The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 09/20/2021 - HOUR 3 - QB, Three Word Game

Episode Date: September 20, 2021

It's OK to be boring at QuarterbackThree Word Game: Colin describes NFL games in 3 wordsGuest: Howie Long Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

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Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor it? It signals to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to.

Listen and learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversation.

with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the herd at Fox SportsRadio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching heard you're listening to fox sports radio good to have you in howie long

played for 13 years super bowl champ a hall of famer an eight-time pro bowler it's raiders now boy i whiffed on that and i i just did not i didn't see it going in the right direction you know joy you and i talked about this they won like you know gruden won like six and seven and eight and now you're like they're improving every year. They could very easily start 3-0. If you'd have said to me they opened with the Ravens and at the Steelers, I'd have said, oh, and-in-fact I did on my little pocket thing. I did 0-2, their 2-0.

The former Raider Howie Long, NFL on Fox is joining us. I will say this. You know, Derek Carr went to Fresno State. We don't pay any attention to him. He didn't come in with a high profile. But I watched that game yesterday, Howie. He outperformed Big Ben. He

moved around. Gruden's Henry Ruggs now? Looks like he can play a little bit. Your interpretation of what you've seen from the Raiders so far? Well, I thought Henry Ruggs is in the Witness Protection Program out there in Vegas. Where did Henry Ruggs go? To me, the thing that opens the whole offense up, the running game, the underneath. I mean, they targeted Waller 19 times week one.

He is, you know, and you could make the same case for Waller. I mean, Waller is as dynamic and talented. a tight end as we have in the league. And we saw that on display last night, obviously, it was Kansas City. But Henry Ruggs gives you something that I think every offense needs is, he breaks the huddle, he's out wide, he throws the fear of God into your secondary. Sure. He can change the game in one play. And I haven't seen enough of that. And I think with Derek, you know, it's a couple of things. One, you got to win. And, you know, when we talk about the great quarterbacks and we can go down the list, they all have one thing in common. They all win.

And they're all Uber competitive. They're demonstrative. They demand excellence from the minute they walk in the building right through to Sunday. And they're the same way Monday through Friday and Saturday. And I think when you have a head coach who's also larger than life, as John Gruden is, I think, you know, the numbers are there for Derek. car, they come from behind wins, you know, the yardage, the completion percentage, all that. The next step is winning. And I think, you know, when you win, I think people will come, you build it, they'll come. They open the stadium up with fans for the first time.

And it was an amazing week one victory. And I think in many ways that can kind of, I think snowball, it has a snowball effect. Like when you win that kind of game, come from behind. Last play of the game, Baltimore's had success with the blitz. They go zero blitz. They know the call. They pick it up. It's a one-man route.

Cars under pressure. He makes the throw. The throw he made the rubs yesterday was amazing. Yeah. So, you know, I've watched Kansas City in the first two weeks. And, you know, we know between Andy Reed and Mahomes and Kelsey, I don't worry about that side of the ball. But I've also watched for two weeks in a row. The Browns and the Ravens make Mahomes a spectator.

Is that just because Cleveland and Baltimore are the two best run teams in the league? Or do you see, when you watch Kansas City, do you see a team that will stop everybody from running the ball? You know, I think that's a really good point. I think the two teams you're talking about the Browns and the Ravens. I mean, the Ravens, they have a 300-pound fullback. I mean, they're not fooling anyone with. what they want to do. Lamar Jackson is as dynamic a runner and it's it's as unique in offense

as you could run in the NFL and everyone you have to have a plan and everyone needs to be in position and then he gets you in space and space could be two three yards and he makes great athletes look ordinary and I think both of those quarterbacks last night are two of the most Uber competitive quarterbacks in football. It just competitiveness just oozes out of both

of them. And I think at times they take chances and that flip in the end zone. Certainly, I'd be having a conversation with them about the flip in the end zone. But at the end of the game,

John Harbaugh, he made the decision that through whatever you want to call, the numbers. And he asked the question. I think it was a rhetorical question. Lamar, do you want to go for it?

