The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 2 - Blazin' 5 picks

Episode Date: September 6, 2024

Colin gives his best NFL bets for week 1 of the season in the Blazin' 5 What to take from the Ravens loss last night against the Chiefs   Guest: Eric ManginiSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Wherever you may be, however you may be listening. That's the time of the day that I was going to pass on the Blazing Five. And then I slept on it. I gave it great consideration. and said, what's the worst thing that could happen? I could go 0 and 5. That happened last year. And I survived.

I mean, O and 5. It's not the worst thing in the world. I overcame it, hit 55% of my bets, got red hot last 12 weeks of the year. And I don't have high hopes on this. J. Max picks in two hours. I'm going to give it a run. I think it's being part of the team.

Sometimes you've got to suck it up for the team, J. Mack. I'm flying blind here because I have no idea for half of these teams. I haven't seen them. Any of the starters play. I'm flying blind. It's not how you start, right? It's how you finish. And you finished strong last year. Let's go. Here we go. Blazing 5, fire away.

Let's blaze it up. Fire it up. It's Collins Blazing 5. Titans at Bears. All right. I am going to take the Titans plus three and a half at Chicago. Both teams undefeated in the pre-teens. season. Will Levis now has actual weapons. Tony Pollard, Calvin Ridley, Legerius Sneed, it's a whole new coaching staff. All Tennessee is heard all offseason is how they're going to get run out of the building by this freenom. By the way, the Bears never opened well. Two and eight in their last ten

openers. They had the fewest sacks last year in the last couple of years in the NFL. Also, the number one pick as a rookie quarterback in the common draft era is 4.15 and 1 in the opener. Nine straight since David Carr won. Bottom line here is, I think maybe if they played in six weeks, it would be different. Way, way, way too much hype. You can get this at plus four in a lot of places. Shop the number. I'm going to take the Titans to upset the Chicago Bears.

The final score, 26 to 24. Panthers at Saints. I like the Panthers plus four. In fact, I think they could win. You may want to bet Money Line. They've got a new head coach, Dave Canales. He's the one that gave Baker Mayfield that great season last year for Baker. They have upgraded on the O line, edge rusher, wide receiver.

Bryce Young in the last month last year was not terrible. Completed 65% of his throws. mid-80 passer rating with a bad old line and bad receivers. Dennis Allen, I think, argument, worst coach in the league on the hot seat. Their offensive line was second worst in the league, and they didn't generate a pass rush. The Panthers defense, even last year, though it was on the field constantly. The Panthers defense was top five and six in many categories. The Panthers win this game outright, take the points, 24 to 20.

Broncos at Seahawks I'm going to take Seattle minus 6 I can think Bo Nix is going to have a good year and also think this is a terrible spot Gino Smith has had back-to-back Pro Bowl years he's a grown-up, he's an adult, he won't be nervous and he's at home Mike McDonald is the new Seahawks coach

he is a whiz defensively the Ravens had the number one scoring defense with him Seattle's got the weapons here Kenneth Walker DK Metcalfe Tyler Lockett, Jasson, Smith, and Igba, Noah Phant. Denver, meanwhile, defense struggles, rookie on the road. By the way, first round rookie quarterbacks in week one, not taking number one, but just first round rookie quarterbacks in week one.

13, 26 and one all time. Passer rating at 69. The Seahawks win. It's close to the line. 27 to 20, take Seattle minus the points. to cover and win. Rams and Lions. I usually don't do this, but I'm going to take the Lions minus four and a half.

The line was better. I'll tell you why. I'm going to thread the needle here. In five weeks, I wouldn't do this. Rams O' lines a mess. They're moving. They're center to guard. Their right tackle, their best O-Linman may not play.

Their left tackle, they're using a backup. And Detroit's pass rush has been the talk of their camp. This is a team in Detroit. More players in their prime. Rams were a very young team. Jared Goff at home is 42 and 9. Think about that. Jared Goff at home, last two seasons, 42 and 9 touchdown interception.

Not his record, 42 touchdowns, nine picks. He is a great indoor quarterback. He is a great home quarterback. And Matt Stafford is an older quarterback. And I love Matt, but last year he only completed 63% of his throws. Pooka Nuku has been banged up. Cooper Cups coming off an injury. I do not like the Rams in this spot in this moment.

In a month, I'd take the points. I think the Lions win, and I think they cover 30 to 24 Detroit. Jets at 49ers. Very close game, I'm taking the points. Take the Jets plus four and a half. I think it comes down to a field goal at the very end, but you've got to take the Jets. Listen, they won three of their last five last year, and they were terrible at quarterback. They've added Mike Williams, a couple of offensive linemen.

