The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Herd - Hour 3 - Week 1 of the NFL

Episode Date: September 11, 2023

More on the week 1 NFL games and previewing the Jets-Bills game tonight Colin gives his week 1 NFL grades   Guest: Albert BreerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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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. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but the show. celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever

you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok's podcast network on TikTok. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to 3 Eastern, 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day in the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Now let's get this party started. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. All right, welcome back.

All your favorites, flavor your fall with Hello Fresh, delicious dinners crafted by chefs, fresh produce. Go to Hellofresh.com, 50, Colin. That's code 50, collin, hellofresh.com slash 50, Colin. 15% off the next two months, 50% off if you go there. So Albert Breyer, Senior NFL Reporter, a Monday morning quarterback. By the way, you cover New England like nobody else. I got to start with that.

I thought there were large segments of the game. They outplayed Philadelphia. I think Mack Jones is the next quarterback. I wish Bill we get out of personnel. They don't need more guards and kickers. I think they're a number one receiver away from being a really, really good football team. Maybe at the trade deadline if somebody's, I mean, there's going to be at the trade deadline because of Caleb Williams, Drake May. I've been told it's going to be a wide.

wildly active trade deadline, but what was your interpretation of Eagles without Shane Stuyken against a Patriots? Yeah, it was weird. It was one of those week-one games where you almost felt better about the team that lost, and you did about the team that won. You know, I just, you really felt like the Eagles lost of the coordinators. I just felt like they didn't do enough to get the most out of AJ Brown and Devante Smith and certainly Dallas Goddard. You didn't see as many design runs with Jalen Hertz. Now, maybe that's by design early in the year. And then there was a lot of free access on defense where it looked like they were sort of playing off the Patriots a little bit and giving them the underneath stuff. So certainly looks like there's just some coaching stuff that they're going to have to work out there in Philly. And look, that's understandable.

They lost both their coordinators. That's going to happen. Yeah. And I think when it comes to Patriots, like two things really encourage me. Number one, the defense looked as advertised. Like this could be a top five defense if a couple things happened. If the edge players played really well, they played really well yesterday. if Christian Gonzalez can be a number one corner and right out of the box.

He looks like he's got the capability to do that. So that's number one. And then number two, I'm with you on Mac. Like I thought early in that game, Bill O'Brien had that offense playing with creativity, with innovation, with pace. They leveled off a little bit. They adjusted. They came back at the end of the first half.

It looks like Billy O'Brien and Mack Jones are a good fit for each other. And I think what was most encouraging about it, Colin, is going into the season, the Patriots figured their formula, is almost going to be like Bill Belichick's Super Bowl 25 game plan, right? They were going to play to the strength of the team, which is the defense, through the running game on offense, and they were going to manage the passing game because they don't have great weapons. Well, yesterday, the Eagles effectively took the running game away, and they were still able to operate the offense at a pretty high level.

And to be able to do that in week one with a new offensive coordinator, with a lot of new pieces, with Juju Smith and Smith-Juester, in and out of the lineup, with a couple of rookies playing receiver, I think is a pretty good sign for their progress. So it looks at least right now on the surface like Bill O'Brien was a really solid hire, and it looks at least in the surface like they've got Matt Jones turned around, which is two pretty big things this early in the year. Well, I couldn't pick a football game this weekend, but I did say that I feel like with young quarterbacks, you have to not, you have to give them more support.

And I felt going in that Jordan Love had an offensive coach, a better old line, and a run game that has proven to work. And I feel like with Justin Fields, and I'm not blaming him, but it's just a series of plays. I feel like first drive of the game, Packers, orchestrated touchdown, first drive of the second half, brilliantly orchestrated. Yeah. I don't know if it's Justin Fields or the staff, but I don't, it's just,

it feels like it's him having to make great plays. That was my interpretation of what I'm seeing. And you know, Colin, look at what the Packers did, right? Like, Jordan Love played great, but that game was seven to six in the second quarter. like a punt return set up their first touchdown drive a pipe return set up a touchdown drive later in the game you know they were able to build jordan up jordan love up because they didn't ask the world of him they gave him short fields there was a pick six at the end of the game to ice it the defense played really well so like within the context of the game jordan love wasn't asked