And he did the same thing versus Seattle a couple of years ago. And he knew the answer to the question. And Lamar knows, and he's comfortable with the fact that, like Patrick Mahomes, I want the ball in my hands. And it's easy right now on Monday and say, in second guess, you know, handing the ball off. But you have to trust you running back. You know, you're in field goal position at the end of the game.

it's tempting just not to take the ball out of Patrick Mahomes's hands. Although both of those quarterbacks, because they're so competitive and they're so confident, they both made big mistakes during the course of that game yesterday. So the NFC West has explosive Arizona, Russell and Seattle, the Rams, 49ers defense has just shut teams down. If I said, I mean, the whole division, is there a team in that division, though, that you you think their style wears well for 17 weeks. If I said to you, let's go to week 13, 14. Because, you know, Big Ben looks old now in week two.

I don't even want to see him in week 14. But is there a style in the NFC West that you think the style wears better long term? First, to go back to Big Ben, one of my favorite players to watch over the course of his career, remarkable player. It's, you know, and I had a defensive line coach, and Earl Leggett and Michael had the same. defensive line coach. And he said something prophetic. You know, when it goes, it goes quickly. Yeah.

And here's the problem. You don't know when it's going to go. It could go in May. It could go in August. It could go in September. And Ben looks like a guy who needs a lot of support, run game, defense, all of more. And it's tough.

But when we get to the West, you know, I think the quarterback to the Rams changes everything. Is the offensive line as good as they were when they were pounding people with Gurley and Gurley was great? No. Is the running back, you know, stable there as good as it was when Gurley was great and everything was running off the play action? No. But the quarterback, he opens so much of your game plan up and he makes extraordinary throws and decisions. and the defense is a championship defense.

And I think when you're talking about the best teams in football, you'd be hard pressed to say, I think Tampa Bay right now and maybe the Rams, going back to Kansas City in terms of them stopping people and being run on. I don't want to go all over the place here, but you look back, Steve Spagnola is the defense coordinator there And that year that the Giants won the Super Bowl with Michael and upset the Patriots,

they started that year, oh and two, and that defense gave up record numbers. Steve will get it figured out. And Andy addressed that last night, and I think very directly in his post-game press conference. Mistakes were made, the tackling, the plan being in the right place. the expectations in buildings like Tampa Bay, now with Tom Brady, in Baltimore historically, in Pittsburgh, in Kansas City, the expectations are so high. And your commitment has to be so high. And you just have to think that between Andy and Steve, they'll get it right.

It's not like they don't have players. Tampa Bay struggled on defense so far this show. year, but Tom is, it defies logical, never see anything. Yeah, what do you make of Brady? Give me your thoughts on what, what do you make of, it looked pretty effortless yesterday? Well, it's kind of like Indiana Jones. He chose wisely, you know, going back to the initial decision. And, you know, they're loaded down there on offense.

And he has an embarrassing wealth of talent around him. Gronk is, one, gronk to me at this point last year, year looked like a guy who had retired for a year and wasn't healthy. Right. It took him six, seven weeks. I think it took seven, eight weeks for them last year to figure out what Tom liked and how the marriage of Bruce's offense and Byron Lefich would marry up with Tom. And everyone talks about Tom really kind of came around on throwing the ball deep.

He didn't like to do that. No, Tom doesn't want to get hit. Plus, he's in his 40s. And last year we come to find out he's playing with an MCL tear that required surgery in the off season. One, he's healthy. Two, they had an offseason. They had OTAs. And now when they throw the ball deep, which Tom is doing exceptionally well,

they're doing it off a play action pass and it's six, seven in protection initially. And Tom can make the throw. One thing that Bruce Aaron's quarterbacks had in common wherever he was, where there was Arizona, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, he's throwing the ball deep and the quarterback's getting hit. There's no risket, no biscuit, all that, and that's real. But Tom, I think, he kind of crafted a new style of Bruce Ariens' offense. And I think they both kind of met in the middle.

But that protection now with 6-7 and protection on deep balls allows Tom the opportunity to stand tall, make the throw, survey the secondary, and go. Yeah. Howie, it's great seeing you. Beautiful home there behind you. Take care of yourself and we'll talk soon. I love you coming on our show on a Monday. Yeah, take care, guys.

Good talking with you. Yeah, you know, the Brady thing is interesting. You go back to last year and we remember this. They had some really bad Sundays. You know, we forget how hard it was. They had no preseason. No preseason. You were trying to marry, as how he said.

