NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Stick a Fork in 'Em and Eagles-Phins Lookahead

Episode Date: October 18, 2023

In a room full of heroes - Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal, Marc Sessler, and Colleen Wolfe preview the Week 7 primetime games. Before they look ahead, the heroes stick a fork in the teams they believe will not be making the playoff. After the break, they get caught up on news from around the league including an update on the status of Anthony Richardson (27:53) and flag football being made an Olympic sport (36:23). The heroes then preview the Jaguars at Saints Thursday Night Football matchup (45:26), the Dolphins visiting the Eagles on Sunday Night Football (54:04) and wrap things up with the 49ers at the Vikings on Monday Night Football (01:05:11). Note: time codes approximate. NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. The Around the NFL podcast. Hark Attack! Please rise. This initial meeting of the around the NFL Fork Committee will now come to order. Please reply present for roll call.

Dan Hansis. Present. Pauline Wolfe. Present. Greg Rosenthal. Yeah, I guess so. Please be seated as we turn the floor over to the Honorable Chairperson

Oll Zuzzer. Thank you very much. You can die, by the way. We have a coroner. here are there any corrections to the roll call sir yeah well I mean it's I am also here or I can leave happy to do so but I thought I came here with a purpose to a cess dog all right that's better that's dog that's fine but that's just you know the the level of disrespect is outrageous that's dog present there we go all right let's get to it I call

this meeting to order as a chairperson of around the NFL for committee, the old Zuzzer. This is the initial around the NFL fork committee voting. We will, as we do every year, open up the floor to all present, including you, Mark, to nominate. Mark's going to murder someone. To nominate various teams that, and this is very important,

I want to make this very clear to the floor. Teams that aren't mathematically eliminated from the postseason. However, we have deemed as a group to have no opportunity, no chance to make the postseason. Are there any questions before we get into the proceedings? No questions. Your Honor? Is that what we're doing? Is it?

I don't think so. Chairperson. Chairperson works. Just a lay person. You're a civilian. All right. First, we'll now. move on to unfinished business at the last meeting as we check the minutes.

Ms. Wolve, I believe you had sought to reverse the findings and the results of the week six matchup between the New York Jets and the Philadelphia Eagles. Do you wish to carry on that submission? Or table it? Well, I guess we could table it for now, but I still have a lot of problems. I got a lot of problems with that game. All right, we will table that. How about one more from Ms. Wolfe?

to change the term home runs to Schwar bombs. Yes, please. I would love that. All that would like to carry that motion, say yay. Yay. Yay. Yay, why not? Go Phil's.

All right. Got to check out that. Why am I getting a thumbs down? Got to get check on that sweatshirt on the YouTube. The meeting is now open for new business. It has been moved and second into that. Is there any further discussion before we get into today's business? One question.

If we fork a team, do we still report on them? Do we have to pay any attention? to them or watch any of their contest. I defer to Mr. Rosenthal. Absolutely. We're all professionals here. We've got 32 teams to cover. Also, we're almost always

wrong about one of the teams and there's no way to know which one that is ahead of time. How do you pay for that? Yeah, by paying a charity. Jacksonville got hooked up last year. Excuse me, Big Funk behind the glasses. Is there something I could use

as some type of gats? even if we don't have one physically in hand. Is there something back there? That would be helpful for today's proceedings. All right, while we do that, now open the floor to Ms. Wolf with the first fork recommendation. Oh, okay. Great. Mr. Chairperson.

Mr. Chairperson. Okay. Ms. Wolfe, the floor is yours. Thank you. Thank you. Well, gentlemen, ladies, everyone here. I propose to fork not just one team, but an entire division. Well, that's okay.

Ma'am, we will have decorum here on the floor. The NFC South must go. Okay. Order, order. They house the only team. She's shrunk. This is a big swing by Ms. Wolfe to open today's proceeding. Definitely someone who's never been involved with the four.

committee. I just want to bring up, Ms. Ma'am, how would you answer to the charge, the fact that one of these teams will make the playoffs by NFL rule? I don't think that that rule should exist. Okay.

Any longer. And I would like that to be changed as well. All in favor of Ms. Wolves' recommendation. Say, yay. All opposed? Nay. Nay. Nay. No. No.

No. I mean, I mean, we We've got three teams that are three and three. We've got two teams, the Saints and the Bucks that are better than average. I'm not saying they're great. The Saints were just one and three and they won against a winless Panthers team and a tragic Titans team by one point. Will you let me finish my statement? Order, order.

Ow. The stapler could injure me potentially. I was going to say, better than average by DVOA. This is a way to take the emotions out of it. they're ranked 13th and 15. Nothing too exciting, but teams to eliminate after six weeks,

I don't believe in that. I don't believe in that at all. There is fork content in this division. There's no question about that. But all you're really doing is setting up that you personally would need to provide a charity to one of these other cities that wins the division.

Greg gave $20,000 to the city of Jacksonville, so I hope you'd be willing to match that or do more. Generous. Absolutely. I'm ready. I'm ready for that? All the children that Greg helped in Jacksonville or in the realm around Jacksonville,

they will never forget Greg. I believe, Ms. Wolf, what you might be hitting on here is something that I know, Mark, you've talked about on the show before, growing tiresome, Mr. Sessler, excuse me, growing tiresome, tired with teams

that have no real chance to be actual Super Bowl contenders. So what's the point? However, that is not what today's proceedings is about. These proceedings are about who are teams that this, as we enter, week seven already in our minds have no chance of making the postseason. So I'll not turn over the floor to Mr. Rosenthal. Well, let's do the Panthers here because I am a

little worried we've got a handful of teams that are that are just obvious. I don't know about the other teams because there's a lot of these three and three teams like the falcons who to me are very disappointing. The saints who I don't believe will go anywhere ultimately. But because it's the NFL, they'll find their way to get to eight and nine wins. And then we have some obvious teams that are done. And one of those teams is the only winless team in the NFL. It's the Carolina Panthers. All in favor

of forking the Carolina Panthers at 0 and 6 say yay? Yay. All opposed? All right, we carry that motion. The Panthers have been forked. Let's Stick a fork in them. Thank you, Dave Damask.

That was perfect. You know, this is an exciting time as someone who drafted the Panthers under seven and a half wins as his first round draft pick. Sorry, can we keep personal branding out of the proceedings? It's all the whole show is branding. Frank Reich this week.

I feel magnificent. The show Frank Reich gave up offensive play calling this week. So maybe Thomas Brown, who came from the Rams, can help turn things around because it was a sad way to go out for Frank Reich last week as a play caller. I have been hard on Frank Reich. And at this point, like, I have no problem with the fact that that's occurred. because, like, why did you hire Frank Gregg? I mean, for multiple reasons, like,

organizationally, I get it. It's like the offensive version of Ron Rivera. That's fine. But, like, you're not calling plays. What are you doing? What's going on here? You seated that gift of yours. That's why you were hired.

And it's not even Halloween. Do we really believe in any of the skill position players, though, that they have? No. They're in a hardcore rebuild. No, this is sneaky. It's not all on Frank Reich. No, I don't think so. this was a big story

relatively for, you know, for any Panther story that he gave up his play calling. But he actually had telegraph this audibly throughout the season to his players and even before the season that at some point he's probably going to hand it over to Thomas Brown who's kind of a young up-and-coming coach.

So they got to mix up something. And by the way, Bryce Young coming off his best game. And you're 0-6. You're the head coach. And he probably wants to have him, this is this is coach-speak, but a more global presence. So he's trying to mix things up. I wouldn't read into it

too much other than he's a coach that knows the ship is sinking. Or his medley owner made him do it, just like he reportedly made him take Bryce Young. Yeah, I don't know about that. I don't know if the owner told him he had to give up play calling, but who knows? Actually, we talked about what he said in those meetings.

During our live show, we hoisted up Frank Reich in this whole situation as a bit of a flashpoint, potential flashpoint. There you go. And days later, he's not calling me. And by we, you mean you. Me, but I don't need to brand myself the whole show. That's what it's all about, according to Greg. I mean, it was just, what are we even talking about here?

