NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Colts Drama + "Stick a Fork in 'Em" (with Zak Keefer and Bridget Condon)

Episode Date: November 9, 2022

A room filled with some heroes - Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler and Gregg Rosenthal are joined by The Athletic's Zak Keefer to react to Colts' owner Jim Irsay's decision to fire head coach Frank Reich and hire Jeff Saturday as his interim replacement. Then, Bridget Condon joins the heroes for the return of "Stick a Fork in 'Em," where the group decides to fork 7 teams halfway through the season (23:21). Finally, the heroes preview the upcoming Panthers-Falcons Thursday Night Football matchup (58:10). Note: timecodes approximate. NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Hey, everybody. Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the 6th, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else.

It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael Florio, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast. Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet. We've got the insight to help you crush your opponents.

Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL, visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. I don't know how to make sausage. I don't know what goes into sausage, but I do know how to build a football team

because I've been around for 52 years. Mark? you've been around 49 now yes do you know how to make sausage i do not either i guess that's the one thing i have in comment with him to judge jim ursay at this time dan hands is here from the chris wessling podcast studio with greg rosenthal and mark sessler yes that is the owner of the indianapolis cults who rocked the football world to say the least on monday with the announcement that uh fifth year head coach frank was fired and that was Greg a seismic news anytime a coach is fired in the middle of the year without much of a heads up it's always big news but then what took the story from a big story to huge borderline surreal gallery of the absurd was his replacement on an interim basis at least is 47 year old former cult's center Jeff Saturday who until this week was an analyst for ESPN this is some maverick owner stuff, whether you think it's good or bad.

We could discuss that, and that's what we're about to do on the show. It's all unprecedented. It's all disarming, like the music playing so deep into the start of this show, and I like it. You know, I just like being destabilized. And I like to imagine Mark eating sausage, because I think that's the type of meat product that would most revolt him. Why have we already gone there in this show? A show with a trenchant news item to dig into it.

I'm not saying I like the hire of Jeff Saturday, but I do like the theater of absurd that sort of followed the Frank Reich firing. And you like Frank Reich. We're going to get into all that. Sure. That the press conference kind of took the news, which was already outlandish, and just upped it a little bit.

Went bigger. And a little peek behind the curtain. Right before we taped today, I was on NFL now for like the one last thought segment. And they're like, oh, we got to spill out some more of this Ursa. press conference, and then we'll have Steve with Andrew and Dan on to react. And then in your ears like, don't, don't go too far, don't go too far. So my comment was like, you know what?

I don't agree with the decisions being made, but let's bring on the weird. Let's keep 2022 weird. And there are serious sides of the story and big questions, Mark, that you could ask about the cult's process. And we're going to have Zach Kiefer on in a little bit to really dig into what's going on behind the scenes there. But overall, and I know you were a man that embraces K. This is chaos in the Midwest.

Yeah, because I feel like, you know, on our Friday fun show, we come up with predictions and they can be very football, hardcore predictions. Some of them can get strange. And if I had told you last Friday that my sports lock of the week would be that Jeff Saturday, ESPN analyst, former cult center, would be named the cult's interim coach. You'd just laugh me off the show and we'd end it because it's that absurd. This was a missed opportunity. It did. It was. But it's so far afield.

That's a new thing with our listeners, which I really like. It shows up in my mentions all the time. Anything something stupid happens, like McKinney for the Giants who broke his hand in ATV accident in Cabo. It's like, oh, did Mark predict that on the Friday fun show? It's a great way to steer the minds of the viewers. That's what they think. But before we get to Zach,

because really we need to figure out what's going on with the cults and nobody knows more about that team than Zach Kiefer. Let's get a little more sound from Jim Mersey, just to give you, again, if you're not caught up on the story, During Monday night football, the Colts call a press conference, and Ursay explains himself, some would say, defended himself. You know, Chris Ballard, the GM's there,

and of course, Jeff Saturday as well, who's just caught in the middle of this. Let's listen for Mersey. I'm glad he doesn't have any NFL experience. I'm glad he hasn't learned the fear that's in this league. That's because it's tough for all our coaches. They're afraid. They go to analytics, and it gets difficult.

I mean, he doesn't have all that. he doesn't have that fear and there was no other candidate we are fortunate that he was available all right and we are fortunate to say that this man is available because we know he's extremely busy uh i saw that he was on the pat maccify show i'm sure the athletic is hitting him up he's got all sorts of stuff going on let's welcome in the great zach keifer who covers the NFL and the colts for the athletic he's also a co-host of the one percent better colts podcast man i'll tell you what zach it's not it hasn't been a good season for this team But in terms of stuff to talk about, home run.

I'm exhausted, guys, but it's never boring around here. And I was just losing my mind laughing at what you guys were talking about. I mean, what was the weirdest part of last night? Was it the sausage comment? Was it the reference to the CIA? Was it Michael Jordan's missed shots? Was it the trip to Mars? Was it comparing Jeff Saturday to Don Chula, Tony Dungey, and Bruce Sarians?

I mean, where do we start? I think I'll start with, I was going. to actually use from your great column you wrote off the press conference, your paragraph where you reference to those things, but I'll use the first sentence instead in which you wrote, this feels bold at best and reckless at worst, the decision to fire Reich and bring in Saturday. An unprecedented gamble in modern NFL history, won that Jim Ursa spent the better part of 35 minutes Monday, fervently defending as only he can. In terms of like the surreal meter, like as a Jets fan, I know like Rich Semeni and everybody on the Jetsby.

We'll talk about the Belichick press conference forever when he resigned his HC of the NYJ. On the surreal meter, what is it for you, one to ten, while you're sitting in that room, digesting it? The surreal meter around here is a lot higher than other cities. I will say that. Like, if you're around Jim Mersey a lot, you hear these things all the time. Like, it's not abnormal for him to say in training camp, the goal is to win three Super Bowls in a row. Like with this team? And so you're kind of used to these rambling press conferences where you get mentions of John Lennon and Bob.

Dylan and the CIA and whatever it is. So we're used to the unusual. But in terms of my career, I've covered this team for nine years now. Nothing will top August 24th of 2019 when Andrew Luck retired. But this is up there in terms of just a surreal moment. And this was the first time I thought, this is important. This is the first time Jim Mersey made, you know, some disparaging marks at the media. And same with Chris Ballard.

They were on the defensive. they were a little angry, a little feisty about this decision. And, you know, look, they're hiring a guy who was 20 and 16 as a high school coach to run an NFL team who was meeting with coaches yesterday he didn't know the name of. Like, this is unprecedented. And to question the qualifications of Jeff Saturday without questioning his playing credentials is completely fair. So was this weird?

Yes, yes, yes, it was. Like, do you think that he is going to have the full support of his coaching staff? Like, how do you think he is able to transition this week? And we've seen some of the decisions he's making in terms of play caller and stuff now into being all of their bosses. And how do you think that works over the next nine weeks? Yeah, that's a good question. Greg, I think it's like, I think both things can be true at the same time.

Like Jeff Saturday is an awesome dude. Like if you guys have ever met him, he's an awesome dude. He was an awesome player. But this is not, this doesn't make sense in any world that we live in. And I think whether those coaches would ever admit it or not, they have to be livid. And to be honest, they're running out of guys to fire. Like they literally are running out of people to fire. They're going to turn to a 30-year-old assistant quarterbacks coach to call plays on Sunday named Parks Frazier,

who four years ago was a assistant to Frank. Reich, like an assistant, like the guy that would show up at 4.30 in the morning to get the play scripts ready. And he was a quality control coach two years ago. Now he's going to be calling plays for Sam Ellinger, for Jeff Saturday. Like, this has got maybe one win left in it the rest of the season. It's just hard to see this team. It's hard to take this team seriously right now. Yeah, I mean, it feels like a legitimate November acid trip for everyone who's absorbing the news. I'm certainly sure for you. I guess my question, because Jeff Saturday is a savvy guy, he's been in the media, he was a player, he's been

around coaches, he understands like the culture of a locker room and what this kind of move would mean to players in a locker room and what they've already done to the players in that locker room the last couple of weeks. How does he, or what was, do you think he was told about the future? Because it sounds like it's just walking into a disastrous eight weeks. Why would he want to do it? I guess it's like behind closed doors, you're my guy for head coach unless you don't want to do it? Why would you leave your career and come do something where you're now in the middle of this maelstrom?