Bruce Ariens, you know, throw it down the field. it's amazing. I look at that and we're going to, it's just remarkable that they were able to kind of, with some really bad performances, Tom and Tampa kind of kept their head above water. It's kind of a rebuilding division. They won some games.

And then they were really choppy. Then they got a buy and they took off. But it's, I don't know if we understand in the middle of a raging pandemic with no preseason, the fact that they were competent in September. Literally, you're taking a quarterback that does this and a coach that demands that with a new right tackle, a new playbook, a new quarterback coach,

and you go back to their September and early October games, and they were inconsistent. But it's pretty remarkable. Remember they were doing practices at high schools in Tampa? It's pretty remarkable they were as resilient as they were early because that season could have gone sideways after a couple of those losses to the Saints. Yeah, I'm looking at their schedule last year.

Remember, they lost the Saints, 3423. Really ugly, too. And then it was a close game with the Chargers, 38, 31. They lost to the Bears 2019. And looked ugly. Yeah, they had a couple. Oh, no, it was a mess. A couple rough games in there, 25, 23 against the Giants,

and then the Saints, the 38 to 3 loss later in the season. I mean, it was, because I remember predicting they'd be a wildcard team. And after about six weeks, I'm like, I don't know. I don't know, even in that division. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeard Radio, app. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal,

but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on

10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying.

Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement

to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations,

stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people.

I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do a little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at It podcast. I'm Sam Jett. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s.

To be clear, 84 is big to me not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people.

Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Pie. or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Keer Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience

in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses.

Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth, or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines,

as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free. iHeartRadio app search learn the hard way and listen now. Joy with the news. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news.

Well, team, I think we're all going to be safely right about as the Jacksonville Jaguars this year. Not great. Well, I guess Jacksonville fans were expecting big things this year. They might be excited about it, but I don't know about expectations, but you know, you can't talk to fans. Urban Meyer and Trevor Lawrence are not having a great start. O-N-2. Some other teams around the league that are O-N-2 as well.

It happens. Yeah. But it's been a little rough for the first two games. And Urban is urging fans not to give up on them just yet. From myself, our staff, and our players, thanks for being there. Don't give up on us. Hang in there with us. We're going to get better.

And the one thing about Jacksonville and the 904 go to sleep, no owner's not going to be any group work harder to get this thing flipped. It's two games into the season. Last week we were talking about Irmaier leaving for USC after one loss to the Houston Texans, and now it's like we got to talk to the fan base.

Jacksonville Jaguar fans, you're not going to be good this year. Just let that go down slowly. It's a development year. They've stripped it down to the bare bones. We have no expectations of this team whatsoever. Yeah, I mean, I think what we all understood is it was going to be bad. How would Urban, who just doesn't

lose games, how would he handle losing? Because you can't freak out. And Trevor Lawrence those games either. Right. But I think Trevor's more chill. Urban's very intense. And it's like, okay, you're going to lose games. You may be 0 and 6. You can't be barking at players. Like, this is, you know, because Urban's

college career is fascinating. Even more so than Nick, Sabin, he turned everything around, Joy, immediately. Bowling Green, Utah, Florida, Ohio State. in the first year. So he's never had a bad year. I mean, Nick Saban at Michigan State at LSU,

even his first year at Alabama, you're like, oh, this is clunky. Like, Urban's never had that. He turned four places around. Remember, he took over Ohio State. They were six and seven. They went 12 and 0. Like, so he's never had.

He's never dealt with the suffering. No. And by the way, he's a great coach, but it's not, the NFL is a whole different ballgame. If you can't block up front, You know, like right now, they don't have a pass rush, and their protection for Trevor is incredibly spotty.

So that takes two drafts and two free agency periods just to get the lines right. Well, what I'm saying is this is a process. You've got to be patient with this here. So fans, if you're bailing after two games, that's news for you. Chill out. You might want to switch allegiances. It's going to be a process as it should be.

What you want to see in this year from Jacksonville is a little bit of progress towards the end of the season. Yeah, remember, Brian Flores' first game as a Dolphins coach. Baltimore dropped like a 50 burger on him. September's just going to be ugly, but I will say they got a couple games. I think they have Cincinnati coming up. They should be able to compete in that game.

