The Fumblerooski Podcast - Run Down -Ep 282 The Fumblerooski Podcast

Episode Date: July 9, 2024

Who are the top 5 runningbacks in the NFL? Can Christian McCaffrey fight the narrative against runningbacks in their late 20’s? Is the NFC North truly Detroit’s to lose or can Green Bay reclaim the throne? Can Minnesota and Chicago compete with rookie quarterbacks? Adam Wright and CJ Medeiros debate these topics and more!

top five running backs going into 2024 with our annual player rankings and a preview of an NFC North division going into the 2024 season I'm Adam Wright you're listening to the Fumble Ruski podcast it may not have always showed it in the stat sheet but you can see him making throws when he needs to make the throws back-to-back games where he has three touchdowns someone's gotta get that six or seven spot he's an elite wide receiver as a rookie truly a lose-lose scenario for both sides welcome back to the fumble ruski podcast by power 88 and secret weapon consulting i'm adam right with cj medeiros we have a great show planned for you guys yet again and so our basic rundown is we're going to continue our player rankings we continue into the offensive side of the ball with the top five running backs going into 2024

and we're also doing a preview of the nC North. So I think this is the most interesting the North has been in quite some time. And we'll get into it, but the Bears have a lot of new toys, including a new quarterback. The Packers found their next franchise guy. Somehow they just pull these guys out of their ass. Every single time that they move on from their previous one, they get another one. It's insane. And then you have the Lions. That's my dog.

If any of you guys heard that, Jesus Christ. Eating a toy, just choked on it. And then there's, of course, the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings, there's another team. They have some good pieces. Question mark at quarterback. They just moved on from Kirk Cousins. They have J.J. McCarthy now.

They may not even start them they may go with say they may go with sam darnold um which at that point not much to expect there but uh they're they're an interesting team they're all they all are but we're gonna get there we're going into our player rankings top five running backs cj kick us off give us your list so running backs are a weird position especially nowadays because the running back stock market has crashed they don't go in the first round of the draft anymore unless they could be like a generational guy running backs like great ones can never stay can never stay consistent because they're getting replaced year in and year out. They're not getting paid. Heck, it's even trickling down to fantasy football where there's a case that might not be number one. So that being said, it's tough never to rank the

running backs, so we try. So my number five, I have to go the new eagles star saquon barkley solely because it's just a better situation and i mean granted he did what he could with the giants with 962 yards and six rushing touchdowns last year as well i believe is for receiving touchdowns which is good he has had some injury issues in the past, but I don't expect that to stop him, especially where you go to Philly. The field quality is infinitely better. The line play is infinitely better. And say a chill about Jalen Hurts, but he's also infinitely better than old Danny Derps there. So I like him in Philly, and it's just enough to sneak him into the top five.

And I had to do some real soul searching for this next one my number four is from the new york jets breese hall and i know but last year was his first really healthy year played in all 17 games started 16 of them had 223 attempts that is insane which translates to 994 yards and five touchdowns, along with 591 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns. This guy, he's ready. After getting a very unfortunate injury his rookie year, it's appearing that he's well past the road to recovery and he's ready to take over. There is one red flag, though, that I have.

Aaron Rodgers is coming back. that the eternally frustrating Zach Wilson has been flung off to the Rocky Mountains in Denver, I don't see the Jets being as much of a ground-and-pound team. You can say what you want about Aaron Rodgers. Maybe he comes back well. Maybe he doesn't. But you know Rodgers is going to want to run a more air-style offense, and that might eat at some of Brees Hall's opportunities which he could make up in the receiving game maybe but then again they did sign Mike Williams so

I don't know about that but either way he's going to be top five don't worry about it my number three and this was one of the weirdest ones to place and it's derrick henry and i know the rule about oh running backs over 30 scary look at me i can read stats but every rule has an exception and i definitely think derrick henry running behind the piss poor titans offensive line with the mayo man just handing him the ball at every point you know get him 280 carries with 1167 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns then you're going to go to the ravens where the line isn't a lot better but it's still noticeably better and you have a much better quarterback that you can run endless options with with Lamar Jackson.

