NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Ranking Title Contenders, Playoff Bubble Teams and Football in Ireland with Michael McQuaid

Episode Date: September 27, 2025

On the eve of the first ever National Football League game on Irish soil, Gregg Rosenthal sits down with the gridiron football authority of Ireland, Michael McQuaid, for a wide-ranging discussion about the context of the NFL in Ireland, what Croke Park will look like on Sunday, and what to expect from the Vikings and Steelers on what Gregg expects to be the first of many NFL games in Ireland going forward. Plus, Gregg shares his NFL team tiers as of Week 4. Don't miss the Minnesota Vikings take on the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday morning at 9:30 AM ET on NFL Network! Michael McQuaid (@McQuaidNFL) - Pro Football Ireland (@NFLIreland) Topics: — The history and growth of American football in Ireland — NFL Team Tiers: "Shocked if they make the playoffs" "Surprised if they make the playoffs" Playoff bubble teams Playoff caliber teams Title contenders — Ireland Game Preview    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. Welcome to NFL Daily, where it's the Irish Super Bowl this week. I'm Greg Rosenthal, and I could not be more excited. to be joined by the unofficial host of Vikings Steelers, the first ever game in Dublin, Michael McQuaid. How are you doing? Are you going a little crazy? I know you're running all over the place this week. Greg Faltsha, welcome to Ireland. I know you've a lot of fans on this island,

both north and south. It's funny, it was talking to a few people before we came in here. I really mean this. It really means a lot to us to see not just yourself, but the league come over here. So it's good to see him on. How are you doing? Hey, I'm doing great. And, yeah, like, I get to the airport, the entire gate are Steelers fans in their jerseys. Did you fly from L.A.? From L.A.

So that's Steelers fans in L.A. Oh, yeah. I mean, there's Steelers fans everywhere. But the fact that it's all Steelers fan on a, like, red eye in L.A., like, okay, that feels different. Get off the flight. You see the Steelers and all the NFL stuff all over the city. Get to the hotel. There's literally 20 Steelers fans.

all taking pictures with their jerseys on and it just, you've been on a bus around town with literally the bus Jerome Bettis and it does feel like a special week for football

in this country and the NFL in general. And I have got a present for you from all of us lads here including marks it and beside us. I have got you an Irish terrible tile which I don't believe is available in Pittsburgh so you can keep that as a momentum

I mean, I'm not keeping this thing. I'm a Rogers hater, but I will give this to a deserving person. To a deserving friend, my good buddy, Anthony Jettelnick, we're here with a big fan of the Jettelnick and Rosenthal Vanity Project, JRP, P, Mark Hogan here. And I'm going, I'm giving this straight to him. He will, he will really appreciate that. And yes, if you're listening to this, what's this show all about? we wanted to get a little bit of local flavor, a little bit of knowledge about the growth of the game here.

We're going to talk a little Viking Steelers. We did preview the game on our preview show, but just a few more thoughts about it before we get ready, what that game is going to look like. And I'm actually going to throw some rankings at you because I can't do anything in my life without ranking them. And they're not exactly power rankings, but I thought this was like a good time to just look at preseason predictions and who we think me, especially, are going to make the playoffs, how that's changed. So it's kind of ranking the teams based on how I think they're going to make, you know, the playoffs or not.

I divided them up into categories and you can just tell me where you think I'm wrong and where you think I'm right. But I do kind of want to start with a little bit of Ireland chatter still. How have you seen like the culture of NFL fandom grow? I'm sitting here speaking to somebody like yourself that's being to London many times. London's great. London's amazing. I think Tottenham is really, really special. The first ever game I went to was in Wembley,

and I know you've experienced that journey numerous times and continue to do so. I went to Twickenham. Rams, wasn't it? Rams against... Yeah. I've never been to Twickenham now, so I'll give you that. I think, you know, when we go to an airport, whether it's Belfast, Dublin, Cork, Kerry, whatever,

doesn't matter where you are in this island. The fact of the matter is, we cannot walk on water yet, so we have to get a play into an NFL game. to see it actually come over to here is really special, especially when we have kicked sort of the season off. Football-wise with college football for the last few years. And, man, this is like the fifth time I've said this, but I'm almost asking myself,

