The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Colin Cowherd Podcast Prime Cuts -Week 5 NFL Bets, John Middlekauff on Belichick & Patriots divorce

Episode Date: October 7, 2023

Prime Cuts. The best of The Colin Cowherd Podcast.  First, Colin gives his takes on the Cowboys vs 49ers game on Sunday Night Football. What are Colin's keys to the game and who will win the game. Colin is joined by CCO of The Action Network, Chad Millman, and the two play Sharp or Square for Week 5 of the NFL. Colin tells Chad which NFL bets he's considering for his Blazin' 5 and Chad tells him whether the bets are "sharp" (good) or "square" (not-so-good). Colin & John Middlekauff discuss if this could be Bill Belichick's last year with Patriots and if Christian McCaffrey is the MVP choice through the first quarter of the NFL Season. Follow Colin and The Volume on Twitter for the latest content and updates! #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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This week on Prime Cuts, baby Chad Millman, Sharper Square, John Middlakov on Billichick's potential breakup with Mack Jones and the Patriots and my top takes of the week. The game of the weekend is the Dallas Cowboys going on a road to the San Francisco 49ers. San Francisco has got a better roster. Dallas has a better offensive line, although I don't think it's as dominant as it's been in recent years. I think Dallas, you know, I think DAC, the assumption and the feeling is they've been in a lot of big games, so he'll be better than Brock Purdy here. But there's a lot of areas I really like San Francisco. I think they have far better weapons. Brandon Ayukes become a one,

Debo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey, George Kiddell, and Brock Pretty moves pretty well, certainly better than Groplo. So I have a coach advantage. I have a weapons advantage. And the real difference in the game to me is San Francisco is a tremendous red zone team. And Dallas isn't. And one of the reasons Dallas isn't, Tony Potter's a good back. He's not a star.

You can shade over, roll your coverage over a CD lamb. They're not getting Dalton Schultz production at Tide-in because he's now part of the Houston Texans. So I just don't think Dallas has that much offensive talent. They paid for Stefan Gilmore, Michael Parsons. I think a lot of their better players are on the defensive side. CD-LAM, I think, is really, really explosive. But, I mean, I think we've seen this before, is that when you get into the red zone, you know, teams in the red zone that are very good, Buffalo.

Why? Josh Allen. Baltimore. Why? Lamar Jackson. You usually need in a cluttered space a dominating back, a dominating physical presence. Nobody can defend Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen. DAC is not as mobile as he used to be because of, you know, lower extremity injuries.

They have now one great receiver and that's it. Not a ton of tight end production. Backs are okay, not special. And the O line is injury riddled, though it on PFF is ranking better than you'd think. Look at what Kyle Shanahan has to work with. The best running back arguably in the league, Christian McCaffrey, who's also the best receiving running back in the league, a top two to three tight end and George Kittle. Brandon Ayuk is now a one.

He is a bona fide one. Debo's Samuel is the ultimate Swiss army knife in the NFL. And Shanahan does a better job at disguising his run plays than anybody I've ever seen all the coaches. So I think the game is going to come down to red zone efficiency. And I just think San Francisco's got more weapons, a better offensive coach. And I think, you know, the thing about Mike McCarthy is, you know, Mike McCarthy, we talk about players that get underdrafted. Dack was underdrafted. He was better than a fourth round pick. Brock Purdy is a seventh round pick was underdrafted. I think Mike McCarthy has a weakness. I don't think he's a great situational

and red zone offense is situational. But I don't think Mike McCarthy's a bad coach. I just don't trust him in key spots. By the way, when Andy Reed was in Philadelphia, that was the knock on Andy Reed. He wasn't great with a clock. He wasn't great in certain situations in the red zone. Well, he had Donovan McNabb. Now he's got Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelsey and Pacheco. and he's got better players. I mean, last year, in the Super Bowl, how good was Philadelphia on those zigzag motion plays?

So they're just, I mean, a reality of the red zone is, who's your quarterback, who's your tight end, how many weapons do you have, and are you a great situational coach? Sean Payton has usually been very good in the red zone, good situational coach,

Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVeigh. Doesn't mean they're perfect coaches. So I think the whole in Mike McCarthy's game is situational football. That's Red Zone football. Now, you could get away with it. Aaron Rogers in your prime. Probably get away with it more when you had Zeke,

the best old line in football, and Dak in his prime. But I don't think this is one of those situations. They've been in the Red Zone 19 times this year, the Cowboys, only seven touchdowns. I think that's what they're going to be. I think against good defenses to very good. I think San Francisco is very good.