Hassan Reddick won't play. He will eventually. This should be a good team. Their offensive line features three new starters. I'm okay with that because they're upgrades in all of them, and now Elijah Vera Tucker is healthy. Garrett Wilson. Breece Hall.

They have big-time playmakers. The Niners, McCaffrey's heard. Trent Williams just got into camp. Super noisy. The Ricky Pearsall incident. I don't like him in this spot. Again, would I feel differently a month and a half from now? I think the Niners are going to start slow.

If you look at the Jets defense last season, and again, they were on the field the whole. year. Top two and three in many categories. Now they get an offense. It's a more rested defense. I like the Jets to cover. I'm going to go Niners to win 2423, but I think if you look, if there's a time to beat the Niners in this spot, it is now. They've been a circus for a month. Now, I'm not saying the Jets don't have issues, but the Jets feel like outside of Hassan Reddick, we haven't heard much in the last three weeks. Oh, there's a book on Aaron Rogers. Okay. He didn't write it.

I kind of feel like the Jets' noise has subsided. I mean, I got San Francisco stuff. I still don't know if Brandon Ayup likes his contract. So there we go. The Blazing Five. In review, I'm going to take the Titans, Panthers, and Jets as dogs, and the Seahawks and Lions as favorite. Again, week one is different. I'm betting against a rookie quarterback because I think Bo Nix,

is going to be over. That's one of the loudest stadiums, one of the best defensive young coaches. That is a tough spot for him. Eric Mangini, Fox Sports NFL analyst, joins us right now live. Eric Mangini. I want to start with the Blazing Five real quick. I said, if I would love to coach Tennessee, I could literally turn the TV on and say for six months, look how great they are.

Oh, Chicago's going to blow us out. Oh, my God, the best team I've ever seen in my life. We haven't talked about Tennessee for a minute on any of these shows. I honestly think the PR psychology advantage for Tennessee in week one is substantial. Eric, what say you? Yeah, when you're talking about your Blazing Five and how hard it was last year and how hard it is this year, it's the same thing from a coaching perspective. You really don't know what you're going to get.

You don't necessarily know what you're going to get from your opponent in terms of how they've changed, structurally, tendency-wise, personnel, and you don't really know what you're going to get from your guys either. What is nice for Tennessee in this situation is there's no pressure. All the pressure is on the Bears. All the pressure is on Caleb Williams, and that's a nice place to be going into the first game of the season, especially with a rookie head coach.

And by the way, similarly with Bo Nix, a great example. I like him a lot. On the road, Mike McDonald, pass rush, noisy, stadium. If you were Sean Payton, is there a way to manage a young quarterback? Now, you had Farr, so you had a guy who had been in those wars, but I look at these young quarterbacks in week one, Jaden, Daniels, all of them, and I'm thinking, I think I'd try to pass like 14 times. What do you do? What do you tell them? Well, ideally what you do is you get them some comfort passes early, some typically easy completions, whether it's a wide receiver

screen, quick passes, something to get a little bit of rhythm and a little bit of confidence going. That's one component, and ideally not get them hit early. And then if you can do anything at all with the running game to slow down the pass rush, that helps too. And it's trying to get them not to feel over-caffeinated, not to just pressing everything. So if you can get them through that first, say, 10, 15 plays where it's, they've calmed down, then they realize, okay, this is like the football I've been playing my whole life. Yeah.

And you get over that first level of nerves. So I've been saying that I felt like last year was the year to get Kansas City. The receiving court bit of a mess. I watched them last night, and I'm like, all right, were these over the top? Rishie Rice looks like he's developed into a one. Now they've got two tight ends. Juju Smith-Schuster, Hollywood, Brown, they'll get ramped up. I don't know, Eric.

It's like I watched them last night, and it feels like a better version of the Chiefs than last year, does it not? Well, especially when you consider the fact that they didn't really run the ball very well with Petchenco, and Travis Kelsey had, what, 34 yards? So it's not like Kelsey was even a factor, and they still went out and hung 27 points. Pryor most excited about worthy in the sense that he created two big plays,

and that's what was really missing last season. They didn't generate very many big plays all season long, and now he comes out in his first game, he was able to generate two big plays. That, and you're starting a rookie left tackle, and he didn't do too badly. He didn't do too badly against a theme that historically pass rushes really well.

So that's encouraging also. Yeah, this is problematic for everybody else in the league. I didn't love Lamar running at 16 times. I said earlier, I kind of feel like Kansas City's different. Like he's just going to do what he's going to do against Kansas City. But I watched that and I thought, that's not sustainable. He took like 12 shots last night. That's not a sustainable formula, is it?

Colin, I didn't like a lot of aspects of it. So he loses the weight in the offseason. they go and get a bell cow and Derek Henry. You think that they're going to be able to run the ball successfully with Derek Henry and take some of that pressure off Lamar as a runner. And then last night he does run 16 times. Now, 10 of those were scrambles. What I didn't like is, why are you dropping back 51 times?