Make no mistake, Derrick Henry to the Ravens makes that team infinitely more dangerous. And I know somewhere our good buddy Justin Tucker is a happy camper, but I do have one word of caution. Injuries. one word of caution injuries and it's not so much about the running backs over 30 part that scares me because once again i think derrick henry is an exception i mean even after he tore his acl he came back and posted 1500 yards for me the issue is the ravens And I have not been shy about this point, and I've said it once, and I will say it again. The Baltimore Ravens, I don't know why, I don't know what's in the water, but they absolutely

burn through running backs. Once again, I think it's an issue of the strength and conditioning coach. I think he needs to be flung into the Chesapeake if this were a just world. However, I am scared because you see what happens. They completely broke J.K. Dobbins. Heck, Keaton Mitchell, who was an undrafted free agent running back, couldn't stay healthy. And Gus Edwards, I believe, was also banged up at various points. So that is something that scares me. But on paper, he should be top three. Now my number two, this might upset some

folks, but look at me. I really don't care. It's B. John Robinson. And I'll tell you why. This man, he broke the trend of running backs not being taken in the top 10 since saquon and for very good reason 214 rushing yards 976 i mean 214 carries 976 rushing yards 4.6 yards a carry four rushing touchdown, along with 487 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns. I know what you're thinking. That's good. Top 10 in the draft, good. But here's what you got to remember. He has been freed of the scourge of Atlanta known as Arthur Smith. Arthur Smith, he who was just weirdly against using his best players, and Raheem Morris, I highly doubt will make that same mistake, because he knows that your best players give you a shot to win, because he's probably a more qualified head coach than Arthur Smith.

And when you get down to it, I expect Bijan's numbers to go through the roof. I'm projecting easily over 1,200 yards, and he should have double-digit rushing touchdowns, barring some sort of freak injury. And yeah, this man's going to break out. And my number one, as far as running backs go, Christian McCaffrey. And this is one that I feel weird about because he has had a lot of injury concerns in the past. But last season, started 16 of the 17 games, led the league in rushing yards. He had 14 rushing touchdowns.

There's a notion that he doesn't get carries but he had 272 last year don't play like that and not to mention when it comes to receiving he had a few receiving touchdowns as well i believe he had seven so yeah that's 21 total touchdowns last season and i know the niners might have a super bowl hangover thing but he's had a queen bill of health ever since he came to san francisco where once again just the difference in line play was better and so long as brock purdy doesn't fall off a cliff i think that he should stay healthy because they won't overuse him. Because I don't know if Ayuk's still going to be on the team, but they still have Debo Samuel,

they have George Kittle, and they have rookie Ricky Pearsall as well, who they drafted in the first round. So his load shouldn't increase dramatically. And he should stay very – well, let's just face it. He should stay healthy. And overall, as long as he's been in San Fran, I just don't think the numbers can be denied. Therefore, he is my number one running back. Yeah. So there's no denying christian mccaffrey in the past few years when he has been healthy has been the best back in football um so he definitely deserves a spot in the top five and i think overall you you make some good points on a lot of your list. A lot of these backs, what you have to do when you're looking at running backs going into the season,

more than any other position, you have to look at it going into that season. What you anticipate them to do rather than look at what they have done. Because the running back position is one of those spots where you could be one of the best backs in the league one year and then be almost out of it the next. Dalvin Cook is a prime example of that. With that being said, my number five is Jameer Gibbs. Now, I was debating between him and Kyron Williams, but the fact that on a breakout year for Kyron Williams, he could barely get through a season. He missed five games, but the fact that he got 1,200 yards through 12 games

is incredible. Still, Jameer Gibbs, he did not have injury issues. And while splitting carries with the now about to be 27-year-old David Montgomery, he was still incredible. Just under 1,000 yards, 5.2 yards per carry in eight touchdowns. I mean, this guy is unbelievable. And I believe this year the split will go a little bit more. It'll tilt towards Jameer Gibbs in his favor because of David Montgomery's age. 27 is old for a running back, especially when you are a back like David Montgomery, who has dealt with the punishment of the Chicago Bears offensive line for most of his career.