They're not great yet. Steve Wilkes took over for D'Amico Ryan I don't think the Niners are a great defense, situational defense. I just think they have great talent and great units. But I think Mike McCarthy is not a bad coach. But I just don't love him in matchups like this. I think he's going to get out coached. And as you know, I tend to be more of an offensive coach sportscaster than a defensive coach.

These guys are both offensive coaches. This situation, this game is going to come down to a series of plays around the goal line. And that's why I like San Francisco. think the number is right. I think three and a half is the right number. I think it's 24-21, 24-20 San Francisco, but I can't wait to watch it. Here's Chad Millman, Sharper Square. Listen, we've all had fender benders in our life. Sometimes it's even more serious. People between the ages of 25 and 34, in fact, have the highest amount of drivers involved in car crashes. Be careful, but even if it's somebody else's mistake, you can lean on Morgan and Morgan. If you've ever

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This is a paid advertisement. Time for another edition. A happy edition of Sharpea edition of Sharpe. per square, Chad Millman's CCO Action Network, all odds provided by Drafking. So not only that I go four and one, two other games I would have bet one. So it was that rare week outside of the Patriots Cowboys play, Chad, where I was on the right side of almost every game. I've hit seven out of my last 10 picks out of a dreadful. Let's just say this. I hit it in the weeds week one. It happens. Okay. Whatever. Listen, you know what you did? You put on your big boy pants and you rallied.

And that's what professionals do. You don't dwell on the weeds. You don't dwell on the weeds. You don't dwell on the bad times. You look for the opportunities. What I will tell you, I don't want to make you feel bad about this. I went 5'0 last week. And the two games that I didn't choose would have been winners as well.

And so we need to continue to work on listening to Chad to get you over that hump. I feel like the last two weeks, I was more aggressive telling you to listen. Well, you also talked me out of the Rams game, which I didn't love, but I don't hold drudges. It's no big deal. Did I? I don't even remember what. I don't remember what happened in that game. You know what?

You're just like my wife. You forget all the mistakes. I'll remind her of stuff. She's like, I don't remember it. And I'm like, that's kind of a shaky. Yeah. I don't know. Colin, I don't know what you're talking about.

All I know is what I know. So I don't. I feel last week I had some games I really, really felt strongly about. This week, I have liens. I don't think the numbers are as good, but I have liens. I'll give you the lien I like. Bingles, I saw it at two and a half. Let's say it's minus three on the road at Arizona.

So the word is out. Arizona is pretty sneaky good. Nobody now is going to Arizona thinking they're getting a W. They beat the crap out of the Cowboys. So everybody knows this is a work trip. Bingles lose ugly. embarrassing, huge urgency, and now Burrow appears to be as healthy as he's been.

Very rarely are you going to get a Joe Burrow against a backup, and all I got to give up two and a half to three points. Arizona is sneaky good, but now everybody knows it. You don't have a locker room here who's like, it's Arizona. They got to win this football game. Like Baltimore's winning. They have to win this football game. Cleveland's good.

Cincinnati minus three on the road. I think it's a sharp sharper square. It was, no, it's not. If it's at two and a half, I think you're going to get some support. But the reason it's gotten to two and a half, Colin, is because the wise guys keep coming in on Arizona, right?

So this game opened on Sunday night at Arizona plus six. Within the first hour from 7.30 to 8.30 on Sunday night, Eastern time, it moved from six to five and a half to five. By the next day, it was at four and a half, and then by the middle of the week, it was at three. Right? So now all of a sudden it's Thursday and you're starting to see two and a half. What's that telling you is that the wise guys are continuing to bet on Arizona. And there's a couple of reasons why.

Number one, Arizona is just a better team than people expected. And I think you're seeing this with both Arizona and the Colts and with Philadelphia, in that the Eagles, they're still great because they have incredible players and Nick Sirian is a really good coach. but they're struggling with new coordinators because the coordinators they have were so good last year, and now those guys are running the Colts and the Cardinals, and those teams are both overperforming. Cardinals 16th in DVOA, which you don't have to look it up, it's just a fancy way of taking every metric that exists in football competitively and putting it into one. And it basically says the Cardinals at 16, the Bengals at 26.