All right. Chairman, yes. Can I just fork one? Can I just fork one team then since my opportunity was taken away? Next round. But you tried. Go for it. Wait, excuse me, sir. Oh, wow.

Excuse yourself, sir. You're going to have to wait, Ms. Wolve, after your outbursts to start the proceedings, we're going to go over to Mr. Sess. I have no patience. Go ahead, Mr. Sessler. The floor is yours. And again, apologies for the attendance roll call earlier. That was a unfortunate oversight. I totally believe you.

Thank you. Out on the horizon. Cut that as a drop. Out on the horizon, I see a jumbled apocalypse unfolding. It's delicious. I'm enjoying it more and more with every day. Not only would you put one fork into this mess. you could put every fork found in New England

because they don't need to eat anymore they've been eating for 20 plus years no more dinner lunches no more snacks no more midnight snacks no alcohol no tobacco put them in a coffin the patriots under Bill Belichick are a total disaster

it is unbelievable to watch that this is the team that Bill Belichick built and is now currently losing complete grip over keep hiring your friends keep bringing the old players back onto the roster This is not a rebuild. This is a checkulator in about four or five years. All right.

All in favor of forking the New England Patriots, say yay. Yay. All in favor say nay. Okay, that carries it. The Patriots for the first time, I would imagine, ever in this exercise, have been forked. And a reminder. A reminder that this must be unanimous to fork a team.

All right. This is an early meeting of the committee. Is it my turn now? by the way. Yes, it is. Ms. Wolfe, the floor is yours. Okay. If I can't fork an entire division, then let me fork the Falcons. The Falcons right now. What's going on here? Ma'am, have you been taking some type of mind-expanding agent?

Let the woman speak. Let the woman speak. Wait, why? Let's hear it. Let's hear it. Let's hear. We fork the Panthers, right? Yeah. Yes. Okay. So why can't we fork the Falcons? In theory, you could. Hear why. You could pick any team.

I don't believe in their quarterback. He refuses to throw downfield. Their head coach. refuses to get the ball to their basketball players that they spent top eight picks on, top ten picks on. They have a 30th scoring offense right now with players like Bijon Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts. It's inexcusable. They're not going anywhere.

I don't believe in them. Okay. Now, thank you, Ms. Wolfe. My issue is they're a half game at a first place. They play in a bad division, and there are, like you said, pieces and place there, I believe, whether I want to see them or not hanging around because they frustrate me in the same way you're frustrated they will be playing relevant December football and if a team in my mind is playing relevant

December football I am not forking them on October 18th so your pecking order we at least know that the Panthers you agree to fork them and the next would be that you dislike are obviously the Falcons yes my problem is if you're going to fork an entire division in your in your theory like it sort of suggests that any one of them could bubble up and win the division and I actually trust the falcons globally at all, but I trust them more than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I'd probably put the Saints as the

number one team in that division, but I don't trust their offense on any level. It's like the Falcons win weird games, they're just weird. They could win eight games and win this division. So it feels perilous to like assume that any one of these four teams, well any one of these three teams outside of the Panthers are all automatically gone. All in favor

of forking the Atlanta Falcons say yay. Yay, come on over. Join me. Hey, it's a party over here. Oh, pose, nay. They have been the worst of those three teams. What if Taylor Heineckee replaces Desmond Ritter?

That might help. That's what I mean. Like maybe, maybe then I change my life. For what it's worth, like, you know, Drake London and Kyle Pitts have had the best two games stretch they've ever had together the last two weeks. It's not leading to wins.

This is a bad team. They're 26th in DVOA. They're well, they look like a bad team, but this is a bad division. It's a long season. Not giving up on them. That game on Sunday was a tough watch. down the stretch there.

All right, let me nominate one as chairperson. The Denver Broncos, they are one in five. They have one of the worst historical defeats in the history of the sport. They have coming up, Packers, Chiefs, Bills, Vikings, Browns. I see no path back to playoff relevance for the Denver Broncos. And for that reason, I nominate the Denver Broncos for the fork. All in favor say, yay. Yay.

That carries it. Broncos out. Stick a fork in a All right, that's three. I mean, the AFC is so deep that I feel more comfortable than ever forking teams this early. Although we've gotten rid of the two obvious ones.

There's a lot of teams to try to pass in the AFC. All right, Mr. Rosenthal. Let's go to East Rutherford where I'm going to bring up another team that I drafted the under in the over-under draft. The New York football. It's such a gripping up. Giants.

One in five. The rain's coming down on over under. You know, no. They're not getting to seven and a half. I don't think they're getting to six. They could improve at points in the season, but there is no route to these NFC plans. I think the seventh seed, the bar is a little lower than the AFC,

so it's, I think, a little trickier to fork teams than the NFC. But the Giants are too lack of. luster on both of their lines they're going to all in favor of forking the new york giants say yay yay yay yay all yay you're not doing it no what see a pathway back in a bad nfc i think i saw a lot in buffalo i saw a team that bottomed out um with some tough opponents on their schedule i saw a team that had a really good um uh 2,022 season and that's of course course, ancient history, but I don't think it's impossible that this team could crawl out of this hole and be maybe in the mix and near 500 in December. I'm not saying it's definitely going to happen, but we got commanders, Jets, at Raiders, at Cowboys, at commanders versus Patriots of the next five weeks.

I understand they need to win at least three of those games. And while it's unlikely, I just at least three, they got to win five. They're one in five. Right. Listen, I'm saying they have to at least win three of those games to even be in the realm of possibility. Is it likely? No. But I'm just not ready to go there yet. And there are multiple occasions when we do this exercise, at least the first time through every year, where someone like you saves us from all being wrong about someone. Feels like a long shot. But I'm with you. Like we were all a little bit mentally shot on Sunday night or Monday night when we watched that Giants Bill's game. at like three in the morning in London,

but they looked like a... It doesn't matter. They've been outscored by 96 points. Every team has a good week. And if you're going to have a good week, you better win that week. Right. Their next three,

their next three quarterbacks are Sam Howell, Zach Wilson, and Brian Hoyer. Well, better be Aiden O'Connell. Probably would be Jimmy G. Based on the injury reports. Their only win is against the Cardinals.

Yes, I understand that. It was a pretty brutal early schedule. Cowboys at the House. height of their week one powers at San Francisco, Seahawks, Dolphins. They weren't competitive in any of them except for one. That's a bad schedule, though. I'm just saying they were exposed by the best teams in league, and now they're going to start playing some of the teams that are in the tier below,

and I'm just saying. If they got to 7 and 10, you know, they'd have to go 6 and 5 the rest of the way. I mean, I would love to put a sandwich on them not going 6 and 5 the rest of the way. I don't think that's insane. Well, that only gets up to 7 and 10, which is not, you know, which is 4, All right. Mr. Sessler. Forked is what I said.

All right. Well, I'm going to go somewhere a little spicier, I think. Okay. We saw this team in person. You know, when you're up close, you see things you don't see if you're watching on television. This is a little... Pound with a bunch of Burger King ads are totally tedious. The Titans, check you later.

I mean, I don't care if Ryan Tanna Hill is in there or not. I think the Titans do enough. number of things well. They're not consistently doing them well, though, and they disappear for games at a time. Derek Henry still has these moments. I like Mike Rable a lot and feel like they're not going to not, like they're not going to miss the playoffs. That's the point here. They're not making the playoffs. Do I think they can go be a little bit of a berser? Maybe so, but especially if Brian Tainholds out for a significant amount of time. Malik Willis looks completely lost to me. I think Will Levis will be in there soon enough. I think the coaching staff did not

buy in on Malik Wilson a year ago when they went and got Josh Dobbs, you know, a fortnight before they were in playoff action. It's like Malik Willis to me, and we saw this in person, just like he looks like, and I think Zach Wilson has played much better in the last couple of weeks, but when you got the bad version of Zach Wilson and he's scrambling around, he's not seeing the field

and he's getting killed, it's like just the young quarterback that's not ready to be in there. And Malik Willis, he's mobile, he's athletic, but that's only half the battle, and I think they're a sitting duck. Upcoming schedule. They are two and four. That puts them, I I believe two games out in their division. Home against Falcons, they have a bye week, by the way,

with Ryan Taddle injured with the ankle. It could be an injury that lingers beyond the buy, but they are on their by. Home Falcons at Pittsburgh, at Tampa Bay, at Jacksonville, Home Panthers next five weeks. All in favor of forking the Tennessee Titans. Say, yay. Yay.

