The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Blazing 5 - Week 4

Episode Date: October 3, 2020

Colin talks with RJ Bell of Pregame.com & Fox Sports Radio about his Blazing 5 picks to find out which ones the sharps in Vegas agree or disagree with. This week's games:Browns @ CowboysColts @ BearsSeahawks @ DolphinsChargers @ BucsBills @ RaidersPlus, Colin gives out a bonus pick not in his Blazing 5. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Look Back at it podcast.

From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s.

84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Welcome to our Saturday morning podcast.

Last week, finally got back on track, four and one of my Blazing Five. We now have RJ Bell waiting. But first, if you didn't hear Friday, here's my Blazing Five. That's a hot one. Let's Blaze It Up. It's Collins, Blazing Five. Browns at Cowboys. I'll take Dallas minus five and a half.

First, Dak Prescott against really good competition, Rams and the Seahawks, good numbers this year. He's always been a good home quarterback since the beginning of last year. His quarterback rating at home was 108.8.8. And their offense right now, number one in the league. But this is about the Brown's defense. It's allowed seven touchdown passes of 10 plus air yards this year, most in the NFL. I think there's a lot of points in this game,

and I don't know if Cleveland can keep up because they're more of a running team. Cleveland's back-in worries me. And what do we know about Cleveland? They beat Cincinnati with a rookie quarterback and Washington with kind of a rookie quarterback, if you consider starts. How good are they? Dallas, this is a major step-up in competition for Cleveland. They went to Seattle and got down to the last play against the Seahawks

and went down in Los Angeles. A pass interference call is the only difference. to the Rams. I think Dallas is the better team. There's a lot of points. I'll easily swallow the five and a half. Cowboys win 3326. Cold said Bears. Like it, I love it. Bears getting points at home. I think they're the better team. I think Matt Nagy, the coach, wanted to start Nick Foles three weeks ago, but the GM wouldn't let him. Matt Nagy gets his quarterback. Nick Foles lets it rip, big arm, big games. This is the coach's kid. He wants this guy and he went and got him in the off season. How good are the Colts? They lost to the Jaguars and beat the crappy Vikings

and the really crappy jets. What are they? Good old line, old quarterback. And I worry because the Bears defense is number two in the league in getting offenses off the field on third down. I think here I get a clever coach who finally has his quarterback. I get points. I'm at home. I like the foals magic to continue. 2423 bears over the Colts. Seahawks at Dolphins. Favorite pick of the week, I love Miami plus six. Russell Wilson may save the day, but here's why.

Miami gets three days of extra prep time because they were on Thursday night football. That is huge because I think it's a very good coaching staff, and staffs that are good take advantage of it. Seattle has the furthest trip you can make in a moment. America after dramatic wins. They've been in wildly dramatic wins over Dallas and New England. Ryan Fitzpatrick is very good when comfortable, and Seattle makes every quarterback comfortable because they have no pass rush.

And the Dolphins are also playing clean football. One of two teams in the NFL that have not had a turnover in two weeks, Green Bay is the other. Dolphins defense can get after you. The Seahawks offensive lines am mess. I think Russell Wilson may come in and see. save the day late, but in warm, sticky weather, long trip for Seattle, I will take the six points. Seattle wins 27-26. Chargers at Buccaneers.

This is a lot of points. I'll take Tom Brady in the Bucks minus 7. This game's about comfort versus discomfort. Tom Brady against the Chargers defense that's without Ingram, Derwin James. They don't take the ball away since the beginning of last year. Derwin James is their best defensive player. So you don't have two studs for them. That means Tom Brady getting more comfortable at home is comfortable. Meanwhile, Justin Herbert will face a defense for Tampa that gets a pass rush with only four, the first or second best line backing core in the league. You cannot run on the buck's defense.

Number two in yards per play allowed in the NFL, four and a half yards for play. That is it. Justin Herbert gets yards but has struggled in the red zone. Chargers settling for field goals. He will be uncomfortable all day. I believe Todd Bowles is the best current. coordinator in the NFL, and I think Tampa has the best or second best linebacking core, Justin Herbert.

The Chargers have only one of three teams to score 20 or less. Brady's going to be comfortable, Justin Herbert's going to be uncomfortable, and it's the defense of Tampa that will decide the game, not the offense. It's the defense that will shut down and create turnovers for a short field. I'll take Tampa 3323. Bill's and Raiders. This is an easy one. I'll take Buffalo minus 3.

