PTI - Could the Bills and Ravens rematch in the AFC Championship?

Episode Date: September 8, 2025

Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser discuss Ravens vs. Bills, the Green Bay Packers, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hey, sports fans, the ESPN app has all of ESPN all in one place. The ESPN app is your home to thousands of live events, ESPN shows, and originals across every ESPN network and service. And now you can check if you already have ESPN Unlimited as part of your TV package for no additional calls. Visit activate.esPN.com to learn how to access your account or sign up, then start streaming in the ESPN app. It's all of ESPN all in one place. Sign up or activate now. Part of the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbon. My Bears, they're playing at a couple of hours. I'm nervous, Tony.

Say something to calm my nerves, please. I'm Tony Cornheiser. Relax. When has a bear's quarterback ever lost a big game? Is that a color? Yeah. Mitch Chubisky. You know, Trubisky did play in a big game.

That was a playoff game double joint. Are you really nervous? Yeah. I mean, this one's in Chicago, isn't it? Yeah. So you have a... Yeah. I'm playing against a Chicago kid.

Yeah. He grew up loving Erlacher wore Earlacker jersey to his first game. J.J. McCarthy. This is his first game. I want to crush him. Dennis Allen. Really? Yeah.

Welcome to PTI, boys and girls in today's episode, Aaron Rogers. Those four touchdown passes. The Packers trounce the lions. And Daniel Jones puts up bigger numbers than Joe Burrow. But we begin today with last night's spectacular game between the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills. They scored 81 points between. them. The Ravens were ahead by 15 points, 40 to 25 with just four minutes to go. But Buffalo got a touchdown to 4032. Then Derek Henry, of all people, fumbled. Buffalo scored another touchdown to

4038, missed the two-point conversion. Finally, Baltimore punted with a minute and a half to go, and Buffalo kicked a 32-yard field goal to win at Wilbon. What did this result tell you about each team? They're both really good. They could be playing in the AFC championship game. I don't assign much meaning to the result because Baltimore played great for more than three quarters to the game. I will assign some meaning to the pattern. And there's been a pattern of blowing games late, double-digit leads in the fourth quarter, so you can't ignore that. But if I isolate this, I'm going to isolate it just because we're in week one. Tony, I don't think that I think the Baltimore Ravens, man-to-man, a staff and the culture of the Ravens,

I think they're too tough-minded to wilt because of the result of the game. It's week one. People I hear people stupidly saying, oh, well, you know, if they meet in the playoffs, it's going to be in Buffalo. We don't know that. They'd have to end up tied before we know that. There's a whole lot of season to be played, a whole lot of injuries we don't know, a whole lot of overperformance, a whole lot of underperformance.

It was one hell of a game. But I don't want to get crazy. So I'm not going to disagree with any specific point that you're making. But I will say that the Baltimore Ravens choked. There is no other word for it. They did not gain any yards late. Their last three possessions were punt. Fumble, punt.

Whereas Buffalo had touchdown, touchdown field goal. So they gagged. They gagged. And when you're talking about double-digit leads, and they've done this before. They have. When you're talking about double digits lead, first of all, I thought that Harbaugh should not have punted the last one. Go for it.

But he doesn't go for it. He never, he goes for it less than any other coaching league. But he also knows just from this game. And Tony, I'm with you in that he's got to be the culture of his team is defense first. Yeah. But in that game, they had not stopped Buffalo. No. And you got still two of the three most important weapons on the field.

So I think you go. In Lamar Jackson, Derek Henry. The double digits lead, I was told something this morning that Jim, John Harbaugh's teams in the last 10 years have lost eight games where they had a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, 17 where they had a double-digit lead in the second half. I think it's almost meaningless like you do. I think they could very well meet in the AFC championship. But there is a disturbing pattern being set here. It's the pattern. Because they've done this before. They've lost in Buffalo before. Look, Derek Henry, let me get the number, 169 yards and two touchdowns. Beasts. Lamar Jackson, 279 yards combined

rushing and passing and three touchdowns, and they lost. And they did not stop Josh Allen. So this... Well, maybe we should be blaming their defense more? Well, you have... That's not the Ravens defense we become accustomed to. You have to be concerned if a pattern has developed here with that team. If...