why is it only happening now? This should have happened like 10, 15 years ago. But you know, and I know your listeners know as well, you know guys like Alistair Kirkwood, who really gambled his career on that game in 07 working with Miami and with New York. And look where we are now, coming up over the next few weeks in London and Dublin on top it's you know you mentioned when we met you about Munich it got that them feel to me the fact that I've left

the house gotten my car and I've drove down the road to an NFL game is something I never thought I would see but it's so so special man I can't tell you how excited I am I do want to wrap up sort of talking about what we think it's going to look like on Sunday it's a different stadium and everything but I think the game's here and you're right it is too late and it's not going to be the the last one. The NFL is expanding. You think so. Do you think it'll be a number one in the heartland at some point, even if it's not next year? Yeah. I mean, I think if I had to guess without any inside knowledge, and maybe our friend, Henry Hodgson will, you know, slap me for this. But I would think it's got to be next year. Or whenever it is,

if anything, the only concern will be like, can they match up to how big they're going this time around with the Steelers? Because there's a lot going on. Like, it feels like a first game in the country and the reason I think it'll keep happening is because they're going to go where the response is and Ireland punches above its weight in terms of fandom like so much like why do you think that is like I went and looked at our our listenership over the last month like Ireland is is fourth in terms of the country's listening it's the U.S. of course the U.K. is a massive way out in second Australia and then it's Ireland I actually did some comparison like I went and looked a year ago and it's like Ireland zoom past Germany so it's like it's growing and for such

a small country for it to have that sort of audience I I don't know what do you think the reason is and if you actually extrapolate potentially the UK data as well how many people are from northern Ireland as well and that so and that goes into the stats so it could be sitting third for all we know but we will talk about that over it. The fandom's just growing and growing and you talk about it feels like a real first game vibe. I think it's because of the fact

of the heritage and I know you've previewed the game but there's been no international game ever where an ownership has came over and they've literally come over to come home 200 years since they emigrated from North America, the Rooney family. I was lucky enough to be up in

Nuri earlier on this week and you could see the Rooney's emotional like Jerome Bettis got it immediately what it meant to him and kids there like it was in a girls school and you know they've probably never watched it down a football in their life

but when he walked out with a gold jacket they were like oh my god this is incredible there is that vibe of you know it's the first time and I agree with you what you're saying about it you know potentially coming back and you know from a fan perspective first and foremost when you come down here you see Dublin Castle

you see every street decked out I think if they get the right matchup, I can't see why it can't happen every year. And it's an easy addition for the league to have it year on year if they have or if they want to have additional games. I think it's just by getting the right palette, I'd happily take a game every year. If they offer a tour. Just make the Steelers the Irish team. I'm sure they'd want to be.

I know they really, like, and it's not even like, not like it's public knowledge. They really want to play him Mexico. And I know, I remember I spoke to a guy called Alvaro Martine who does the Spanish broadcasts. And he met me at the Super Bowl and he was like, man, I'm so happy. for you but like I really wanted it to be us and fans and like there's fans from Mexico flying over this game so I feel like yes they'll come back to Steelers please God touch wood etc but I think they might go to Mexico next at some point well they've only had you know Dan Rooney's only been an ambassador to one country yes I am confident it'll be here partly because it's open that

the NFL's idea is to play more international games and it's pretty obvious that to me that the way to do that is eventually have a schedule where every team plays an international game every year. There's an entire week of international game. It solves the whole uneven home away schedule. It's an extra television package. They're going to renegotiate that. I'm just spinning off of speculation. This is not inside information. And so at that point, like, you need inventory. You need 16 games a year. London can handle what, five, six, whatever it's going to be. but you're going to be all over the globe and I think they'll go

where the enthusiasm is and it's here. So let's put a pin in that for a minute. I do want to circle back and end with that. We can talk a little bit about Viking Steelers. But I'm going to just do something on that. I was on the flight over. I was thinking about it a little bit and I just thought like it would be a good time

to think about where we're at after three weeks. I don't think it's too early to start overreacting and just categorize these teams. And so we're going to do it pretty quickly here. Yeah, Michael. It's like you are an analyst. You're not just, I don't want to just put you in the box of like, oh, yeah, tell us about how meaningful Ireland is. You're actually going to be broadcasting.

What is your role with Virgin Media for this game? It is the first Irish production of an NFL game since 1990, which is outrageous. I was born in 91, so I'll take that. That's annoying. You didn't need to say that. Like you're going to be part of it. What are you doing for the game? I'm doing pre-game half-time and post-game on the television.

