The Kevin Sheehan Show - Measuring Stick Game?

Episode Date: October 10, 2024

Kevin and Thom opened with the MLB Playoffs and the two huge wins in New York. The guys then had some follow-up conversation on why Ravens-Commanders (Washington) isn't a real rivalry. Then it was whether or not Sunday's game in Baltimore can be described as a "measuring stick" game. Thom gave his prediction for the game in the final segment of the show.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You don't want it. You don't need it, but you're going to get it anyway. The Kevin Sheehan Show. Here's Kevin. Swinging to drive towards the gap in the right center. It's pretty deep. It's back near the wall. It's gone.

It's gone. Francisco Indoor. He may have just outdone himself. He has hit a grand slam. Into the Phillies' bullpened in right-center field. The Mets are leading by a score of four to one. Francisco Lendor Grand Slam, Tommy, in the bottom of the sixth. The baseball was so good yesterday.

Stanton then homered for the Yankees in the eighth, about an hour or so later. And the Yankees are up to 1. The Mets have moved on to the National League Championship series. Pretty good baseball yesterday. The Dodgers evened up their series with the Padres. That was exciting. I got to tell you, I'm upset. I was really rooting for the Phillies to force a fifth and deciding game. That would have been really dramatic on Friday night back in Philadelphia.

But Lindor, amazing. He's been clutch for the Mets going back to that play-in game with the Braves. Yes. Yes. You know, the Mets, this season for them is found money. They really didn't expect to be competing this season. They really know what they had. You know, They didn't build like they did in the previous under Cohen. I think maybe it was last year. You know, they built a roster last year that they thought was going to compete and was a disaster. And this year, they just figured they're just waded out, and then next year jump into the free agency when they go after Soto, like the Yankees will.

So this has found money for the Mets. That's what makes this so special for Mets. If they didn't know what saw this coming. No, in fact, mean, they were like seven or eight games or more. And actually, they were 11 games. I'm looking at it right now. They were 11 games below 500 on what was the date here in late May?

11 games below 500. They were in late May. And then they really turned it around towards the end of the first half and got above 500 had, you know, won a bunch of games in a row, including, you know, sweeping the Nats here in Washington in early June after they had fallen 11 games below 500. Wow. Yeah, I didn't realize. I knew.

I think if it wasn't for Otani, I think Lindor would be the MVP candidate. Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. You know, just coming up so big. Yeah. And, you know, I think there's a lot of national fans. And I can understand why that take particular joy in Bryce Harper still being denied

a shot at a World Series. So I was at this event last night. Actually, Mark Turgeon and his wife fan throw an incredible event to raise money for Alzheimer's research. They do such a great job. But there was a gentleman who approached me. He was a fan of the show, listens all the time.

And he said to me, he said, are you really a Bryce Harper fan? I go, I am. He said, don't you think that's odd? I think a lot of Nats fans hate Bryce Harper. And I said, well, do you think they hate Trey Turner? Do you think they, you know, because Trey Turner bats right before Bryce Harper in the same lineup. And he goes, no, I don't think that's, you know, the case.

But just people feel like they were jilted by Harper. I never felt like Washington was jilted by Harper. I think the Nats jilted Harper. And I do think Harper always wanted to go to a better baseball city, you know, whether it was New York or Philadelphia. There was probably something there. I just have enjoyed watching him play and think he's one of the true clutch team sports, you know, athletes, team sport athletes. And maybe right now, Tommy, on a short list of the best players not to win a championship. You know, I'm sure there are a lot we could go through in the NBA because, you know, you don't get a lot of different champions.

But Harper has, you know, yet to win a World Series. He wasn't here in 2019. Right. But I like you. The ultimate is Ted Williams. Never won a World Series title. The ultimate, at least on the baseball side of things. Look, the difference between Harper and Turner is Turner was traded.

Harper made a decision to leave. I think fans see that distinction. And Harper was more beloved. Harper's a bigger lightning rod than Trey Turner will ever be. Harper's one of the best players in the game. And Trey Turner, it's an all-star shortstop. Okay, it's just a level below maybe what Harper is. But I think there's fans that will take satisfaction of Bryce Harper, you know,

when he retires and when he's inducted into the All-Fame, does not have a World Series ring to show for it, unless he comes back to Washington and wins it at the end of his career. Yeah. Well, Philly fans, I'm sure, aren't going to let him off the hook. This was a really good team all year long. You know, I said this to Mark Zuckerman yesterday on the podcast because I had him on. I really believe this round in particular should be best of seven.

I think the first round should be best of five. But I'm okay with, you know, the expansion of the playoffs. And it's like, look, most of you teams would have never been in, you know, a few years ago. So we're going to give you a shot in a best of three, even though one of those teams is a division champion, you know, the three seed. But I just, after 162 games, best of five just seems too short. I'm okay with it the way it's set up. I'm okay with the three games, best two out of three, because, you know, in the initial round, because, hey, that's how the season is set up.

The season is set up where teams need to win a series. And most of the series, many of the series are three-game series. You know, so basically, teams approach their regular season, like let's win this series. We win this series, and then we'll win the next one, and that's how we build. So they're used to mentality of winning a two out of three series. Okay. They just don't get to play the third game if they lose the first two in this postseason. Yeah, the problem with that is that over 162 games, all of those three games sets,

there's a lot of them that they lose. But, you know, and you can still win 95 to 100 games and lose a bunch of, you know, two out of threes. You can lose a lot of four out of sevens. You know, if you stretch it out. But you're going to win. But, yeah. You're going to win more than you lose. I understand that.

