800 yards a year ago, and if Ful's goes down, the backup is a human named Gardner Minshu. Should DiPhilippo be DeFilipping out?

Yes. This offensive line might be worse than the Texans' offensive line. Well done, Mark. This offensive line could undermine the entire team this year. And there is one receiver who looks intriguing. DeFilippo has said that D.D. Westbrook is the best route runner he's ever been around, including Stefan Diggs and Adam Thielen, which is high praise. D. Filippo is predicting a huge breakout year for D.D. Westbrook.

It is interesting. They gave Foles a ton of money and said, here, fix it. Here starts 16 games, which you've never done. Yeah, and it might be a big ask when you factor in what they've surrounded them with. That's fair. You need the defense to be next level special. They need to be even better than they were a year ago, which was very good, by the way. They should be better than the first. You know, they were fifth or sixth. sixth, I think, in defensive DVOA last year. They were one of the best

defenses of the decade the year before. And they have a lot of those players back. You had Josh Allen. I mean, you've got to be a top two or three defense. And if you give Nick Foles that, then I think you got a good chance. They didn't have nearly as many turnovers last year, but that it's hard to judge any of that year to year.

If they kind of regress to the mean, yeah. In Gokwey, Josh Allen, Callais Campbell, Darius, Miles, Jack, Jalen, Ramsey. I mean, you have to hold teams to 14 points week after week. That's a tall order in this league. I'm not as worried about the receivers.

I've always thought Chris Conley could do more than he has. I mean, it's asking. Everybody always thinks that about Chris Conley. Let's close it out with the AFC West. Does John Gruden believe in his quarterback? Do the Raiders believe in the quarterback? I've been watching hard knocks for four weeks, attempting to gauge cars influence his place on this team.

I got nothing. I've seen moments that caused me to see. speculate that car doesn't have this team, including the most recent episode when he tried to talk to a wide receiver about a running route. Who here will be surprised when Rap Sheet was reporting in October that Antonio Brown is unhappy with the quarterback play. And if that happens, who on that team's going to have QB1's back? Whoa. See, I don't think, I thought you wrote this very well in your write-up that there's just this sort of unidentifiable mismatch between Gruden's personality and cars, which we've seen. And it makes you kind of uncomfortable when you're watching

it. It's not natural the way that communicates. Because Carr, I don't think anyone... You guys just got blocked on Twitter, by the... What? But here's my thing. I think Carr seems like a totally stand-up, awesome dude. And everything that he says he is, he is. And I agree.

My issue a little bit is that he's not Jeff George where there's all these people thinking he's some sort of a-hole. He just, the culture of that team and him and the coach, there's something not quite there, and that is a concern... Knock on wood if you're with me. Who does he have chemistry with on that team? Keeland-Doss? I don't know.

No, to answer your question, I will not be surprised if Antonio Brown is miffed at there. In fact, I'll be surprised if he's not miffed at him by then. I'm excited to watch their offense, though. I think they got so much talent, and I think Carr's good enough if they protect. I'm not a huge, you know, I don't think Carr's going to be a top 10 quarterback, but there's so much around him, and I think Gruden will have a good season. I'm not that worried about the past.

Yeah, I think that's important to point out, too, and not just because I don't want to get blocked again, is that I don't think Derek Carr is an untalented quarterback. I might like him a little bit more than others, but I don't. It's just more a feel thing based on watching a reality docu-series. I mean, he got beaten up in those past few years. I mean, he's played through a lot of injuries. They have upgraded their talent, though. I mean, it's significant how much better this roster is.

Mayock's draft class looks pretty good. The free agent class with Lamarcus Joyner. I know we don't love Bontas Perfect. I think he'll help there. They're better. I can't believe Josh Jacobs has been able to sit out all of hard knocks. Here we go. Kansas City Chiefs, Mark Sessler.

I'm going to read the blurb I offered NFL.com about who's going to win this division. The Chiefs return their entire offensive core with added weapons in Mikul Hardman and Darwin Thompson. Short cut. Football heads. Oh, what?

Erica, you're absurd. I'm like, I actually, like, I actually defend you before the show, and that's what I get. You've silenced Greg's Mike and done that to me twice. You're making no friends in this room. And I also imagine.

Dan is probably I am in you telling you. Take a look at my laptop and you apologize. I don't want to see what's on your laptop. HR might. Sorry,

those are the rules, Mark. Later. Well, sorry to Chiefs fans. That's it. We're not talking about the Chiefs. Are we going to respect the rules or not?

I thought, the rules were there was only one team. How about talk about them in week 17 when they win the division? That was just kind of like a I don't get a f*** what you have to say. It's time to move the fucking on. The shit.

It's my world. Die quickly. Do you want to finish your blurb? Not really, no. I think I'm not going to try that again. Because you're right. It wasn't the rules. It wasn't the rules.

No, go to NFL.com and read it. It's on the pick section. Their defense is going to be a lot better. There's a lot to like. I think they're the favorites. They're the AFC favorites. Come on. The Denver Broncos, Chris Wesley.