And our friend who we were talking about off audio, F-A-O-Bata, is going to be doing, not play by play, but whenever the US goes to commercials, he's going to be talking through each play. And I know you love the guy. I absolutely love that guy. He is amazing. And I can't wait to see what he's going to be like. That is amazing. You're kind of a competitor.

I'm doing half-time for Sky Sports. But ultimately, I don't think you can get both. I don't even know how it works. You can, but sure, look, it's fine. We just go up against Java and have some fun. Flip it in between. Okay, so I've divided the entire league into different groups. Okay.

I'm going to start at the bottom and then go to the top. And the different groups are based on, like, if I think they can make the playoffs. After three weeks, and I do generally enter the season with there's only a handful of teams that you think have very little chance to make the playoffs. And looking at the teams in this category, it's amazing how predictable it'd be. So this is, teams I would be shocked if they made the playoffs. And I'm going to start going backwards. So dead last in the NFL, I would put the titan.

That's 32. Saints would be next. Dolphins at 30. I still would be shocked if the Carolina Panthers made the playoffs, even though they just won a game via shutout. The jets above them, that's one where I probably would have changed categories in the last three weeks because I actually had them as a seven seed. I don't feel good about that now.

I still think they can be relevant. It'd be tough for them to go 10 and 4 the rest of the year. That's probably what they would need to make the playoffs. The Raiders, the Giants, and then at the very top of this list, the Browns, so I even thought about bumping up a little bit. The Brown's defense against the Packers last week. Obviously, they're offensive. I've got issues, and I've got, frankly, a lovely man,

but a very old man playing a quarterback in one sense. Lovely, like you find him physically attractive in great hair, or he's just a nice guy? it people I've met him he's a lovely look he's he's he's a very good looking man I can't believe him saying us on an NFL podcast but he's actually he's a really really nice guy a family man as well when I had the chance to meet him I never actually big like not that you're shocked that Joe Flacko's big but he's an enormous he's a giant man he's an absolute giant in terms of being a brown though offensively do I think they could make a run it's difficult but that

defense against the packer shut and I know Jordan love it a really poor game but like man I would put them up a little bit. I would actually have the Giants maybe towards the bottom two or three here. Whenever we went to New Jersey and seen the Jets training camp, the optimism was so different from any time we've seen him come to London. Like Justin Fields seemed really, really confident and I just find it really funny how you've got them down at the bottom. You've got to be careful with training camp. Yeah. Sometimes you fall for it. But I, that's why I think they can still be relevant. But this category is shocked if they made the playoffs. I'm assuming you probably need 10 wins to make the playoffs.

Yeah. To go 10 and 4. It's a lot. They have more defensive problems than I really expected. But shout out to the Browns because they maybe deserve to be in this next tier up. Because I do think that defense is that good. It's just hard. The combination of quarterback and offensive line for the Browns is going to make it very difficult.

All right. The next section is I would be surprised if they made the playoffs. So the first section, I'd be shocked. I'm basically crossing those teams out. like apology to the Dolphins and Saints. I don't think their fans feel different. And the Raiders fans probably do feel different because they're always overconfident,

but they got a lot of issues. Another team with a bad offensive line and not enough talent on defense. This group is the teams I would be surprised if they made the playoffs. All right. The number 21 team overall, the Bears, then the Bengals,

have the Patriots at 23 and the Cowboys at 24. So those four teams feels very unlikely that they would make the playoffs to me of that group who do you think would be the most likely just because i know it's an absolute storm down there at any given moments and for all we know they could go in on sunday night and beat the packers give me the cowboys like for all like who know like how fired up are they going to be going up against micha parsons on sunday night like they're going to be all over it man that that only goes so far i mean they just don't have the

juice. One of the things I regret the most about my preseason analysis was how I thought the Cowboys defense. Now, this is when they had Parsons would be frisking in terms of the edge players next to them having the depth. I think the combination of the scheme and the talent, they just don't really fit each other. So I'm not crossing them out. Any team with a quarterback playing that well has a chance, but losing CD-LAM for however long it's going to be losing two offensive linemen for at least the next, you know, three, four, five weeks is a pretty big deal. I think Patriots fans might be annoyed that I put him down here. But I would be surprised at this point. I feel like an eight or nine win team would be a big victory for this team. You've got

the Bengals in exactly the right spot. I actually felt bad watching them last week when they were browning, had a bit of a brown himself watching it. It was absolutely awful. And obviously, we'll probably talk about that Vikings' defense later on in this podcast, but I think you're in the right spot there. Patriots, you can see them maybe, you know, winning one less than what they lose overall, but they're sort of stop-start, stop-start. They really should have pushed on against the Steelers last week. I thought they would have done a lot better, to be honest.