I feel like after four games, you might say Joe Burrell is healthy. Joe Burrow can't throw the ball downfield right now. And I think you have enough of a sample size to say, okay, this isn't just a quirk that needs a tweak. This is an issue that they need to get over. And I don't think it gets solved in a week between games. They need a buy week to sort of get everybody healthy and on the same page again. All right. I like the Steelers plus four and a half at home against the Ravens.

Ravens are a little overvalued because they beat a backup quarterback, a backup quarterback who's not very good. that wasn't great even in college, but had a nice preseason where nobody plays, no starters play anymore. The Steelers were humiliated. Go look at Tomlin after humiliation or ugly wins. Go look at good foundational programs after ugly wins. Four and a half is outrageous. It should be a field goal at max game, maybe less. Sharper square Steelers plus four and a half at home. Sharp as a knife, my friend. And I had to put on my glasses because I have so many stats to tell you about why this is a sharp play. It is frightening. Just about Tomlin, right? 55, 31, and 4 against the spread as an underdog, the most profitable coach as an underdog the past 20 years, as a home dog, 17, 5, and 3, a dog in the AFC North, 22, 8, and 2. Now, let's talk about this series, right? The underdog, in this series, when the line is three and more since 2005, when Tomlin became head coach, the underdog is 21, 3 and 3. The underdog has

covered 11 straight in this rivalry. The underdog is 15-1-1 against the spread in this rivalry since 2015. So I'm telling you right now, the Steelers are the right side here. It's a little bit scarier. And also, there's a whole boatload of data that will tell you Lamar Jackson as an underdog is just significantly better than he is as a favorite. We've seen it the past two weeks, right? like what they did against the Colts and then what they did last week. He was an underdog last week. He was the favorite the week before. They play different. They act different.

He is a favorite this week on the road. The wise guys like it. They liked it at four and a half. They liked it at four. It got that down to three. Then it went back up because the public came in on Baltimore. Wise guys liked this play. I like Jets plus two and a half at Denver and here's why. Chicago's defense is not great.

I do think Russell Wilson and Sean Peyton have become, they've kind of solved, they are what they are. There's not a lot of juice to it. But the numbers tell you he's back to being a B quarterback. He doesn't have the juice that made him an A-A-a-minus quarterback, but he's moving the chains. This defense is awful. I mean, Chicago marched.

Chicago can't move the ball against anybody, marched. So the Jets, I don't think Kansas City was an outlier. I think they're really, really good defensively. And I think Robert Sala is such a passionate person that he can, that game is an easy game to sell. Sean Payton told me something once, and I've never forgotten this. The best, you know, the best weeks are when you, it's easier to coach players when they lose. They listen. The perfect week is when they play like crap and win.

So the Jets didn't. But they played really well and lost. And in that locker room, it means something. I think Denver is going to struggle offensively, and I think the run game, and you can run against Denver, is something here. Like, I think Kansas City's defense, this is the best Mahalms ever had. They move the ball. They move the ball. The difference in that game was a seven and a half minute drive that Kansas City took the ball away.

It was the defense that let the jets down. I cannot give Denver points against arguably a top five or six defense. I'm taking the – I know it's crazy, Jack Wilson. I'm going to take the Jets plus two and a half, sharper square. So it's a little bit square. Look, I don't think it's crazy. I took the Jets and Zach Wilson as 10-point underdogs last week against Kansas City, right? Like there are times where you're going to take a really big favorite.

I think with this number and what you've seen is the wise guys, the money is coming in on Denver. This line, the public bet this line down from Denver minus two to Denver minus one and a half. And when it got to one and a half today, Colin, it got bet back up immediately. And the money on Denver was so strong, it went all the way from one and a half to two to two and a half. I think everybody agrees with you as wise guys. They're thinking, all right, Russell Wilson isn't the problem on this team right now. The problem on this team is the defense. And so they're making a bet that this defense can perform a little bit better against Zach Wilson,

who was so overperformed last week that you're never going to get higher. value on Zach Wilson and the Jets than you are right now. So they're betting against the value of Zach Wilson. An interesting game, I would have taken the Patriots. The number wouldn't have been the same. I would have taken the Patriots minus one and a half had the Saints lost, but had the Saints won. But the Saints looked awful. And it's like, okay, the Saints have better personnel, some really interesting offensive skill people, the better quarterback in this game, and they're getting points. Listen, when New England goes back and acquires J.C. Jackson, they couldn't get him out of town

fast enough. This is a desperate team. Their number one pass rushers gone. Their number one corner is gone. New Orleans, again, had they won, I could see if there's a division game. New Orleans, I don't know if they'll play that bad the rest of the season. I think they'll be engaged. They have a coaching deficit, but almost a credit across the board on everything.