to carry the entire operation jordan love was asked to do his job at a high level and gain confidence over the course of the game i talked to matt lafleur about it that fourth and three where he threw the 35-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Jones on the on the little choice route there. Yeah. Like that was a result of Jordan Love saying, yes, I want to go for it. And then the defensive players coming back and saying, we got your back. So, like, I think the environment that Jordan Love is in right now is a really good one,

which is resulting in a really confident young player. You know, with Justin Fields, you look at the investment they made in the receiver position. Chase Playpool doesn't look like he's working out. We'll see on DJ Moore. The investment they made in the offensive line, it didn't look great yesterday. You don't want to freak out after week one, but it just looks like the investments they've made around Justin Fields right now are pretty hit or miss. And if the defense isn't playing well, now you've got a real problem because now you've got him in a catch-up situation where he doesn't have a ton around him. And that generally has been a recipe for disaster with young quarterbacks.

I thought Fields looked pretty good on the one drive to come back there in the second half. But outside of that, it did feel like he was being asked to do a little bit too much. and seeing that juxtaposition of that versus what Green Bay was doing for Jordan Love, I think really kind of illuminated how you develop a young quarterback and how you don't. Clearly the Bears have to do more to help fields to get a clear read on who he is as a quarterback. So one of the most, it's really such an outlier. Since I was a kid, I don't know who coached before Chuck Knoll, but in my lifetime of watching football, which started in the mid-70s,

Chuck Knoll, Bill Cower, Mike Tomlin. It is the most loyal franchise in the world, but loyalty can burn you. And they have an offensive coordinator. Pittsburgh can't get the O line right. They can't develop a run game. Pickett looked panicked, lost his composure. And Brock Purdy, a seventh rounder who just came off elbow surgery, didn't have an offseason, looked wonderful.

Offensive coach, defensive coach. I wonder, do you believe in Pittsburgh? There is a group. There's a simmering pressure for Mike to make changes with his Pittsburgh offensive coordinator spot, in your opinion. I think this year I'll tell the tale because they're going to be coming into a critical spot with Kenny Pickett. Now, I would also caution you, Colin, give this time.

Like, they were 1 in 6 at one point last year. They finished 8 and 2 and wound up 9 and 8 and over 500 again. So I do think that there's that piece. of it. The other piece of it, of course, is San Francisco's damn good. I mean, I think we all saw it yesterday. At one point, I think the yardage disparity was one 99 to 1. That's the best roster in the league. They have just flat out dudes everywhere, you know? So I think that that's, that, that's a piece of this. But I mean, yeah, like, when you look at where they're going and you look at like where the game's gone on that side of the ball and then the young players, are they developing,

that's going to be kind of the crux of this. Are they doing things that represent where the NFL is going from an offensive perspective? And then how does Najee Harris develop? How does Pat Friarmoot develop? How does George Pickens develop? And most of all, how does Kenny Pickett develop? I don't see the Steelers ever making a change in season. But year three is the critical year for a young quarterback, right?

Like it's when the Dolphins brought in Mike McDaniel for Tuotong of Aloha. It's when the Patriots brought back Bill O'Brien for Mack Jones. next year is going to be that critical year for Kenny Pickett. And so certainly it's going to be one they need to get answers on Kenny Pickett. And if they feel like Matt Canada is not the guy to get it done by then, then I could certainly see ownership saying it's time for us to make some changes on the staff. Now that said again, it's week one. The Steelers didn't look good early last year.

Kenny Pickett is still just a second year quarterback. It looked great in the preseason. Obviously it didn't look as good on Sunday. they've got a chance to fix it. Let's see what they do. Okay. The jaw dropper of the weekend to me was the Rams housing the Seattle Seahawks. And I mean, Gino Smith, they had one first down in the second half. So McVeigh, Bobby Wagner, the Seahawks said after the game,

the Rams are doing all sorts of different stuff with the run game. And I don't want to go too far in the weeds and over everybody's head here. But their run game looked different. Stafford was slinging it. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd. days in noon eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. 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, Clivert 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 Clivert Show on the I Heart 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. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related

episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of Tontons and Wampas on the Ice Planet Hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the Iheart radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I wish that was the game of the weekend. I don't even know what to make of it. Is that a lasting impression of the Rams better than we thought?