I don't understand Jeff Saturday's decision to take the job. Mark, before I answer, I have to mention I got on Twitter last night and I saw your tweet that basically said, Jim Mersay is driving the gold spaceship into the sun, and I just lost it. I don't know why that was so funny to me. I could hear it in your voice. That's kind of where we're at.

And one of the most poignant moments of this press conference last night was I asked Jeff. Saturday. Like, no offense, Jeff, but like, how the hell did this happen? And he said, basically, I was as stunned as anybody. When he got the call late Sunday night, he asked Jim Ursay point blank, why are you considering me for this job? Like, that's a totally fair question. And we asked Jim Mersey that question 15 times and 15 different ways last night. And the only real answer we got was that he likes him. And Jim Ursay mentioned that, look, I mean, this is, this is a real quote that this team has been one of the winning his team since 2000 they're in the upper

quartile of the top quartile of the upper quartile whatever the hell that means but the problem is the problem is they're trying to grab onto the glory days they're trying to grab onto the Peyton manning and Andrew Luck days they do not have that quarterback this was the worst offensive performance we've seen from the franchise in 25 years on Sunday in Foxborough they went 0 for 14 on third down but to answer your question mark the players were not on board with the benching of Matt Ryan. They were not. Frank Reich's hands were tied.

You could make a very strong case. They should be playing two quarterbacks instead of Sam Ellinger, the other being Nick Foles. Are they trying to lose games? They keep saying they're not. They keep fighting off the question that they're waving the white flag.

But every move they have made, these are Jim Mercy moves, has made them a worse team. And it's hard to see them winning many more games the rest of the season. I would love to know with these veteran defensive players. Now, the defense is bringing it. The defense is playing well this season,

but nobody knows. and I would love to know what Stefan Gilmore thinks. This is a guy that was with New England for a long time. An adult organization. What does he think? What does DeForest Buckner think? I mean, this is, it's going to be a fascinating day in the locker room tomorrow, that's for sure. Yeah, and you had said earlier, what does this team have one winning at the rest of the season?

I think that, to me, it seems like that's the goal here at this point. It's a hard pivot by Erse, who has a finite amount of time to build another champion, and he sees that's not what this team was going to be. I wanted to ask you about... Do you think he's trying to lose? Yes. Absolutely. I mean, look at the moves.

At this point, I believe he is, and he's sending his buddy Saturday in there to kind of keep more morale up and have a guy that he could hang out with in this capacity. I don't know. Listen, I'm curious about the relationship with you guys in the media also with Erse and with the GM, Chris Ballard, who, by the way, got a vote of confidence yesterday. Here's Ballard getting fired up talking about his process. And one of several grenades, I thought, lobbed the way towards Keefer. and company. We've not played as well up front as we need to play. And I think you all know my, as y'all, y'all have been kicking the shit out of me for years for not drafting wide outs. And all of a sudden I look up and, you know, we're underperforming on the offensive line right now.

And that's got to, that's got to improve. That has to improve. And then the turnovers, and then the turnovers during the year, that, you just look at it. We're turning the ball over. And we're turning it over inside our 50. And I just, I'm just noticing for the first time, Zach, that when he says, and the turno, he's talking over a reporter who was coming in with a follow-up question it looked like. What is the general vibe between what you guys are doing and the team and how does that kind of bake into the overall puzzle of what's going on over there?

Yeah, it's not good. You know, they basically made Frank Reich's fall in the sword on Sunday. It was sad more than anything. He came into the press conference room in Foxborough and you could just tell. You could hear it in his voice. would see it in his face. Frank had known for a couple of weeks that it was about to end. And it did end. And then they moved to Jeff Saturday, which really gets all the attention. We're not talking about Frank Reich anymore. That move did make sense. The offense was going

nowhere. He wasn't getting it done. But at the same time, he had six starting quarterbacks in five years. Now, his hands are dirty in that because he pushed for the Carson Wentst trade and that didn't work. But that's not, that's an organizational failure. Like, that's a failure from the top down to everybody. They couldn't get this right. And Chris Ballard, his hands is dirty as well because at the root of all of this this season, at the root of all of it is this offensive line that can't protect. Sam Miller was sacked on nine times. You know, use the Ferris Bueller quote, like nine times on Sunday the most in five years. And that was why Matt Ryan wasn't able to be effective. Now, Matt Ryan threw interceptions and fumbled, but nobody could have

played behind that offensive line with the exception of maybe Mahomes and Lamar Jackson. So, you know, that's where Ballard's mistakes in the offseason have cost this team. And that's sort of the source of tension right now is they thought they could play Matt Pryor at left tackle. Then they moved him to right tackle. Then they played him at right guard. They've now benched him at three different positions, which I can't remember ever happening with this team.

It took him nine games to realize that. And they started Danny Pinter at right guard. I don't need to go on and on about this. But this offensive line is unrecognizable right now. And that's at the root of all of this. I mean, you think go back to week one, you've got Frank Reich as head coach. got Matt Ryan as your quarterback and you got Marcus Brady as your O.C. Right now in week 10,

it's only November 8th. They have Jeff Saturday as a head coach. They have Sam Ellinger as the quarterback and they have Parks Frazier calling the place. Like, what the hell just happened? Right. And I mean, at week one, there was a lot of optimism about the Colts. I didn't remember this, but Steve Weish, our friend reminded me he was on the round

the NFL prediction show and he had Frank Reich as his coach of the year and the Colts making the Super Bowl. And he remembers me jumping and be like, ooh, that's a good pick for coach of the year. Because it's just like they're going to own it. Yeah, at least they could beat expectations in all. I look at that offensive line and I think, yeah, Chris Ballard has a lot of fault,

but I think you have to listen to what he said. You're at fault, Zach. You banged on him about investing too much in the offensive line. And he fell for that, which that little joke didn't really make any sense because they're still the most highest paid offensive line in the league and the guys who are making a lot of money aren't doing well. so that didn't totally make sense. But I do put, there's some blood on your hands, too.

I think so. I appreciate that. You know what? It made sense to me. It made sense to me when Matt Ryan came here. It did make sense, like, on a football level. Like, he was going to get the ball out quicker. He was going to make the layups, right?

That was the famous comment last year about Carson. They had Jonathan Taylor coming off an 1,800-yard season. I just didn't see a line that's, like you mentioned, Greg, the highest paid in the league, $42 million of the salary cap this year. I didn't see Braden Smith. with regressing, Ryan Kelly regressing, and Quentin Nelson hasn't been the same player. So you put all that together, and that's really where it all went wrong. But look, my hands are dirty too, right?

I miss blocks. I dropped the football as well. You know it's getting bad when they're taking shots at the media. Well, you know, of course, Ursa was a journalism student. He made that clear to all of us. Secondly, I would imagine if you're sitting in the offices of HBO, you were wishing that last year's in-season hard knocks was occurring right now because, I mean, that would be something I would be watching the minute it came on.

What would Jeff Saturday need to do to, now there's obviously the whole thing with the Rooney rule has people up in arms and it should. I mean, this whole thing feels insane. But what would Jeff Saturday need to do to convince this organization or just Jim Mersey that he is going to be a head coach after this eight-game stint? Just lose, baby. Yeah, follow the owner's orders because clearly the owner is making all the calls. I mean, I don't even think Jeff Saturday has the power to play the quarterback he wants.

Well, did Frank, did Frank? You're reporting after I noticed this firing was interesting because you guys seemed very clear that Erse has been making all these calls when it came to bringing in Matt Ryan, getting rid of Carson Wentz, and in this benching. Yes, yes, that's good to point out. You know, for a long time, he's been the owner for 27 years here. He has fought to be the owner. His father wasn't.

