The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - Top Five NFL Games To Watch in Week 7, Falcons Soar with Bijan Robinson, Dan Campbell Wants Detroit Rocking Again, Plus USC Legend Matt Leinart Shares What's Great About South Bend, Indiana

Episode Date: October 17, 2025

Notre Dame and USC on Saturday. Chiefs v Raiders and Dallas v Washington on Sunday. Three words for rivalry games - ooh, la and la. USC Legend Matt Leinart knows a thing or two about that game. He shares what's great about South Bend, Indiana. And then shares why giving blood is the easiest way to save lives. (Find out more: BigTen.Org/Abbott). Then Chris Cote joins the show to work through the top five games to watch this weekend, along with the reason why Oreos are a superior dunking cookie. Punk Legend Henry Rollins makes an appearance, too. We think. Don't fact check us on that one. But Dave Dameshek and the gang have the necessary prep to make the Week 7 NFL weekend soar on Football America! (Photo by Mike Stewart/AP) Timestamps: (00:00:00-00:02:45) Monologue - Rivalries (00:02:45-00:22:48) Matt Leinart on South Bend and Blood and Rivalries (00:22:48-00:43:53) Top Five Game with Chris Cote (00:43:53-00:49:42) Pick Six AUDIO Football America! is available wherever you listen to podcasts. Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/football-america/id1831757512 Follow us: Dave Dameshek: https://x.com/dameshek Matt Leinart: https://x.com/MattLeinartQB Chris Cote: https://x.com/__chriscote Host: Dave Dameshek Guests: Matt Leinart, Chris Cote Team: Gino Fuentes, Mike Fuentes, Bradley Campbell Director: Danny Benitez Senior Producers: Gino Fuentes, Mike Fuentes Executive Producer: Bradley Campbell Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Commanders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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And after you order, they'll ask you where you heard about, Brut. Do us a favor and tell them it was from this show, Football America, in case you forgot that too. So we got Notre Dame and USC on Saturday, then Chiefs v. Raiders and Dallas v. Washington on Sunday. Three words for rivalry games, ooh, la, and la. Most rivalries are owed to sharing the same neighborhood, Capulets v. Monagues, Duke v. Unc, Homer Simpson v. Ned Flanders, because whether it's love or hate, proximity engender, strong feelings. But then there are the rivalries based on more than mere contemptuous familiarity. Sometimes it's about two teams peaking in different time zones, but in the same window of time,

leading the showdowns that play as cultural reckonings and live on past just one generation. Among sports best non-regional rivalries, Lakers Celtics is probably number one, with the Yankees v. Dodgers right behind, but let's rank the top six in football. At number six, extreme lifestyle differences between the ancient rivals at Sunbaked USC and dreary old Notre Dame. And I don't just mean the Golden Domer's aversion to using Trojans. throw Notre Dame v. The U in here, as redundant as the vibes are. At number five, Tom Brady v. the Manning brothers. You have Ole Miss BMO.C. Archie Manning had met his future wife Olivia and Oxford, with future considerations Peyton and Eli, Brady would probably have a dozen

Lombardies. Then there are the Dallas Cowboys who have so many non-regional rivals where he can even leave out there three NFC East foes, all of whom reside 1,500 miles away from Texas. At number four, there's Cowboys v. the Niners. With Stobbacks comeback in 72 in the Catchin' 81, and in three straight early 90s championship meetings, we knew the Survivor's reward was going to be the Lombardi Trophy. At number three, Cowboys Packers might be even bigger. If Bob Lilly tackles Bart Starr and the QB sneak at the end of the Ice Bowl in 67,

NFL champs wouldn't hoist the Lombardi Trophy, it'd be the Landry Trophy. Bigger still, though, at number two, Cowboys v. Steelers. the 70s when pro football was still just rounding the corner on its way to passing baseball and popularity, Dallas and Pittsburgh were fraternal twin heavyweights, shiny stars v. Steely Braun. Nine Super Bowl appearances between them in the decade twice against each other, then again once in the mid-90s. To this day, when Dallas or Pittsburgh plays on a road game, the stadium is half filled with their supporters. That's how deep the roots sank across football America. That and all others go behind number one, though, Army v. Navy.

Not many visuals better than the sea of cadets in gray and midshipment and black, preferably with a light snow falling all around. In almost any rivalry, the participants claim it's the only game on the schedule that matters, but as far as I can tell, the only head-to-head where that's actually the case is between these two. Anywho, here comes another weekend of football. Let's get to this show so I can go sit on that couch behind me for the next 72 hours. Start the show! Yes, hi and hello, my fellow football Americans, welcome to episode number 17.

Welcome to NFL Week 7. We are presented as ever by Draft Kings. Draft Kings. The Crown is yours. Coming up, Matt Leinert and Chris Cody. Not together, though, I don't think. Let's start this show like we do every show by honoring the guy who wore our episode number the best in pro football history. Number 17.

This feels like an easy one, fellas. Josh Allen has got to be the choice, right? There's Gino, there's Mike Fuentes, there's Chris Cody along. Welcome, Chris Cody. Hope all's well on your end. Thanks for joining the show. Let's start with you. Any 17s you want to volunteer here.

Best Celebrate TD Celebration 17, Jalen Waddle. We're going to give him that. Philip River. I think I can make the argument Philip Rivers over Josh Allen. Josh Allen, win a road playoff game, okay? That's all I want to say. I might be cherry picking the one stat where Philip Rivers is better than

Josh Allen. He has three playoff wins on the road. Josh Allen, win away from home. All right? Then you'll impress me. Wow, never had a road playoff win. That's never registered for me, but your larger point feels kind of true, if cynical.