The line has gotten better, but I think that offensive line in Chicago ages you a bit. So I don't think Montgomery is going to suck, but I think he's not going to be good enough so that it's going to be a 50-50 split. That's going to be the argument I make. And I think Jameer Gibbs, if he just becomes a full-time back, I think he's one of the best in the league, arguably the best, but he's not. David best in the league. Arguably the best. But he's not. David Montgomery's still there, which is why he barely makes my top five. At number four, I have Saquon Barkley. And Saquon is, so for all of the reasons that you have, Saquon, barely in your top five,

he's at number four for me. This guy is working through the best offensive line in the history of his career, which is huge because this kid has had it very difficult since entering the league with the Giants. Perennially one of the worst offensive lines in football. But now you go to one of the best. With an offense that can produce so that you won't be facing stacked boxes, this is about as good as it gets. And the defense, I know the defense fell off for the Eagles in the second half of the season. It'll probably get better. They have the personnel. It'll get better.

And because of that, I mentioned the defense because it keeps the offense rested. So looking at my number four, Saquon Barkley, absolutely at the top of the list, at number four. At number three, here we go. Get ready for Christian McCaffrey to be your number three running back going into the 2024 NFL season. And I know what you're thinking. Well, McCaffrey was one of the best backs, was the best back in the league last year. And he was an MVP candidate. All of that is true. But have you looked at his age?

He's about to be 28 years old. And the running back position, it's the only position in professional sports where you can be in your 20s and be considered past your prime. We are at a point where McCaffrey, yes, I think he's going to produce well enough to be a top three back in this league, but I don't believe that he is going to be good enough to be the best back in the league. And we're at a point in his career where we're taking it year by year. We're waiting for him to just fall apart. And I don't want to hear it about, oh, well, he's with the 49ers, so therefore he's getting less work. He's getting some weight off his shoulders.

That's completely false. This past season, he took the second most amount of carries in a season in his entire career, Carolina included. So it's really – that's a massive misperception. They are still giving – they are still making him take that ball, like a lot, and they're going to do it again this year. and so at number two i have breese hall and the reason i have breese hall is a couple of reasons number one breese hall if he didn't tear his acl he would have been one of the top running backs in the league last year but he did and he came off an an ACL tear and still flirted with a thousand yards and ran for over

four yards of carry. Do you know how unheard of that is? Adrian Peterson did that once. And that was considered one of the best, best seasons in NFL history for a running back. The fact that Brees Hall was still a solid back on this team. Coming off an ACL tear. Historically, the season after your surgery, you are not supposed to be the same. You're supposed to be the same the year after that. Look at Dalvin Cook. Tears his ACL his rookie year. Sophomore season, he was terrible. Season after that, much better. Look at Saquon Barkley. Tore his ACL a few years back.

Year after, 100% not the same. Year after that, 1,300 yards. Looks exactly the same as he always did. It's going to be the same thing with Brees Hall, except Brees actually looked decent in the year following. So what's he going to be on this Jets team with a better offensive line, much better offensive line. They've worked on it a lot this offseason.

A quarterback back there who will make it so defenses will not stack the box against you. And a really good receiving core that will also help that. This is a team that is going to make it so Brees Hall will have an incredible year. Now looking at my number one, I have Bijan Robinson. Bijan Robinson is working behind the best offensive line in the league, arguably one of the best.

And you have now a quarterback who is going to force you, again, to respect the run, respect the receiving game. So again, just like Brees Hall, no stacked boxes. And you also have a new coach with Raheem Morris. And that is important because the last guy was notorious for not using his toys effectively. Now you have a guy who Raheem Morris said himself, our job is to get the ball to B. as much as possible. That is something that is very important because B. John Robinson, he has fresh legs. He's in just his second year in the league, working behind a good offensive line, good toys in the receiving game, quarterback, coach who is prioritizing him. All of these factors make B. John Robinson the best back in the league in 2024. There is my list.