For those you remember, Bober, say. Bob Ursay was a crazy volatile owner who would go down at halftime of games and demand that the coach fire the quarterback. And if he didn't bench the quarterback, he would fire the coach before the game ended and then he would forget about it two hours later. So we're talking absolute chaos. So Jim Mersey grew up in the league watching that and decided to be the exact opposite. He would stay out of all this. This is a third consecutive decision where his hands have been very much all over. He demanded that they moved on from Carson Wentz.

He told them to bench Matt Ryan, which I don't think Frank Wright. Mike wanted to do. I don't think any coach would want to bench Matt Ryan because he's clearly better than Sam Ellinger. And then he hired Jeff Saturday. And I don't think that's a Chris Ballard move. Why would a GM on thin ice want to hire an unproven, untested head coach and Jeff Saturday? So Jim Mercedes had his say the last couple of weeks, the last couple of years, which is a very uncharacteristic from him. And that's a bad way to run a franchise. That's meddling. And you've got to wonder, like, who's going to make the next decision? He said that Jim, that he said Jim, Jim, Jeremy said that Chris Ballard will be back next year, but who's going to make the head coaching

hire? Usually that's a GM thing. He also said Frank Reich was safe six days ago, or at least multiple national reports said Frank Reich is safe last Monday. And one week later. So we asked that at the very end of the press conference. Why should anything you say right now, Jim, be taken into account because it's not been true. And it did not go well. He quoted his record, but the problem is the record, Peyton Manning's not coming through the door, Andrew Luck's not coming through the door, and this team is going one direction. It's not up. Zach, we really appreciate your time here.

We know you're super busy, so good luck with everything else. I feel like this is just the beginning of what's going to be a wild ride through the end of the season and beyond, so you're well equipped to handle it. So we'll probably check in with you again, but we'll give you a little bit of a break. I know you need it. You deserve it. a wild ride back into the upper quartile so thanks for having me guys there he goes thank you

thank you Zach and I want to just add one more thing that if you are unaware because we just talked about at the end of Sunday night show that we have a lot of new listeners that Zach wrote an amazing piece on Chris Wessling that you could get on the athletic if you're a subscriber now I do want to just point out the math that

Ursa was using in terms of the quartile and it does not stick in and where I think he was going with it. Now, he said, look, we're the fourth winningest franchise in the league since 2000. Okay, four out of 32. 32 teams, fourth place. That means we're in the upper quartile of winners.

Now, the quartile here would be how many teams here, Dan? Quartile's eight. Yeah, so that would be eight. So that's a true statement. They are in the top eight. He said they're fourth. Don't ask me any more questions, by the way. I'm tapping out at one.

Okay. Then, by the way, they found out they fact check. They're not the fourth winningest, but we'll put that aside. We'll put that aside. So they are in the upper quartile winners, and they, He is saying in the top quartile of that upper quartet. Now, the top quartile of that upper quartile, that would be two. That would be two.

Right. So that would also not be correct. He could have just said we're in the top portion of that upper quartile. And I think that's where he was going. Right. They cut the half. He could have just said we're in the top eighth of the league. Maybe that sounds.

He said quartile is kind of a cool word. You got to give that. Well, and to use it three times. He didn't need to do that. But maybe that's why they hung that infamous banner back then, because in Ursa's world, like, we are winning extremely important things left and right. I think they should make a new banner, like top, upper quartile of the top quartile. That's very good.

Nobody gets to work on the Photoshop on that one. And before we take a break, I just want to ask you guys, like, I had to let Zach go because he was, obviously, he's getting worked hard by that team right now. But who wants that job? Like, let's say it turns out Jeff Saturday is Aiton done. Who wants that job? Who wants a job when the owner? clearly is turning into his father and got his fingers all over the operation and, you know,

the GM is just going to do whatever he can do to stay alive and he probably has no power either. It's like, that's a tough gig to walk into. When you're trying to advertise like your own company as a great employer or yourself as a great boss and like you do what he's done over the last week, you're telling like common NFL fans that place sounds extremely toxic and totally bizarre. And do I want to step into that drama? and be the next person yanked around by whatever's happening. There's only a few, whoa, there's only a few coaches that have options every year.

So I'll give you the boring answer to that. Everyone wants these jobs. There's only 32 chairs. There's only 32 chairs. But Josh McDaniel's big winner in this. He can look back and say, see, I was right. It's a good thing I backed out of that job. In fact, it's funny that Jeff Saturday a couple weeks ago as an analyst tweeted out,

like the Raiders stink basically. And so now you have to go, we'll go find out how much the Raiders stink with the situation they're facing. In all seriousness, too, though, like that just tells you that this was not on Jeff Saturday's radar. No. Not any. Not in any planet. Yeah, like, would you think I'm going to be a head coach in 30 days? It's a bizarre story.

But remember, before we go to break, guys, that it's not that complicated. It's not. We don't build rockets to go to Mars. We're not nuclear scientists. That is none of our jobs. It's a very simple jobs that we do here. We cultivate winning cultures. We cultivate toughness.

We live by our integrity about the people that we are. And we don't expect anything more than we expect from ourselves. I'm motivated. I feel motivated. I feel power. Yeah. That's the spaceship driving into the sun. Right to the sun.

All right. Let's take a break before we get to. one of our favorite long-running segments. Teaser, we'll be right back. Hey, this is Matt Jones. I'm Drew Franklin, and this is NFL Cover Zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts Pretzel?

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

What's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development to team-building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week we study the tape, talk to decision makers, and share the insights you won't find anywhere else. It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots, from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow. We break down the draft, analyze matchups, and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day. Plus, we dig into coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a diehard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture.

If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael Florio, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast. Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies.

Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet, we've got the insight to help you crush your opponents. Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL, visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. Welcome back.

Joining us now, so we had Zach Kiefer. And now we have another friend of the show, NFL Network Zone, host and reporter, Bridget Condon. Welcome back. Thanks for having me. This music is incredible. I feel like I need to be strutting down a runway. There you go. That's why I like what we call it behind the glass.

It's known as sausage fingers. because it gives you an idea of the person's personality because they always say what they think it sounds like. Like Kyle Brandt, as an example, said, this sounds like silk stockings on Skinimax back in 1995. Said a lot about Kyle Brent. And Bridget, you said this is on a runway. Yeah, like slow motion, walking down.

Yeah. You know, just set in the mood for Sunday night. Is this a new Sunday night football song? We've been waiting all day for that. Maybe. I kind of like it. How are you, Bridget? Welcome.

I'm great. It's Tuesday. you know, as good as you can be on a Tuesday. You just celebrated a birthday. I know. I thought that the reason why... Didn't get the invite to the party, but that's cool. Well, I figured the reason why I'm allowed on the show now is because I'm 21.

Oh, there you go. I just had to wait. Finally. That's good. That's good. I think having Bridget on the show is to show how much we like you. You're coming on right now. We're going to talk a little TNF later.

But what we're going to talk about right now, Hit it, Gravedigger. Stick a fork in him. Yes. Dave Damashek on the Vox there. A long time segment, Bridget, if you just turned 21, that means this segment started

when you were about 13 or so. It was early teen years. I remember it. Yes, yes. It was pretty pivotal in my teenage life. Yeah, it was formative, I'm sure. Stick a fork in them. We are at the time of year now

where it's time to figure out which teams we don't need to take seriously anymore. In fact, I would say on some level, Mark, this is your favorite segment as a podcast person, right? Because whenever you could just throw teams into the sun, that makes life better. Well, I mean, we approach these teams differently. Greg and I certainly do. And when I see a team sitting out there at two and seven and we're getting deep in November. Bye, bye. Yeah, my mind is starting to lose a grip on why I should spend a second thinking about

You're thinking, like, that's not going to make my game pass rotation. The problem is they play other good teams, and then it's hard to watch one. It's a struggle without the other. Sessie. What? Sessie now is the QB index on his plate. Oh, yeah, that's true. Oh, yeah, you can't.