Yeah. Well, let's debunk the dumbest storyline of the offseason first, okay? The Rams were never tanking for Caleb Williams. Not while Sean McPhay is there, not while Matthews staffers there. It was never happening. And I would say, like, one of the things you got to give Sean McVey a lot of credit for, and one thing that he did this offseason, guys who come from that Shanahan family generally don't hire outside people. They generally feel like you have to come up from the grassroots. You have to learn it at the ground level.

If you don't learn it at the ground level, you can't run it. Sean McVeigh went outside the tree completely this year. And he brought in two guys with New England background. And Ryan Windell coming over from Buffalo, who worked for Brian Dayball and played in New England. and then Nick Cayley, who came from the Patriots. Those two guys have helped install elements of what New England does. In the run game, that means they're running more gap stuff. And Sean also brought in Michael Flore, who'd work with Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco.

Obviously, have been the coordinator with the Jets. They started to do more gap stuff in San Francisco. So you see more of a power running game now from the Rams. I think that's what you saw yesterday. And then in the passing game, you know, with the Patriot guys in there, the Patriots have always put more on the quarterback. They've always given the quarterback more responsibility, more command of the line, more control. Well, who's that going to help?

It's going to help a veteran quarterback like Matthew Stafford. So I think there are subtle things that Sean McVeigh did with his staff hiring this offseason that has helped them become more diverse in the run game and help them get more out of Matthew Stafford at his age. And I think you saw it yesterday. Now, the problem is they have 19 rookies in the roster. They're carrying $75 million in dead cap. So you could say eventually it's going to catch up with them because they're going to have depth issues because of what they're doing this year and resetting their salary cap. But I would never doubt Sean McVeigh's ability to coach his way out of problems.

I think you saw that yesterday. And I think as long as the roster holds up and they stay healthy, they're going to be in good shape to do that for the foreseeable future. Okay, Jets bills tonight. I thought in the offseason, I felt like, boy, this is going to be a lot. The Jets O line worries me. game gets closer. I don't know if Dwayne Brown and Mackay Beckton, I don't know where

they're at. What is your information on their tackle position? A lot I know about both teams. I know a lot about these teams. Can the Jets just give Aaron time? What is your guest tonight? My guess is that they lean on the running game

a little bit to manage the tackle issue with Dwayne Brown and Mackay Becht and obviously with Brown, it's age, it's injuries. He's coming off of a brutal injury. That was a really bad injury. And I know some people in that building were wowed by the fact that he actually played through, having two tears in his rotator cuff. Pretty tough guy.

And then Mackay Beckton, obviously, the questions surround maturity, reliability, all of that stuff. I think one way that you manage that is you manage it by running the ball. And that's one of the reasons why you bring Dalvin Cook in, because that helps you manage the load on Brees Hall as he's working his way back from the ACL injury. So I could see early in this game, we see the Jets' lean. on the running game a little bit. It allows Aaron Rogers to get comfortable. It allows them to control the pace of the game.

And it allows the offensive line to get comfortable. I think it's going to take a little while for the Jets to get things settled up front. Yeah. Might be a month. Might be two months. Yeah. But I do think playing a more control game is the way to get there. And that Buffalo team, Colin, nobody's really talking about them.

And I think there's some feeling inside that place. Like, don't forget about us. We're the same team we were a year ago. So I think you and I have talked about that. this was an emotionally worn out team at the end of last year. I think they come out tonight with something to prove. Can't wait. Albert Breer, Monday morning quarterback.

Good seeing you, buddy. All right, good to see you, Colin. That will cap off. There were some crazy things happening this weekend, crazy stuff. J-Mack with the news. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. We haven't really touched on this bad beat of yours,

the Jaguars winning in Indy by 10. I don't think people realize what happened in this. game because, you know, final score is not really indicative of what happened. I was on the right side. I just lost. You were right side, wrong result. Jags had lost five straight two Indy, and they were trailing in the fourth quarter. 21-17 was six minutes left.