And I understand they were down by a touchdown late. And later in the game, I get it. But those numbers, you know, last year he threw or dropped back. over 40 times, only one time. It was in week 13, where he had 43 attempts. Last night he has 41 plus the 10 scramble, so it's 51 times. That, to me, is not who the Ravens should be or need to be. And then when he is running the ball, you're right. He's taking unnecessary hits, and it's going to add up, or it's just someone's going to hit him hard enough that it's going to be back to a couple years ago where he wasn't able to finish the season.

You know, we were talking about Philadelphia and Green Bay, and I said it really is interesting. There's a difference between impulsive ownership and decisive ownership. Philadelphia does what a lot of bad franchises do, and they're not a bad franchise. They move off really good people. Carson Wentz, Chip Kelly, Doug Peterson, like stuff that's working, they move off it. And they usually make the right decisions. Chip Kelly's a better college coach. Jalen Hertz is better than Carson Wentz.

Doug Peterson, probably it was time. They got to a Super Bowl with Siriani. And so I look at them and I think to myself, I could see, despite getting to a Super Bowl, if this thing goes sideways, I could see him moving off Siriani. I think he's on his big a hot seat is Mike McCarthy. Because Jerry Jones tends to give you an extra year or two. Philadelphia will move off you if you beat Belichick in a Super Bowl and out coach him.

And when you look at the NFL, you've had impulsive owners in your career as a coach. Philadelphia does it, but it's funny, Eric, Philadelphia does the same thing, but they never feel impulsive to me. Am I wrong? No, I don't think you are. One of the reasons I like Philly to win the division this year is because of their willingness in the offseason to go address the problem that they had. And they do a good job of looking at what went wrong. previous year and aggressively trying to attack that. So they had problems in the secondary.

They went out and aggressively tried to attack the secondary and had help there this offseason. They didn't like the situation with the coordinators. You go get a guy like Vic Fanjo. You know, that should add some stability to the defense. And it seems measured. It seems targeted. It doesn't feel emotional where they're just reacting to what the fans want them to do

or they're angry about how the season ended. It does seem more measured. And then the follow-up steps I really like because they aggressively attack the needs and must. Yeah. So I think Monday night is as good a Monday night game as you get Jets and Niners. We're calling it the Baggage Bowl

because there's been so much talk with both of them. But I do feel like the Jets have sort of wrapped up their baggage over the last month. And the Niners, I'm not sure Branden's. and Iuca is terribly happy. Ricky Pearsall, almost a tragedy. Trent Williams can't be in the best shape. McCaffrey's calf.

I think the Niners in this spot are a vulnerable team. You've been around noisy off-season. You know, when you coach in New York, it's noisy. I get it. But I do feel like the Jets noise has sort of subsided. They had, you know, the Egypt trip, the camp. What are your feelings on this opening game? Yeah, I think you referred to San Francisco as a circus, and the Jets are more like a carnival.

Like there's always something sort of happening in the background, and unfortunately, a lot of that noises come from Aaron. And to me, at this point, whether it's missing the training camp, not playing in the preseason, saying that he could have played last year if they had made the playoffs, getting the additional offensive line help that they did, you know, they revamped it again. They get Mike Williams. All these things that they've done. Now it's time for Aaron Rogers to pay the bill. It's time to pay the bill. And they are fortunate in the sense that San Francisco hasn't had a quiet offseason. Now, the downside is they still got Brandon Ayyuk back. He may not be happy, but he's still lining up for the 49ers, which is a lot worse case scenario for the Jets than if he had been traded away to the Steelers or

or somebody else and all the other stars are there the continuity is there with the 49ers it's it's a better place to catch them right now with the noisy off season but they still have all those stars that are that are going to be there on Monday which uh which is going to make it hard for new york yeah the um i'm watching that game last night this league is so magical uh you know that everybody hates that new kickoff but i will say i watched it i was joking with the staff this morning. This league struggled to figure out the catch rule for a decade. I'm going to give them a pass on the kickoff. They'll tinker with

it. When you watch it, it looks weird. I can't get used to the optics of it. As a coach, I mean, most of them just went into the end zone last night. What do you make in the new kickoff? Yeah, typically what happens with that is someone finds a sweet spot, everybody

copies it, and once we get enough of these kickoffs on tape, that you will start to see the best practices. And each special teams coach kind of has a different philosophy, but a lot of guys are looking at it as another run, whether it's an outside run or an inside run, and kind of scheming it up that way

as opposed to thinking of it in terms of a kickoff type situation. So you'll see guys trapping, you'll see guys pulling across some formation. I'm really looking forward to seeing some of the unique special teams coaches and what they pull out of their hat. Yeah. I do see potential for some big hits here because even though you won't get out of your lane, because you don't have as far to run, it does feel like a little bit if you can get past the first wave, you're kind of gone. Where the way it used to go is the bigger guys on special teams would become the second wave of it,

and you had to get through two or three waves. Now it's like if you break through the first one, you may be on your way. So to your point, I think it's going to take about three weeks and a hundred of these kickoffs, and then we're going to get a sense on what works. Eric Mangini, Fox Sports, NFL analysts.