Be it, what, 14 points was it last week? Yeah, if they score, like, and eliminate mistake, they have the most potential here because of the schedule. Again, they have the Panthers next week. They have these NFC South teams, the rest of the AFC. East is very forgiving, but I think they're still short in a lot of places. And so I would be surprised. All right.

My next group, I'm counting as like the playoff bubble. Like these teams have a legit chance to make the playoffs. Yeah. At the moment, they might be in my mind like a little on the outside looking out or right on the border. And so at the top of that list, I'm putting the Vikings at the top of that list. I had them over eight and a half as one of my favorite over unders this year. I feel okay about that now, but not amazing.

The Jaguars are next. I think they're very frisky. Steelers below them right in the middle of the NFL at 16. The Broncos at 17. I'm a little concerned about Bo Nix. They're lower than they would have been going into the season for sure. The Texans, I'm hanging on. I'm keeping a little bit of stock because that defense is championship worthy.

The Cardinals and the Falcons are also in this year. Make fun of one of these rankings, which was. When do you dislike the most? The Broncos. I think, you know, if you look at two of their games, they've lost by, what, a combined four or five points. They were very unlucky against Indianapolis. They should have offensively really took the charges last week.

I understand how they lost the game. Bo Nix, how we seen him last year, especially in the second half of the season. Now, clearly isn't at the level that he was last year, but he needs to try and push on. They've got the weapons offensively. They've got defensive leaders there. They should be at the upper echelon of that.

I really find an interest, and you've got the Vikings at the top of that, Steelers as well, especially when they've got a positive record so far, is really intriguing with that, like obviously, what, two and one, three weeks? The Steelers have a lot of concerning aspects to their team, their offensive line, their quarterback doesn't like to be pressured, the depth of their offensive players. To this point, the defense is underachieve, but they have been winning doing it,

and Mike Tomlin usually figures it out, and they always win more games than they should. So maybe I'm being a little bit of a hater to have them here at 16. I mean, they are grinding out of the minute. They're not like, you know, the top level where they could be. The run game has been quite inconsistent as well, for usually weeks, like 40 maximum yards. They're on the bubble. They're on the bubble. They're an average team that I think the expectations were too high when Mike Tomlin said that he thought this defense could be sore.

It's like, let's be average first. At least this. The next group. Okay. We're getting some intriguing teams here. 10 through 13 number 10 and this would be the category disappointing if they don't make the playoffs at this point based off what we've seen

I think if they don't make the playoffs their fan base and certainly internally they're going to be pretty disappointed they don't make place the Seahawks here I have in my top 10 overall teams and I was very tempted to put them in title contenders the darnal thing is a little worrisome but I do think they have a lot to really like the Colts at 11 I know it's only three weeks but at this point, your three and O, your offense has been this good. This is an opportunity.

If they don't make the playoffs, everyone gets fired. Like, it actually is putting more pressure on it. Maybe they couldn't have any more pressure. It's good pressure to have. But they needed to have a playoff season, I think, to keep all their jobs. And now with this start, they need to keep it going. The commanders at 12 and then the 49ers, so many injuries, favorable schedule, 3 and 0. But I still put them in this year because of the injuries in some questions.

I have. What stands out to you here? All, all four of them, to be honestly, if we start with the Niners, like how they're grinding out results with Mac Jones are and still picking up, even with they have different injuries, you know that Brock Purdy's going to come back from his turpto injury at some point. They've got guys there on both sides

of the ball. Colts, I mean, I know you know Jeff Reinbold, and he was comparing him to Johnny Unitas and Peyton Manning on a podcast earlier this week. He compared Daniel Jones to Peyton, he was like, look, there's all these different like different legendary players in indianapolis and he went and now we've got daniel jones through three weeks i'm really happy for him man like i get like but i was saying to to mark my mate as well here

on our podcast this week they are so fun to watch defensively hey who they were playing last week the jaguars i may right last week but i thought it was a tax for a second how they get the ball down the field is just like their running game is so so fun to watch i would put the colts if they win this week against the rounds i'd put them up in the upper echelon of that So interest and pick with the Seahawks'Bell, but Colts for me are the one to stand out there, definitely. What's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here.

