The Herd with Colin Cowherd - HOUR 3 - Bills-Rams

Episode Date: September 8, 2022

What can we expect from the Rams this season? Breaking down the Bills-Rams matchup unit by unit   Guest: Eric DickersonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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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 I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show.

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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 year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians,

and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. 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. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Heard. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. You have a chance to win $10,000.

Playing along with the Fox Bet Super 6, download the free-to-play app and enter your six picks for a chance at the jackpot. Fox Bet Super 6 has given away more than $6.5 million to over 80,000 players, and there are guaranteed winners every week. He's a Hall of Fame or one of the great running backs of all time. played for over a decade in the NFL, Pro Football Hall of Famer, Eric Dickerson joining us live. Eric Dickerson has lived in the same house. I love this about him for like 30-some years. Unbelievable. I'm moving around to a new house every 15 minutes.

I'm weird. You are a reliable guy. Now, you're wearing that Rams outfit, and the audience is going to go, oh, give me a break. So we have to be, let's try to be both of us here. Here's what worries me about the Rams. I don't think that their guard, they drafted. for the year. I do not think you can replace the leadership and talent of Andrew Whitworth in one draft or in one year. I worry a little about their offensive line. Is there anything that

worries you about the team? Well, I think you said it. I think the offensive line is a concern. You got to see how they mesh together. You know, she's losing a guy like Andrew Whitworth. That's a big loss. But you have to move on no matter what. I think a lot of the teams in the National Football League are kind of struggling in the opposite line. because that's a unit that has to play together for a while. And the big thing they're trying to keep guys healthy. You just never know because, you know, that injury can happen very quickly. But that is the only thing I worry about the Rams' offensive line and the depth of the

offensive line. But other than that, you know, they have all the weapons. And one thing is, Colin, is that, you know, the Rams won the Super Bowl. But it's like they get no respect. It's like they steal, like Rodney Dangerfield. You're getting a little respect around here. They get no respect for winning at the Super Bowl. It's interesting, when the Bucks won a couple years ago, they brought everybody back.

The Rams didn't, Eric. They moved off Robert Woods. They moved off Darius Williams. They moved off Vaughn Miller. They went, Cam Acres had some fumbles in the Tampa game. They went out and got another running back. A kid out of Notre Dame that doesn't fumble. I like that.

I like the Rams saying, listen, we'll pay you. But this is a competitive environment here. We're going to be constantly evolving. They moved off Jared God. a couple of years ago. I like that. I thought Tampa paid everybody. The Eagles won a Super Bowl. They paid everybody. Everybody got a car commercial. Take me to the best year of your career. The best year. The following year, what did they do to the roster? Got rid of it pretty much. It was a different area. He got us to have a different area.

They didn't have the money that the Rams that the teams have, especially the Rams. know, the owner like Stan Crunky, you know, they would get rid of you for, you know, $150,000, $100,000. You know, they're not doing that now. You're talking about, you know, $10 or $15 million. You're talking about a guy that's going from, say, making $8 million somebody offering him 12 to 14. That's the big difference there. You know, I don't think they made that many big change.

You think they still have Aaron Donne. They still have Cooper Cup. You know, they added Alan Robinson to the mix. They added Bobby Wagner to the mix. They have Jaylon Ramsey. And the big thing is, and I said this, I said this when we got him when I first met him, you know, Matt Stafford. I kept saying that was the missing piece. That was the guy that we needed to win a Super Bowl.

You and other people did not believe it. I kept saying because, look, you might look at his numbers, but he was in Detroit. I don't care if you put Superman in Detroit. You could put Tom Brady in Detroit. It's still Detroit. They're not winning. Some teams are just, some teams just born losers. They just lose.

That's what they do. So Josh, you are the centerpiece of your offenses. Josh Allen is overwhelmingly the centerpiece of Buffalo. Had you played with somebody as great as Josh Allen, who may have the best arm in the league, God, he's got 75 touchdowns in three years in the league. Would you have been okay saying, like Aaron Rogers this year does not have a number one receiver? They're going to run the ball more and they're going to run the ball more in Green Bay. They just are.