I'm going to take the Saints plus one and a half sharper square. Totally sharp. In fact, the Sharps have been coming in on this game so much. The lines moving in the Saints direction. They're going to be favors if they aren't already in a lot of different places. And a lot of what you said is why it's a lot of guys would have bet on the Patriots if Matthew Judon and Christian Gonzalez, the defensive linemen and the cornerback for the Patriots, were not out because they feel like Bill Belichick is such a good defensive play caller and schemer

that he would figure out how to do something with a hampered New Orleans Saints team in a heavyweight outsized coaching mismatch, right? Like Dennis Allen cannot stay in the coach on the same field as Bill Belichick, right? So that was why they were leaning to the Patriots. But with these guys out and the fact that Mack Jones is just terrible. Like he has not. not looked good in any capacity, in any situation. And I think the wise guys only in the year were giving him a little bit of the benefit of the doubt. I was. Everybody was, right? Like he was playing in a monsoon. He was playing against great defenses. But look, he just can't make the place. And you're seeing that week after week after week now. And so I think the wise guys,

the bloom is off the rose a little bit for sort of thinking that Bill O'Brien was going to be able to do something with Mack Jones. And so they've come in on the Saints pretty heavy. You know I like underdogs. I'm going to throw a couple favorites at you. I like Philly minus four against the Rams. I don't know how they block them. I also think Matt Stafford's beat up. I think the Cooper Cup news is overvalued because the truth is he's coming to practice.

There's no timing at all. The Rams are right now a better story than a team. McVeigh is having a wonderful year coaching. They gave the Cincinnati game away. But there were signs in Philadelphia. Greg Cosell talked about it on my show this week. You can see stuff clicking. They lost Shane Steichen.

There were times when I watched that game and thought, okay, they look like Philadelphia. This is a better team, significantly better O&D line play. It's going to be a home game for Philadelphia, 6535 crowd. Four is one of those numbers when I see it. I'm a sucker for the four. that's when I take favorites. Philly is a significantly, not only better, Chad,

a veteran older roster. They got a lot of dudes. There's a lot of Hall of Famers. Rams defense is Aaron Donald and children. I think Jalen Hertz is a tough assignment. I'm going to take Philly minus four sharper square. It's pretty sharp. And it's sharp at four.

The wise guys were on the Rams at five and a half. They were on the Rams at five, on the Rams at four and a half. At four, you're starting to see money coming in on Philadelphia. And your analysis is spot on. I had this conversation with my BFF Simon Hunter today. And we're talking about this game and why people like betting the Rams at four and a half, right? They're undefeated against the spread. Matthew Stafford has been playing incredibly well, even without Cooper Cup. You've found some talent in Nakuha and Kairn Williams. The defense has been good. Aaron Donald's has been rejuvenated, right? And McVey has been coaching a great game. I've been coaching great all

season, except for that one game against the Bengals. My retort to that was, the Eagles to me, feel like the mid-2000s Patriots, where they're so talented at every level, they can be undefeated while working stuff out. And they are so confident and not overconfident or brash, but confident in their ability to win the games they need to win, that covering the four to me feels like you're getting value on the Eagles at this number because of how good they are. And I agree with you. Like what we've started to see from them, Jalen Hertz has become a little more comfortable with the new offensive coordinator.

They've opened the offense up a little bit more. I think the one thing that wise guys are worried about right now is the fact that the Eagle secondary is pretty banged up. And Matthew Stafford has been a bit of a heater. So I think that's why the number moved. At four, you're going to see that point of resistance where wise guys will probably be on your side. All right. Packers Raiders, I don't love favorites, but it's a small number minus one and a half Green Bay.

Extra time to prepare. Raiders got beat up against the chargers. Their offensive line was literally completely overwhelmed. It's banged up. I think they're going to play a backup. If not, Garoppolo will have not practiced more than a single day. I actually think Detroit is one of the most underrated teams in the league. So when you get dominated by Detroit, my takeaway is Aaron Rogers last year was dominated by Detroit.

