NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Week 4 Recap: 3 Undefeated Teams Remain, First Place Giants and Dominant Bears

Episode Date: October 5, 2026

Gregg Rosenthal, Jourdan Rodrigue, Nick Shook and Keegan Abdoo recap all of the Week 4 action starting with the Chiefs pushing their record to 4-0 with a win against the Raiders followed by games betw...een the Rams and Eagles, Broncos and 49ers, Cowboys and Texans, Patriots and Bills, Jaguars and Bengals, Jets and Bears, Dolphins and Vikings, Titans and Ravens, Cardinals and Giants, Chargers and Seahawks, Colts and Commanders in London, Packers and Buccaneers and Lions and Panthers on Sunday Night Football. NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Starting point is 00:00:28 Ontario only. Please play responsibly. Concerned about your gambling or that of someone close to you? visit connectsonterio.com. Welcome to NFL Daily, where I think this NFL thing's going to make it. I'm Greg Rosenthal. I'm here in the Chris Wesleying podcast studio with my friends Jordan Rodrigue and Nick Shook. Gonna test the theory out on you. Football's good, man. This was a good Sunday. Good in the morning. Games. The Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders with a banger of an afternoon game. I think we're going to have a good season. I'm sorry. Your theory is that football is good. Football is good. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:01:06 Okay. I'm going to think about that one. Yeah. I mean, this is just mind-blowing. I'm just saying. I'm just saying. This is why we fund universities. MVP voter Greg Rosenthal.
Starting point is 00:01:16 That's right. The NFL is delivering right now. Just in a good little stretch of great games. We entered Sunday with five undefeated teams. We are leaving with only three. Two of them played in that aforementioned game in Las Vegas. Let's go there. 3027, Kansas City.
Starting point is 00:01:35 now a quick snap as the Raiders and a flag on the play hit as he throws the ball's intercepted intercepted by Kansas City picked off by Xavier Wumpa I think the penalties on the Raiders I don't think they were set Brad Rogers talks over with this crew ruling on the field is an interception by the defense the legal shift offense number two that penalty is the time and the cheats are going to win over the Raiders and go four and oh Xavier Wampo gets his first career interception, but there was a pressure and a hit on Kirk Cousins with a two-man rush.
Starting point is 00:02:14 A two-man rush. Just digging it in there, Mitch Holtes, on K-F-N-Z. Yes, not Xavier Wampus with the interception to finish off a 30 to 27 victory by the Kansas City Chiefs, A game that I think we were all looking forward to, wanted to see, are the Raiders for real?
Starting point is 00:02:41 Like, how real is all this? It was a great game. It looked like a game between two evenly matched teams in which there was one sequence in the fourth quarter that ultimately did in the very game, Las Vegas Raiders with Kirk Cousins looking like, I don't know, Dante Culpepper, like back there at his peak running around. Let's actually listen to,
Starting point is 00:03:05 to under five minutes ago, the Raiders have a lead in this game and then suddenly it goes to a two-score deficit. Kick angles to the near side in the landing zone. And they find a left side return, mistackle, trying to reversely field the Jalen Royals is waiting for him along with Xavier Wampa and now.
Starting point is 00:03:28 F-Mble come out. Chiefs think they got the ball. Are they going to give the ball to the Chiefs here? They have not yet signaled Chiefs football. Chiefs have the ball. They've got the ball. A football tick-off return. Somebody yanked the ball loose.
Starting point is 00:03:44 Jack Cochran ends up with the football at the bottom of the pile. First down and ten for the Chiefs. Up four. K-9, Walker going off tackle, 20, angling 15, 10. Spritz, guys from the front front. Kau on. Touchstand! Kansas City.
Starting point is 00:04:01 All of a sudden an onslaught. of points in a 21-yard off-tackle run, and the Chiefs have a coveted two possession, second-half lead at 302 to go in the game. An absolutely brutal sequence there for the Raiders. They have Patrick Mahomes on a third and medium to get off the field with a lead under four minutes to go. Instead, he hits Tyquan Thornton for a 55-yarder down the field.
Starting point is 00:04:29 Tyquan Thornton appears to break his ankle on that play, a gruesome injury. they cash in a play later, fumble the kickoff return, and then Ken Walker, like, again and again this season, finishes with 177 yards and two touchdowns. And he has been the difference in getting the Chiefs over the line in these close games. Think he's underpaid. Now, this is an amazing example of why the Chiefs went out and got Kenneth Walker, because when things are going sideways and you're in a really competitive division game,
Starting point is 00:05:02 and it's kind of going back and forth the way it is. You still need the chiefs to be able to do that thing. We so got used to the chiefs doing for so many years, which is flexing at exactly the right time. And being like this wave that just overwhelmed and smothered the opponent, even in moments that can completely alter the game. And that's what this was. Walker is just playing like he's never played before.
Starting point is 00:05:24 I always thought he was underused in Seattle. I think there is a part of the C-Ox that has to feel like, huh, did we mess this up a little? not only by letting him go, but by how we used them over the last four years, because they never really relied on him. And there was a play early
Starting point is 00:05:40 on a 21-yard run where he broke about five tackles in one single run. He also had a 76-yard run where he ran out of gas at the very end to Ron Johnson, showing surprising speed. But he really is the reason
Starting point is 00:05:56 more than anything that they are 4-0 right now. That and allowing Patrick Mahomes to be as good throwing the ball deep, I think because the run game is now setting up the pass for the chief. Yeah, he's been the center of the theme for this team this year is that look, they have a running game, which means they're so much more dangerous because it's not just relying on Patrick Mahomes to convert the third downs, whether it's with his legs, extending to the play, with his arm, whatever it is now he's the threat on every down. But I think Jordan described it perfectly,
Starting point is 00:06:19 which is that this is the game that really proved it more than any. And we can go back to, you know, the crazy debut he had against Denver. You can go back to the win over the Colts and even last week's win over the Dolphins. But this is the game because like Jordan just said, it's a division game. It's a game that is very easily lost on the road against an upstart Raiders team. And at that point, everybody's given the Raiders flowers for being four and O and you're three and one in questioning, oh no, last year we lost the division to the Broncos. Are we going to lose the division to the Raiders this year? But then here comes Ken Walker to slam the door. It's crazy. You mentioned the passing the ball down the field. Not going to make you
Starting point is 00:06:54 guess. I really wanted to for a second, but I know you already know, Greg. 11.3 air yards per attempt for Patrick Mahomes. And yeah, they were in they were using play action. They've been one of the heaviest play action teams of the year so far. Only 30% play action usage this time, which hilariously feels sort of low for them. Right. For once. They go three for six for 138 yards on deep shots. So Tyco on Thornton had a couple big catches in this game. He had two touchdowns. They finally get Xavier worthy for a contested catch way down the field. That was a bomb. And on a day where they lose Rishi Rice to a hamstring injury early. Like he left the game, did not come back.
Starting point is 00:07:33 That could be a multi-week injury. And now Thornton, who's been important for them, goes out with what appears to be a serious injury. The reason I think they beat the Raiders more than anything was they're balanced and the Raiders aren't. The Raiders do not have a good running game right now. They're asking Kirk Cousins to carry them. And he's doing it.
Starting point is 00:07:51 Kirk Cousins bawled in this game. Not only to play towards the end of the game that maybe a lot of people saw where he improvises and hits Brock Bowers in a desperate situation for a touchdown Bowers, despite having the flu and being somewhat limited in snaps, you know, still has a big day six for 86.
Starting point is 00:08:09 But all day, Kirk Cousins is doing well against pressure, buying a little extra time. I kind of can't believe how much he's bawling and he's got a pretty strong case here for QB Island on Tuesday. It's the style in which he's playing. I'm sitting there trying to put my finger on exactly, who he reminds me of.
Starting point is 00:08:28 Because he doesn't move, you know, all that great. He's trying. He's trying. It's better. He tries to extend plays. He makes some throws that are off platform, sometimes against his body. But really, the one guy I landed on, 2008, Kerry Collins, who led the Titans. Okay.
Starting point is 00:08:45 I think he's moving better than Gary Collins was. But it's in that ballpark. At that point. I like that. I absolutely like that. He's already outthrowing him, by the way. I also like, it's been a storyline on this show, Clint Kubiak, just, having a little more swagger.
Starting point is 00:08:58 Game day, Clint, is different than the rest of the week. Clint, this was him at halftime, going in with a field goal lead. Let's go down to Trace. Coach, so much anticipation for this one. You go in with a three-point lead. What did you like about this final drive here? Yeah, good results. We got points, but we need way more.
Starting point is 00:09:17 Okay, that's Clint. That's regular league, Clint. Not good enough. Got to be better. But you know what? We're winning. We're going to win the game. Appreciate it.
Starting point is 00:09:24 All right. Oh, yeah. We're going to win the game. We want the ball and we're going to score. I was going to say that is going to go down like Matt Hasselbeck, but I do love the confidence. And I love, look, the Raiders got to figure some things out on the back end, but I thought their pass rush was excellent today.
Starting point is 00:09:41 They had Mahomes under a lot of pressure. The two linebackers and the Kobe Dean and Quay Walker have been really good. It's really the secondary, I think, and then ultimately, special teams let them down big at the end. But they're three and one, I think feeling good about themselves. The Chiefs are undefeated. Two of the teams in the NFC that we expected to be at the very top of the standings,
Starting point is 00:10:02 entered Sunday with horrible vibes in Philadelphia. And we knew one of them was going to be horrible after that game. Which one would it be? From down 10 in this fourth quarter, have Ann Gold to go from the 7, second down with a chance to take their first lead. They run it left.
Starting point is 00:10:18 Kyrin to the edge of stiff arm, turns it down the numbers, stays on his feet, and he's in. Kieran Williams. puts it in the paints, and the Rams have their first lead of week four with 70 seconds left in Philadelphia. That's our friend, J.B. Long on KSBN. They finish off the victory with a big defensive sequence and wind up winning 24 to 10 in a game that they were trailing by two scores in under five minutes to go.
Starting point is 00:10:52 Kyron Williams has been great this year. This Rams team, you were groaning about them. Like they were just letting you down all day long. But, you know, it's about how you finish. Both teams were letting me down. Guys, as it turns out, the other team can be minus two in the turnover margin, based a 20 to 10 deficit with just a 3.2% win probability midway through the fourth quarter. But if you go 0 for 12 on third down and generate just 172 net yards of offense,
Starting point is 00:11:20 your lowest total offense in the last 12 years, you're going to have a hard time keeping that lead. That's what happened to the Eagles today. Absolutely brutal. And we'll get to the vibes of the Eagles because Lane Johnson didn't play in this game because of personal reasons. And he's talked a lot over the years
Starting point is 00:11:39 about his desire to play in mental health. We'll see what that is, but something to really watch. But then Zach Bond didn't suit up for this game. Devante Smith didn't suit up for this game. Quinion Mitchell gets hurt in this game. and they are just a walking wounded team that can't get anything done,
Starting point is 00:11:54 as you mentioned, on offense. For the Rams, like, how did they turn it around, you think? Yeah, so here's what happened. The Eagles had scored 17 points between two Rams turnovers, both of those, Matthew Stafford interceptions. He's thrown six interceptions in four games, speaking of quarterback island conversations.
Starting point is 00:12:12 And another touchdown by the Eagles was set up by a 41-yard punt return by former Ram, Britton Covey. So special teams and offensive issues, again, get the Rams in a hole early. But the Rams defense and Kyron Williams refused to go under. Defense holds Jalen Hertz one of seven passing for just five yards on third downs. And that completion was short, did not allow a converted third down all game, did not allow a converted fourth down on three attempts in the second half.
Starting point is 00:12:44 Finish the game with a sack on third and seven, 17 at the end of the game. And the Rams stopped the Eagles on downs in the fourth quarter. They're moving the ball downfield. It's sort of feaster famine. It's a chunk plate of puka, followed by a couple in completions. Kairn Williams gets clobbered by Jonathan Jones for a late hit. And he's only in because Quinnion Mitchell is hurt. And there's a late hit penalty.
