The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 and Out - 49ers - Seahawks Rivalry Has Flipped, Seahawks Need To “Roll The Dice” Rodgers Plays Dumb On Saleh Firing, Stuckey’s Betting Advice

Episode Date: October 11, 2024

John reacts to the 49ers beating Seattle for the 6th straight time on Monday Night Football and explains why the Hawks/Niners rivalry has flipped in recent years, why the refs completely blew the replay review and why Seattle needs to roll the dice in order to change the trajectory of the franchise. Then, an Aaron Rodgers edition of  "Fugazi Friday"  Finally, John is joined by The Action Networks betting guru, Stuckey to talk about the weekend's best bets. 6:00 - Niners/Seahawks rivalry has flipped 19:00 - Refs can’t miss a replay review like that 26:00 - Seattle needs to roll the dice 40:15 - Stuckey’s betting advice (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements.) Follow John on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for the latest. Check out Gametime - the fastest growing ticketing app in the US, and the official ticketing app of 3 & Out and GoLow -  for tickets to all of your favorite NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA teams. Concert and comedy show tickets, too. Go to Gametime now to create an account, download the app and use code JOHN for $20 off your first purchase. #Volume #HerdSee 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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see dkng.com slash FT Ball. What is going on? How's everybody doing? The R-N-Out podcast. That'd be me, John Middilkoff, speaking to you live from Nashville after watching the 49ers. I would say dominate Seattle,

but the game got pretty interesting there in the second half. The final score reflects, I think, what we witnessed the majority of the game. Niners score 36 points, which is a refreshing outcome for Niner fans, how they have blown back-to-back divisional games

with the Rams and the Cardinals. And last week, the Cardinal game, it kind of felt like it was happening again, ride at the ship, get a big win, and go to three and three as does Seattle. Gino Smith continues his poor play. We'll dive into it all. obviously it's also Fugazi Friday

and Stucky will join us as he does every Friday and I talked a little bit about it with him but there was one giant Fugazi this week and it came on a phone call that happened on Monday night in New York or New Jersey or wherever the hell Woody and Aaron Rogers live in their mansions

back in the Northeast but what a moment Robert Sala going to just go on vacation. I think Mike Silver tweeted his plans, because I was getting asked like, should the 49ers just hire him as their defensive coordinator? And Mike Silver knows all these guys was like he plans on getting his kids and going on vacation. So if you're just a young and he has like 15 kids. So if you're just like a 12 year old in the middle of school and your dad gets fired as football coach,

he just gets to take you on vacation, that would be pretty sweet life. My dad never would have done that. He might have gone on vacation. My ass would have been in school. But if that's the case, prop. to the solid kids for enjoying life. But we'll dive into it all. Pick some bets for the weekend's games.

Obviously, we've got a big game with college games this weekend as well. But subscribe to the podcast. If you listen on Apple, iTunes, if you listen on Collins feed, make sure you subscribe also YouTube channel, all of our contents there. But before we dive into some football, you know I got to tell you about my friends, my partners, and the official ticketing app of this podcast. Game time.

Here's the thing with game time. This weekend, you know, I don't get to go to many games anymore because this is, I just have to be home on Sunday, so it's really hard to get out. And you miss so much if you go to an NFL game. But this weekend on Saturday, I'm going to the Red River rivalry, which I'm really, really fired up to do.

And I'm doing it because of game time. They made it really easy. You can search by price point. You can search where you want to sit. You can search by venue. You can search by team. It really is the easiest ticketing app I've ever used, and I just highly recommend it. So here's the thing.

Take the guest work out of buying tickets with GameTime, download the GameTime app, create an account, and use the code John for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Again, create an account and redeem the code, J-O-H-H-N for $20 off. Download the GameTime app today, last-minute tickets, lowest price. C guaranteed. The 49ers. You know, let's just start with the rivalry because it had become a really, really good game and considered a rivalry. And it started with Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll. And then it carried into Kyle Shanahan and Pete Carroll. And now I think it has a chance to continue with Mike McDonald and Kyle Shanahan. But it's always been one-sided. Russell Wilson was 17 and 4 against the 49ers. He completely owned them.

Like he dominated the rivalry. Some of his most magical moments of his career felt like they came against the 49ers. I mean, he destroyed them. And I'll give Seattle a ton of credit. When they pivoted off of them, which I was guilty, like a lot of people, I probably talked a lot of shit. I thought it was not that it was a bad move in the sense of moving on from them, but they're like, we're going to go with Gino Smith and Drew Locke.

Like, that ain't going to work. That it would be a disaster and their team would fall apart. Turns out they were geniuses. They got rid of Russell Wilson, which was incredible for 49er people, whether you're on the team, whether you're a fan, whether you're a coach. It's like, get that guy out of the division. And if you're a Seattle fan, it's like your franchise has been very respectable. One nine games last couple years, one of the playoffs two years ago,

looks kind of similar right now. Probably end up nine-ish wins with Gino Smith. but it's flipped this to Seattle owns the Niners to now the Niners own Seattle. They're six and no against Gino Smith. And the Gino Smith, who listen, I have a lot of respect for resurrecting your career. But when he plays against the 49ers, he looks like the guy who was available for nothing a couple years ago, who any team could have had as a backup. He just doesn't play well against them.

And this was the guy a couple weeks ago against Detroit on that Monday night game. It's like, I get Brian Branch's out, but. Holy shit. I mean, he was slicing. He looked fantastic in that game. He never plays like that against the 49ers. And obviously, part of that is the 49ers pass rush. Bosa, I don't know what his final line was, but he was in Gino's just grill all night long, moving from the left side to the right side, spin moves, counter moves, power moves. So I don't know if he gets rattled off that.

And just Fred flying around, the Niners DPs, obviously he threw two picks today. One pick was, his first one was pretty attractive. The second one, Herb Street kind of mentioned Renardo Green, the rookie from Florida State, undercuts it, DK probably ran a bad route. But just to the theme of this game, and this new kind of addition of the rivalry with ran by Gino and now with Mike McDonald

is completely one-sided. I mean, the 49ers fucking owned these guys now that Russell's gone, which is good for them. They need it. Obviously, they needed this game, but this used to be a place that was intimidating for them to play. It is a hard place to play. It gets really loud.

You could tell it was getting loud in the second half. And the 49ers are pretty unfaced. And I think one thing that's crazy about the 49ers, three divisional games, and it felt like for a moment, like if Seattle scores here on the nine or lose, does Jed York let Kyle Shanahan fly on the plane right home? I mean, it would have been a carbon copy

for three straight divisional games. The same thing, dominating the game. I look back. they outgain the Rams they buy a lot I think by like 140 yards they outgained Arizona last week not by as much but they outgained

them so you like yardage and moving the ball has not been a problem but they have been horrendous in the red zone I think last week they were one and six and I know I saw a clip where Colin said on the TV show that Purdy has come back to the mean and I would have to disagree with that

I actually think party's been pretty good this season. I actually think Kyle has had an off season, have been terrible in the red zone. There were a couple drives today early in the red zone. You're like, Kyle, none of these plays are even remotely close. And then there was a drive where I think, oh, is the end of the first half for Seattle, where Ryan Grubb is clearly a pretty good O.C. Now, they didn't end up scoring, but like all three plays,

the guy was open, the DBs made a couple good plays, and one play, D.K. stepped out of bounds. But it was like, Kyle, whatever you're doing right now in the red zone ain't working. And listen, obviously you're a good offensive coach. You are gaining yards and having success on these drives against every team you play. But then they get close to the goal line and they can't score. And then a night it flipped. And Purdy, I think, got a lot of momentum when he hit Kittle on the touchdown on like the

out route and the front of the goalpost, hit him on another one, the middle of the field, obviously the late one to use check. but if the Niners are going to score touchdowns, like their defense is not as dominant as it's been. But like moving the ball and calling plays the 20 to the 20 has not been a problem for them at all. I mean, Mason, who hurt his shoulder tonight, I was texting someone honestly,

and I'm not comparing like saying that's what he's going to be, but his running style is a lot like Marshawn Lynch. He has these heavy strides. His cuts are really like bounces. And on contact, he can just run through. Like, you're watching him tonight. It looks like, is this guy about to go for like 180 yards? I think he had nine carries for like 70.