Well, Andy Dalton was forced to leave the Bears game yesterday with an injury, clearing the way for Justin Fields to get extended playing time. He was 6 of 13 for 60 yards and an interception. He said after the game, he wasn't pleased with his performance, but the Bears did get the win, 2017. and Field says he'll be prepared to start next week if Dalton is out. Yeah, this was not a beautiful game. Burrow had...

Oh, boy, he really struggled. He was... Yeah, it was not great. He threw multiple interceptions back to back to back. But he'd thrown just five interceptions in 10 games and six picks in his final season with LSU. He hadn't thrown an interception in his previous 199 attempts, which was the longest active street in the NFL at the time. So he had three interceptions yesterday, two touchdowns as well.

But it was just, it's very uncharacteristic. Listen, I remember Tom Brady, and I'm not analogous to Bradie. I remember Brady going on the road one time at Buffalo and having four right in the middle of his career. You're going to have, Josh Allen last week, you're going to have terrible Sundays. This is not college. I don't care. Brady last year had two terrible Sundays. So you just, what you have to do, is.

is what Lamar Jackson did last night. He had a terrible first half. You know, he threw two bad picks. You have to compartmentalize it. Boom. Don't let the first half beat you in the second. And so like Joe Burroughs. Yes.

Like Joe Burrow, I think had three straight interceptions on three passes. Yeah. It's like, okay, this is going to happen another four or five times in your career. He just had a bad, bad quarter. Yeah. I just unfortunately ended up in a loss for them. So, but it's, I don't, this is not characteristic of how he plays. Now, Andy Dalton had an MRI.

and is reportedly confirmed as a bone bruise in his knee. So no official determination has been made if he's going to play next week. Matt Nagy said Dalton is the starter if he's healthy, but it's going to be a day-to-day thing to see if he's going to be available for the next game. So the Packers were the subject of heavy scrutiny after their ugly week one loss of the Saints. During his media availability on Friday, Matt LaFleur was still getting questions about that game, and he is over it. You guys like, we'd like to revisit the New Orleans Saints game quite a bit.

Do we have any Detroit Lions questions? That's what happens. That's what happens when you go out there. I stay away from this. What is it about 11 points? 12. The Fox Bet the Packers are favored by 12. That's a lot of points in the NFL.

Even for the Lions. You know what? I want to see the kneecap eater. I want to watch Jared Gough and Dan Campbell tonight. I don't care if it's just. a blowout. I sat through that horrible Niner Eagle game yesterday and that was Drek. It was awful. I don't

care. I like these. Just give me a good first half and I'm good. By the way, I watched Cleveland Texans yesterday. That's a good football game. That was a good football game. Texans aren't terrible. Tyrod Taylor's the classic. Well, yes. And then he got injured. So now

they'll be bad Thursday. But he's a grown-up. Like, you're not going to give the game away. No, he's not. No. That's too many points for me. So just in my spirit. But I'm very interested in this game because your philosophy is when you have a good team that gets smashed. They always play better. They play better. Matt LaFleur is obviously tired of talking about it.

So in that locker room, they're probably like, okay, it happens. Let's move forward and let's go out and let everybody know who we are this week. I never bet big favorites. I would be, I never do. I may bet the Packers tonight. When you get humiliated. I do think that they are going to come out and shut everybody up. I think it's going to be 14-0-0, 5 minutes in.

Can I make that? They're not as bad as they looked against the Saints. And if you look at what happened with the Saints this week, like, the beginning of the season is weird. I guarantee you Green Bay scores first tonight. I don't know if the... I'm sure there's a lot of right. They're going to score first.

Yeah. They'll be so finely tuned on their opening drive. They probably have nine plays scripted trick plays. Yeah, it might take 45 seconds. I'm with you on that one. for sure. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news.

And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lie News. It is. So Thursday we have Panthers and Texans, Texans with a backup. You know, it is funny. I watched Tyrod Taylor yesterday in Bridgewater and Dak to a large degree. Sometimes you just have to be boring. The Tyrod Taylor just completes.

He never misses a lap. You give him a guy open. Tyroid. Not going to do spectacular stuff. But like when I watch Teddy Bridgewater, good players, Teddy never misses a lap. Not going to give you a lot over the top.

And it's amazing how that works. Like you think this game is all fireworks, but a lot of it's just like, DAC yesterday, just hit the open dudes. Ask Robert Sala if he was like a nice, boring game. Mack Jones, by the way, yesterday. Yep.

