The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 & Out - Jordan Love & Packers DOMINATING Jayden Daniels & Commanders on TNF

Episode Date: September 12, 2025

Former NFL scout John Middlekauff is LIVE breaking down the Thursday Night Football matchup between the Washington Commanders and the Green Bay Packers. John reacts to Packers QB Jordan Love's dominant performance & star Micah Parsons’ impact on the gameLater, John talks about the injury to 49ers QB Brock Purdy and how it impacts the team moving forward, adding to a list of injuries that include star tight end George Kittle. John then reacts to the Athletic's Mike Sando's article about how the Philadelphia Eagles are able to manipulate the salary cap due to their owner Jeffrey Lurie's willingness to spend his own capital, and then previews the upcoming matchup vs. the Kansas City Chiefs. John then talks about why he believes that Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel & Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan may be coaching for their jobs. John wraps up discussing why he believes kickoffs are becoming more important due to the new kickoff rules in the NFL. Plus, John is joined by betting guru, Stuckey from The Action Network to break down the upcoming weekend in both college football and the NFL. They dive into the biggest matchups, key storylines, and deliver their expert insight on where the value is for bettors. From Saturday’s slate of college games to Sunday’s NFL action, they’ve got you covered with sharp analysis and some of the best bets to make this weekend. 04:23 - Commanders-Packers 25:40 - Brock Purdy 30:49 - Chiefs-Eagles 37:57 - Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan 39:31 - Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel 41:09 - Kickoffs are becoming more important 51:04 - Stuckey joins the show Follow John on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for the latest.  All lines provided by hardrock.bet 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  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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John Middokoff 3 and Out podcast. Just watched a little Thursday night football. The Green Bay Packers are red hot. They trade for Micah Parsons. They're 2-0. The score doesn't quite even reflect. They dominated the Washington commanders tonight. That was an ass kicking.

So two home games, two wins. Green Bay looks like, if not the best team, one of the best teams in the league. So props to them. We'll dive into Washington as well. Some other stuff going on around the NFL Purdy. He's injured Mac Jones in. It's actually not funny. The Chiefs, the Eagles, Mike McDaniels,

which that thing's getting a little weird. The kickoff rule. Stucky joins us as he does every Friday. So recorded that before the Thursday night game. I also recorded a mailbag, but that'll probably come out this weekend. The audio version, the video version, they'll both be up on podcast feed and out on the YouTube page. So I skipped it yesterday, but I tried to bang out some of your questions. So no mailbag today, just some night reaction and then long talk with Stucky about gambling and some different plays.

A lot going on. I mean, there's early on in the season. everyone's playing. Obviously got a full slate for college. So let's buckle up and get ready for some football. If you listen on Collins feed, make sure you subscribe to three and out. I need to do that.

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Last minute tickets. Lowest prices guaranteed. You know the funny part about the NFL is even when a game, and to me the major difference with the NFL in college, is like when one team is kicking someone's butt in college, typically the score reflects it. Now, not every game, an ass kicking is 60 to nothing in college, but like if I am dominating you for three quarters,

I am typically up several scores. Like, it's not even a close game. Yet in the NFL, through three quarters, I think by the end of three quarters, they might have been even. But at one point in time with a couple minutes left, the graphic comes up that the Green Bay Packers, tight end, Tucker Kraft,

had more yards than the entire Washington commander's offense who have Jaden Daniels offensive rookie of the year, Debo Samuel, who's playmaker, Terry McClure and he was making $30 million a year. They got some firepower. And Zach Ertz, who's pretty legendary tied in, and still actually playing pretty well for an older guy. When I was actually, me and my wife went to see the baby doctor,

there were all these pictures of the babies and the Ertz baby was up there. So I've always had a soft spot for Zach. but that offense tonight was horrendous. And the Green Bay Packers kicked their ass and they were still only up a touchdown. But then the Green Bay got the ball back, scored 24 to 10 and the game was basically over then. I think, and I do believe this, I liked him coming into the year. I thought they had a chance to be really good. You guys know that one of my favorite bets before the year was them to win the division.

And that was before the Micah Parsons trade. Obviously, once they traded for Micah Parsons, I've been saying this. the best part of that trade for 2025. It's just Kenny Clark for Micah Parsons straight up. Those draft picks are in the future. It's like time value money. It's like me giving you $100 for you giving me $200 later, but that later is not coming for a year. So right now, it's Kenny Clark from Micah Parsons straight up, which is a trade that any human would make for this individual season. And obviously tonight, Micah Parsons look like Lawrence Taylor coming off the edge against the rookie. But I do think it's fair to say that,

If this was college, the Green Bay Packers would be the number one team in the country. And last year, it was clear because for a long time in the McCarthy era, right up into the LaFleurre, offense has never been their problem. Obviously, when you have Aaron Rogers for years winning MVP's and one of the best players in the history of the league, you're going to be really good. But they transition very smoothly into Jordan Love. Offense is not going to be their issue. They always build good offensive lines.

Even if they have to mix and match their wide receivers, they figure it out. They find tight ends. They're just, offense is going to be good. And defense has been the question. And they get Jeff Halfley, who's kind of thrown in his hat in the ring these first two weeks of, I thought last year was like, this is a guy that left Boston College because of the NIL situation. It's like he's never going to be able to win that much. He'll probably just get fired.

He comes to Green Bay. He knows that like that's a better opportunity to up his stock to go to either a bigger college or even best case scenario one day being an NFL coach. And last year, if you would ask me, I'd be like, I bet he's going to be in the mix with another good year to interview for the top college jobs. If he keeps going like this, he's going to be one of the top candidates this offseason. Because that defense tonight, the speed in which they played, how well they tackled, how close their defense of backs are constantly to the wide receivers.

It's not like Washington has no firepower with Debo and McLaurin. But that defense looks excellent. And they were hammering it all night. To me what I saw, and this happened sometimes when Lamar placed Pittsburgh, the only team that is comfortable playing him with his speed, and he typically in Baltimore doesn't play that well against him, it's because they always have speed on the outside. And tonight, Jaden Daniels usually looks so much faster than so many teams he plays.

And tonight, I would say he looked, I don't want to say pedestrian from an athletic standpoint, but he looked much more normal. And I think that was more of a reflection with just how fast and physical Green Bay is. but the defense was good last year. You add Micah Parsons to this unit. The speed, and they've had leads. The other thing, they've started two straight games. They kind of remind me last year of the Minnesota Vikings.

A huge part of the Minnesota Vikings success early in the season and this kind of just snowballed as the year went is the confidence for Sam Darnold was like through four games. They were dominating early in games. They were putting up a ton of points and he had like 12 touchdowns through four weeks. Same thing. Last week, couple touchdowns early, Jordan Love. This week, couple touchdowns early, the offense and Jordan Love. It's like they're just rolling early in these games. Now, both of them have been at home, but like the offense gets a lead and then they are

built. They have basically a $200 million pass rusher in Micah. They have Roshan Gary, who is an excellent player. They have several other guys, really in their front seven who are fast, physical, just naturally get up the field guys. And they were in good. golfing him the night and play after play after play and I give Jaden a lot of credit because I've been hammering this home forever the the most important aspect of a quarterback that we never talk about his toughness and Jaden Daniels stood in there tonight and got the shit kicked out of him he was getting peppered and I don't know how much he weighs when he gets on the scale he probably weighs a little bit more than he looks because he's a taller guy but this guy's not built like uh you know

cam Newton or Ben Rathesburg like he's pretty slender and he's just getting popped, popped, popped, and he kept hopping back up. But when this team gets a lead on you, it's different. I think they're a little more complete, and obviously Jordan loves not Peyton Manning. But the way this thing is built right now,

remember when they had a couple pass rushers for years in Indianapolis, or when Peyton got to Denver and they had Demarchus Ware and Vaughn Miller, now you got Micah Parsons and Roshan Gary, it's like buckle the bleep up we are coming. Because in the third and everyone in the stadium, everyone on their couch knows their passing,

this is probably one of the last teams you want to see. In Washington night, you know, when you throw out a rookie, and listen, it's part of life in the league. You get drafted high. You're our best option. You get thrown to the fire. And week two, short week on the road, Micah Parsons, $188 million.

Back is okay. A kid, like Cliff said, good luck. I'll give you help occasionally, but go get them, Tiger. and go to the ground is what he did because Michael Parsons went right around him. And let's face it, Cliff's offense is, I've never been a huge fan. Respect the guy, don't respect the scheme. I think it is extremely soft, but their quarterback's so good, they can overcome it. The problem with soft schemes, and this was early on, you know, maybe Chip has morphed a little bit,

but, you know, definitely Cliff over the years. When you play physical fronts, they annihilate you. right physical fronts have an advantage no matter who they're playing but when you play this spread it out offense you better have big time pass protection because if you don't and they got good pass rushers it's on like donkey Kong and that's what was happening to the oregon right tackle and i know you know herb street trying to be nice you know he used to play left tackle and listen sometimes it's like maybe that guy's not even ready to be a starter he just has no choice but here's a thing you know in the NFL if he's not ready we saw it last year with the chiefs they put out the

second rounder from BYU and then like half the season in and like this is not possible, he gets benched. And when you have expectations, I say this all the time, bad teams, the Panthers, the dolphins, whoever, it doesn't really matter. Let the guy sink or slam, keep rolling him out there. Good teams, if he can't get it done against the best players and we are playing a much harder schedule this year, and obviously Mike is on the upper echelon of guys we're going to play. But if he's a liability and going to get Mike quarterback killed, we at least have to look at other people, right, if he's just not ready. And listen, sometimes you're just not ready as a rookie, right? It's not like he was the seventh overall pick. He was a mid,

pick in the 20s. But tonight, that was eye-opening. And the other thing is, you know, a good offensive coordinator, what they will do is they will find your weakness. I remember Belichick, remember a couple years ago, they did like the top 100 players of all time. And he was in there the whole time. And, you know, different position guys, like Ed Reed would show up, Brady, and I think Peyton Manning showed up. It was cool. And I remember one time Rich Eisen asked him a question.

And the one thing Bill's pretty good at, even when he's grumpy, is just kind of keeping things simple. He's like, football's not that complicated. Like, think the art of war. We try to get our strengths on your weaknesses, and we try to hide our weaknesses for many strength that you may have. Like, this is pretty basic game, even though it's extremely complicated. When you have a weakness on defense in the secondary and you are a good offensive coach with a capable quarterback and passing game, you attack that guy relentlessly.

I don't care if you have Jerry Rice and Randy Moss out there or you have the group of pretty capable, solid, talented young wide receivers that the Packers have. And that's what they did to Marcus Latimore. And I never have an issue with someone being aggressive in the trade market. and that Washington found themselves last year in a situation that they haven't typically been in, right? And they have a new administration, all of a sudden we're really good, and they got aggressive with the corner. It turns out he's old and he can't play anymore. And sometimes your body, like there are certain positions when your body leaves you when it comes to speed. Like you can get away with it at wide receiver if you're a great route runner.

Like what 40 times do you think Keenan Allen runs? I'll promise you this. It's closer to 5-0 than it is 4-6. but he can get open. So what, he's not that fast. He knows where he's going, you don't know where he's going, and he's a great route runner. Devonte Adams, never been a blazer.

You cannot function when you were not fast at corner. Not possible, especially if I'm going to put you in one-on-one situations. And LaFleur and the Packers, as that game went on, they went at him, like, relentlessly. And he was getting flagged, he was getting completions, and that's a problem. So if you look at, you know, right now Green Bay, it feels like they have a bunch of strengths, right?