Every snap. Not only that. When they bring in, like, the fourth string quarterback in week 16, the teams are like almost trying to lose games. You got to watch those guys. I have learned that will be my personal Vietnam. Bridget. This segment, by the way, hasn't existed.

I don't think for three or four years. They're just, it's a highly went away. favorite segment and then so it goes away for four years that's how the show do you guys have a real fork and you can we oh yeah i think there was a time where we had maybe some props but the budget's been cut so but what we're going to do i know since you were a teen when this was launched uh each of us will take turns nominating a team and what a stick a fork and it means they have no chance to make the playoffs and then you could say and certainly a person like a gregg for instance will say well anybody you know they win all their games they can make the playoffs so they can't be for you

we've gotten it wrong. We've gotten at least one team wrong. Not always, not usually. But this takes a little bit of intestinal fortitude to kind of put yourself out on a limb and be sure of a team that is cooked. So before we get into nominating teams, it has to be unanimous. We all have to vote a team forked, okay? I want to throw three out just to get warmed up, get some blood on our hands quickly,

Ursa style. And you guys can let me know if there's pushback here. but can we safely fork, for instance, the Carolina Panthers? That was your team that you covered initially at NFL. My hesitation here is because the fan base already hates me. And if I fork them, they're going to hate me even more. But I'm going to fork them. Absolutely.

I mean, if you have PJ Walker starting and let me remind you, he had a zero passer rating in the first half against the Bengals. That's not mean. It's not mean. It's factual. He's starting over Bigger Mayfield, which there is. I don't know if you guys have delved into his contract. There is something there to be said. They get a 2024 pick if he plays less than,

or they get a, sorry, fourth rounder if he plays more than 70% of snaps. Got it. Or less. Fifth rounder if he plays opposite. Yeah, they're cooking the books a little here. So park him on the bench. That's why Darnold's off the IR. I would say I wrote in the power rankings.

I feel like this is PJ Walker's final start regardless of outcome. They'll probably if Darnold's healthy, just run him out there and hope that takes them home, especially if you're saying it, it's advantageous for their future not to play maybe. Sam Dono. I'm comfortable forking the Panthers, although it would be the quickest, you know, possible regret that we've ever had doing this.

Because when they play Thursday night, let's say they beat the Falcons Thursday night, and then the bucks lose in Germany, which is, you know, very possible. So you're falling into your trap, though. I'm just saying they would only be one game out of first, but I do feel comfortable that they will not win enough to pass Atlanta or Tampa over the course.

It's interesting. How much a difference a week makes, as they say, because, like, a week ago, I was like, this team is frisky. Walker is looking intriguing. Like, the offense has awoken, like, were there much better post-Mat rule? And then the Bengals game happened, and I was like, you're out of here. You're out of my universe. I'm a big Steve Wilkes fan. I have a lot of respect for him, and kind of, he seems like he doesn't care what anyone thinks, which I kind of like.

I feel like a lot of times have just been worried about the outside perspective. He doesn't care. He's doing it his way. I'm a fan of him, but overall, I don't think they do it. They always find a way to get your hopes up really high and then take you right back. They need that high pick. They're a team. Yeah, they need that first round.

And I would be on the fence, given the division they play in had not I started PJ Walker over Davis Mills in fantasy this week. It's personal for you too. So for that reason alone, I also vote their forked. Can we quickly fork the Houston Texans, the one-win Texans? We don't really need to delve deep here. Any pushback on that one? No, let's fork them.

Texans are cooked. Can we fork the cults? Can we? I know they have three wins. I have one concern about this cults thing. Okay. It's that they're trying so hard for this to spin south. And we've covered it in our previous segment. But what if like the greatest sports thing ever happens of all time and Jeff Saturday guides them to like a six and two mark or something and they eke out like a wild card? Well, we don't get the guillotine if that happens. I'm just saying like I kind of have a feeling that when the whole universe is saying, oh, this is going to go. song negatively? I don't know.

Well, we do make a generous donation but I will fork them to a charity if we get that, like that is in honor of that city if we get it wrong. Yes, that is true. Greg specifically no, it depends. Whoever, you know, nominates the team, that's the person. But we don't want to force you into it either, Mark.

If you really think that something, some funny business could happen, but just know it might come back on you if they get worse, for instance. I don't have a big problem forking the cults for the same reason as the Panthers, the game that I just watched. I was thinking, okay, maybe you could make an argument for the Colts

because their division's so lousy. But they've almost played all of their division games already. And they weren't good in those. And they still have the Eagles. They still have a game at Cowboys, at Vikings, at Giants. That's a lot of tough games. Are you buying my scenario that maybe something magical happens here? No, like, I don't want to speak because I don't want to get them upset with me.

But I could side with you just in a sense that it would just be a crazy situation. Right. Jeff Saturday, he's going to go in there and bra-v-ra this locker room. How long does that last, though? Who knows if they even want him in the locker room? The coaching staff isn't going to want them there. It does appear fairly toxic. I don't know.

Maybe after they hire the 30-year-old today to call the plays, I want to walk back my decision here. I would love for it to happen if only because we do these Monday night football recaps. And I happen to look at the schedule the rest of the way. And Joe and Troy are going to be wondering what happened to this great late season games. The Monday night football schedule the rest of the year is

rough. It includes two Colts games, including a Colts Steelers game in week 12 and a Colts Chargers game. At least the Chargers maybe will be in the mix. In Week 16. It makes sense because there's so many personal apocalypse. Right. That's sort of where I'm there's so many quote unquote safe teams this year that are having

a really bad season. I'm guessing they're showing up repeatedly. All right, let's now nominate some teams. So we got three already forked. Get us going. Who you are is terrible. Okay. I'm like, where's this coming from? Same, same.

Okay, I am going to fork the Packers. I know this is contrary. Well, you're going to nominate the Packers. I just ruined it. Well, that's spicy, though. It was nice having you on, Bridget. I'll take my idea. There she goes.

21 years young. Do I tell you, it's just me because I haven't lived this much. So useful. Do I tell you why I'm nominating them? Yeah. You're pitching them. Okay. All right.

I am pitching the Packers three and six. I know it's controversial. reversal. Aaron Rogers, an incredible quarterback. Never bet against him. I'm betting against him. They lost to the lions. They lost to the lions. And not only did they lose to the lions, nine different players got hurt during that game. They just lost Rishon Gary for the season. Eric Stokes. I don't know what the latest on him, but questionable. Romeo Dobbs with the ankle sprain. Aaron Jones, of course, he's practicing this week. But when Aaron Jones goes down, your threat, your biggest threat on offense, I don't know what else you got. Mike McCarthy,

he got choked up yesterday talking about going back to Green Bay. I think the Cowboys are going to destroy them this weekend. That's some good zaddy energy from McCarthy, by the way. Not only, okay, so their next three games, Cowboys, Titans Eagles. It's just they could potentially be three and nine. I got flamed on our Thursday preview show for suggesting that the Packers might only win seven games. Why didn't you tell me that before the show? Well, I'm with you.

I'm siding with you now. You also said you almost locked them up against the lines. You're all over the place. I also don't recall you being flamed. Greg was like snickering at his own little research didn't agree. But then he's like, actually, I do agree. This is his interpretation. You know, I was accurate.

I think it was you made a bold statement. I was just surprised, yeah. Because Bridget's here, I have to slide over a little bit closer to you guys and I could feel the heat between you right now over that situation. Well, I'm not aiming for that. It's making me uncomfortable. I love what Bridget did because it is bold. And my initial instinct is to push back.

because it's Aaron Rodgers. And when I watch these games, I don't think he's that far away. To me, he's like Tom Brady, where if I had to rank him, and this is about where they are in the PFF ring. I'd say they're in the top 12 quarterbacks of the year. Like they're around 12, each of them.

They're not getting killed because of their quarterback play, and there's a lot of good players on their team, and they have a history, obviously, under Matt Lafleur. And so if there's a team that's going to rally from 3 and 6, they would be it. But you are getting ahead of it. With them playing the Cowboys, the Titans, and the Eagles in the next three weeks.