Starting point is 00:13:06 And then Kyrin Williams is the one who runs in the score later on that drive. The Eagles again have to punt after another failed down. And the Rams go ahead after a no huddle drive. That's 10 plays finished by Kiron Williams. who sheds like four defenders, as you saw, at the top highlight. He had 10 catches in this game for 67 yards. He has really worked on his receiving ability. I am mad that I have not brought up on this show enough this year or at all.
Starting point is 00:13:33 Like, Kyron Williams looks better than he's ever looked this year. Like, he is looking like a capital E elite back. He ends up with 147 yards. Like, he has been their best player. And look, Nick Siriani took some responsibility for going for it on that fourth and two call. I think it was the right call. to go for it. And the final score, them giving up two touchdowns late, kind of supports the idea that it was a right idea.
Starting point is 00:13:54 That what's a field goal necessarily going to do for you? The bigger problem is just they don't have any offense in terms of it was bad. Passing 2.2 yards per play passing the ball for Jalen Hertz and the Eagles office. And Sechon-Barkley left the game early with the hamstring issue. There was at 1.10 starters out for the Eagles. Cooper Dijin went out but then went back in. Jonathan Grenard left with an ankle injury. Tank Biggsby also went down.
Starting point is 00:14:22 But yeah, the Eagles offense, regardless of any of that, everything looks so difficult for them. Which has been the case for them even when they've been healthier this season. It's not like the injuries suddenly made it that much more challenging for them. But this was a gross game by most metric standards. And Nixiriani going for it there makes sense to me because sometimes in these gross games, your best defense isn't your defense. It's not even your offense.
Starting point is 00:14:46 It's just somehow finding a way to maintain. possession, especially in a situation like that. I mean, the fact that your quarterback finishes 12 for 27 for 93 yards, somehow, Darius Cooper has two catches for touchdowns on three receptions for 33 yards. This is the low ceiling offense that is, I don't know if I would say it's gotten worse because they had so many guys banged up, but it hasn't found its rhythm or a stride at all. And it looks maybe a little bit more creative than the Kevin Batulo offense, but the product, the results are very similar. Yeah, and I don't want to absolve the Rams either. they won this game. It was nasty.
Starting point is 00:15:17 Gross. Their, their offense was so disjointed. And yes, missing Colby Parkinson and Terrence Ferguson. So they had to be an 11 personnel most of the time. Other than a couple of solid catches, Puka Nakuo was not a factor for the most part in this game. Like you would expect him to be, especially missing the tight ends that they had. You know, Matthew Stafford was off through the interceptions. He has been turning the ball over, as I mentioned, not playing well. they just, they were so disjointed. It was really their defense that kept standing up and kept holding their end of the bargain up. Christula blitzed or sent a ston on every single third down.
Starting point is 00:15:55 It was extremely effective. They had the Rams defense accounts for pressure on 57% of Jalen Hertz's dropbacks and blitz him on 16 of 27 total dropbacks per next gen. It's crazy. Look, the Eagles have needed their defense to be better than it's been so far this season. And for three and a half quarters, they were. They were carrying themselves to this. victory. Ultimately, they run out of gas. And you do got to give the Rams credit who have
Starting point is 00:16:19 come into this year saying they want to win games and different types of way. The running game gets it done in the end. Byron Young in that final sequence gets a sack on first down and then a sack on third down to essentially end the game because the clock is running at that point. And then Jalen Hurst just has to, you know, throw up a prayer on fourth down. So he gets two and a half sacks on the day. He's awesome. And they kept them in it the whole time. And we talk about managing the season. They've got injuries right now. I know the Eagles have even more.
Starting point is 00:16:48 So, you know, it goes both ways. But Sean McVeigh's reaction at the end of that game, just how incredibly hyped he was on the sidelines to get to 2 and 2. The Rams have looked nothing like anyone hoped that they would be coming into this season. And yet, he just avoided an 0 and 5 duck against Nick Siriani. And they got to 2 and 2 and they can get better as the season goes along. It wasn't just the special teams return. It was Harrison Mivas also missing a field goal at one point in the game.
Starting point is 00:17:20 That vibe that we just saw on the screen from Sean McVeigh was, could not have been more opposite from like a shot of him on the sideline after like another penalty on special teams. I thought he was going to go back to back seasons firing a special teams coordinator in game, like in the middle. That's still in play. It's still possible. It was. Yeah, that that reaction might also just be like pent up relief and just a release. and just a release from a team who I think is feeling the expectations somewhat,
Starting point is 00:17:47 and this loss would have felt familiar, but they got out of it, and they got to two and two, and they need those wins, because they've got one of those undefeated teams in the NFL in their division, and they're playing up in Santa Clara. Here comes pressure, Purdy, backpedaling, checks down to Kittle. Kittle gets a block from Brendel. Kittel is breaking free into space. George Kittle is racing.
Starting point is 00:18:09 Hufunga on his heels won't get there. George Kittle! Six yards for the score. Who says Kittle doesn't still have the juice? He's got all of it. What a block from Jake Brendel. Just perfectly timed by Brock. It's all about timing with the screen game.
Starting point is 00:18:34 Perfect time for the call. Kittle cuts inside off of the Brendel block and then turns on the juice. Ooh, that is George Kittle, aka the closer right now for San Francisco. I mean, he's better than Mason Miller out there. I see you. Jeremiah and all you Padres fans. 24 to 14, 49ers win.
Starting point is 00:18:55 Second straight week where Kiddle ends the game with a long touchdown. This was a game shook that was 3 to 3 with five minutes left in the third quarter. 49ers take advantage of some injuries and ultimately the offense wakes up in time. Your theory about the NFL thing is going to work out that the football is good. The football is good if you also appreciate some gross football. this was a defensive battle. There was some nastiness to it in some ways. And for a while, I thought maybe this might be a nine to six finish,
Starting point is 00:19:27 just the way that things were trending. But once the Broncos lose Pat Sertan, they lose Riley Moss. They're relying on Jaday Barron and Abrams drain back there as their two corners. They got a little bit weak in a defense that was playing really well against this offense. They played a ton of zone and just dared Brock Purdy. Like, all right, we're just going to drop back, find the windows. And for a while, he was struggling with that. They expected their pass rush to show up.
Starting point is 00:19:49 didn't get there, didn't get the sacks that they anticipated. And so it was a back and forth where you know what you get from the Broncos offense, but the Niners defense is really, I think, the separation here in this game. Of course, we can start with the muffed, uh, or with the fumble, uh, the fumble on the punt return by the Denzel Mims, which may or may not have been a fumble, by the way. Uh, I don't know if you want to go off. I thought that was close. I thought that was close to the 2011 national championship game, uh, Michael Dyer,
Starting point is 00:20:12 wrist versus forearm down, not down. Auburn wins the national title. It's kind of like that scenario, except in a week for NFL game. You are just full of the deep cut reference. Yeah, it's a problem. It's a sickness. And so the fumble then goes the Niners way. They're able to cash in on the short field.
Starting point is 00:20:25 Brock Purdy with a fantastic play on third goal because they're trying to hammer McAfree. They hammer him inside. They try to hit him with a quick hitter outside. Can't get in there. Denver defense standing up. And then Pretty drops back and has time to survey the entire field. He goes all the way from right, all the way to left. And he was about to take off and try to run it in himself.
Starting point is 00:20:41 And he stops. He goes, oh my God, Debo Samuel's wide open. I'm going to throw it to him. He's on the doorstep at the end zone. They score. That's where the game started to move in the Niners favor. the Broncos started to press. They do get a little bit of rhythm.
Starting point is 00:20:51 They get down the field and score a touchdown. But at that point, their defense, kind of like this last game we just discussed, crumbled, couldn't hold up, and the Kittle touchdown on the screen, a perfectly executed tight-in screen. Yeah, I am so impressed by how they dial-up plays where Purdy doesn't have to do that much
Starting point is 00:21:09 each and every week. Now, you mentioned the Debo touchdown. I think that was a crucial moment in this game. Let's listen. Debo in motion. Here's the snap. Take the pit. Purdy drops.
Starting point is 00:21:19 Looks nothing there. Purdy, wiggles outside, throws the Debo! Touchdown! Samuel backpedaling into the end zone. Brock Purdy making a little bit of magic, and he connects with Debo and the 49ers lead for the first time today. So the 49ers don't want to hear anything about injury excuses, but Sartan left pretty early with an ankle injury.
Starting point is 00:21:44 The Riley Moss injury was a ribs problem. And yet for most of the day, they really, you know, They pressured Purdy. They made the running game look poor. Purdy, however, gets to week four, or week five now, without being sacked. Which means my tiny table take that Purdy would not be sacked and they would actually win this game successful. I'm one for four now. I am really glad that you arranged the show.
Starting point is 00:22:08 So where your tiny table take that you were correct about comes up first. Oh, yeah. First time all week. That's been brought up. Yes. No other reason. Can I get a tiny table take about Bo Nils? refusing to look downfield, or at least not having any success downfield,
Starting point is 00:22:22 because he didn't look downfield until it was late in this game. Captain Checkdown on Sunday. Fed R.J. Harvey, who had a career high, 10 receptions for, he's the only guy, I think, that really had a lot of success with the Broncos. He played his tail off. It's just that he's still R.J. Harvey and can't carry this entire team. 29 attempts under 10 air yards, completing 24 of them, 184 and a touchdown, but he didn't complete his first long pass
Starting point is 00:22:43 until the fourth quarter according to next gen. Yeah, we are not seen like a lot of, development, I feel like out of Bo Nicks this season specifically. Because what I've seen going into this game is him getting to that checkdown way too quickly. And it's a game where... Always on the left side too. Right. It's a game where on paper, the 49ers don't have Nick Bosa.
Starting point is 00:23:05 They have one of the worst defensive lines in the league. And guess who couldn't run the football against this defensive line that's so thin, the Denver Bronco. Okay. So that is an extenuating factor in a really big disappointment, I think, for what Denver's offense wants to do. But they don't have a high pressure rate in this game. They blitz about 30% of the time that that's average. And so Bo Nix, his secret sauce is supposed to be playmaking,
Starting point is 00:23:25 is supposed to be making plays while he holds the ball in his hands. And that's just like not happening consistently enough for them at 2 and 2. How do you feel about this 49ers team at 4 and 0? I thought you're going to ask me, how do I feel about the Broncos? Either way, what strikes your fancy more? I thought this was the first test for the 49ers. And they passed. And they passed in a fashion that is fitting for them,
Starting point is 00:23:47 especially with the George Kittle, you know, game ceiling touchdown, essentially. And I still need to see more because I know what their weaknesses are defensively. They overcame those today. And what they've done really well prior to this week was keeping everything in front of them. Like they gave up points, but the yards per play was not very high. They were just kind of making teams earn it. They made the Broncos earn what they got today for sure. But I also have to reconcile that with the fact that like I see the Broncos as this team
Starting point is 00:24:11 with great potential defensively in an offense that I'm still not sure is ever going to get out of its own way. And I think Denver has really missed Jonathan. Cooper this year, their pass rush hasn't been as dynamic with kind of just Benito as a difference maker. And then so if you're adding things up and you're taking pieces out of the secondary, they're in a little bit of trouble here at two and two, two games back in their division. And you know the 49ers are loving the chance to lead this division right now by a couple games over the ramps. Just like everyone predicted. Yeah. Speaking of things that nobody predicted, especially the middle of this table, we will,
Starting point is 00:24:47 Not me. We will absolve Nick Shuck. Let's go to Houston. Second down at the Houston 12. Prescott back throwing. Enzo! Lamb! Lab!
Starting point is 00:24:59 Lamb to the post! Seedy Lamb! Unbelievable! 12-yard touchdown. Dallas has regained the lead. A lot of Cowboy fans in Houston. There absolutely were. There were a lot of...