I mean, if would Josh Allen, if you were a running back, would you come to terms with that's the centerpiece of this team? I think that when you have a quarterback and if you're lucky enough to have a running back on that same team, there's certain games where you're going to run the football, the running game is going to work because they can't stop the run. Because when you game playing a team, you look at what their weaknesses are. You know, you don't throw the ball just because you have a Josh Allen. If the team can't stop the run, you run.

the football. If it's better to do run and throw, play action, that's what you do. If I play with a guy like Josh Allen, I'd love to have a quarterback like him. Oh, my gosh. Because you know what? I wouldn't need to carry it because I'm not looking at eight and nine men fronts all the time. Right. You know, I'm looking at they got to play their basic defense. So it makes it a lot easy for me and it makes it a lot easy for a guy like Josh Allen. You know, it is interesting that I think only seven running backs had a thousand yards last season. And I A lot of the coaches like their running backs to catch. And that's an interesting world.

You could look at that and think, boy, a running back likes the rock. But I think if I was a running back, I would love to get six little passes out in the flat. I look at you as the guy that got the ball between the tackles and made magic happen. In today's NFL, where backs are often really valuable receiving targets, you like that? Do you like where the league's going? Most definitely. I do like that because it gives you a running start. You're not always at the backfield. You're a dual weapon. It started kind of with myself, Roger Craig. He was the first thousand thousand guy. My first year in the league, I had an 1800 yards receiving. I think had

another 498, I mean, 1800 yards rushing and another 498 receiving with 51-100 sections. After that, they didn't throw the football because we didn't have a quarterback to throw the football. It's who you have in that position. It's what makes your team better. It's not this, you don't throw the football to the running back just because you throw it to him. You know, it doesn't work like that. You know, you have to have a guy that can run routes. You know, he understands the defense, like a, like a Marshall Falk or, you know, I look at a guy, the big guy in Tennessee. Derek Henry, yeah.

Derek Henry. Derek Henry is not a guy that's going to come out and run an angle route. He's going to come out, you know, and run a streak route up the field, a seam route. That's not what he does. you know, you have to play to your stress, but I do like the, I do like they throw to the running backs out of the backfield. And I'm sure backs do too, but the running back this day and age does not like the character ball 25, 30 times.

You see, it's a very few guys that want to do that. Derek Henry will do that. You know, I think Ziciel Elliott would do that. It's very few guys want to do that. The guy in Indianapolis, I think he's that guy. Jonathan Taylor. He likes that. Yeah, yeah.

Jonathan Taylor, he wants to run the football. But, you know, it's going to be just a handful of guys that we call work horses. You know, it's interesting with the 49ers. So as much as people criticize Garoppolo, the one thing Jimmy did, he's an accurate thrower. He got it to Debo, he got it to Kiddle, he got it to Brandon Ayyuk, he gets you the ball, and then he lets you move. Trey Lance is a better talent.

He's not super accurate. And so my takeaway is these guys have played with an accurate quarterback who may be limited, but he gets him the ball and they get big yards after the catch. All those guys. Debo, Kittle, all of them. Brandon Ayuk, they're big after the catch guys. And so here you have this young quarterback who's got a bigger arm who can move around, but you may not put that baby right where you want it. And my takeaway is everybody in that room knows, Shanahan's brilliant,

and everybody in the room knows Garoppolo wins a lot of big games and got him to a Super Bowl. How patient would you be? You're a nineer. you're two and two through four games and Eric he ain't hitting you in the numbers and you're not you may have a bonus and you my takeaway is I think tray Lance is good but this roster is so good and these guys have had this guy that just delivers them layups and easy stuff maybe not great stuff but easy stuff how long can you be patient in this league well you know in this league in any league it's about winning football games you know if you If they come out two and two and they look down, like we got a tough way to go the next four weeks. We've got to see if should we go back to Garapolo or should we stay with Trey Lance.