Nothing that they've done this season indicates that they can go two and one in those games. And if they don't go two and one in those games, you're cooked. There are already five games behind the Vikings. Right. You're not going to win the division. The division's basically gone,

and the NFC third wild card might be a little sketchy where you only need nine wins. So it's not crazy, but I just haven't seen anything to believe that they're going to win two or three of those games. Well, that's a fundamental issue that we have to deal with here. But the Cowboys, Titans, Eagles, at Bears, let's say, best case scenario, they're four, they go two and two, so they're five and eight, and then they get home rams at Dolphins, home Viking.

I'm going to fork them. I'm going to fork them. I feel like they're done. Do they stink or are they just really unlucky? They seem very mediocre and they just find ways to lose close games. Tell me that loss was unlucky against Detroit. I think it was a little unlucky. The quarterback.

They out gained them by 100 yards. I know, but Greg, look at what every other team has done to Detroit. Detroit's defense. And I kind of just think, like, it's hard to adjust to what's happening in Green Day. It's hard to adjust to what's happening. The fact that Aaron Rogers is not playing very well. It's environmental. It's not just that he's lost all his skill. But he seems slightly disinterested, super miffed. There's bad juju on that team. And their schedule is brutal, like you mentioned. I'm with you. I will fork the Packers. I feel like an NFC team, though, will be the team that makes a sweat and gets that those charities excited because that

seven spot in the NFC might only require eight or nine wins and one of these teams. And the last time we did this, there was one less playoff team that got in. So there is a bigger window for teams to find a way. Did we forked the Raiders last year? Like in a, like we did a casual exercise of it. I don't know. All right. So now that we're all forking them, they're going to get.

Now they're going to destroy the Cowboys this Sunday. It's unanimous. It is unanimous. That's how it works. All right. I will throw it to Mark Sessler for the next nomination. All right. I'm forking.

the Raiders. Smell you later. Do I need to explain why? Yeah, well, that's how podcasts work. Oh, well, okay. I mean, I think they're a giant mess. They, to get shut out in this league right now, which they did against the Saints, and then to get shut out last week in the second half against the Jaguars, just to have

games given away that way. Like, you should, if you're the Raiders, when we like them for a couple weeks, you have a 17-0-0 lead on the Jacksonville Jaguars, another team learning how to win with a first year head coach, their first year head coach. And you cannot run the ball. You cannot, Derek Carr vanishes. The whole team goes into some sort of other dimension and scores no points. And Devante Adams has zero yardage in the second half after a great first half. You're not adjusting. The scheme is not being picked up. I don't know if it's Derek Carr or if it's the Raiders or a combination of both. It's their defense. There's nothing alike. And you're in the ASC, which is going to be a lot

harder to make the playoffs in. And are we going to say they're about to go eight and two, or something, or eight and one, no. I'm going to push back on this one a little bit. I got it. I'm looking at their schedule. They got the Colts next. You couldn't ask for a better matchup. So you get your third win there. At the Broncos, not afraid of that. They also got the Steelers on the schedule and the Rams who are obviously a mess.

And I think they'll come up. So while I'm not huge on the Raiders, I'm right now. I'm not going to officially cast the Vogue, so I want to see where everybody else is. But I look at their schedule. I still see a path to them being. in the playoff race at the end of December. Their writers, for instance, for the athletic, and a lot of people covering the team,

felt like that was the end of their season. Yes, they're very down on them. I feel like pushing back, too, because they've played one less game. They only have six losses. They need to get wins, but they have, you know, they had their buy week already. I'm going to, and they did it last year.

That's what's creeping me out a little bit about them because, like, they were a veteran team last year that we would have never have expected put that in. And they got really lucky and all that luck has gone against them this year. They are 0 and 5 now in one score games. They've been in all these games. Could they get a little luckier?

I'm not going to fork them yet. Siciliano looked at me like I was crazy, but I said, you know, to blow three 17 point leads in the league and set records, you have to have a 17 point lead first. So there is... Like the Ravens, basically.

There's still the bones of a team that could go on a run here. I don't think it's going to happen, but I also don't feel strong enough to absolutely... Remember, fork them is no chance. They have no chance. I mentioned this last year, this magical last year

that you're referring to and trying to say it's the same thing. They were five and two. They're two and six and they closed their season against the Niners and Chiefs. Yeah, but are the Chiefs

even playing for something there? You know, there are different things in play even on the... I don't know, I'm going to... Bridger, how about you? Well, it sounds like it's not happening. I'm kind of torn because when your quarterback

goes in and says... There's a lot that I want to say, you know, if I'm honest, I don't want to say it here. Obviously, there's tons of friction. And when the person leading your team is speaking like that, I don't think it ends well for any team.

I don't think that, I don't know if I want to fork them, though, because like you said, the AFC West is so bizarre to me right now. The Raiders could have won that game, week one, against the Chargers. I still think there's a weird thing between the Chargers and the Raiders. I still think Raiders could potentially win their second matchup. And, yeah, they could beat the Colts. They could beat the Broncos. I don't know what's going on with the Seahawks.

They're way better than we all thought. But I don't know. I think at some point the pieces have to click for this team. I think maybe just because I had so much hope for them going into this season, It's really hard for me to steer away from them. Devante Adams, Derek Carr. We have to see something between them, I think, at some point. I don't know.

Maybe I'm being positive. You're going to have to keep watching the Raiders, Mark. I'm sorry. I mean, I enjoyed the vibrant discussion around that. So, thank you. Good, good, good. How about you, Greg, nominate our team. I feel bad because the Jaguars not being a part of the 2020 season,

I think is an under the radar sad storyline. Because I just thought they were going to be in the mix, the Jaguars. Oh, right, right, right. I just thought they were going to be part of this thing, that the AFC South was going to be so bad that they would be in the mix and be Trevor Lawrence and just be like, oh, this is nice to have the Jaguars back. It's been a while.

And they're coming off of a win. And they are another team that's been in a lot of one-score games like the Raiders and lost most of them, all of them, until last week, against the Raiders. But I look at their schedule and I just don't see a path out. It's a rough. They're at Kansas City and they have the Ravens after their buy. and that right there looks like three and eight. They also have the Titans and the Cowboys.

They're at the Jets. They have the Titans twice. And there's just been nothing about this team to me that is special. I think they're kind of a mediocre team that's been on the wrong side of variants and they're not that far from being a five and four team. But it doesn't matter. They can't get those wins back. And I don't think they're going to rally enough with that schedule.

They could lose all their games. I'm looking at their schedule now. I mean, maybe they beat the Texans. They've been in the, they're like a team where I, been so wrong. Every game I think I've picked wrong when it comes to the Jaguars. Every game I beat the Chargers. They lost to the Texans already. So you're right. Anything could happen there. Travis Aetian is really

he's really stepped up the last couple weeks. So that gives them another kind of a real dynamic talent there. And Trevor Lawrence did play well in a win last week. So it's like you know, like they have been in close games. I don't know about this one. The fact that they're playing the Chiefs and the Ravens next are what really scared me off more than anything.

And in some level, it's giving from faith to Gravedigger's Titans, and maybe I shouldn't. You know, if the Titans come way back to the pack, then the Jaguars can be in the division mix. I would fork them, Greg. I'll do it as well because what you said, they had their chance to be in decent position to absorb these next two losses, most likely, but they kicked away that opportunity and it's going to be too late, Bridget. I'm going to fork them.

We've now forked three teams in the AFC. We are flying here. The fork is out and it is sharp. I will nominate. We're like in Ursaim mode right now. We're going to definitely pay for this. I will nominate the defending Super Bowl champions, the Rams. Controversial.

It's one of those things. It's kind of like you were saying with the Packers, Mark, let's not forget that they kind of stink. And it's not the defense's fault, as Jalen Ramsey will point out. But the defense hasn't been great shakes either. I mean, they've, they've struggled to get to the quarterback. They've struggled to cover. They have been vulnerable on that side of the ball. And the offense is a total mess.