There is no home field advantage anymore, so it's basically a neutral field. I get the better quarterback, the better coach, and the significantly better defense. There are a lot of people that think Buffalo is the top four team in this league. A lot of coaches are really on Buffalo. Their offense is number two passing. The offense, the last two years, look at the leap in their offense. Josh Allen's emergence. This is now an elite offense.

The Raiders run defense. is 30th. They can't get you off the field. Again, maybe if it's the second home game for the Raiders in Vegas and it's a wild crowd, it's different. But this is almost a neutral field. This is a Buffalo team that is well-coached. Will force, will force the Raiders to play real defense because they press the ball down the field. Buffalo wins this game, 3227. I think it could get worse than this, but it's at least this, 32-27 bills. We get to R.J. Bell. Bell, at pregame.com, Fox Sports Radio. Last week I was kind of hot, felt pretty good.

In fact, there was a pick. I like Cleveland over Washington, and my friend Jason McIntyre talked me out of it, which puts me in a bad mood. But let's not waste any time. I'm going to go to my picks. Are you ready to go, RJ? Yeah, you're letting Jason talk you out of pace, Colin.

Come on. I know. So let's start with this. I'm going to take the Bears, whether it's three or two and a half, and here's my reason over the Colts. First of all, the Bears' defense is second in the league on third down percentage. They'll get an old Philip Rivers off the field.

And I have questions about the Colts. They beat an awful Jets team and a really bad Vikings team. And they lost to the Jaguars. How good are they? I think I get the better clever coach. Nick Foles, very good debuting last week in Nagy system. I'll take the points

and the Bears winning straight out. What do the wise guys think? I'm going to give you agreement here. Now, the Colts have amazing stats. You make a good point about strength of schedule week for the Colts, but their stats, they've actually outgained opponents by almost 500 yards in these games and by 28 first downs. And they're only giving up 132 yards passing per game, which is in the 2020 amazing.

Okay, but the competition, great question. Nick Foles, it feels like, oh, it was a foregone conclusion. He entered the game. He came back. That's what he does. At the low point for the Bears in that game, they were 16 to 1 to win. They were 16 to 1 underdogs. So it was an amazing comeback.

Now, think about this. You have an undefeated Bears team playing a non- undefeated team, and the bears are a home dog. The times that's happened in game where there's been a 3-0 home dog, it's only been twice in the last 30 years. So it's such an unusual situation. You have a 3-0 team that's a home dog against a non-undefeated team, which tells me the Bears are getting no respect.

One thing concerns me, though. If you look at it, the bears in the first three quarters, 33 points total, and the fourth quarter, they've scored 41. So this has been about comebacks for them. Is that luck, or is that just finally the game plan exerting itself? So I'm going to give you agreement because I think there's value, but I do think the bears have to worry about they can't always come back at the end of the game. All right, I'm going to take the Dallas Cowboys minus five and a half.

Two reasons. the Brown's opponents wins over the Bengals in Washington. This is a step up in class. The other issue is the Brown's defense. Whereas PFF ranks their running backs number one in their offensive line top three, their defense has allowed seven touchdown passes on 10 plus air yards this year, most in the NFL. They are weak in the back end. And DAC acknowledged this weekend, he and McCarthy believe this is a passing team. And DAC at home since the start of last year leads the NFL in passing yards at home and is a top six passer rating. I don't like the Browns on the road against a passing team.

They have hit and miss pressure. I'll swallow the points here. Cowboys by a touchdown. What do the wise guys think? Disagreement for me here. I believe that Dallas has finally proven itself. Their stats are not indicative of the truth. Usually if the stats say one thing and the scoreboard says the end,

other, I trust the stats that eventually the stats will prevail. But Dallas is now 19 games in, if you count last year and this year, and they're below 500. And they've had amazing stats the entire time. They look like an 11-win team in a 16-game season statistically, but they're below 500. I, you know, Middle Cough, the guy on your podcast network, who I listened to, you know, former scout, he said Mike Nolan is the worst defensive coordinator in the NFL. He's just not qualified is what Minnokov is saying. You look at this team, could they really stand Dallas having a bad coach? Apparently that was the problem in the past.

I don't know if Jason Garrett was bad or not, but no one liked him. And now you look and think, well, McCarthy, what's he good at? Call him plays, right? Why isn't he call him plays? You've got a holdover from the last staff. Call him plays. it feels like a mess in Dallas. And with the Browns, I consider them, as you said, an elite running team.

Dallas's defense is one of those 26-minute defenses, where if they can play less than 30 minutes, energy-wise, they're fine. You let them get beat up a little bit by the Browns. I think second half is a big problem. So a disagreement, I will say this. If the Browns are within a touchdown at halftime, I'm going to be looking to bet the Browns the second half. I believe that's when their physical dominance will hurt that thin, very thin, Dallas defense. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged.