Love to have you, coach. Thanks again. Great, Sydney, Colin. All right. Yeah, listen, I watched all the kickoffs. I mean, it's weird looking, but this is a league that takes a while. It tinkers a lot.

It makes moves. It doesn't have to. They're just trying to keep you around and not go to the fridge and grab a beer. So I watched them. I just think it's weird. You don't have as far to run, but it feels like it's just one wave. Because you don't run far enough to separate guys. When you had a longer run, the fast guys created the first line, the slower guys, the second line, then the kicker was the third line.

Now even a kicker can kind of keep up. It's just basically one wave of guys. And if you break through the first wave, I think we're going to get about double the number of kickoffs for touchdowns over the course of the year. I think last year we had four. I think we'll get eight to ten. But I do think the majority of what will happen is just not bringing it out. That's what it felt like last night. I don't want to go back too deep into the blazing five, but Titans Bears,

you're picking the Titans to win that out right now. Yeah, yeah. Interesting. That's not good for the Bears. Our number, Draft Kings has three and a half. It was four and a half for like the entire summer. Yeah, yeah, you can get a better number potentially. But there's money on the Titans.

The one game I did not bet. Which all the gamblers like, and I'm probably wrong, everybody likes the Colts, because it's a division home underdog, and the numbers tell you, just bet the Colts. Just, I like Houston so much. I just don't know if Anthony Richardson, he's got 17 pro starts. Well, no, he's got 17 starts as a quarterback in his college and pro career. I just don't have enough data on it. By the way, do you remember Colts Texans was week 18 last year?

It was the night of your birthday party. And I'll never forget, Chip Kelly was there watching the game, and I'm like, hey, what are they dialing up here on fourth down? He's like, oh, the running back will be wide open. And the guy dropped the pass. Otherwise, the Texans don't go to the playoffs, and the hype machine is dialed back. And that was with Gardner Minshu.

So I think the Colts definitely can play with them this weekend. I took a nibble on the money line, you know? No, I mean, I think there's a couple of money line bets. Carolina, Colts, and Tennessee on the money line. I can't get there with Tennessee, but it's going to be interesting. If they beat Caleb and, like, Will Leavis somehow looks better. than Caleb Williams? Because you've been kind of, you've been kind of a, banging on, shall we say, Will Levis, since pre-draft. If he shows

up Caleb Williams in his home opener, that would be something. Would it not? Listen, Tennessee, I love the coach. I love the acquisitions. This is a better team. The roster last year was all lobsided. All the talent was on one side of the ball. Now it's much more evenly dispersed. I would argue there's more talent now, arguably, on the offensive side of the ball. used to be so Derek Henry rely. Oh, we got Derek Henry. We also have now a quarterback whisperer. So Will Levis had Vrable.

You know, he's an old tough guy, great coach. But I would say for young quarterbacks, there's a clear advantage early years for Joe Burrow to have a Zach Taylor, for Goff to have a Sean McVeigh, for Brock Purdy to have a Shanahan. So when you have a young quarterback especially, that's why I've said I think Boe Nicks, at the end of this year, we're going to look up and think. think was Bo Nix the best most productive quarterback. Not because he's more talented. He's got basically the mentor. And so Will Levis needs a young offensive coach and better weapons. Well,

what did they give him? Maybe Callahan's a guy? Yeah. So I just think it doesn't matter for Tom Brady. It doesn't matter for Mahomes now. Stafford. Yeah, it doesn't matter. But your first three years in the league, it is a complete difference. You either have to have an offensive head coach or like Houston, great offensive coordinator. You could say Tennessee is going to be, is the most mysterious team heading into week one. They could hang 33 on the Bears or they could score like six points

and look awful and neither of those Montes sweats. Not 100%. On the bear, that's not great. That's not great news. I'm rooting for Caleb just to get it out. Oh, no, no, I'm once. Are you going to the game, by the way? I'm considering it, but I've got

another labor-intensive weekend. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week, within the IHeart radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. 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. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds.