Starting point is 00:25:21 Road fans all over the place. I like games like that. There are so many Chiefs fans in Vegas. This was the Battle of Texas. And, you know, Jerry Jones and the Cowboys are enjoying getting this one over Houston. 34 to 30. That was one of my favorite calls we've ever had by Brad Sham. Former NFL Daily guest on KRLD.
Starting point is 00:25:41 CD Lamb goes for 189 yards on 17 receptions, 21 targets. That was his touchdown. Feed him. Just insane what this guy can do. And George Pickens is great. Like he had a 53 yard catch down the field. He drew a couple of pass interferences that were really important in this game. So it is a one-two punch, but C.D. Lam is different because you can line them up everywhere for a little while in this game.
Starting point is 00:26:11 They were lining him up on the same side of the field to try to get away from the coverage. They stopped doing that. But so much of C.D. Lam's damage was done from the slot. in a way to try to avoid Derek Stingley specifically. Didn't really try to avoid Kamari Lasseter, who had the worst game of his career, I would say, for the second time this season, and is really struggling through some things right now.
Starting point is 00:26:34 And on a day where the Cowboys defense really didn't show up, I mean, their run defense, we realized, like, well, who would be worse? The worst running attack in the league or the worst run defense in the league? The Texans running game is the worst. Like, they weren't any better today. But the Cowboys had a chance to win this game on defense in the fourth quarter, and they gave up a nine-play, 87-yard drive to C.J. Stroud and the Texans.
Starting point is 00:27:02 I thought this was one of the best games of C.J. Stroud's entire career. And once again, he sets up his defense, second straight week, for a chance to finish the game off, Jordan. And they just couldn't do it. They blew it in a couple different ways. I figure this thing's going to overtime. They just have to stop the field goal. But partly because of Domeko Ryan's, I believe, they end up giving the touchdown there.
Starting point is 00:27:28 There just hasn't been, I don't know, enough from this Texan's defense. Can you expand a little bit more when you say partly because of Domego Ryans? This is some of the situational decision. And, you know, Matt Burke, the defensive coordinator who's calling it, I think they've been on their heels combined, him and D'Miko Ryans. They've been on their heels quite a bit this year. So I thought in the first half, they look like the Texans defensive old.
Starting point is 00:27:52 Probably the best half they put together. Held the Cowboys to six points. After half time, like no resistance, four touchdowns. The last section of the game, first of all, like they just had no answer for CD Lamb. But D'emico Ryan's for the second straight week is going to be a topic because of his timeout usage. He sort of did the opposite.
Starting point is 00:28:10 After feeling like he tried to learn something from last week and used, you know, he didn't use timeouts to try to save time for C.J. Stroud. he overused his timeouts in this scenario. He was trying to show confidence in his defense. Even when Aubrey was in long field goal range, he took his first two timeouts. I'm not going to kill him for that.
Starting point is 00:28:30 Like, Aubrey's in 50 to 60 range. You're trying to get the ball back. It worked at the end of the first half. Like literally he did the thing we asked them to do last week at the end of the first half. It got them three extra points. But he totally lost his head because I believe it was at the 36-yard line
Starting point is 00:28:48 the Cowboys got a first down with under 50 seconds to go. It's 52 seconds to go. And at that point, it's the last timeout that the Texans have. The Cowboys would have lost about 25 seconds in that cycle. And I think Domingo Ryan just wasn't thinking. Yeah. And he just took another time out. But it was his last time out.
Starting point is 00:29:08 So he allowed the Cowboys to control the game like they were going to control anyways. And yeah, I know they scored a quick touchdown after that. But it was still moronic. I think at that point, the Cowboys were probably, going to play for a field goal and go to overtime. It's also a lack of recent, like, intelligence. Like, if you're going back and looking at what happened in the Cowboys last week in a moment of pressure, what do they do,
Starting point is 00:29:26 they overmanaged, they overcoach the game, and they ended up paying for it. Well, at least let them apply, let the clock apply pressure on them, make them situationally decide exactly what they want to do instead of giving them that extra 25. Well, I think you have to have a feel for the game. That's more what I get to. I actually think the first two timeouts were also mistakes because at that point
Starting point is 00:29:44 of the game, your defense is playing terribly. Yeah, but at one point, are you trying to get them a blow or at least try to like regroup here? I guess. You just had a blow watching C.J. Stroud go down the field for 10, for 10 plays. So I, you have to have a feel for a game and you came out of halftime and you gave up a touchdown drive in two minutes, then a touchdown drive in four minutes. Then another really long touchdown drive where it took the, you know, Cowboys forever to go like 90 something yards. They were killing you at that point. And I think you had to know that the game that you were in
Starting point is 00:30:15 and he didn't. And the game that he was in was I want to get to overtime because C.J. Stroud is playing well. I got to play at least one C.J. Stroud highlight on a day where he goes for 347 yards. He played awesome. He finished top five for his career
Starting point is 00:30:29 in completion percentage over-expected, EPA per play, and success rate in this game. And decent amount of it under pressure, a lot of it on third and long because his running game stunk so bad. And then there's a third and 14 where Nick Cayley, who's been under a lot of pressure this year,
Starting point is 00:30:44 the offensive coordinator came up with a doozy to lead to a touchdown. Third down and 14 at the 27-yard line of down. Stroud shotgun Montgomery in the backfield, live and two receivers, five side left. CJ gets to snap. CJ toy underneath a lateral. Montgomery, right side, 15, 10, and out of bounds. Inside the 10 at the 7th.
Starting point is 00:31:04 First and goal, Houston. They ran it to perfection. Demo got the lateral. They capitalized with a touchdown on the ground right after that. I felt so annoyed by the, running game. I didn't want to reward them with a highlight. But that's Mark Vandermere there on a well-timed. Yeah, the easiest throw probably C.J. Strad had all day. But man, he was pushing the ball down the field, had about five or six plays over 20 yards.
Starting point is 00:31:26 Joey Porter Jr. on his own will not save this Cowboys defense. I don't think they played that well. But Joey Porter Jr. did play well in this game. He only saw one target in the entire game. And late in the game, he did match up one-on-one with Nico Collins, who had a great, like, their offense is so different. He goes over 118 yards and two touches. If they didn't have Nico Collins in this game, I think they might have scored like 14 points. This was the Cowboys formula going into the season where defense has to do in this game,
Starting point is 00:31:53 they didn't do much, but do just enough. An offense has to score 25 to 35 points every single game. And so you saw that in action. What I think is really disappointing and surprising is seeing how quickly some of these explosive plays are, first of all, achievable against the Texans defense.
Starting point is 00:32:14 Second of all, just killing them. They have been so successful when they can force teams to crunch down, play stressed out football, and get the ball out quickly and play small ball ahead of them. It's an attacking front, which means that it dictates what they're not,
Starting point is 00:32:30 they don't care how you're lining up. They're going to line up how they line up. So to me, this is like, all right, what actually has to change here? Because back to front, they are so susceptible, even philosophically to not playing the same game
Starting point is 00:32:44 the entire way through as a defense. You mentioned it. The Cowboys are able to go on this one long drive. If the Cowboys were able to stay on one long drive in all of their possessions, the Texans steal back possessions. Right. That's the thing.
Starting point is 00:32:58 It's these explosive plays that the Texans never would give up in the past that they have been so susceptible to in each of their losses. And I thought when they did mix it up, it was kind of where the game started to turn against They started to Blitz to start the second half. That's not them.
Starting point is 00:33:13 Right. And at one point, Dak Prescott was five for five for 116 yards. That's the wrong quarterback to. And also don't blitz Dak Prescott. Exactly. That's the wrong quarterback to blitz. Kamari Lasseter,
Starting point is 00:33:22 I mentioned, ended up giving up eight catches for a hundred and thirty six yards in this game on 11 targets. He also had two penalties, one which was very questionable and would have changed the game around on the goal line. But it was a pass interference call that he got that ended up leading to a Cowboys touchdown. after another Kamari Lassiter penalty
Starting point is 00:33:43 where he's one-on-one. You can't trust these guys. And what's different is you're playing Jake Hanson and Kenneth Murray as your two linebackers over the middle of the field and Lasseter is losing again and again. So there's just problems popping up everywhere. But give the Cowboys credit.
Starting point is 00:33:57 I think they've been better than their two-and-two record wouldn't indicate. I think the Texans who have been in three of these games till the wire have been a little better than their 0-4 record indicates. But man, it is a long road back from 0-4. Shout out to Tyler Guyton, by the way. Only gave up one pressure today.
Starting point is 00:34:14 He has been a breakout for the left tackle position for the Cowboys. Let's get out of here. This is enough on the battle of the Cowboys. Let's get to one of the undefeated teams that I was talking about. Coming into Sunday after the break, yeah, we'll head to Buffalo. The Hard Rock Bet Casino app is here, Ontario. It's safe, secure, and crystal clear with fast payouts and 24-7 local support. You can play over 3,000 games right.
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Starting point is 00:35:12 It's Winston wide of May. Here, Thomasville, gambling on the rock. May rolls right. Throws in for Chisholm. Who breaches out on the right hand? He makes the catch diving into the end zone. He's been. Touchdown.
Starting point is 00:35:22 Patriots. God to be kidding. Efton Chisholm, so huge gets it, understrive 19 yards on the dig, and it's a one-handed catch with the right. He secures it, though.
Starting point is 00:35:38 It's under the ball. Fpton Chisham. Fent Fem-Chizan? I don't know. 26 to 29, the Patriots somehow beat the Buffalo Bills here, despite all
Starting point is 00:35:53 the people just pouring graves, you know, I don't know, pouring dirt on the grave before this even happened. We had Scott Zolak trying to bench Drake May last week, but look, when the season is possibly on the line and you can just ask F.den Chisholm to go up and moss someone, you got to do it. Yeah, like, because why wouldn't you just have that on your play card or pie? Yeah, it was another rough start for Drake May, who, after an opening touchdown drive, when he went six of seven for 77 yards and a touchdown. Did go on to finish the first half, just eight of 15 for 111 yards.
Starting point is 00:36:25 Interception. He fumbled twice, lost one. They were having center snap exchanges and trouble with ball security the entire day. But in the second half, credit to Drake May because he rallied.
Starting point is 00:36:37 He was 14 for 22 with two touchdowns in that half, including the game winner to Efton Chisholm that you just watched. But Efton Chisholm also set up the game winner with another incredible catch on the go-ahead drive. And oddly enough, it was Josh Allen who had been excellent, excellent all game,
Starting point is 00:36:54 despite losing DJ Moore in the second quarter to injury, through the Yolo ball into double coverage after spinning to avoid a pressure. And you thought in that moment, Josh Allen is going to make something miraculous happen. And instead, it's an interception. Drake May hits Hunter Henry on third and long on the other side to ice the game. Drake May has been through it the last few games in that second half.
Starting point is 00:37:16 There are still some issues. Like I said, center snap exchanges is awful. right now, but he really, really showed some metal that I think really needed to happen. Yeah, I thought that last sequence will get ignored, but you have Josh Allen waiting for the ball. You have a third in 10 situation where the bills, you know, still have two timeouts left. There's a thought. If you didn't trust your quarterback in that situation where you call like a very safe play, and instead he hits Hunter Henry, as you mentioned, and he gets, uh, Hunter Henry as you
Starting point is 00:37:49 mentioned and he gets around the edge to get the third and 10. What did you think about the fact that Chauncey Gardner Johnson, after the game said about Afton Chisholm, we probably won't hear from him again. I mean, come on. I don't know. I mean, that one-handed catch. If you were listening to NFL Daily, you would have heard about him having a good day when Jordan went and saw joint practice a couple of years ago.