They think really, really good. So I don't think Green Bay is as bad as we think. Extra time. Very good coach. I think I take the Packers minus one and a half. I think the Raiders off that charger emotional. That's a big rivalry game that nobody appreciates out east. The Chargers and Raiders have been in wild games in the last several years.

They're wildly emotional. The crowd. I'm going to take Green Bay minus one and a half sharper square. Last several years, Colin, last several decades, they've been in these wild, crazy games. It's the best rivalry in the NFL that nobody talks about. Dude, you and I are old enough to remember like Dick Enberg in the late afternoon game on Sundays from, you know, Oakland Alameda Coliseum or Jack Murphy Stadium where these two teams were lighting it up and trying to keep.

kill each other during the 80s. Like, it's a great, great rivalry. You're kind of wrong on this. The wise guys have been all over the Raiders, so much so that the line is actually moving far in their direction. They'll be favorites by the time this game kicks off if they aren't already, depending on where you're looking, right? So last week, they play the Chargers.

They actually outplay the Chargers in the game. Like, they gave the Chargers multiple short fields. Aiden O'Connell, I thought he looked really good. unfortunately he played like a rookie, right? He held the ball too long, didn't get rid of it downfield, had many fumbles, made that really bad interception when they were about to tie it on the Chargers three yard line and he made a bad play. It was a miscommunication between him and his receiver.

The receiver didn't go all the way out and he threw it to the corner of the goal line. And the guy, the Chargers intercepted it and he sat down, right? And so they had every chance to win that game even with all the mistakes. So they were in that game. And look, the Packers, there's been a lot of love for Jordan Love. And appropriately so, because they played well early in the year. But I think the last two weeks, he's been a little bit exposed. And wise guys are pulling back a little bit.

Like, if you're talking about quarterbacks who are starting for the first time, people are much more excited about C.J. Stroud. They're much more excited about Anthony Richardson. They are less and less excited about Jordan Love, whose completion percentage is not very good. He's made some good throws and he's shown the willingness to make throws, but he hasn't been accurate. So going on the road as a favorite is not a place where the wise guys are going to put their money. I'm going to go back.

So I don't love favorites. We always play a game. There's a game I ask you that you can talk me into, which you usually do. Last week it was Titans Bengals. You talk me into it. I put it on Friday morning into the Blazing Five, the latest I've ever put a game into the Blazing Five an hour before Blazing Five. And it was a big winner. So let's pivot to that.

The game I'm going to ask you about, Jacksonville Buffalo, so I don't like favorites. I'm worried that Buffalo beating a rival badly comes a little bit back down to Earth. Jaguars are very comfortable in London. They've played their – this will be the 11th of the 12th time, maybe the 11th. Favorites usually win this game. In fact, I think they're 22 and 9. But Jacksonville can keep it close. I did think against Atlanta from the very early stages of the game.

They had a plan. They executed it. That was a big game for Atlanta. I think I would take the points with Jacksonville off a Buffalo dominating home win. This is the game I'm going to ask you about. Where would you lean? Talk me into it. I would lean, Jax, because,

of some of the things you said. I will tell you, in all the conversations that we've had this week, and every analyst I've spoken to, everything I've read, nobody's really interested in this game. Okay. Like, it feels like, yeah, you should take the Jags, but Buffalo is also playing at such an elite level, and the Jags really haven't played at an elite level.

That game against the Falcons, if you played that game a hundred other times, you would need everything to go exactly the way it went for the Jaguars to win that game. The Falcons actually played really well, and we've talked about this on the show before. We do this thing called the luck rankings. This was the number one game in terms of discrepancy

between good luck and bad luck in week four, meaning the Falcons easily could have won that game if not for a couple of really bad circumstances. that always regressed, right? So the Jags have not been a very good team this year. So a lot of wise guys are sort of taking a pass on this one. London also makes it a little bit of a different circumstance. You're kind of playing a funky number.

You're not getting a seven that you might get if the bills are playing at home. You're not getting like a plus four if you had the Jags at home. So it's kind of a no man's land that no one's really interested, to be honest. All right. Now we do the part of the game where it's usually an ugly game. you know aesthetically, I like beauty. I'm surrounded by it. I just love it. So talk me in.