Mac Jones in two games. What does he have one touchdown pass? I mean, there's just, he is making no mistake. They don't need a. from him. Nope. We talked about this. Just don't mess it up. They're going to win. Just don't wreck the Mercedes. Defense good, coach, good, coordinator, good, O-line, good, run game good. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific.

Hey, what's up everybody? It's me, three-time Pro Bowl of LaVar Arrington, and I couldn't be more excited to announce a new podcast called Up on Game. What is Up on Game, you ask? Along with my fellow Pro Bowler, T.J. Hushman Zada, and Super Bowl. champion. Yep, that's right. Plexico Burris. You can only name a show with that type of talent on it. Up on Game. We're going to be sharing our real life experiences loaded with teachable moments. Listen to Up On Game with me, LaVar Arrington, T.J. Hushmanzada, and Plexico Burris on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast from. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraging.

It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way,

this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment,

and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs?

Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jett. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s.

To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because. of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes.

I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own

experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tript Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses.

Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines,

as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app. Search learn the hard way and listen now. Escape QuickBooks with NetSuite by Oracle, the number one financial system. NetSuite.com slash heard. Have control over your e-commerce, financials, and more.

All right, three-word game. It forces us to be very succinct explaining what we saw this weekend, starting with Thursday. So here we go. Thursday Giants at the Washington Football. team giant question marks. O and two for the fifth straight year, major offensive line issues, gave the game away with a dumb penalty late, not good in the red zone offensively. Can Daniel Jones play? A lot of questions. Patriots at Jets, major jet lag. Zach Wilson, quarterback, first player in the last 30 years, to 3,000.

throw three picks in his first five attempts. Stop showing off. Stop doing Johnny Mansell. Take the easy completions. Denver at Jacksonville. Teddy is steady. Bridgewater, second in the entire league in completion percentage. No turnovers.

Never misses a layup. There he had some pressure. Denver's got really nice weapons. Tight end. O-line's okay. perimeter weapons, backs. This is a really, really. This is a top 10 roster in the league.

Now they have a grown-up running it. Buffalo at Miami. No dolphin sightings. Dolphins offense 30th in the league in yards, 31st in points. We said you better move off to a. He's not special. And Josh Allen is.

By the way, the bills with Josh Allen have won six straight against Miami, scoring at least 31 points. They knew Josh Allen was giving of nightmares. They still stuck with Tua. Niners at Eagles, now that hurts. Jalen Hertz, 53% completion percentage. And as of right now, Jalen Hertz is 2 and 4 as a starter. They're going to give him this year,

but that's where he stands right now, 2 and 4 as a starter. Rams at Colts can't trust Carson. Listen, Carson Wentz leads the NFL in giveaways since the start of last season. Fumbles, didn't love all the play calling yesterday at the goal line, but he's just reckless and sloppy. Can't be if you want to win in this league. Raiders at Steelers, offense looked pitiful. Okay, last year, the Steelers were 31st in rushing. Okay?

Or this year, they're 31st in rushing. Last year they were last. and they got Naji Harris. So there's an offensive line issue. They've been outgained by 213 yards in the first two games. I still can't get over how they beat Buffalo. This offense is just inefficient. It's kind of Chase Claypool dominant.

Ben looks old. And as Howie Long said, you get old fast. Like you wake up and you're old. He looks really old. Bengals at Bears. burrowed in pocket. Right now he didn't have time to throw. Last two games, Joe Burrell's been sacked nine times.

They're 27th and passing yards a game. I like him. They got nice weapons, but he's running for his life. Houston and Cleveland, classic Cleveland formula. Seven rushing touchdowns in two games leads the NFL. They've rushed, have the Browns for 150 yards in their first two games. By the way, this is great for Baker Mayfield, because if you watch this game, Baker's completion percentage is over 80% because he's thrown on second and four and third and two.

And we said, Kevin Stefansky has created a formula. And Baker Mayfield, when he doesn't have to play from behind or he's left to his own ad-libbing and devices, Baker's fine. He was very good yesterday, although he's not a linebacker, stop trying to tackle people. Saints at Panthers. Darnold's Golden Rule, as in Matt Rule, 69% completion percentage, averaging 300 yards in the first two games, accuracy increased, mistakes have dropped. Matt Rule is a really, really special young coach in Carolina. Vikings at Cardinals, miraculous Minnesota meltdown.