Then he hurts his shoulder and maybe Kyle didn't want to risk it, whatever. But like, that's a really, really good player, which is ironic because everyone is like, the reason they can't score in the red zone is because Christian McCaffrey is injured. And it's like, I got to push back on that. Clearly, you would rather have Christian McCaffrey than not have Christian McCaffrey. No one's debating that. But let's look at the guys they do have that on the field. George Kittle should be a good red zone target. Like you should be able to design plays for him. Obviously, they did a night and it work. Juan Jannings is like 6-3-6-4. I have to say he's a pretty good

red zone target. Debo Samuel is like one of the best gadget players ever. I mean, you should be able to figure out a way to run a play or two for him to give him a shot. And then Brandon Ayuk, while not tall is an elite route runner. So you should be able to scheme up plays with him in one-on-one situations where he can break off and create some space. So to me, it's on, and I think the quarterback's been playing pretty well.

He does one thing that's driving me a little nuts, and it clearly is driving tile nuts. Because tonight, Herb Street said, and the way he phrased it was classic like announcer, he wasn't going to give anyone credit for telling him this, but he's like, yeah, you could tell when Kyle, Kyle's a big, he didn't say like when they were discussing it. It was more, you know, Kyle really likes that he's able to extend plays

and move around, and that's a big benefit to the offense. But, you know, it's kind of clear sometimes. He wishes he would not rely on that as much. And I do think party has gotten pretty, and it works some of the time, where he does like these Russell Wilson 2014 scramble rounds. He's doing like 360s, running back and forth, like it's it's cool to watch and it's impressive. He's clearly a good athlete,

but you got to be careful about overdoing that stuff. One, it's going to lead to some turnover thrown across your body. And two, eventually you're going to do a 180 or a pirouet and come around a corner and like Chris Jones is going to be there. And he's going to slam you into the ground and like breakers turn them. So I think there's got to be some balance.

It feels like it's gotten a little over aggressive. And when he just plays within the construct of the, offense, rose on time, gets rid of the ball. Obviously, his accuracy speaks for itself. And his athleticism,

which has been very impressive over the course of his career, there's got to be some balance to it. I'm not against him taking off and running for first downs. Clear to the night, he was overall, I thought he had a pretty good game,

like really good game. You know, B plus. I don't think I'd quite give it an A, a couple of completes, a couple balls that are a little off. But overall, like that's throw three touchdowns. Now one of them was Debo doing most of the work.

But the two, zone touchdowns. The kiddle were really good throws. I mean, the first one was elite stuff. Outside the DB, where the DB's all over them. That's just an elite play by both guys. And, you know, yeah, man, I also think back to the Mason thing, it is the counter to like, oh, we got to pay our running backs.

We got to draft them high. Like, this guy's an undrafted free agent. Three years in, it's like, you can just ride him like a horse. He's leading the league in rushing. So it's like Christian McCaffrey makes $19 million. I mean, who knows all these different stories coming out about his Killies, who knows what to believe, when he'll be back. They clearly don't even know.

And you can just find an undrafted free agent who has overcome them, you know, beside McCaffrey, they've drafted over the last three or four years. I feel like five running backs and he's just passed them all immediately. And then obviously they got, they hit on the guy. I hit on the guy. That's a little, I was a pretty much, I can't say that yet. but he had a huge run. He ran a 4-3 at the Combine.

The 31 from Louisville, I can't really. I want to say Guerrero, but that's not his name. Screw up his last name. I don't want to do that. But that run the night was huge. And Kyle, I think, gets kind of the monkey off his back in the sense of like, you can't keep blowing these games. You have to win these games.

And you watch them play. And in theory, if Christian's able to come back, if Trey Greenlaw is able to come back, this team can be more healthy down the stretch, like that's a Super Bowl contender. And I still, like, I believe watching them play this year, like they're pretty damn good.

Their defense is not as dominant as it once was. Their defensive line isn't as good. One area that they are really good at is defensive back. They have drafted and hit on a ton of DBs. I mean, they go about four deep at safety. Renardo Green, the dude that picked the ball off in front of DK, he's a second round pick this year. And Lenore's good.

Obviously, Charvarius, who's hurt is a really good corner. Like, they got a ton of good D.Bs. And while Devondre Campbell is somewhat of a liability in space, Fred's so freaking good that he can make up for it. So overall, as a team, like, got a lot going for him. And I think if you play them, and I know they already did, and it was at Minnesota, and it might be again. Because in a playoff game, that's where dropping those two divisional games.

if at the end of the year you're 12 and 5, well, shit, you went 12 and 5, two of your losses, you had double-digit leads in the fourth quarter. And they were divisional opponents. Like that 12 wins could have been 14 pretty easy. And all of a sudden you look up, you know, Minnesota, now maybe Minnesota ends up with that 14 and 3-2 and it wouldn't matter they beat you head up. So, and I know sometimes that's not the exact tiebreaker. I'm not dialed in on the tiebreaker rules.

But overall, I think this year has been more frustrated. frustrating than fun for 49er fans because of the way that they just weird things have been happening to them. And tonight, it felt like it happened again where I can't fathom this. I'm pro replay. I really am. And I'm pro the challenges, even at certain times if they slow down the game. I understand. I think they've been additive the way the NFL does it to the overall product.

and I think as someone that gambles a lot of money I know a lot of people gamble money whether that's $5 or $500,000 like you do not want to get screwed over and tonight's a good example of like it's pretty clear that touched his finger and the 49ers fell on it and at the time it felt like

what if this what if the diners lose and they just they should have gotten the bowl and then they get later in the game Al's talking to whoever the hell the referee is in the booth And he's like, you know, they told me that they didn't have our feed. They just had the feed the raw footage and they couldn't tell. What are we doing?

I mean, all these teams are worth $5 to $10 billion. The league is making, and what's the league worth as a whole? Hundreds of billions of dollars. And we can't get the same replay that we're watching on our screen. Like, that's the type stuff that is unacceptable. Like, that can't happen. if you are going to do replay, which I'm all for, and I think most people in big situations are for it as well,

those people have to have all the access that is humanly possible. If we have more access sitting on our couch, sitting at a bar watching the game, then the referee does at the game. I understand people are going to blow calls, not see things live, especially something like that is so hard to see. I have no issue with that.

That's what a challenge flag is. for. That's what the replay is for. But you got to be able to give them all the access they need and you have to get it right. Like the only way this works is if you get it right. And for the most part, they get it right. But tonight, that was really, really bad. So Kyle Shanahan, even with that, finally gets everyone off us back a little bit. Yeah. I mean, it's a nice little win by the 49ers. Nice little win. They needed it. Now you get a little mini buy. play the Chiefs in 10 days. And I'm pretty sure, as they said tonight,

they're coming off a buy. So that'll be a big game. Because last time I checked, the Chiefs have kind of owned the Niners. A couple of Super Bowls, regular season game was pretty ugly a couple years ago. I think that might have been Christian McCaffrey's debut. Don't quote me on this,

but I'm pretty sure the final score was like 50 to 10. That's what it feels like in my head. It was an ass kicking. The Niders might have scored a little bit in the second half, so maybe the score is a little closer, but I promise you this, The score was not close. The chiefs embarrassed the Niners.

The Niners actually played them well. I mean, hell, they've been winning the games in Super Bowls. But Andy Reid has some ownage over Kyle. So that would be a way you win that game. All of a sudden, people forget a little bit about the Arizona and, I almost said, St. Louis. Los Angeles rammed debacles. 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, Clever 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 Podcasts, 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-tap 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 a little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J.

And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it 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 you're just saying, 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 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 podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast.

Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite. 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, 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, is 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 Hardway and listen now. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast.

Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tauntons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to Stuff to Blow Your Mind on the iHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your mind. your podcast. On Seattle, I do have a lot of respect. Like I said, for them being able to pivot off Russell Wilson and Gino and getting just someone really credible and staying as a high level operation. I love Mike McDonald. He is everything that Robert Salas should have been for the Jets. It's like, I hire you because of your defensive expertise, I want you to call the defense. I want it to be your baby. So you lock in with, you know, the squad gets to know your, I I'm not looking for a CEO here. You're 38, 37, 41, like, run the deal.

What does Mike McDonald do? Runs the defense, which is going to be fine, the better players they get and the guys that come back from injury. I mean, I feel like tonight they're losing a guy on every play. And to just be able to function, I think Ryan Grubbs, a really, really good offensive coordinator. They got a lot, John Schneider is one of the better GMs in the league. Like, they got a lot going for them.

But this Gino thing, he's kept your head above water. he's made you a respectable team where half the league would die for that, right? Just be like, hey, we are going to be a lock to be in the playoff mix. And if we could just be a little healthier, at minimum, we should nine and eight, head and seven, be a wild card team.

But if you can't beat the 49ers and he can't, like the evidence is in. It ain't even close. This offseason, we've got to make a bold move. We got to do something to roll the dice. And I'm talking about the draft. because I think Seattle, if they are drafting somewhere like 15 to the low 20s, would be a prime position team to just put all the chips in the middle of the table.