You know, would it stun you if you learned that Matthew Stafford's elbow really was a thing all season? I wouldn't stun me. The running game obviously is bad enough that Cam Acres is reentering the mix. You know that the Rams did everything and trying. They were trying to, please take our first round picks and they couldn't pull off the trades that they felt they needed to save the season. So now they're just moving forward with what feels like a broken team. So with the schedule, they are three and five with the home against the Cardinals at Saints

at Chiefs, home Seahawks over the next four weeks. I just, this is me going out on a limb, but I feel like they deserve to be put on the board for discussion thoughts. I think whoever loses Sunday between the Rams and Cardinals season is over. I think that is a test. Fork off, classic. It's a classic fork off. I love that.

Because both of these teams are kind of in similar positions where their seasons could end right now. And I think the Rams, again, like I said, a little bit ago with, I forget who we were talking about, when Jalen Ramsey says it's not our fault, our offense shouldn't come over and tell us, we're going to need you again with a minute and a half or whatever than mismanaging the clock. I think there's so much tension. And I really believe that that interferes with what's going on. You can't get people on the same page. and with so many injuries to their offensive line,

I just don't see them making a comeback. That's for me. It's, I think they have unfixable problems. They're not alone. There are other teams, especially in the NFC, that have some unfixable problems. But the line has been such a poisonous scenario, and it's uncorked, everything they've tried to do.

They've scored under 14, 14 points are under, in four of their last five games. That came against good defenses, but the Rams we knew, it didn't matter what defense you played. You found your way out of it. And they had their buy week. Everyone was selling them as like, Sean McVeigh, and everyone's going to go huddle up during the bye week and figure all this out,

and they came out and laid a massive egg against the Niners and then lost a terrible, winnable game against the Bucks. Bye. It's sad. You know, my daughter makes this Rams Shrine every Sunday. She's got to get her act together. A different paraphernalia. What do you mean? Well, yeah, the Shrine's not working.

It worked last year, and so she's sticking with it. It just, it, they don't pass the eye test, like, more than the Packers seem to me like they're not that bad, but they just make mistakes. The Rams are just not a good team. They're 27th in DVOA. They're one of the worst offenses in the league. At no point this season have they looked like anything but one of the worst offenses in the league.

They're only one game back, and I tend to think they'll win this week if I had to pick it. And so they'd be four and five in a muddied NFC, and they got the coaching staff. I have a hard time forking them, even though I have no real faith in them at all. So I'm talking about both sides of my mouth. I hear it, so you don't want to do it. So let me quickly pivot then. If we're talking about a fork off on Sunday, I am all in on forking the Arizona Cardinals.

Ahead of time. Anybody that listens to this show knows that I am not a fan of this entire regime and the way things are structured. Every week is a comedy of errors. How about the Cardinals? Do we need to wait to see them lose to the Rams, Bridget? We did put you in a tough spot here, Bridget. Not only do you have to come on.

I mean, how many fan bases can hate me after this episode? But we're basically just asking you to be the most negative possible in the most negative show of the season. What if Sunday decides it? You're saying you want the Cardinals gone now. I would be comfortable forking them now. I don't need to see any more from the Cardinals. They can win Sunday and I still feel fine.

I can live with the Rams. I can't live in a world where we still take the Cardinals. I'm with Dan that even if they win that game, and that's a winnable game for the Cardinals, I believe what's going on offensively there is so rotten. to the core, and they have a great quarterback, but we've seen what their offense is, and there's nothing

exceptional about their team or their defense that's going to make up for it, whether it's a coach, the defense, the players, like, nothing's getting it. We don't give them the hard knocks theme. Tomorrow. I'm watching this show, though. Tomorrow. This is going to be intriguing, but they, like, to your point, they've got two games left against the 49ers.

Let's say they probably lose both of those, your three and eight. All right, give them the hard knocks theme. I don't know everybody was plugging in on it. I want to watch. I'm surprised, like, I get why, like, during the season, it's a heavy lift, but, like, you don't want to see what's going on behind the scenes with this team on a little bit? I'm good, I got a lot going to show us, Kyle are they going to show us,

Kyler watching film? Like, I think that's all who you want to watch with the little clock on the side. Did you guys see the clip? Buda Baker yelling at everybody that he's tired of losing. I did see. And now he's out two to three weeks. He's one of their best players. Their schedule is a point in their...

Well, that's how you get tired of losing, not be available. Well, yeah, that happened afterwards, unfortunately. Their schedule is one point in their favor because they have, they have, so many division games in, at least that's in their control. The best team they play record-wise, the rest of the entire season, are the New England Patriots and the Chargers. Yeah, but there's two games against the 49ers. You're not...

Sure, but they're a four-and-four team. Yeah, but the 49ers are getting better and better, that's all. Yeah. I'm just saying that's an easy... As schedules go, it's manageable, but I'm with Dan. I've just seen enough that I don't need to take them seriously. This was like a team I wanted to be fun. Like last year I liked them a lot.

And like this is sort of, you're, you guys were depressed about one of these teams. I barely watched them live because Mark claims the Cardinals every week. I'll do it. I'll do it. I like to be daring with this because it's like, oh, it's so bad if we lose and we have to give to charity. I don't even know if we did last time. It was just a bunch of talk, but like. That's terrible.

That's horrible. What I did? No, I did. It was you. Yeah, we did. West did too. No, that's not true. That first of all, if you're listening to this, that is an absolute narrative, an absolutely incorrect.

Well, they are listening to this. How are you saying you went from not knowing what happened to knowing for sure that we didn't donate? We certainly did. It was not a team that I had meetings about it. It was not a team that I was pushing or championing to be forced. It was the Los Angeles Food Bank, as I recall. I don't know what to say.

So just send your invoice to Mark Sessler at Johnny Banana's Hawthorne Drive. Johnny Banana. Listener, you try to think in your mind if you think Greg is donated to anything. Just ask yourself that question. All right. That's rude. I mean, I donate, you donate to a lot.

That's very hot. It's very hot over here. Because you're bringing it. I mean, I donate to a lot of stuff. But you shouldn't tell people that. Well, when you're confronted on it. Wow. Come down.

Bridget, do you have any of the team? You don't have to. Mine was the Texans. So we took care of the Texans. We took care of the Texans. Easily. Anybody else that you guys want to throw out there? The Cardinals were on my mind.

But yeah, we got a. do the Steelers. I think you could have put them in the early window. I'm cool with that. They have some berserker energy potentially because of Mike Tomlin. Big berserker energy. But the fact that they're in the AFC, and we keep eliminating these AFC teams, this would already be, what, five gone, which is how we've gotten into trouble in the

past. We are very certain who's going to the postseason on November 8th. I don't see a path to 10 wins. And I'm with Mark, I think that's what it's going to take in the AFC. How about the lines? I can't fork them. I'm not forking them. Not after what Dan can't.

They're the around the NFL. That's who gets the song, giving it to the Cardinals. What about the Broncos? Can we fork them? Oh, I happily would. I kind of would too. After I already heard about Russ doing high knees on the plane, I was ready to fork them. I happily would.

Mark, you're going to get up. Yes, let's see. Let's see. They have at Titans, Woof. I don't know if Tannahill is playing. Okay, they could beat the Raiders. Okay, then they got... They could beat the Panthers.

Home Raiders, winnable, at Panthers, very winnable at Ravens Tuffy, Chiefs Tuffy, cards. I mean, I feel like they can get back to 500 here. That's a little concerning. I don't know. I can't do it. I'm not going to do it. At some point, did we fork the Steelers there? I lost track.

Are we cool of the Steelers? I'm just saying, yeah, if we forked the Steelers, then we've in the AFC forked the Steelers, Texans, Jaguars, and Colts. That's not that many. Four feels fair. I think the Steelers are going to part ways with their offensive coordinator in about two or three weeks, and the floor is going to fall out even further from there. A lot of changes are coming and they're not making the playoffs. I think the AFC-NFC dynamic is real.