Trace Lansing, most definitely is more athletic. Yes. The running quarterback, you know, it can run and throw. But like you said, I'm always big on the accuracy. I mean, that's the thing. If you can put it right here where it's supposed to be, you can't beat that. I mean, if you, if you're not in the NFL,

the ball can't be just a little bit off. It can't be behind you. That could be a pick. It can't be lofted. It can't be floated. It can't be floating. that's a pick. You have to have accuracy. I mean, I know everyone wants

the guy that can run and throw, but me personally, I would take that, I'll take that accurate quarterback all day long. Yeah. So, hey, I don't, you know what? I don't want him to win. Stay with him. I mean, we want them to fall behind. Look, the 49ers are a very, very good football team.

I mean, you have to give them credit. They have a great defensive front. They have a great coach. They run the ball very well. You know, Debo always seems to kill us. So, you know, that team is a team that you have to contend with in the NFC West. Now, if the Rams lose tonight, I don't want you pouting and sulking that bills are very good, Eric, so I want you to get ready. It could be, it may not go your way tonight. It's going to be very close. You okay with that.

Hey, I'm okay. And if we win tonight, can we please get some credit, you know, from you? Can we get some credit from you over that collar? Oh, just a little. You're trying to be, I live in L.A. I live in L.A. I can't be more of an L.A. Homer, as it is. Good seeing you, buddy. I can see it. The Hall of Famer, Eric Dickerson, save big in your water bills, 15-year limited warranty, durable efficient,

tankless made simple.com. Go get a Navian tankless water heater today. Navian. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeard Radio app. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged.

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

Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me. Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football,

or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations,

stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-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 Jett. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s.

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

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

your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field

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as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app. Search learn the hard way and listen now. J-Mac with the news. No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news.

This is the herd line news. All right, Colin, the Raiders had one of the worst offensive lines in the league last year, did not really work on it this offseason. I know they got Devante Adams, but they didn't get help in the trenches, and they got to face Mac and Bosa of the Chargers on Sunday. Derek Carr still has plenty of confidence in his teammates. I've always had that confidence of just that trust, like when it's been really good or sometimes when it's been tough. And so for me, I always have confidence going in the game.

I know that no matter what that is, I have a job to do and to move the football and things like that. You know, you've got to block two of the best rushers, and that's not even including the inside guys who are unbelievable. You know, you got to try and stop those guys. That's a tall task for anybody, you know. And so I'm excited to watch them, but, you know, hats off to the chargers. I mean, they're loaded everywhere. And so we got our work cut out for us, but I'm excited to watch them play, for sure. Well, the good news is Hunter Renfro, Waller run quicker routes.

Devonte Adams can run stuff underneath, too. So this is not like a deep threat offense. He can get rid of the ball. Colton Miller's a good left tackle. They can get rid of the ball pretty quick. I don't, you know, there's a way to beat Bosa. There's a way to beat pass rushes. Get the ball out two and a half seconds or less.

That beats the pass rush. So Josh McDaniels, by the way, if you go back his new head coach, if you go back to his New England years, when they played the Chargers last, they ate him alive. Derek's accurate. He's been in the league. He's great pre-snap. He gets you out of trouble. Renfro, Waller, Devonthe Adams. You don't need to sit back there for six seconds.

So you can mitigate some of the Raiders offensive line issues. And I think McDaniels is the perfect coach to do that. I think Brady was the classic, didn't want to get hit. get the ball out. The problem is with the Chargers. It's a bad matchup for them in the trenches. Last year, Carr's sacks seven times in the two games against the Chargers. Colin, he did not eclipse 200 yards passing in either of the meetings.

It's just not a great matchup. I think that's why we've seen the Chargers line tick up a little bit. They're favored by, I think, three and a half or four now. Unless Josh Jacobs can get on track on the ground, and I'm not so sure he can behind that line. I like the Chargers here against the Raiders. All right. Next up in Herdline News, Colin. Baker Mayfield gets his revenge game early this season with the Panthers against the Browns.