I mean, they're kind of, Josh Allen's track, and if he ain't careful, he's going to be this generation's Phil Rivers, or as I've said before, Dan Marino, which is to say, Lombardi-less, residing the rest of eternity out there, on Marino Island. Any Chris or Gino or Mike, any thoughts to the latest non-scandal scandal brewing this week among Bill's fans, it seems, which is that Haley Steinfeld is somehow dragging

Josh Allen down by turning him into a three-dimensional human being instead of mere football player. Sounds like they're just reaching for answers. They can't be a good team. Well, they've been down this road. They've been hurt before, so I don't blame them for having. But the other side of the coin is, or I guess the question is philosophically, do you care at all? People always do the thing about, like, I don't care what the football player's politics are. Do you care to know that he is, in fact, like I say, a human being who has other interests, or do you want him to be Tom Brady, willing to get divorced from a supermodel in favor of grabbing onto another Lombardi? I want to use my wife as an excuse whenever I have a bad show. That's what I want to do.

Great. smart yeah yeah always got to have places to point other people's uh other people to blame it works great until you get home yeah and you get home and you get home and you have to answer for your sins yeah Ryan Tannahill Josh Allen same amount of ASC championship appearances also had a crazy wife same amount I that's really what it's about and what you have to do is structure your life and marry a woman who doesn't care at all about football nay doesn't care at all about what you do during the day, at least not enough to consume your work. Then you're in the sweet spot. Then you're threading the needle because you can blame her and she'll never be aware of it. Also, Hall of

Famer Harold Carmiker, the tallest football player I've ever seen, Devante Adams with the Rams, of course, Terry McLaurin. And then there's Doug Williams in Washington, unfortunately, because he only wore that number, I believe, when he was on a team whose name, we can't say. We agreed a couple of weeks ago here on the show that the politically correct among us, have made it. It's weird. We knew all the bad words, all the, all the racial slurs, all the, all the kind of xenophobic things you could say. But in our lifetime, in this millennium even, we have dropped a new slur into the mix and now we can't say it anymore. I feel uncomfortable with that. Chris, I'll say you. What a question to get dropped on you. How do you feel about

racial slurs, Chris? You can say it if you want to. That's your choice. Look. Football America is a free country. Looking like me, I try to avoid all of this. So I don't want to talk right now. I kind of want to just take an elevator, push the down button, and head to the floor and get out of here. Chris or Fuentes boys, did I get all the non-regional rivalries? Did I mention them all in that little monologue at the top?

I kind of feel like we had like Miami versus Cleveland thing during the LeBron era, especially those first couple years. because of the whole, like, Comic Sans letter. Yeah, well, it was a basketball rivalry, but I remember we really wanted to stick it to Cleveland because there was a lot of nonsense being talked just because LeBron decided to come down here. I mean, you can do Heat Nix.

But that's regional. That's East Coast rivalry, right? Yeah, so, like, anything... Kind of, but yeah, that may... That's a great one, though, Mike. And in fact, I have made the case for LeBron against the entire Western Conference, and if you can't beat him, join them,

which is what he did with the Lakers. But up until that point, how many finals did he go to, a row or however maybe seven or eight times his east his team from the east played a western conference team that's been a pretty strong rivalry over the course of his career at least eight right because he had four in a row with the heat and then i think he had four in a row against the golden state warriors i want to say eight i want to say eight it was almost a decade of lebron in the eastern conference going to the NBA finals and then there used to be the uh the USA versus USSR whether

there was hockey or basketball or anything else, but that ship has sailed because now they're our closest friend from what I hear. All right, listen, we have a lot to get to here. Me and the Fuentes boys have to get through the pick six. We also have your week seven countdown, the best games upcoming, and we're going to tell you who's going to win them, and by how much. But first, let's talk about that USC Notre Dame rivalry. Let's talk about quarterbacks in our league and the guys that are toiling still in college football on their way to the NFL with a guy who knows a thing or two about all those subjects, Matt Liner. Hi and hello, my fellow football Americans, old news to you.

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The crown is yours. Here it comes, everybody, the Heisman Trophy, winning two-time National Champion from USC. He's also the host of throwbacks. He now wants his fellow Trojans giving blood by December 5th, if possible for the Big Ten and Abbott Labs, the second annual. We give Blood Drive, my guy, Rob Michael, at the head of Abbott Labs. So shout out to him in this small world. You can check out more at big10.org slash abbott. you can text donate to 222-688. Great work. Matt Linerd. How are you, man?

Dave, I'm good, man. Thanks for having me. Fired up to be a part of this campaign for year two, as you just said. A huge blood shortage in our country. One donation can save three lives. How about this? Last year, this campaign kind of competition to get all these Big Ten schools involved, save 60,000 lives. This year, we're over 110,000 already, and we're only halfway through the season. So that's a shout-out to all the people out there who have given blood. I'll be given blood this year for USC. We finished last last year. We had a terrible participation, so we need to get back.

But yeah, big10.org backslash Abbott to go find out more about where you can do it and how you can donate. But it's been great, man. It's been great to be a part of this. Obviously, you know people at Abbott, they've been phenomenal. And the winner, this winning school gets a million dollars to advance student and community health, which is cool. A lot of kind of weekly prizes, too. So a lot of incentive there. And it's just really to get the student body involved for these schools and all that.

So donate for someone you love. Donate for your school, whatever have you, and go save a life. Everybody likes competing, right? So this is a chance for USC people in my alma mater, Indiana University, riding high in football. I was going to win this title as well. Not a basketball school anymore, bud. Well, we're both. That's what we are.

That's what we are, Matt. let's actually dip in on some college football here. Fill in the blank for me, if you would. The first quarterback taken in the 2026 NFL draft will be. Oh, God, that's a good question.