Good team. Great game. I have. Great game. You can stand and see a replay of that one. Yeah, sure. In January, could you? Whatever round? Sure.

We had other results of note earlier in the day. Aaron Rogers. You hate them. I do. I know. Through four touchdown passes, he was great. As the Steelers topped the Jets in East Rutherford, and in the NFC Central,

the Packers thumped the Lions with newly acquired Michael Parsons, creating three pressures, and he actually had a sack. Tony, which was more interesting to you, the Steelers beating the Jet to your team, or the Packers just beaten down the Lions? The more consequential game was the Packers beating the Lions. It's a division game.

It counts for more than just one game. the lions were smothered. The lions got nothing. And you immediately ask yourself, wait, they lost two coordinators. Wait. Brain drain. How much of an effect will that have on the season? From a personal level, the more fun game for me was watching the Steelers beat the Jets.

Because it was a great back and forth game. And people who hate Aaron Rogers like you, you have to eat it today. Because at 41 years old, he threw four touchdowns. He had no interceptions. He was able to say after the game, I'm quoting, here, I was happy to beat everybody associated with the Jets so he could gloat and he could gloat in character. I mean, to me, that's a fabulous opening day game because you have Aaron Rogers playing against his old team, for which he did nothing for two years. See, that's my issue. And then you have

Justin Fields playing against his old team who may have benched him too soon. They may have, they may have benched him too soon. Yeah. You know, but in terms of the cosmic quality of this, the other game is much more consequential. We go to Rogers briefly for a second, who was great. Yeah. It was great. Aaron Rogers takes no accountability for stinking the place out in New York. No accountability, none.

They thought I couldn't play. Guess what, pal? You couldn't. You didn't. You didn't. Okay, but he didn't play for them. No, he didn't. And he insulted them on the way at the door, even though he didn't do Jack, you know what, for them. Right. And no accountability, none.

One year he was out for everything but four plays. Okay. It was out. Now, the more important game, game. Yeah, Detroit. Come on, man. The Packers look like to me. You think they're a Super Bowl team.

I think they're the best team in the NFC. Look, the Eagles are right there. The Eagles are defending champs. The Eagles haven't done anything to sort of take themselves off the marquee. I thought, as you know, because we talked about this a little bit on Friday and Saturday, I thought the Packers had edged ahead of them to be the number one team in the NFC anyway. And then they get Michael Parsons. Yeah.

Who didn't even play that much yesterday. who's going to get better. He's impactful. He's impactful. And he's going to be more impactful for them than he was for the Cowboys because there's no circus in Green Bay. He didn't have to deal with all that nonsense. He's going to be great for them.

You're right about this. And the Jets are not a consequential team. And by the way, if the Steelers who claim it's the best defense they've ever had, if this is that defense. And they gave up 30 something to the Jets? They are not a consequential team. No. So you're completely right about the team in your division,

that being more important. But what about teams? Because Detroit, this brain drain could be serious. I don't know. And they got the commanders next week. Yeah. Is that in watching? And then I think they got the bears.

They got, I mean, they got real tough games early on. Let's stay with the NFL. Let's move to quarterbacks for $800, please. Daniel Jones, in his first start for Indianapolis, led the Colts to seven scores on their seven positions. The Colts won 33 to 8 over staggering Miami, and Jones had three touchdowns, one passing two rushing. Over in Ohio, the Bengals barely escaped.

the Brown 17-16. Joe Burrow threw 23 times, gaining only 113 yards, yet that Joe Burrow. Wilbon, which was the most surprising performance, Jones or Burrow? All night long last night as I watched all this stuff, and I watched chunks of all these games.

And all this morning, and this afternoon, I was going to say Daniel Jones. Because Daniel Jones... I think there's a butt coming. He's been just tossed out of a couple of places. Get out. We don't need you. One place. You're not what we thought you were.