I mean, he's been thinking about doing it for years, right? He wanted to do it with Josh Allen when they were going to trade Russell Wilson to the Cleveland Browns to get Josh Allen. So this is a guy who's got stones, and I think the writing's on the wall. And that doesn't mean this is not even a criticism of Gino. He kind of is what he is, which is pretty damn good. Like he's the high, high level bridge starter. The end of the day, when you're that, it does limit your ceiling. And when they played the best team in their division, the team that if they could beat,

they could win the division, a team that they have to see probably in the playoffs if they're a wildguard. You know, if they're the six or seven seed, I mean, that's what happened a couple years ago. They played the 49ers and got beat. But you got to beat that team. And you're just not doing it with Gino. So, listen, I'm not acting like this is the greatest quarterback draft. but we know John Schneider likes traits. It's why he loved Russell Wilson back in the day.

It's why he loved Josh Allen. Honestly, Gino has a lot of good traits. I'm talking physical traits, arm strength, mobility. It's why he liked Drew Locke, who just not that great of a player, but falls under that category. And I just, there are some guys in this draft that you, you know, if John Schneider falls for, roll the dice. Because you got a good young coach that everyone's high on.

You got an offensive coordinator that can scheme up plays. I mean, Ryan Grubb, he's been better than I thought. We knew how good he was for DuBore at Washington with Panics and all those guys, and Dunezay and Polk, but to never have coached in the NFL and come up and immediately you just watch them play, they're really good on offense. They're creative. It's just, it's been a seamless transition. Like the guy, and honestly, you might only have him for a couple years.

So roll the dice now, try to get a quarterback, and give yourself a, chance because you're just not beating Purdy and Cowshanian. Like, you're not even getting close. And I respect that operation a lot and I hope they do to make it a little more competitive because this Gino thing has just hit its ceiling when they play the top

team. So big win for the Niners. I still think Seattle gets some guys healthy. They'll be right there in the mix for a wildcard spot. And depending on how the NFC plays out, it wouldn't shock me if they won nine games were like the 60. So the second best team to me if just remotely healthy in the NFC West,

given how many injuries the Rams like are going to have for a while, right? Like those guys aren't coming back soon. You know, they're missing. Who knows, you know, Puka and Cooper Cup like this could be MIA for a while. And you're just not going to win games like that. And the other thing is you get so far deep into a hole, all of a sudden you're two and eight, even if you're in every game.

But if you're losing them all, like you can't come back from that. and then it gives you you allow no margin for error. That's another problem for Seattle, right? You go, well, what if the Rams do have a season from hell, and they draft a quarterback? So it's like, well, Purdy ain't going anywhere. Kyler is kind of a bizarre player, but he's clearly not going anywhere either,

and he's a mother to play, right, on an individual game basis. And then what if the Rams end up with like the sixth pick, trade up to like number two, and draft one of the top. It draft like Shador Sanders. That's who, Sean McVeigh likes. So NFC West. That's just, that's a good Thursday night game.

That was a fun Thursday night game. Places were rocking and 49ers pull it out. Obviously Fugazi Friday, I talked a little bit about this with Stucky and I've been thinking a lot about this because the viral video of Rogers on McAfee, right? We all know the timeline of, well, let's let's just start with this. As a player, like part of the Fugazi, of getting a coach fired if you're a player. LeBron has been doing it for years. I don't expect you to come out, even if the guy, like,

LeBron has gotten coaches fired that stunk. Aaron Rogers, if he doesn't think Saul is any good, I don't even really disagree with him. Like, Robert Saul easily could have lost his job over the off season. So it's been happening for a long time in sports with star players getting coaches fired. And I would say we'd have to, like, really break it down over the last 30 or 40 years.

a high percentage of them are correct. But then it's one thing to be like, listen, it's not my job. I don't want to talk about it. These guys constantly discuss. Like, what are you guys talking about? Getting this guy? No, I had, me getting this guy fired?

It's like they go overkill. And with Rogers, what makes it pretty bizarre, the more and more I thought about my bald brother losing his job, is that he was, Like they lose Sunday morning. So when they come back by Monday, right? I understand they're playing on Monday night.

So really Tuesday's like a Monday. But usually if you were going to fire someone, you would do it Monday. And I'm pretty sure I read Woody Johnson's never even fired a guy in season. But we've all heard by now, obviously, all this buddies over there watching, embarrassing Sam Donald beating him, a lot of variables. So you want to fire him? I have no issue with firing him. But if you were going to fire him as the owner,

or decide that as a front office slash ownership, you would have done it on Monday morning. But then for them to have a phone call and Rogers just say that, yeah, he just asked me about my foot. He was just checking in. See, like, Aaron, what did you do today? What do you watched on TV?

It's like how you'd call your brother or dad. Like, hey, what's up? You know, where you just call nothing to talk about, nothing to talk about. You usually don't do that in a professional environment, I would say. right? If you're going to call someone you work with, whether it be a colleague, an employee, a boss, I'd shoot the shit for a minute. Hey, what's going on? What are you doing? Right? You just have basic small talk.

But then eventually you're like, well, X, Y, and Z, whatever you're calling for. You cannot convince me. And I don't blame if Aaron's ass him saying, yeah, this guy stinks. This guy's not any good. Right? But then for you to come out and consistently push that that didn't happen, like no one can believe you. It's not believable. Because eventually, like, when everyone just takes a step back and listens to it, we're all human beings. It's why I think, like, the political stuff, like jump the sharks so long ago.

Like, you do realize how normal people talk and, like, how normal people live in this world, you know? It's like, you can push one narrative, but it's like, we're living. Like, we're alive. Every day, we do things. And this is how the world goes on. round. So you can't tell me it's X when I live and it's Y. So it's like, Aaron, we have all been in situations where someone called us a boss, an owner. It would, no one can believe in your situation,

you're viewed as the savior, that that didn't come up. And honestly, I don't expect him to say, listen, I didn't think Saul was any good. I gave Woody. He asked me what, if he fired him, would I care? I said no. Now, I do think if he said that, we, I, I, I think, think we've never been in a world where authenticity rings truer and it resonates with more people. I actually think a lot of people would have respected it. Now, I get it like getting a guy fired as a player who would feel a little weird. But I actually think he would be shocked by the reaction of people, aka the fans. Be like, I respect it.

Be like, listen, I've been around Mike McCarthy. I've been around the floor. I think this guy's fucking terrible. I don't think he knows what he's doing. He's not calling the offense, not calling the defense. he gets up in the press conference makes a mockery of what we're doing because he can never get his words straight. He's always saying one thing and we're doing another.

Then he has to come back. There's no accountability anywhere. Because of what every single player says, I just think he stinks. Like if he just honestly said that, there would be no pushback. I'd be like, God, yeah, no shit. We've all been seeing it.

But I also think this, like the NFL doesn't run like the NBA. in my comp to this situation because he's done it a million times is LeBron. But in the NBA, and listen, LeBron at 40 years old is way better

than Aaron Rogers at 40, but dramatically better. So the guy that they are leaning on just isn't good enough. And clearly in the history of the NFL star players have been spoken to by their owner about some ideas,

so it's not abnormal. This thing gets a little weird is like he doesn't really have that much equity there. He's only played whatever five games. He does not look that good. And all the players now know like, God, the owner is just calling him and asking him, could he call about me?

What if I'm a player not doing that well? Like, could they call about me? The Jets are a disaster. There's no way around it. Now, they're a must watch disaster and they're on television all the time disaster. I mean, they're playing the bills this week, which the storylines was all going to draw us there.

And Oldbrick, former player, feels cool, feels a little Dan Campbellish back in the day at Miami. But I just, I really think this is going to get worse. And I told Stucky this today, if you truly doubt the Jets, which I do, and I've doubted it from the beginning. Like, if you were never anyone on the fence, like, I never thought they were a playoff team. Now, the one game against the Patriots, like, damn, Roger looks pretty good. But then clearly he's just the majority of his games, he's looked old, frail, and now he's banged up. if you're just out on them

and you go, well, they're playing the bills who clearly have been a little up and down this season. But you go, they got Josh Allen,

they got a winning culture, and they know how to win and they know how to win this division. The Jets lose that game, and the Jets lose it by double digits. And it just gets back to the, what that moment stood for. Like what happened this week,

it, it resembles shitty ownership, shitty dysfunction or shitty culture, dysfunction interwoven and everything these guys do. You can't shake that. Maybe you could band-aid it for a week, but Jeff Obrick, part of what he brought to the table was like, he was a really good deal on the coordinator.