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Line news. All right, we've got some breaking news in Cincinnati. T. Higgins was listed as limited in practice on Thursday with a hamstring injury, and all of a sudden he is not practicing today at all. 48 hours before the matchup against the Patriots call, and this is horrible news for the Bengals. They lose Tyler Boyd in the offseason, their slot guy. Jamar Chase is embroiled in a contract discussion. He has not been part of the team, really.

He's been around the facility, whatever. he wants an extension. And now T. Higgins is not practicing on Friday. Usually if you don't practice Friday, you don't play. Usually. Now they're going all three wide receivers potentially from last year are gone for the opener against the Patriots. I know a lot of people are loading up on the Bengals and Survivor.

You know, you pick just a team just to win. This all of a sudden becomes very dicey. I think you got to you got to shift to Seattle because I don't know if Joe Burrow can get this done with no receivers? Colin. You look concerned. No, I think T. Higgins will play. I think if you have 48 hours with a hamstring, it's sore.

Not practicing on Friday is just precautionary. This is a big season for him as well. He's looking for them to get paid. Now, Jamar Chase just talked to the media for about 10 minutes and said he would consider playing even without an extension. What? Then what's he? And that he would be a game time decision, but if he did play, he'd be limited.

Meaning what, like a pitch count for Jamar Chase? They're going to win this game, but it's a stayaway game for me. Total stayaway. I think it's if these guys don't play. Their top four skill position guys from last year may not play. Joe Mixon. No, Mixon's gone. Yeah, I almost thought he was underrated.

I think Mixon's really good. It's something. This is supposed to be the blowout of the weekend. When you look at the schedule for the Bengals, you're like, okay, we'll start with a win here. You like pencil that in. You're a big favorite. You don't want to start this with a loss. That would be bad.

And oh, by the way, guess who's looming on deck next week? Take a look. Yeah. next week. And then three weeks after that, Lamar Jackson. You've got to win. This is supposed to be a W for them. I think T. Higgins

going to play. Precautionary Friday, don't practice. You think Burroughs potentially overlooking this? There's a reason I take Fridays off in the summer. I want to be good for Monday. It's precautionary. Don't want to use my voice up. A little extra day I'll get hoarse. I want to be good for Monday. I don't want to start behind the 8 ball. I don't think the

Ravens are as good as everybody else. I didn't see the team yesterday. You don't like the Bengals? Well, no, I'm saying the Ravens in that division. I think the Bengals should win the division. But now if you lose this and then the Chiefs and you start 0-2, you're behind the eight ball and the Ravens probably win it again, right? Yeah. I can hear Ryan back here.

He's a little nervous, Bengals fan. I'm excited for Joe Burrow and the white hair and put on 20 pounds. I'm excited for him. I think Joe is, we talked about this the other day. After all these injuries, I think Joe's like living in the moment. He went to Paris this offseason, all the fashion shows. I think Joe's like, you know what? I'm going to enjoy the hell out of this ride.

I don't know how long it's going to last. I'm one more big injury away from. I don't know if I'm going to last, but I'm going to enjoy this thing. And I want to watch this team play. Let's not forget that Burrow went into Arrowhead and went toe to toe to with Mahomes. He's, he's Lamar, better from the pocket. He's Josh Allen, but more efficient. He's a little kryptonite to Kansas City if he's upright.

He's awesome. I like that outlook, because that's the way I look at it. You know, I know you're a tough boss, and things may not go the way we want it to. And I just got to live in the moment. So let's go back to the New York Jets, shall we? They're facing Christian McCaffrey in the Niners. But, Colin, speaking of injury news, McCaffrey has had a calf issue. And guess what?

He returned to practice this week, and all of a sudden, they added Achilles to his injury designation. So it's now a calf and an Achilles. Kyle Shandahant told reporters the Achilles was nothing new, but it was related to his calf strain. He claims there's no concern about Monday night. Man, you look at some of the kids. these heavyweights. We don't know if Trent Williams

is going to play. I don't worry about McCaffrey. I don't think he should play a preseason game, a preseason snap for the rest of his career. If I see Christian McCaffrey take a snap in a preseason game and I'm Jed York, I'm calling Shanahan up to my office. McCaffrey doesn't need to take a snap until after Labor Day.

Yeah, how about this? He hasn't taken a snap and he's already hurt. Well, what does hurt me? Calf slash Achilles? I would say that's of concern. If you're a finely tuned athlete, your calf's always a little sore. I don't think that's injured. You know what sore is called?

Tuesday in the NFL. I'm not worried about, hey, Bob's sore. Oh, you're playing. Oh, okay. I mean, look, who's not sore in the NFL? I'm sore just thinking about last night the beating Lamar Jackson took him. Oh, my God. He's waking up on an ice bath today.