A bunch of guys that they've drafted, they've acquired, are playing really well. They signed Josh Jacobs. What is Josh Jacobs? A freaking beast. Like he's a guy, so, hand him again, hand him again. He's so good. Like, this is to me the way I judge, like top running backs. Even when, you know, as the game's going, one score, maybe within 10 points,

and you give it to a guy and he gets like two yards, two yards. And it never crossed your mind. Like, that wasn't even a bad play call. I'd give it to again because he's one good block. he's one broken arm tackle away from that being 17 yards. And the more and more he wears on you, it's like a fighter. Not everyone, you know, Derek Henry's a little Mike Tysony. He hits you with that right, that 80-yard run.

It breaks you. Well, most running backs don't have that speed that they're going to run, you know, Sequin Barkley, Derek Henry. But a guy like Josh Jacobs is just like, I'm going to keep jabbing you in that side. And eventually you're just going to go down being so much pain. And that's what he feels like he wears on you out. And then it opens it up for, you know,

some of your own wide receivers and the tight end. But like you watch Green Bay, they just are a more complete team. Like I still love the quarterback for Washington, but you see some weaknesses. They trade a high pick for Lattimore, can't play. They draft this guy to play offensive tackle for them. You know, relative to a high-end guy, it looked like it was a lot. Now, I'd have to go back and really study last week. Maybe he clearly did better against the New York Giants,

who supposedly have a good, you know, pass rush. So maybe it's just, hey, Michael Parsons, peak of his powers, fresh legs. I'm not bearing the kid by any means. But if you're going to be good, you know, you can't really hide tackles. I can get away with guards and centers because I can double team. But a tackle, even if I'm chipping or helping a tight end, they're going to be a lot of times where it's just kind of him and the guy. And in this league, like every team, if not Michael Parsons or Max Crosby,

they have a group of guys that they can throw at you. And listen, halfly, I can't sing that guy's praise is enough. That wasn't ass kicking. This guy's good. I got to be honest. I remember years ago, he was on the staff for Chip Kelly with the 49ers. And I used to go to these praxes. And I remember looking at him, he's pretty small, skinny, just kind of looks kind of geeky.

But I remember thinking like, God, this guy, this guy? And then Chip got fired and Kyle Shanahan kept him. and he was on the staff for a couple years. I remember talking to someone about him. I never met him. I didn't know anything about him. I was just judging him off the way he looked. Like this skinny little white guy who's coaching DBs.

And if you went to practice, like he's coaching his ass off. I remember asking someone, they're like, Tony John, he's actually a pretty good coach. So I was like, hey, man, you can't judge a book by its cover. And then he goes on to Ohio State and look at him now. He's a stud. So my first, just judging him on the practice field, I'm like, this guy?

Now, you got to be careful. You know, Kyle's had a lot of like Mike McDaniels, Jeff Haffley type guys running around. So if you just judge all these like little guys screaming, you think they all suck and they all end up becoming head coaches. So to me, Jeff Hathley, man, he's on a trajectory right now. Green Bay better enjoy it. Like this is a Super Bowl level team because this guy's going to be interviewing this offseason for sure top college jobs because he's already been a head coaching college. But to me, like the NFL teams are going to start sniffing around what he's doing. It's not even debatable.

And listen, I know he's got good friends in the media. Don't know him personally, but they tried to push last year. Cliff Kingsbury, Cliff Kingsbury cannot be head coach. This offense, like, you cannot hire this guy to run this offense. Like, they can't, on short yardage, run a play where a quarterback's under center. It doesn't exist. And I know there was a play tonight where Austin Echler got it. I think it was like fourth and one, or it might even been like four.

But it's fourth and one, and you're running a gun run against an excellent defense of front and thank God, like Echler kind of like got an extra little juice and kind of rolled around. It's like, what are we doing? How can anyone, I don't pretend to know more X's nose than this guy, but in what world do we go, hey, short yardage, midfield, gun run. Like how over the course of your career coaching football, have we never come into the meeting room or on the field?

You know what? Let's just try some sort of downhill run under center. Even if it's not, like I'm not even advocating having Jaden do tush push or quarterback sneak, just a normal short yardage run under center. That successful teams have been running forever. How is that never come up? No, we don't do that. If your everything is, especially in a sport of football, like, we do not do that. Totally understand if it's like, hey, guy hits a chick, we don't draft those guys.

Totally on board. But if your thing is like, yeah, short yardage runs, quarterback under center, we don't do it. Can't coach it? We probably could, but we don't even try. Like, I'm out on your offense. I just am. And I thought tonight, like,

Jaden's such a talented player he would work and you and I could be calling plays for him. But that offense, man, I don't know. Now, you can say it's the best defense in the league, but my, Green Bay looks fantastic. They really do, and I feel pretty good. I also think we've got to be careful now,

you know, the way we look at the Lions that everyone wrote off that their defensive speed and their defensive pass rush, they're going to be an awful matchup for them because Goff definitely can't move. Like even the night, Jaden had a lot of problems running away because they could kind of catch them or at least get close to them and their team speed really throw them off. Jared Goff can't move more than a couple yards. Like he has to play within the pocket.

So I think we've got to be careful about just, you know, kind of riding off and burying the Detroit Lions as like a seven-win team this year. That could be an outlier situation and they're just going to lose to Green Bay because to me, Green Bay is even going to be faster indoors. I've always said this about the Packers, even before their defense was good, but definitely now they've always had speed at wide receiver. They've had athletic guys on defense. They just weren't that strong. Now they have like strong speed guys on defense with Parsons and how good Gary's playing.

I mean, granted, he's been on the team. But I'm really high in Green Bay. You don't want to peak too early. Hell, we saw the Saints last year. They were team of the year through two games. Didn't work out that well. everyone was fired by like Thanksgiving. So

obviously it's not going to happen here in Green Bay. But my overall point is like you got to keep getting better. And the good thing for them is like they've had back-to-back games or why weren't you guys up like 30 to nothing? So they've kind of sputtered out a little on offense. They've definitely left some points on the board. But man, that defense,

Jeff Halfley, great hire. This is where the floor deserves credit. And this is why I'm so high on this team. It's like their organization is just so well run. It's just like what an impressive hire When everyone's like, I gotta fire his boy, Joe Barry

Which couldn't have been easy I don't care who you are I think it's so easy for us And I'm guilty of this too Like fire this guy It's like well yeah This guy's been one of the best friends In my life for the last 15 years

I love this guy I love this human being I love this guy's family Like that's kind of important in life The problem is Once you start mixing those relationships And business like it does get complicated That's also part of life

but I think we think these things are a little easier than they actually are so obviously that was hard but once he did pull the trigger on that to go out and make a decision that no one saw coming and then to have this work out and they showed the visual tonight of Goudicans and Ed Policy it just feels they just got some pretty good synergy going and they have for a long time but how do the Packers always mix and match different people whether it was Ron Wolf and Holmgren

Ted and Mike and now Goudicans LaFleur and Ed Policy it's just they're good at like you know they're like a matchmaker

of putting these guys together then they get along and it just kind of works LaFloor went nuts early in the game when the guy screwed up the field goal you know go for a situation

I remember going to a Titans practice it would have been Mike Vrabel's like first OTAs and I I was there for, I've told this story before, for like a bachelor party, but I went like a four or five days early. I had John Robinson, the former GM on the podcast, played a little golf, screwing around, checked out Nashville. But I remember LaFleur was kind of this, you know, young up-and-comers, his first ever offensive coordinator job, thinking like, God, this guy's a pretty big red ass. He was screaming at people.

That was like Marriota. They had Dionne Lewis, Derek Henry. That was before Derek Henry was good, like Luan. I mean, they had some good players. but I just remember this guy, and I've been to a lot of NFL praxis. You know, some offensive coordinators, like, if you go to a 49er practice, Kauff Shan has not screaming at a bunch of people. You know, you go to a lot of practices, like, Gruden would scream with people.

I'm trying to think, like, you know, even Harbaugh Greg Roman, it wasn't screaming at you. You went there as, like, LaFleur was just screaming at people. And sometimes he's kind of got that in them. He's got a little edge to him. LeFleur's really grown on me over the year. So props to the Packers, big win. And I'll all say this. I give you a little grace, you should lose this game.

If you are a road team on Thursday night football, week two or week 12, that's really difficult. And when you are a road team on Thursday night football against a good team, like if you're a road team on Thursday night football and you've got to play Miami or Carolina or, you know, you have to get on a plane and fly several hours, that is not easy. Because you basically throw a white flag to Wednesday, right? you work out Monday, Tuesday, and then you travel Wednesday. So they get all of Wednesday to kind of do like slow walkthrough stuff and just operate a little more normal. It is a massive advantage to be the home team on Thursday night.

It's a enormous advantage when you get later in the season. So you get a little less room for me to like give you a free pass. But on the road, Thursday night football, Green Bay. not an easy spot. But this is where also a lot of people are questioning, you know, Washington a little fluky last year, won those one score games, like Stucky had mentioned, all the fourth downs they got.

What were they, like 20 to 23 last year? And they weren't all like fourth and inches. So it's going to be something to watch, but as long as you got Jaden Daniels, I'm not writing you off. I do think, though, the longer cliff, you know, his offense, historically, like the more and more you see of them

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We've created our own. podcast called Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts. We're starting a trend.

But this one's extra special. So how did we actually come up with a name Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. And we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band. Before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes.

I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. 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, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes.

Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The French Open is one of the toughest tests. in tennis. And I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs, and on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris. Every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on Clay. Jenchian went. I mean, she went down in three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay.

Listen, Lena Rubakina is arguably the best player in the world right now. And I actually can win on any surface because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas.

And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows. Without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs.

I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash will get that thing.

That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball. Like, you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah. You figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Okay, a couple other topics, a couple other things around the National Football League. Rapsheet put out within the last 48 hours that Brock Purdy is out two to five weeks, which

I got to be honest. I'm not questioning his reporting. I mean, he's a big J. And he's great his job. I like a little rap sheet. But two to five is kind of weird. It's like that could be like a week or that could be a month and a half. Usually it's like six to eight, one to two.

John Lynch came out today and said they're viewing it more week to week. I do think this Purdy was good last week Like obviously he threw the game winning touchdown He just had a really good game Except he did throw two interceptions I thought one of them was really bad The other one was just good defense

But he was really good last week And Kittle gets Catoed in the game So he doesn't have him for a long stretch of the game Joanne Jennings gets hurt It was impressive out of it Purdy's a really good player When you pay a guy a lot of money though

like here's the one concern I have for Brock when it comes to just the long-term view he's kind of been hurt a lot you know when I think Patrick Mahomes I think Josh Allen I think Lamar Jack these guys did he's miss games when are they ever miss I was thinking I was watching something last night on Devin McCordy

this clip came up like Devin talking to Florio so I just Googled Devin McCordy and I went to his game log page for his career I was like adding it up this guy played like 12 13 years I'm pretty sure he missed like four total games. A huge part of football, whether you're Tom Brady-Pa-Pa-Manning or whether you're just a safety like McCordy,

is your availability. And I don't blame, no player wants to get injured. Of course not. But he's had some, like, he got injured a couple years ago, missed three games in the middle of the season, obviously got injured in the NFC championship game,

he got injured here. It's just a little concerning, especially when it comes out of the game. It wasn't just like, hey, this freaky thing, the guy landed on him. It's like, well, he threw the game winning touchdown. He came back in the game, did victory formation, and then the next day you say he's got a toe and a shoulder?

I just, that's tough. But this is also why they kind of value the backup quarterback position. Here's the thing, the 49ers who love this guy, and rightfully so. Brux's really good, incredible story, meshes great with Kyle. Gave him a bunch of money. For two of the last three years, they've taken the backup quarterback job pretty seriously.