Even with all the hype about him facing his former team, Baker's feeling no animosity at all ahead of the game. Oh, all right. Obviously, there's history involved, you know, leading up to this week. There's other games in the NFL that guys are playing their former teams. It's just the excitement leading up to week one that I think is building that anticipation up. But for me, it's the familiarity anytime you're playing guys, you know. It makes it just more interesting, more fun.

you get to smack talk a little bit with your buddies that you've been with for a little bit, and you know how to poke and prod and get the best out of them. I'm looking forward to the opportunity. Yeah, he's a human being, Colin. He has a right to have Adam Austin. I like Caroline in the game. I think Baker has shown an ability to channel his emotion for singular games, the Hugh Jackson game, the Steeler game, the Ohio State Revenge game,

the Texas Tech games in college. His emotion gets the best of him over the course of a season. but I would be shocked if Baker didn't come out. Sam Darnold went through, you know, last year to start. Yeah. They've upgraded their own line. McCaffrey's healthy. They added to the offense, to the receiver room.

I think they're going to beat Cleveland. At home, I think they'll beat them. And Baker was kind of liked in that Cleveland locker room. It's not like the players left in Cleveland did not like Baker. He's a likable guy, fiery, rah-rah kind of dude. And I just think he wants to really put it on this browns team badly, Colin. I mean, they stole Watson and still had Baker on the rock. roster, right? He was still there. It was kind of ugly.

All right, Colin, wrapping up with the season, obviously kicking off tonight, Rams and the Bills. The reigning champs will be raising their Super Bowl banner, but surprisingly, they're not favorites here. According to Fox Bet, the bills are favored by two and a half in SoFi. Colin, let's put you on the record here. Who's winning tonight? Give me a final score as well. 20, uh, Rams. You know, there'll be a little nerves. so I don't think it's quite the wild shootout.

I would say 28, 26 Rams. 26? I think, well, 26, 24, 26. I think, I don't think it's the, I think the first half is you're feeling out each other. I do think McVeigh brings in a couple of tricks. I wonder, without their top corner, Buffalo's got great safeties. Yeah. Without their top corner, do the Rams already pick on that?

I think it's a really entertaining game. I think the Rams close. I do worry. Vaughn Miller coming off the edge with no Andrew Whitworth. Is that wildly disruptive? So I could see both offenses. The O line is the weakness of the bills. I think the O line this year, left side is potentially the weakness of the Rams.

So I think both quarterbacks could be under a little duress tonight, and I think it's a 28, 26, 28, 27 game. I'll go 31-30 Rams, and I think as you pointed out, the matchup to watch is rookie cornerback, Cahir I'm out of Florida against Alan Robinson. I'm starting him in fantasy, if you care about my fantasy team. Yeah, I do deeply. Robinson's good. Two touchdowns for him, maybe? McVeigh, you know, McVeigh just got a new flashy toy.

He's going to want to show him off a little bit against a rookie. Now, is Van Jefferson playing the number three receiver? It looks like he's out. Okay, so he's out. So that, and so OBJ's not ready. So they're going to rely on some young kids. Cup and Robinson on the outside. A lot. They're pretty good at tight end as well. I'm actually for the Rams, I'm very interested.

For the Bills, I want to see their Florida corner. For the Rams, I want to see the running back from Notre Dame. Because I think deep down, when Acres fumbled twice against Tampa, that game, had he not fumbled at the goal line before half, they blow out Tampa. And I think they sent a message to the Cam Acres. Dude, you've got a fumble issue. And we're going to go get a kid from Notre Dame, a little bit more of a power runner can block, keeps his hands on the ball. Interested to watch the Rams running attack, how much the rookie from Notre Dame touches the ball. Are you going to the game or just the party line? No, I'm sitting at home.