And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development to team-building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week, we study the tape, talk to decision-makers, and share the insights you won't find anywhere else.

It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow. We break down the draft, analyze matchups, and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day. Plus, we dig in the coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a diehard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture. If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 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. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael Fulrio, 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. Yeah, we should give some pop to the podcast, Pro Football, Ireland. A little Jeff Reinbold action, our friend from Sky Sports. You got any other pops you want to give?

Well, firstly, Jeff works in college football and how we do a podcast twice a week is a minor miracle with that man. I love him and we appreciate him. Just everyone, like Mark, Jason, all the guys who have a college football podcast. A young man called Connell, 20 years of age has been at a national championship, Dara as well, do a Monday morning podcast as well. Just guys that, you know, do it for the love of the game. And it does make a huge difference.

You've built a little empire. How many people have you left on the side of the road? Sharp elbows on your way up here. I do the guy in Ireland. I do the best I can't. I try my best. I love the game. And, you know, we'll talk about it after this.

But, you know, when you have weekends, I guess it means a lot. I was asked by my friend Matt Casey, I'll name drop him here, who is the producer for Football Night in America. also Mike Florio's producer and he was like is there a Neil Reynolds of Ireland and I sent him your way and then you were on Florio's show

I know I should be getting a co-producer credit for that but you that's your status at this point thank you very very much for that and it's funny like I really appreciate going on obviously love Florio it was windy outside right so you can imagine being on

PFT live whatever and my hair just went man live a bit embarrassing but man great way to go on it and thank you for the reference and a co-producer situation will definitely have and absolutely and also and i don't think you need to say obviously i love florio because i feel like there's a lot of people that don't i enjoy his articles i enjoy the um discussion shall we say and on the opinions and you know different things though he he cranked no one works harder and i'm joking about it because i feel comfortable doing that i used to work for him and i know

he pisses a lot of people off like that's what he's trying to do uh sometimes it's people inside the league sometimes it's people working uh for teams uh but you need someone like that in the mix all right let's get back to the go back to the mix and yeah like the commander's defense is a little more impressive so far than i expected and so i actually am upgrading them a little bit i was i was not so high on them repeating this year and the fact that their defense i think is going to be as good as it has been, makes me more optimistic that I'd be disappointed if they didn't make the playoffs. And the Seahawks, very close to putting them in the title contenders, because I just think they have a lot to like on this team, especially on defense, but I like the way that the

offense has been coached. I just need to see it a little bit more. All right, let's get the title contenders, because we're taping this too before that TNF game, and we could sound stupid talking to Seahawks or Cardinals. Title contend. And tell me if you don't think any of these teams are. Ultimately, I had a pretty big group. People think that it's very predictable. I think this season in the NFL, at least where we are right now. Yeah.

I felt comfortable putting nine teams where if they won the Super Bowl, I'd be like, yeah, I could see it with maybe, you know, one caveat. And that's at the bottom of this. But at the top, I'm putting the Packers. I know they just lost to the Browns. They still have Matt LaFleure, a quarterback, I believe in. and what I think is going to be the best defense in the league. So I'm putting them number one.

The Lions and Eagles right behind them. I just think they're going to be the class of the NFC in general. Chargers, Bill's, Ravens up next. Even though the Ravens have lost two games, I anticipate they will figure things out. My friend Jordan Rodriguez on the show on Wednesday said, are the Chargers the best team in the NFL? I thought, I was like, man, that is a wild statement.

But it's not crazy when you think of how well Justin Herbert is playing. right now and that they're a pretty balanced team overall so they're there at four bills at five ravens at six and then the rams the buck and the hardest team to put in this list for me was actually the kansas city chief it it just felt like i'm like falling for it if i don't at least put them in this category it's it's the first team that looked at me there now like granted i watched about 56 minutes condensed of sunday night football with the chiefs and the reality is something we talked about earlier on this week for two teams in that list one of them barring a miracle this week is going one and flee and like what's the percentage chance of making the playoffs if

you go one and flee never mind the consequences in the afc north if the ravens go to one and flee with different teams there and with the chiefs offensively barred at like barred a final couple of offensive drives on sunday football in new york i was sort of surprised at how much they struggled to get the ball down the field and relied so much in harsh the buckler i thought there would be more of a movement on the offense with Patrick Mahomes. Charged one's interesting. The biggest one for me stands out. The Rams and look, I know

I cursed them last week for a start online, right? But how they were able to almost stop that Eagles offense in the first half and stop the run to an extent mistake one and not put dealing under pressure, but certainly we could see a different side of the Eagles that we hadn't seen in quite a while before they went in the championship run.