Three years ago, it was Sam Darnold. They love the guy. And this year was Mack Jones, someone that Kyle Shanahan really wanted to draft a number three overall when they kind of talked him out of it to go with Trey Lance. Neither pick would have been good. But I do think this is also why you pay Kyle Shanahan.

I said this about Ben Johnson. If the Caleb thing is a disaster, which still got a ways to go, not looking great, but that's why he gave Ben Johnson five years, $13 million a year. Because the offense is his baby and he's going to figure it out. He's worked with countless different quarterbacks. We know Shanahan has won games with a ton of different guys.

and it's going to be really hard because arguably, especially right now, their best player in offense is George Kittle, who has the pulled hamstrings out of month. And Christian McCaffrey got more touch his last game in terms of rushing attempts and past targets than he had since like 2002. It's like you can't ride this guy like he's Secretariat when he just basically missed all season last year with calves and Achilles and his cabs still hitting up.

So, Shanahan, Mack Jones, and this is where you get a lot of credit as an organization. We'll talk about Philly here in a minute. When teams are willing to spend big money, like Robert Salo was on the fence, he was thinking about going to different couple of places, and the 49ers gave him a ton of money. You know, there's a decent chance he's the highest paid defensive coordinator,

if not tied with Fangio is the guy making the most. And he carried him in the first game, in terms of like random guys making big plays, and you've got to invest in your coaching staff, when you have the opportunity to get big time coaches because you're going to have injuries. I mean, if you're watching tonight, guys were dropping like flies. It's like we got a guy carted off.

We got Echler tearing his Achilles. Now, granted, it's Thursday night game, but this is a consistent theme in the NFL. You just watch a random game. It feels it'd be stunning if the cart doesn't come out once a game. And how many times, you know, six, seven guys throughout the course of the game go to the tent. Now, a large percentage of those guys come back,

but sometimes they don't. sometimes the guy's questionable. You saw tonight, Reed, shoulder, boom, out, wise, knee out, Echler, Achilles out. I mean, these guys are probably out. I mean, Reed might be missed, I don't know if he broke a collarbone, five, six, seven weeks. The other two guys out for the season.

So it's like, that's how fast it happened. So that's where you really got to rely on your coaching. Because right now you only got so many options, practice squad guys. You got to coach these guys up. And no one's going to feel sorry for you and no one's going to make any excuses. Well, we had a bunch of guys injured. Yes, part of the league. Now, obviously some teams have more guys injured than other people,

but this is why I bet on the 49ers to be pretty good this year. Was their schedule? Well, it's like Mac Jones, Spencer Rattler. Godspeed, buddy. Chiefs and the Eagles. There was a fantastic article on the athletic about the Philadelphia Eagles and how they operate financially. And essentially that Howie and Jeffrey,

they have over 30% of their salary cap in two. 2025 in dead money. We talk a lot about dead money. The Eagles have a ton of dead money. Because guys like Jason Kelsey, Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, these guys are retired. Well, you got to pay a credit card. And when you buy these guys or extend their contracts, the Eagles push it all down. So when these guys randomly retire a little earlier than you thought, it all gets accelerated.

Well, you have to pay the bill. You've already actually paid them in real money. but on your salary cap, it comes due. And it doesn't matter because the whole premise of this article is how willing Jeffrey Lurie is to take his cash and manipulate the salary cap because he'll give you big signing bonuses. And then you push it over the course of the cap. And this is what I've never understood about the NFL.

I understand. And in this article, it's basically like, you know, Cincinnati takes a lot of shit. Pittsburgh Steelers are the same. They don't pay these you signing bonuses. And I was thinking about it driving around today. You know, Jeffrey Lurie bought this team in the late 90s. So the majority of his life, all he's known as

Cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching, the money flows. As how we called it, it's called interest-free loans. We know the money's coming, we just got to pay it later. We're not worried about going belly up, about not being able to make our payments. We see the guaranteed money. I do think the Roonies and the Browns and some of these old-school families that have been in the NFL for so long, they're wired like it was back in the day. And in fairness, back in the day, 60s, 70s, the 80s, obviously the television money was way different.

You were very predicated on gate receipts and people coming and contracts, even in the documentary with Jerry Jones. That's like the mid-90s signing Deon Sanders. These contracts, I think you got like a $10 million signing bonus. So within 25, 30 years, the economics of the league have changed, I mean, gone to a different universe money-wise. but you know the money's guaranteed and you know the money's there. So I don't understand these teams not taking advantage of what the Eagles are doing. Like the reason the Eagles have a really good roster this year is because their owner is willing to take money that he's getting from the league.

He doesn't have to do anything. Like you're just getting free money for the league being part of this television revenue that's impossible to go over because the cap is like not even 50% of that amount of money that you're getting or right around there. So you have so much room to. spend because your other expenses, your coaches don't cost that much relative to players, and no one else in your building costs anything. So the Eagles, the reason, like, this week they're favored, it should have been a disaster.

And as people were saying in this article, like, they're just a team on tilt. But if you're paying elite players and they're playing elite, it's going to work. And that's what Howie and Jeffrey have done. And that's why they come in, like, with a pretty good chance to be a Super Bowl type team again. because they are utilizing all this money the NFL is making. I think a lot of teams, it's crazy reading this article, are just like, what are you doing with the money? Like pocketing it?

Like putting it in a brokerage account? Like you guys are all living in the biggest house on the block. You got this asset worth billions of dollars. I don't understand not investing it back into the team, especially when you get the opportunity to pay good players. And it just shows you a lot of these owners are not. And here's the thing.

It's not like Mike Brown is like buying seven houses in Italy and has some $200 million yacht park neck to Bezos. Like where's other money going that he gets from the league? I just don't quite get it. I think, and I've said this forever,

when you have the disease of being cheap, even when you get to the wealth level of these guys with guaranteed money coming in, you don't shake it. It's a disease you do not shake. It's not curable once you pass a certain point in your life. And clearly some of these teams have it.

And I'll give Clark Hunt and the Chiefs credit. They were notoriously known for being a little cheap. I do think they have done a better job. Obviously, Coach Reed and Patrick Mahomes have inspired them. You know, Spags makes big money now. Obviously, they pay their players. You know, Carvostis just got a huge contract. They pay multiple offensive linemen big contracts.

Obviously, Patrick has 10 years, $450 million. And who knows, you know, I mean, he's making so much. The guy's just printing money. But I do think this is, I do believe in championship character, in championship blood, even though when you watch that game against the charges, it didn't look great. I mean, their defense got shredded, offensively, you know, worthy, he's kind of up in the air right now.

And I felt bad. I saw some of Travis's comments. He was just like, it's embarrassing for me. I'm a 13th year pro. I know the landmarks to be at. I got to pay it. I can't run into him. And obviously Travis is a lot bigger than him.

So if I'm going to run into him, take them out. And I hurt the guy. It sucks. It's like on me, especially a guy that we really need. So it's like their offense, everyone kept saying like, what's up with the Chief's offense? It's not that complicated. Where they got hurt, three plays in. And let's face it, their version of a star receiver relative to like Justin Jefferson, Jamar Chase, of course not.

But Rish Rice relative to their team, really good. And he's suspended. So if I take away your two top receivers and your tight ends old and, you know, you don't have a great running game, what do you think it's going to look like? I could have John Elway or Peyton Manning in their prime. Like, you're not going to score that many points. So, worthy, is very, very important. But they, like, it's tough to start O and two. Because someone has to win between the Chargers and the Raiders.

And if the Chargers beat the Raiders on Monday night and you were to lose if you're the Chiefs, you're all of a sudden, this isn't basketball or baseball. So like two games back, whatever, it's early in the season. Football, all of a sudden, it's like, we're three in one, you're one and three. Like, it can get kind of bigger than you think really, really fast. So there is some pressure here on the Chiefs at home, longer week, obviously the Eagles did too, you know, to win this game. And this is, this is where the championship character, the championship medal, and just the,

and they've done this a lot. And this is why they parallel the Patriots so much. The Patriots won a lot of weird, ugly games over the course of their 20 years. Not everything, this wasn't like Alabama in their peak. I mean, this is the NFL. Sometimes you've got to pull games out of, you know what, and all of a sudden you look up at the scoreboard, and it's like, you know, 23. need of 19. You're like, gosh, we didn't even play good, but let's, we get, they can win. And that's what I think the chiefs have to find a way to do. Obviously, Jalen Carter didn't get

suspended, nor should he. I agreed with, you know, getting kicked out of that game was basically he didn't play a staff, so that might as well be a suspension. But you imagine he's going to be motivated. Luckily for the chiefs, you know, they're center and guard pretty good. But I'm pretty fired up to watch that game. A couple more things before we get out of here. I do think we have pretty early. This is going to get ugly. Watch. I would rank this team number two

and a pretty distant from number one. But, you know, Brian Callahan, he could play Denver 10 times in Denver. He's probably losing that game 10 out of 10 times. His rookie making his first start. Like, he's never winning that game.

But he's getting crushed for the sequence, pinned up against his own goal line, for going three and out in the blink of an eye, giving up a touch. down. He clearly didn't know the rules. He even admitted it with an elbow relative to knees for a catch. It's just, the GM there, Borgonzi that came from Kansas City did not hire him. So anytime you have kind of that overlap of like, we just draft a quarterback number one overall that I'm betting on being pretty good player. I'm betting on at minimum at the end of the season

going, you know, Cam Ward is a guy that a lot of people would like to work with. A lot of people would like to coach in Nashville. Incredible, incredible place. Sign me up if I was a coach. I would go there yesterday. So it would be a job that would have a lot of people lined up with strong interest. So you got new GM, you got this young quarterback, and there's some pressure on this guy to start looking capable. Now, I like them this week plus five and a half, but I did the same thing last year, and they kept losing. So if you tell me that the Rams beat the living, you know what out of them, I think that situation could get a little weird for Callahan. And he could be in one of those, you know, kind of rare positions where it's like he's a two and done coach.

Everywhere I clicked over the last three or four days, my YouTube algorithm, my Twitter algorithm, my Instagram algorithm, anything football-wise, was about Mike McDonnell, or Mike McDaniels sucking. The team's sucking, them doing players-only meetings after week one, two, or, it's just, it's pretty, everyone's taking pot shots, and listen, I take no joy. I feel a lot of guys, people are kicking him when he's down. Like, I've been making fun of this guy for a little bit for just being like kind of an overrated media fabrication. I do think some of the clips I've seen, it's become kind of sad.

Like, I take less joy in it now saying like, this guy is, they're really terrible, they're an embarrassment, but it's going to get really ugly. And now the masses have kind of swarmed in. and who knows, maybe the Patriots aren't good, maybe they can pull a game out of nowhere and all of a sudden the dolphins win at home. But if you tell me they lose at home by a touchdown by 10 points,

even if the Patriots aren't good, I just think this thing's going to grow and grow and grow and get so ugly. And the reality is these owners, you know, they spend way more time at home, watching TV, listen to radio when they're driving around, having their buddies, send them articles. They're not at the office just locked in a film room.

kind of out of touch with reality, right? They are much more in touch with the fan base. Reddit, I mean, they are dialed in of all the conversation outside the building. So whether it's the guy's kids telling them, I think that plays a huge role, and I think Mike's clearly in major trouble. I want to end on this.

I got this DM on Instagram. We do mailbags. We'll have one out this weekend, at John Middlecough, firing those DMs. but it kind of is a introduction to what I wanted to talk about. And he said, John, I've got a weird question. And I'm not sure you can answer this. But with the new kickoff rule, I've noticed almost every team using backup running backs to return kicks.