He handled that. Now he's got more responsibility, so does that diminish it all? Todd Downing, the Hackett thing, that thing could get weird. Listen, if Aaron Rogers didn't have the juice, Hackett would have been fired. Him and Robert Salah would have both cleared out their offices. But he gets demoted because the star ain't going to throw his buddy to the wolves. Like, what do you do these players think?

Again, they live in the real world, right? They go into that building every day. Like, they see it, right? They are living it much closer than we are. So they're going, well, what? Even if they thought Sala was average, there's no way they think like, you know, Hackens getting a raw deal here. Actually better than you realize.

Not saying he's Bill Walsh, but he's definitely better than what everyone, the way they're talking about him. So the lies and the statement from Aaron is just it was just an all-timer. It really was.

It's just one of those that you'll never forget. It's really one of his classic moments. Yeah, shit, he just, what are you watching? Dancing with the Stars? Monday Night Football? What's on TV, Aaron? What do you eat for dinner?

Give me a break. I just wonder if some of these guys on the team are going to start thinking, like, is he bad-mouthed me to the owner? I just kind of hit my mind when I was talking right there. I wonder if they were to lose and they look shitty on money, it could get really weird, really fast. I mean, obviously it already is, but I just mean, like, with the Rogers team dynamic.

Like, I mean, half those guys are 25 years old, aren't they young, the majority of the guys in the team? Imagine what that building was like Tuesday and Wednesday. Okay, back at it again from Nashville, Tennessee, where all lines are presented by Draft Kings. And the talk of the town, Stucky, has been the kids that grabbed the goalpost and hiked from Vanderbilt, walked it down Broadway. I'm looking at the river right now and toss that bad boy in. But the reason that it keeps coming up is because you said, you loved Vandy and the points. And you sold me.

but then, you know, I was, it was my birthday last weekend, having a few pops with some buddies. And it was, it went from like, God, are they going to cover to, holy shit, they're going to win this game. That was, yeah, I, I think I tweeted out, like, in the third quarter, Vandy's going to win this game. I would, I would just, just felt that way. They, if you go, I think Jerry Kill gave DeBore his,

I think his first professional job. I could be mistaken on that. They had a connection back in Southern Illinois, I believe, way back in the day. And there was like some quiet confidence in that Vanderbilt room that they were going to be able to attack this Alabama defense, which has some holes and there's some youth. And they had two weeks to prepare and kill and Beck and scheme up in offense as well as anybody. and yeah it was it was an amazing game I think the best part of that is when you have an underdog that big

and right what would the game finish at what was the point spread I think it closed at 23 23 and a half I believe so when you have an underdog that big and like it's a bad spot for Bama bandy comes out great game playing goes up seven nothing gets a pick, six, up two touchdowns.

They wanted to slow the game down. They held the ball for 42 minutes. But then Bama starts to come back. But the fact that they were able to run the clock out to get a couple first downs late was super impressive because you knew if you punt there, you see it all the time. If Bama gets the ball back, they're going to go score and win the game. That was the most impressive part for me.

Vanderbilt still celebrating probably on Broadway along with you so we'll see how they respond this week at Kentucky I actually like the under in that game Vanderbilt wants to play super slow limit possessions in Kentucky's defense is what top five in the country I mean they held Ole Miss and Georgia to below 17 points each so I played some Vanderville team total under you can't run on Kentucky.

Their front seven is as good as it gets in college football. They also take away the explosive play. Vanderbilt could be a little flat. Both teams play super slow. So it should be a really low possession, low scoring game. So we'll see how Vanderbilt response. I normally would bet Kentucky in this spot. I'm just not in love with laying close to two touchdowns with Kentucky.

They're a super slow team. Their offense is limited. Vanderbilt wants to squeeze the life out of the game. So they profile is a good big dog. They beat Alabama outright. They beat Bottsack out right. They should have beat Missouri. So I just prefer the under there.

But amazing game. The scenes with the goalposts are awesome. One line I was just scrolling through all the college football lines. What about, you know, it's hard. This transfer portal to the teams, it's hard to feel great about anybody. But Bama huge this week. Like, Sabin in that spot, right? if he wouldn't have lost that game.

But if he had, they would, they would have won the next game like 60 to 3. It's hard to trust. You know, it's like, are they a little flawed? They're playing Southern Alabama, I think, because I saw that it was like minus 21. But it's like, I don't know. The college football, to me,

you know, it's one thing when you have an NFL like spread, Oregon, Ohio State, you know, granted Oregon's the dog at home. But still, like that feels we could debate what that number should be, but it's not crazy. some of these big spreads in college football. And I tried to hammer them early on with the Oklahoma's and the Tennessee's. And I kind of got Alabama.

I forget who they were playing. I did like this parlay one week. None of them even came close. So it's like it's hard to have faith. You know they can get up, Georgia, Oregon, Ohio State for each other. Some of these other games, I mean, shit, I don't know. I mean, do you have faith in Alabama this weekend?

Yeah. No, they play South Carolina. South Carolina is, their offense is super limited. I actually would lean South County as well I mean it's a good spot for Bama you know to bounce back but look it was a disappointing loss sometimes when you have a disappointing loss

you also do come out flat than next week Alabama goes disappointing yeah but devastating yeah but I mean Georgia had a like devastating loss you know it's Alabama after they came all the way back they didn't come close to covering last week sometimes you just come you're still like a little emotionally flat even if the coach

can try to get you up. And they have Tennessee. They go to Tennessee next week. So it's, it's sort of a tricky spot. South Carolina's defense is legit. Like their defensive line is as good as Kentucky's. They can't really throw the ball, though, which is how you attack this Alabama secondary. That game's going to come down. I actually, at the number, like 21 and a half I would mean South Carolina, it's going to come down that can South Carolina stay in at early? They can't, They can't play from behind. We saw that against Ole Miss last week. They just don't have a passing attack.

So once you force them to kind of go into come from behind mode, it lights out and then it could be an Alabama blowout. Not a game. I really love, though. But I do think, you know, what you mentioned, I think it was pretty smart in that there, I think that the difference between the top, the elite teams in years past to this year,

is growing as far as the lead teams are not as good. And that's because of the transfer portal. That's because of NIL that you kind of thin out, you kind of disperse some of the top end talent throughout. I think eventually what you'll see is, and I think we've talked about this for that, but you'll have like an NFL-like, you know, top 20, top 25. that has, and then that gap between those teams

and then the bottom 2025 is huge, but I don't think that the premium of the crop is going to be as elite, as we've seen in years past, and I actually think that's a good thing. Before we get into the NFL, I'm going Saturday, Oklahoma, Texas. Nice.

And I've been a sneaky guy that started me in football in Fresno State, He just worked at Oklahoma's and Stoops, and then Lincoln and now with Venable. So I follow their program pretty closely. You know, obviously it was a lot of hype between the quarterback. He pulled the trigger pretty quick going to the other guy on Jackson Arnold. And we all know how like Jackson Arnold was just on some other team next year, right? He's just a transfer portal, Boise State, Kentucky, who knows?

I mean, it could be shit. It's impossible to even guess. But this other guy can't really throw either. Now, you've been hammering this the whole time. They've had a million injuries on the offense. Like their defense is good. I mean, I was pretty locked into that Auburn game.

It's like, they're going to, they're kind of getting their ass kicked in this game. And defense has had that pick six and it flipped. And listen, Auburn sucks, but that's not an easy place to play, right,

on the road. And even Venable said, like, this is the SEC, like this shit's hard. And he's right. Sabin's been saying this forever. Like,

just because you don't have a great record, like, go into Kentucky, play them, see how it goes. You know, it's just harder. It's why I've always defended the SEC

because like their middle tier, to me is still better than like playing Wisconsin, right? If we're really nitpicking and, you know, both six-win teams or whatever, you can plug and play any team. But the Oklahoma situation, I haven't, did they announce yours? Is he going to start this game? I believe so. Yeah.

Yeah. So yours is going to start, which I don't know if it's a good thing or bad thing. I think you would rather see Arch against if you're, you know, a defensive-led team, take your chance to a guy that hasn't played much. but obviously Texas is stupid loaded. I mean, I think it'd be an upset for me if they don't win the national championship given that they throw the ball better than Ohio State.

And we'll see it's obviously a big test for Ohio State this weekend in terms of like, can that guy make the biggest throws against good teams? Like talking to my NFL buddies, now granted, they're a wide receiver. That kid is like him and Williams on Alabama looks like it throws right now. Yeah.