The first quarterback taken in the Jamantier. Ooh, that's a little because of the injuries and otherwise because we react. Yeah, the injury, I think he rushed it last week. I mean, I don't know. I think the decision making was wasn't his best. but I think that kid

for what he is and how he plays I think he's a special talent I believe that and I think he's got a great shot now there's gosh I mean I still think K Klubnick is going to be up there there's a lot of there's a lot of really good players this is a deep class I think Mattier

is probably when it's all sudden done will be the head of the class is my opinion there was last spring in the 2025 draft a lot of a lot of people saying a lot of the experts were saying don't take any of these guys wait until 2026 because it's so QB rich, but now we've seen Arch Manning probably fall back a little bit, Drew Aller, and so it goes, why do you suppose the 10th overall pick in 2006 NFL draft?

What's your opinion on this? Why is QB evaluation in this millennium still so tough? It's still like a 55-45 proposition. Well, there's a lot of things. I think, first of all, and we've seen this, fit. and system in place when you get to the highest level is literally the number one thing that you need. There's been a couple outliers, right?

There's, there's, gosh, Andrew Luck is the big one that stands out even though he retired. I think Trevor Lawrence is now starting to play pretty good. Like, there's guys that they're just so talented that you can fit them in and they're going to make the guys around them better, right? And that just, it just happens. The system, and again, we're seeing it, right? I mean, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones.

I mean, even Caleb Williams year two now is playing really good football with Ben Johnson. And I just think there's so much of that. And I was a part of that. And again, I'm not going to compare myself to those guys. But when I went from Arizona to Houston and I played for Gary Kubiak, Mike Shanahan's system, Kyle Shanahan's now system, Sean McVeigh, right, that tree, it was the best I'd ever felt as a quarterback no like playing the playing the position right just being a quarterback what does that mean right the reads the progressions by footwork all the things that go all the nuances of the position not just going to be an athlete and playing um and i and again

my i got injured and all those things so i think i think you're seeing that at that level right it's really hard and then you when you go at the collegiate level uh the game has just changed so much like anybody can throw a lot of these guys are completing 80% of his throws it's just the NFL NFL game is different. We've also seen a lot of players at the collegiate level, like they're not getting developed as well.

Look, the Arch Manning thing is interesting, right? He's so young. Like, we were like, and again, I was guilty of it. And I love Arch. I love the fame.

I think Arch is going to be really good player. He just hadn't played a lot. And we were just so, well, he's big and he's got this arm. And like, all of that doesn't, like,

it doesn't mean that much. We were just a little aside bar. We were just talking about like Cam Scataboo Scataboo in our big new meeting. It's like, why was he the fourth round? Well, because he doesn't have the measurables, right? He's, he ran a four, six, or seven. He's not a sexy pick.

He doesn't run a four two. Like, like, but he's a hell of a football player. And a lot of that kind of can translate over to quarterback. Sometimes you get caught up and you can run fast. You can throw the ball 80 yards and all that. But when it comes down to it, it comes down to mental, it comes down to the system and the way you're being taught. And I think that's to answer your question.

It's just, it's 50, 50, man. You go to a certain organization, like, it's challenging. I mean, I think that's exactly right. If you're paying attention, you have to contextualize where you're dropping that guy. I mean, West Coast offense for you seems optimal. Who is the guy who you look at in the NFL now at that position and say, if he can do it, I could do it too. I wish I would have been in that system in full health and all of that. Well, it's, I mean, gosh, that's an easy one for me. It's, it's Brock Purdy. It's Shanahan, right? because that's where I just felt my my best um the the play action getting the ball out fast

that like the progressions are tied with her footwork um like like that's it's just it's just taught very differently like I was so you know Dan Oloffsky's a good buddy of mine and he does a great job on TV and breaking down and we were in Houston together and we talked about like I went there and I'm like oh wow this is like my footwork is tied with by progression and if one's not there you go to two and you go to like it was just the way it was taught and it seems kind of easy but it was just taught so intricately in the nuance. And then once you mastered it, it was like that's the reason why a lot of these guys,

that's the reason why a lot of people think, oh, you can kind of plug and play. Like, look at Mac Jones. I mean, I know he didn't play too well last week, but like you can kind of put a guy in there. They're going to play better because the way it's taught. So for me, I look at that.

I mean, I think McVeigh is kind of like he's the same thing, but he's evolved even more or so because he's got a guy like Stafford, who's really, really special. But that would be the one, man. Like, that would be the one that would be probably best suited for my skill set. I was just going to say I could see you going across football America down to South Beach and thriving in the Miami Dolphin system, as a matter of fact, as well. I mean, McDaniels is, again, they're all the, again, that tree is, that's,

that coaching tree is spread throughout all of the NFL right now. And a lot of quarterbacks, I mean, Miami's struggling, obviously, but a lot of quarterbacks are playing at a high level in that system. I don't know if you heard big one for the Trojans upcoming this Saturday against the arch rival, Notre Dame. It is really one of the, if not the, most distinctive rivalries out there in sports. I mean, one is in South Bend, Indiana. The other is in the entertainment capital of the world. What is, tell me one thing, because you've been in both towns.

You've spent a little time. Tell me one thing better about South Bend, Indiana than Los Angeles, California. I mean, I can't tell you one thing. You can't tell me one thing? No. Nope. The weather stinks. There's nothing to do in South Bend.

There's that big Jesus guy hanging up over the stadium. Touchdown Jesus is staring at you the whole game. It's a little awkward, you know. It's good, though, when you beat them up there. I think we haven't beaten them since 2011. So, look, I respect Notre Dame. I always have. Doesn't mean I like them that much.