Tonight, tonight is as good as America gets. So my wife is gone. Well, no guilt. Sometimes on Sunday night, I have guilt because I've sat in front of the TV for 11 hours, and she's sitting there bored out of her mind. So tonight, it's no guilt football. I'm going to this is tonight tonight I take a notepad and a pen out how many cocktails none zero watch clearly zero really new new do not like a three cocktail

sunday nights clarity have to see the truth cannot have any blurred vision both contacts in no cocktails uh j mac with the news well that's the news and thanks for stopping by the herd lie news rams bills by the way i played tennis yesterday i'm not going to get into it I scheduled something. It was hottest September days ever in Los Angeles. So I didn't want to cancel. So I went and played tennis in the heat. I do not recommend that.

If you live in a city and there's record heat and it's one o'clock and you have a tennis appointment, cancel. Just don't do it. It's not worth it. Cramping all night. Coming up, Rams bills will go unit to unit. Who's the better football team next? Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, this is Jason McIntyre.

Join me every weekday morning on my podcast, Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your typical sports pod pushing the same tired narratives down your throat every day. Straight Fire gives you honest opinions on all the biggest sports headlines, accurate stats to help you win big at the sports book, and all the best guests. Do yourself a favor and listen to Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

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

A win is a win. I don't care what I'm 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 Jek. And I'm Alex English.

Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack, so I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you 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. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Keer Games.

And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses.

Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth, or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person.

Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast. Learn the hard way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the hard way and listen now. If you didn't hear Greg Co. Sell on our show about an hour and a half ago,

I will always put him on Thursdays. He'll be on my podcast, the show, the Heard podcast. He's great. If you like to bet football, fantasy football, just love the game, get smarter. He had great stuff today. All right. So tonight, we got our game tonight, and it just feels great. we kind of fake it for the entire year that we like everything else.

Then football gets here and we're all in, right? Like everybody, you know, we like our little sports. It's good to go watch the Masters or it's good to, and football gets here and it's like, okay, here we go. Let's go. Six months, football every day. So, Jay Mack, we're going to play a game called Lockhorns. We're going to go unit by unit.

Who's the better team tonight? Ready to go? Yeah, I think I'm ready. These matchups are tough, though, Colin. Who has the edge of quarterback tonight? Matt Stafford or Josh Allen? Bills or Rams? Where's the edge there? Well, I think because Josh Allen has the ability to move and, I mean, he hurdles players.

I think Josh Allen is viewed as, you know, he's bigger, he's stronger, he's faster, he's younger. They both have A plus plus arms. But in his last six games, including the playoff, he was five and one with 102 passer rating. So in this one, I think Josh Allen is, I mean, he's in his prime. Stafford feels like he's on the 10th hole. He's just some tendinitis in his arm. You know, he's starting to get those little achy, little nagging season-long injuries. Josh Allen's just moving into his prime for the next seven years.

So the edge goes to Josh Allen. I sense a hint of doubt for Stafford in that elbow. Next up, the edge are running back, bills or Rams? Well, I think you have to give it to the Rams because of Cam Ack. Cam Acres led the NFL playoffs in rushing last year, and they did not lose a game all last year when he had 20 plus carries. If Cam Acres is getting the rock and the Rams get a lead, remember McVeigh's never lost a game, as he lost a game leading at halftime, when they play with a lead and Acres gets the ball over 20 times last year, they didn't lose a game. Now, he concerns you. Tampa, he had a couple of key fumbles. I think the Bills running backs are better sometimes than the Bills thing.

They drafted another one, but you've got to go with Acres history and big playoff games, relying on him when they lead, which they often do. All right. Next up, now this is probably the toughest one on the board. Edgit receiver, bills led by Stefan Diggs or the Rams led by Cooper Cup. It is a toss-up, but I would say my takeaway is it would be Rams because of Cooper Cup's production. So he led the league in receptions in terms of total volume. Now the bills, Stefan Diggs, can be prettier and flashy. year and more explosive. But in terms of receptions and yards, I don't think there's any receiving core in the league this year that will duplicate what Cooper Cup's going to do and Alan Robinson.