Does this have to do with the new kickoff return becoming more of a run play? And with both teams lining up straight across from each other five yards apart. And that's a great question. Because tonight you saw Debo Samuel, who is, widely considered a wide back, as in a wide receiver running back combination, and anyone who's been by Debo, he's built much more like a running back than he is a wide receiver. But he's Taylor made to do that. Now, granted, he did that in college. He's a good return man. But if you look around the league, you are using players who you would use on offense, not just special

teams only type guys to return kicks. And Garifolo tweeted out this week about this rule. or about what's going on early on in the season, the teams have seen the impact of the kick return. The average starting field position for the kickoff is basically the 30-yard line, 29.7. And entering last night's game going into Monday night, the highest in week one since 2000. Well, this off-season, one thing they did is if you get a touchback,

it goes to the 35. So if you're watching kickoffs throughout the week, and watch it this upcoming weekend, they are basically kicked in the landing zone every time now. Because if I just kick it through the end zone and you started 35, you're one explosive play away from being at the 50 yard line. So you're basically the kickoff and a good offensive play from being at midfield with only one offensive play. That's insane. The touchback used to be at the 20 yard line. So to get to midfield, you would have need several explosive plays.

And even if you're not doing explosive plays, and take you, you know, potentially seven, eight plays to even gain 30, 35 yards. Now I screw up the kickoff, boom, you're close to midfield. So the rule change, and this is where the NFL deserves a lot of credit, they are very proactive with trying different stuff. And years ago, Belichick deserves flowers on this one, was like, we can't keep kicking the extra point from the two-yard line.

it's like 99% accurate. It's a wasted play. Why do we even have collisions? So they moved it back and what happened? It went from like 99 to like 91. And that 8, 9% difference is more impactful because you're always like a little on your edge, especially in the second half,

that a guy could miss the PAT. Well, the kickoff rule, and listen, a lot of traditionalist coaches that have been around a long time did not like it. And I get it because they thought like it would just ruined the play. It just wouldn't exist. Special teams was basically going to go away. It actually has resurrected special teams because no one participated in this. They would just kick it through the end zone 20. And then they even tried to kick it to the 25.

They're like, whatever, the 25. Well, you go to the 35 now kind of makes me think. So if you're going to force me to kick it into that little landing area, I'm not just going to put some random guy like me or you back there on my 53-man roster. It's like, Debo go back there. Right. Whoever on your team, the backup running back, maybe like a, a thicker safety or DB that has some return skills in college, but we're going to take that play very, we're going to take that play seriously, like an offensive play. And I would imagine anyone, you know,

the media guys that go to or if you as a fan go to training camp, that period is much more serious in practice. You have much more data now, but like the blocking area, if you block it well, I really might only have to make a guy or two miss, right? you know, the old kickoff, speed was such a huge impact. You know, having Dante Hall or Devin Hester or way back in the day Dion Sanders, guys like that, because you got this running head start and it was like, I needed a lane.

Well, now it's much more like a running play where I need a gap, but I also shiftyness, and this is where the running back element comes in, you know, breaking little arm tackles because the guy's not running full speed. He's only running 10ish yards and really he's breaking or shedding a tackle. the guys right in front of them, you know, trying to just neutralize them. So I think the play last year was kind of a work in progress. This year with the tweak of extending the touchback, you know, toward the offense's goal line, has just kind of added some fireworks.

And I find this play used to just, you know, if you got up, you had to take a leak. If you came back and you missed the kickoff, you're like, oh, they're on the 22-yard line. You miss nothing. Now you kind of feel like something could happen. I mean the night. All of a sudden, Dibbo, I'm screaming, Maria, because she loves Dibo. And I thought he was, for a split second, I thought he had a chance, but not quite fast enough anymore. But he took it to, like, well past the 50. So he's a good example.

I think a lot of guys like him that are versatile players that are offensive, like, you know, running backs or have that skill based in college are going to be utilized, you know, in that play. Hey, it's us, the Jonas brothers. And guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news. we created our own podcast called Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast?

Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to our first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers.

This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys.

Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. 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, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to Humor Me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The French Open is one of the toughest tests. in tennis. And I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs, and on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris, every match, every

upset, and what it really takes to win on Clay. Jenchen went. I mean, she went down in three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lerabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now, and I actually can win on any surface. Because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. What's up, fam?

It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defining the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player there. ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows. Without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because

when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reed. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash will get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers, why he got the ball. Like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick.

Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Okay, as we head into week two, I know the people are excited because he's back this season. He laid the foundation last week. Week one, we were talking a little off air. It's difficult, even college early on to get a feel for, you know, the transfer portal. You've got so many new players can be difficult.

But this man is locked and loaded. My main man from the Action Network, Stuck, you can find him, big bets on campus, the Action Network podcast, and just firing away tweets whenever games are going on. Stucky, what's up, bro? What's going on? And we're in the heart of the grind now. for the foreseeable future.

So, yeah, football's back. It's just like a couple days, prep as much as possible, try to find a nap. And then it's like five days games. It's beautiful Thursday. We've got Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday. And then eventually we'll get some like Tuesday and Wednesday in action. It's the best time of the year.

So it's good to be back. Sometimes I, yesterday, I crashed. Like sometimes Wednesday, midweek, I just really, you know, you peak. you know, I tell my wife, like sometimes I got a peek at night. So, you know, in the morning kind of leave me alone because we got games going on. I got a new reaction podcast. It's like, you know, an NBA player. They take naps in the middle of the day because they got a peek at that tip off.

That's how I view football season from my couch. That's my schedule. I'll like, I'll watch games at night and then I might lay down for like an hour after all the games are over. And like maybe midnight to one in the morning. and then I start working on one in the morning just going through as many games as possible and then I just go as far into the day

as I can until I just need to take a little nap and then keep going. Are you at Eastern time? Yeah, and so my schedule during football is insane. Like sometimes I'll have like dinner at three in the morning.

So like there's no consistency to it. I just try to go as long as I can and then Thursday's podcast day and Friday's cleaning everything up, final bets and then... So you basically live like a civilized domestic life, right? You're married, you got a kid on the way, but you also live like you're in the casino.

Yes. You know? For example in college basketball, yeah. During like the summer, I used to grunt. That's nine months a year. Yeah. During the summer, so like April, and then I got to do a lot of prep work,

but I can do that like more normal hours. Like April, May, June, July. part of August like I'll sleep normal normal hours and uh although I'm always a night now well we and so is my wife we go to bed at like three in the morning Jesus, but uh and she works in the bar industry and I'm like always been that way so it kind of works but then we like travel I hang out with her and I look I will you know go biking eat healthy and uh but then football starts and it's then I'm betting the titans like just irresponsible things Yeah, it is important, whoever your significant other is, to have similar, like, life schedules.

Yeah. It'd be difficult. I remember in my youth, you know, you just, you dabble around. Delilah's in Philadelphia, the strip club. It's like, if you ever, you know, gotten to a serious relationship, you realize the timing, you know, of their work, your work are off. So it does help when you're a normal, older person. And you're on the same schedule as the other one, because it'd be difficult if someone's up and you're trying to sleep or vice versa. But she's better.

She found me on Twitter. Followed me. We used to go back and forth, and then that's how we met. So she knew what she was getting into. Like there was no hiding. And she bets. So she gets it. So like I'm very lucky in that aspect.

Okay. Let's dive into some football. Obviously all lines here brought to you by Hard Rock Bet. And we'll start on Saturday, which we actually got some, you know, pretty good. I thought last week, a little bit of a dud. I was just thinking about college football. You probably live for like the, on the East Coast. the USC Michigan State in a week or two or whatever that game is,

that 8 o'clock kickoff that everyone's freaking out. You're like, this is right in my wheelhouse. And I used to remember when I lived in Philly and would go out on Saturday nights, I mean, back when I could hang, and you'd look up at the TV at like one in the morning, and it'd be the third quarter of Boise State versus Oregon State. You're like, this is awesome. Yes, I always tell people that. I love that.

When I go out, like, I mean, I'm married, I'm washed up, I'm old. Like, what am I going to be? I'm not talking to any girls at the bar. So, like, I want to be at the bar with a drink and then have money on a game, watching a game. But even when I'm home and I don't go out, I am a – I have – no matter what, no matter how bad the game is, I have to watch until the last game. Like, last week it was like Hawaii, Sam Houston State until, like, 240 in the morning. But I like that part of it.

Hours are weird for me. So, like, it's easier to say when it's like that. But, yeah, having a game on it, one in the morning. That game's next week, right? that everyone's bitching and a moment about? Or is that in two weeks? Because I looked, I thought it was this week because everyone was up in arms,

but it's not this week. I think it's in a couple weeks. Yeah, I think it's in two weeks. Yeah, I mean, I have a couple rules I've developed. If your game goes into a rain delay or a lightning delay or a hurricane delay, and it's not like the opening night of college football, or I mean the NFL, like the Eagles where you just,

it's the only game on. But it happened in college. It obviously happened in the NFL. I'm out. I'm just, I'm out, especially if I don't have, money or on my fantasy team or you're not a team that I care about. And it's hard for me to put any value in that game. And I also think in college when people like, oh, USC might be good or so

and so might. If you play nobody, I put no value. Like, I know Penn State's good. So them, but, but I'm not putting value in them just beating the shit out of people. That's what they should be doing. Yeah. So when you get like UGA, Tennessee or this week, A&M, Notre Dame, even USF, like clearly they got a Boise Field to them. They go on the road and they beat Florida, who might end up 6 and 6 and the coach might get fired in three or four weeks. But that is an incredible win, right? I mean, Florida's riding high.

They start thinking, obviously probably looked ahead to LSU, now looking back. I mean, clearly. But let's start there. I know you love, it's, you know, you're in Kentucky, so, you know, you got the big school, especially basketball school, carry yourselves like winners. But you have a soft spot for the,

the little guy. And listen, I'm Fresno State, Pat Hill, Boise State, grew up at UC Davis. So I appreciate when USF, like, that is an enormous moment for that human being. Honestly, it probably changed his life, right? So, like, if they go on to have a good season, like there's a pretty good chance he's coaching, not just at like a decent school, like an elite school next year. Like you'd say what right now, 50-50 chance that if he has a great season? Yeah, could end up going to Florida. I mean, he's building that program up. Byron Brown, potential pro quarterback. He was just hurt last year. He was really good two years ago, but he's recruiting well, building up that roster already in South Florida.

So depending on what happens with Napier, maybe. Can you go back-to-back weeks, though, at Florida? This game's clearly harder at Miami, but they're getting 17 and a half points. That number's pretty big, but also it's like, God, are they going to run out of juice? Yeah, I played Miami here. It's a tough spot. Miami's coming off by. They're obviously not going to overlook them.

They're ranked now. They just saw him beat Florida, which is an embarrassing loss. And South Florida's had two back-to-back ranked wins. Like, it's not a deep team like that is. This is a lot to ask. Their third straight ranked team. It's not a terribly deep team. It's still a group of five team.

And they've already done what they need to do. Like, now they can just go 10 and two, win the American. They can drop this game. They can drop one more. They win the American with the hardest non-conference schedule in the country, three ranked teams. And they win the American, have a ranked win over Boise and a win at Florida. They're in.

There's no one else. that's passing them from the group of five. What does that mean here? Number one, they could wear it down. And they don't play to just keep it competitive. Last year, they got blown out in the second app. I remember they lost 50 to 15 because they play fast. And goal is aggressive.

He's not just going to be like, you know, I want to lose by 17. Like if they lose by 2835, he's fine with it. But I just so that they could really wear down here, especially in the second half, because Miami's going to be able to block them. One of the best offensive lines in college football. Beck looked really good against Notre Dame. They have some really exciting weapons on the outside. On the defensive side, South Florida can't really run it.