That's right. get out. But now I'm thinking, wait a minute, Joe Burrow, who somebody had a great description to him, was it Booger? Somebody had a great description. Oh, Steve Young said he thinks he stands in front of the mirror doing curls with no shirt on.

That was so great. Joe Burrow is a confident young man. Yes, he is. And thinks quite a bit of himself. Yes, he does. And he was getting his butt whooped by Miles Garrett and the Browns yesterday. And if his kicker... Who always played them tough.

Always. If his kicker can make a pedestrian 32-yard field goal, I know there was time left, and Joe Burrow might have been Joe Cool or Joe Shisty or whatever he's supposed to be. He lost that game. They could have lost that game. And then we'd be saying, oh, what's wrong?

Because everything they did in the preseason, including play, preseason games, was geared to not get off to a stinky first week start. At least they won. At least they won. If you're Joe Burrow, you can hold the fact that they won. And by the way, they were lucky to win, Because if I'm not mistaken, having watched it,

Joe Flacko had two interceptions that were catches. Yes, they should have been in receptions. I'm going to say it's Daniel Jones for this reason, because of the irony of Daniel Jones. He was cut by the Giants. He was drummed out of town by the Giants. He was a failure, let's be fair, in New York. And then in his first game with Indianapolis,

he looks like a pro bowler, which came as a shock to everyone, including Brian Dayball, I'm sure. But Burroughs numbers. or lack of numbers are scaring. 113 yards. He gets 113 yards in one quarter. With receivers who are making a billion dollars between them.

He routinely puts up 35, 40 or 42. They put up three points in the second half. They gained seven yards in the second half. And Burrow had just finished saying, nobody plays the position as good as I do. And now he finds Daniel Jones does. He's in the mirror doing curls. Get out the mirror and start throwing the ball like you're supposed to.

Do I think either of these trends are going to continue? I don't. I think Burroughs going to throw four against Jacksonville next week, and I think Daniel Jones will come back to Earth against Denver. I do. But it was amazing in its time. Let's take a break. Coming up, your boy Russell Wilson fizzles in his debut for the Giants. Carlos Alcoraz is doing something without precedent in the open era. Remember, Daniel Jones got thrown out of more than New York. Oh, he's got one other team. Really? Two other places. Were they drafted by the Giants? Did he start right away? He's been thrown out of three places. Not one.

Not just a G-Men. I didn't know that. Time for the producers to punt the show to the viewers. Let me see what's first here. Mail time. Okay, here we go. Let me get glasses. How should Russell Wilson feel about being named the Giants Week 2 starter?

Fortunate. To say the least. Yeah, yeah. I mean, you know, I rule for Russell Wilson. I know. But this is not like Denver when I thought he got hosed in his second stop. He just, he looks like it's over. Yes.

Like it's over. Yes, yes. And is inescapable. And I know they're playing a tough team in the commanders, but this is a division opponent. You've had weeks to get used to Russell Wilson and what it is you think he can do and how to call plays to take advantage of what Russell Wilson used to do well

when he was on the way to two Super Bowls. And now you're like, hey, it's time to put the kid in. And it seems like every former player on television is calling for Jackson Dart, doesn't it? Yeah. So Russell Wilson had a very bad game. Yeah. All right.

Let me give you statistically what he did. 17 of 37. That's under 50%. 168 yards, no touchdowns. When he was under pressure, 2 of 12 for 26 yards. The coach of the Giants didn't even name him the starter yesterday. He named him the starter today. So what kind of confidence could Russell Wilson have?

Russell Wilson, in fairness, and in truth, the last three years, he's been on a downhill slide. All right? The Giants were supposed to be the turnaround team of the year this year, right? And that's not going to happen. And they may turn around a quarterback. They may go to Jackson Dart because Russell Wilson hasn't been good in three years. You know who else hasn't been good in three years?