They're a really good football team. This is like, and I'm not even saying, this like this is a tough game for USC to go on the road to beat a team like that especially the win last week was huge it was it was monumental for the perception of this program and I believe that I believe one game can do that I really do you consistently you got to be able to do that at the at the level to be great and to go into that state and the way they're playing the way they can run the fall the way it's CJ Carr who by the way he's going to be talk about the draft in a couple of years he might be the number one pick it's it's it's tough it's a challenge but that

that game last week gave the boy some confidence, you know, and it proved that they can. They can do it. So we'll see. When you get to, last thing I'll say, when you get to South Bend, you want to get in and you want to get the hell out right away, man. There's not, there's not much to do out there. I'll tell you, that connects us back to 19 years ago.

And I've talked to Reggie Bush, not, I mean, I've talked to him about the Bush push and all of that, but he told me a great story about how insane it was when you guys got there. And by the way, I should also say this. collective wisdom goes that the USC Texas game might be the greatest of all time the greatest game wasn't not even the best game that season the best game that season was in fact SC Notre Dame that was a gem for all of time but Reggie told me that the student body was out there and you guys were scared for your lives to some degree weren't they shaking the bus I mean I would say I think it was

the only time because I had been I've been in Notre Dame twice I was I was there a backup or my my red shirt year which we lost and it just it never was like a place where it didn't feel like i don't say important but like it just it just like was that year was different to reggie's point we got there and we always do our like we get in town we go do our little private walk through mess around on the field kind of have fun like we always do and they had like a thousand kids i mean there was a ton waiting for us where the buses drive in and that they hadn't done that before and so we were like okay like these boys like it's a big game right it was ready and they were saying they were saying i'll i never forget i remember like

coming off the bus was sarkeesian and he kind of put his arm around me and we were like going through like this tunnel like these fans made like we had security you always have security team security but like they made like this tunnel and they were just they were signs they were talking their stuff they were nasty i was like oh like this is this is this is a typical Notre Dame behavior you know so uh they brought it listen they brought it they were good football team. At the end of the day, you know, we made, obviously made the play at the end to win. But it'll feel that way this year. This year's a big game. I mean, playoff Eliminator for Notre Dame, you know, just huge stakes for USC. If they lose, they still can run

the table and probably make a playoff, but they got Oregon, they got a tough schedule. So this feels like it's a must win for both teams, in my opinion. I agree. It's an elimination game probably on both sides of things. Last thing, I want to know who you hate more, Notre Dame, or UCLA. I feel like it's probably... Oh, Notre Dame. It's not even close. Because UCLA's more of a punchline to you, little brother at this point? Yeah, a little brother, like, never a rivalry.

My wife went to UCLA. I don't, like, I don't look at UCLA. And by the way, I loved Kate McDonough growing up. That was my favorite football team. I loved UCLA basketball. That's because you, me, and Kate, have something in common. We throw it from the left side, right? So, like, when I played UCLA, there wasn't a, like,

yeah, when you're in it, but there wasn't, it wasn't great games. You know, I'm not just saying, that. But it didn't, it just, Notre Dame just felt different. It just felt bigger. And it was bigger because of that game and the history of it. It just, you just felt it bigger. So, um, I definitely don't like Notre Dame. UCLA is fine. Um, I find myself, I want them to get back, you know, like I love Jerry New Heysel. I know Rick New Heysel. Like, I'm happy for them right now. Um, I know Nico personally. So like, yeah, I root for those guys. Like obviously, I always want USC to win that game too, though.

Well, by the way, as I let you go here, UCLA and USC was freshened up with the home jerseys returning, Pete Carroll and Rick Neuheisel agreed on one show, hosted by Dave Damasheck. I got them on the phone together to agree to both wear the home jerseys and take the 15-yard. That's right. By the way, I love that. The home-and-home is amazing. Because, like, our home jerseys are great. Our white jerseys I don't like.

I never liked. UCLA, the powder and gold is whatever, but the home-on-home is good. Congratulations, Dave. I didn't know that fun fact about you. Well, thank you and you're welcome and all the rest of it. And I mean, congratulations to you. I remember watching you make that all-time nails drive, the throat of Dwayne Jarrett and beyond.

And that's got to imbue you for the rest of your life with a confidence. Like, I did that. There's nothing too tough for me. So go give Blood Trojans fans. And win this race, the second annual one. Great stuff from Matt Linerd. You get a T-shirt. you get the pride of, you know, touting your school and all the rest of it.

Matt Liner, we appreciate the time, man. Good luck this weekend. Awesome, Dave. Thanks, buddy. I appreciate you, man. There he goes. Nice fella, right? I like him quite a bit.

I did learn, though, in the little interim here, that Mike Fuentes is playing hurt. You have a bellyache, on, Mike? Yes. the food we got for lunch here. Not that great. I'm not going to say any names. But it's hurting right now. Complaining about free food. I know. I mean, it hurts. It hurts. What I'm a privilege child.

You know, oh, yeah. So, okay. Yeah. What genre of food, was it? I don't want to say. I don't want to say, but... Was it Thai food? Listen, after you put Chris Cody on the spot about racism in the first segment, I am not going to even... No, no. Let's just say there was a lot of salt, and now it's hurting my tummy. That's all my...

So saying a type of food would be an insult. to a nationality? Is that what you're getting at here? Crazy times here in Football America, Dave Damashack. Anyway, we've got some games coming up and we have Chris Cody here to get through them. So you want to start with that anytime. That'd be great. I do. I do want to get to all that stuff. I do want to say very quickly, though, while I have here, thanks to my fellow football Americans who take the time to drop us a line on YouTube or social media in general, especially my guy. Our Football American of the week is in fact a Brit, it's James McNeil.