All opposed? Nay. Nay. You didn't vote your own. Oh, yay. I mean, he got dropped in a mix. Greg, I think. I think we're on the same page most likely that the division is still a little bit wonky,

that there's a pedigree here, that the schedule is not overwhelming. And the idea is not that the Titans are some hot shot team, but more that are they a team that will find a way to maybe survive these next few weeks and still be hanging around by the time we get to December. Yeah, it's too bold. I believe in the organization just finding a way when you least expect it. I hear you on Malik Willis. Most of those sacks, the pressure, someone did a stat on it, came in less than.

in two and a half seconds. He was, you know, the only quarterback that struggled more on Sunday was Ryan Tannahill. So that was a disaster for the Titans, but I could just see them like Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Tampa, Carolina, you got the Colts,

you got the division games, just, I don't know. I can just see them being annoyingly in the mix in like week 60. All right, Ms. Wolfe, the floor is yours. I'm really, really, really sorry about this Chicago,

but I do not. Yeah, it's, It was great when they beat the commanders. Everything seemed like it was positive looking up for at least like a moment in time. But, you know, now Justin Fields, his thumb is a disaster. He's doubtful for Sunday. It's just, you know, Tyler, Tyler Bayesian came in and actually kind of looked pretty decent in that game that they lost. But it's just you got to go.

They lost to the Packers, the Bucks, the Broncos. That's really bad. All right, all in favor of forking the Chicago Bears at one in five. I don't even know if I need to tell you the next five weeks, but I will anyway. Home Raiders, at Chargers, at Saints, Home Panthers at Detroit. All in favor say, aye. Aye. Aye.

All opposed. Yay. What happened to yay? Yay. Point of order. Point of order. Yes, sir. Why did you change from yea to eye?

I forgot. You have immense power and you used it. Yes. My apologies to the court. Yeah. And I never seek to disrespect the court, and I did that. and I apologize. All moment of growth.

All opposed. All right. Chicago Bears. That's four. They go on. All right. This one I have a feeling. There's going to be some pushback on this one from one member of the committee.

But this team is one in five. This team may be outperforming preseason expectations, but they are still not a overly competitive bunch in the second half of games the last three weeks. They have lost five of six. games. They are in a division with really three potential playoff teams. They are the Arizona Cardinals. Their next five opponents at Seattle, home Ravens, at Cleveland, home Falcons, at Texans, home Rams. That's their next five opponents. I believe this team has no chance of making the playoffs. So I nominate the Arizona Cardinals, all in favor of forking the cards.

Yay. Yay. Yay. Yay. And I'll offer one counterpoint. They've opened the practice window for Kyler Murray, and he should be back soon. All in favor? All opposed? I have won a dent, like one request. All right, the floor is Mr. Sessler.

Thank you. Would you like to suspend the vote temporarily? That's what I would like to do, but I'm willing to go along with you because I think, like, the fact that the Rams are way better than people thought. Seattle, Seattle, and the Niners. Like, you're not getting out of your own division without being essentially fourth place. So I logically agree with you. But I want to pick the organization that if they make, if they don't, if they make the playoffs in a weird world, I would pick the organization that you must give $20,000 to.

Sure. I feel fine with that. All in favor of forking the Arizona Cardinals, say aye, yay, whatever. I, yeah, whatever. All right, the Cardinals are done. Stick a fork. All right, Mr. Rosenthal, as we wind down proceedings, is there any other, teams that you seek to nominate.

No. Mr. Sessler. I really want to say to the Minnesota Vikings, I don't believe you're going to the playoffs on any level of my human body. So I wouldn't, I know it's not going through. I understand on this exercise works, but I want to say right now that I nominate them. The Minnesota Vikings, don't believe it, don't buy into it, don't want to see it.

All right. All in favor of forking the Minnesota Vikings, say, yay. All opposed? Nay. Try to push that legislation through. I mean, they are about to lose to the 49ers. Well, we thought the 49ers are going to stop their opponent last week, too. They don't have Justin Jefferson.

It is concerning. But to me, they're slightly better than they were a year ago, you know, on balance if Justin Jefferson is on the field. And so can the luck that they're not getting this year completely flip and they go on a run to get to nine wins, which has them playing meaningful games week 18, I think they are. Well, they have the Broncos still on the schedule. They have the Bears, they have the Balkans. They have the whole AFC South for the most part, yeah. All right.

The next five opponents for the Vikings, home Niners at Green Bay, at Atlanta, home, New Orleans, at Denver, home bears. Ooh, that's a pretty. They'll win two of those. That's a good, that's an easy schedule other than the 49ers. All right, Ms. Wolve, any teams to nominate on your behalf? No, I think that's it. All right. Well, then, if there is.

is no other business. We can adjourn this meeting of the four committee. And may I have the eulogy theme, please, as is our custom, once we reach. So much more organized than a year's past. You're welcome. Come on. The Carolina Panthers, the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Gaggle Bears. Charles McCormick. You have no chance of making the 2020-23-24 NFL

Postseason. But keep listening to the show, please. Banshees of Inashirin very much. All right, we'll be right back with some news and week seven previews. all right welcome back business is taken care of and now we'll hit the rest of the show starting with some news one or two take two oh the french champagne has always been celebrated for its excellence French Champagne

Can I tell you something? I talked to someone who's been convinced for half a decade that that is Wes or was Wes and I was like

no that's actually Orson Wells from a drunken champagne commercial that took about 25 takes. Right. Please seek it out

and shout out to Place Boeing on YouTube for that fantastic remix. That was really good. By the way, that song, that's just getting warmed up.

There's some wild stuff going on in that remix. Well, having seen the clip, I'm not surprised. He's with a couple who look like, by the end of it, they look. Oh, like, mystified by Earth. You got to. They're in a shell, a shell of them for themselves. All right, let's get to it. Starting with Hamana, Hamana, Anthony Richardson.

Ah, what a bummer. Sometimes I feel like I curse them in. I was so excited about this young first round pick, his ability to change once upon a time, as Wes himself often said, Peyton Manning was credited with changing the skyline of Indianapolis. I thought Anthony Richardson could change this cult's franchise as soon as this year,

but it looks like we're going to have to wait because that shoulder injury he suffered in week five is serious enough that it appears now, or it's official that he is going to undergo a procedure most likely, and his season is over. Here is Shane Steichen, Colts head coach, on his rookie phenom. I'll start off just confirming that Anthony will have season ending shoulder surgery. Shoulder surgery is tough to say.

And talking to all the doctors, getting as much information as we could, this is the best thing for him in this franchise moving forward so we can get him healthy for next season. You take a guy at fourth overall, a tremendous competitor, great player, the longevity of him needs to be at a premium. So this is the best thing for him moving forward. It stinks. It sucks. And I think, you know, hopefully he gets right. And more hope on the idea, Mark, that this was just a star-cross rookie campaign and not the start or a harbinger of things to come for Richardson, who, yes, he suffered that injury.

in his last appearance of the season, but he was hurt routinely in the other weeks as well. So it was just a really frustrating campaign over four weeks. Yeah, it was sort of dotted all over the body. They lost him at the end of the opener with a left knee injury. Got a concussion. I don't think that's, you know, that's sort of separate from other type of injuries in my book.