Pretty solid cake of play, and I do agree with your take on Bijan, though, because let's face it, he is going to get more carries, and I definitely think anything lackluster that came out of him was 110 arthur smith's fault and you know what's weird though on a side note is that arthur smith never really cared he's like i don't care about your fantasy team when they asked why they wouldn't use him it's like well with that record you clearly don't care about winning either right and like looking at mcafree again like leshawn mccoy was in his 20s when he fell off. Jamal Charles was in his 20s. Todd Gurley, 20s. Ezekiel Elliott in his 20s. Le'Veon Bell, 20s. Arian Foster in his 20s. Marshawn Lynch, 20s. Chris Johnson, 20s. DeMarco Murray, 20s chris johnson 20s demarco marie 20s notice they're glazing over a lot of the injuries but whatever right okay but how many of them are on christian mccarthy's level maybe bell lynch like i mean i don't know johnson was and he had one season. No, he wasn't.

Chris Johnson? Yeah, it's like, oh, he had the 2,000 yards and then proceeded to do, eh, kind of. Well, Christian McCaffrey's never gotten 2,000 yards. And also, Todd Gillespie. I mean, he was okay. And also, I'd like to point out that the fall-off only came when he switched teams. Same thing with DeMarco Murray. The fall-off was when he switched teams. Arian Foster, the fall-off came when he switched teams. Melvin Gordon, you want to guess when the fall-off came?

Could it be when he switched teams? Ezekiel Elliott, I i mean he was already on the downswing but you saw how he played new england it was terrible so i mean until christian mccaffrey finds another team i mean i mean he did and he was still fine arian foster's last season with houston he had 163 yards interesting but once again you're kind of glossing over the injury. Well, there you go. So there's a correlation to injuries happening when you're in your late

twenties. Do those happen to, with any other position in professional sports? Not really. When you're in your twenties, you're not in your twenties. Yes. Not in your twenties.

Come on, man. Literally. Yeah. Corners are like the same thing. Not like running backs. Okay, cool. They fall apart. But, I mean, yes, you're right about corners. Corners fall off too, but not like this.

Like running backs fall off when you're in your late 20s like they could fall off when they're 27 26 27 sometimes they're late 20s like 28 29 but if it's consistently like if you're past the age of 25 and we're saying oh we're taking it year by year by at this point that's not a good sign for the position. All right, once again, like a lot of these times you just keep glossing over like the fact that they keep getting hurt. And can you please tell me what major injury Christian McCaffrey had last season? Last season?

Yeah, no, exactly. He didn't. And the season before that when he was traded, he didn't. Two straight years of being clean. Now he could get hurt, but I just don't see it. Well, you always don't see it until it happens. I mean, this is the trend with the running back position. It's not the position where you're going so well

and there's no signs of stopping and you just never stop. It'll be going well and then it just stops. And that's kind of the issue. The injuries come because they've been the wear and tear piles up. All right. So how far do you see him falling then then because he's still going to be top five is my point it's just that yeah i don't know it's like i could see him doing better than bijan just because like i don't know i i just that's like the thing is like i can see him

i could see him doing better than bruce hall. It's like – Top three this season. All right, fair. So, I mean, you keep saying that even though you literally still have him top three. So either you don't think the fall off is going to be that bad or you've just spent the past five minutes lying. I think that he's going to be okay this year. But we're taking it year by year. Yeah. I think it would be stupid to be okay this year, but we're taking it year by year. Yeah.

I think it'd be stupid to leave him out of your top five just because he's about to be 28, but he hasn't shown any signs of falling off. And usually they, you know, it takes some time for the, like, they always fall off in their late 20s. And I think with McCaffrey, he'll have one more year. I don't think he'll be as good. That's all I'm saying.

Yeah, that's fair. Okay. We're going to move on. NFC North. We're going to preview Okay, we're going to move on. NFC North. We're going to preview how that division is going to stack up. Lots of different wild cards, who we think is going to do better than the other. That's next. This is the Fumble Rooski Podcast.

It may not have always showed it in the stat sheet, but you can see him making throws when he needs to make the throws. Back-to-back games where he has three touchdowns. Someone's got to get that six or seven spot. He's an elite wide receiver as a rookie. Truly a lose-lose scenario for both sides. Welcome back to the Fumble Rooski podcast by Power 88 and Seek a Weapon Consulting. I'm Adam Wright with CJ Medeiros. The NFC North, the Lions are the defending champions of this division, and there are some aspects that they did improve on with this team. Their secondary has gotten better, but so have a couple other teams in this division.