But my take is I think I'm going to sprinkle a little on Oklahoma plus 14, it's risky. Because when Texas is on, we've seen them, they're like a freight terrain. Oregon, Ohio State, I got, I got no clue. It's hard for me to have faith in Oregon, but you're like getting them as a dog at home and the biggest home game they've played in a long time.

It feels like if you're ever going to get their best shot, it's going to be then. So I would expect them to look pretty good. Yeah, starting with Texas, Oklahoma, it's, look, I expect the Oklahoma defense to come to play here. And they, they were, they kind of got worse. I mean, they ended up winning the game for them at all of them. But they were getting worked that game.

And I think that they were just exhausted. Warped. They were tired. I mean, go back to the Tennessee game. They were getting no help from the office. They forced two turnovers. Arnold turns it over on the very next play both times on fumbles. You've ever seen that before in your life?

No. I mean, well, yeah, when I bet Will Levis, which I did again this weekend. That's, that's it. The only time I ever see that is when I bet Will Levis. So, yeah, I mean, I think that they were exhausted, they were gas. The whole season, their offense was giving them nothing. They're on the field the whole time. So I think the buy will serve them well.

And it is a talented defense. So I think that they'll come to play here. The offense, they just had so many. I mean, how much can they fix the offensive line? They still can't run the ball. And I think that's ultimately how you have to attack this Texas team is, you know, on the ground. but you have to have some threat of a passing attack. Michigan doesn't.

Michigan has none. So they were just able to load the box. I mean, you can remember this Texas team lost sweat and Murphy starting in the NFL right now, up from their defensive line. So I'm, and Oklahoma has no semblance of a rushing attack.

Their receivers are still all out. Burke's just got announced out for this weekend. Hawkins limited as a passer. I think it was the right move to go to him because of your offensive line issues, because your running game isn't going. strong because you're receiver injuries. Get a guy back there that's mobile that can run.

I mean, you saw he had that long touchdown run against Auburn, and he was able to hit one long pass in that game. I just don't know if Oklahoma has the personnel to attack this Texas defense. They've been good on the back end. The Texas offensive line is also great. And the thing you get with you is you have a ton of big game experience, which is where he has the upper hand over, overarch. So I think that the Texas offensive line should be able to handle the Oklahoma front.

But, you know, rivalry game, Oklahoma defense is really good. Texas still, to me, hasn't fully been tested. I mean, they're a juggernaut, but maybe they're not as good as we think. That's the thing with this right now, you know, and even in week five or six, yes, they went into Michigan and dominate. I think Michigan's terrible. I mean, I think you're right. I think you're right.

I bet against them every week. They just went up to Washington. They were in the version with, you got to remember, the version with Alex Orgy and whatever they were doing before. Maybe with Jack Tuttle will be a little better, but there's no receivers. There's no, the offensive line is bad. This, this is a team that should have lost in Minnesota at home.

If they don't blow that onside kick call, they lose, they give up a ton of yards to Washington. I don't think the defense is this is good. So, yes, I was impressed with Texas. They're in Texas is one of the three best teams in the country, but maybe they're not as good. I don't know if Oklahoma is the team that can really tell us much more, but I don't hate just sprinkling on weird things happen in this game.

For what it's worth, Texas is this is the biggest, this is the most points Texas will be laying since 2005 when they won the national title. So Texas fans hope that is a good omen. Do you agree that this game and the Iron Bowl feel the weirdest? like to be Michigan, Ohio State, their games are sometimes good, but it's not like a weird game.

Like this game is weird. And Auburn, Alabama, it gets weird. Yeah, but, you know, there are some rivalries that are just,

this thing's going to get weird. And then there's just some that, like, there's a good game, like Duke, North Carolina basketball. But it's like, obviously there have been

crazy shit that's happened in that rivalry. But my example of Ohio State and Michigan, if they're both good, you just know, you're like, this is going to feel like an NFL game or like Georgia,

Alabama. Like, they feel like big games. But Auburn, Alabama and, and Texas, Oklahoma is just like drunk consistently, regardless of records, regardless of anything. It never matters.

Yeah, I remember. We look at Alabama Auburn last year. I mean, that's one of the weirdest moments ever. I mean, shit, they wouldn't even have made the playoffs. And they beat Georgia the next week? In both games, just always, as you said, are drunk. I had a note to myself, I said, never bet the under in the Red River shootout again. I did last year.

And I wrote a note to myself. Because I actually would look at maybe think about this under here. The scores the last two years ago didn't start. Didn't they blow them out like 50 to nothing or something or something? Yeah, I think I forget who Oklahoma had had quarterback. There was a disaster with Oklahoma had going on. But last, you know, besides that game, you know, 3430, 55, 48, 535 and 4 overtimes, 34, 27, 48, 45, 45, 40.

These games, there's just big plays galore. Crazy stuff happens. It was one, wasn't it, wasn't it like the second game Caleb started? It was like his welcome moment. Remember, he had a huge game. Yeah, that was another crazy game. So, yeah, if you want to sprinkle, go for it. Oregon, Ohio State, it's a, you know, I wish I had more conviction on it, but we.

Yeah, I don't know, I have no feel. Yeah, I mean, if he, I'm kind of just tempted to go up, you know, just that there's a small bet, take Oregon at three and a half, if you give me the hook there. I mean, before the season at some places, Oregon was like a small favorite. It was flipping around. Ohio State, they've been impressive, but, I mean, they've played nobody. I mean, both of these teams played Michigan State, blew them out similar scores. Michigan State, I mean, Ohio State blew out Iowa last week at home.

man. But they haven't really played anybody. Oregon at least played Boise State, but you could say that they should have lost. Now, Ashton Genti's an alien. But, you know, Ohio State has one of the best backfields in the country, one of the best wide receiver doos in the country. But we still haven't learned a lot about either team.

You go back to Ole Miss, and this is just going to be the way of the world in the new college football landscape. You have all these teams. that hit the portal hard, you have such turnover on all these rosters. Ole Miss was dominating teams, blowing them out of the water. But they were just, you know, different class level. So they were just talent-wise, athletically, so much better than who they were playing.

Get your first test against Kentucky and you'd lose out. Tennessee, same thing, blowing out these teams. Oklahoma had a ton of injuries. You go to Arkansas, two touchdown favorites, lose. So we'll see just how good this Ohio State team is. I do believe in their defense. We'll see if Will Howard and their skill position players are as talent as anybody. Still have some questions along the offensive line.

Looks like they picked some of that. They settled on a right guard last week against Iowa. But again, this will be a different test. So I'm tempted just to take three and a half. I trust landing more than Day. I mean, Day has been awful in these games against top five opponents. He gets, I trust landing to make the, better decision as far as like on fourth downs when to go for it day tends to like turtle up

in these in these spots like it's fourth and one at the 50 early landing will go for it and roll the dice i think at the right times i think organ is the better special teams you know huge home field advantage like on the margins all of these factors um i think favor Oregon so like if you give me more than three i think i would lean that way but i don't i don't have strong strong conviction we'll learn a lot about both teams. We'll see what you got, the other thing you get to remember is, and I think you see this a lot in the Big Ten,

more so than the SEC and other conferences, is a lot of times these teams, their entire season comes down to like two games, right? We saw this with Michigan last year. Michigan season to get to the college football playoff was basically two games. They didn't show anything.

Fargo didn't show anything in all these other games. All right. You just, close to the best. I'm not going to put anything on tape. Rely on the defense, run the ball. And then you kind of unleash some things in your two games that are big. Ohio State season is, you know,

I mean, they're going to be like 20-point favorites against Michigan. So it's going to come down to they go to Penn State and they have Oregon this week. So what have they been holding back? What has Chip Kelly been holding back? With Will Howard and his legs, certain packages. And the same thing to be said for Oregon. Have they been holding stuff back?

So that's an interesting story down here. But I might bet Oregon small at three and a half, but no strong feel. 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'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 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 which I'm 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 Podcasts, 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-tap 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 Jek. And I'm Alex English.

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Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Let's dive into the National Football League. Like I said, all lines presented by Draft Kings. Let's start with a game when the season started. I don't know if a bunch of people would have circled, but the commies are flying high right now. Jaden Daniels, I mean, he went from being like, he was five to one.

I think Caleb was like plus 150 to be the rookie of the year. We got a lot of season left to go, but it's like those odds feel like you were stealing if you hammered Jaden to start the season. My thing with Washington is obviously, you know, beat the shit out of Cleveland, who's a joke. I mean, they're an embarrassment. Don't blame defenders for just kind of tapping out. I mean, what are you supposed to do with that offense? just runs around and just runs into sacks.