Fell apart a little bit in the second half and they didn't get there, yeah, a big time. But they showed a little bit of a blueprint their defensively to try and stop was going to be interesting to see if anybody else can pick it up down the stretch. Yeah, I think their pass rush in the way they're built, they're built to play with a lead normally. Their running success rate has been through the roof. And I think that's the biggest reason they got that lead in the first half is they played keep away from the Eagles and went on these long drives. They got to be able to finish the drives. But ultimately,

like, they are in a championship window. If I had to guess, I think this is Matthew Stafford's last year in the NFL. And not that there's a lot of pressure on them to win now, but there's a reason why he came back and decided to take less money to play for the Rams than to possibly go to Giants or Steelers or the options that were out there. And that's because they can go ahead and win the title. So that's my top nine for now. I think we'll do this every once in a while in the season. Just kind of just take a look. We'll put this out on the socials too so everyone can get mad at us. I don't think I don't think anybody can complain. about those top nine teams.

Okay. Maybe Chiefs fans because they're sitting in ninth. Maybe. But I mean, they should, they should be, they should be grateful to even be there at all. We will see what happens on Sunday night. There's not enough pass rush, but I also know almost everything that's happened to this point in the season is just a very, like, it's an amuse boost of a dinner that we're going to have. It is not even an appetizer.

It is such a small portion of what's actually going to matter in December. January, November. Obviously, the wins count, but I've just seen too many seasons like this. And the Chiefs and the Ravens, organizations like that can self-scout and problem-solve and figure things out. I think the issues with the Chiefs roster, though, this year are just greater. So them figuring out might be second place in the AFC West, and suddenly you're on the road for three weeks, even though you won 11 games, the Chargers, you know, win that division. And that's a different recipe without like a great pass. I really like the option of maybe writing this down, right in week three,

and then coming back, yeah, week seven and seeing a completely different sort of middle part as well. No, I love it. I will. Okay, let's talk this game on Sunday. What do you think the atmosphere is going to be like? And, like, what is this stadium like to be holding, like, an NFL game here? Stadium's massive. I called it a mecca for us.

That's what it is. And I'm presuming that Mark is nodding in the background here because he agrees. But for us, just very quickly, not to bore people, but to deep dive in this very, very quickly, we have Gaelic sports, football hurling, our villages, our towns, you play for them. And if you're good enough, you play for your county. Usually, you don't trade, like, in the NFL or transfer. That's your county. That's who you're proud of.

And, you know, to play in Crow Park is one of the highest honors you can have. that stadium for a lot of people here is like a family member almost where you take your families where you take your friends and you've had some great moments and you have had some very sad moments you don't usually play anything outside of Gaelic sports in that stadium

so in the last 15, 20 years obviously you've got they have rugby games the odd time now it's becoming more common soccer happened as well this is certainly a talking point with people on this island at the minute that the NFL is playing in the stadium

atmosphere wise and you'll see it in Sunday and people watching it will see it For you, there's no bad seat in the house. So where you're going to be sitting in the booth on Sunday is incredible. If you look to the left, you'll see Dublin town, Dublin City everywhere. It's unbelievable. And also with the people watching on TV, when the anthems finish, a drone comes up into the smaller stand and looks across at everybody,

a sea of colour, a sea of different jerseys. I'm biased, and I know people are sitting here going, well, this guy's Irish, she's biased, whatever. Man, imagine country roads by like 10 in Munich. I think that's what it's going to be like on Sunday. I'm putting this on a serious pedestal now. I've got people here under pressure, but I think it's going to be really, really special. And I'm probably going to be an emotional wreck by about 2.35 in Sunday.