If you look at the AFC standings right now, for instance, the Colts are 10th place. But they're two and a half games back of the playoff spot, which would be the Chargers right now, and the dolphins are at six and three. Whereas in the NFC, like two and a half games gets you all the way back to basically the end of the entire conference. Carolina's within two and a half games of the seven spot. So to me, it's too far for the Steelers to catch up. I'm out on the Steelers.

Okay. Let's go. Yeah. All right. So they're done. Broncos, yeah, I'm not totally. Greg, it was not right of me to suggest that you don't donate to things. I know that you do.

and you're a caring person, so I take that back. I like it. It's just got a little hot there. I like it when we find out how Mark really feels during the show. It's not how I really feel is what I just did. Aren't you half of you came on this episode? I just feel like I'm going to get off here and donate right to Traity. All right.

Anybody else want to throw a team out there? I want to make sure we're not missing anybody. The commanders? No. I'm not with Taylor Heideke. I don't see another team right now. What about the Saints? Well.

All right. Now, the Saints, as you. You could check it out on the Monday night recap with Jordan Rodriguez and Greg Rosethal. They no-showed on Monday night. I know the Ravens are a great team, but that was just heartening to say the least. And it makes you think that even though we were gassing them up a little bit last week and the idea that maybe there's something there, now I'm less confident. I feel like this might be.

I feel like their only chance now, and this is crazy because I'm not a huge fan of this quarterback, but get James back in there and see if it could juice them up? I don't know. Sounds like they're not going to at least this next week. I tend to agree. It might be time to switch back. The d'autonisance isn't happening? I don't think the quarterback position is particularly relevant to their team.

Because to me, I mean, I don't think either one is going to save them, and I don't think either one is their main problem. They have so many problems, and yet I'm not going to fork them in this division. I am not convinced the bucks are going to get it together, and I still think the Saints and Buck's, are the two most likely teams to win this division. I think the Falcons are going to win it. They do have a little more.

They have a week 15 tussle with the Falcons too. I'm not on board necessarily the Saints, but I don't want to fork them. I think that division is too. I think that was bald. And I think their fans have given up. Like that doesn't surprise me. Well, that doesn't matter.

Yeah. Does it? I mean, like, if they have the Steelers and the Rams, they could be five and six. Yeah, they're scheduled. favorable? I mean, they're not a good team, but like, we're talking about the worst division we've ever seen.

One of these teams that we've talked about today, whether we forked them or not, will be awesome in the second half. That's just, I mean, no, I mean, it's true. There's no question that the numbers say more than one will be awesome of all the teams we've at least discussed, not necessarily that we forked. Like, that's how the NFL goes, that one or two of these teams will catch absolute fire, even if it's hard to see now. I told you the cult.

My bookkeeping here before we closed the SEG and moved to TNF. Did we, where did we come down on the Raiders? We did not forked them. Good. I was the only one? No, no. I mean, you started, you were the first dissent. Okay, okay, okay.

All right. All right. Well, then with that said, as per tradition, fire up the funeral dirge. And I will now announce the teams whose seasons are over. Sorry to the fan bases. And please keep listening to this podcast. Right.

We don't know anything. We should just do it like disguised voices so nobody knows which one of us are forking who. The Green Bay Packers. The Arizona Carys. The Juxonville Jaguars. The Piedsburg Stellars. The Indianapolis Erses.

The Houston, Texans. The Carolina Panthers. Wow. So that's one, two, three, four, five, six, seven teams. A lot of teams. Right. It's almost a quartile of the league. That's almost a quartile.

They're all doomed, you see. I feel like we're going to regret it. I definitely are. I know I am. We went too hard. Well, this is why you've been effective at, like, shaming me into always, like, well, the numbers say someone's going to come back. But I just do it for the show. Who are you most worried about are the teams we just forked?

Sam'sies. I mean, they do have the guy who won the NBA in the last year. God, he was so bad in that game. I thought we didn't. I thought we didn't fork the Packers. He did. Here's the thing about that game because you said you thought they've been unlucky. I thought that game was there.

The yards were there. The points were there. And Rogers just no-showed on like four or five big throws in that game. Is that unlucky or is that him getting older? Is it just like a bad guy? day at the office. And the final fourth rose. I think also like it's the opposite of what's happening like with Tuo where he may not

be the most accurate passer on the planet deep, but like your receivers, Tyreek Hill are making you're making up for it. That's good call. Like Aaron Rogers does not have that, those people around him. Like that play to Lizard, that was another huge play. I thought Rogers put it right on him. He almost had it. It got overturned on review.

That stuff happens a lot with, that's why we've forked them, right? I just think they have too many injuries. That's a good point, Mark. Thank you, Zach. Injuries, yes, as Bridget says. All right, do we take a break and hit TNF? Let's take a break. Have we feeling good about this?

Seven? It's too late. Absolutely not. Yeah, we can't change in that. But we can't change up the voices and we can't start pointing fingers. That's what would happen in the Packers locker room. We need to stick together as for Bridget. This is a blood oath.

Because you came on this particular show, you are responsible and we will take equal blame. For the charity, too. Yeah. That's true. I'll sign a check. Once old man McFadden comes on and says your team's name, he gets all over for you. All right. We'll be right back with a TNF pre-preview.

Hey, this is Matt Jones. I'm Drew Franklin. And this is NFL cover zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts Pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Oh, my.

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

from scouting reports and player development to team building philosophies coaching trends in how front offices construct winning rosters every week we study the tape talk to decision makers and share the insights you won't find anywhere else is the kind of conversation that connects the dots from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow we break down the draft analyze matchups and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day plus we dig in the coaching strategies roster construction and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a diehard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture. If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael Florio, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast. Ready, to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL fantasy football podcast,

your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet, we've got the insight to help you crush your opponents. Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL,

visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. All right. Here we go. We're back. It's time to hit the first game. Greg. Can you fucking believe it? Week 10. Whoa. Hey now. The tea. The season just goes so fast. Can you believe it? This is not TV. It goes fast. It goes fast, Bridget. And we have a nice matchup here between the Atlanta. Bridget was like, my word. My pearls must clutch and declutch. All right. Here we go. Falcons at Panthers. As you said, Bridgetting. You have covered the Panthers. You like individuals connected to the team.

And yet, and yet, this same team gave up 42 consecutive points in their most previous game. Their previous game. And the Falcons, Falcons, as we talked about it in another absurd Tuesday segment earlier this season, kind of spicy, right? Frisky? Oh, yeah. They're spicy. Yeah. So you got a spicy Falcons team and a need to have it game against the Panthers team that's running out PJ Walker offer off the worst game.

of his life, I would presume. And a reminder, this TNF preview is presented by Prime Video, the new exclusive home for Thursday night football. Yes, and Steve Wilkes, the coach, like I mentioned before, when asked why he wasn't benching PJ Walker, he said, if I went off of everybody having bad games, I could bench everyone. I don't really know.

I don't know if you realized what he did there when he said that. Including himself. But they are going to have to staff a field. So I just think that the Panthers, like I mentioned before, the details to Baker Mayfield's contract, I think they're going to keep him out to try and not have to give up that. He looked good in that game. It was a good situation for him.

That was his best game that he played as a Panther, but just such an unfortunate situation. So it was total garbage time, but he quickly brought points to them and they were a disaster. That becomes a tricky thing, and you want to know what's going on behind the scenes there. But like Baker, on that game, obviously he's, He gives him a better chance to win.

Is that what ownership and front office wants? He alluded to a short week. I do think we see Sam Darnold. I'm with you, Dan, that this will most likely be PG-Walkers. And then Sam, yeah, after this week, because they're not going to suit up all three. Is Darnold healthy? I know they had to take him off IR or the season was over. Is he even capable to be starting a game?

I mean, we'll get to that. Well, is he capable to be starting a game even if he's healthy? They dominated the Falcons in that game. I know they ended up losing it. And we've talked about the PJ Walker greatest play in the history of football that broke their hearts and they couldn't recover. Now they've had an extra couple days. I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about it, by the way. To recover.