They lost a lot of backs from last year. That's kind of their weakness. Their running game is Brown, their quarterback. But Miami's going to be able to just drop back in coverage here, take away the explosive play, which is all south. South Florida is, their coach came from Tennessee. So their offense looks like the Tennessee offense. It's like wide splits.

They go fast. They want to hit explosive plays, vertical shots downfield. Miami's going to be able to play coverage and get pressure with their D-Ns who are elite against their tackles. when South Florida is in passing downs. That's just going to lead to like a lot of three and outs, and Miami's going to have a ball a ton. It's a third straight ranked team,

so I just see South Florida eventually falling apart and just wearing down. But if I'm South Florida, and I'm looking at this, I know, you know, I said the goalish always plays to win, but you might just in the back of your head say maybe let's not run Brown as much. He was hurt last year. You just need him to stay healthy. You already did what you needed to do. Is he the genty for them?

Like, is he the guy that's just going to carry their team? I know he's a quarterback, but you know what I mean? Yeah, he's their star. In that Boise game, he was like running over guys for like 40-yard touchdowns. He had one called back that was on a BS holding. But yeah, if he gets hurt, it's over. But he's really special. So you might not run him as much here.

Like he's gotten hit a lot the last two weeks. So like if they get down, it might be like, hey, let's try to hand it to our backs a little more often. So I think Miami ends up pulling away here and winning by three touchdowns plus. You know, obviously Florida just had a not just a devastating loss. It'd be a rough loss at home to a non-powerful school. But to me, everything that was on the line, the hype coming in, you and I talked about him last week, like, could they be a fringe playoff team? But there was the elephant in the room about the coach. Like, he was riding high

after the end of last year and after week one, but it flipped immediately back to what it was, like at this time last year. So they're going to LSU. That game's kicking off. I mean, it's going to be dark. That's a place where LSU probably feeling themselves. Listen, if you have LSU to win the national championship, this is obviously a pretty historic rivalry in college football. These two teams play each other every year. But I don't know.

I mean, seven and a half points a lot, but if LSU really is that good, what if this is when Florida kind of breaks? Like, is it inconceivable that this is like a 40 to 13 game and Billy Napers fired on Sunday or Monday morning? It's hard for me to see that. So this year is wide open, by the way. Like, you could tell me, usually it's like, you got to tell me one of three or four teams that are going to win the national title.

I think this year, as of right now, this could change. And this is because there's so many young quarterbacks. Like all these, a lot of these top teams have quarterbacks that we just don't know about. We do know about Nussmeyer at LSU. We know about Al or Penn State. But a lot of the other top teams, it's like, you know, they're all young guys. Oregon's guy. More who hasn't really played much.

So that's, there's like eight teams you could tell me. And I'd be like, okay, I can see it. So my pick, as of right now, was LSU. Now, that's subject to change. And after watching Clemson last week, maybe that first game was more about Clemson than LSU. I mean, Clemson basically, we were down 16-0 at home to Troy, and the yardage was equal at the end of the game.

They got a couple turnovers in the second half, it flipped it. But they look rough. Last week, LSU against Louisiana Tech, offense didn't look great. That running game's still not there. So the offense is still like a work in progress. I do think the defense is significantly improved.

But I did that Florida plus seven and a half. Napier has done this for. They might have been looking ahead a bit because they looked unfocused. How could they not? Because they're thinking they win this game. They're three and oh. They're a top 15 team. Yeah, they took them lightly.

Blagway's still really young. He has up and down games. He did this last year. And Napier, after some of these games around the season, his teams have bounced back. They will get a really, really important piece back. in Caleb Banks, one of the, he argued could be a first, first rounder epic, wasn't played yet this year.

I'm 90% sure he'll be back. They need him on the defensive line, Florida, and there's a chance that LSU will be without their starting center. And if that's the case, they got to move over this kid, DJ Chester, who's not an SEC caliber center. The original starting center was a transfer who was really good and was going to upgrade the position. He got hurt last week against Lotech.

This kid Chester was getting pushed. back by LaTex defensive line. And so if Banks is back and then Nussmeyer can't run, so he's not a mobile quarterback, that's the one kind of slight on him and what might hold him back in the NFL because everyone is, you want mobile guys now. If Florida can get pressure up the middle, this LSU offense, this might end up being like a slog. So I think Florida bounces back here.

I took the seven and a half. There's a chance that just look, that LSU Clemson game is more about Clemson. So I'm going to take the seven and a half by a little low in Florida. Florida might get a little healthier. LSU might have some offensive. LSU also, their tight end is probably going to be out trade as green, good red zone threat.

So one of Nussmeyer's most reliable targets is out. So I took the seven and a half year. Napier has historically been pretty good as an underdog. I remember one of your bets last year was to start the year A&M to make the playoffs. It wasn't like seven or eight to one. And they were in the mix up until that last week. that first game of the season, I remember texting a buddy in the NFL, he's like that quarterback play was Riley Leonard versus, but what was his name, Wagaman or whatever, who ended up getting

Bench? Honor Wegman, who plays tomorrow night? He's the Houston starting quarterback now. Yeah, so, I mean, he got bench. They upgraded. Obviously, A&M, I mean, they have been loaded since, you know, Jimbo, the NIL star, they started paying dudes. They have a really good roster. Is this a must-win spot for, you know, Notre Dame getting six and a half at home, or, you know,

favored by six and a half at home? You know, you look at their schedule. I was at the gym this morning, and I looked up, and they were kind of going through. If they were to lose this game even at 10-and-2, now maybe they just the Notre Dame brand, they give them the 12 seed. But their schedule doesn't look great, you know, really. This is a kind of important game for them, especially coming off that pretty devastating loss against Miami. Yeah, it's close to a must-win.

I'm not going to say it is a must-win, but at 10-and-2, you lose the two hardest games in your schedule. Now, USC looks really good. So, I mean, they could lose that game now, but that that would be a must be. like the only game the rest of the schedule that you're like okay this is a great win so but it'll probably depend on like what happens elsewhere and they will have like the momentum of having one 10 in a row but it's going to be dicey and you could also say it's a must win for texas a and m now they're going to have opportunities to get back in the c but their schedule is brutal they're in the cc so like if you get this win in your pocket yeah that that's huge as far as like trying to

get in that large. So yeah, interesting game. Marcus Freeman has been very, very good with time to prepare. He is 12 and 0 against the spread with seven plus days to prepare. And that includes season openers. And this is coming into the year. So I guess he's 12 and 1 now because he didn't beat Miami. But he's historically been very good off the buy. I think he's 6 and 0 against the spread after a buy week. So he's been very good. They had a buy week. You know, you had your your, your freshman quarterback get a start on the road. You can work on some things. I do think they probably unleash their backs here. Texas A&M's run defense hasn't looked great. They lost a bunch of guys to the NFL on the defensive line. So I think you're going to see like Notre Dame go heavy run.

I haven't bet this game yet just because the spot for Notre Dame is good. If I had to, I'd probably take the seven, but I have a sneaky suspicion that this is going to go over. 49 and a half. Now Texas A&M under Elko, he's like taking more over the defense. This year, a really good defense coordinator. Their defense was pretty bad last year. It hasn't been great. And it gets bad competition so far. So that concerns me a bit. We'll see how he plays this. Generally speaking, he wants to like play a shell defense, prevent explosive plays. So Notre Dame might be able to just run up and down the field. There's still some uncertainty for the quarterback. Marsal read the A&M quarterback. He still has

questions as can he throw? There's young receivers will look good, but against bad competition. It's a lot of uncertainty in this game. Huge game for both teams. Small lean to the over. Small lean, I guess, to A&M, catching seven, but nothing strong. I haven't played anything yet.

Hey, it's us to Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, huge news? We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas. We invented a podcast?

Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how did we, How do we actually come up with a name Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember.

I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Oh, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band. Before Jonas Brothers was... This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say, hey, Jonas.

And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title. for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy,

not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel 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. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes.

Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis. And I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs. And on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris. Every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on clay. Jenchian went.

I mean, she went down in three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lena Rubakina is arguably the best player in the world right now. And I actually can win on any surface. Because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presented by Capital One, Founding Partner, Up. I heart women's sports. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast, Point Game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before.

And he knows, without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they're don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash would get that thing.

That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball. You go through a training camp with that, Isaiah. You figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Okay, let's dive into the NFL. A lot of divisional matchups this weekend, Stucky.

We got, obviously, I mean, in all time, meltdown would be strong, but you're up 15 points with whatever, four or five minutes to go. I mean, one of the best players of his generation fumbles the ball, kind of freaky issue. But let's face it, two games in a row now, the Ravens have looked dramatically better in the bills, and they lost. It's crazy. Because my take was going to be, hey, if football was a seven-game series, the bills would have no shot.

But then it's like, well, they've played three games, and the bills have beat them twice in the last three. But it does feel a little freaky. But let's dive into that game. Obviously, coming off a devastating loss, this, you know, the Harbaugh, Tomlin, they're good at, like, rallying the troops and stuff. I don't see how you can bet Joe Flacco in the Cleveland Browns. Listen, week one, every team comes.

but 11 and a half points is a lot. Now this game's at Baltimore, but these divisional games we talked about, like, it's just tough. And this is, listen, if Cleveland ends up with a four-win team, the first month, they're going to have belief in that locker room. It's the NFL.

They're relatively healthy. I mean, that number is pretty big, bro. Yeah, it's tough game. For what it's where it's dogs and matchups with O-1 teams, which this is, even though it probably should be a matchup of one-and-o teams. Both teams lost by one. They missed extra points.

for the better teams in their game. But underdogs in teams that are 0-1 in week two, underdogs in those games are 53, 28, and 3 against the spread since 2003, 65%. So, you know, divisional dog catching double digits. The Browns defense did look good last week. So, yeah, if I had a play, I would probably take the Browns. But what I did play is I did play the over.

I played over 45. A couple reasons. One, dead lumber's just. is too low for the Ravens offense. The Ravens offense is a juggernaut. They're going to, they basically score like 30 plus every week, unless they put the Steelers, then the game's like 17, 16, but they've scored 30 plus and 12 of their past 15 games. 15 of their past 18 games, dating back to the start of last year, have hit at least 45, average of 53 in those games. And here, the Browns are going to throw the ball a ton. Like, so you might get a flacco pick

six, a key mistake, but they're going to, they're going to, they threw it 45 times. last week in a 17-16 game. So they're going to come out chucking. By the way, this is like Revenge Weekend. You got Flacco going back to Baltimore for Baltimore's 30-year anniversary of stealing Cleveland's team. It's first time Flacco's back in Baltimore

in a non-raven's uniform. Chiefs Eagle, Super Bowl, Ben Johnson v. the Lions. McCarthy Pennix National Title rematch. D.K. Metcalfe back for the Seahawks. A lot of narrative revenge games on Sunday. But the other thing worth noting here, Titans Rams Super Bowl 99. One of the best, Kevin Dyson.

The one of the other, a small thing here is that both teams might end up being extra aggressive, which could be a small edge. The Browns, because they know that they're big underdogs here. So they might end up going forward on Fort Down a little bit more. And they know that they have a kicker that they might not be able to rely on because they didn't cut Schmidt. And then the Ravens, all the talk all week has been about all. the blown leads over the past three, four years, all the double-digit fourth quarter leads. And it just happened. They just blew up 15-point lead, a 99% win probability at a 15-point lead

with, I don't know, six to go. So do you think that if they're up 14, 15 this week, that they're going to sit on? No chance. So at the end of the game, you might get like an extra punched in touchdown instead of like the team that's up to touchdown just goes run, run, run. Can you answer, can you answer me this? I don't know what year it was, but they, like were ahead of the curve and being super aggressive. And then last week, they kind of had like their potential Belichick, Kevin Falk versus Peyton Manning moment. Like this guy was unstoppable at the time.