Sorry, Chiefs fan. There is an article this week by John Kime of ESPN.com. Guy Bob. A Redskins beat writer interviewed Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVeigh, and Matt LaFleur, who were on the old Shanahan coaching staff. And he asked all three of them, who's the toughest defensive coordinator to prepare against? And they all said Vic Fongio. Every single one of them, immediately, Vic Fongio is the toughest. Fosio. And you look at Bradley Chub and Von Miller, who were already the most productive SAC duo last year,

Chubb, I mean, it's reasonable to expect he's going to be even better this year. Shelby Harris, a guy who I loved last year, made big play after big play. To me, looks like he can be an Akeem Hicks type of guy under Fagio. Maybe Justin Simmons or safety who's a playmaker can be an Eddie Jackson type of guy. If Peyton Manning can go to the Super Bowl washed up with a great Denver Broncos defense. Oh, no, he did. Why can't Joe Blacko go into playoffs? Why can't Joe Blacker go to playoffs with this defense? He did it. Who's the, why can this not be the early season surprise in the NFL. I'm with you. I think if you want to make an argument that the cults fall down a step that there's teams that are knocking on the door to take a team out in the AFC and the wildcard

race, Denver fits the bill. There aren't a lot, there's a lot to like on defense. It fits the mold of how they got there last time. Yeah, I think their floor is a little higher to your point than people think. Chubb and Miller is, it could be an absolutely insane. Chubb got a couple votes for defensive player of the year and our, just because of how good he's looked in the preseason. That alone with Fongio, forget it. Well, if you remember when everybody was going nuts about Jimmy Garapolo and the preseason game going 0 for 6 with no yards, nobody noticed that it was the Broncos that were absolutely wreaking havoc

with Chubb leading the way, causing two turnovers. Yeah, and in fact, in Fagio, and all their skill talent? You know, the offense, if you want to believe in Joe Flacco, that's one thing. And I suggest you don't, but the defense do not doubt. I don't know if I'd say all their skill talent. But they, okay. Finally, close it out, Greg. The Los Angeles Superchargers.

Prove me wrong, Philip Rivers. You know, you've been proven people wrong. You've been overcoming a bad running game and offensive line for almost your entire career. I played with Ladeney and Tomlinson. Until last year. They had a below, literally below average for a decade straight after Thomas. Ryan Matthews not happen with you right now.

No. Oof. You know, you got, who is it, Trent Scott, Trevor Scott at left tackle? You got Sam Tevi at right tackle. It looks like a disaster. You're playing eight games essentially on the road. I've been on their corner forever, and I feel like I'm giving up. But Philip Rivers is just such a joy to watch that he's proven people wrong throughout his career.

Like he's overcome a lot. I think this is going to be like another one. I think he's feeling that weight on his back. Prove me wrong, because this looks like a team where the bottom could fall out, and you go from 12 and 4 to 7 and 9 something. I feel like you've somehow made both arguments there. Yeah. Where are you coming down on this?

I want him to prove me wrong, but I think this is a team set to fall. You hear coaches talk about Philip Rivers as a absolute mastermind when it comes to past protection and meeting with the offensive linemen for hours each week to sort it all out, and he's great at the line of scrimmage. But we've seen Philip Rivers have seasons ruined by bad offensive lines for that team. Including the end of the most promising season he had in almost a day. decade. I mean, their season was ended. They were miserably, miserable offensively. In that game against Lamar Jackson, they didn't have any more yards in the Ravens. And they, they were terrible against the Patriots. And would you be shocked if this was a top seven defense though? No, not at all. The defense is a

very deep. It's a really, it's still a talented team. So they have a chance. It's just that sort of their Achilles. They got run over on defense in their mostly recent preseason game. I don't know what to take out of that. But also, when is Darwin James coming back? Not for a... Not four months. See, out for the year

potentially? It could be right up again. It might be Thanksgiving. Right. You have a nice cornerback group, Casey Hayward, Desmond King. You know,

you've got a great pair of pass rushers. But I really think the whole you don't have a home field thing and you're kind of this second class team right now. It's a drag. All right.

There you go. We just went around the NFL and 65. three minutes. Mark, I really think we should hear the Chiefs. I mean, they're a favorite. I guess it was 62 minutes. Can we have something inspirational to play? I just, I don't, as long as I'm not going to get,

you're going to blow me up, I can feel it. I'm going to try it. Don't blow him up. Because he's going to lose it if you blow him up. The Chiefs return their entire offensive core with added weapons in Mikul Hardman and Darwin Thompson. Football heads close to the team believe Patrick Mahomes has grown even more comfortable

in the offense. Even more comfortable. fill my belly with bath salts and I'll pick someone else to win the West. Somehow that snuck on NFL.com along with like Brian Baldinger's very serious paragraph about another team. I don't know.

Okay, Erica has to say, it's time to move the fucking on. It's my world. Okay, Erica has now, with her little ditty, eaten up nine and a half minutes of our 63, minutes around the league. There we go. I like that little.

Stan Hans is signing up for it. Mark Sussle of the Glyde Storm, the mailman, the old boss. And Ricky Hollywood, behind the glass. Sandwich props Friday. This is an IHeart podcast.