That was, there's no way that Lamar Jackson can play like that the rest of the season. No shot. And he's lost like 10 pounds, so he's skinnier. Final story is Chargers Raiders. Last time they faced off, the Raiders won 63 to 21. That was under Brandon Staley. He got fired, I think, within 72 hours. Now Jim Harbaugh is taken over.

Well, Derwin James, who was at that game, doesn't want to be reminded of last year's nightmare performance. What was your reaction when he saw Raiders week one? Let's go. I was literally like, let's go. I was, let's go. Is that related at all to the last time you guys played? Come on, man.

Come on, man. You know that, man. You know that. Come on, man. Can't embarrass me like that. I feel like we had a good spot. But we got to go out there Sunday to the show it to the world. He's been the best athlete on that team for four years.

They just can't keep him healthy. He's an incredible athlete. He was a great as a rookie. He walked on. He was the best player on that team as a rookie. I felt like he had a bunch of late hits last year. No, I mean, he's one of the best. He's like Jamal Adams, but he's a better player.

He's way better than Jamal. Yeah, but he's like, there's no question about the velocity in which he plays. He is a... Bill and Bosa can stay healthy, which has been a major question mark for this team. Yeah, the defense can be good. I'm worried about them against his... No, I'd just stay away game. Again, this is a divisional rival home underdog.

No, it's at so fine. It'll feel like a home game. That's still a weird deal. Chargers... But that game is a... I'm nervous thinking about that game. Like, I just... There are certain games I just stayed away from.

Like this game, I'm just staying away from. Tonight's game in Brazil. I don't even know what to make of it. Yeah, I see there's some Packers' money hitting the market today. I don't understand that. I like Green Bay in it. Listen, Peter Schrager last hour, he's a big Packer believer this year. Really?

Oh, I am too. I would not be shocked if they're hoisting the trophy. Oh, my gosh. No, I'm not saying they're a favorite. Were they in the Super Bowl bubble yesterday or were they outside of it? In the bubble. Right smack dab in the middle. It's funny. Oh, by the way, I didn't get to call you out on this yesterday.

So you had your top 10 teams. Atlanta Falcons were at 10 ahead of the Jets. Yet for some reason, the Falcons not in the Super Bowl ball. Well, time out, time out. That's not, let's contextualize it. Please. The Jets playing a great division. The Falcons played a terrible one. That's a totally different.

I don't think the Falcons are a Super Bowl team. They're going to win. Whoever wins that division, Atlanta is going to win 12 games. Yes, so they're going to host a playoff game or more, right? So what? Does it mean they're a Super Bowl team? Oh, I thought if you had the number one, seed, you're a Super Bowl contend. Tennessee had the number one seed with Tannihill years ago.

We didn't think they were going to win the Super Bowl. They were in a crappy division. It's like, it's like saying, well, you win the Big 12. You're the best college football team. No, no. No, you win a bad, you win a bad conference. Central Florida was undefeated. You think they're going to beat Alabama? No, no. College football is totally different. If the Falcons have home field advantage and it's in a dome, that is huge in the NFC. Because if the Eagles get it, Colin, outdoors, that's a hugely different situation. going to Philadelphia in January First going to Atlanta in a playoff game.

Philadelphia is going to Atlanta in a playoff game. That means Philadelphia is good and healthy. They're winning the game. I like the Eagles a lot. You get into seating. I don't. Atlanta's not a Super Bowl team. But a division winning team?

Absolutely. That division stinks. It's the worst by a mile in the sport. Kansas Sweet. Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for Stopping by.

The Herd Live News. You think I was wrong on Xavier Worthy. I wasn't wrong. I told you. It would be a fun player. He's not going to decide it. We'll talk about that next. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific.

On Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the I-Hard Radio app. He's by Carmen. I'm Dan Byrd. We have a fantasy football podcast called I Want Your Flex. That's right, Dan. week we're going to scour the waiver wire to find the pickups to turbo boost your fantasy lineup sits starts fantasy football players rankings to get you ready to dominate the competition listen to i want your flex with mike harmon and me dan byer on the i heart radio app apple

podcast and wherever you get your podcasts imagine an olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged it's the enhanced games some call it grotesque others say it's unleashing human potential either way the podcast Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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. 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 Richards 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 while 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. Most people out here think that taking care of one another is important.

And most people would step up for a neighbor are going through a tough time. Most people around here help out friends and family when they need it. But the funny thing is, most of us won't look for help when we need it. Talk to someone if you're struggling with mental health because most people out here really care. Find more information at loveyourmindtay.org. That's loveyourmindtay.org. Brought to you by the Hunsman Mental Health Institute and the Ad Council. Now everybody over here, oh, it's one of my other favorite places, the Twilight Gazebo. Sunsets, God. Ardans, Twilight Gazebo.