So you have the Bears, who just added a ton of new weapons. Their offensive line, I think, still looks fine. But they just replaced Justin Fields with Caleb Williams. So I think that's, let's start with them. They added, they added Keenan Allen to play in their slot. And they also added, gee, what's that? In the draft. Roma Dunzay?

They added a Dunzay. And they still have DJ Moore. And they have Cole Komet. And Caleb Williams, if he can play, we've mentioned this all offseason long, if this kid can play, we're going to find out right away. So could that mean a different division champion, or do you think that's too far ahead of schedule? It's too far ahead unless he comes out and plays like C.J. Stroud,

which, by the way, there's no reason why he shouldn't, especially with that team. I'm just saying. Yeah. Like, I think – I don't believe that they're – I don't believe they win the division, but if they – for them to finish with a 10-7 record, I think it's very doable if this kid can actually play um same with uh

same with the packers i mean they have less of a question market quarterback like much less turns out they found another franchise quarterback i think if they just had that number one weapon, I would have much more confidence in this team. But you need something. I'm not saying, like, you have the quarterback, which is the most important piece of the entire rebuild. But where is that number one guy?

You need a target that is going to get you to the promised land. And they don't really have that. Yeah. And look, don't get me wrong. It's not that I dislike Christian Watson as much. It's not that I don't trust Romeo Duggs. But if you're a defensive coordinator, you're like, especially game plan for them, they're scary.

And if you do think that that's what they are, that you really have to game plan for these guys, please seek help. Because none of their weapons really scare me, even their tight end duo there of Musgrave and the other one.

Whose name escapes me. I like Jaden. I like Jaden Reed. I think some of these players like Christian Watson. He was a good number three, but like. Reed? Reed was the number one last year. Yeah, but I don't know.

Like, I mean, I guess, but I just. He was the number one. No, I mean, I get that. I do. I guess. He was there number one. I get that. I do. He's just... I'm not scared of him. By the way, I'm looking at their depth chart right now.

He's their number three. It's Watson, Dubs, and Reed. Don't play with me like that. I'm just saying. I'm just not afraid of any of their weapons. Don't get me wrong. Josh Jacobs and A.J. Dillon, I think, are going to make a formidable duo. But I think that's about it. Okay. And there is one more thing.

Also, they have Josh Jacobs. Did I say that? No, you said, like, Josh Jacobs. Did I say that? No, you said like Josh Dobbs. No, I meant Josh Jacobs. That's what I meant. Josh Jacobs and Aaron Jones. Josh Jacobs and E.J. Dillon. But – E.J. Dillon, yeah, because it's almost like they did a trade.

But like here's – so they never are – they have a lot of question marks in the receiving core. They never are legitimate receiving threats until they become them. No, no, no. I get it. But the thing is – Devontae Adams was never a threat to be a number one guy until he just stepped up and he became that. Same thing with Adam Thielen over on the Vikings. He was never that one guy until he just stepped up one day

and he just became the Vikings' number one guy. It just never got to that point until that was so. They just stepped up. I believe it's the same thing with Jordy Nelson, right? He was a second-round pick. So it's always just they somehow find these guys in the second and third rounds, and it just ends up working out for them. Yeah. No, I get it.

I do. yeah no i get it i do but a lot of it is oh the people are gonna have my head for this one i feel like jordan love is a bigger question mark than we let on do i think he's gonna be good yeah however they gave him an extension i feel like they were a little hasty which i get it better safe than sorry but i just after one year i mean look i think yeah so jordy nelson in three seasons jordy nelson in three seasons never even eclipsed 600 yards he He barely grazed 360 within his first two seasons, 582 in 2010, and then 1,300 in 2011, 745 in an injury-shortened season, 1,300, 1,500, 1,300, injury-shortened 500, and then 700 for Oakland.

But there is kind of a team that they develop wide receivers who are late bloomers. Yeah, no, I get that that except i mentioned jordan love i was just saying it's like i don't know i mean i think love is good i'm not completely sold on him i still think he'll be good but i feel like he's i not going to say he's a huge question mark, but we can't just pretend that he's not. Because, look, don't get me wrong. He really burst out on the scene with over 4,000 yards and 32 touchdowns. But it's just – I don't know. I need to see one more year.