What did I miss? I'm going to guess this. Can I guess? Sure, of course. Everybody's trying to talk me into Atlanta this week. I've lost more money. I lost as much money on the Falcons the last decade as Tom Brady lost on Bitcoin and NFT. The Falcons are my...

They're my whole. They're my whole. I have lost. So I just avoid the Falcons. Everybody loves them this week. Is that your game? Yes. God, I knew it.

Totally my game. The Falcons are my jam, man. I don't want to bet on them either. There have been times this year where I bet on them and then I'd wake up Monday morning. I'm like, why don't I bet on the Falcons? What compelled me to pursue that choice in life? But Arthur Smith, I think, is a great coach. And I think what happens with the wise guys, they love his run scheme.

It is so interesting. And the truth is, I do this thing every week where we do a film room, right? And I'll break down a play with Simon Hunter that we think is going to influence our bet. And it just so happens that this week, the play that I chose, was a running play, two different running plays, that the Falcons use running to the right. because their right side of the offensive line is as dominant as any right side in the NFL. They have the fourth highest success rate running to the right. Their center, Drew Dalman, is grading out as one of the best centers in the league. Their right guard, Chris Lindstrom, is grading out as the best guard in the league.

They are Caleb McGarry, their right tackle, grading out as one of the best run blockers in the league. And you can see it. Not last week where they were playing from behind almost from the beginning, but against the Packers the week before, they were just road grading people, running Bejohn outside and running Tyler Algiers inside. And as much as we love what C.J. Stroud has been doing and he will, you know, he's on the path to being rookie of the year, offensive rookie of the year. The Texas don't have anybody who can stop the Falcons run game.

They just are not built for that. So you give me the Falcons as very short home favorites with that running game. And a Texans team that I think is overvalued. right now because of what they did last week and how competitive C.J. Stroud has been, I got to do it. I got to pull the trigger. Connolly, I don't want to do it either. I love beauty too, but I will tell you there is beauty in this run game that is unlike a lot of things that we've seen in the NFL because we're a very pass-happy bunch. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human

potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, 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 lot. 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 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 just that's correct. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line.

We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. 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. All right, let's talk Patriots Cowboys. So Zach Wilson can struggle. Justin Fields can struggle

But I never doubt they have talent They both move and can throw Today Mac Jones looked untalented Looked overwhelmed So here's what we know to be true The Patriot coaches I've been told this and it's been written We're furious with him last year

Like just didn't like him as a player You know McEnroe Jones Braddie the cheap shots It just looked bad for the culture And so we know that's documented. Belichick was furious with him. We also know he's had several of these moments. And I've been told last year he was called out by one of his offensive linemen.

He's had several of these moments, you know, chippy hitting guys, kicking. That doesn't play well in pro sports because what players think is if you're doing that to them, they can do that to us. So that doesn't play in a locker room at all, this chippy stuff. The Grayson Allen stuff doesn't play. And then today, completely listless, no energy, completely overwhelmed with Trayvon Diggs out, Michael Parsons hurt briefly. I thought it was one of those.

I wrote this down is that I think there's five, I think there's 10 teams that are going to draft quarterbacks. Some of them, I think Atlanta, you know, Vegas, Tampa, very early. and then probably, you know, Rams, Green Bay, Minnesota, maybe a little later. I put down 10 teams. And I put New England in the sooner than later. Like, he's not popular in the locker room. He looks overwhelmed and untalented. The brady, cheap shot stuff.

I don't know where his alliances are in the organization. I don't know. Justin Fields, those guys still in that locker room. I think they like him. Zach Wilson, you can see his teammates, his receivers come to him. Watch Mack Jones on the sideline. Who's an ally in that locker room? My thought coming into training camp once we knew all the AFC rosters is that

Mac Jones was inevitably going to get end Bill Belichick's career. Now, I hate to say get him fired because it sounds like Joe Judge gets fired. If coaches like that get fired. I don't know how this ends, mutual deportation. It's over. Like this team's terrible. And it starts, their quarterback play is horrendous. Like you said, he's not talented enough.