What's next? Dead Man's Grove? Mom, could you please try to be a little bit positive about this? From Kenya Barris, the visionary creator of Blackish, comes Big Age, an audible original about finding your way in life's next chapter. This audio comedy series follows a retired couple's reluctant relocation to Sunset Gardens, a Floridian senior community that is anything but relaxing. starring comedy legends Jennifer Lewis,

Cedric the Entertainer, and Nisi Nashvettes. Through its blend of outrageous comedy, Key Party Anyone, and touching revelations, Big Age explores what it means to grow older without growing old at heart. Go to audible.com slash big age series to start listening today. What would you eat if you had to start over?

Real simple, poor man's, poor woman's food. Black beans, chicken, rice, plantains. That's poor people's food, man. But being Nigerian, that's, come on, a go-to. On the podcast eating while broke, I sit down with celebrities, entrepreneurs, and creators as they revisit the meals they once relied on in the moments that shaped their journey. Named Best Food Podcasts at the 2006 I Heart Podcast Awards, this show is all about real conversations on money, growth, and what it really takes to make it.

It was times where me and Lex were, like, definitely getting into it. Because we're not making any money. Like I need to start making money. Like, why are we doing this? But I don't know. I think we just always knew that we had something really good. And eventually people were going to catch on. And so we just thugged it out.

The full season is available to binge. Right now, listen to Eating While Broke from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Tom Brady makes his long-awaited debut in the Fox booth with Kevin Burkhart, Aaron Andrews, and Tom Rinaldi for a can't-miss-season opener. As Dak Prescott and the Cowboys take on Deshawn Watson and the Browns, Sunday at 4 Eastern, only on top. A lot of you feeling I was wrong last night with the debut of Xavier Worthy,

tiny receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs. No, I wasn't. I said he's tiny. He was hurt a lot in college. and Super Bowls in January and February don't run through 165-pound track guys. But he's fun, he's exciting, he'll score touchdowns, he's a gadget guy, and I think they need an over-the-top weapon.

He'll get to the end zone. One of the touchdowns was a blown coverage, but he's just a unique player. But Rishie Rice had seven catches. Isaiah likely had nine catches for Baltimore. Those are volume receivers. That's what quarterbacks depend on. A Travis Kelsey, a Rishie Rice,

A Larry Fitzgerald, a guy that's a volume receiver. That's not to say that speed guys don't matter, but you know who didn't play much in February these days? Tyreek Hill, and Tyreek Hill's a lot bigger than Xavier Worthy. Andy Reid after the game likes him, but he thinks what I think. He obviously worthy, Zipa. Yeah, he can run, and he's got good hands, a smart kid

so he'll keep growing as we go he'll be he's a competitive low guy man yeah he's like a convertible sports car you're not taking the kids to school in it

you're not hauling groceries in it you're not going to Home Depot and bring him back lumber in it but he's a great club to have in your bag he's a unique over-the-top player a little bit of a gadget guy, nothing wrong at all with that guy. And at the end of the first round, it's a weird spot for general managers where, you know,

he was hurt a lot in college and he's small. But that's okay because they've got now two tight ends. They've got a number one in Rishi Rice. I'll be honest with you. They wanted Cadarius Tony to be this guy, and he wasn't a peddle. They wanted Sky more to be this guy. So if you're Xavier Worthy, the one place from the league you'd want to go and be this guy would be Kansas City.

So it's going to work. I'm not doubting that it's going to work. But even Andy Reid said it. He's tiny. He is the convertible sports car. There's a time and a place for it. It's great to have in the garage. But you're not driving that thing in January and February to Super Bowls when it's windy

in 9 degrees. You're doing it on physicality, protection, run games. Isaiah Pacheco is a guy who you're going to depend on in January and Travis Kelsey. Those are the guys. And Chris Jones up front and Steve Spagnola. But it's okay to have gadget guys. Some coaches are really good at using them. Some coaches aren't.

But like Andy reads the best in the league at it, of taking a guy that's, you know, different. Like, Debo Samuel would not be nearly as effective with a lot of other coaches. And you think that's crazy. But literally there's not a better coach in the league for a big physical receiver that can double as a running back than Kyle Shanahan. That is the perfect chess piece for Kyle Shanahan. if Debo was on some of these defensive coaches, these uncreative guys, they wouldn't know what to do with him. Kyle Shanahan, the ultimate chess piece. This kid is the ultimate convertible sports car for the best play creator, play designer in our sport,

probably over the last 50 years, 40 years, Andy Reed. So I do think the, I pick Tennessee to upset Chicago. And I think Chicago is going to be fun. And I think Caleb's going to be excellent. But it's like there is such. I never forget when Texas played USC in the greatest Rose Bowl game, maybe ever played the Natty. And nobody liked Texas to win the game. And I can remember somebody telling me the Texas players and the coaches had sat in their hotel rooms in Los Angeles for like five days

and watched the media slobber all over. Liner, Bush, you know, Pete Carroll, the Trojan history. And like the Texas guys were fuming by the time they got on the field. They're like, it's like they're playing, you know, some direction. directional school. And Tennessee has been sitting here for six months hearing how great Caleb Williams is, and I guarantee you that Titans locker room and that Titans staff is going to come out with their hair on fire. And I just don't like rookie quarterbacks in week one.