But that's sidelined him for a week plus. Well, he took a lick on a scramble for a touchdown. It's the nature of his game that's like these things are happening because of what he's able to do and why he's special. And then the shoulder injury, it's, it's, the thing I still, like, if you're a cults fan, like, it sucks this year because I think there was another parallel universe where, like, they became, like, the team of ATL because of Richardson and because they're spicy and because of Shane Steichen and, like, I had my eyes on that. Yeah, I'm ready to pick him. I know, and you picked him as you're, like, you sort of were lobbying for him as a, maybe a better odds or better chance to win offensive rookie of the year than, then C.J. Stroud in the end, I thought if I'm a Colts fan, though, it's like the special things that you. saw. Yes, it's deferred until

next season. You still have them. And like, I think he was already showing that he could pass the ball. Like, yes, his completion percentage was a little wonky, but it's like, that's the one thing you can improve as a pro quarterback going from year one to two to three. And I think there's just so much hope with what

he can do and what he showed that right out this year with Gardner Minchu, I don't like him throwing 55 passes last week. I know was part of the game. I don't like Jonathan Taylor running for 19 yards off eight carries. That's not delightful. But there is hope because you have this quarterback for the next three plus years. Yeah, his skill

set throwing the ball, I think, was further ahead than anyone expected. Maybe we shouldn't have been because he was surrounded by such slop at Florida. He's only a 21-year-old kid and he's got such great pocket movement. Movement in the pocket, buying time to throw the ball, keeping his eyes down field, like

moving between progressions. He's a real deal quarterback with extraordinary rushing ability. You just have to worry about his durability because each one, like the concussion seems was kind of a strange one. Like he got hit late in that play where he let up.

I mean, it wasn't like a hard hit. The shoulder injury is obviously concerning, but he's only going to be 22 years old next year. And I think if you're a Colts fan, you feel better about their long, you know, long-term future than you have since Andrew Luck retired. And yet you have to waste, you know, the next 12 weeks or convince yourself that this could be fun.

And maybe it'll be fun if they win eight games with Gardner you, but it's kind of a, they're kind of wasted time. Maybe they learned something from Andrew Luck, and that's why they're just going ahead and shutting him down. That's a good point, Mark. Preserving him for, like, the future. Oh, yeah. Yeah. I know.

We look alike, though. I don't think so. But those, like, six quarters that he played in, like, he definitely showed some promise, especially in that overtime loss to the Rams. Like, that was a really good game. He did not look like a player who only started a handful

of games. That was the only game he finished. Isn't that crazy? He played four games and and I'm glad he brought it up because that was the point I was going to button it up with Connie that they were down 23 nothing in that game at Lucaso Stadium. The place is a mausoleum. It's dead and what happens? He puts that team on his back and then puts up two touchdowns late with two point conversions to tie it. They've fallen overtime. But at that point it felt like anything was possible with that team playing in that division. So it's such a bummer. Hell, week one, he was very impressive.

I know he missed, like, the last two snaps of that game, but he looked great right off the bat. I think one other thing you have real quick is, like, I think Shane Steichen is like, I just had this feeling he's going to be the real deal. And so, like, you can navigate through this season, but it's like the two of them together. I just, I like it better than Richardson with someone else. And because of like what he did too with Jalen Hertz.

Yeah, right. It was unnecessary, but we could have forked them today in my mind. But I didn't. Wow. It was unnecessary. But, okay. In that division? We're not doing it to the other.

team in the division? I would not, if it makes feel better, Mark, the team upset. No, I would not have carried that vote. That's what I mean. Let's apply the logic to a spicy, a spicy. Well, that's what I mean. I didn't want to bother to waste everyone's time, but I, I feel very confident they're not making it. Was that a shot of Colleen for nominating the entire division?

I stand by it. I'm still sticking with the NFC South's got to go. I mean, they're getting lots of bad news. In other cults news, defensive tackle, Grover Stewart, who started every game for them. He'll be out the next six weeks. He violated the league's P, B, D, policy and this is crazy now if you're if you're out six games that takes you all the way to

week 14 in the case of the cult so i mean he's one of that six six or seven best players on that team i would say the only thing to me that makes them special certainly defensively is their defensive tackle combo him and buckner and now you're you're without him uh in other news commissioner roger goddell has agreed to a new contract with the league uh that takes it through March of 2027. The NFL announced this on Wednesday. Goodell, he's 64 years old now.

Wow. Looks good for 64. Let's be real here. Great. For 64. He's yoked. Has served as commissioner since 2006 when he was elected to replace the retiring Paul Tagliabu. So let's do some

math here. Yeah, he'll be entering his seventh decade by the time this contract tolls. Wow. And that is a pretty wild run for anyone in the major sports if he indeed ends it after this upcoming contract. But you never know. He seems to enjoy the job. Well, we've heard with his last three contracts now that it was his last contract. But it's hard to step down.

And I do hope he appreciates the letter of recommendation that I sent unbidden to the NFL league office and to the ownership. committee, and I just hope he remembers that when our contracts are up. You are the ultimate company man, then. You threw your support behind Rob. Me, Wes, and Roger Goodell, and I think that's

really bonded us over the year. That's beautiful. And here's a little tidbit. He began his NFL tenure in 1982 as an intern in the league office under Pete Roselle. Okay, that's wild.

That's crazy Wow That predates the tiny box entirely It does Yeah That's your prom day right Mark Who's my prom date

No just that day You took Goodell to the prom I was June 24th 1982 Early elementary school But that's kind of like that picture Where like a young Bill Clinton Is shaking hands with JFK

You were interning for Roger Goodell And then become the commissioner Yeah Okay Wow Interesting life journey Finally in the news This is really interesting.

Flag football. Whoa, Greggy, we got an issue here because I had to do a double take. I'm reading this off the athletic, which does great coverage of the National Football League. This article is written is a co-byline. One, Tori Hart.

Great job, Tori. Solid name. And Greg Rosenstein. Wow. Two G's or one? One G. Well, two G's total. He is 50% G.

that Greg was created by AI. What? Is this you? Are you working a hustle here? It's a slight tweak to your surname. Pump up that 39 on the state mandated math test with that quick 50% work. I support all the Greg Rosenstines and Rosenthal's out there. Let's go Jewish, Gregs.

Yes, flag football will be part of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. if there was approved Monday in a vote by the International Olympic Committee. It joins other new sports, including, oh, Mark, there's some Connecticut-level sports here. Squash. Does that mean? Yeah, a little posh.

Why is that Connecticut? La Crosse, or officially added, baseball and softball and cricket were greenlit to return. Cricket, handsome heck, will be happy about that. I have a theory. I want to share one thing about this. First of all, interesting.

Like football. Yeah. It's an Olympic sport. And you know what? The Olympics, guys, it's good. We've got to mix things up a little bit. I don't know if that society is... It's lost a little juice now that there's like 4,000 online channels to watch 5 billion shows.

Do we need another Nancy Kerrigan, Tanya Harding scandal? Why does this keep coming up? That would be spicy. Why? Why? I love the Olympics. Why me? I'm so excited about this.

Well, you are a retired, but also you've come out of retirement, I believe, figure skater. That's correct. Competitively in your youth. Yeah. I was thinking about doing some, like, type of. of like old woman competitions for skating. Yeah, you should. Didn't you get up at like three in the morning to practice all those?

Before and after school, I'd turn the lights on at the rink. Because like if you get there first, then you could be the person that turned on the music. So that was always my motivating factor. So if it was like... It was like an Aunt Doreen return to the ice. Is it... I picture like Flappers era music that's part of your routine? Or we could do like a Billy Joel situation.

I was going back a little further than Joel But you were saying like a little uptown girl Something like that Uptown woman, excuse me I do like flapper though Maybe you know what Maybe we'll have a vote

Oh it's workshop This is an experienced Are we calling to order Ant Doreen's return to the To the ice It's a big choice for who's going to coach this team I don't know I don't think they can make this sort of

sandwich prop or whatever but I'm just going to say it. Like if the United States does not win the first ever gold medal and flag football, I feel like the entire rest of the United States delegation shouldn't be allowed to play in the following. No, this is the point that I wanted to make, Greg. What you're saying, let's not mess around. Remember when we, you know, we were doing that thing where we were sending our college kids to play sports like basketball and baseball. That's where the dream team came from.