Man, he always is dropping a line, positive words. We appreciate you can drop negative ones, too, if you like. He spoke up about the Steve Smith Senior conversation, a lot of feedback on that one. People really enjoyed that and also enjoyed the Ray of Sunshine named Colleen Wolf earlier this week. Go back and listen to both of those. Hey, Chris Cody, big news down there in South Beach, Billy Gill moving on. I was curious watching that from afar, really nice stuff from Dan Levin. and what he had to say about Billy and best wishes to him.

But where you're concerned, does this sort of make you like Casey Affleck at the end of Goodwill hunting? Like, oh, Will went to see about a girl on the other side of the country? That means I ride shotgun from here on out. Is that your move now? I think I'm feeling the pressure of having to be funny. Billy's funny. And there's a lot of, like, the people on the show that bring the funny, we've been losing

those in recent months. I feel like I'm feeling the pressure to be extra funny now, but, and, you know, leverage, contract talks. I'm looking at all of it, Dave. Hmm, okay. Well, listen, I mean, maybe if you start talking about what kind of food is upsetting your belly, that would be funny. Matt Leiner was talking about giving blood. The question I didn't have time to ask them is, what's your favorite kind of cookie? Because that's what they give you.

When you get blood, they give you a prize, they give you a nice cookie. Your choice, give me Chris Cody, your favorite type of cookie. Okay, I feel like I'm going to get judged hard for this. And this has been a controversial thing with me and my friends before. My favorite cookie, give me an Oreo. I'm with you. Just give me an Oreo. What? I'm with you.

I'm telling, I know it's not good for you. I know it's like packaged and processed. Give me an old-fashioned. I don't need that double stuff. Thank you. Just give me a normal amount of stuffing. Just give me an Oreo. Give me a nice glass of cold milk.

I don't even drink milk anymore, but I'll do it for the Oreo. I'm going to go Oreo. I mean, obviously, I love the chocolate chips. I love an oatmeal cookie. But if you just, if I could have one cookie for the rest of my life, give me an Oreo. Just one Oreo. I don't want to be precious, but if I'm going to have any cookie, it'll be a chocolate chip. But so long as it's nice and warm, because when you get the gooey chocolate chips, what's possibly going to be that?

Nothing is the answer there. What's the perfect? How long do you microwave a chocolate chip cookie? Good question. It can be too gooey. Yes. It can be too gooey. I still want to be able to pick it up.

Correct. Yeah. If it's flopping, not for me. No, no, no. Yeah, listen, I'm not a lunatic. I say the sweet spot is 11 to 17 seconds. I don't know your microwave oven, but that's about the range that I'm saying. I must have a really strong microwave because I feel like I've thrown that thing in for like nine seconds before and the thing's bubbling.

Yeah, what do you bring it out? It's true, though. It is subject to different microwaves. But like, every once in a while, too, staying with chocolate chip cookies, I know they're not good at all. but sometimes I just really want chips-a-hoi. I don't know what it is. And I have the same craving sometimes for bad fast food, like Subway, right?

I know it's not good. Unless they want to sponsor Football American. Then I love Subway. You can't get a better sandwich in America and the subway go down to your local subway, get something. But, you know, it's not considered good, even though in Football America, it's great.

And I just want a meatball sub. Even though I know it's not the best meatball sub to some people. To me, I love it. It's the best thing. Geno just mentioned this. Hey, microwaves. Can we get on the same page? Yeah, that's a good idea.

Why do I have to like know how, I don't know how many watts my microwave is, okay? The instructions are subject to review. For every microwave, so I don't have to look at the package and be like doing them. I'm doing a math equation on how many minutes I got to do this. Yeah, I have a question for you, Dave. Hot take, hot take. Microwave ovens are the most overrated technological advancement in my lifetime

and are now completely outmoded thanks to the air fry. The air friar has the microwave beat. Six ways to Sunday. Okay, maybe it's a tick slower, but it's worth the difference. Do not microwave. the number one thing to not put in the microwave but put in your air fryer instead pizza leftover pizza is so much better out of an air fryer than it is out of the microwave yes i had a question about your microwave and now i can't remember it i actually find a vet

move is you you zap it in the microwave for like 30 45 seconds just to like kind of get the process going and then it takes less time and then you finish it in the oven or the air friar that way you get that crispiness you're looking for but it doesn't take as long that's a lot it's like you're giving it's almost like Frankenstein's monster you've taken the parts of what was a human being and now you've made it into a whole other human being

except it's a cookie what you're saying is hey we got game picks to make but I do want to say this the butterscotch cookie is very good although I cannot quite distinguish what is the difference between buttercotch and caramel they're very close cousins at minimum butterscotch are you 75 like a butter scotch you don't like a butterscotch you don't like a nice butter you ever eat a butterscotch pudding

another hot take from dave it's better than chocolate pudding no not not for me clive butterscotch pudding is a pennsylvania thing yes all right listen enough of this jive let's move on to what's important and that is our countdown the NFL week seven picks we'll count them down from five all the way down to one we're going to tell you who's going to win them here and let's started off with the Green Bay Packers at the Arizona Cardinals. At the time of this recording, we don't know if it's going to be Kyler Murray or Jacoby Brissette, for what it's worth. Jacoby Brissette has been pretty efficient in that offense. As it stands, the Cardinals are plus six and a half at home. Total is 44.5. Let's start with you, Chris Cody. Who you got in this

one? This is simple. If Murray plays, I like Green Bay. If Brissette plays, I like Arizona to cover. Wow. I'm just doing the math here of just, something off with Murray in that offense. I like the way Bressett's moving that offense. And it's just, that's a lot of points. Green Bay is one of the few teams in the league that I actually think is good. We had a long list of teams that are good at the beginning of the year. I feel like that list is dwindled down a little bit. But right there, I'm going, if Murray plays, I like Green Bay to cover. If Berset plays, I like a close game. You know what? They're now more Super Bowl viable teams in the NFC than there are in the AFC. Also joining us for the week seven picks.