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

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'll say it. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media.

Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, the Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger.

So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross

double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jette. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it.

Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. They're finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people.

Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Trip Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase

that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth. Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro.

Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way. Open your free iHeartRadio app.

Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. All right, agreement and disagreement one-in-one. My favorite bet of the week, the Miami Dolphins who played on Thursday, get three extra days of rest and prep. That's big for a good coaching staff, and I think Miami has it. Seattle travels cross-country, probably loses a few hours of prep. The Dolphins' offense is one of two teams without a turnover in the last two weeks. They're playing

clean. The Packers are the other, by the way. The Dolphins' defense, though, is getting to the quarterbacks. Four sacks, ten quarterback hits in week three, and we know Seattle's offensive line is rated among the league's bottom three. The Seahawks also don't create any pass rush at all. They probably make a move at the trading deadline, and Ryan Fitzpatrick, when comfortable, is a very effective quarterback. I'm going to take the six. I think Seattle may win it late because Russell Wilson does that, but six feels too much for a good staff and a capable quarterback when not pressured. A very sharp play agreement here, because this is not obvious, right? You're thinking Seattle less than a touchdown, a lot of Barney at the bars, I call them. They're going to

like this. They're not going to like yours. I like yours. Dolphins. Now, Seattle, they've given up the most passing yards in three games in NFL history. Fitzpatrick. Here's the QBR rankings this year. Mahomes, Aaron Rogers, Russell Wilson, Josh Allen, Fitzpatrick. Number five behind those borderline legends, Josh Allen, perhaps. Okay, you mentioned it, the Eastern time zone. Not usually a problem for Seattle. They've actually won nine straight. But this is a long trip. Think about going across the country, diagonal, all the way

down to Florida. And Seattle's off wars. Think about that. New England? A war. Dallas, a war. And they're 3-0 Seattle against the spread. They've combined, though, the last two games they've covered by combined two points. So really, they've played the expectations.

They've just been very football sexy games with Russell Wilson. I don't know how effective they've been, and we do know above expectation, not that much. And we do know, like you said, Fitzpatrick, when he's comfortable, it's a great comment. So I think it's a high-scoring game, but I'll take the points. Okay, this is one of my favorite bets. Bills at the Raiders.

I'm going to take the Bills minus three, and here's why. I think the Raiders defense against the Bills is not close. Buffalo. Coaching staff, I'll take Buffalo. Quarterback play, I'll take Buffalo. I think the emergence behind the offensive coordinator, Brian Dayball, of Josh Allen, is pretty remarkable. I think the bills, as you told me earlier, they may be one of the top four or five teams in this league. And, you know, the Raiders fly all the way back home.

There's really no home field advantage now. You know, Mark Davis is not going to let any fans in, which is admirable. But then you're just telling me basically a slight edge, a neutral field. I think Buffalo's got the better defense, the better quarterback. and I think they have a better coaching staff. I think they win by a touchdown or more. What are the wise guys think? Agreement here.

So, Bill's your pick. Agreement. We mentioned this a couple weeks ago and you thought it was sharp. I think it is very important that it's now the second time that bills are playing a team the week after Belichick and New England. So the Raiders are a limited team. And let's give some credit to Gruden. He's been able to coach him up in certain spots that even. even with their offensive limitations, they've done pretty well.

But what does Belichick do so well? He makes you play left-handed, as they say, go to your second option and didn't have a lot of answers, the Raiders. Now, bills get to see that game plan, Belichick did, and we got a very good coach at McDermott. I think that's a big advantage for the bills. Josh Allen, in his career, his three top games, week one, week two, week three.

That's right. I mean, it's amazing. Amazing. He looks like Ben Rothelzberger. And I tell you this, as a Steelers fan, that's a hell of a compliment. And I'll say this, if you go into the next-gen stats and look at his accuracy, the first two years of his career, Josh Allen was in the bottom five with expectations of completions and how many completed, which is a play-by-play metric that they do a great job on.

He's now in the top half of the league. He's never going to be the most accurate guy. but when you go from bottom five to top half of the league, that's a big, big step up. By the way, the Raiders, they've been outgained in every game this season. Oh, that's interesting. And they have exactly the same number of first downs as their opponent. This is a 500 team at best.