And then we were losing, like we were losing. And it was like, well, no, no, no. And then the dream team came. Yeah. I want Justin Jefferson on this team. Okay? I want Patrick Mahomes on this team. I want Soss Gardner on this team.

I want Aiden Hutchinson on this team. Yeah. I want to send a message to the world. I think you're going to be disappointed in all these. That flag football is our domain. I'm not sending some, you know, high school tournament champion to represent us. And then we lose. And then the old USC, give me some America music here.

Give me something patriotic. And then Old America, heads back. Where are the Olympics? Where is this one? They're in L.A. That's why they gave it. Oh, in our own homeland. Cross the street.

This is amazing music. There it is. A quick searcher patriotic pulls up some stuff, man. I'll tell you what. Whole America ain't walking back out of L.A. With our tail between our legs, we will be triumphant with some of the most gnarly blowouts. Competitive sports have ever seen. We will not, we will not be denied in the flag football category of the Olympics.

We're taking the gold. Well, when do they take place? It's usually like in like mid to late August. So these players would be dissolved from the preseason. Well, we don't need the preseason anyway. Listen, I'm on board. I think if anything it's gotten your, I haven't heard you the zealous about the Olympics in my entire freshman. 2028, like who knows what's going to be happening.

I think, let's see if we even get there. Flag is, you know, a completely different sport than football. You know, it is quite different. They definitely were not getting any NFL players in there, but UK's coming for us, and so we got to be careful. They do a lot of flag. Their lead high school we had mentioned last year, or like their NFL Academy just took out pretty much one of the top NFL high schools in the country. Oh, yeah, I was watching that game. I'm just saying, we got to step up.

We got to step up. Roberts, give me my music back. We are not sending some high school team to goddamn SoFi Stadium for the flag football Olympics. We're sending Cooper fucking Cup. Yeah. Who we are sending? Who do we want to send? Jalen hurts.

Yeah. Detonate the competition. And then you could bring, you know, Slovenia could send over their combatants, and we will disgrace them. I can't wait for you to be the coach. We'll have that manning child. Andy Reed will be the coach.

Kyle Shanahan will be the offensive coordinator. Belichick will be special teams coach. Honorary Honorary title Assistant to the special teams coach Get his Don Schuller record during that event Do you see it all Greg

What I'm what I'm just saying Like that come on now Oh they need to take it seriously And there's a chance Because these sports sometimes They almost give a little present For when you're the home It might be a one time deal

I want flag football To be an Olympic sport Forever But it would be truly sad to lose the only flag football gold medal. Like they got, like, we're not going to. That's not going to happen. France really put, because we are America.

And we invented this sport. And yes, rugby was the DNA. And you could go where you got to go for that. But the game, the gridiron with Vince Lombardi and all that shit. That was here in America. You're defending honor. Some bad news, though. Break dance, which is making its Olympic day.

debut in Paris next year, not coming back. What? We haven't even seen it yet, and it's already done? And that's the other thing. Why is that being launched 40 years too late? There's no guess. Exactly. Maybe that takes that long for the gestate, the Olympic Committee.

But we can't, we can't take the risk, Greg, of it being a one-and-done situation for I think, you know, Cups going to be 35 by then. We're going to have a whole, we're going to do some scouting. I want a lot of jitterbug types, like a tank dell, I feel like in flag football. Do we want Buck and Aikman on the call? well we're not going to let someone from another country call it it is an NBC it doesn't extend to anyone it is an NBC event so we it very well might be Tariko and Collinsworth there you go um did you see that on um Monday night football uh Joe

excuse me Troy Eggman um he met the uh online discourse head on and acknowledged that there's a meme going around that people think that uh he looks like Jay Z no and Jay Z looks like uh Troy Aikman well that was Pablo Tori on his podcast He asked them about it, and that became a big thing last week. It was a nice breaking news. I think he's following that up. Good job by Pablo. He asked him a tough question.

No, well, Jay-Z was at the game on Monday. And they cut to Jay-Z in the booth. It was funny. Buck was, I like Buck. Jay-Z happened to be making himself, like, pouring himself a cognac or something. And Buck was like, well, it looks like Jay-Z is pouring himself a refreshment. And then, Akeman's like, I guess I'll just address this right now. You know, I see some people online saying there's a resemblance between me and Jay-Z.

And then I was like, what is that? Because I missed that, the Tori and the meme thing. What do you got, Eric? It's been for a couple years. Ah. Is in the house tonight, reaching for a refreshment. Yeah. There's a meme that's going around.

People think that's my doppelganger, you know, me and Jay-Z. How about that? I see it. How about that? And you would think, like, Aikman's a good old boy. from Texas or Oklahoma or whatever and Jay-Z is this iconic black rapper from Brooklyn but they do. They really look alike. Yeah, they really do look alike.

All right. That's what's happening in the news. All right, let's get to before we sign off the the primetime games. This is how we do it. Do it. We're going to Jags and Saints Thursday night. I thought you're going to do the Montel Jordan pick up

for me there. That's okay though. Yep. We don't need to do it. I just thought you were About to, so I laid out for you there. I didn't know what I was supposed to pick up. I wasn't picking up what you were doing. All right, Jacksonville, Jaguars at New Orleans Saints. Prime video is where you see this. Al Michaels, Herb Street.

Connie, you, of course, are the anchor of all coverage on NFL Network for Thursday night football. You are meticulous in your preparation. And as you've been digging through the crates on the these two teams. What do you keep coming back to is what makes this game interesting? Well, obviously Trevor Lawrence. Like, we don't know whether or not he's going to start. He's day to day at this point. And he was, although they're trending upward.

They're saying it's looking good. It'd be a little surprising if he didn't. Exactly. But how healthy will he be is the question. So for me, I'm looking at Travis E.T.N. And thinking they will obviously try and hopefully use him and lean on him for whoever the quarterback is. hopefully it's Trevor Lawrence. But the problem is the Saints are really good against the run.

They've limited opposing offenses to 69 rushing yards per game this year. They haven't allowed a rushing or a passing touchdown to a running back yet. DeMario Davis is so, so good. And that's someone else to watch on the injury report. I don't know today, Wednesday, if he practiced, but he was listed as a non-participant Monday and Tuesday. So just like a couple things to watch there. But you know what's funny here is that Doug Peterson has never lost a game on a Thursday?

And I just kind of thought that was interesting. He's 7-0 and there's no other coach that comes even close to that. He's the only coach in the NFL with five-plus games on Thursday night football that is undefeated in the history of the league. Right. And this is potentially a revenge game for him for the path not taken. As Saints fans will remember, the Saints when they went through kind of a shamacery of a coaching search, before settling on Dennis Allen. Say shum-mockery?

I don't know. I'm just making up words. Interviewed Doug Peterson on a Zoom. They didn't want them to, they didn't fly them out. They didn't feel like medium in person. This is not peak COVID or anything. There are plenty of coaching interviews in person going on there. They're like, we'll talk to the Super Bowl champion on a Zoom.

And then we're going to hire the coach who has a career record right now, I believe, of 18 and 46. Just saying. Can I say, that's actual a little revengey. I like that. Yeah, I like that, too. And I don't think it's stupid. It's not excusable.

I will say there was this era, society-wise, right after COVID, where a lot of different, like, sectors were like, hmm, can we get away with stuff now and save some money? Like, remember. Right. Can we get away with not bringing the guy in? We're not going to hire anyway, so let's just do it on Zoom. But that's, that's to my point.

That's my point. And there was talk of, and Connie, like, and Connie, like, and you are a Capital B broadcaster. There was talk about let's stop sending an ounce and cruise two games on road trips, so just put them in studios. It worked during COVID. And thankfully, there was a lot of pushback

in some of that stuff and all that went away. Greg, you're raising your hand. Point of order. I always strive to be accurate on this program. Dennis Allen is 18 and 41 as an NFL head coach. Not 46, so remarkable. Okay. Just good correction.