And that was a game where they physically dominated Atlanta, which not many teams have done. They mostly stopped Atlanta's running game, not totally, but better than most teams. And they pushed them around when Atlanta tried to pass. And their offense looked awesome in that game. PJ Walker was a little up and down, but guys were getting open. Like for one week, they really made sense, even though they ended up losing. losing the game. I mean, the Falcons, if anything, I want to hang my hat on the 8th offensive DVOA, fourth in the run. We know they can do that. They're the 29th defense

and the Panthers are the 28th. So it's like that's what happened in that other game. I mean, do I, my thing is they so no-showed last week. 21 first downs in the first half to one, the Bengals out first downed them. I mean, what's going on here? Like, that's an absolute disaster. And PJ Walker, like, I was excited for what he was doing and he completely That's also, that's this season. Weird stuff happens, and it's a division game on Thursday night. I could see the Panthers scoring 28 points at home and winning the thing. That's a thing that you can never really count out.

Panthers at home, I could see them winning too. But I just have a lot more hype on the Falcons than I think a lot of people do. I was there at training camp, and there's something about them that a lot, talking to people there, they have pieces. And Corderole Patterson, he's off I-R. Made a big difference last week. I think also, what is it? that like six of nine of their games have been decided by how many points, four or less.

So I think some of those losses could be wins. I think the Panthers have too much going wrong. And how many times have we covered the Panthers over the past couple seasons where they are in middle of the pack, then they get this first rounder that doesn't really, maybe a defensive guy, yeah, Brian Burns or someone that makes a big difference. They need the first pick in the draft. They need Bryce Young. They need a quarterback to turn this around.

They've been trying to get that guy forever now. Right. So if we're going to. They could have had Justin Fields if they wanted, but they chose not to. Well, maybe if they have the, I feel like they don't do great with like this. But that was their choice. The sixth or the eighth or the, they need the first pick in the draft next year. And I think whether you want, of course, the coach is saying we're not tanking it.

And I don't have any inside knowledge that they're tanking it. But I think why not tank? Do it in a secret way. Well, that happens all the time. And I want to say this. I'm going to say two things here. First of all, Gregie, on Sunday you mentioned that Mariotta was kind of driving you nuts a little bit with his an accuracy. I'm pulling my hair out watching this game yesterday and how many throws Marriota

misses. They win. I mean, we talk about Kyle Pitts. Why isn't he get used more? Kyle Pitts is open for the game winning touchdown. That throw is insane. And it's a 73 yard touchdown. All Mario has to do is just put some air under it and let this dynamic young tight end catch it and run to the end zone. He'd blown by the secondary. And he aired it over his head by five yards. And that happen over and over in that game. So it's frustrating and I understand Arthur Smith's not going anywhere because on balance I think they're building something here, but I cannot, I just struggle to see them running this back with Marriota next year.

So Atlanta, I think, is going to be another team in the market for a quarterback. However, I'm going to go ahead, you know, Thursday. Thursday night, Daddy's going to have a couple Titos. Daddy's going to be relaxing. I haven't done this yet. I don't know if anybody's done this yet. But I'm going to go ahead and lock up the dirty birds on the road here. There's a field goal spread here, which feels generous to Carolina, quite frankly.

And I think the Falcons are just a better team. I mean, our record as Locke Brothers. Are you? Is he? I think we're undefeated. I think we're like 13 and 2. I mean, that's essentially that you're a team in the conference title game with that record. I am locking it up as well.

Because you just get it out of the way. It's just an easy home run. You get it out of the way. What could go wrong? Or it, you know, bring. you total agony for three hours. Even if they win, just knowing Mark, and it's the like island game.

And then we have to come back on Friday and I'll mention it. I think this is a good lot. Especially after the charity thing. You know, he's going to come in with that. I thought I came back around on that and showed my true feelings to Greg.

At most, it was a cleaning up. I don't know about true feelings. It's like a toxic waste. I do to think that you donate to charity because you've told me that you do before. We've never talked about that. That's old Greg.

You know, like the first. The person that does not share when they donate? No. He's like, I must share something with you. No one's ever talked about this. No one's ever talked about this. $10 in the slot. I don't mean excessively.

I don't think this is any of this is true. You know, Bridget, this is a chain. You could lock up a game on Thursday night. It's pretty, you know, just get 1 and O on the season. And then you're in the books. We have like official tabulated standings that a listener compiles and you'd be in that tabulated standings forever. But you also could be 0 and 1 and you'd be last place forever.

And I won't be allowed back on until my 40-second birthday. If getting locks was wrong, that's fine. Let's up the stakes, yeah. If you lock it up successfully, return on the show. If the Panthers somehow pull it off, unless you're picking the Panthers, that's it's it. It's Bridget's last show. I just think I've been to so many games this year where I thought they were going to go one way and didn't. Interesting.

I'd stay away. It's a division game. It's just as tough. Like, I was at the Chargers Jaguars game. I was at the Chargers Seahawks game. Maybe it's me. I don't know. I kind of think the Falcons got the Panthers best shot two weeks ago,

and they managed to win anyways. And so I'm with you guys that I think the Falcons will win this game. But it is, you know, it's a division game. You want to join us? I don't. I haven't looked at the whole slate, so I don't know what I'm going to do. I don't need to. Well, Jeremy Chin, he came off IR.

He was practicing today. Their safety, who will make a huge difference. I don't think he's going to play Thursday, though. So that's not going to help him. Also, if getting locks was hoping he would. If getting locks was wrong, like Nick Wessling would never be allowed on this show. So you can get locks wrong. This is a tugboat heat check.

I'm having a big season right now on the picks. And I don't even need to see the rest of the schedule. Okay. I don't want to do it, though. I don't like it when we're all together. Mark, it's a classic tugboat heat check. It is. Put it right in that folder.

All right. That was the TNF preview presented by Prime Video. The new era of Thursday Night Football is officially here, and it's only on Prime Video. Let's see. All right, you have said it all, Bridget Condon. You can follow Bridget on the old Twitter at Bridge and Condit with an underscordid. I can't get the woman to give me it. She hasn't been on since like 2012.

She has no tweets. Now you've got to deal with Elon Musk, so it's not going to get any easier. Are you guys going to pay the 20 bucks for the blue check? I think I'll have the company pay for me. Stick it to them. Yeah, exactly. That will be expensed at the very least if it comes to it. At some point, though, it will almost be embarrassed.

seen two have it. Right? Because they know that you're paying. I'm a mark. But yeah, I wonder if that is really a thing. What does that mean? Just like, I'm a mark. Kind of like, it's like you pay to go your friend's party. I thought you were throwing that at me. I mean like you're the guy at the poker table that people see as the one that they could take money from me. I would be honestly, I would have no problem if Twitter just imploded tonight and did not exist anymore. I mean, I could live with that. Absolutely injustice, Bridget. I realized I had not been following you. I just banged a follow there. You know, I was going to try and message you yes last night. I was. Like having all this anxiety about coming on the show.

I'm like, ah, I'm going to message him and ask him. And I couldn't even. Now, your DMs are not open to. Now, just to show you, I'm even going to send you my phone number through DM to show that we are now. Well, it's just interesting, though, Mark, the way Bridget's mind works, that she wanted to come with that anxiety and find out, you know, to Dan. But when she realized she could DM me or you, she was like, nah, they don't really matter. You check your DM again. It's telling.

We didn't, we didn't really register as that relevant to this show. No, I knew I was going to see you in makeup. Okay. Yeah, that's one way to spend it. Bridget, you've said it all. Thank you so much. Thank you to everybody for listening. Yes, check out the Monday Night Football Recap with Jordan Rodriguez.

Check out our Thursday program coming up where we preview the rest of week 10. Until then. How you doing, Justin? I'm great, Dan. Thanks for asking. Your mic. I'm playing the song. Hey, you forgot.

Oh, don't. Oh, tough ending. He'd the call. You know, Hey everybody, Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move to Six, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters.

We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else. It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the I Heart Radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael Florio, and together we host the NFL fantasy football podcast. Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL fantasy football podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet. We've got to

out the insight to help you crush your opponents. Listen to the NFL fantasy football podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL, visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. This is an IHeart podcast.