Yes. And you're like, oh, my gosh, they're going to lose. And then, of course, they get a touchdown and then a turnover and another touchdown. Two short drives, and the Colts end up on, like, the two-yard line at the end of the game. Just some fluky stuff. Anthony Richardson did look pretty good, capable. Yeah. He's 21 years old, right?

He's a kid. And he had no college. I thought he was impressive. I really was impressed. I think not getting knocked out of the game, but he took a shot at the end. They were like, let's just, let's shut him down. But you know, I loved him. Like one time he completed a pass rolling out, and he was really upset that he didn't.

And it was like he's very self-critical. Like, he's very much Lamar Jackson. He is hard on himself. He's humble. He's not cocky. Like, he completed a rollout pass, and he was really upset with himself. He apologized to the receiver, even though it was a completion. and like, I just like what I see.

Yeah. Michael Pittman looked pretty good. I like him as a receiver. I just, I don't know if the Colts are going to be doing much this year. What did you think about Calvin Ridley, who looked awesome? After, what, 600 days off or something insane like that? I don't play fantasy sports, but that's not a shock. Well, you should. My son and I want to combine 5-0 yesterday in our first week of fantasy.

Well, unless Josh Allen has like 50 points tonight, but you don't care. Let's move on to Baker Mayfield. Haven't touched on this one. How about that? Did call Tampa taking down. Minnesota. Well, I knew they would cover, but winning 20 to 17, Vikings, 11 and 0 in the regular season last year in close games.

Lose the first one this year. How about that? Baker Mayfield, 21 of 34, 173 yards, two touchdowns. A lot of people coming at me online, Jason, you and Colin said Tampa would stink. Colin, Tampa had 3.6 yards per play. They were not good yesterday, okay? They had two drives over 50 yards. That's it.

They got lucky. Kirk Cousins, Red Zone Interception, two fumbles. It's a nice win for Tampa, congrats. But they're not going anyway. Let's just tell the audience. It's a five-win team. They're not good. Like, congrats on beating the Vikings.

Now, the Vikings, however, Philadelphia, Thursday night football, we know Kirk Cousins in prime time is not great. So Vikings suddenly maybe staring down to Owen, too. Not ideal. Final story, we got to touch on tonight's game. The Aaron Rogers era officially begins. Can't wait. Gosh, I know you're excited, Coward.

Try to contain your excitement. Jets are two-point underdogs at home. Aaron Rogers, in his last nine seasons, 9-0 on Monday night football. Oh, I didn't know that. Aaron Rogers shows up. He's 9-0 on Monday night football. In his last nine seasons, according to the numbers here,

68% completions. Wow. He's dominant. 23 touchdowns. He's the best Monday night football player ever. Nobody else is 9-0. That's insane. It's possible. Look at those numbers.

numbers. Oh my God. 23 touchdowns, three picks on Monday Night Football. That is insane. Now, it's with the Packers. I'm sure people want to credit McCarthy and the floor. They didn't know always have great players around him. He's a big time clutch player. I know, but those numbers are, that's like, I don't have an equivalent for you because you're not like a super big fan of an NFL team. But if I rattled off the Jets quarterbacks for the last, you know, post Sanchez. And then I'm like, Aaron Rogers. You're just like, wow. I mean, what a. massive leap. I'm not rooting against Aaron.

I think the league is much better served having one really spectacular New York quarterback and team. I think New York sports fans deserve. I mean, Yankees, Matt's that's been so much, like 40-0 nothing last night. Come on. Let's, let's, let's, Aaron winning is a nice story for the season. What's the better story for Colin Cowherd? Jets win or Jets?

I'll defend this forever. I want good quarterback play. Football, you watched Washington, Arizona yesterday. It's unwatchable. But yet I watched the best game was to a Herbert. It's a fireworks show. It's unbelievable. Falcons Panthers is unwatched.

That was unwatched. I'm sorry, Desmond Ritter. I don't, I mean, I want Aaron to get protection and throw the ball. I want tonight 3427. I don't care who wins. But what I want to see is that what I really want to see tonight is protection. I don't want Aaron to be banged around all season. I want to see him performing.