Starting point is 00:38:11 Yeah, he practiced all-star. Some guy from Boston attended the Vikings' Patriots joint practices, and I'll never forget him raving about Efton Chisholm and you got to you got to see this guy. You got to see this guy. Terrible, terrible, terrible Boston accent for me. There were small adjustments by the Patriots throughout this game. Some of it was not pretty. There were tiny adjustments in certain spaces, though short yardage, including the Ramandre Stevenson touchdown. They ran motion on the run play. That is something we've been screaming about for them to do more of. And it worked because it moved the safety and opened up a gap a little bit wider for Ramon Ray Stevenson. Like I said,
Starting point is 00:38:50 Drake May rallying the way he did. The Patriots defense, even though the bill scored 26 points and Josh Allen did have some miracle moments, Keon Coleman had an amazing, an incredible game, one of his best games. And it was supposed to be his breakout game. Maybe had they gotten that final game winning opportunity for Josh Allen at the end. But instead, the Patriots defense throughout made things look so difficult at times. Forced Josh Allen to be patient, which he was. He was very efficient in the first half, especially,
Starting point is 00:39:18 and forced him to pick his way underneath their coverages, really navigate the surface. And he can do that very well, but it just takes so much time to actually do that. Let's listen to the touchstone on that Patriots defensive performance. And for context, their best player on the team, Christian Gonzalez, not available for this game.
Starting point is 00:39:39 Christian Barmore, who has been playing well for, them, obviously, a defensive tackle, not available for this game, but the secondary in the end makes the big play. One to the right. He takes the shot and unsnap. He stands up. Alan spins away off pocket. Throws down.
Starting point is 00:39:53 Phil Pass is going to be intercepted by Woodson. Leapingy brings it down in front of Palmer. Alan kept the play alive, spinning away from the contact. But then Woodson finishes him with what should be for the Patriots a game-sealing intersection. Though the bill still have three timeouts remaining with one. Five to go. So the Patriots get to two and two, very similar to last year. They go to Buffalo pretty early in the season and get a win that will keep the bills at least within shouting distance, bills at three and one.
Starting point is 00:40:23 Do you think they go away from James Cook too much? Because, you know, I look at the final numbers, Jordan, and I see again, it's like another 55% success rate type of game. And I do think like that's what the Patriots want is actually less James Cook, I think, and more Josh Allen, which sounds crazy. Well, we talked about it, though, heading into this game, there was going to be a temptation to throw at the secondary. And I don't think that anybody expected things to seem so difficult at times. And again, there were still some huge voids that Josh Allen found. He found Alton Kincaid.
Starting point is 00:40:54 And like I said, Kiann Coleman had an incredible game. There was a third down catch he made where he like rolled on his back and bounced after making the catch. And he had a great. I was getting, who is that in the Super Bowl against the Patriots? Chris Matthews where he tips it up to himself near the goal line. Yeah, it was like a roll bounce. the catch kind of a thing. Like he,
Starting point is 00:41:12 and to me, though, it was, James Cook, I said it out loud even. I love watching James Cook run the football. I love watching the bills run the football. I think it's excellent.
Starting point is 00:41:20 I do understand in this case when the secondary is as vulnerable looking or seeming as it is. And there were yards to be had in certain space. It just was the right, the certain right times where the Patriots just made things just a little truncated, a little bit difficult, making him be patient. And then when he saw, big gains to be had. He had him.
Starting point is 00:41:42 You know, he didn't play a bad game. This wasn't a bad game by the bills whatsoever. It's just the Patriots gave the ball back to Drake May with the chance to ice the game. And that's what he did. And Drake May finishes with two turnovers here. But he does get the three touchdowns, 269th passing yards. And for a running game that's been pretty stagnant all year, he leads the team in rushing with 54 yards, which has been an X factor.
Starting point is 00:42:03 His yards for play all year has been good, just too many bad plays. Romeo Dobbs had a little redemption too, because he had a, he had a fumble. It was kind of a weird one. The ball just popped into the air off of his hands. D. Alford intercepted it and the bills got a field goal. Again, the Patriots standing up and holding to a couple of field goals was key here. Marcus Jones had like a weird, wild game and adventure of a game.
Starting point is 00:42:25 And so he was key on some of that. But Romeo Dobbs getting the incredible touchdown catch later in the game, really some redemption you saw why they went out and made the signing that they did. Yeah, Dobbs, that play before half that. where it was another bad throw by Drake May and then it made worse with Dobbs like volleyballing up in the air. It reminded me exactly of the play that AJ Brown
Starting point is 00:42:48 got hurt on, which was not a good throw by Drake May on what should be like a routine play. And you figure that that would have cost them, but it did not on this Sunday. Let's stay in the AFC to two teams that I think are going to be in it to win it until the end, especially the road team
Starting point is 00:43:04 that headed to Cincinnati on Sunday. Rodriguez now in the game is the running back. Shotgun for Trevor Lawrence. Long snap. Yeah, why be in a hurry now? Inside handoff. This is Rodriguez. He's got room 50. 10. 5. Touchdown. Chris Rodriguez exploded into the end zone. A 25-yard touchdown run. And Jacksonville has extended the lead here at Payne Court Stadium. How good is that? That is a statement drives. Ooh, great call there by Jeff Loggeman and Frank Frangie on WJXL. this Jaguar's offense is efficient.
Starting point is 00:43:43 They don't need any superstar running back. They got Chris Rodriguez. They got Basial Tutin, and they got a big road victory in Cincinnati. They hold on to win 22 to 17. Balance game. Shook, what do you think was the ultimate key for Jacksonville getting it done?
Starting point is 00:44:04 Perfectly balanced. 27 runs, 27 passes. You don't see that every day. Liam Cohen trolling. I mean, this game, I think, told me a couple of things about the Jacksonville Jaguars. One, it's that we can go in anywhere and win with our style of play. And we're also going to announce our style of play to you, which is essentially establish a running threat, a credible running threat in Basial Tutin, work off of that with Trevor Lawrence and let him be, you know, successful and be good at what he does. And then ride a defense that is better than people realize to success, a pass rush that's better than people
Starting point is 00:44:39 realize. Now, numbers wise, like, they didn't run up a huge pressure rate. It was 34.5%, which is still pretty good, but not like, you know, astronomical. But what they did is they, because they stuck to their identity, they forced the Bengals to play their game. And it was one of those games that early on, it was a field goal fest. Like, it was two teams that were stalling and stalling. The Jaguars committed a billion penalties. They finished with 13 for 125, which would usually cost you, but the Bengals had 11 for 10.10 for 11th for 10. A billion. Accurate. 10 for 100 in the first half. You're thinking, okay, this is a team that is going to lose this game. And yet they got to halftime up 13 to 3.
Starting point is 00:45:15 They could have been up 24 to 3 at that point if they hadn't gotten out of their own way. Two basal toot and touchdown runs, including a long one called back by holding. All the makings of a disappointing day. And yet the Jaguars overcame all of that. And essentially, it wasn't until Joe Burrow mounts a late drive for a touchdown and then they get one more drive that it even gets that close. It had to be a disheartening day for Bengals fans who watched their team. They didn't really try to run the ball at all, even though it was a pretty low-scoring game.
Starting point is 00:45:42 And they asked Joe Burrow to do too much. And when he asked Joe Burr to do too much every once in a while, he makes a couple of bad decisions, like two interceptions thrown. 54 passing attempts. Yes, too much. And he lost Jamar Chase in this game, too. So Jamar Chase goes out with what we believe was a concussion. He was tested for a concussion and did not return to the game.
Starting point is 00:46:01 So he ends up with three catches. T. Higgins, his route tree is just all over the place. He is incredible. right now he finishes with 157 yards and 11 catches, but he leaves late with an adductor injury. So that's something to keep an eye on. And you keep saying, like, it's too much passing for Joe Burrow,
Starting point is 00:46:17 54 passes in this game, and they only rush for 23 yards. But Joe Burrow may disagree that it was too much. Between 111 rushing yards for the Jags and 23 on your end, do you feel like there needs to be a little bit more balanced there? Obviously, knowing it's all, you guys are always going to be a pass first offense, but do you feel like it's balanced enough?
Starting point is 00:46:40 You know, my response to that would be, let's throw more. Because I know we're great at it. I know, you know, that's what I do best. Joey, Joey Bean, not happy after this game. And look, Chase Brown, you're still getting him the ball. 11 catches on this game. But I think the run game and the defense by the Jaguars, which hasn't gotten enough attention,
Starting point is 00:47:03 maybe has Joe Burrow a little salty late. once again, and this is becoming a bit of a theme, the Bengals, because their defense does get the ball back with a couple stops in the fourth quarter. After that touchdown drive, they get the ball with a chance to go, it's a long shot, but a chance to go down the field and get a game-winning touchdown,
Starting point is 00:47:24 and instead this happens on fourth down. Jags showing blitz, but they're only going to send three, I believe, maybe they come, now they send four, dropping his burrow on fourth down, fires middle of field, the ball's going to be caught. The tackle is made. where's the mark? Where's the mark?
Starting point is 00:47:38 He didn't get there. He didn't get there. The Jack stopping on fourth down. He didn't get there. How about this, Jack's D? What a fantastic play. And this is a sequence in which they had lost Eric Murray, their usual safety.
Starting point is 00:47:51 So they turned to Rayne Lane, who is a former Navyman-Shitman, go Navy, beat Army, and he makes the tackle of the game, cutting down Chase Brown short of the sticks, cutting him down literally at his legs, flipping him over, keeping him one yard short.
Starting point is 00:48:03 And it was just one of those stands that like, credit to the Jacks. This is a defense that is playing better than I think anybody anticipated or still believes reputation-wise. But Bengals fans in attendance have to be so salty about this because the Bengals had a great opportunity to get themselves in this game earlier. They're driving. They're down to the Jacksonville 10.
Starting point is 00:48:21 Joe Burrell throws a completely unnecessary interception that kills that drive and then just thins out their margin of error to where they have to go down the field and try and make this happen. And Jacksonville stands up and gets the job done. Underrated. 10 quick pressures in this game. and I know they had a lot of opportunities because they dropped back to pass.
Starting point is 00:48:37 50 times, but 10 quick pressures is a lot. Regardless, whereas the Bengals pass rush only had five there. I saw Travis Hunter make a couple plays in this game, an interception overturn. A nice big hit, a pass defense. So he's starting to make. He's settling in. Don't you dare say that nobody's talking about X, Y, or Z with the Jaguars,
Starting point is 00:48:55 like you did at the top, Joe, it's Greg. They are appropriately hyped on this show. No question. We are the change that we want to see. The Jaguars are three and one. He wears nine. He's got good-looking hair. He throws the ball all over the place.
Starting point is 00:49:10 You know, that's Joe Burrow right there. I wish. You know, get me a little more hair. No, I need a haircut. Let's go. Joey B is happy. Joey B. Not happy.
Starting point is 00:49:21 You're in my head. Two game losing streak for the Bengals. They fall to two and two. But the schedule's, you know, pretty generous. Let's go to Chicago where when we last left off, we didn't know who the starting quarterback. was going to be. Play clock at eight, killing a play.
Starting point is 00:49:37 Manungai. The lone back, Bejan, brings Loveland in motion to the right, the snap, head off. Manungai, busting up the middle into the blue paint. Touchdown, touchdown. Mighty Menungai with a blast right up the middle, and it's 196 bears. Five-yard touchdown run. Oh, Kyle Menungai. It was all Menongai all the time in the second half of this game,
Starting point is 00:50:03 because Diadre Swift fumbled again. and they just decided to bench him. So Monungi finishes with 146 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries. But it's not like DeAndre Swift was quiet in the game. He had 15 carries. If that seems like a lot of plays, it was. I think they ended up with 89. This, I'm declaring, this 23 to 12 victory by the Bears to get the 3 and 1 over the Jets,
Starting point is 00:50:28 was by far the most lopsided 23 to 12 game in the history of the NFL. I would argue it was the most lopsided game in the NFL this season by any two teams, despite that score. The Bears had more first downs in this game than the Jets had plays. Oh. 34 first downs. The Jets had 32 plays. I need a stat on how many times that's ever happened in NFL history. It can't be that many.