If he's still good next year, then that's great. That's super. But if he's still good next year then that's then that's that's great that's super but if he's not i don't know because what was his record last year do you remember nine and eight exactly but he threw for over 30 he threw for over 30 touchdown passes you know he did he did i think we're going great but it's not about stats because stats are nice but just ask drew breeze about always throwing for 5 000 yards yet going nine and seven back in the day yes improve and furthermore it's just i think he's gonna be fine i feel like i'm being unnecessarily harsh, but I need to see one more year like that before I can be totally sold. Okay. So I think stats don't matter because you have to take them into context.

With Drew Brees, 5,000 yards every year, he had a lot of good weapons, and he also was a major dome quarterback. Look at his home road splits it is disgustingly bad he's a hall of fame quarterback at home he's a good to very good quarterback on the road and it's it's it was bad it was genuinely bad um but with Jordan Love, did not have quite the weapons that he needed. The offensive line was spotty. The coordinating was just okay. The coaching I thought was just meh. And the defense was kind of bad too. I didn't think that defense was all that good, even though they had good personnel. But I think you have to take into consideration the context. If Tua Tungavailoa throws for these kinds of stats, the guy who has Jalen Waddell, Tyreek Hill, a decent offensive line, an offensive-minded head coach, you're playing in Miami

where the ball flies well, then you're thinking, okay, 32 touchdowns to 11 interceptions, 4,100 yards makes sense. And we also think he's a massive question mark because you're thinking, well, you have Tyreek Hill and Jalen Waddell. But with Jordan Love, who did he really have? I feel like Jordan Love's best days are ahead of him because he really doesn't have much to work with right now, and it's only bound to get better for him. Yeah, but you could equally make the case that no one really knew what to expect from him.

We've seen this before where quarterbacks just step up and play out of their mind because there's just no tape on them. However, what will separate him is if he has another good season, which I think he will. But we can't just sit here and say that's a 100% sure thing. I need to see one more season, and that's all I'll say. Okay. Like I said, I felt like I was being unfairly harsh towards him.

That's not a thing. I'm a big fan. But I don't trust anything after one good year i mean he should be fine that's fine um i don't think anything is ever guaranteed something could always happen or he could just and i just don't see how it can be considered fool's gold considering there's really no factors there that were favoring him to make him play better than he really was. I think he overperformed his expectations

rather than made himself look better, if that made any sense whatsoever. I just think everything was working against him. He didn't have a number one target. His offensive line was just okay. It played better than, that's another, the line played better than expected, but it's still just okay line play. You didn't have David Bakhtiari, your bodyguard left tackle, and everything else on that team was just meh, but he still elevated them to the playoffs. To do more with less is a quality of an elite quarterback. It's something that Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes both did, and Joe Burrow has done as well.

So we'll see what his ceiling will be. I'm certainly not making comparisons. I'm just saying that I'm just comparing the quality. He has qualities that we have seen in other elite quarterbacks, all-time greats. So we'll see what happens. But I think this kid can play. And I think it's about as close to 100% as it can get, without injuries being a factor, of course.

All right, well, that's all this. Actually, no, no, no. Let's finish up our NFC North here. Because those, I think, are the two most interesting ones. It was the Bears and the Packers. The Lions, this is their division to lose so there's really not much to cover there but what i'll ask you is with this lions team what is so what is the expectation for them this is their division to lose so we're not

debating that that's not up for debate if they lose this division then that's on them but yeah where do we see them going from here because they have jared goff at quarterback amon ross st brown sam laporte sam lap, one of the best offensive lines in the league. A defense that worked on its secondary. That's what we're looking at here. I generally think that their expectations, I mean, they made the NFC championship game last year. So I would think their expectations have to be super bowl right i mean i know it's weird to say and you know history we're would make you say lions super bowl really this is not the lions of yore they're not the thing is the only thing that i think is stopping them

and i don't like admitting this is dan campbell let's be real he is the only is stopping them. And I don't like admitting this as Dan Campbell. Let's be real. He is the only thing stopping them. Like literally the only thing that can stop them is coaching. And he can be a little too aggressive for his own good. And look, that's fine during the regular season, but he needs to know there's a time and a place.