So I did, watching Denver yesterday, right, and how kind of bad they looked. Does this give you any thought like, wow, maybe Nathaniel Hackett wasn't the massive problem? I mean, we know he couldn't clock managed to save his life, but I don't know, Russell Wilson looked bad. Like, maybe I could have hacked a little bit of a pass. I would say this game's a stay away. First of all, don't take my advice the whole weekend from you. Come on. It happens to everybody.

I know. But I would say, I think Aaron could be. pretty magical tonight. Crossing my fingers. I think it could be really fun. It's going to be low scoring. Let's not expect five. I don't know about that.

These are two of the best defenses in the league. And it's also two of the best quarterbacks. True. You've got a final score? 28, 24. I'm not picking up. Stop it. You've got to.

Come on. I just feel like Buffalo's got the same guys have been playing together forever. I feel like Buffalo's bringing back the squad. And Jets have a new... They're a bunch of new stuff. So I would take probably Buffalo, but I think it's going to be.

be a go either way. Four minutes left. A big drive decides it either way. Sauce Gardner picks it. You know, whatever it is. You can just hear McIntyre's primal scream. I want to see Kincaid the rookie tight end for Buffalo. Rookie tight ends don't usually do much. Although Musgrave had a nice catch for what you would call. I'll go

2320 jets. Oh, it's not going to be that low scoring. There's too many good players. Better be. I took the under 46. It's now down to 45. Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd lie. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, it's Ben. Host of the fifth hour with Ben Mallor. It would mean a lot to have you join us

on our weekly auditory journey. You're asking what in God's name is the fifth hour? I'll tell you, it's a spinoff of the Ben Mallor show, a cult hit overnights on FSR. Why should you listen? Picture, if you will, a world when we chat with captains of industry in media, sports and more every week, explore some amazing facts about human nature and more. Listen to the fifth hour with Ben Mather on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcast, 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 IHart Radio app. Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win.

I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, 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 Cliverts 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.

Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle

science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of ton-tons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith, rule of two. Listen to stuff to bowl your mind on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever

you get your podcasts. All right, Jay Mack, finally wrap it up. We're going to call them gridiron grades. These are all quarterbacks, new faces in new places. So rookies or quarterbacks in new places. These are the ones. So this doesn't count like a Mahalms or a Jared Goff. It's quarterbacks, new faces and new places. Here we go. This is going to be bleak. What great would you give CJ Stroud of the Texans? Let's see. He got pressured a ton. So only Daniel Jones faced more pressure,

but he didn't lead him in a touchdown drive. But again, rookie, a lot of pressure. He was fine. I see you're the teacher every kid wants to get. Let's go to Anthony Richardson. Almost an A of B plus. He did throw a bad pick late. But three plays, past plays of over 20 yards,

led the Colton rushing. I thought really a dynamic player. I was impressed with him. He had a bad pick late, but he's a kid. I'll agree. What grade would you give Bryce Young and his two interceptions against the falcons? Both by Jesse Bates. I'd give him a D.

I don't think he's working with much, but he had the lowest completion percentage of the three rookie quarterbacks. Lowest. It gets worse. Let's go to Sam Howell of the Washington Commanders. No, we got Jimmy G here. Oh, we got Jimmy G. I didn't see Jimmy G. I'm all excited to trash Howell.

All right. I would give Jimmy G a B-plus. He didn't give me anything over the top, But he had the third highest-guided passer rating in week one to PFF. And again, been there, accurate, gets it out. I mean, you're not going to get any stuff off the script. But I contend when you have an offensive play-calling coach like McDaniel or, you know, when he had Josh McDaniel in New England or Vegas, he likes him.

All right. Now let's go to. What grade would you give Sam Halif? Not working with much C-plus, maybe. I mean, he was the second most sack quarterback. I mean, what are you going to do? I think he's basically a less talented Baker Mayfield. So I'm being kind here.

He's probably a C-minus. He's facing Arizona. All right, let's give a grade for Desmond Ritter in Atlanta. Well, he completed 83% of his throw, so I've got to give him a B. Well, I mean, he completed 83%, but Drake London didn't have a catch and Kyle Pitts had two. So is that because they doubled Pitts? But, I mean, when you complete over 8 out of 10 passes, I got to give you a B. At one point, he was 4 for 4 for zero yards.