I can't even imagine being his teammate. But, you know, the game against Cincinnati was impressive, but their defense, you know, Cincinnati's defense obviously is not very good. So is Washington real? If you look at their schedule, they don't really need to win this game. I think next week they play Carolina. Then they got the Giants, like they could, you could look up and Washington could be like six and three.

And the Eagles and the Cowboys just have to kind of hold serve. But they might also not be. that good, right, when they play real teams. And last year, and you were hammering this on the Ravens, when they would get in these spots against, like, kind of fringe, they would fucking destroy them, let alone Detroit and San Francisco and teams they blew out.

But is this team, you know, defensively, clearly they're not the same. Yeah. You know, the run defense, I think I read is still really, really, really, like, high end historically dominantly, I mean, as Gerald says, you can, you can throw on them. And I watched Harbaugh's press conference, and he's like,

really I felt we had good coverage on the overwhelming majority. They made some great plays. There were like four or five kind of lapses. And like obviously he tends to be, as it fair to say, a little more optimistic the way he talks. And he's not like a negative Nancy when he's like talking about performances. And it should be. I mean, they won.

They were down 10 points. But I don't know. I mean, I think if you're kind of a believer in Washington, this is a pretty big number. It's not a big travel. But I also get nervous with the Ravens in this spot. Like you could look up. It's like, oh, 24, 3.

half. I lean Washington here. Same. It's not the best spot for Baltimore. They beat the shit out of the bills in a huge game. And then they come back from, they were down double digits three times in the second half against Sinti win in overtime.

So now you're coming off of a road overtime win. Historically, teams haven't performed great against the spread in that spot coming back home after two huge games, right, against Sintzy, which is just massive for the division. come back emotionally and physically draining game, that Buffalo hyped game. So is that the coolest Lamar game? I don't necessarily mean like statistically. I just mean like visually to watch of his career.

Like it was that the coolest Raven game in a long time? Yeah. I mean. Obviously they've had big wins, but in dominating wins. But that just came from an entertainment standpoint felt like they're kind of Mahomes, Tyree Kill, Andy Reed Chiefs kind of version of some crazy game. Yeah, that the stiff arm throw, that was, uh, one of his career highlights for sure.

I, you know, we'll learn a lot more about Jane Daniels. I mean, I was wrong on him. I didn't think he would be, I mean, I don't think anyone knew he would be this good, this quick. But you do have to say that they've played some horrible defenses. And I do think for the Browns just ended up quitting last week. I mean, they weren't tackling. They also had a bunch of injuries during the game.

Cardinals tapped out, too, in that game. Yeah, Cardinals defense is awful. The Bengals defense is bad, and they had a ton of injuries. they just along the defensive line, they're down the third and fourth stringers. You know, the Giants defense isn't any good. So they've had a very, and the Bucks defense hasn't been good either.

So they've had a very, very easy schedule. Now, you can't deny the numbers and the efficiency. But we'll learn a lot about Daniels and his ability. The thing I'm looking forward to the most is seeing Daniels' ability to throw when the run game isn't working, because the Ravens' defense is, is elite against the run. And they have, they're rolling out a lot of dime packages under Zach Orr,

which is one of the adjustments that I've liked that he's made a couple of games into the season. And what, what that has done is it's enabled them to really slow down running quarterbacks. You have a lot more athletes on the field, more defensive backs, really worked against Josh Allen and they were able to essentially take away his legs. So you say, okay. Ravens run defense is really good.

They'll have a formula here. Play a good amount of zone with a bunch of defensive backs on the field. You have guys like Kyle Hamilton and just really athletic guys. Maybe Daniels is just that fast and it doesn't matter. But theoretically, we're going to find out.

We're going to find out. And the way to attack this Ravens team is attack their corners with good receivers. McClorine has a good game. But this is a real defense that he's facing that can slow down the run. And that's, Washington's been able to just run every week. And that's kind of what is unlocked the rest of their offense. So really fascinating game here. Lamar has been dominant against the NFC, 22 and 1. But I will say a lot of, I think part of that

at least is the NFC teams, it's kind of a shock to their system when they're playing Lamar. And, you know, you're not used to that speed at quarterbacks. Your angles are just a bit off, especially early. One of the reasons Lamar Jackson is the most profitable first half against the spread quarterback in NFL history. But the Washington's practice against Daniels,

I mean, it's just as fast. So maybe that's not as big an advantage. So yeah, it's not a great spot for the Raven. So I would lean Washington as well. I think my favorite bet on the board before everything happened with Rogers

kind of going Tony Soprano and killing Robert Saul off. was the bills in this spot. You know, obviously the last couple weeks, I mean, Josh Allen, even before he got K-O., that has to be one of the worst scams of his career post, like, his rookie season. I mean, he was just, they were just off.

And now I kind of question myself, like, are the bills that good? I think the Jets stink. I mean, I think Rogers is, we're going to look back in like 10 years. Like, remember the last couple of years of Roger's career on the Jets when he looked like a shell of himself? and this

the one thing that keeps popping into my head is like whenever this happens and you always pop with the stats about interim coaches in these spots you know at home as a dog Jeff Holbrock just ultimate football guy

fires I guess doesn't fire officially but demotes hack it for Downing who you know I've been falling downing's career since he was on the Raiders not my cup of tea but it's got to be better than

hack it, but is Rogers pissed? You know, I just think this Jets thing is like a powder keg that if the bills just play decent, we could look up and that they win by 20 in this game. Yeah, not my cup of tea this play. I mean, you mentioned it with the new coach. What historically teams have overperformed expectations in the first game with a new coach? Why is that? Because you're basically always a dog in that spot, right?

Yeah. And I mean, so a lot of times it's close to. rock bottom for a team, right? So you're probably at the low end of the market. You've had some bad performances recently, which is true of the Jets. But the other thing is that, you know, and maybe it rallies the locker room, right? You fire a guy that people weren't getting along with, and maybe that's true with Rogers. But I think the biggest advantage is that you change some things. You're more willing to say, you know, a new voice in the room is more willing to listen to the players and other coaches and say, okay, the reason why this, we're not doing well.

our coach just got fired or whatever is because things aren't working. What can we do differently? So then you have the chance to make better decisions as far as how you're running your football team. And there's the element of surprise, right? So then what you're doing now, your opponent doesn't have on film, which provides you with a one-game boost. Bill's injuries are critical here. They've had a ton of injuries on defense.

Shakir's been banged up. Cook's been banged up in the back. field. So I got to see how healthy they are. Theoretically, the Jets defense, which is good and is given Allen trouble in the past, secondary is still good, but their defensive line is nowhere close to as good as it's been. You know, they lost a couple guys. They've had a couple injuries. You can run on them. So if the bills are fully healthy in the backfield, I would expect just, you know, your typical Joe Brady game plan where they can get a push here against this Jets defense.

line, which has had no resistance against opposing ground games. But not my cup of tea here to bet the bills on the road as a favorite. But they do have a big match of advantage. If they're healthy on offense, running the ball at this Jets defense. Yeah, it's going to be interesting. There'll be a lot of eyeballs on that game. You know, with this fucking Rogers. I mean, how can he, with a straight face, say that he talked to Woody on Monday night

and it just never came up. And then the next morning, they, it's like, Aaron, you just went full of brawn here. Unbelievable. It'd be one thing.

It's like, if he had just said, hey, I'd never talk to Woody or whatever. Okay. Like, they never consulted me. But yeah,

he just, he just called me and just said, how you doing, buddy? It's like, come on, man. That's a, that's an all time.

That might top the list for Rogers. That might be my favorite Rogers moment so far of his career. And he's like, anyone that even thinks otherwise, you're fucking nuts. It's like, Aaron. I mean, what are we talking about?

Yeah, unbelievable. I think my, actually my favorite number on the board, but it actually feels too easy. How are the Broncos a dog at home? I get the Chargers coming off a by. I'm sure Jim Harbaugh off a buy throughout the course of his career is fantastic. But like, they're kind of mirror images of each other. You would say the chargers definitely went healthy, have the better quarterback. but I have been blown away by Denver's defense.

Like a couple times watching them against the Raiders. I had to like Google who are the players and their secondary like obviously is retained, but their team's speed is like Orline elite, just watching them play. And their defense line's been fantastic. I was not the biggest fans, Joseph guy. I mean, you give up 70 points in an NFL game. But I think the guys bounce back pretty well. Now, this spot at home, a lot of buzz, you know, kind of,

starting this new rivalry, Peyton versus Harbaugh. But is this number, this feels like too good to be true because I feel like putting like thousands of dollars on the Denver Broncos here. Yeah, a lot of it's going to come down to the Chargers' health. Like, are they fully healthy on the offensive line? Is Herbert a lot healthier? Because I will say, I mean, if you took the three with Denver at home,

the total is like 36. I couldn't follow you. Denver's defense has been incredible. They're blitzing a ton. Like they lead the NFL on Blitz right on first down, second down, third down, fourth down. They're bringing five as much as any team in the NFL. And they're playing just a lot of cover zero on the back end.