I will also note that the New Orleans Saints are just a half game out of first in the NFC South as we, as we approach Thursday Night Football. So it's a good game. They are they are not a flashy team. They haven't been an exciting team, but they have been competitive. Their defense has been good and sometimes great this season. And the offense needs to pick it up, I think. But I don't like you mentioned, Mark, that you see the Saints is maybe the best team in the division. I don't necessarily disagree.

I think that it's... Wow. It doesn't mean I think I'm high on the Saints but they kind of smell like a team that's either going to win eight or nine games

and nine might do it. I guess like all those teams are so incomplete to your wanting to fork the whole division and send them into hyperspace. But I think when you think about Thursday night football this thing's even happened

every week where it's like there's this sort of sell if the home team is like vibing and like they have led to victory it's like there's this sort of coronation of like

everything's great all over again. Like we're selling celebrating them. It's this island game before the real Sunday games. And it's like, I just was like thinking driving down here like, I have a feeling like the Saints defense is going to have this night where they might make life really difficult. If it is Trevor Lawrence and if it's not

like just really difficult for the whole offense. DJ Bethard. CJ Bethard is like not, he's not incompetent, but it's just like Trevor Lawrence is what makes them special in so many ways. I think Travis E.T.N. too. But this is a team really good against the run like you said. The Saints have not, they like even in that game against Tampa Bay where

Baker Mayfield made a bunch of plays, I still felt like the Saints secondary was pretty nasty. Like just like that's sort of been their DNA for years. They haven't allowed a passer to cross 275 yards in 32 straight games. And so I think you know, if you

look at like that Chiefs game for instance that the Jaguars, there are a lot of drop passes in the end zone, but it's like they've had a couple games where they've been imperfect and they've made mistakes and it's like you either get Calvin Ridley or you don't. He's been lesser against like man coverage and the Saints want to do that. I think like this is just going to be a Saints

defensive night tight game where Jacksonville, they're a little bit off their, they're a little bit off the ball. Well, I almost did, but it's, I here's the thing. Wow, I almost want the other way. I cannot trust Derek Carr. So I feel like they're going to score. It's going to see this being like 21 to 18 or something.

I am thinking or have thought about locking up the jacks. But as we're taping, we don't know Trevor Lawrence. I hear everything you're saying, but they're one of the worst pass rushes in the league. Their pass rush win rate, their pressures, all that. And Trevor Lawrence with time to me, that's dangerous, assuming he plays.

And the key for the Jags this year is, you're right. Their offense, their passing attack specifically, is less than we expected. It's a little less than last year, actually. You know, they're not a top 10 by any advanced metric passing attack. They've been pretty uneven, but their defense has been better than their offense. They're leading the league in forced turnovers, and maybe that doesn't keep up. But I thought this was going to be one of the worst defense in the league. And I'm thinking, like, how was I so wrong about this Jaguars?

defense. Number one, Josh Allen's having a career year. This is the best year Josh Allen's ever played. Number two, they are a great run defense week after week. And Trayvon Walker is a disappointing player overall, but he's a great run defender. And they have all these big guys up front. And then they're getting some big production out of guys they gave a lot of money to last year. And they were a little lesser last year. Foye Aluqon was good last year. Now he's been fantastic at linebacker. Darius Williams was a big problem last year. He's played well at cornerback. They're probably without their best quarterback, Campbell this week.

Unfortunately, he got injured. But they're getting a lot of good play. And so a good defense against this Saints offense, I like the Jags in this game. They'll have Buster Brown in there for Tyson Campbell this week. So that's going to be interesting. I always want to say to Von Campbell. I don't know what. You know, and so that's why I just avoid it.

But also just real quick with the Jags, their schedule has been wild because they did the back-to-back games in London. Then they didn't have a buy. So they played the Colts. And now they're on a short week for Thursday. night football. So I feel like they're also just like dying to get to the They've pulled all over the they chose that. They've gone there more than any other franchise and they didn't want to do it. And it worked. I think you can

hassle the Saints offensive line, which has been bad and they've got a lot of injuries. They may have another person in there this week. It's like that's one place where the defense you just talked about might thrive. There's something about the Saints that doesn't show up in the numbers and that's I think at their core there's something's not right about this team. You see the way that last game ended with car throwing to nowhere. Oh my God. They're just not on the same page. Four straight plays and the coaching and the players.

And it's like they bench Trevor Penning their first round pick. And he found out through an article, like on a pay website with sources. That's how he found out. New Orleans football. It's like, it's like, it's all a little. Behind a paywall. It's just like, well, it is like one of those. He went behind the paywall.

I don't know. That's how he found out. Even worse. Yeah, it's like, come on. Come on. Sunday night football. One of the best games of the year potentially. It has, it has that potential.

I don't want to put the jinx on it. You never know what these primetime matchups, but the Miami Dolphins are five and one and are looking to rewrite the record books in terms of their offensive output. And now they get the Philadelphia Eagles. And they get the Eagles in Philly, in prime time. And Connie, it's not just the Eagles, you know,

five and ones, defending conference. champions they're an angry eagles team aren't they they they are furious about what happened at the meadowlands on sunday afternoon and that's almost if you want to take any positive out of that this is the kind of mode you want the igles in for this titanic matchup yeah i because the rest of their schedule too like they're about to go into a gauntlet it's brutal it's the hardest schedule in the NFL i think the rest they have the dolphins this week and then games coming up against the Cowboys, the Bills, the Chiefs, the Niners. I mean, if they're going to get a wake up.

The Seahawks are in there, the Cowboys. We fork them? Listen, the Eagles cannot lose this week wearing Kelly Green. That is just like not going to happen on Sunday night football against the dolphins. I don't like the vibes right now. But also last week, they had so many guys that were injured. They're banged up. Yeah, when they lost Lane Johnson, like they weren't able to run the ball.

They never really got into a rhythm at all. And that's the key here. And it always is for Philadelphia, like run the ball more. But to keep to and this offense off the field, you just have to play some type of ball control. Here's the concert. Well, sounds like number one, Baldi comes out of nowhere to say that he's been hanging out with Lane Johnson

at his house or something. Oh, he always does. And so he's going to, so Lane Johnson sounds like he's going to play, according to Baldi. But I, like, so you're the dolphins. Like, if you're a competent secondary, there's a high percentage chance you get frazzled against this passing attack. And they've got Bradley Roby dealing with a shoulder injury. Who they just signed and, like, had to play starter snaps.

Right. Avonte Maddox, Justin Evans, on IR, and IR. Reed Blankenship, Eli Ricks banged up. So it's like, like, they literally like, Howie Roseman's like scouring in the waiver wire, just trying to find anyone to fill the scheme. And it's like that to me is, I think, I feel like Mike McDaniel could probably work with that. Darius Slay should be back. to play with James. He had very promising words that he would come back. And hopefully

Jalen Carter, but when you looked at the Eagles coming into the season, you thought, where is the weakness on this entire roster? It's in the middle of the field on defense. It's the linebackers and the safeties. And then Blake and Chip has actually been kind of great. So that's a big loss and that's where the dolphins win. So that is

very concerning to me that on all those crossing routes and everything over the middle of the field and picking on linebackers, that that's where they win. And yet, you I still want to see what Miami looks like against Philadelphia because both these teams have had quite easy schedules overall. And the Dolphins, especially other than that Bills game, has had a pretty soft schedule overall. So here, here's a tougher matchup. You know, when they played the Patriots,

they were slowed down a little bit. Here's a tougher matchup, especially on the defensive line for this offensive line to try to pass protect. I know Tua gets rid of the ball quickly, but they've been great run blocking too. Like, I'm so impressed by just the way they've coached up this group up front for Miami. This is another level, though, because this Eagles defense has played pretty well against the run all year. Here's some news around the Eagles. A couple of items actually. First, Julio Jones,

the seven-time pro bowler. He signed with the team. On Tuesday, they're dealing with issues, Quez Watkins, on injured reserve, Marcus Holloway and Desmond Patman. Patton also worked out on Monday. And so he joins the fray behind

A.J. Brown and Devanta Smith. That's fun. Who, by the way, Devontas, Yes, it is fun, although, you know, I hate, I hate kind of Julio hanging on like this, but I also understand it's his right to. Devante Smith has been a little underwhelming this year. Rob, Connie, he had a terrible job, potentially they had a couple spots where they could have really won that game. Smith might have a touchdown if he doesn't drop that ball all by himself over the middle

in the second half against the Jets. He needs to up his game and maybe they get something out of Julio, we'll see. Yeah, I mean, maybe in the red zone, because that's where they've really struggled. they have only scored touchdowns on 45 and a half percent of their trips to the red zone. So maybe Julio Jones has some type of like career renaissance. We didn't really see it with the Titans. We didn't really see it with the Bucks. But maybe this time around.