iconic frontman of Black Flag, Henry Rollins. Who do you have in the Packers and Cardinals? Packers! Okay, so he's going Packers, and he doesn't seem to care who's a quarterback for the Cardinals. I love what I'm looking at, by the way. If you're listening to this experience, you need to be watching it. I just want to tell the audience that. Well, I mean, listen, even if you didn't like Black Flag's music, even if you're not into hardcore,

the ladies had to appreciate the shirtless physique. of Henry Rollins. I'm going to go with the Packers here, one way or the other. No matter who's opposing them, the Packers are starting to emerge as one of those real contenders. Packers 28, 26. Next up, it's the Rams paying a visit to the Sunshine State. The home team, the Jags are plus three in this one. No Pooka Nakua, it would seem.

The Rams on the East Coast here, so the cross-country travel is not a factor here. 45 and a half is the total at the time of this recording. And Chris Cody, how say you? Two teams that we're going to talk about here in these games annoy me. The Jags are one of them. I just can't figure them out. I was big on them coming into the year. Travis Hunter thought he was going to be a gem.

He hasn't really emerged yet. Think Trevor Lawrence is good. Yet that offense, you got Brian Thomas Jr. Just dropping passes right in his hands late in that game last week. There's just something about these Jags. I think they should be good, but they're not. And I love Rams, McVeigh, one of the best offenses in the league. I'm going Rams minus three.

I don't mean to have a chip on my shoulder about the Indiana Hoosiers, but I do sense people are looking for a reason to jump off the bandwagon. And I think that has gone on for quite a while during the Trevor Lawrence era with Jacksonville. I do think, to your point, if Brian Thomas catches a pass, they maybe win a big game last week, and now they are one of the teams. We're buzzing about, like, can this team actually go to the Super Bowl? Let's hear from Henry Rollins on this one. Ram's.

Boy, he really seems to be into the Rams in this game. I'm going to go with the Jaguars, winning this one, 23 to 20, confounding stuff. And the Rams, if you've been paying attention to them, without Nakua, they are a different team, obviously, and a worse one at that. Moving on at number three in our countdown here, it's the Atlanta Falcons. It's the San Francisco 49ers. The Niners laying two and a half here, total is 47 and a half. Chris Cody, how say you? Falcons, the most confusing team to me in this league.

Outside maybe the Jags, it's just, they're the other annoying team for me in this. I can hardly ever get them right. My gut here tells me San Francisco, so I'm going to fade myself and take the Falcons plus two and a half. Interesting, tortured logic there. Henry Rollins, I'll say you. I'll say you. I'm sorry, go ahead. Hey, D, Woo!

Dave, you don't have teams that you just get wrong. Like, I just have, there's just teams that I refuse to bet because I just can't get them right. So I just start fading myself with them because I just can't figure them out. I think Henry Rollins is going to ask, by the way, just because anybody was wondering. I was just going to ask, I'm sorry, Chris. I was a little disrespectful on your part. He's a legend after all. I wasn't exactly sure who Hank just took there.

It was Falcons. That's what you're saying, Gino? That's your best guess? I think he said A-T-L. So, yeah, so he's nodding yes. Sometimes it's hard to interpret, you know, screaming lyrics. He's not in yes, though. He's right.

That makes sense. I mean, yeah, Henry's been a Michael Pennix guy since way back. I'm going to take the Falcons here in a big spot. I said it a couple of few weeks ago that the ceiling is now the NFC title game for the Niners, which means that there will be no home game in Super Bowl 60 and Santa Clara. for them because they lost the Jenga piece. The whole thing imploded when Nick Bosa went out. They can only go so far without him.

That goes twice without Fred Warner now. So they're really doomed. Bob Sala is going to do some good work there, and I wouldn't be surprised in the short term if he does rise up and slows down Pennix and company here. I do have a hunch, though, that these Falcons are about to take off here after the big win. I like them, and here's how much I like them. I still think my preseason pick that they're going to win the NFC South is in play for them.

The Buccaneers have been riding awful high, but those close victories as the advanced analytics people always want you to understand is there is a regression there. You don't always win every one score game. So I expect the Bucks to come back down to Earth and the Falcons to continue their rise. All right, next up, Eagles, Vikings, Vikes, plus two and a half. total is 43 and a half at the time of this recording unless there is an update for us Mike or Gino I don't think they've announced if it's JJ or Carson Wentz have they I haven't seen it have you seen it I haven't seen any news on that yet Chris Cody you're picking a little blind here do your best should they give it back to JJ McCarthy

I love betting a good team after they lose and you know it's even better than that betting a good team after they've lost two in a row I think the value you're getting here with the Eagles is as good as you'll get all year Everyone wants to panic about this team and the past offense. I think they're just fine. I think they will win this game pretty easily. I like the Eagles minus two and a half. It's one of my favorite bets of the week.

Hmm. This is a tough one. Henry Rollins, how say you? Hey, Vikings! So he's taken, you know what? That spiritually is a better fit for him, you know? Norseman, tough guy, you know, ancient and all of that. To answer your question, Fuentes, I think that they should.

go back to J.J. McCarthy because that's what KOC wanted at the start of the season. Now, what I also said was, I don't know, what was it, a month or so ago, why are they not in the market for Kirk Cousins? I get it's the heavy contract and all of that, but in all of pro football outside of

Atlanta, that's a pretty good fit. There's familiarity and all of that. I think if you had Kirk Cousins under Center, we would be buzzing more about the Vikings, whether over Carson Wentz or J.J. McCarthy, but still, as I keep saying, I will ride with the clever play caller and who he chooses to have at the trigger.