They're playing. All their DBs can cover mirror guys and run. Yeah, and that's allowing him to be really aggressive up front. I mean, Riley Moss is playing really well. I think that he was the first white corner with a pick in 22 years. I think probably since Seahorn maybe was the last one to do it. He's playing really well. McMillan in the slot.

I mean, he is an amazing Swiss Army knife, but great in the slot. Your safeties are playing really well. And that's affording Joseph the ability to be as aggressive as he has been. Now, when healthy, the charters have a really good offensive line. They want to come out and run the ball. Their weapons aren't great on the outside. So it kind of neutralizes your strength of the Broncos secondary. And then just on paper, it's like Herbert versus Bo Nix.

You have the big quarterback advantage. I think the way to attack this Denver defense is to run the ball. And they've played some teams recently that just can't run the ball, which has inflated their defensive stats. Like the bucks haven't been able to run the ball. The Jets haven't been able to run the ball at all. The Raiders can't run the ball. So if the charters are fully healthy,

they do have some real edges here. But they might not be. They're dealing with a bunch of injuries. and this total is super low. And, you know, it's still a tough place to play. So Broncos at three couldn't fall yet. Detroit Dallas, I thought Dallas was pretty impressive in their win against Pittsburgh. But then you start thinking about it.

It's like, well, he threw two terrible picks. They had a field goal blocked. It's like under no circumstances should a good team at home lose when that happens. And he had a fumble. Like, how do you get three turnoffs from the quarterback and block them? field goal and loose. And then you go, well, Pittsburgh might just not be that good.

So, like, is it an impressive win? Because they made Dallas's defense, who has been a joke, look pretty good. And then now you're playing Detroit, who's coming off a buy, who's pretty loaded on offense. And they're a dome team.

And obviously, this game's out Dallas. They're perfectly made for these type of situations. In Dallas, I think the last, like, three years under McCarthy's been really good at home. Obviously, this year, they have not looked good.

Is this one of those, like, I kind of, my overvaluing last week to take Dallas in this spot, or is this an awful matchup? Because you look at Detroit's offense, they are going to be able to take advantage of Dallas's defense, which obviously fields in that situation going on there with Arthur Smith and Tomlin's offense, could not. Yeah, I took some Dallas, especially you can get, like, even buying a three and a half or three is fine, too. I mean, look, Detroit's going to be able to run the ball here.

There is no doubt about that. Dallas has injuries to the two best defensive linemen. They already were a bad run defense. So Detroit's going to have success running the ball, and they'll have some success throwing the ball. But, like, laying three on the road here, even off the by, I think that's given Detroit a little bit too much respect. It's not like the lines have been great this year.

they looked really good against Seattle but Seattle had a ton of injuries on defense in a terrible travel spot just short week of been flying all across the country but before then Detroit I mean like they were shut out in the second half against Arizona

you know they lost at home to the bucks I know that they just couldn't score in the red zone but golf is still deep down inside he's still a pumpkin so he can just have these awful throws get rattled But the reason I like Dallas here, you know, field goal obviously is extremely important.

But Dallas should be able to move the ball on Detroit's defense. Detroit's defense is still not fixed. They almost gave up an NFL record at first downs in that game over Seattle. I think Seattle had 38 or 39 first downs in that game. Seattle did whatever they wanted and just moved up and down the field. Dak and this offense. And those were their starting, I get Brantz was out, but those were their starting corners.

if they draft in the first round and they trade for Davis like that it's like if you those guys are their DBs yeah and they want to play a bunch of man DAC historically has ripped up man coverage like he is just shreds against man especially relative to what he does against zone so I just don't there's I don't think that there's any world where the Detroit

defense Detroit run defense has been good Dallas can't really run the ball I did like some of the changes they made to their run blocking scheme last week. I think they better suited to the running backs they have. So maybe they have a bit more success, but they're not going to have run it. They're going to have a ton of success running at Detroit, which is, you know, a past funnel defense. But DAC can match the Lions here, score for score. Lions don't have the best kicker in the world. The other factor is when you have Dallas at home, you're starting what, at the 30-yard line most times? What do you get to get 15

yards and you get a field goal with Aubrey at home? I mean, like that's insane. So, Yeah, I took the points here. 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's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

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Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Before we dive into a London game, the Texans, you know, obviously Nico got hurt. Do they play some on IR today? Did I see that headline? Yeah. So that's not ideal. I mean, he looked like he had become a stud.

I mean, that's a pretty big blow. I know they had lost Jimmy Ward in that game last week, They're banged up, but New England not only stinks, they're starting the rookie quarterback, which I'm sure you got some statistics on that, can give you a little life. I mean, Jacoby was got to the point where he's kind of unplayable. I mean, he brings nothing to the table. Can't move, can't throw it deep. Just, I mean, you're just going to lose if you insert them and your team's that bad. So I get going to them, but like to me, this has disaster written all over it.

And D'Amico's a really, really aggressive defensive coordinator. I would imagine he's going to bring the fucking heat at this guy. And it, to me, could unravel fast, you know, just being thrown out. The whole point of redshirting was like, hey, just pay good Jacoby 10 million. We know it's going to suck and be awful, but you got to hold firm. And they just, they kind of cave because I would imagine the owner. It's not random. They're doing this at home, right?

Just that you probably getting shit on constantly and wants a little positive momentum, which it probably worked today, tomorrow. But what happens when the game? happens and he's just run around for his life. Yeah, it could just be a complete disaster. However, me as a masochist, I did take some Patriots plus seven. I also took some Saints plus three and a half. So I have Spencer Rattler and Drake May behind offensive lines that have been ravaged by injuries.

But I will say, and there's a lot of uncertainty with both, right? They can move at least. That's the key. Like, they have mobility. Carr can't really move. You saw their offense fall off a cliff once all their offensive linemen went down with injuries. Like, Rattler can actually move. And you can, the Saints are run first offense under Kubiak.

You can run on the box. They're one of the worst run defenses in the NFL this year. So they're going to lean to that, but Rattler's legs. Like, you need someone with mobility right now behind that offensive line. The same is true with New England. I mean, they've lost four or five guys in their offensive line to injury. Brisset can't move. So you need a guy like me who can scramble.

He has some evasiveness in the pocket. I loved his numbers under pressure while in college. So yeah, I think that he gives the offense a little bit more upside. Seven's a big number to lay on the road. I mean, no one is covering that number this year in the NFL. I think favorite underdogs of six or more this year are like 19 and five against the spread. Houston hasn't been great either. I mean, they beat the bills.

I don't know what McDermott was. doing late in that game. They almost blow that lead against the Hurt Bills team. But before then, they haven't covered a game. The operation just isn't running at, you know,

it's just not there yet. They look better in the first half against the bills and then Collins went out and it kind of unraveled after that. Yeah, and Gallons huge loss. Huge loss. So, yeah, I took the seven there. I also took the, you know,

I took the Saints with Rattler. You can lean in the run game here. the bucks have been they've been pretty fortunate if you look like they're if you look at the Saints the Stink by the way they've lost three in a row now Home Dogs

historically they you're talking about Home Dogs over a field goal after three straight losses are like it's like 63, 64%. They should have been to me I didn't see Dennis Allen's quotes but Hayner was the backup in a game right

so what and then he just makes the move after the fact to Vic Rattler who obviously was the emergency the three to make him the starting quarterback. Like, did something change? I would just think, I assume that it's offensive line injuries and Rattler gives you more mobility. And, you know, the bucks are going to blitz with bowls.

So I would guess that's it. But yeah, I'm not really sure. That's a good conspiracy theory. I could see the management slash owner, you know, push. Like, this feels a little knee jerk given, again, if Rattler had been the backup for Derek, it would make sense, but he wasn't even the backup for the last couple games when we all know at any moment the quarterback can go down. That guy has to play. So you were willing to not, I just wonder if something happened internally, then maybe the coaching staff, like this wasn't their decision.

Could be. Which again, I'm not, they obviously liked the guy a lot. I mean, there were a lot of praise coming out in preseason. It's not like they're not high on him, but it's just a little weird when you see a guy that's not the backup. Then he got gets injured and two days later, he's now the back, not even the backup. start. Yeah, it could be. I mean, it also could be just that they, you know, Hainer knew more of the offense, which is why he was the backup, but yeah, coaches like that shit. Yeah, and maybe, you know, if you're going to start a game, you know, if he, uh,

weak to prepare. Yeah, and he gives you, I mean, Rattle maybe gives you higher upside. I personally think that you're just upset that your Fresno guy isn't getting the start. Is that true? Yeah, I wanted to see. I mean, Hainer did have a nice throw in the incompletion on the fourth down. I was a lot. That was a laser. It was. Even Aikman was like, damn.