No, that's amazing to think about. And just visually, with the open air on one of the sides, like it just looks different than any other NFL game. And I just think that will be cool. It's going to be harder to kick into the. that end? Are we going to have? Because the, the Steelers actually have a similar issue where their field goal kickers for the longest time, like the longest field goal ever, so with that one end where it's open air, it was like 46 yards. It was so hard to kick to that side. Now,

because kickers are just better. They've overcome it. And they've got an absolute freak as well. Yes. In Chris Boswell. It's funny you mentioned that. We were on like a production call the other day. And one of the guys on the call, big Gillick Sports fan, big GAF fan. And he mentioned that whenever rugby players were kicking conversion there from off the ground obviously seem as what we would have on Sunday they weren't very happy with the difference when they were kicking into the smaller stand

I don't know why that is they'll obviously do maybe a deep dive over the next few days and let you know but certainly they found it harder to kick into that smaller stand and they found it hard to kick in that stadium whether it's the fact that there's a small it's a huge field but obviously the NFL field is a lot smaller

certainly something to look out for if the game is like tight I think it's going to be ugly. I think it's going to be defense. How old are we talking to, like, under 21 points total? Some of these, it just, a lot of these overseas games get ugly. And they get ugly high scoring sometimes and sloppy, or they get ugly, like, a defensive struggle with a lot of field goals.

And that's what I see. I don't know if it's a time difference, just new surroundings, whatever it is. And they're both coming in on Friday as well, which is really interesting. to me, he's a little crazy. I don't quite get that. I get you're coming from, you know, the East Coast time zone, which helped, you know, for the Steelers. I'm coming from the West Coast.

It's a little more dramatic. But that does seem crazy to me. I just think Carson Wentz has been incredibly overrated off of what he did last week. Like, you cannot expect Carson Wentz to help you win a football game in 2025. The best you can hope for is him to not lose you the game. And he successfully did. that last week against the team that is not very good defensively. And early in that game, he seemed a little skittish, just holding onto the ball,

taking sacks, making some bad throws. His defense scores a bunch of points for him, and he settled in and made some nicer throws as the game wore on. So I think you have him on one side in an improving pass rush with the Steelers. Herbig was just crazy. Yeah. And then on the other side, I think it's been undersold that, like, we saw this matchup a year ago in Tottenham. It was Brian Flores and the Vikings versus Aaron Rogers. And it didn't go

well. And I don't think he does well against pressure. And people think, well, he's the rare QB that could maybe outsmart like a Brian Flores. Well, he didn't a year ago in this exact spot. That was the game where basically everyone after was like, maybe this Jet Rogers thing is not going to work. And it didn't. Right. It didn't. You're the first part. This might be like the seven rave podcast this week. You are the first person to say that. So everybody else is talking about in terms of like mobility with Rogers. He looks settled enough coming in. Anyone I've spoke to anyway, outside of our own podcast.

Yeah, like it was ugly last year in London. I think you wrote that game as well, yeah. I was not, but I did go look for some stats from it, by the way. Just go for it. Before we start, six for 14 under pressure, 3.1 yards per attempt. And it was just getting rid of the ball. I was like afraid to get hit. And the same things happened this year.

Under pressure this year, he is dead last of all 32 quarterbacks who had qualify in completion percentage under pressure. He's 29th in yards per attempt, only ahead of Kim Ward, Jake Browning in Boonex. Boenick's last place there. Not great. And so I think both these teams are going to get pressure, and I don't think the quarterbacks will handle it, which it can go a few ways.

You might have a lot of defensive scores in short fields, and that gives you points. But that's the type of game that I'm seeing. Well, I think from a fun perspective, first and foremost, hopefully it's the game where it's entertaining, it's exciting, and it's not a defensive slug test on either side of each team. Like, you want to see a situation where it's close, but it's also a fun matchup. Like, I would like to see a scenario where Steelers' defense comes out hot,

Vikings' defense comes out hot, and yes, you might get the odds, the odd stoppage, yeah, an interception or two. Hell, throw me in a pick six for Everton. Yeah, give us some, you know, give me Rogers somehow getting the ball down to Calvin Austin or DK or DK having a breakout game. Give me Carson Wentz repeating last week. Let's just make it fun.