And in the playoffs, I don't know, especially when you're up, I don't really think that's necessarily a wise idea because all it takes is one drive and the entire game can fall apart. And honestly, I feel like Jared Goff deserves respect. I really do. There were some rough patches, but he's smoothing out nicely a bit later than maybe we would have wanted. But patches but he's smoothing out nicely a bit later than maybe would have wanted but still he's good i mean 30 touchdowns 12 picks 4575 yards and armed to the

teeth with weapons and a defense that has actually taken steps to improve that that i mean there's a reason like you mentioned is their division to lose And I do think Super Bowl is actually a reasonable expectation for them. They, I mean, on paper, they're one of, if not the best teams in the NFC North. And frankly, they would have to be in the conversation, at least to represent the NFC. Winning it, you know, against one of those stacked AFC teams is going to be a tall order, but they should at least make it.

I mean, that should be like something they should be eyeballing, yeah? Yeah, I think the biggest factor for them has been their secondary. It was one of the worst in the league last year, but then you add Terryry and arnold through the draft and you add carlton day uh carlton davis as your other corner as well um that is a massive upgrade about over what they had last year and i think if this secondary plays as well as it could, then their weaknesses grow very, very thin. So I do believe that the division is not up for debate. They should win this division. But my problem is Jared Goff. I once thought that he could be a Super Bowl winning quarterback

because he got them to a Super Bowl once. He got the Rams there. But how much of that was the rest of the team making him look better? Kind of the same way it is here. He knows how to use his weapons. Great. He knows how to win games. Great. There's a lot of quarterbacks who can do that. What makes him close to some of the Super Bowl champion quarterbacks in recent memory? Matthew Stafford, Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning. Look at all of those quarterbacks. They were actually truly elite quarterbacks. I don't think Jared Goff is.

So will they – well, Brock Birdie also went to a Super Bowl. So can they go to a Super Bowl? Yeah. And I think that's where I – that is what your expectation should be if you're the Lions. I think go to the Super Bowl. If you win it, that's bonus. Because I just don't know if I have any faith in Jared Goff. And your point about Dan Campbell is valid too.

He almost – he pretty much lost in that game. Pretty much. The amount of times that he goes for it when you just don't need to. Just take the damn points, dude. Exactly. I like Dan Campbell. I think he's a good coach. I think he sends a good message into that locker room.

But you need to make sure you have some sort of control. Aggression under control. And he just doesn't have that. All right. One question I have for the Vikings because we need to end the show. Yeah. If J.J. McCarthy is ready to start, does he make an impact on this team quickly?

By default? Yes. However, I just think the other teams are too stacked against them. I mean, they could probably get third. I mean, solely because he is Addison and Jefferson, but I'm also not sold on their defense either.

I mean, the pass rush is good, but I'm not afraid of anything else. They have a good defense that's improving. They have a – we don't even have to talk about their pass-catching core. Their pass-catching is tremendous. But their offensive line is, I guess, fine. It's okay if if sam darnold is starting there's no there's no intrigue no no no absolutely besides fantasy

stats for the pass catchers which again doesn't matter i just think like if J.J. McCarthy isn't starting for this team, I don't care about them as a whole. Unless you're playing fantasy football, I don't care. Sam Darnall isn't taking this team anywhere, especially in this division. But if J.J. McCarthy can play, it's going to depend on how he plays. But even then, still, there's no guarantee they go anywhere in this division because they're all competitive. They all can make a case that they can be pretty good this year.

So why is it any different for the Vikings here? All right. That's all the scheduled content we have. Do you have anything else before we end the show tonight? No, I don't. All right. Cam Sutton suspended by the league for eight games for the Steelers. Understandable.

Guy kind of fell off. Obviously doesn't deserve a segment. That's all I'm going to say on that. That'll do it for us tonight. Thank you for listening to us. We have new episodes out on Tuesdays at 7.30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel. We have all our episodes available on Spotify, Spreaker, Apple Podcasts,

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