But I just, my, I was high on the Saints, obviously, and they've just, I mean, they're fucked. I mean,

they got six, seven wins written all over them at this point. I mean, their, their offensive line, like you said, the injuries, they were getting murdered

in that game at the guard center spot. I mean, and Derek, you get, like you, Utah golf a pumpkin. I mean,

he can unravel that way. too and he just falls off of cliff when you start touching him. And now he's not even that old. He gets injured a lot. He just has like weird injuries. Not like torn ACLs, but it's like he got concussed. He hurt his shoulder. He hurt his oblique.

It's like he gets he's not exactly, you know, Cal Ripkin back there right now. Yeah. I mean, he said he came out in the presser and he said he heard his, I mean, I trust me, Derek. I feel you. I'm getting old too. He heard his oblique when he was throwing like just the torque. So, yeah, he's no spring chicken.

But, I mean, the Saints should have, they should have beat Atlanta. The Bucks, like, have they been getting lucky. I mean, they played the Eagles without their whole team. They were out game by 300 yards at Detroit. This is a desperation spot for the Saints. Catching over a field goal, they can run the ball here. Their defense is still really good. They have the corners to match up with Tampa's receivers.

That's the key. So, yeah, I played Tampa. Here's the quarterbacks I played. I played Rattler. I played Drake May, who I just mentioned. I played Will Levis. I think Richardson's going to play. Richardson's been just as bad as Levis.

The difference is Tennessee is a good day. Indy doesn't. Indy's down there. Jonathan Taylor, Pittman's out. Downs could be out there. Their whole defense is hurt. This is like a good defense for Levis to play. And if Levis, if he's not healthy or if things go wrong, you go to Rudolph.

I like Tennessee off the buy here. Tell me to Sean Watson. No, I can't bet the Browns. I did last week. That was a mistake. I think they might have quit. Like they, everything around that.

NFL teams don't usually quit. I will say that in college sometimes. Like there's like UAB under Dilfer right now. I think they might have quit. NFL teams rarely do. You can get like value later in the year when teams like this team quit. But I mean, how do you not make a quarterback change and go to like Winston Trump?

Well, that's where you bring up New England, if that's hovering six and a half, seven points. Like they're going to have fight. Arizona is a good example. they got their ass kicked a couple times, but they're going to fight all season long, and their fucking quarterback's talented. So like at any given moment,

he can make a bunch of plays as he did against the Niners who got a lot of issues. But I do think the Browns, like the Eagles are a weird team. You mentioned the white corner. I think I saw today a headline that, you know, they're being kind of mum,

but Cooper DeGine is going to start being their slot corner. So it's the rise of the white guy in the defensive backfield at corner, not just safety. But that's a spot that like, you know, two years ago version of the Eagles would destroy this Brown's team. I actually think it could get weird if somehow this is a game, you know, if Philly just, if Seriani just wins by like four points,

people are going to be pissed, you know? Yeah. It's a tough spot for Siriani and Jalen, like the pressure. It's almost like a college game. They're going in. It's like, you better kick their ass.

Yeah. Right. Coming off a buy. Yeah, they have a buy. Brown's on the third straight road game. like look like a corpse. I'm not laying it with Philly. Like I'm not laying nine and a half.

I ultimately don't trust them. I mean, that's one of the biggest spreads so far of the year. Yeah. I think the biggest was one of the few that covered was above a touchdown was San Francisco against New England. But you take like a big, like here's the thing in the NFL,

like these big spreads historically, the dogs have fared well. You, I mean, you watched that San Francisco New England game. San Francisco was dominating them. throughout. And like, still, a spread of 10, New England had a chance to, like, cover in the end. Like, it's, it's not college. So I'm generally not on the business.

You're not guaranteed touchdowns in the red zone. Yeah. Like the Niners move the ball pretty much at will against Arizona. And I think they were like one for six in the red zone. And then obviously in that game, their kicker was hurt. But even, I would say a big difference in college, like if Ohio State or one of these teams is kicking someone else's ass, they're just going to score a lot more touchdowns. Yeah. We're in the NFL. It's like it's pretty easy to fuck up in the red zone like three times and a half. It's like, damn, you only got, how's the score 16 to 7 right now? It feels like they're up 40.

Yeah. That happens a lot, I feel like on Sundays. Yep. Exactly. You're exactly right. So, yeah, no interest in laying it, but I can't play the Browns here. Eagles should have everyone back on offense as well. Browns have a ton of injuries.

Their offensive line is a mess. Just not sure where that locker room is right now. So it didn't play the Browns. The other ugly game I did play was Jacksonville. Tell me on that one. Well, I mean, I just don't think, I mean, I took two and a half. I don't think that there's any difference between these teams. Like, you could say Caleb's been playing better and he has been.

But yeah, he's had one really good game this year. And that was against the Panthers with the worst defense in the league. I had more injuries last week. And by the way, the Panthers in that game, they lose two starting offensive linemen. That's why I can't buy the Panthers this week. That was the strength of their team. Two of their starting offensive line would go down.

They have more injuries at wide receiver. Team is cursed this year. That was his one new game. He's playing against a soft zone defense. He's been bad against man. He's going to see a ton of man against Jacksonville. But if you look at what the Chicago is sitting at three and two. They have a good home win over Carolina.

They had the luckiest win of the year at home against the Titans. They come back from down 17, nothing without scoring an offensive touchdown. They just get the game handed to them by Levis. and a pump block touchdown. They beat the Rams at home. They actually got outplayed in that game, and the Rams are down their entire offensive line, Cup and Nakua.

They even lost the Colts who had Richardson playing, who's been horrendous this year. The Jags just beat the Colts with Flacco, the much better version. I mean, if you look at EPA plus completion percentage over expectation, it's Richardson out of 36 quarterbacks with least 75 dropbacks. Richardson's 35th.

Bryce Young is only a bit behind in the 36th. Flacco's second. Like that's how much better Flacco's been the Richardson. Jaggs beat the version of the Colts with Blacko. The Bears lose that. They only put up 16 points against that horrendous,

horrendous Colts defense. So you start to just like peel back some of these results for Chicago and hasn't really been impressive. Both these things played at Houston. They both lost by one possession. Jaxville looked much better. They looked like the much better team.

And if you look at Jacksonville, so you look on the service one in 14 versus three and two. Jacksonville has had a much tougher schedule. They fair better against Houston. Yeah, they played Buffalo. They got blown out in that game. But they, you know, they also, when you take a look at their strength of their schedule, it's even better because they played Miami week one when Miami was healthy. Now Miami's just a shell of itself.

And they fumbled going into the end zone to go up 17 to clinch that win. So I think Jacksonville's been better than advertising. I think this game should be a pick. And like I'll, I trust Lawrence more than Caleb right now. I think the Bears defense, which isn't going to be at full strength. Their starting nickel banged up might not play. Chiquon Brisker, he's out. They're starting safety.

And they've been given up some explosive plays. That's where Jacksonville's been living with their downfield passing attack. I just think this is like a true coin flip. So if you're going to give me a couple points, I'm going to take them in the NFL. And the other thing is, Jacksonville has way more experience playing these international overseas games. They do it a couple times a year.

Trevor Lawrence, I think, has covered three or four, one, three of four of the past two years. I like how the Bears went over there early in the week for their body clock, but the staff is not familiar with just everything that comes with these international games. This is just second nature for Jacksonville. So I think that that at least is a consideration and gives them potentially a slight edge. So, yeah, I just think this Bears team is super overrated. I mean, they could easily be, they should have lost the tendency.

They play that game a million times. They lose 99,99, 99 of those times. They, you know, they were outplayed by the Rams, the practice squad at home. And, you know, they lose those two games. They're one and four. just like the Jags. And the Jags had a couple of points of games that went against them. They could easily be three and two.

And then I think this line is, you know, around a pick, which is where I think it should be. So I like Jacksonville over in London to kick off Sunday. You sold me. I'm taking Doug Peterson and Trevor Lawrence. So let's do it. Okay, Stucky, let's rock and roll. Take some shitty quarterbacks and enjoy a Sunday.

What could go wrong? Have a good weekend, brother. I'll see you next week. The Volume. 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

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so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tontons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever,

you get your podcast. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down,

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