I remember when Kyle Shanahan liked him and I thought, it is insane. No player of this talent has ever been drafted this high. In my opinion, he's more, even based going back to college, more third, fourth round pick. That's where guys of Kirk Cousins, Dak Prescott, those guys go in the third, fourth round. And unlike those guys, his floor, he can't reach it right now because he's so mistake prone. his turnovers are just outrageous I mean they

and they never end it's pick sixes he could have thrown multiple pick six today as a fumble he just feels like most lopsided game and loss

of Bill Belichick's career I mean the Cowboys they're not bad I mean they're solid 12 win team 38 to 3 I mean that that was a full

that was a bloodbath and Belichick there was the one when he was going like this on his head what's his other pitch it's not like well I just

a change up. What does he do? You can't go to the bullpens. It's not like Zapi's any good. They're screwed. And listen, they missed the playoffs last year. This team feels worse. Judon got hurt.

Now it's starting to unravel a little bit. And it's clearly not, well, it's Matt Patricia calling the place. No, they got a grown-up calling the place. I mean, this team looks, I know he's an all-time great coach, and I believe that. But this individual team, even with them, five, six wins? I mean, look how hard the division is, let alone just how they play in general. You know what's interesting, too. he's regressed.

So when he first gets to New England, his rookie year, again, you haven't lived with him long. You haven't traveled with him much, right? You haven't been through crisis with him. He had a pretty good rookie year. They made the playoffs. Like when you're a coworker, you're an employee the first year. You win some games. You're like, eh, kind of like Bob.

And then you work with him a second year. You travel with him, multiple camps with him, practices with him. Have you noticed he seems less possible. today. He has less allies today. He's one of those players. I mean, I had I had somebody who I respect a former patriot recently out east use the word brat. Like he's braty. Like, and, you know, I think you told me this last week or the week before. As long as you're loved in the room, nobody cares outside of the room. No. I do not think. I think, I think the coaches have tolerated him.

I think, I mean, today, I know it feels like I'm being hyperbolic here. It feels like today was a tipping point. Like the coaches are just like, all right, they have to go to Kraft and say, Bob, we have to draft a quarterback. Do you think that if this thing gets really ugly and it's sure headed that way, they win six games, Bill's always been a little prickly with Robert, but he's making them so much money. They're winning so big.

You deal with it. Now this back-to-back years, let's say they win 13 games. over a two-year span. Maybe they just go, it's time for a change. Does Bill, because I was thinking about this, like if you're the Charger or some of these other teams, or is he just too old and too crumagony, he's kind of fascinating, right?

Because his resume's unprecedented. I mean, but it's like, you know, he's not a spring chicken. He's not Mr. Get Along with everybody. Here's the other thing. We always thought they were just such a smart football team. They make the same mistakes as everybody post-Bradie. They're not.

They make special teams blunders. So, you know, Brady covered up a lot of issues with this team. He was so good pre-snap. He got you out of trouble. It's like a good boss. You don't really know the trouble you would have been in. He gets you out of it before your company's in it. Brady got this team out of a lot of trouble. But it gets back to Tom also worked basically as like his second job was also a coach. I mean, you talk to Edelman and Gronk and all these guys. What was tolerated in practice? It wasn't just Bill setting the tone. It was Tom setting the tone. So the screw-ups didn't happen in practice. What's Mac going to do? Yell at you for running the wrong route on Thursday. So it kind of unravels from within because Tom set the tone from a leadership standpoint that's unreplaceable. It shows now their talent. I mean, their margin for error was already so slim. They were going to have

to win games, what, like 17 to 15. And if Mack's going to play, you know, like a bottom five quarterback, they don't have a snowballs chance in hell at this rate. 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. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying.

Yep, that's me. Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

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

or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross Double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs?

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

Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84's 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 So Thank you finishing that sentence And 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 podcast San Francisco, Christian McCaffrey, I think, I can't imagine there's ever been a better midseason NFL trade in the history of the league.