Let's just get the over and just have some fun. And whoever wins wins, I would be really, I'd be gutted, man, if there was a repeat of like the Flores, Roger's situation last year. Well, that game was close in the end. It was kind of a disappointing game in general. And I'm like you, I feel like I'm always rooting for these games to be really entertaining just to be a good product. Well, like the first time as well, like the first time,

how would you have described the game in Munich if you remember it was it the trick play that remember really was like trying to just do something ridiculous I was not there but yeah it was hard it was hard like there's no point in like me lying when you fly two and a half hours to Frankfurt it was hard

I actually went downstairs to the press box which was down at the very very bottom and missed was it the inner was there a pick six just before half time yes watched that on TV and went man this game's over I um yeah I always hope for it to a close game you told me before we started you would not be here without henry hodson yeah and i i would not

either and i do feel like i feel a fraction of how he must feel in all these international games which is i'm always just i just want it to be a good game but there are all sorts of different shape of good games and everything about these two teams to me screams that we won't know who's going to win until the final three or four minutes of this game and there are a great playmakers on both sides between D.K. and Justin Jefferson and some of the defensive players, too, that I expect plays will be made. And that's all I want.

And look, if you give anybody the option of it'll go down to the last three or four minutes, I guess even if it is a bit stop, start, defensively slow, whatever, I'll take that. I mean, aren't you guys big enough NFL fans that you'll be fine either way? Or do you think actually quality? Like, if this game is a classic,

what does that mean for, like, the casual Irish? We get three games a year. I think that has to be. I'm joking, but I think. If then, wouldn't it be great if it was a classic or if it was one of those games where, and I know, look, let me, like, and I know you've, like, a lot of people in the US listening, I know you've had Chiefs Ravens this week. I know you have a massive Sunday night football match up this week.

I know, is it the Tennessee Titans playing the Houston Texans this week? I know there's a big matchup this week, but I'm joking with that. But I know for a lot of people, maybe it's not at the forefront, apart from the fact that it's the first ever in Ireland. It's on early. So for those people, yeah, like, I'd love to see a big game. But for people that are watching here on domestic TV or maybe watching. you at half time I'll give you a shout out in Sky Sports and maybe they're going oh yeah I'll

give it a go you know you're talking about people like Henry Hodgson about the game here if people are going to continue to watch the games to partake and flag football to maybe go to an event and watch party crucial I think that we not just have a good game but we have a very very good atmosphere does country roads work in Dublin I don't know I mean country roads seemed weird in Germany but I love the man whatever this thing along as long as long as I'm sure the atmosphere is going to be great and honestly no matter what the result of the game is I think for the American audience, that's going to be more important. Oh, by the way, you got the best broadcast crew in the business calling it.

There's a lot of good ones out there, but I would take Joe Davis and Greg Olson over all of them. So that is only going to help the presentation. Appreciate you. Michael McQuaid, Pro Football, Ireland. Where else did we check you out this week? To search Pro Football Online, we're very grateful that you're going to pop on a chat to us today on Friday nights. depending on the time of recording. Yeah.

I need to go. I will be there. I will be there. And yes, I hope that goes out live. But if not, it'll just be a moment in time that we had all together, which we had here. I appreciate you making the time. And just the last thing for you. You guys are better than like English fans.

I hope. I hope that's what you're thinking when you walk out. But what I will say. See, that was a joke. I didn't really want to put on it. I just was seen if there's any sort of rivalry. Well, going back to what I said. And just to finish it off as well,

you know, we would not be here without the hard work that's been into the London games and the games internationally and I know that, and that's a fact. Yeah.

We are better crack. And I mean that in a loving and friendly and fun way. But can I also say to you, I know I said that at the start, but I do mean it's, when people like yourself bring,

you know, people like myself or bring Irish people on, et cetera, you've obviously a lot of people over here to listen to your podcast. I really appreciate it. I know a lot of those people do as well. So,

Jeremy and Margaret, thank you very, very much. And I hope you have a great time here. And if you're heading over to London, have a good time as well over the next few weeks, man. And I am. And anything for a man that you host the show with sometimes in Mark, who's helping us produce here, who I once saw walking through a Las Vegas casino wearing a t-shirt of my other podcast,

at JRVB. So, I mean, got all the time in the world for that. This is it for our pre-week-four set of podcasts. I know we've been throwing a lot at you and we've enjoyed the hell out of it. We will be back Sunday night to recap it all. That'll be myself, Patrick Claibon, Jordan Roderick, Nick Shuck, the entire usual crew. I'll just be over here talking about what I hope was a great game and a great football Sunday. We will be either.

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