Do you think they miss like, because I mean, Shane Stuyken, obviously, now we're finding out like he's great. And you don't ever know what's happening with like when your offense, your head coach is an offensive minded guy. And you got the coordinator like, Brian Johnson, he's known hurts forever. We've talked about it's like, oh, it's going to be so smooth. but it's like, I feel like the play calling in certain situations. I kind of liked how

they got out of a jam with the run game early in the year, but it was because the past game was a little hinky and it's like, I feel like they're missing a little sauce from a year ago, a little juice. They're not as explosive. The Jets were frustrated them at the end. That game is, I kind of stand by what I said that I didn't think that Hertz was

terrible for most of that game, but obviously the third down throw was miserable. And then on fourth down, I got to put a little bit on the play calling, the next, final possession. I mean, you have Jalen Hertz who's like this incredible athletic talent and they're

just, you know, they could have gashed the Jets potentially on a scramble at some point. And then they throw a basically up for grabs ball on fourth down. It was just a very weird and I guess it was a bit emblematic of any frustrations around Philly in general how they handled the end of that game. Well, one fun note

from our NFL research package. Yes. Which no longer is produced on paper, but sent as a PDF, so that's how I find it. Yeah. I miss it on I would like a Google Doc, a living one. I've talked to the research department about this. Because when you try to copy and paste from it, it's like formatted, like a nightmare.

Take it offline. All right, but anyways, you could print it. It could not matter less to the audience. I don't even know where everything being said here. This was, we all saw the movie, but this was the Super Bowl matchup in Ace Ventura Pet Detective. That's pretty good. That is good.

That's when Dan Marino was kidnapped ahead of the game. Yeah, his lone starring role. I do wonder. The climax of that film did not age well. I'll just say that. I don't even remember the climate. You're so right.

Yes. It did not. I have not really bought into this Vic Fangio Miami defense. It's been quite disappointing on balance, but their schedule hasn't really

shown many chances for us to see what they can be, but I do think you can run on them. I mean, you watch that Panthers game early last season, and Chuba Harbor, I mean last week rather,

Chuba Harbor is kind of gashing them on the ground, and that's the recipe against Fangio defenses. And it's interesting to think that Fangio was in the building there prepping for the Super Bowl, working for the Eagles last year.

And now here he is in Miami. He could have potentially been the defensive coordinator for this Eagles team. It didn't end up working that way. And their pass rush hasn't been great. So I do wonder if the Eagles kind of return to that early season

pounding that they've been doing. And they've had more of these condensed formations and they haven't been as explosive. They're like leading the league, I think, in plays per drive. But it's not. as many yards and certainly not as many points. So they're like kind of a plotting

team, but I think going heavy is what you want to do against this Dolphins team. They might not have Xavier and Howard. And I do believe in this Eagles team coming off a loss, even going against the best offense we've seen in a long time. I'm walking up the Eagle. Wow, that's quite a lot.

That's for you, Gregie. You know what? I think Greg, I think you have an interesting pointer because like the first of all, I looked up like the dolphins. They're fourth per PFF against the run, which threw me because of a Chuba Hubbard and what happened early in that game. But here's the, if you look at their schedule,

they have five wins. They're awesome on offense. There's no question about it. It's not a fraud on any level. But they wiped out the Patriots, the Broncos, the Giants, and the Panthers. We just forked three of those teams and talked about a fourth there.

I mean, or all of them. We just forked all of those teams. They're four worst teams in the league. Well, it's a show me something for both teams, I think. Because the Eagle schedule has also been soft. I don't feel great about this. It's just one of those weeks where to me there's not an obvious one,

so just going with a gut. I mean, I like it. I still wanted to know about Trevor Lawrence. It was going to be one of these two games. I kind of want to go into a lockoff on this, but the stakes are, the stakes would be so high. And, you know, it's tough.

Sunday night football is a tough watch for us, the way the setup is. Before we move on, Colleen. Yeah. That has no impact on the result. For me, it does. Yo, you want to be plugged in. I get that.

Michael Parsons has a podcast. Okay. It is called The Edge with Micah Parsons. What's he saying? I want you to answer to Parsons on behalf of your favorite team. Go ahead. I just don't condone the bashing of Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys and have the same energy for the Eagles.

So we want the same energy for everybody. Because there's a whole bunch of bashing when it's Dak Prescott, but not the same when it's the Eagles. Well, that's what happens when you're America's team. So you have to deal with all of the heat that you get in the spotlight. And that is the contract that you signed with Dallas and Jerry Jones, Micah. right and yeah like one team reaches the super bowl well hello dolly times in a decade and one doesn't sniff it good night nancy i just i just got like a snapshot into a john gonzalez and

colin fight and it's it does not seem like a fun live for johnny everyone's got a podcast i just flashed to my mom the edge of micha parsons on bleach report there's the credit there all right let's move to monday but you just put that guy underground when that gets back look you're like hyperventilator you're so mad No, I'm sweating. I mean, he didn't come too hot even, I was expecting. I actually, I know what he's saying. It's like, you know, that was a, I guess, a bad loss.

And the cowboy spanked that same jet team that just beat the Eagles. Why aren't people saying the sky's falling the same way they do with the cowboy? Why do you keep raising your hand today? I want to answer your question. But you could just answer you like, look ahead. I like this new etiquette from Greg. because Jalen Hertz had one of the greatest performances in Super Bowl history. That's why.

Because the Eagles have shown that they can deliver in big spots. That's why. I mean, it's such an obvious answer. Now Greg's getting all fired up. You know what? Like, Michael Parsons, know the history of your own team. Why are you of all people asking this question? We all know the answer.

It's not even an interesting conversation. Thank you, Mark. I'm pro-Dak. I always kind of have Dak Prescott's back. I'm with them on that front. But, like, that's the answer. Why? Mike, I'm with you.

I understand what you're saying. How about that? How about we even that out a little bit? Fine, fine. Fine. You're on an island with America's team. Yeah, Dan Anglin for a home and home with getting after it. The Michael Parsons.

All right. Finally, let's try to be a little quicker here. Monday night football, the San Francisco 49ers traveling to Minneapolis to face the Vikings. The Vikings, of course, will be without Justin Jefferson, who's continuing to covales after suffering that hamstring injury. that's not what people are going to be talking about because we knew that. The question is who will be playing for the San Francisco 49ers?

I think we have breaking news. Okay. Hit it. Perhaps. Is it breaking or developed? It's a trade. A trade? A trade has happened. All right. Hit it. Wait, wait for the... We got to wait. Especially because you're breaking it to us. You just blew Robert's mind. Yeah, you try to let Eric know ahead of time, but it's okay.

My bad. It's okay. We can add that up. Wait, hold on. What's happening? Wait, no. We're waiting for the drop. He's going to get there. I think he is. He seems to be really frazzled by this one. Can I get a Tom Brokaw? There will. It is my favorite. Tom Brokaw is different.