Starting point is 00:50:56 I believe that the, if you listen to what you just described, I would think they have to be playing an expansion. team littered with veterans that no other team wanted to hang on to. And the last team to do it, I believe, was the 99 Cleveland Browns against the Pittsburgh Steelers. And they're opening. Drew Carey, opened that game and opened that stadium. And those Browns were terrible. And I don't think the Jets are that bad, which just goes to show how impressive a victory this is for the bear.
Starting point is 00:51:22 Here's the thought exercise that I would like our listeners to also participate in. What level of quarterback, parentheses, negative connotation? Do you think Ben Johnson could, win with. Good question. Now, he's had Tyson Bajent, who's one of the highest paid backups in the league in his system for a while now. They gave him a extension for a reason there. Also one with 38-year-old Case Keenon. Yes. And technically, Case Keenum did start this game with Tyson Bayesian. Ben Johnson was annoyed that there were already reports out that Tyson Bajent was going to start
Starting point is 00:51:59 the game. As I was guessing that he was all week long, uh, before. he had actually announced it. So just as a shot to the reporters, I guess, or because he just likes to do weird things, he called the first play with Tyson Bayesian at wide receiver and Case Keenham at Quillom. And it was just insane. He's letting his Case Keenum freak flag fly.
Starting point is 00:52:19 That is bad karma. Why? Trying to show up the media. That is bad karma. I don't know. He was just having some fun out there. Is he karma-proof, though? I mean, man, remember when he's running all those trick plays for Detroit?
Starting point is 00:52:31 And they were just running up the score. They got their karma. The play was not particularly successful. It was a two-yard gain by D'Andre Swift. Just insane how they're running game dominated. They had over 42 minutes time of possession. It's one of those games that the stats were so ridiculous in the first half. You're like, well, it's going to even out somewhat.
Starting point is 00:52:50 And it really didn't. They just had long drive after long drive. And I thought Tyson Bayesian played very well in this game, despite, you know, fantasy-wise, he doesn't get a touchdown. And there was one blemish that, somehow has led us to have a Jets defensive highlight in a game where they gave up nearly 500 yards. Play action once again. Agent back to throw. Fires one deep over the middle. Minka Fitzpatrick. He's got the interception. Runs left to the 50. He's at the 40. Inside the 35-yard line on the return out of bounds
Starting point is 00:53:23 on the Jet Bench at the New York 34. Minka Fitzpatrick finally breaks the Jets interception and drought and on the takeaway New York's in business. All hail the football gods, our long national nightmares over. The New York Jets have an interception on their tally. Let's go. 600 plus days, I think 600 plus plays or passes against them since they had an interception. Like on paper, the Jets have been a good defense this year. Like the numbers would say they've been a top five defense.
Starting point is 00:53:59 No one thinks they've been that good. So for... Be a little skewed. Yeah. So for the Bears to dominate, like this, the thing that impresses me the most is just they can win any type of game. You know, we were talking about like the Chiefs want to be like that. The Bears defense at some point, we have to give them a lot of credit for what they've done this season. I know they gave up 59 points talking about skewing their stats for the season, or not 59. They gave up 30-something to the Panthers week one. But since then it's been nothing. And Isaiah Williams has like one long touchdown reception late in this game from Gina Smith. I don't even think Gina Smith, like, played that bad. It was just, it was just like. Part of it, they're possessing the ball so much on offense that they're not giving defense. Like, if you don't score almost every time, if not every time,
Starting point is 00:54:44 field goals, touchdowns, whatever, against the bears, you know on the other side, they are going to continue to overwhelm you. And they had a 50% pressure rate. I don't think Gino was holding the ball that crazy. They didn't blitz that much. And what they were doing post-snap was really confusing Gino-Smith. So that is partly. why the pressure rate is up there, is that he's holding on to the ball for a while
Starting point is 00:55:06 because Dennis Allen is really doing a great job for the second straight year in the back end without a lot of talent. And there's so many crazy stats in this game. Most first downs, the Jets have given up in team history. I mean, this is not like a new team. The biggest yards margin plus 335 for the Bears until since 1979. And they did it without like, their backup left tackle. They're on their third string. I think it was Theo Benedict. It's just awesome.
Starting point is 00:55:37 Maybe they get Caleb Williams back. Maybe they don't next week. They don't need them. Maybe they'll put you in and still win a game. And they'll call you Joe. The crazy thing is they're not in first place. The Bears weirdly have made me think differently about them almost more than any team in the league.
Starting point is 00:55:53 I shouldn't. Maybe I was wrong just because they're finding solutions and they're even better than I expected. And yet there's a team that I pick to go to the playoffs that are four and oh, and I don't know how they are doing it. Let's go to Minneapolis. Andrew DePaul with snaps. Jotty Hecker holds. Will Reikert set to kick. Snaps spot. Rikert's kick is up and it is good. Snap spot. Rikert kick up. Rikert is 9 of 9 this year. You're welcome, everyone. Super good. Snap spot.
Starting point is 00:56:32 Will Reichert's right footed kick is up and it is good and it is half time. Will Reichard 9 Miami Dolphin 0. 41 yard try right hash for Will Reichard. Snap spot. Kick is up and it is good. Will Reichard is 4 for 4. 29 yard try right hash. Snap spot.
Starting point is 00:56:58 Rickard, the kick is up and it's a high five for. Will Reichert, he's 5 to 5 on field goals for the second time of his career. Oh, my gosh. And good. And that was the scoring for the Vikings. 15 to 10. They're undefeated. The dolphins are winless at 0 and 4.
Starting point is 00:57:23 Will Reichard is awesome. Thank you to Paul Allen on KFAN for making that sing. Thank you to executive producer Jordan Roderig for suggesting that montage. to Eric Roberts for enabling me. Yes, thank you most of all to our captain, Eric Roberts, for making it happen. That was their offense today. It's been their offense for the past couple of weeks, Greg. Dream with me here, people, about the tale of two toes.
Starting point is 00:57:53 First, Vikings kicker Will Reichert was responsible, as you saw, for every single one of Minnesota's points on Sunday, five for five on his field goals to beat the Miami Dolphins. and then it was a would have, could have moment for the dolphins and for rookie receiver Chris Bell who would have scored his first touchdown in the second quarter and given the dolphins a lead if he had not stepped out of bounds by a pinky toe. That was just the kind of day it was for the dog.
Starting point is 00:58:20 Did they have a lead this season? I don't think they do. That would have been their lead. That's tough. Look, Ali Gordon gets a little bit done on the ground. And to give the Vikings a little bit, of credit. I know how this game ended. It ended with them on offense and T.J. Hawkinson sliding right at the goal line or they could have had a touchdown. And just from watching this closely,
Starting point is 00:58:46 Jordan, what did you think changed for Kyler Murray? Because I saw the numbers at halftime and they did get a lot better in the second half. T.J. Hawkinson had a great game. He was absolutely a big factor here for Kyler Murray, giving him a big secure target. 13 for 13 for 119 yards. Obviously, would have walked in that touchdown, but instead, they are not the team that scores the lone touchdown in this game, which again, still is like so funny to me and blows my mind. Kyler Murray mostly looked uncomfortable in this game.
Starting point is 00:59:16 He took a couple of really bad sacks. Four sacks, two were on first downs. At least one of those is avoidable. Two are on third downs. You know, in the fourth quarter, the Vikings are up 1510, and Kyler makes two of his best throws all season. one was a 27-yarder to Jordan Addison that was like in a tiny window over the middle.
Starting point is 00:59:35 That looked like Kyler Murray at his most comfortable. Of course, Sin followed by a false start by the Vikings offensive line. Then a 22-yard bullet to T.J. Hawkinson makes a great catch on the ball. Then another false start by the Vikings offensive line. Then the Vikings have to burn a time out because they can't get the playoff just ahead of the two-minute warning. It was like that even when things were good, even when the chunk plays were there and Kyler was taking them absolutely insane number of penalties, 15 penalties in this game. A lot of it was due to the offensive line,
Starting point is 01:00:09 which unfortunately for the Vikings, yeah, unfortunately for the Vikings, they're now missing two offensive linemen, Christian Derisaw and Donovan Jackson. Early on, there was a new left guard. And there just was real situational problems all over the place. However, by halftime, the dolphins only had 76 net yards. And there are already 100 total combined penalty yards between these two teams.
Starting point is 01:00:34 That's insane. So I guess you can't take some positives that, look, they move the ball down the field at the end. And losing the left side of that offensive line, that is the strength of the offensive line. I hate when the NFL does not protect these players. Derrissau pass concussion protocol at halftime came back into the game and then left again with a concussion. The injury to Donovan Jackson did not look great just by the tone of Kevin O'Connell after the game. So that is obviously a concern for them, but they get the running game and the offense going. And I guess we shouldn't be too surprised that Brian Flores versus Malik Willis was relatively one-sided.
Starting point is 01:01:12 They blitz 66% of the time. And they get enough stops to get out of here undefeated. Yeah, I felt kind of bad, though, for, I mean, I felt bad for Malik Willis right now. To me, this was the best Dolphins performance. Yes. Even though they lose, they've been improving in my mind. I've been on the Dolphins beat. I've been watching all of their games.
Starting point is 01:01:31 I've been assigned all their games. And, you know, they, they not only on defense make the stop. They make a stop on the opening drive for the first time all season. They then hold the second drive to a field goal. Then they start actually moving the ball. Malik Willis in the run game had a nice third down run for a conversion. You know, it was really unfortunate that the, that the touchdown gets called back because he set that up previously with a really nice throw. you know, I think that yes, absolutely Brian Flores is going to bring it and did against a group like this.
Starting point is 01:02:04 But on both sides of the ball, I did see positives and as just kind of gross as the Vikings offenses right now, the Dolphins defensive lines. Scyler was making place. Chop Chop Robinson had a sack. Jacob Rodriguez is everywhere. As I've mentioned, you know, this is a group that they said it after the game. They are right there. They just have to figure out how to act. actually win these games and they don't know how to do that right now.
Starting point is 01:02:30 Jacob Rodriguez finished with 18 tackles. Outrageous. And that's the thing is like when you watch the dolphins, if you don't just look at the score after the game and you watch this team. Tempting, I know. You're like, I see it. Like I could, I could, the, the building blocks are starting to come together. Yes.
Starting point is 01:02:45 You know, we're building a house and we're just pouring the foundation right now. There was a, there was a moment where I thought, do I like the dolphins run game better than the Vikings? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And that's the thing is that's kind of what it looked like. there was a sequence in, I think it was on that touchdown drive that Ali Gordon finished off,
Starting point is 01:03:00 which was a great run, by the way, where Malik rolls out to the right and fires a bullet to Malik Washington for a first down. And I'm like, see, he can. He can do that when it just, it just doesn't happen often enough. And then the defense plays with the level of swagger that I think matches their coach. He's got the defensive background. And I'm just, I believe in what you can. I'm falling in love with potential. All right, that's three straight minutes giving the flowers to a team that still had under 80 net passing yards. But for the Vikings, the same things over and over again are what is showing up for them.
Starting point is 01:03:29 And that is why we were talking about the dolphins who are changing week over week. The Vikings, it is the same story. It is Brian Flores' defense winning the game. It is a great special teams unit helping to win the game. It is key plays in both of those phases. And either nothing or Easter famine on offense right now. So they will try to improve, but it's always good to try to improve while you're undefeated. So they will take that victory.
Starting point is 01:03:55 they'll move on and try to fix things, and we'll see if they get healthier on the offensive line. Another team that's been looking to fix things and has been competitive, but can't quite get the victory. The Tennessee Titans, they went to Baltimore on Sunday. First and 10 from the 19, chestnut snap for Lamar. Through with it. The coverage is complete, though. Dave Flowers somehow found the football in a tight window, turns up field and is into the end zone for a Ravens touchdown. Oh, man, that's a... Phenomenal throw by Lamar Jackson. And catch.