Bills are a juggernaut right now. I like the Bills. One quick comment, these teams, six games combined, six and O over the total, and they've been over by a combined 78, points. A lot of scoring probably in this game. But now we'll have a bonus pick plus let's go to the Tom Brady pick. Now, I've been writing the Buccaneers and been successful. I would prefer if this line was six and a half.

I am in a roll with Brady and the Bucks at home minus seven against the Chargers and here's why. Brady, first of all, has been great. He's won his last eight games against rookie quarterbacks, but that doesn't really impress me. What impresses me is this. The Bucks defense, I would make an argument, is the best in the league. They're allowing four and a half yards per play this season. Herbert is a young, young quarterback. An experience in the NFL is eight quarters. Todd Bowles, to me, has an argument as one of the top two to three coordinators in the game today

since Kyle Shanahan became a head coach from being a coordinator. I think Tampa gets a pass rush with only four. They don't have to blitz. I think they have the most athletic linebackers, maybe second to the Steelers in the league. And the Chargers are one of three teams to score 20 or fewer in all three games. Why? Herbert's moving the ball. But Red Zone is surgical.

That's where veterans and stars score. And Herbert's neither right now. High-scoring game for Tampa. And I think Bowls creates massive mistakes for young Justin Herbert. And the defense carries the day I'll take Tampa minus seven. This proves one of the corollaries of our pod. the longer Colin does his analysis, the less Vegas likes it. Biggest disagreement of the week.

Now, we talk about look-ahead lines, which means a week ahead, you can see what the line is, and you know what's nice about it? The only change, Colin, in that week, is the one game, right? The Sunday game probably. So the look-ahead line here was Chargers, four-and-a-half-point underdogs. So it's seven now, four-and-a-half it was.

What's changed? Tampa Bay looked mighty good, no doubt. a road favorite against a devastated Denver team by injuries. Devastated. Okay. And the charges what? Oh, they look bad against Carolina, no doubt about it. They were minus four in turnovers. That happens. That's Lux. You can't overcome that. But if you look at the charges on this season against his Tampa Bay team, they have 190 more yards over their opponents than Tampa Bay does. So literally better by almost 200 yards compared to Tampa Bay and better by 12 first downs. The stats for the chargers are better than Tampa Bay.

And you mentioned Tom Brady against rookie quarterbacks. You mean Bill Belichick against rookie quarterbacks, right? Yeah, I mean, that stat didn't blow me away. But I do think Bowles is really, he's terrific. And you're caught. I've actually really appreciated your thoughts on him because people see a guy become head coach. And they struggle and think, Oh, he's not a good coach.

It's a different skill set. Mike Tomlin's a better head coach than he would be a coordinator. Some guys are technical. Some guys are leaders. Bowles is technical. I agree with you. Last thing, Brady, his QBR, 27th. Now, we can, I mean, here is,

and we'll do this every week that you pick Tampa or against them, is literally here is the all-time leaderboard on quarterback's 43-year-older with wins. Venet Testa Verity 2. Brady too, that's the end of the list. So literally, those are the two people in the history of the NFL, 43-year-older to win a quarterback. Brady is 43-year-older.

He might be Superman, but as they say, father time undefeated, he's 27th in QBR. I really like the Chargers. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Super Bowl.

Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clipper Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite

athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space.

For honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right what you need to be. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok.

Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with a little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it.

Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. so I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you finishing that sentence. Yes.

I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me,

your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness, this month. I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth,

or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way.

Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search, learn the hard way, and listen now. RJ Bell, pregame.com, straight out of Vegas, Fox Sports Radio, 6 to 7, East, at RJ and Vegas Twitter account. Bonus pick time. All right, if I had a bonus pick, I went back and forth on it. I would take Detroit plus four and a half.

Here's the reason. Usually the Saints are a clean team. They're now most penalty yards in the NFL. We expected them to be good defensively. They're tied for 27th in scoring defense. Well, at least they'll score and they offer multiple threats offensively. They're 0 and 3 without Michael Thomas. It's a to be announced.

This is four and a half at home for a Detroit team that is usually in games and rarely blown out. Again, it's a number. If it's three, I probably go Saints. But I would take Detroit feeling pretty good about themselves, a coaching staff that has to win or they're in trouble. What would the wise guys say? I give this a slight disagreement. A lot of Sharps would like this, right? It's the less sexy team.

You know, Detroit hasn't been playing great. Here's why I don't like it. first of all, you make a good point about Michael Thomas. Steve Fesick on our show has three players that are non-quarterbacks worth a point and a half. Michael Thomas is one of them, one of the three most valuable non-quarterbacks in the NFL. Wow. All right, so that's important.