Well, right now, Kyler-Marie is second in the league in passing yards, tied with Tom Brady for nine passing touchdowns, and the Vikings had it and missed a makeable field goal in Arizona now, and they need a break in that division, they're 2 and 0. Falcons at Buccaneers, another dominant performance. First time in his career, nine touchdowns in the first two weeks. he's never lost a game to the Falcons, 9-0. He looks, I guess the word I would use, comfortable. He looks really comfortable. And Howie Long brought this up.

Gronk looked like an old guy last year. That's what happens when you're down in that Tampa humidity and sun, and you work out for six months. Gronk looks great. Gronk is a real weapon again. And unlike the New England days when he got doubled, you can't double him anymore. So he's getting a lot of opportunities.

Good for Rob. Titans at Seahawks, King Henry lives. First ever home loss to start the season for Pete Carroll. Tenth game in his career with 150 yards and a couple of touchdowns. Third all time. It may be a passing league, but when that guy gets loose in the secondary, it is like a refrigerator coming downhill and kids trying to stop it. Good luck.

Cornerbacks trying to tackle that guy because he's just as fast. as you and weighs 70 pounds more. Cowboys at Chargers. Another penalty flag. Different coach, same Chargers. L.A.'s first in the NFL in penalty yards. 12 penalties for 99 yards. Two touchdowns by the Chargers called back.

I'm not sure if Dallas won or the Chargers beat the Chargers. Chiefs at the Ravens. A remarkable. ending. Do you know that Lamar Jackson has the third most rushing yards of any player in the league? That's insane. He's different, but I don't think he's nearly the inefficient passer, everybody says, because because of the running lanes and because of all this, as you're watching on television, he owns the linebackers. Linebackers are frozen. Every snap, linebackers, when you face the Ravens are frozen, and it opens up these wide gaps in the middle of the field.

You're getting a lot of, Mark Andrews, a lot of open underneath routes because linebackers, watch them. Watch the Chiefs linebackers. You're frozen. It's the opposite of Matt Ryan. You can drop right in the coverage. With Lamar, you're stuck in that half a second is that tight end getting a jump on you. Finally, Lions at Packers, return of Rogers. 17 and 5 all time, starter against Detroit.

force rate. Also, Aaron has been great on Monday night football because he gets a chance to perform. He knows he's on television. He likes that. He likes the podium. I would be shocked if they didn't win. Not much shocks me in this league. I would be shocked if they didn't win. The question is, can they generate a pass rush? Because Jared Goff, comfortable Jared Goff, is pretty effective, Jared Goff. Now, against the Niners, Jared Goff was facing discomfort, pass rush. So Jared, and has been prone to this, can get more turnover prone. But Jared Goff, with time to throw, pretty good deliver distributor of the football.

So let's see how much time Jared Goff has to throw tonight. That can make it competitive. If the Packers can't get a pass rush, you'll have a competitive football game. They won't win, but you'll have a competitive football game. It's all about the Packers Pass Rush. If the Packers lose this game, it will be anarchy. Oh, anarchy. You know, I don't, I try not to.

You know, I'd like my blazing five bets to win. I want to go into games with an open mind. They're players, Justin Herbert. They're players I want to see perform well. I don't want to see Justin Herbert throw red and zone picks. Joe Burrow, like I don't want to see him throw three picks on three plays. But in terms of games, I, like last night, if Kansas City had beaten Baltimore, maybe it's a better lead for us today because Lamar just again can't beat Mahomes. I'm not saying I'm rooting against Green Bay, but tomorrow's show.

will be really easy if Green Bay loses. What if they lost ugly? Oh, Lord. I don't think that's going to happen. No. Endless hot water, Navian, tankless maidsimble.com, 15-year limited warranty, saves you space, money on your bill. We'll see you tomorrow in L.A. It's the herd.

Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite, unhumored me with Robert Smygel and friends, me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you, funnier. This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games.

Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast, Superhuman, documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host, Kier Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations,

that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor. It signals to the world that you not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to. Listen to learn the hard way on the AHA radio app,

Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. On the Look Back at it podcast. For 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84's big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick you. here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it, with our friends,

fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.