Starting point is 01:04:28 On to the fingertips of Zay Flowers. That is the definition of throw it to where only your receiver can get it. Oh, those are some of the catches. I've just really enjoyed watching Zay Flowers make over the middle. In the red zone this year, just using him in a more productive way. He finishes with 118 yards and 8 catches. Some of those from Snoop Huntley, who comes into the game for Lamar Jackson. who has an ankle injury, leaves in a walking boot in terms of the stadium.
Starting point is 01:05:00 That's obviously going to be a big story throughout the week. The Ravens hold on to beat the Tennessee Titans 24 to 18. Probably not as close as the score indicates here. Shuki, because you get kind of not a garbage time touchdown by Cam Ward, but they scored with a minute left. It was competitive. You were impressed by the Titans' performance here. Creditable.
Starting point is 01:05:24 No, but I was impressed by them figuring it out and fighting back at the end of the game. It was actually, it ran concurrently with a couple of games that were, it seemed to be out of hand that suddenly were closer than expected. And it was like, oh, wait, I mean, they're an onside kick away from maybe winning this game. But no, otherwise, yeah, it was a pretty comfortable win for the Ravens. More of the same. But the number one takeaway when I watched this team with Zayflowers on the field is everybody who laughed at the Ravens paying him, eat crow. Eat Raven.
Starting point is 01:05:53 Whatever. Because he is worth it. He changes this offense. They are so much better through the air with Zay Flowers on the field. Still the same numbers from Derek Henry, 23 for 73. Like, it's week to week. It kind of just looks the same. But overall, I mean, yeah, this is what they're supposed to do against this Titans team.
Starting point is 01:06:09 I was just proud of the Titans for starting to figure it out. I was playing a game with myself at one point where it's like, Titans are in goal to go. Do they score this time? First time they did. Tony Pollard, second time stuffed on the goal line, fourth in goals. Yeah, and they are lucky that they were so efficient.
Starting point is 01:06:24 with Lamar Jackson in the game. Lamar Jackson is being described by Mike Florio on Football Night in America as week to week. So that is an ankle injury. No sense speculating, whether it's low, whether it's high, but if it's weak to week, it's not the best. And Snoop Huntley, which avoid, you know, he avoided making a big mistake in the second half.
Starting point is 01:06:48 They also didn't score any points in the second half. So that's something for them to work on moving forward. I do feel like that the Titans are looking, Jordan, for rays of light. And 145 yards and nine catches out of Carnell Tate is that ray of light from Cam Ward today. Yeah, they'll take that because it's players who they have spent a significant investment in in terms of like draft capital. Cardinal Tate, they've needed to see him take the next step forward. These games this season, there have been the same ups and downs we've seen from Titans receivers that we saw last year and were grumpy about, frankly. Cam Ward will have these games
Starting point is 01:07:25 where there will be some real positive moments where you can really see the growth, you can see the progress. Having playmakers like Cardinal Tate who went off today really, really helps. And look, they've had one of the worst running games in the league that is not helping him out. Cam Ward, that is, and that continued today design success rate on the ground of 26% Ward overall.
Starting point is 01:07:48 Yeah, a little better. He did have one of those Cam Ward throws that we talked about a lot last year. rolling to his right. Somebody's open on the opposite hash. Screw it, I'm firing. And it was wide open for completion. I was like, okay, he's still got.
Starting point is 01:08:00 And a couple scrambles. He's been too low to scramble as a pro. Eagles game, when he did, it was positive here. When he did, it was positive. Like, I'd like to see that a little. That's just a little too. The operation is still a little too disjointed. So the Titans lose.
Starting point is 01:08:15 They go to 0 and 4. The Ravens are feeling good. Now in first place with your brownies, shook at three in one. You know who else is in first place? At three and one? The New York football Giants. McBride comes in motion.
Starting point is 01:08:33 Preset back, pumps intercepted by the Giants as he throws it left. Dei Banks, across midfield, down the right side line. 40, 30, 20, 15, 10, 5, touchdown Giants. The day in which the 86 Giants were honored, It's the giant defense of 2006 that saves the day today. De Yante Banks with a walkoff pick six.
Starting point is 01:09:01 How about Deante Banks for a comeback story of the week or at least comeback player of the year? I was reading some of the reports out of the rest of the game that he played. I didn't watch it. That's how you finish. The Giants finish off the Cardinals 36 to 24. This one caught me by surprise.
Starting point is 01:09:21 I thought the Cardinals' offense would have too much for them. But Jacoby Brissette turns the ball over three interceptions on the day. That's one more than James Winston, and that was the difference. That was the difference. This was, I feel like when I look at this game and I think about how I viewed these two teams, I was very confident in the Cardinals going into this game. And I believe it is now my time and my turn to eat the third type of bird on the show, eating Cardinal because I was wrong. Okay, the Cardinals came out there and they jumped all over
Starting point is 01:09:53 the Giants. They had a 14 to 3 lead. Marvin Harrison Jr. gets involved. He makes a great catch for a touchdown. He does a little shh to the fans, as in shh to my haters who've been all over me for not being a bigger part of this offense. They're gashing them on the ground. It's Jeremiah Love. It's Tyler Algear to the end zone. I'm like, the Cardinals are going to run away with this thing. The Giants don't have an answer. But then it all evened out. They fight back. James Winston finds good James Winston. Hits Malachi Fields for a touchdown. Shelby, Harris gets a paw up, bats a Jacoby Percette pass at about a 60 degree angle directly into the arms of Arvel Reese for an interception. That's the one that wasn't his fault. Winston continues,
Starting point is 01:10:28 hits neighbors for a 25-yard touchdown after the interception. Everything's coming up giants. And their defense starts burying Jacoby in the rest of the offense. Cardle's stuck in mud, can't do anything. Michael Flore on the sideline getting increasingly frustrated as the game goes on. But as is the case with any James Winston team, there's back and forth. There's great plays. There's maddening interceptions. And he throws two very, very, interceptions and it gives you the full James Winston experience by the time it's done. Luckily, one of his most important throws came late on a touchdown pass to Theo Johnson. But I got to say, the Cardinals still wasted some opportunities because Mac Wilson
Starting point is 01:11:00 punches the ball out of Naji Harris's grasp. Zavin Collins recovers and they are in perfect position to do something with it. They punt and they never get that close until we see them on the goal line at the end and Jacobi percent. Actually, that drove me mad. That sequence there because they had a time out in their pocket and they throw it three straight times. And then they, on the last throw, you see there, the Deonté Banks picks that off.
Starting point is 01:11:22 Sounds like someone out of the Sean McVeatry. Yes, he picks it off because he's one inside leverage of Jacoby has nowhere else to go. And he just forces it there where Michael Wilson should be. So what, in summary, I still don't know what to think about the Giants. And I know that the Cardinals are going to go back home thinking, damn, we just let another one get away. Well, here's what I think about the Cardinals. Their defense stinks.
Starting point is 01:11:42 And Matt Lafleur said this is, this one's going to hurt. Mike Lafleur has to be. be disappointed with what he's gotten out of Nick Rawless and that defense because they kept Rawless for the continuity. They have talent. I know they've had some injuries and in the back end, like, it's not amazing, but they have a lot of talent and a lot invested up front. It just hasn't got it done to the point where, you know, James and the Giants get 36 points on the board. I know the last seven there from the defense. And you have James making very ridiculous James like quotes after the game. And I just feel like that, man. I'm,
Starting point is 01:12:17 I'm heating up and I'm starting to get better, better and better. Last week, you know, I was questioned if I could even throw. You know, this week, you know, I got people talking about the James Winston experience again. Hey, he's self-aware. He's on the podium. How does he know about the people talking about it? Maybe he checked his mentions, honestly, because that was the experience is the ups and the downs. I don't know if he fully understands all that.
Starting point is 01:12:41 He's got people talking already on the podium. Maybe he has a permanent, like if it's tweet deck, or just something pulls up on his phone where it's a keyword search on Twitter and he just hits that to see what people are saying about him. I know this because when I was in college, Brown's cornerback Eric Wright was the bane of my existence and I would go on to Twitter,
Starting point is 01:12:59 early days of Twitter and complain about him. And he found me without ever mentioning him. So some players do do this. So the other story from this game was a clip from an official appearing to F-bomb Trey McBride as McBride is asking for a call McBride, with one of his most inefficient days, give the Giants credit for that,
Starting point is 01:13:21 12 targets in this game, only 31 yards on 12 targets and 7 catches. And the NFLPA immediately complained about it on Twitter, and the NFL says they are aware of this situation. So I think a lot of people will be asking the NFL to punish that official when we're obviously giving coaches either fines or pay. penalties for similar type of behavior. I don't know about coaching quarterback
Starting point is 01:13:51 on the same team. I don't know about that. No. What's the funniest part about that clip is McBride as he's going to the sideline, the official's, you know, jawing at him from about 10 to 15 yards away. And McBride, he spots a camera. And he points at the camera and starts smiling like,
Starting point is 01:14:05 dude, you're caught. Honestly, it's like so many things, it's because the camera was there. Yeah. That now I think that official will pay. But the Giants, who knows, but they are three and one. one game up on the Eagles and the Cowboys,
Starting point is 01:14:20 who would have seen that coming? You know what I'm seeing coming? We're going to have a first-time Sunday night recapper coming up on the show. Kegan Abdu of NextGen stats is going to help us out at the end of the show here with some recaps. Looking forward to that.
Starting point is 01:14:46 The music you love. Your favorite radio stations. Everywhere you go. The podcasts everyone's talking about. All in one place. and it's free whatever you want to hear listen anytime anywhere
Starting point is 01:15:00 music radio podcasts unlimited audio it's on the free iherr radio app one app no subscription always free grab the free app i heart radio everywhere you download the free i heart radio app today sam looks to swing the pass out now he dumps a screen pass over to the right side it's wilson he's inside the 50 down the 10 down the five
Starting point is 01:15:27 in seahawks football baby Take advantage of the turnover. And number 23 Wilson takes it 23 yards to the house. Those fantasy owners have picked up Emmanuel Wilson. Happy on Sunday. That is one of two touchdowns for the new starting running back of the Seattle. See Oxedarian Price going on injured reserve since we last tape. I thought first touchdown kind of works as a highlight in a game that's so one-sided.
Starting point is 01:16:04 but the Chargers end up scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter, making this one interesting before the Seahawks hold on 30 to 23. As I mentioned before the break, Kagan is joining us now from NextGen stats. Let's go. Part of our Sunday show helping us out. I mean, there's too many games, Kagan. We need help, including help explaining what happened in this one.
Starting point is 01:16:31 So this one was a really sloppy game. 30 combined penalties. 14 for the Seahawks, 150 yards, and 16 for the Chargers. Jeez. Okay, I take back how I started the show. The football is bad. Not to cut you off, Keogun. The football is bad in some areas.
Starting point is 01:16:48 It was slot ball. Yeah, so the Chargers, they have a chance. They kick a field goal to go down seven, and they get Sam Donald to slide on what was going to be third and 12. Boneheaded, unnecessary roughness penalty. gives them an extra down. They were going to go into the two-minute warning with both timeouts facing third and 12.
Starting point is 01:17:09 Instead, they get the ball back with zero timeouts. Justin Herbert Stripzak to end the game. It was a classic game of the Chargers Chargering. You had Jill Alt hurt. He left in the second quarter. Ladd McConkey hurt. He left in the second quarter. Trevor Penning hurt.
Starting point is 01:17:23 He left in the third quarter. Roshan Slater hurt. He left in the fourth. Whoa. Let's play a game. How many Charleman's offensive linemen do you think you can name from the end of game lineup on the final drive?
Starting point is 01:17:33 Oh, Latter. He gave up a career high six pressures. Okay, I was Sika, is he back? Cool, cool, cool, cool. What? Cole Strange. Strange.