I know. I mean, it's ugly. Well, great would you give Josh Dobbs? C-minus. You know, one of five quarterbacks not leading his team to an offensive touchdown. He's got some talent. I'm not sure if he's a franchise quarterback. All right, let's get to a winner here.

Derek Carr in New Orleans. Am I being too tough C-plus? Oh, you've got to be kidding. Well, you thought he... He over 300 yards passing. No, he was excellent. He was one for seven in the red zone, and I like Derek Carr. That's where you make your money in this league in the red zone.

That's the moneymaker. You've got to be good in the red zone. What would you give him? I have B-plus. I thought he was excellent. The big pass is late. Second half, he was lights out. They scored 16 points.

He's making the completions when you have to. Third down, could have like three picks on Tannahill scored 16 points, and you want to give him a B-plot? All right. Okay. What about Baker Mayfield? A C. He was awful early, very solid late. Didn't have much of a run game.

I mean, the only average 3.6 yards of play, and they do have some good offensive pieces, so there's limitations. This feels a little rigged. What grade would you give Brock Purdy? A, I thought he was terrific. Yeah. Well, I mean, but six scoring drives? Only two ahead more scoring drives on the road against Pittsburgh.

And the other thing is, I'm not giving him credit. He's a little bit, like this run here, he's a little bit more athletic than I give him credit for. Yeah. He is. I mean, I kind of just see him as a capable guy, but he moves, though. You couldn't roll the pocket with him. MVP futures for Brock Purdy.

No. What great would you give Kenny Pickett of Pittsburgh? A D? Oh, that seems a little harsh. One scoring drive of 11 with that talent, one of 11 scoring drive. By the way, he was brutal on third down. You know his passer rating was on third down? 14.

And again, that's a money down. Money downs are third down in red zone. You've got to be better at that stuff. I'll chalk it up to the Niners, but you're right. He has to be better and quick. All right, let's give Deshawn Watson a grade from Cleveland. C-minus. It wasn't pretty.

And he was only pressured five out of 32 drops, so it's like he had plenty of time. Now, some of it's just it was a bad day to throw football. I was reading this this morning. since he arrived in Cleveland, the seven starts. He completes 57% of his throws. And they've got some players. I just, I don't see it. That's not great.

Let's wrap up with a guy. We spend a lot of time this summer bagging on. Great for Jordan Love in Chicago. He missed on a couple, but I give me a minus. Listen, they had 10 drives. He scored on five on the road. So if you're a young quarterback with your biggest start in your career, you're on the road.

I thought he managed the game well. and I also thought here's where I thought he was good. I thought he was good on third and fourth down. In fact, look at this. He was a perfect 158.3 passer rating on third and fourth down. He was eight for ten for two touchdowns

and 140 yards. Now a couple of those were play calls. But you've got to get that those are money downs for quarterbacks. And he's missing Watson and then Musgrave. Listen, if I'm a Packer fan this morning, I've got to be honest. I'm pretty hopeful. I didn't have Christian Watson. I start on the road.

So now I get Chicago at home. Minnesota doesn't look very good. I mean, Detroit's good. But Minnesota can't beat Tampa. I get Chicago now at home. I mean, outside of Dallas and San Francisco, who did you watch the NFC and go, whoa, we can't compete with it.

I mean, the Niners roster is... If they go to Atlanta and win this weekend, just punch the playoff ticket. There in. Come on. You start with two road wins? Come on, man. This and this...

By the way, the defense. I saw it as one, but I haven't looked at it in the last. I would take Green Bay. I don't see Jordan Love as a guy that's going to go. You know, he's not a hype master. He's not going to go out there and get all crazy, and I won a game. Like, he seems like a pretty chill kid. Jordan Love versus Desmond Ritter.

Jordan Love, from what we can see. I thought, you know what? It sounds so bad to say this, but he managed the game properly. He took what was given. He's clearly you can roll. I think you can move the pocket with him. So that's nice. You can move stuff.

Matt's going to move the pocket with him. I thought he was in, you know, road winds are nice. Yeah, they look good. All right. First things first around the corner. Third. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and friends.

Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement home. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged.

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

On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84'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. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.