Alan Robinson could also be dealing with a rookie corner tonight, whereas Jalen Ramsey will be on Stefan Diggs to shut him down. So I think this is a coin flip, but in terms of total production, they both have great tight ends, Higby and Knox. We didn't expand this to tight ends, but if we did just pass catchers, Dawson Knox, very good. Very good. Slight edge yet to the bills. Offensive line, big question mark for both teams, Colin, coming into the season.

Well, the Rams O line does have two go-to guys. Rob Havenstein, the left, right tackle, just re-signed. He's a top eight, nine tackle, right-tackling football. And Brian Allen, the center was rated top six center in the NFL. Note booms over at left tackle. little concerned, but he's been in the system for three years. So last year, the better line easily last year between these two, and it was not close, was the Rams. So Bills have added a guard from a great scheme zone, runs zone blocking guard and a Stafford from the Titans.

But last year, this wasn't close. The Rams O line was significantly better than the Bills last year. Speaking of not close, who has the edge on the defensive line? I think in terms of depth, the bills do, but Aaron Donald is a complete game changer. You have to double him. He's the best defensive player in the NFL for probably 20 years. So now, Vaughn Miller is going to be really interesting. Again, this is, in terms of depth, there's a lot of arguments that the bills have a slight edge.

But Stafford changes everything. The Super Bowl's the Rams because he got the Joe Burrow. So between Deshawn Robinson, Gaines, Aaron Donald, mostly Aaron Donald, it's Rams. The kid, Rousseau, he was a rookie last year out of Miami. He was excellent for Buffalo. Keep an eye on him. He could be big tonight. All right, linebacker, we know the Rams made a big pickup with Bobby Wagner, but Buffalo's cores.

Yeah, Buffalo easily. So Buffalo guys, the middle linebacking crew has been playing together for four years. Matt Milano is a great edge rush, or interior. Risher. Also, got good speed. Edmonds is a tackling machine. So it's interesting. When you look at the teams in the NFL that have great quarterbacks and great receivers and you pay them, because most teams pay the O-line, the quarterback, the weapons. There's not a lot of great on great teams, not a lot of great linebacking cores, but I feel like Buffalo has one of the best line backing cores in the NFL. So even with Bobby Wagner, who I think is a great

leader, but I think he's out of his prime. I think big edge to the bills at linebacker. Now the secondary is where the game I think will be one tonight. Bills or Rams, who you got? I think the bill's secondary, when totally healthy, is the best in the league. Yes. So their safeties are better than

the Rams. Linebacker in safety, it's not close. They are missing their best corner tonight. However, they're still talented. So I would give the edge to the bills. Remember, the Rams are replacing their second best corner, Darius Williams, who signed elsewhere.

So they've got young guys playing on the corner as well. So they both do. The safeties and the linebackers for Buffalo, the middle of the bill's defense is outstanding. It's a little bit. That's why they brought Bobby Wagner over. Safety linebacking corps was not great for the Rams last year. So those are big edges to me for the bill. So I just wanted a pro football focus for the bills.

their cornerback number one tonight is named Dane Jackson. He graded out 82nd out of 116 last year. Yeah. He's going against Cooper Cup. Yeah, no, that's why I gave the RAM receivers the edge over the bills. Cooper and Alan Robinson are going to probably have good nights. Now, this one's going to get some Bill's fans upset. Who has the edge at head coach McDermott or McVeigh?

Well, McVeigh has won 68% of his games. Nobody's won this many games this quickly to Super Bowls. I think he's the best culture builder in the NFL. he does a couple of things that are very unique. First of all, have you seen how few injuries they suffer since he arrived? Whatever they do with him, whatever he does at practice, they just don't, they don't get banged up.