Starting point is 01:17:41 Oh, you got me there. Dispsey high six pressure. And then, uh, is Trey Pipkins still on this roster? Trey Pipkins, uh, I think he might be on the roster. Did not, was not in the game. Okay. It was Travis Burke. Okay.
Starting point is 01:17:55 Jacob Spomer. Okay. Nope. And Logan Taylor. No. This is crazy because those guys. I want to hear. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:18:03 Seattle's defense was doing in the first half because some of the stats from Herbert in the first half, and he had two interceptions in this game were absolutely grotesque and has everyone talking about like an incredible Seattle defensive performance. I know it turned around, but what was happening in the first half of this game? So Herbert first half, as you said, five of 14 for 36 yards and two picks. Not good. The two picks are pretty unexcusable on the first pick. If it wasn't going to be picked by Thomas. It was going to be picked by Joe, but you can see it right here. He was right in position right there. And then the second pick, also puzzling, throwing right there. Um, but in general, I just don't think he had any opportunity to do anything. Uh, a very classic case of
Starting point is 01:18:48 Justin Herbert. He was pressured on a season high, 55% of his dropback. Oh, so it can get worse. It can get worse. It can get worse. Uh, stacked four times, including the, uh, final strip sack of the game. And 11 of those pressures came within two and a half. seconds. There was a play in the second quarter where Byron Murphy is standing up on third and four over the tackle and he hits Justin Herbert within 2.2 seconds. Oh my God. The ball being snapped. So they came out very screen heavy. Almost a quarter of his passes were screens. They had a grand total of 19 yards on those screens. Oh. You saw more yards on that Emmanuel Wilson screen to start the game. Herbert did turn around in the second half. I think, you know, given
Starting point is 01:19:32 what he was playing with with no lad McConkey. He played pretty admirably at the end, but it just wasn't enough. Right. There was a fourth and seven that I'm not bitter about at all as it relates to our picks show. Shook where the game was over and he's running on like around the sideline
Starting point is 01:19:48 and it looked like Seattle's going to win by two, maybe three scores and he hits Quentin Johnson down the field and that ends that leads to the kind of crazy ending sequence. The Chargers did run the ball fairly well eventually in this game. Leonard Williams goes out with an injury in the fourth quarter. That's one to watch. But it's really not excuse making for Herbert when
Starting point is 01:20:07 Slater, Alt, and Penning and Ladd all go out. That's, we're back in the same place we were at last year. It's the saddest. It's, it's week four. It's a circular argument. Nobody's changing anyone's minds. Let's continue. Yeah. And look, they're owned four. They're honestly not going to be that relevant. Like, when it, as it relates to the playoff picture, I don't think this year. So let's talk about the team that's more relevant. Yeah. The three and one Seahawks concerns about, their offense after this game? What were your takeaways? I would say offensively.
Starting point is 01:20:38 They were also allowing a lot of pressure. And Donald struggled when under pressure. He was nearly perfect when he wasn't pressured. 10 of 11 for 132 yards in both touchdowns. But under pressure, just 3 of 11 for 37 yards in a pick. I think they got some juice from Shaheed and Tori Horton. It was good to see that get going. And JSN was excellent as always.
Starting point is 01:21:00 but maybe they got a little bit complacent with the lead and the numbers don't exactly look good there. But what I would say defensively, the biggest difference is that Emin Worry is back and you see that with how they were matching personnel. So they played only four plays of base, which is a season low. That's going against the Chargers
Starting point is 01:21:18 who were famously a heavy personnel team. They matched Nickel on 27 of 33 plays when there was two or fewer wide receivers on the field. And that allows you to put both I'm in a warrior who I would say is a DBI-I-No, a defensive back and name only. He had 13 snaps to the line of scrimmage of 26
Starting point is 01:21:36 at a linebacker, but it also allows you to go dime and put Witherspoon in the slot. Both of those guys were making plays all day. They each had nine tackles, five of which were successful for the defense, and Eminem Worry had four pressures. He's standing up rushing. He's at the line
Starting point is 01:21:52 scrimmage in a four-point stance rushing. Felt things. Part of why they can do this too is the return of Julian love. Yes, I think it's been the most underrated and important player in this defense so far this year. And I'm glad you mentioned Shahid, look, he only had three touches in this game. So one out of the backfield. But one was for a touchdown as a runner and one as a receiver goes for 20 yards. So baby steps building it up. Adult son Harbaugh versus John Harba. Yes. One of the Harba sons. Man. One that special teams battle. Yeah. Look, the the Chargers get a little bit of lollip
Starting point is 01:22:28 for competing at the end of this game. But they are 0 and 4. Seattle looking at a really fascinating matchup against the 49ers for first place in the NFC West next week. Let's go back to the start of my day. 6.30 a.m. out here on the West Coast. Yes, it was the start of the London Games, Colts and commanders.
Starting point is 01:22:54 Taylor running to the right in the Ozone. His second touchdown of the day. And just a well-blocked zone run. They motion the tight end over, and they run it to the strong side. Great double-team block from the guard tackle front side. That was Jason Kelsey for the first time as an announcer on this show. Dave Pash on NFL Network. Kurt Warner was in that booth, too.
Starting point is 01:23:19 For the first time in the booth, you know, if I didn't like it, I just wouldn't say anything. But I thought it was good. I'm looking forward to this crew. That is how you give feedback. I have. I have. Well, it depends. If it's NFL network, feedback, I just wouldn't say anything, you know. Dave Hache, my favorite. If it was, you know, CBS or definitely Amazon, I would say something. The Colts win 30 to 13. That was one of two Jonathan Taylor touchdowns on the day. He gets 95 yards.
Starting point is 01:23:49 The Colts offense was a mess. So was Daniel Jones in the first half of this game. But Marcus Mariotta left. with a knee injury on the third down in his second possession. Now, that was a really important play, because not only did he get hurt, but the commanders get off the field with that hit, I believe it was a sack, and that was two failed red zone trips that Marioada had in that game. They did not get back to the red zone for the rest of the day.
Starting point is 01:24:19 So in comes Athens, Calliomachus. No, no. Calic Manus. Can you tell me what comes? country that last name's from. Great. It has to be. I mean,
Starting point is 01:24:30 that's not hard. Come on. I was giving you a lay. I was giving you a lay. His first name's Athens. Oh, geographically. What could clue me in?
Starting point is 01:24:39 He was the first Rutgers quarterback to play in the NFL since Mike McMahon 20 years ago. Oh, are you a Rutgers guy? No, I'm just a jersey guy. And you know what? He had a couple 40-yard plays down the field. There's not much. I think that more that he could have done.
Starting point is 01:24:55 Not that he helped them, but it was a disappointing start to the London games because it did feel like the game was going to end then. And ultimately, shook the Colts offense in the second half, I do think got it going on the ground against this commander's defense, which gave them problems in the first half, all the pressure looks that Durante Jones was sending them, but it wasn't enough overall.
Starting point is 01:25:18 No, I mean, I'm happy to know this about the Colts offense in this going, in the second half, because they've been a nightmare. I mean, other than the game that they played against the Chiefs in prime time, like last week against the Texans. It was like, what are we going to, what are you actually going to get out of this? You need to come down and drive for a game winning field goal in the final few seconds.
Starting point is 01:25:34 So it's good for them to get back on track. Sometimes I think you just need a get right or get better game. And if it's a product of unfortunate circumstance for the opposition, so be it. But probably the first time this year where I've felt disappointed by the commanders given their circumstances because this defense has played so well. It did for the first half, but there wasn't, I mean, they did not play well in the second half of this game.
Starting point is 01:25:57 but they also held Daniel Jones like to 2.4 yards per attempt at half time. I think it was 9 for 18. There were so many possessions. And that's where a better offense, including like the two Mario-Ota drives, could have taken advantage a little better. So Daniel Jones looked ugly. He was bailed out.
Starting point is 01:26:19 They blitzed him a ton to really poor turnovers in the first half. And they're short on receivers. No Keenan Allen in this game. of course, Alec Pierce has been out for a while. And so you do give some credit to DeForest Buckner and their run defense especially. Like, it's Austin Echler back there, but like Bill Kroski-Mera ends up with 15 rushes or 15 yards on nine carries in this game. They could not get too much done on the ground. Yeah, Shick, when you were talking about maybe being disappointed for the first time,
Starting point is 01:26:50 what I was about to say is like, I have liked a lot to your point what the commander's defense is. And I think they really found a coach in Durante Jones. And he really has put his own fingerprints on what he wants this group to do. I did not exit this game feeling, I guess, necessarily worse. I think the circumstances were insane that they were in. And I felt still about the same about the Colts defense, which is worried. Felt worried through most of the first half for the Colts offense as well. And I've had questions all year.
Starting point is 01:27:22 I mean, it's a sudden change. It is a tough, tough situation. to be in if you're new offensive coordinator, David Blow, and trying to figure out how you want the ship to start moving forward. But, you know, man, they've been streaky just conceptually, like the entire year, regardless of who's in that quarterback. Like I said, like, they eventually go touchdown field goal, touchdown field goal in the middle portion of that game.
Starting point is 01:27:45 But like, that wasn't until their seventh drive of the first half. So that their offense, their defense kept getting the ball back to the Colts. And Soss Gardner has really struggled this season. he gives up two 40 plus yard plays. It was his most yards given up in a game of his career. Wow. And I don't think he's played that well overall this season. But again, it's managing the schedule.
Starting point is 01:28:06 They get to two and two. And they did get over 50% success rate on the running game by the end of this game. And Washington did have 10 defensive penalties. They do go two for 15 on third down. I think their offensive line has not been playing well in terms of the running game. And today protecting the passer. So Indianapolis did get off there. They get to two and two.
Starting point is 01:28:26 The commanders fall to one and three. Jaden Daniels could be back next week. We hope that he is. Tampa Bay is a team that is having to live life. What is it like? Kelly McManus was a seventh round pick, right? I believe he was drafted. Jalen Daniels, the Buccaneers quarterback,
Starting point is 01:28:46 was not drafted, and he started a game earlier in the season than any undrafted rookie in a long time. Let's go to Tampa. Fourth and 11, here's the snap. Blitz on, and it is Evan Williams again, and the quarterback fires it over the middle, and it is intercepted. Intercepted by Green Bay, intercepted by Keishon Nixon. At the 44-yard line of Green Bay, and there is your dagger.
Starting point is 01:29:17 Evan Williams on the front end and Keeshaun Nixon cleaning up on the back end. Oh, you know, it's going to be a good first show for Kagan when he gets a Wayne Larravee Dagger call. That doesn't hit as well as it usually does. No, I feel like it took a while to get there and it was against Jalen Daniels, but they got the win. It's 17 to 14. The Packers survive in Tampa. The Buccaneers are 0 and 4. The NFC South favorite Buccaneers are 0 and 4.
Starting point is 01:29:49 Not my favorite. I just mean in Vegas and whatnot before the season. Some people picked them to miss the playoffs. Good job. Good job by you guys. The Packers are two and two. I'm not feeling great about their playoff chances, but they help themselves today, Kagan. Let's spit it positively.
Starting point is 01:30:04 What do you think the best thing the Packers did today was? They blitzed the hell out of Jalen Daniels. So it was actually the highest blitz rate by Jonathan Gannon as a play caller, 50% of his dropbacks, and created seven unblocked pressures there, which is also the most that Gannon has had as a defensive play caller.
Starting point is 01:30:22 you had 13 different defenders generated pressure today which is the most in a game by any defense this season and this is all without Michael Parsons. So I think that this defense could actually carry this Packers team
Starting point is 01:30:37 maybe not to the playoffs but to be a respectable competitive team for all of their issues on offense. Well they better get to the playoffs sir. There's no Matt Lafleur I don't think on this team next year. Yeah. Do you think that this is a formula that could actually apply to a team that's not playing with a backup quarter who was undrafted and is a rookie.