Like he was on. Were you stunned that he got so conservative in that moment? I know he's not the play caller, but it's pretty easy for John to be like, hey, at the start of that drive, hey, Todd, I mean, this is what I want. We're going. Fucking pedal to the medal. And it felt like he went more old school John Harbaugh 2012. like let's get really conservative.

And this was Belichick way ahead of the curve when Falk, he dropped the ball or tripped or whatever happened. Looking back, like when you're playing Josh Allen, Peyton Manning, and the peak of their powers, they're going to beat you. This is like basketball now, especially with the rules where good offense beats good defense when a guy is that hot, right?

Yeah, I mean, he punted fourth and three at their own 38. But to me, even the sequence was just like... Yeah, the whole thing, from first to the third down. I mean, Lamar apparently had the option to keep it, but didn't. But yeah, I agree. It wasn't aggressive enough. Lamar was cooking that defense the entire game. But even on the fourth and three, I would have went for it.

And I think every model would have said to go for it. And even if you just look at it as a basic fan, just saying you're going to punt the ball back to Josh Allen and he just needs to get in field goal range. Like, you would have been better off not getting it and then giving up a touchdown on the next play and then getting the ball back. with a chance to win or tie if they got the two.

Like, you'd even better off than that than punting it and then letting Alan go and drain the clock and kick a field goal to win it. That was like the worst case scenario. So yeah, I was shocked. And they have like analytics guys. They have a guy that tells them. But the thing is that these coaches,

sometimes they just proverb back to... Mike McDonald said, you run against the guy. Their model said to go for it, fourth and one. And he overrode it. And they kicked the fuel goal and it ended up costing them in the game. So, like, what's the point to have on the model?

I mean, I guess it's like one input. But yeah, that's, he overwrote his model. I'm assuming Harbaugh did as well. I was shocked. So I assume that the Ravens are going to be, there was a game where Lamar, like, convinced him to go for it against the Chiefs one year, that won in the game on fourth down at home.

I expect, at least in the short term. The one thing, though, I would say, I would say in that game, it's a no-braider. You got Lamar, you've been kicking ass. the Seattle thing he could go, well, Kittles over in shorts and a t-shirt. Our defense has been smoking. Hell, Trent Williams, let alone their offensive line. And the 49ers don't have a kicker, so we go up three. Don't have a kicker. They got 10 total points.

I do think in the flow of the game, in the Ravens game, it had a feel of like, this is like a video game. Who's going to get it? Yes, I actually didn't fully disagree with Seahawks field goal kick, especially when you consider that, like, the 49ers are probably, capable of kicking a field goal to tie it with Moody. And congrats, by the way, you don't have to get a new kicker. Only about two years too late, but. How about that draft? What a draft. Yeah, I mean, pretty bad. I mean, we dive into the divers here in a minute. Somehow, they entered all preseason. Everyone's dropping like flies. The week one ends, they somehow Kittle is out

for a month and Purdy throws the game winning drive in there on victory formation and then Monday. It's like, yeah, he's out for two to five weeks. It's like, only the Niners. I mean, you could never like, it'd be like Sean McDermen's like, oh, yeah, Josh Allen's out two to five weeks. We just saw him play. It's like, yeah, he was fine, but now he's not.

Like, only the Niners. That's insane. Unbelievable. But I don't even care. I mean, I have no take on Matt Jones versus Spencer round. I'll give you the worst take that you'll ever hear. I'm waiting. That line came down to three.

The total's dropping. I'm waiting to see how low it gets into the 30s. I might bet the over. The thinking is it's still Shanahan. The Saints' defense isn't great. He's still going to... He likes Mac Jones. He does like Mac Jones.

He'll be able to draw up. They'll be able to score some points here. The Saints' offense, it looked okay last week. Kellmore can still call offense. They went super fast. So it's going to be like high... The Saints of the ball, they were the fastest team in the NFL last week. So they're going high tempo.

So like indoors, two good play callers. This gets into the 30s. it's so gross like a Mac Jones dispensal Rattler over like it just makes me cringe but that's what I'm looking at there that's all. The Niners did play a legendary game the first time they made the Super Bowl in 19 against Sean Peyton and Drew Brees with Jimmy Garoppolo

who probably played the best game he's ever played as a 49er in New Orleans and he just he made plays like he was like I don't know like Tom Brady or something it was crazy great game but the Niners historically have had some great games against the Saints in the regular season and in the playoffs. Now, that's back with Sean Payton and Harbaugh

and some better Kyle's teams, but Mac Jones, Spencer Rattler, week too, buckle up. This game's fascinating. Like, I'm out on Caleb Williams. Not that he's just going to be out of the league, but like the hype, it's just, like you just can't play like that,

especially in this situation. Like, with this coach, it's just not going to work. Like, people don't flip the switch of all of a sudden. Yeah, you can just sit in the pocket now and pick you apart. Like, that's not how he plays. You can't do that. overnight in confidence and everything. It's already spinning, it feels like.

But the Lions, my take on that game is I know everyone's like, oh, they just totally suck now. That was such a big spot for the Packers. They had lost this team twice last year. You had just got Micah Parsons, who's back immediately as healthy, of course. It's almost like they wouldn't have given them $185 million if he would have had a bad back. It's like, guys, do you see how much money they just gave them?

Like, what are we talking about? But the Lions, like, you know better than me. like that offensive line, I mean, it's pretty scary. Like that's a big difference. And that is the one concerning part because Goff can't move. And unlike Caleb Williams, who honestly, he's a better athlete than I even I realize. Goff's the, you know, new version of Kirk Cousins. Like when it's on, it's on.

But when you start hitting them, it crumbles like a cookie. That's the one thing that leaves me. But you know Dan Campbell off these spots like this got Dan Campbell, who's like the younger version of Mike Tomlin written all over, right? Especially at home. Yeah, 10 and no against the spread after the, last 10 losses under Campbell. This is a tricky game for me. Like, yeah, I want to sell both teams right now. Like Caleb is still too inaccurate. He still hasn't like fully grasped what Johnson

wants to do. I'm not saying he can't get there. I didn't think it was going to happen over tonight, but there's still, there was still too much of a gap to like where I thought he has to, where he has to go to where he is right now. So I'm curious to watch just like that development. Part of my issue too is just kind of watching from the far. I don't think the head coach, this sounds crazy because he just accepted the job, like really likes this guy.

He doesn't really fit with what he wants to do. It's a complete opposite of. And how often do we see in football where like that creates such an ugly, just relationship when the football mesh, this could be other positions too with, you know, big name players. When it doesn't work,

it just gets weird and it gets ugly and it just grows as the season goes. We see it all the time. Yep. it's yeah and like he's still his off he's still his off target rate rate percentage is still way too high and like I they have to figure out a way to marry the fundamental operation of a benjonson offense and then Caleb Williams his off script plays how do you do that I don't know can they find the optimal way because like him doing the off script plays like then he's not running

the all like so I don't know it's it's going to be a work in progress The Bears also have a ton of defensive injuries worth monitoring. Jalen Johnson, they had two starting corners out. Their two best corners route last week against the Vikings. They had a linebacker out as well. One of their starting defensive tackles didn't practice yesterday. So they have a bunch of defensive injuries. They're on a short week.

It's not a great spot going to Detroit indoors where golf plays better. But I'm not running to the window to that Detroit right now. It's a team I was selling coming into the year. Part of it was the coordinators. And look, it wasn't just the coordinators. They lost Ben Johnson. and then they lost Tanner Extra and who went to the Jets. I mean, look at that offense last week.

They were electric. So they lost a lot of the brains. And last week, the offense, two major problems. You highlighted one, it's the interior offensive line. If you get into your pressure on golf, it's over. There's no recourse for him. And there was no easy buttons and there was no creativity and innovation. It doesn't mean that they can't get there, but it was very troubling.

Like, he dropped back, I don't know, 40 times. for 150 yards. Like, I get the Packers are good, but the Packers don't have any, like, pro bowl corners. I mean, it would have, Gibbs had like 10 catches for 30 yards.

Like, it looked like a completely different offense. And a lot of that, some of that was the scheme stuff. Maybe they'll get there. But a lot of that was the interior pressure. The run game still wasn't as good up front. And the play action doesn't work as good as well.

And, like, they have two new guards. They kicked their worst offensive linemen into center. Like, and they had an all-world center. before they lost their best guards. They're like, that's a problem. So, yeah, and then what throws a wrench into this is, like,

the Johnson familiarity. Like, so the Lions staff knows what Johnson likes to do, but then Johnson knows the Lions defensive personnel. So that's an interesting chess match, but not a team. It's probably a better spot for the Lions, like indoors. Bears coming off a short week. They have injuries.

So done to my head, I'd go lines, but I'm probably not betting it. Two teams that I just don't want to put my money behind that right up this moment. This is the biggest red flag line. I think something's just off here is the Pats. You know, because you would have said, what was the look ahead line two weeks ago in this game? Pats, Dolphins, probably Dolphins minus three. So it's, there's getting normal respect, like old school line of just the home team. favored. To me, I would have thought that maybe I had too high hopes for the Patriots,

but one thing that I might have to come around on that people have been calling me out, I just assumed like, oh, Josh McDaniels, we've seen him for decades, offensive coordinator, he's really good. And then they're like, well, remove Brady and then dive into obviously his head coaching spots. I don't know that RAM spot in 2011. They were statistically the worst offense. So he has some moments where if Tom and Bill aren't standing right next to him, it gets really weird. And it also might be the quarterback who I just thought, I think Drake May is going to be a pretty good player. What if he's not? You know, what if he's not? Because I thought last game, I don't give a shit what his stats were. The eye test was like, whoa. Now, part of it, you could argue,

their personnel's not great, but a lot of hype for this guy, a lot of hype for this team. You know, Vrables, not exactly. This isn't like Sean McVeigh or Kevin O'Connell. I mean, this is an old school conservative coach. But like, I would assume that like the Patriots should dominate Miami. But you're like, well, they've actually statistically over the years not done as well down there, even with Bill and Tom. Brady hated it there. And what if the Patriotses aren't good? Yeah, it's Brady hated by the Miami.

There is an advantage for Miami home field advantage early in the season with the humidity, the sun on the other sidelines. So like there's part of that. Brady, like, literally had his worst games every year in Miami, it seemed like. I desperately want to take the Patriots here, but it's this long. You could not pay me to bet the dolphins right now. It's Patriots or nothing. But the Patriots have, like, they still have issues. We'll see if Christian Gonzalez goes. They need him back in the secondary.

I don't think he's going to play. But the dolphins are a mess. Like, that was as bad of a season opener as you will ever see in Indianapolis. And coming into the year, like, we knew that these problems existed across the roster. Like, the offensive line is one of the worst in the NFL. Now they have some injuries they're dealing with. their secondary is beyond repair. I mean, now they,

they lost Storm Duck, who was like their number one corner somehow, but they lost Khoo, who was probably their best corner in camp. They traded Ramsey. They traded Holland. Like, their second was a mess. They were relying on,

like, guys that they picked up two weeks ago. So what did they do last week against the Colts? They just blitz, like, 60% of the time. Like they did, because they're just like, we don't trust anyone to cover. But their secondary is horrendous. And, like, Tyreek Hill has clearly lost a step. this is like a very volatile like there's a chance that the dolphins are like a two-win team like they

they what they need they need to blow this up and like the two his performance was even more concerning in that this is like the system like he's he knows this the the McDaniel system and he looked like it was the first time he was running the system I mean he was throwing it right to the Colts he was bad so like the hills already going nuts on the sideline the the offensive lines a mess the secondary is a mess. So I would trust the Patriots much more. It's Patriots are nothing. I went until further notice.