What do we want here? Is it developing or breaking? Well, it doesn't matter if it's from... You get Brokoff. Okay, I'm on Tom Brokaw. There's a report from... Adam Schaefter. Go ahead.

A trade is going down. The Jets informed former Chiefs Wide Receiver, McCull Hardman, that he's being sent back to Kansas City. and another late round draft pick swap. Wait a second. I threw that out as a joke last week that he'd be going back to Kansas City. You're listening.

Uh-huh. It's happening. Wow. Well, it was a healthy scratch one week, right? Hey, there we go. Yeah, that was breaking news. The fortunes of both teams drastically altered by this. I think the chiefs, it is a bit of a, obviously,

that admission that things aren't going so well with their wide receiver core. They want to get something else in there to mix things up. It wasn't working out with the Jets. You never know with Hardman how his relationship and that would have worked out

if Rogers was involved. But once he was out and they just had to redo the offense, Hackett just lost any spot for Hardman. If anything, I'm a cheat, and I was a Chief fan, I'd be a little disappointed because I was thinking

they were a prime candidate to add a little higher octane wide receiver. Maybe they will. Jerry Judy? You just would think this. might box them out, but you're right. Maybe they're not done. They know who McCall Hartman is.

Sherry Judy's stuff anymore. Well, I just, he's out there. It's not an exhaustion with you, Mark. No, the whole thing is exhausting, but like, you need his 14 yards off three catches. It was so perfect, McCall Harbin, going to the Jets, because his nickname is Jet. He has a big chain that says jet on it.

You know what? Now it's all blown up. We did that Hard Knocks podcast. I never liked his vibe. It wasn't a great vibe. With the Dureg and the Aviators. in the very stern face. And it seemed like he was maybe a little mean to Zach Wilson at times.

That's what I got. Don't be mean to Zach. All right. So the chiefs add some. He did catch 59 passes for 693 yards in 2021 as a 20th. He will probably win the AFC championship games. Well, because he's on that team.

Yeah, he will. There's a chance that he will. All right, Niners at Vikings. Anyway, getting back to, thank you for that, Colleen. Getting back to the point, who will be playing for the Niners? So Christian McCaffrey reports out there

that he dodged a serious injury. He had the oblique and rib issue in the loss to the Brown. So there's a chance that he will play. Same thing is being said about Debo Samuel, who suffered a shoulder injury. They believe he may be in the mix. And also it was.

Trent Williams. Trent Williams also the injury he sustained, not believed to be serious. And he could be in the mix for Mondays, a lot up in the air there. And quite frankly, I think that matters a lot because they're not the same team. take those three key pieces out of it

and purdy coming off a humbling loss to the Browns. Well, and not the same team as Minnesota that without Justin Jefferson, I don't know, they beat the Bears, but concerning, probably like the worst win they've had or one of the worst showings, frankly, with this coaching staff.

And like, they just look to me like a team that's like, we don't have our best player and we have done nothing to prepare for that in a way that would surprise who we're playing. Well, they won, though, Mark. But they looked lost at sea. They did win, and I'm not taking that portion of it away. There's no argument for that.

But, like, you played a defense that talk about lost at sea. The bears have been inviting everyone to get well against them. And, like, Kirk Cousins wasn't terrible and everything. They do seem the one thing they do consistently every week is either turn the ball over or come very close to turning the ball over and get lucky if they don't. And I think you almost need to score on, say, like, 80% of your drives for a chance to beat the Niners. Right. It's hard to imagine them protecting.

well. I'll be interested when the 49ers have the ball. It just sounds like Debo's probably playing in this game. McCaffrey is the one that's in Trent Williams is probably playing in this game. And McCaffrey's one we might not know until Monday night. For all you fantasy owners, you probably

like, you got Jordan Mason on your bench or something like that in case something happens. I want to see, though, you know, coming off Purdy's worst game as a pro, you could throw the playoff, win over the Cowboys in there was similar. I didn't think he was as disastrous, you know, watching the game as I expected.

Tough weather situation. Really played a fine first half, a totally normal Brock Purdy half. And then a couple poor plays in the second half. But they're a team, Minnesota likes to play a lot of man coverage. I know they don't have the cornerbacks that the Browns have, but they love to blitz about 50 to 70% of the time. So be prepared for that. And if you can heat up Purdy, they showed last week the Browns that quick pressure

got him to be a little scrambled. But when I went back to watch it, I was like, that wasn't even that bad of a bad game as bad games go. And I don't think they'll have those sort of problems because the Vikings don't have the cornerbacks at the Browns South. Yeah, that's fair. I mean, for me, I'm looking at the fact that the Vikings struggled against one of the worst defenses in the entire league.

And they almost lost that game. They were gifted those turnovers from Tyson Bayesian. And like they just, without Justin Jefferson and no run game, like they miss Delvin Cook. They miss any semblance of a running back there because Alexander Madison's just like not, not it. No Adam Thielen, of course, this year too. It just seems like when you take Jefferson out of it,

then what's the identity? What do they have? And if you almost lose to a bad Bears team, like you're going to, I don't like it for them against the Niners. Yeah, 49ers are favored by seven in this game. I think the Rainmaker needs to take a week off. Just enjoy the victory last year. But, man, seven.

Yeah, take a victory left. I know it's in Minnesota, but I like that for the 49ers coming off a loss. Yeah, I kind of like that the Vikings hanging around in prime time at home here. I don't think they, I don't pick them to win the game, but with the Niners, not 100%. And even if McCaffrey does play, you would imagine maybe they would have him featured a little less, which takes away from them. Yeah, we'll see. Also, like, he has so many touches this year. I know Travis CTN, of all people, is leading the NFL and touches.

Kind of shocking. But McCaffrey is in those games, like late in the fourth quarter when they have a three score. Let's think about January a little bit and think about this Viking team. And think about our great running attack, which can do fine with Jordan Mason and Elijah Mitchell. Maybe give your boy CMC a week off. Okay. There you go. We will have the rest of the week seven preview on our Thursday podcast with our draft.

Colleen, how are you, by the way? What a time. Oh, I'm great. Yeah, thanks for asking. Yeah, we got Red October with the Phil's. You just did a week of Good Morning Football in New York. Yeah, that was fun. You were in England immediately prior to us. Anything, any takeaways from that?

I would like to move there, and I had the best weather ever. I heard. The game was so nice. I was getting sunburned at one point. Like, it was beautiful. But I am really nervous about this week because during pregame for Thursday night football, the Phillies will be playing game three.

That's a tough one. So I don't know how I'm going to handle it. Do you do the iPad under the glass? I think I have to. Yeah, because I can't wait. No one's going to, the boilers will come be coming left. You could just game cast it. You know, you could just sort of track it play by play

if you wanted to be more. I've done it. No way. Plus, you know, you're throwing in Steve Smith his first appearance since Judy Gate. No, he's not. That's a powder keg. It's just Cam Wolf.

Good program, no, Greg. This week. You can edit that out of it. Steve, no Garfolo. I don't know. They have a bye week. They're watching the Phillies game probably together at a tavern.

Well, Cam Wolfe is also a Phillies fan. Wrong two people on the show. I mean, we have a meeting internally here. We should probably get Steve on the show this week after he made news last week. Yeah, that'd be good. I don't know. You'd think so.

All right, let's call that to order. Well, he is in London, so that might be a fact. Bill? Maybe. Bring him back. Did you guys have fun? Yeah, we had a great time. We saw Steve on the field.

He was obviously very friendly, very nice guy to us. Yeah, he's a very nice guy. We're not on the Judy hit list, and that's good. You don't want to do. You never want to be on the wrong side. No. All right, good stuff, Connie. Great to have us all back together, and we have a special one.

I'll just leave it right there next week with Colleen, a fan favorite episode coming up. So thank you to everybody. and Eric, great to see you again, too, bud. Missed you guys. Yeah, we missed you. This is a lot easier doing this face-to-face. You know what? This is beautiful.

All right, until next time. Eat the call. This is an I-heart podcast.