The Niners are banged up constantly. Seattle's been banged up. They never get hurt. What about the close games? McDermott blew all of them last year. They just don't lose if they lead at half. They're also a team that gets a lot of lead. So my guess tonight, if they get the ball first,

lead. They know they're going to go right after those corners for Buffalo. And McVade has the lead at half time. He doesn't lose. So listen, I think the bills have the better quarterback, the better linebackers. I think they have the better secondary. And at wide receiver, it's close. Now, when Van Jefferson comes back and OBJ comes back, then I like the Rams receivers. Absolutely. Remember, Emmanuel Sanders just retired. He just retired, yeah. So Stefan Diggs is great.

David has the got to watch. He had a great game against the Chiefs. Yeah. He's been elevated. And they got Isaiah McKenzie now on the slot for Cole Beasley, who's elsewhere. Yeah. And Knox is a good, Dawson Knox, a good tie-in. So this is going to be a great game tonight.

We said that 57 times, but, you know. There you go. Love the matches. Also, nose tackle for the Rams. You think it's Aaron Donald and Robinson. But Greg Gaines, the kid they drafted out of Washington, has actually been really effective for them very early. So the defensive front,

I think one of the reasons the Rams thought they could move off von Miller is they are so good on the, they have the best interior D-line in the league. Robinson, Gaines, Donald, great interior defensive line for the Rams. Don't quite have the edge. Meanwhile, the Chargers in town aren't as good in the interior, great with Khalil Mack and Bose on the edge. So, I mean, pick your poison. But are the two defensive lines in Los Angeles between the Rams and the Chargers? If you just went all-star team, a Bosa, a Donald, a Khalil Mack.

You got dudes. You have dudes everywhere. Eric Dickerson, Greg Kosell, Jordan Palmer, all stop by today. This is such a great time of the year. Jay Mack, if you've not seen FS1 has debuted a new lineup, Craig Carton in the morning. Very funny New York guy. Skip Shannon, us. First things first after us.

And then Joy and Emmanuel Ocho and Shady McCoy. after that into Race Hub, NASCAR. I think this is the strongest lineup we've had since I've been at FS1. I've been here about five or six years. If you're wondering, you just tuned in, you just left a summer vacation, you're back home, you're watching Joy Taylor has moved to the afternoon show. It's called Speak. It was formerly Speak for yourself.

It is now Speak. And they have tabbed her as a co-host. And we bring in JMAQ, who has been on our show for years as a, tomorrow's headlines today. Yes, the most popular segment, arguably. In America. At this network. Okay. So tomorrow is our first blazing five of the year.

Yeah. So it is interesting. The game I like, I've already bet. That was the Vikings and the Packers. The line now is not as tasty as it was, but whatever I pick on Fridays. So if I said to you, there are two games this weekend. If you were going to, you're hard-earned cash that you really, liked, what would they be? Because Vikings, to beat the Packers straight out, my best...

I already have too many wagers at play to discuss. But, and I'll save them for my podcast, I would say without question, New York Giants getting the points in Tennessee, on the money line as well. Danny Dimes, good number for you. 11 and 4 against the spread on the road. He wilts under pressure at home in New York because they don't like him there. But I think without question, that's one of my better bets. A couple totals I've looked at. And Colin, I think I'm talking myself into Maserati Mitch Trubisky and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Listen, Mike Tomlin, the numbers bear it out. As an underdog in the division, he's incredible.

You know, it's one of those spots. Remember last year they got murdered by the Bengals twice. And Tomlin's going to easily tell us guys, hey, nobody's respecting us. We made the playoffs last year. They got us in last place. Coward has us dead last in the division. Listen, these are motivational tactics. Tomlin is great in those spots.

And Joe Burrow, by the way, is he fully recovered from the appendectomy? I don't think he threw a pass in the preseason. He just started practicing like two weeks ago. I think there's a scenario where the Steelers who went into Buffalo last year in week one, remember? And Block punt. Pull the upset. Block punt. I can see that being a close game. I know those are two holds your nose underdogs, but there you go. Jay Mack, me, Ryan, we're back tomorrow. It's the herd. 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

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