You know me, I will bet on any bad team. I mean, it's my college football card this week. I have bets on Eastern Michigan, who just lost a Long Island. I bet Northwestern against Oregon. I mean, I bet. You're not afraid. I will bet any bad team. I will not bet the Dolphins right now.

So Patriots are nothing. Well, that's where when we go week to week, like you said, looking back at LSU the first couple weeks, we might have overvalued who they were, you know, beating Clemson, right? Yeah. Well, Indy, you know, Cruz is doing, I mean, Indies, I mean, a real NFL team and Daniel Jones has proven, like, if he's playing okay, you can win games with him. But, like, that game could just be not matter at all.

And now they play Denver. Bo Nicks, I mean, that was as bad of a game as he's probably played as a pro. I mean, that was a joke. It was just an atrocious effort. but he has one of the best coaches in the league whose offense is his baby. Like the offense is Sean Payton's. So you go, listen, I bet on that guy to figure it out to motivate to get him in the right head space, the guy not to go in the tank.

Plus, I would say this about Bo. Bo, like some of these quarterbacks, they've seen a lot of shit in college. I mean, the guy who had like 75 starts, had a transfer ran out of Auburn. So mentally, I'm not necessarily worried about him going into the tank, maybe like a Drake May or Caleb. but like I just think this Denver defense I mean every time you looked up in Tennessee unless Tennessee might not be that good but that defense is so they got to have the fastest defense in the league like when you factor in all 11 guys their team speed this could be a

spot where you know they're favored on the road but couldn't you see them hold indie like into single digits in this game and just swarm them yeah it could just be your classic like Daniel Jones game under pressure uh and one like 17 to 7 type game or something yeah This is a big, like, this is a revenge weekend, though. This is a revenge spot for the Colts. I bet the Colts last year against the Broncos. They should have, like, they were, like, catching, like, four. Jonathan Taylor drops the ball going into the end zone.

I remember that. And then their wide receiver threw a pick six somehow. Adi Mitchell, like, just threw it right to the Broncos have returned it. But, yeah, that defense, they have the coverage on the back end. It starts with Certain, and then they're able to, they can stop the run, and then it's third and long, and then they can play coverage of bring pressure and like Cammore was under pressure like 50% of time. By the way, I did bet the Titans this week.

Same word, I think he fared well. Given the circumstances, you know, he lost his tackle during the game. He was under pressure the whole time. He didn't make any catastrophic mistakes. He looked poised. There was a bunch of drops. He wasn't put in the best situation, but he looked poised there. First Road Start in Denver, not an easy place to be.

They almost blew the cover for us last week because Callahan, I'm going to rant for 10 seconds. some of the worst coaching I've ever seen. He said in the presser, he didn't know one elbow equals two knees. Like, I am at a 30-ar catch. He didn't challenge it because he said, oh, you need knees and elbows. No. And then at the end of the half, one of the worst coaching decisions I've ever seen is Denver punted down 6-3. And the Titans had the ball at the 5 with 40 seconds to go.

And Denver only had two timeouts. You run the ball. You take knees. You run the ball three times and you go to the half up 6-3 with your rookie quarterback in Denver. He dropped, they dropped back three times. Incomplete, incomplete, sacked at the one, had a punt from the one. Denver scored it to the 20 and scored a touchdown. You just gave them free seven points.

Luckily, somehow Tennessee returned the kick, 70 yards with like two seconds ago and got a field goal out of it. They lost four net points out of it. Horrendous. Anyway, I had to get that off my chest. He seemed like a nice guy. You know, he grew up in the Bay Area. Is there a chance he's got no clue what he's doing? Yes.

As a head coach. I mean, I would imagine he knows offensive quarterback. play, but as a head coach, completely over skis. Yes, I would agree with that. The Titans are better. They're offence. The team's way better. They were really good. They made a really good offensive line coach.

Tackles still a question. Although they upgraded a left tackle. Defense is good. Like at Sneed was playing, their D-line is good. But back to the Colts Broncos, yeah, this could just be like old Daniel Jones, right? When he's under pressure constantly in New York, it's just all falls apart. And he could make a bunch of mistakes here. but do I trust Bo Nix?

The bottom is a road favorite? Not sure. I don't know if I can get there. He looked really poor. And like last year you got to remember, they beat one playoff team all year if you remove week 18 when the chiefs out of everyone. And he needs like to be playing from ahead. And like,

so like last week he could have thrown a couple pick sixes that were dropped. It was bad. But I agree with you. Like he's a seasoned guy. I don't worry about him mentally. So I can see the Denver play. Yeah. I mean, that quarterback class went from like all-time historic to be like, well, I know

Jaden's sweet. McCarthy gave me a quarter. I'm not done with Pennix, still like him. I've loved him for years at Washington, so I'm rooting for him. And you can tell, like, he's okay. He's not going to be awful, but what's his ceiling? I think that was always a lot of pushback from like the NFL people. But you got Caleb, you got May, you got a lot of people that were betting against

Bo Nix from the jump. So when he plays a game like that, and let's face it, game, that's just bad of a game like, Tua's getting shit on. You could argue Bo Nix was worse than Tua. I mean, the pick, he threw out of half. He looked like the rookie in that game. Even though Cam Ward had like less fewer passing yards, some of Nix's reads and like it was bad. One thing about the Rams is it's that, it's that classic like 10 am kickoff or a West Coast team. It's like a four hour flight from, it's just a long, hard on your body clock. I just think that's, you know, it's not like the Rams playing preseason. Their body clock, they got to play their

first game at home. It's just an interesting spot. Now again, like Tennessee blows this and they lose by 10 plus. I'm not betting on them anymore. I will be out because I did this last year. I wrote him the first couple weeks. I'm going to ride them again this week. I'm with you. Let's get to the main event. The Super Bowl rematch, he's not an underdog at home, I would imagine very often. I think everyone's writing off the Chiefs. It's like guys, they've been playing like this for a couple years. And in fairness, and even Travis is like, I knocked out my own guy. I'm. I knocked out my own guys. I think, that's on me. And they kept saying it during the broadcast.

Like Andy told us, Andy told us. Andy's not one of those like, you know, Belichick here where he's hiding all his secrets. He's in those meetings, chopping up with the guys. He's like, Xavier Worthy is a huge part of this game plan. He just disappears. This isn't some random guy. That was their first round pick. Oh, yeah.

And their second round pick where she, Rice looked excellent. Torr's ACL slash got suspended. So it's like, yeah, this is their offense. And Travis is old. That leaves me concerned. But this team has a lot of championship character. that defense got shredded. Are they just bad on defense now?

I have a hard time believing that. Obviously, you know, Chris Jones can be a little bit of a hit or miss player. But also, Philly's coming off this game while they won, kind of an embarrassing situation. So I think they're going to be motivated. But Kansas City at home, that place doing the chop, I just have a hard time. Like, I'm going to take the Chiefs plus points.

I've learned my lesson over the years. Though for the first time, I really don't feel that great about this. I'm with you. By the way, two other notes. Colt's defense is improved because they got rid of Gus Bradley. So they're not just cover three basic. And the Rams might be without both their guards who are really important, especially if you can get into your pressure with that D-line on Stafford,

who can't really scramble. So those are two things that could work, especially with the Titans. If the Rams guards are out, that's big. But I'm with you on the Chiefs. My home's 12 and 2 against the spread as an underdog. Covering by like six points per game. It's close to 90% against the spread. I get it.

Worthy, I assume he's not going to play. Rice is out. Your running game isn't great. You know, look, and their secondary has some questions. But you just, it's just, it feels like it's going to be one of those chiefs games. They've had extra time to repair. There'll be like a ton of Mahomes scrambles. They'll be like these methodical drives.

This kid Thornton will have like a deep touchdown or something. And then they'll just work the middle of the field. The Eagles' safeties are vulnerable. And the Eagles defense lost a lot. Like it's not the same cowardly defensive line. It's not. They still have questions at the second cornerback spot. And I don't like, the Eagles offense.

this could be a situation like two years ago. I get it's not, they still have Seqa on Barclay, so it's going to be better. But two years ago, Brian Johnson, the offense coordinator, it was a disaster. And you have a new offense coordinator after losing Kellynne Moore. It looked bad last week. Now, it's only one game, but like there was no creativity. It was ugly. And the Chiefs can stop the run.

That's where they've been really good at the past year and a half. And is A.J. Brown fully healthy? And DeMonte Smith, they were dealing with injuries. They just decided not to throw to him. I don't know. But the Chiefs Super Bowl revenge, give me all the narratives at home, a little extra time to repair.

Eagles do too, but I'll just read a little bit more with that. And of course, their defensive coordinator, Spagnola, I'm taking, give me the point, the point in the half with Mahomes.

It'll just, it feels to me, it'll be like one of those games where people on Twitter are like cursing, like they'll get one call. They'll end up winning on, on like a walk-off fuel goal by two on an ugly game. So, yeah, do you need any points at home with Mahomes?

If there's anyone who's just going to will his team to a win with like you and the end receiver, it's going to be Mahomes in this spot. So yeah, I bet the Chiefs with you. Hey, it's us to Jonas Brothers. And guess what? We have some big news. What's the news,

huge news? We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there.

But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this.

We were talking about a thing. a bit for the podcast for people could call in and say, Hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumored me with Robert Smygel and friends.

Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman helped make you funny. This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and headwriter, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis. And I know firsthand because I competed there myself.

I'm Renee Stubbs. And on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast, I'm Bray. breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris, every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on Clay. Jenchen win. I mean, she went down in three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay.

Listen, Lerner Rabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now, and I actually can win on any surface. Because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court-side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs Tennis Podcast on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas.

And I'm CJ Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defining the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows, without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series

because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nass would get that thing.

That man, hell get to flyin. He running up the court, licking his fingers, why he got the ball, like, You go through a training camp with that Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. One thing that throws me off about this Monday night doubleheader, which I'm not going to complain anymore. I was cool with just the one game, but what are you going to complain about two games?

It is difficult when they do the overlap, which in a couple weeks that basically they're only separated by an hour. This is just a legit one team, one game kicks off at four o'clock Pacific standard time and the other one's right after. So it's a little easier to consume. Tampa, but that's not always the case. I looked ahead in a couple weeks. They're going back to that stagger thing, which I think sometimes they do that when they're shittier matchups. This is a pretty good matchups here. Start with the first game.

You know, Baker obviously had the huge touchdown, the game winner. Yeah, I thought Atlanta got a little lucky to be wrong because they did look like penalties, but they have like. 75 plays from like the five-yard line at the end of the game. Obviously, he missed a field goal. I'm just the Atlanta. I'm just out on that organization. But, you know, Tampa, listen, you get a win on the road against a divisional opponent who beat you last year.

You got to be feeling pretty good. Houston, the offense still didn't look great defensively. They're going to be pretty damn good. I don't know. I mean, this game, I have a hard time trusting what's going on, Houston offensively. offensive line-wise. CJ Stroud just hasn't looked like the same guy since the rookie that we saw, kind of take the league by storm.

Yeah, I really, like, and by the way, I agree with them the Monday night because, like, I watch a million games all weekend, as do we all, Saturday, Sunday, I'm in my basement, I have a bunch of screens. Monday, I want to go on my family room. I want to have one, like, that's what I just want to have one game on. And that's it, like, Sunday night, Monday night.