Brian Dayball, the coach, he hasn't been good in three years. He's 1833 and one overall. And in the last two years plus, he's nine and 26. Well, there was talk about him not being there. He needs the turnaround. That's right. He needs to turn around. He's an offensive guy.

and the team has no particular offense. So, I mean, it's not just Russell Wilson. Brian Daibol, I thought he saved his job last year when the owner came out about week seven and said we're not going to make any change. Let me just turn this around for a second. The Giants could still turn it around. Maybe the commanders are that good.

Maybe. Jane Daniel. How about him yesterday? He's really good. Again. He just continued on his trajectory. That's right. So maybe the commanders are. But everybody was saying the Giants were in turnaround.

They don't feel like they're in turnaround. after one game is played. Okay. They don't feel like. Man, you've thrown dayball under the bus after week one. No, I did it last year, and the owner's saved it.

U.S. Open. More impressive U.S. Open champ, Carlos Alcraz, or Arena Sabalinka. Okay, so I watched both matches, most of them. The Sabalinka match against Anasimova was a better match.

You had the sense that either one could win that. Okay. And Anasamova... The men went four sets. You didn't think Center could beat him? No, I did not. I did not.

Not as soon as the next set started. I didn't think that. Anna Simovar was the most sympathetic figure in the entire U.S. Open because she reversed the double bagel on Shfiantek. And then she came from behind against Osaki, who I know you love, and she came from behind, and she did.

So that was, to me, a very satisfying final. And Sabalank, who's the most powerful person in women's tennis, a well-deserved number one. Al-Karaz and Sinner are so much better than everyone on the men's side. In the last eight majors, one of them has won each of the last eight majors. Domination homes. Now Al-Qaraz is 22 and Sinner is 24, so this could go on for six to eight years. Maybe not.

And here's my problem. My problem is it's great tennis. It's powerful tennis. But it's never thrilling to me. Okay. I want, so you remember how Jokovic popped up when the Donovan. We need that third guy. We do.

Yes. Yes. I agree completely with you. Yes. I'm hoping. Can it be Felix, the Canadian? Can it be Ben Shelton who, you know, decided to turn into a free safety. Maybe.

And killed his shoulder. Can't be Joachvich because he's 100. No, it can't be joking. That's done. Right. There are eight to ten women on tour right now who can win every major and every slam. That's right. But the man, I'm like you, it's great tennis, but it's lacking.

Because we don't see a real challenger out there to make. a dramatic. They cruise almost to get to the final. But remember, Federer and the doll did this. They won 11 straight. That's amazing. And then Joker came around. But I know who you are mentioning.

I just sheltered. I don't have a lot of confidence in it. I haven't seen any leap. I haven't seen any leap. Enough female. Let's take one last break still to come. Bill Belichick and Kalin DeBore get needed wins. And the Bears make their debut under that man right there.

Ben Johnson. do you think Russell Wilson feels right now? Do you think he thinks this is his last game? I think he's oblivious. You do? Yeah. I do. I think he doesn't even know. Really? He's got a great life, great wife. He's got he. Happy time, people. Happy 35th birthday, Garrett Cole. The former overall number one pick in the 2011 baseball draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates is currently on the injured list after having Tommy John surgery. Cole signed a huge nine-year $324 million contract with the Yankees in 2019 and won the Sai Young there in 2023 when he was 15 and 4 with a 263 ERA. Last season, Cole was 8 and 5 with a 341 ERA in 17 starts. The Yankees are currently two games behind Toronto and the AL East, and they are the first wild card team.

But it's hard to believe their playoff position wouldn't be more secure with Cole healthy. Cole is targeting a return, quote, early, unquote, next season. It would be better their chances if he was out there. Are they going to make it to the postseason? Yeah, yeah. I think they will too. Yeah, I think they will. Happy anniversary, Randall Cobb.

On this day, 14 years ago, in his NFL debut, the Green Bay Packers' second round pick out of Kentucky scored two touchdowns. One of them was this 108-yard kickoff return in a 42-34 win over the New Orleans Saints and the Thursday opener. Yes. This is to either then NFL record for the longest kickoff return ever. Okay, you can question Cobb's judgment for starting this return eight yards deep in his own end zone. But it's returns like this that made the kickoff the most exciting play in football.