Starting point is 01:30:54 I do. I do think they have been able to get after the quarterback without Michael Parsons and he's coming back hopefully soon. Lucas Van Ness has looked great this year. He's got a way quicker get off. His burst off the line of scrimmage is looking better than ever.
Starting point is 01:31:10 And I think that, you know, they did lose Edgerman Cooper, I believe. Yeah. Which is a tough one. And their second level does not have a lot of depth. They've been playing a lot of nickel this year because of that. But Evan Williams
Starting point is 01:31:23 had a good game. And I think overall, like, Gannon's been doing well with what he has this year. Jalen Daniels. Yes. You'll let me...
Starting point is 01:31:33 Please. Let me highlight him a little bit. I think that... I was actually pretty impressed by him. Okay. Rock score does not look good necessarily. But,
Starting point is 01:31:41 first of all, Buccaneers clearly like him. You said he was undrafted free agent on the first earliest starts by undrafted free agent in a while. He also says it's the most
Starting point is 01:31:49 guaranteed money he had of any drafted free agent quarterback. I think he'd have a decently long career as a backup in this league. He looked pretty decisive. Despite facing all that unblocked pressure, he only took three sacks on 17 pressures. That's a significantly lower pressure to sack rate than Baker was having this season. He was quick to scramble and showed some juice there.
Starting point is 01:32:09 He had two explosives on the ground. I think Zach Robinson did a good job, kind of protecting him with a lot of screens. Overall, I think Baker is going to be out for a while, but this buck's offense can do something a little bit and be a little competitive, I think. They need to get a win at some point. And they didn't partly in this game
Starting point is 01:32:27 because for a while, they got no heat on Jordan Love. After the offensive line has looked so bad for them all season, the pressure rate for the bucks was very low in this game. I love caveat. Jordan Love was getting ready to the ball in 2.4.3 seconds. Yeah. It's good coaching.
Starting point is 01:32:45 Well, when they rebuilt the entire offensive line. Matt LaFleur was also going to have to step up and do his part on the scheme side. And he did early in this game. Let's hear the touchdown to Matthew Golden. Fourth down, gold to go to two yards loss. Long count. Here's the snap. Love waits, looks, throws, right side, Golden, leaping, great. Touchdown. Green Bay Packers. They beat Keontes Scott. Beautiful thrill from Jordan Love to Matthew Golden. So Golden has, a great touchdown catch there. I love the aggressiveness by Lafleur to go for it on fourth down in a scoreless game. And he's rewarded. Tucker Kraft ends up with a touchdown in this game. And they have
Starting point is 01:33:29 to feel a little better offensively. But I am curious what you think overall because they left with a bit of a sour taste in their mouth with how Jordan Love finished this game. Yeah, I would say that this offense is broken. Like you have a terrible run game. You have a terrible run game. You have the only team with more penalties right now is the Browns and those penalties are mostly coming from the offensive line, procedural, holding. So you look at their third down efficiency and how it's regressed because they're getting into long down in distances because they can't run the ball.
Starting point is 01:34:03 They can only throw very quickly, 2.4, 3 seconds again. Today was his time to throw. Last year, they were second in the NFL and fourth down conversion rate. This year, they were dead last. And it's just, it's tough to ask, and love to be back there on third and seven plus, you know, five, six times a game with that offensive line. They can't hold a block for more than two and a half seconds. And they'll get some of the free agents into the lineup, you know, a little more as we get on. We'll see if that saves
Starting point is 01:34:33 their season or not. But man, the Jordan Love interception with under four minutes to go was, was a total groaner, one of the worst I thought all day. And it does take away some of the positives. again, they only finish with 17 points. So, you know, you get a win and you hope, again, to improve as the season goes along. Kegan, like, you don't need to do much improving. Knocked it out of the park. Appreciate you, helping us out.
Starting point is 01:34:58 He's going to be doing this on future Sunday night shows. He will not be joining us for Sunday night football. But we'll be here to talk Panthers Lions. Let's get to it. Here's the snap. Panthers rush five. Goff steps up. throws, completes the Tesla.
Starting point is 01:35:16 Does he get to the marker? No, he is short, tackled at the 21. How about this defense? Bloodied but unbound. They come up with the stop, and Carolina just has to kneel it, and we get a little Neil Diamond. Great call there by Anish Straff of WRFX.
Starting point is 01:35:38 Panthers' defense might not have been gangbusters for each and every drive. Preditable. But they delivered perhaps the most surprising for and out by a defense all season long. They hold on to win 32 to 26 in a game where we almost got 1,000 yards of offense. Ultimately, yes, it was the Panthers defense that got the key stop late in a 32 to 26 victory. A great night for Carolina. A great night for Jordan Roderig, who loves herself some Panthers.
Starting point is 01:36:13 This is a night that those fans have been waiting for for more than a decade. First Sunday night football game in over 11 years at home. They are two and two. Yeah, and you could tell the way the cameras were shaking that that crowd at Bank of America Stadium was rocking. Oh, man, I had some FOMO not being there. It was so cool watching that. How about Teteroa McMillan, which what an incredible game, a career game for him, 14 of 16 for 192 yards, two touchdowns. my most impressive thing was his connection with Bryce Young, who was bawling the entire game.
Starting point is 01:36:48 And the way that the Panthers coaching staff and Bryce Young and Ted McMillan collaborated to maximize and really hurt the most vulnerable area of the Detroit Lions defense, which is specifically the way that they cover heavy personnel passing attacks. And they made Ted McMillan a mismatch from the slot where both of his touchdowns, 94 yards and six catches came from. They moved him into that space that the safeties would cover. And they used that to their advantage to then move Tet around where he would draw more attention after that production and get other players into the middle of the field. It was a masterful night for Bryce Young, for Brad Izick, the play caller.
Starting point is 01:37:31 It was a really, really fun game to watch. Yeah, Bryce Young is playing awesome football right now. He goes over 300 yards. Let's hear one of those touchdowns you mentioned to Tetra. and Macmillan. Takes the snap. Lions bring the blitz. Young, gross,
Starting point is 01:37:44 Edgillan, Center Cup. Touchdown, Carolina. Right up the middle. Team match continues. The stars are out in Charlotte. Teaback and Bryce, the brightest among them.
Starting point is 01:37:58 Love that. I also had a beautiful downfield bomb for his first touchdown of the night. And that's the thing with Bryce Young right now. Like he can get you before the snap. He can get you on a couple different fourth and fours. Like one to John Mechie,
Starting point is 01:38:11 one to Darren Waller. Like he has seen everything, but he can also beat you deep. It's an ethical result. I've watched these teams, all four of their games. They both deserve to be two and two. The Lions, frankly,
Starting point is 01:38:23 maybe deserve even worse. But their offense is consistent enough. They came up short a couple times in the red zone. Jamir Gibbs, surprisingly, held to only 46 yards on the ground. That was kind of the difference. The Panthers defense, which lost Jay Lynn Phillips late in this game,
Starting point is 01:38:39 and it's had a lot of injuries. they did enjoy having Devin Lloyd back. They were able to stop the run, make Jared Gough and the Lions more one-dimensional, whereas the Panthers' offense can do whatever they want. Chuba Hubbard's been awesome this season, and he was great in this game too. Yeah, they were really, really effective running the ball.
Starting point is 01:38:55 Chuba Hubbard went over 120 yards, two touchdowns, 6.1 yards per carry. To me, on the defensive side, Greg, you know, you guys mentioned the limiting Jemir Gibbs. Like, that's a combination, Derek Brown, Devin Lloyd, a linebacker. or lineman combo they have been waiting for in Carolina. That's a combined stat to me looking at that.
Starting point is 01:39:16 And really that Panthers defensive line as depleted as it was, you know, remember they're missing their two starting edge rushers. Right. They're missing their two starting corners. They're, they definitely just coming back from an injury. They said, and he said it on the call. They are bloodied up in every way and they're doing everything they can knowing that they're not necessarily always going to get sacks.
Starting point is 01:39:38 They're getting their hands on passes. batted balls were a huge story of the game. That wasn't the only fourth down stop. They also had a huge fourth and 20 stop where it's sort of like a desperation. Jared Goff and the lion's offense have to go for it, you know, in the sort of like murky scoring red area. They tried to pull a Nick Cayley, do a hook and ladder.
Starting point is 01:39:55 And they make the stop. And so to me, it was like they did whatever they could short of like, you know, picking each other up and throwing each other at Jared Goff to try to at least limit this lion's offense. and I just, I don't know. I enjoyed watching it. I thought it was fun. And what was most creditable,
Starting point is 01:40:13 these are the turn that you used, about this was the fact that, yeah, the Lions moved the football on them in the fourth quarter. The Lions needing two touchdowns to win this game. Move the ball, but they didn't wilt.
Starting point is 01:40:23 Yes, they gave up one touchdown, but of those three final possessions in which Detroit is in desperation mode, they've ever reasoned in the world to air it out, Jamir Gibbs is not really a huge factor in this offense. They were able to force two turnovers on downs. That's big for them. Bryce Young's been one of the best quarterbacks
Starting point is 01:40:36 in the league this season. He's going to have a strong. case for quarterback island in a couple days. I just think he's playing from the neck up so well, but more importantly, he is so confident in how he is moving in the pocket and creating plays and is just willing to go downfield. Even without his guy, Jalen Coker, you know, you have multiple receptions for Tommy Trembal and Bryson Tremaine, who was involved last week and METI, as I mentioned. So, Big Win, I think it's, I think it's concerned. I'm a little concerned about this Lions team. They haven't passed the eye
Starting point is 01:41:08 test really every week. And the fact that they're losing a game to a very similar team with huge defensive shortcomings. Like the Panthers right now look like a better team and they were tonight at winning kind of well, we're a one-sided team.
Starting point is 01:41:24 We're an offense-heavy team. But that's just how we're going to win. Great job for the Panthers and a little concerning there for the last. I mean, the worst part about this lion's offense is yes, they can put up points, but they're pretty one-dimensional. in terms of who can do it. It's not that they don't have talent
Starting point is 01:41:39 like in Sam La Poyne, Amonara, St. Brown, James and Williams, Isaac Tislaw, all good guys. But if they can't get Jemir Gibbs going, you see a result like tonight, which is that you can't score enough to beat Carolina Panthers. Bryce Young was so unfazed this entire game. Collinsworth maybe made one too many comments about his facial
Starting point is 01:41:54 expression, but okay, that's Chris Collinsworth. But like, he literally he hits, he hits one of his receipt, Bryce and Tremaine, then he loses another one of his linemen. So they're down like four linemen by the time this game is over. Freeling has a leg issue, has to leave the game. Then he hits Mechie again up the middle,
Starting point is 01:42:14 exactly where they're trying to move players and move space, whether they're doing it with motions or alignments or RPO's. They were maximizing that most vulnerable area in the lion's secondary. And it just was so, they had horrible field position in the third quarter, the Chuba Hubbard drive. And he's just unfazed, whether he's executing what, you know, the plan is are elevating in so many ways. He had a throw to Ted McMillan on the sideline tonight
Starting point is 01:42:39 that Ted McMillan had an incredible catch on. On 3rd and 14, that was one of, we have to nominate it for one of the throw in the year so far. That was a great throw just as good to catch these two, just a combination that are making the Panthers a prime time type of team. Now, they're not really scheduled for prime time, much of at all, I think the rest of the year. But a great performance here.
Starting point is 01:43:02 They get to 2 and 2. we are through four weeks of this season. And the Panthers are one of the two teams next week that start giving us some bye weeks. Although just two teams. Weird. We're just like soft testing by weeks in week five. We got to get out of here.
Starting point is 01:43:19 Let's think about what we're doing Monday night football. It's a big week for the NFC South because the Falcons are back in prime time next Sunday night. Weird. Possibly against Snoop Huntley. But we got the Falcons and the same. on Monday night football. Jordan Roderig and I will be live on YouTube right after the game.
Starting point is 01:43:38 Of course, you can listen to us in your ears. We'll see you then. Week 4 was a fun. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.

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