So, like, if there's back-to-back, I don't, I don't, that's perfect to me, but yeah, I don't like it. It's clearly not just, it's more than an experiment at this point. It feels like something inevitable, like the next TV deal. Or we getting just Monday night doubleheaders. Yeah, it might be. It would make sense. That's probably how you get the most amount of money possible, which is all,

it's about at the end of the day. But I really do like the Texans. One of my favorite bets of the weekend, anything under three. There's minus two and a half's all out there. So the bucks last week, they were one of the luckiest teams in the NFL, the one last week. Them and the Steelers, the G&M. jets were like plus 8% net success rate. The Falcons were like plus 7%.

I also played the Jets against the bills. But the Bucks were not good. Like they were, Baker Mayfield had a couple big throws to Bucca who's going to be really good. But other than that, they did nothing all day. They got, they converted a fourth down at their own 30 in the game. And then the Falcons got stuffed at the 50. The only two quarterbacks with a turnover worthy play rate of over 10% from last week,

Tua and Baker. I think the Falcons dropped four picks. One went through the hands on a touchdown, but there was two others that were right in the hands. They easily could have got blown out of that game. And obviously, had the missed kick. Mooney didn't play. And then you lost Drake London during the game.

So like, and then you still needed a last minute touchdown drive. It didn't look the same. Liam Cohn was definitely missed. The run concepts were not the same. And they're just not healthy right now. Yeah. They don't have Tristan Worf's. They don't have Godwin.

They don't have McMillan. But because of worse, they've moved their center to tackle, their guard to center. Their other, like, they're all, it's, and they played the Falcons who, like, don't have a great pass rush. So that's going to be a problem against the Texans pass rush. The Texans also have the corners to match up with Evans and Igbuka. I don't, and, like, the run game is not there with this offensive line and without Cohen. So, like, I don't know how the Bucks really move the ball. And I'm going to trust the tech.

Texans to do enough against his buck's defense. It's not a great defense. They're, their secondaries getable. The thing that gives me some confidence with the Texans offense this week, I still need to see it, but they did, I hated Slowick. They brought in a new offensive coordinator. So obviously it didn't look great last week. It looked, that's putting it lightly, it looked awful. But it was a horrendous situation. They lost before the game, Ed Ingram, at guard with like an abdomen injury. I thought he was, he was ruled out before the game. He looked really good all in preseason. I don't know why they did this, but once he was ruled out, they moved Titus Howard from right tackle to right guard, and he's much better at tackle.

They moved three different positions around. And then during the game, their right, Howard got, their right tackle got hurt. Then they had Fisher in there. It was probably the worst tackle in the league. Their center, is that probably out for the year? I don't know. Andrews, he got hurt. So they had like six different combinations. Like all these got different guys play tackles. And this is a first game. It's crazy. All of camp, the offensive line that they played with, there's like one guy in the same position.

And they were going up against the Rams front. Nightmare scenario. So they switched everything up. So I don't know if they're going to do that again. There was a chance of Ingram's back. And then they'll have Patterson come in at center. And I think he's just as fine as Andrews. So like, I don't even think there was a big drop off there.

He might even be better. But if they have Ingram back at right guard and then, But even if they go to this weird, they at least get the practice with it all week. So I think the play calling will be better. So I think that there's some hope for the Texans offense in that respect. And the Bucks front isn't as good as the Rams front. And their secondaries getable. I think Nico Collins have a bounceback game.

So I'm going to bet it on the Texans at home. This Buc's offense just isn't the same right now. Lose the coordinator, offensive line injuries, some wide receiver injuries. So yeah, give me, they were lucky last week. And the Texans, you could say they were unlucky. They had all that happened, and they saw the ball late. Yeah, I mean, they were in the game because it's not like the Rams scoring 30 points. The one thing I think big picture with offensive line play in general,

you know, and we've been talking about this probably for five to seven years, is the draft classes have not been very deep. You used to be able to find a lot of really good guards and centers. You know, there's still good tackles coming in the league, you know, especially in the first round, but there's a lot of guards in center depth. You used to be able to find Kelsey's and just solid players that would become pro bowlers past like pick 100 or 150 now.

I think you ask these teams, like, it's terrible. Obviously, a lot has to do with the offenses in college that we watch. They're all spreading it out. But I think, you know, you see 49er land. They're like, Colton McKibbitt sucks. Obviously, he's not Lane Johnson, but I bet they would tell you relative to the rest of the league, it's really hard to find this player.

and the drop off for a guy that can start, and the backup, it's really big. So if your offensive line to begin with is not the Eagles, right? You get an average starter to begin with. So the backup is really shitty. But all these defensive line in the last four or five years have come in, not just on the edge, but inside. When I was in the NFL in like 2010, Colin Jenkins,

there was like two or three guys that were inside pass rushers. Most guys were like fat run stuffers. It's the opposite now. And even the fat run stuffers like sweat or whatever Tennessee. They're fucking athletic. I feel like every team now might not have Aaron Donald, but they got dudes inside. You're watching that game the other night,

Bears and Vikings, like they got pretty good defensive tackle pressure. And I just think that that's an area to watch. And that's why some of this quarterback play when you talk about unders, as time goes, these guys are getting injured. It's just something to keep an eye on because when backups come in,

it could get ugly fast. Yeah, who is, I always think of that guy. There was a huge, I mean, I was thinking like Saragusa, some of Ravens fans, him and Sam Adams. Yeah, there was a Packer that was huge. I forget his name. Gilbert. Yes, Gilbert. That guy, those guys don't exist in.

They don't play, because you watch college, where do you see that in college? Like the 300, because people aren't running the ball like they used. It's just that kid from Florida that the bucks drafted. Who was like 450 pounds, yeah. Who might, their only role might now, might be like the, the push stopper. If they could find a way to use them, I don't know. But yeah, like Vita Vey is huge. He's super athletic.

Sweat last week on a fourth and one made a move and blew up Knicks. It was crazy. So, yeah, it's a different world. And you're right. I pay so much more attention now to offensive line injuries because some of the drop-offs are scary bad. Like if the Texans, like they have like Fisher come in at right tackle, it's like nothing is going. CJ get killed. Yeah.

Yeah. So, yeah, it's a really astute point. Like, there's just the depth and the quality of the depth is just not where it once was. And a lot of that is due to the college game. But yeah. And I think that leads to extensions, like the Raiders, like, you know, Pete and John Spitech, you know, Colton Miller, he's not Trent Williams or anything. But it's like where we're going to risk letting this guy go, he wants a little more money. What else are we going to do? You know? So it's a no-brainer. It's like, wait, we give him $60 million over three years. Boom, here you go, buddy. Well, that's, that's a, to bring up for the Jets, if you can hit on a tackle in the draft right away, and then you're not paying him a ton of money. Like, is that guy a star? They might have hit on it. I mean, he had 26, uh, pass protection snap, pass pro snaps, zero pressures, zero hurries, zero sats. And he was going up against Watt and Highsmith. He had a perfect clean sheet.

Um, so they might have hit there. which is huge. And yeah, once you hit on a tackle in the draft, like just had it. There's so many teams in the league. I mean, look at the Texans. The Texas can't figure out their offensive line. It's just an absolute mess.

And then you have the bucks. Like you lose worse. And it's just like, what do we do? But they put their center at tackle. I mean, you played some tackle at Duke. But like, it's, yeah, the depth is just because they had this guy, heck, who was the backup left tackle. And then they realized, like, over the last two weeks that they're like,

shit this guy can't play um so yeah it can get ugly quick well let's just end with this the the second half of the double header is you know this is why when everyone's like i bet harbaugh he needs a receiver it's like guys have you followed harbaugh's career he's not going to take malik neighbors overall and obviously that saved him because no team was more equipped to lose a star left tax like this is not an ideal situation but we also have this other guy that's going to be an all pro pro pro bowl guy it was awesome so i mean they looked fantastic right? I mean, Herbert look, I mean, I don't know, Marino Elway. I mean, he was, he was dominant in that game. Raiders look good, too. I mean, Gino, now he can be very, you know, a little fire, you know, hot and cold, just you never know. But that was hot. I mean, that was, Jesus, Gino's slinging, especially on the road, rainy conditions.

Raiders look good. Now, the paths might not be good. We know, even if the chiefs have a down year, what's that 10 and 7, like worst case scenario, that's a, excellent win for the Chargers playing, I don't know, 15 hours away in Brazil. And it was another home of the original games. I was impressed by the Raiders. So, I mean, I like the Raiders at home plus three in the spot. Sometimes I think sometimes in Vegas, right, when they're, especially the Chiefs and the Broncos, they get a lot of those fans there. Chargers, you know, they're not exactly the Steelers or the Packers when it comes to fan bases.

So this does benefit the Raiders a little bit from a crowd standpoint. I'm going to hammer the Raiders. not, and listen, I'm not anti-the-chargers. We're super-impressing that you're going to be good. But I kind of like the Raiders in this spot. Yeah, I don't hate it. It's not, now, situationally, it's early in the air, so this probably doesn't mean as much.

But, like, the Charters have a couple extra days of prep. The Redis were across the country for whatever that's worth. But, yeah, the Raiders' offense, I think, is going to be pretty good this year. It couldn't really run the ball last week, but, you know, I had the over in that game. I don't know how there was only, like, 25 points. because like there was a seven was terrible uh so but their offense is going to be pretty good i think their offensive line has potential and then obviously you have bowers i think bowers is good to go he was

dealing with an injury but obviously you need him uh give you your tight ends i like some of their weapons and then you upgrade a quarterback you have gentie a running back you should have some semblance or a running game so their offense has a lot of potential their defense the back end of their defense is real real bad so like they're just going to like play coverage to try to prevent explosive plays and then they hope to force a turnover, get a Crosby sack. Like, that's how Patrick Graham is a good defense coordinator. There's just no talent in the secondary. So my, I'm really curious.

I don't hate taking the points at the Raiders here. I do think they're just generally underrated across the board. Will the Chargers come out? Like, they clearly just came out last week, and they said, we're going to let Herbert cook. Yeah. So do they go back to their tendency and just, and the Raiders would like this and just,

are they just going to go back to run heavy? let Herbert throw every once in a while. I'm very curious to see how they, like, handle their pass distribution this year. Like, was that just because it's like, hey, we're playing the Chiefs? We know we got to be aggressive. Let's throw, but because Herbert looks so good. And that Raider secondary is pretty poor. But Gino Smith indoors, by the way, his play goes from like here to here.

So getting out of Seattle and getting the play indoors now is pretty big. So, yeah, I don't mind taking the points there. Yeah, Roman turned into like Kevin O'Connell. or Sean McVey or Andy Reid. Yeah, it was crazy. It was nuts. Well, Stucky, man, have a good week.

Enjoy no sleep and eating dinner at 3 a.m. We'll try and, yeah, always a good time. You usually I cook a dinner or do you like just throw something in the microwave or? You can't order or anything. I'll cook probably water maybe like once or twice a week. My wife is a really, really, really good cook. It's usually that I cook late and then I'll just eat leftovers, but she's pregnant now, so I usually will just cook something up.

Sometimes it's just like some Trader Joe's frozen meals, but she's a good cook. I'm a decent cook. So I probably cook like two, three times a week, order a couple, maybe a frozen meal, a couple. But when she's not pregnant, she'll cook three or four times a week, which is nice. It's crazy. She cooks a lot.

The limitations they have eating, it throws, like, guys, your life's not easy. Yeah. So, but she cooked, when she cooked, you'll make like a cassero like just big. And so then I'll have it for like three days. And that's huge during football. So yeah, good shit.

Good luck this weekend. And I'll talk next weekend. Have a great night. And talk to everyone Sunday. The volume. Hey guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe.

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