But here is the key to me to this game. In the last seven years, week one and two, so the very beginning of the season, this Saints team's been amazing throughout these years generally. But in week one and two, they've been three and eleven straight up, 3 and 11 and 2 and 12 against the spread. They start slow. Now, in October, going back to 2015, the Saints, 17 and 0 against the spread, 16 and 1 straight up. This team, there's something about early in the year, and there's something about when they turn that corner, they get so, so much better.

Last thing, I'm going to debunk, or I've been trying to debunk it. It's like a title wave against me. this Drew Breeze talk, I don't care about people who think their scouts watching arm strength. I want to hear how he performed. Now check this out. Last year there was talk about Drew Breeze and his arm strength, right? Okay. Let's say we look at 18 and 19 and 20.

So three years and say, what was the worst QBR you've had? Meaning of the three years, let me see the bad year. Okay. Patrick Mahomes, his worst year was second. Drew Breeze's worst year is this year, but he's number six in QBR. are. Now, everyone loves Russell Wilson, right? He's next. His worst year was 11. Deshawn Watson's

worst year was 18. Prescott 17. Carson Wentz 30. Now, think about this. These are the best quarterbacks in the NFL, and there's only two guys, right? Mahomes and Drew Breeze that's been in the top 6 every year. In fact, only two guys in the top

11 every year. So if anyone's been super consistent, I know he's going to hit the wall at some point, but if this is his bad year, And he hasn't had Michael Thomas for really he was hindered that first game. He hasn't had him at full strength for the entire season. And he's still got the six best QBR. I don't understand all the arm strength stuff because I'm not an expert at that.

But his stats are as good as anyone's. How do you complain, Saints? All right. Well, I was four in one last week. So that therefore means I'm very smart. Well, I agree about that. Well, I will say this. You know, that Chargers Bucks won, because you know me, I don't like big numbers.

I don't. The other thing I keep thinking about with that Chargers' Bucks game, I want to revisit it for our audience. Brandon Ingram's out, the edge rusher, Derwin James. And I don't think their defense, I think they're an injury away from being a little bit of a mess on the defensive side too. But I do get your argument that Brady, at this point, is a highly limited quarterback who's still trying to kind of find his way. around this offense. But they've been good, they've been good for me. And I think Justin Herbert's going to be overwhelmed at times by Bowles' schemes.

But listen, listen, neither one's the jet, so that's good. Well, listen, finally, I was telling our audience, actually, that you finally let go of the bag of bricks of San Darnell. I heard the right and wrong, you really threw him overboard. And that was smart. Finally. I thought Thursday, contextually, despite having nothing to work with, he was actually pretty good.

But in the end, it's... Oh, Colin, you've been saying that. I literally have heard you say, you know, there was that one throw in the third quarter, and he almost completed it, and I think that's the sign of him turning it around. I mean, at what point do you just turn it around? Well, I think you're going to have a decision in New York when you're the worst team in the league or second worst, and you're going to have an opportunity to get all two of the three and maybe all three quarterbacks, or do you take six draft picks with the two first you have this

year and the two first you have next year, Labian Bellops out? So the Jets will have more first and second picks than anybody the next two years and more cap space, and do you just defend Darnold? It depends on the coach. If I get Urban Meyer, I keep Darnold. But if I can't get a great coach, which the Jets probably don't, then I probably need a superstar quarterback and I go Trevor Lawrence. I mean, think about his fifth-year option. They've got to decide after this year. It's going to be, my understanding, is upwards of $30 million.

And think about that. Are you paying 30-milled plus for Sam Darnold a year ahead of time when they got to decide that? Yeah, I mean, these are, again, if I could get the draft picks and a great Lincoln Riley, I would stay with him. But remember, the Jets could not land Matt Rule from Baylor and he's from New York. So you're probably going to get a second-tier coach. and Darnold with a second-tier coach, you forget it. Now, Trevor Lawrence with a second-tier coach is far more promising

because I think he's the best prospect since Elway, even better than Andrew Luck as a prospect. Well, listen, I am – we'll start that argument soon, I'm sure. Trevor Lawrence may become great, but here's what you look at. He's played three games where he hasn't been a double-digit favorite in college. So let's say three competitive games. His completion percentage is like 50% in those games. So he's done well-beaten up.

on the ACC, not so well against better players. Doesn't mean that he won't change so far, though. I think it's a lot of measurables but not the performance. Good stuff, RJ, good talking to you. Thank you. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite

unhumored me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, 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. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential.

Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me.

84's big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to be. to make sense of how we survived it with our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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