Last week, he broke Jerry Rice's record, 12 straight TDs. This week he tied Emmett Smith's record, 13 straight touchdowns. 14. Next week, he has a chance to break it, longest since 1990. So you're talking about a guy that, and I thought it was kind of crazy too. Running backs, 2022. He had been banged up. I'm like, wait, you're going to give a. second, a third and a fourth, he would have been worth three seconds, thirds and fourth for his impact on the 49ers. He is easily, I think Josh Allen threw his hat back in the ring. You know, Lamar's having a pretty awesome season, but he's right there. If it ended a day, he would be, have every bit as good of a chance as anyone to be the NFL MVP. And he's clearly one of the best players in the league. And he's taking a team that was pretty damn good, right? They were

in the conference title a couple years ago. They were in the Super Bowl. And Purdy's an upgrade over Jimmy clearly. But Christian has become like a superstar. I remember being a kid when they signed Dion Sanders. Niners never looked back and they dominated. It's different because it's an offensive player, but it's similar in terms of the impact. It's like it's impossible despite his production,

which is freaking elite, to quantify how good this guy is. Well, listen, Debo is a Hall of Fame talent, and Kittl probably makes the Hall of Fame. They almost shrink when they're on the field with Christian McCaffrey. I mean, they're, I mean, like, Kiddell two years ago pre-McCafrey. That was your third down target.

You couldn't wait to watch Kittle play. He's still remarkable. When he's on the field with Christian McCaffrey on a big third down, it's like Debo and Kittle becomes second-tier players and their Hall of Fame. Kittal is going to make the Hall of Fame. So it's like McCaffrey is that rare athlete that among other great athletes, it doesn't even, it doesn't, I mean, it's like this kid for the Rams, Pooka Nakua.

I keep waiting. It's like, this is insane. He's physical. he gets open. He reads corners like a 12-year veteran. He manipulates him. It's like, oh, that's just different. I mean, among other elite players. So the thing about McCaffrey, despite his size, he's one of the most physical running backs I've ever seen. And I mean, seriously, he plays three inches taller and 30 pounds heavier. Well, David Shaw, I pounded the table when he was coming out. I was wrong. I thought, you know, I bet he turns into more of like an Edelman Welker. more receiver than he ever is true down running back. He is, I mean, this is going to sound like a

Walter Payton, Emmett Smith. I mean, he's a true, I mean, Kyle's giving it to him 20, 25 times a game. And it's not at the corners. It is right up the gut. And breaking tackles. He'll lower his shoulder. He's really more of like a throwback to his dad's era of a guy that would have thrived in the 90s. And now I think, you know, to me the Cowboys, a little bit of a front running team, when they get a lead on you, which they've done three out of the four games, run you out. the building as they did and they're celebrating it's awesome their defense pins their ears back they got into one kind of dog fight when they were down and they crumbled and now they're playing the nineers sunday the eagles i give them some credit they have not played their best football

but their talent like the niners they've been through you know the ups and downs they've handled like today was not an easy win right and i think when you look at the niners and the eagles the amount of high-end i mean both teams could have 10 pro bowlers i mean like 10 you know all pro guys When those two teams shake out, but the Cowboys, you know, I just don't think they're quite on their level. I think those two teams are the top tier of the NFC and then the next tier is the Cowboys and probably then the Lions. Yeah, I think there's a way Dallas has to play. And I think, again, Buffalo, I think is more talented but is similar. They're an avalanche.

When Buffalo gets a lead on you and you're struggling with Josh Allen and he's in a groove and Davis is getting open with Diggs. And now Kincaid and Knox, it's like, shit. this is just too much. They play downhill. And he turns into John Elway, basically, like he did today. There's no stop in that. Whereas I think Stan Francisco and Philadelphia can win multiple ways. I tend to think certain teams, Buffalo's this way. I think Dallas is this way.

They're momentum teams. And when they're headed downhill, watch out. They're even more lethal than a San Francisco or Philadelphia because they can score so quickly and they're so aggressive, so hyper-aggressive. And now for a new segment called Making It Look Easy, brought to you by Morgan and Morgan America's largest injury law firm. Well, this week, Josh Allen made it look easy. 21 of 25, four touchdowns against Miami, took a lead, never looked back, running, throwing, big plays underneath. Josh Allen did it all.

Like Morgan and Morgan, he made it look so easy. Morgan and Morgan has over 100 offices nationwide with over 16. billion dollars received for over 300,000 clients, Morgan and Morgan always gets you full compensation and fair compensation. Morgan and Morgan has been fighting for the people for over 35 years. They know what they're doing at Morgan and Morgan. If you're ever injured, go to for the people.com slash Colin. That's me, C-O-L-I-N. Or dial pound 5-2-9 to check out America's largest injury law firm. Winning in the NFL is hard, but hiring Morgan and Morgan, America's largest injury law firm, is easy.

The volume. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk 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. On the Look Back at It Podcasts. 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 make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.