I get it. It's a dangerous play fraught with injury implications. I'm just saying the anticipation level and excitement level were off the charts. Yes, because guys like Randall Cobb and Devin Hester were just talented enough but also brave enough. to face whatever was coming at them. And it was the most exciting playing football. You're absolutely right. I hope they can get back.

Somehow. This is not bad the way it works now. It's not bad. A melancholy trails to Ken Dryden. The great Canadians goalie has died of cancer at the age of 78. You can make a case that Dryden is the most accomplished goalie of all time. In just over seven NHL seasons, Dryden won six Stanley Cups, made six All-Star teams, won five Vezner trophies, the Calder Trophy is rookie at the year

and a consmite that's playoff MVP in 1971. He also wrote a great sports book, The Game. He was the color analyst alongside Al Michaels for the Miracle on Ice. He ran the Maple Leafs for seven years and he served as a Canadian cabinet minister. Everything he touched seemed to just have gold. And to me, when you mentioned just what he did as a goaltender,

a lot of great goaltenders out of there over 100 plus years of NHL, he's the goat. Kent Darden, period. No, I agree with that. and also melancholy trails to Davy Johnson, who died after a long illness at the age of 82. Johnson excelled as both a player and a manager.

As a power-hitting second baseman, he won two World Series with the Orioles. He also hit 43 home runs with the Braves, playing alongside Henry Aaron. But Johnson was best known as the manager who won a World Series with the 86 Mets. Johnson could be abrasive, often wearing out his welcome quickly, but he finished with winning records at all five of the teams he managed. And if guys with like 1,300 and more games, he's sixth all time in winning percentage. He managed two teams that are close to your heart.

Those Mets and the Nats. And the Nets. Did you get to know Davey Johnson at all? I did not. I did not. I remember him distinctly as a player. I thought, and I could be wrong, I thought that the 43 home runs was the most ever as a second basement. At the time, probably so. Yeah. You know, that's what I thought. And I was really happy to see him manage. Tom Boswell, our former colleague at the Post, makes a very compelling case to put him in the Hall of Fame. Yeah.

Because he says that the people with higher winning percentages, the five above him, they're all in the Hall of Fame. And his is higher than other guys who are in the Hall of Fame. They didn't as manage as long. But it's heartwarming to see those photos of him with Henry Aaron. Yes. Oh, sure. Oh, sure.

And that's a baseball life. Yes, it is. Someone who stays in it all the way down the road. One error today, Daniel Jones played for only two teams. before the Colts, as I thought not three. New York and Minnesota, Wilbon, blew that. Let's go to the big finish if we could. Houston Texans quarterback, C.J. Strouds,

says his team was lollygagging in its loss to the Rams. Do you agree? They've got to be better. No. Bill Belichick and Kaylon DeBoer, both won big. Your thoughts? Do you remember lolly gagging in the movie? In Bull Durham, lollygacking? Yes, yes. My thoughts about what? About those two guys? They needed to win, but these were easy opponents.

These were easy opponents. Let's see what they do in the conference. Let's see what they're next week. The a week after. The ayes have won 14 straight. The sky suspended your girl Angel Leafs for a half for ripping her team. And Caitlin Clark is out for the entire season. What's the biggest deal?

The people still playing. The aces. Not the people, not playing. Even for a half. The Dodgers blew a game the O's in which Yoshinobu Yamamoto was one out away from a no-no. Your reaction. This was incredible. I watched the replay of this.

It never happened before. They're up 3-0. They lose 4-3. A reliever comes in, walks everybody. You lose the game. Lose the no-hitter is one thing. You lose the game. Last one, Monday night football.

The Vikings are at your bears. How you feel? Nervous. I want to pound this quarterback when he's a kid from Chicago. But we've got to beat the Vikings. I need that. We'll sing. We're out of time.

We'll try and do better than the next time. I'm Tony Cornhosh. I'm Mike Wilbon. Shout out to the great John McEnac. Can listen to him call matches anytime.