So if he wants Wentz in there or JJ, I ride with KOC here. I'm going to pick, I guess, the upset, Vikings, 2721, Nick Siriani. It's, you know, it's an odd year. So it's a down year for this Eagles era, I suppose. Just found out a few weeks ago, A.D. Mitchell knows what I'm talking about. It's the Indianapolis Colts making their way back out to Los Angeles, where A.D. Mitchell had his infamous little play there. The Chargers are laying a meager point and a half here.

Total is 48 and a half. Chris Cody. Chewes. The Chargers and the Dolphins played a close game. All right? That's my analysis. I'm taking the Colts plus one and a half. I haven't been a buyer of these Colts. I know everyone's telling me they're good.

I'm not sure I'm buying them fully yet, but there's just something wrong with these Chargers. I know they're hurt on the offensive line. Give me the Colts plus one and a half. Well, I mean, I think you hit the nail on the head here. They're just trying to survive being down two potentially dominant tackles. One, they kind of got by without, but in the short term, they are suffering the effects of the Jenga theory. That offense is kind of imploded. And in just a slightly smaller matter, but not a significant. Amari and Hampton and Najee Harris are both down. So this is a diminished offense we're looking at. I thought it was a, as far as that goes, I thought it was a huge win for them to rally against the dolphins in their state there. I think that maybe imbues them with a different level of confidence in this era, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's enough for them to, because it allowed them to maintain their lead on the chiefs.

I wouldn't be surprised if they end up winning the division by that margin, that one victory that they got against the very, very sad dolphins. Henry Rollins, I'll say you. Charge! Charge! Charge! Charge! Charge! Charge! Charge! Charge! Charge! Charge! Yeah. Yeah. He really... It feels like he was really trying to emphasize the first syllable in that team's name. Right? I got that right. Charge, charge, charge? Seems like the chargers might need to find an alt-ternative option at tackle. You son of a bitch. That's a good one. Come on, Dave, give it to me. Dave. You're working on trying to be funny.

and this is your first foray. I'm not going to get in the way. No notes on that. I want you to build up your confidence here. Let's see if we can, before we get in this week's pick six here, last things first in terms of picking the week seven games. We've got a Monday night football double header. We talked with Colleen Wolf earlier in the week about this. I mean, if your life is so full that you have time to complain about more football on Monday night. I'm envious of you. I think it's great to have, especially when they're staggered start times. It gives you twice the chance of seeing a good game on Monday night, aka the worst day on the calendar every week. So let's do it. Tampa, and by the way, huge games too, huge Monday night games side by side. By the way, the never ever complains

when there are two good games on at the same time on Sunday? I don't know why Monday, had been villainized for this. We love it on Sunday, right? Although Kirk Herb Street did complain. Another person who probably doesn't have much to complain about in this world, so he's allowed to worry about too many good games on a Saturday. But let's pick these ones. Buccaneers, Lions, home team, Detroit, laying five and a half.

Chris Cody, how say you? My favorite team to bet last year versus my favorite team to bet this year, Lions last year, bucks this year. I want to give this game a hug. I wish I could take this game on a date. If I could send this game to just, like, if I want to show somebody what football is and how fun it is, this is the game I want to show them. I love this game.

I'm taking the points. Give me the bucks, plus five and a half. And I just want to be alone with this game. I don't want anyone to see me when I'm watching this game. No pants required. Yes. Henry Rollins, I'll say you, no shirt required. the hell what did he roar like a lion i think it's a lion's roar at first i was like is he picking

the rams that's not in this game i think it's a lion's roar simba over there i know that that i bet you the lion's share of betters are going to lean on the buccaneers given how close their game seemed to be and they've beaten some heavyweight teams and they've done it in the last minute. I think the lions are, especially after what we just saw in KC, they are going to rise up and they are going to depose the bucks by a touchdown or more. I will take the home team there. The other one is the Houston Texans still desperate against the Seattle Seahawks. One of the great stories so far, Sam Darnold, I don't know where producer Bradley is today, but he always loves to talk about Sam Darnold as an MVP candidate, and Gino loves to

to talk up that Seattle defense. In fact, he recently, I don't know if you heard about this, Chris. He decided to replace the dolphins with the Seahawks as his favorite team. Meantime, choose. Wow. Just for the rest of the year, man. I can't take two of anymore. I did that a few years ago with the Chargers, and the Dolphins immediately got good,

and the Chargers immediately got bad. Maybe that'll work for me. But on this one, you know how earlier I said I can't get the Falcons right? This is the opposite. I am so on the point with both of these teams. I don't think I've missed the Texans or a Seattle. game all season. I know these teams. This is an easy one for me. I love Seattle here. I've been on them all year. That defense, I think top two, is that the best defense in the league?

In terms of numbers, they rank high in every relevant category. And, you know, especially when they're at home, this is a big spot, Monday night football, all of that. The crowd will be even louder than usual. A few weeks ago, I was, you know, you were still getting them as like underdog. I feel like the, the Vegas is kind of caught up with Seattle here, so I don't love. I wish it was two and a half, but I will take Seattle minus three at home. Precursor to the grunge scene up there in Seattle was Henry Rollins in Black Flag. Henry Rollins, who you got in this one? Did he even make a pick?