I think Bo Nixel struggle and I like him. I think Caleb could be turbulent. Here's Caleb admitting it could be an up and down debut against the Titans. Bad things are going to happen. Every once in a while, you're going to throw up. pick, you're going to fumble, whether it's me, whether it's a team, whether it's, you know, we're going to jump off sides, we're going to do a bunch of things. So when those moments of adversity strike, it's more about encouraging. It's more about understanding that we can get

out of the situation and not bringing more negativity to the situation that comes up. But there's going to be a lot more times throughout the games or practices where there's going to be a lot more good than bad. You just can't let the bad outweigh the good. Yeah, I mean, Mahomes had a terrible pick last night, almost two. So it's Tom Brady's had pick, sixes, and Super Bowls. There's an old saying, don't let one bad play become two. Don't let a loss become two. But the criticisms of Caleb, I don't buy into the arrogant stuff.

I think he's confident. I don't think he's arrogant. I don't buy that. But I may be wrong, but I think he's just really confident. I think the one criticism, and I've heard this from my friends in the league, is that they worry about the consistency of accuracy. He can get erratic. Now, Mahomes had a little bit of this when he came into the league out of Texas Tech.

The difference is he had Andy Reed. So you remember the first two or three years when Mahomes came into this league? He'd get off the fairway and into the weeds. Mechanically, he got really loose. And then Andy in a couple of weeks would bring him back. Now, Mahomes now, he's past that. But these young, hyper-athletic, hyper-mobile quarterbacks, there's a backyard feel to it, and they have success doing it.

but over the course of time Andy Reed would pull Mahomes back, get him in the fairway, don't hit it as far, get it straight, and I don't know if they have anybody in that Bears franchise to do that with Caleb because he can be erratic. For the record, Matt Stafford's got a little bit of this.

Matt can get a little erratic with his mechanics. He can get a little sloppy, a little sidearm, and his best coordinators, McVeigh, get him back on the fairway. So, you know, Caleb, three times last year, completed 58% of his throws, or thereabouts, like under that. So it's like he'll have misses. He has them.

And sometimes, you know, rookie first game, that guy is going to have light. He's going to be a walking Red Bull. He's going to be going a thousand miles an hour in Chicago. And you can, you know, number one pick rookie quarterbacks in week one are 4.15 and one. David Carr, 22 years ago, is the last number. number one pick rookie quarterback that won. It's just, it's a tough spot. So I think Tennessee's going to upset

them. And I don't really see. I think Jay Mack nailed it. There's two or three teams in this league that are a mystery. There is no bigger mystery than the Titans. New staff, new players, new offense. I think they're going to be feisty. I think Will Levis has a ceiling. And I think eventually over time,

you'll get the book on Tennessee's offense pretty quick, limited at quarterback. But in week one, I mean, Chicago's guessing. We have to go back and look at some Cincinnati film. You've got to kind of guess to see what you're getting with them. A lot of three wide receiver sets. Looks like DeAndre Hopkins could go this weekend for Tennessee,

which is a bit of a mild surprise. I think they picked up Ridley. They got some weapons in the two quick backs. Tage Spears and Tony Pollard, like all of a sudden, Tennessee could be spicy. Yeah, Pollard played in the preseason a little bit. Saw him play a little preseason. He could like two years ago. No, no.

He's not a dominant one, but he can be a good off-speed pitch. He can bust one. 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 podcast. 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. Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva, and on my new podcast, How Hard Can It Be? I call on my Gen X squad from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate Midlife's most fantastic BS.

Unfiltered conversations from night sweats to fupas to scheduling sex. Wait, what sex? Is it just me or does every woman my age want to look at Pinterest instead of having sex sometimes? They say we can't polish a turd, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with laughs, tears, or tears of laughter. Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Diana Maria Riva on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Therapy is fantastic. But once again, it does not have a monopoly on healing.

That's why I create the resources and that's why I create the community because I really just want you to have more access. On the podcast, cultivating her space, Dr. Dom and Terry Lomax create a space where black women can show up fully and be heard. It's tough because we're suppressing our emotions and so many of us are like high achieving individuals. listen to cultivating her space on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. The story I've told myself can then shape my behavior and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown if you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole. This podcast is for you to hear more.

Listened a deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.