I don't think he made, I don't think that was a proper pick. I think he's had it with us. Okay. Hey, Henry Rollins, what an honor to have you on the show. Best to you and the boys in Black Flag. I'm going to take the Seahawks, as I already indicated. Lay the three confidently, they'll take care of the Texans. Your eyes are not lying to you. The Texans are not very good. And against that pass rush, they have no

shot. All right, as promised, here's this week's pick six, and it's presented it as ever by Draft Kings. Draft Kings, The Crown is yours, and bonus, Henry Rollins took off. I don't know where he went, but Chris Cody is still here. As we jump into it. I hope Cody can help us win the million dollars. This is downright embarrassing for all of us,

and I'm not just going to wear this alone. This is on you as well, Mike Fuentes. You too, Gino, maybe Chris will be the difference maker here. It occurs to me as I'm about to tee them up for you. I think I've taken one under all season long here. Does that make me two glass half full? I mean, you're a positive person, but I think we were all pretty much discussing here that overs are just more fun to bet than unders because I've always said this if you bet an over those cash early example if you had drake london last week touchdown ones for sure yeah touchdown that's the own thing why do you want to cash early slow burn baby no man there's nothing like watching a primetime game knowing the money's already

in the bank I want to put that $20 in there and let that thing slow cook I want to watch that thing boil but what if you cash early and then you know what maybe you get in a little live in you're cooking multiple likes you're just trying to you're over cooking no no I get my meat it's done guess what I'm hungry again. I want another one. Wow. All right. I go back to the buffet.

Yeah. Let me get a second beef Wellington, bro. Wow. Boom. So you can. Crew Beef Wellington. Yeah, I was just thinking of food. And I'm like, what comes out that you can just grab?

It's really hefty. Now you got me thinking again about Chris Cody and his meat watching that bucks and lions game. I don't know what he's going to be doing between his four walls. That's his business. And his meat watching. Nobody, nobody look at me during that game. I'll tell you that much.

I wasn't planning on it if that makes you feel any better. All right, let me give you my six for the pick six, and then you guys can chime in. Justin Herbert is going to throw an interception. It just takes one for you to be a winner here. He's had four in his last four games. Next, Matthew Stafford is also going to throw an interception. Jacksonville leads the league with 10 picks so far this year. Jalen Hertz is one of our favorites here on the pick six to get into the end zone with a rushing touchdown.

I don't know if you've heard, Tush Push is a big play in Philly. Ladd McConkey. That's right, Mike Fuentes. I'm stealing him from you. Now that he has found the end zone, I say he's going to do it again here. So it's not all bad for Justin Herbert. Travis Kelsey, with all the past catchers coming back and one of the most overused phrase, take the top off the defense. So now you're going to have Rishie Rice and now Xavier Worthy's going to be able to take the top off the defense. That's going to mean less attention paid to the future Hall of Famer Travis Kelsey. I say he gets into the end. zone again this week. And then Quinn Sean Judkins is going to get a touchdown. I know he hasn't had one in a couple of weeks, but the Dolphins defense, I don't feel like stacks up with the Vikings or Steelers defenses against which Judskins didn't get into the end zone. He will this time around. Cody, what do you like there? Or do you want to replace one of those? I want to react to yours for a second. Fuentes is calling you negative. I think if you take the over on an interception, that is like taking it under. Because you're being negative.

about what you think that player's going to do. Follow me here. Okay. Like, he's not being overly positive. Like, you're saying, oh, you like overs. You're just overly positive. Yeah, but it's positive for you. It's negative.

Yeah, but it's, he's hoping for bad things. But the number... It's like taking it under. But the number is more than one, but it's negative. Whoa. This is heavy. Wow. This is like an unwarm chocolate chip cookie.

Yeah, like an Oreo. Yeah, I think I need a minute, Dave. This is an Oreo. I mean, you know, you know, I try to keep the pace going here, because we only have so many minutes to speak about pro football and beyond each week on Football America. At some point, we need to get a deeper dive, and I have to take you to task. Of all the cookies on the planet Earth, you're rolling with an Oreo, self-esteem issues. Chris Cody, do you want to throw one out here? Yeah, I'm going to go, as I said earlier

about the Jags. Just don't know what's wrong with them. I'm going Travis Hunter under at time of recording 39 yards. Like it. Next up, Mike, how say you? So I'm not, the Ladd-McConkey thing, I loved Ladd that week, but now that he's calling him a little bit, not so much. Travis Kelsey, I get what you're saying. There'll be more people out, but that also means more past catchers to catch touchdowns, and Kelsey, we all know he's on the back end of his career. So if you don't like any of those, put Sequant Barclay in there for a touchdown.

He underscored a rushing touchdown in last two weeks. Do one this week. They have a lot of people that they have to please all of a sudden between Sequan and A.J. Brown and Devante Smith, but I hear your noise. Gino, you want to throw one in? All right. If I had to take one out, it would be Ladd McComach, because it looked like Quentin Johnson's going to be back. But for me, I'm going to go Bill Crosky Merritt here.

Dallas makes you score and can't stop anyone. Plus, they've also consolidated the running back carries in Washington now, so I'm going to say Bill Crosky. Listen, Bill Crosky, I know what you're doing. It's a bad joke. I don't like that. It's not his joke. It's the guys, though. He wants to be called Bill.

He knows what he's doing. He knows what he's real quick. I know he does. It's weird. Next episode, you guys got to tackle best NFL player ever with a hyphen in his name. Ooh, okay. Challenge accepted. I like that quite a bit.

And by the way, good news for you, Chris Cody. We found one person that you're definitely funnier than, funnier than Bill Kroski. He's welcoming this weirdness in here. Go eat some Oreos. We appreciate the time with you and with Matt Leinert and with you, fellow football Americans. We'll be back after week seven to try and make sense of all it for you.

Until then for everybody here at Football America. Thanks so much fellow football Americans. It's been a thin slice of heaven.