So, you know, I have no problem with the way it's set up because you can't play until the middle of November. That seems to be the big issue is you can't risk, you know, playing, you know, outdoors in the middle of November in a lot of cold weather cities. I get that. And to do to expand the postseason, you'd have to almost shorten the regular season. And I've heard that explanation. And that makes sense. I hear you on that.

I think that. No business. No business that's making money hand over foot, like the NBA, for instance, with 82 games and stuff like that, are willing to cut back on their price. product for the better, you know, just for the aesthetic of it. Of course not. You know? Well, most look to expand. Baseball is too long. 162 games. I think you could easily cut back to what it used to be 154 games, but that's taking money out of the players' pockets. You know, that's the way they're going to see it. I think, and I said this to Mark yesterday, I think you, the one in done sports

in the postseason, obviously the NFL, you can't play a series when you're playing football. Right. is one and done. But I think that the best three out of five with a 162 game regular season is almost the equivalent to a one and done because it's so short, it's such a tiny snapshot. There are so many series during the season that the Dodgers, the Phillies, the Yankees in Cleveland, those were the top four seeds, the top two seeds in each league. There are so many times they lost three out of five. and I just, you know, it's almost the equivalent to a one and done that short of a series.

That's my only problem with it. But it does provide, I mean, the drama is incredible. But every year, you don't necessarily in baseball. And by the way, it happens in football a lot. It certainly happens in the NCAA tournament a lot in a one and done environment. You don't always get the team that was the best team that wins the World Series. No, you don't. But I'll point out when the league,

championship series first started, it was best three out of five. It was best three out of five for years. Yes. Until they expanded it to four out of seven. Right. Yeah, I remember. But what was only two teams from each league? It was the east and the west.

You only had two divisions. You'd have, you know, those playoffs were pretty damn short. But it is, there's just this feeling, like if you root for a team from April through the end of September, and they win 90-something games and then literally within four nights the season's over. It's just crazy. But that's also, you know, March Madness. You know, March Madness to me is sometimes the cruelest of endings

because you can be, you know, a great team, and you're a two-seed, and you've got, you know, you've invested from, you know, November through, you know, early March, and here it is the biggest, you know, stage. and literally in less than two hours you can be headed home. You know, upset by a 15 seat and it's over. But that's also what makes it so dramatic. But, man, the baseball playoffs have been great.

They have delivered. Yes, they have. And the ratings have been up tremendously. I saw that. For the baseball playoffs. I just think they don't want Detroit versus San Diego in the World Series. They probably don't. That would be a rematch, by the way, right?

Detroit and San Diego played in the World Series. I want to say 84. Right. Yeah. Yes. 84 and San Diego got swept by a powerful Tigers team, a tremendous Tigers team that year, who opened the season that year 35 and 5, I remember, because that was the year after the Orioles won the World Series. You know, when I watched Lenore's home run last night and watching the game,

I have to admit there was part of me that I wish I was there in the stand. It looked awesome. I mean, what a crowd. I mean, just so incredible. The Detroit crowd looked great. I know, but there's nothing wrong. And, you know, Washington fans are sensitive to this, and rightfully so, because it's a problem.

You're just not going to be a New York baseball crowd. The heritage of baseball in New York runs so deep, you know, from family to family to family. It's just not going to be able to match it. You know, it's just the way it is. Tommy, you don't have to convince me. You know this. Those playoff years with the Nats, being at some of those games and being told to sit down,

you know, with a two-strike count, you know, in the third inning of a playoff game, was just a bit much for me. You know, can you sit down? No, there's two strikes. This is the goddamn playoffs. Get up! You know, I mean, yeah. But that's what happens when it's a lot.

not part of your heritage for 34 years. Right. You know, so, no, look, New York crowds in general for everything. Basketball. I mean, there's nothing like the garden for a big playoff game. Absolutely. Absolutely. I've never I've been in the garden.

For the Rangers. I was just going to say, I would love to go to the garden for a Rangers hockey game. I've heard the Islanders, you know, back in, back in the day that that place was insane in Uniondale on the island. but I've been to a Nick playoff game off the chain and we've seen what the Jets and Giants, you know,

when they've had their moments, those crowds are incredible. And the Yankee and the Mets and the Mets are incredible. And to your point, the Mets are doing something that wasn't expected, which makes it even more juiced, you know? Like just this idea that, oh my God, here we are. And you kind of sense that too with the Detroit fans. So Tigers Yankees would be pretty fun to watch. I think the Yankees are much better.

I think it would. Yeah. I still would. I mean, you know, it's funny. I mean, people would think the Yankees and Mets would be a marquee matchup. But when they played in the World Series against each other, terrible ratings. Yeah. Terrible ratings.

It's terrible. I mean, the Yankees and the Dodgers are the, are the, series. No doubt. O'Tonian Judge. A hundred percent. That's what the baseball and I guess Fox, right, Fox has the World Series? Yes. That's what they'd love to see.

Yankees Dodgers. I mean, they would have taken Yankees Phillies, too, but Yankees Dodgers would be the home run. Yeah. I mean, we had, you know, right, it's just the back-to-back years in 77-78. That's when we had Yankees Dodgers.

I'm not talking about when they were both in New York. But in terms of World Series matchups, Yankees Dodgers, 77, 78, that's it, right? Well, we had the Yankees and Dodgers in 63. Okay. Two, when they were out in L.A. Yeah, because, yeah, the Yankees and Dodgers in 63. Because the 77, I just remember so, how big Yankees, Dodgers. was, you know, in the late 70s.

Right. Just massive. And then in 81 was when the Dodgers beat the Yankees. Oh, that's right. Then they played again. Series, too. That's what I was asking. Is it just the two times?

No, in 81. Yeah, with Valenzuela pitching. It was Fernando Mania. Was that Fernando Mania? Yeah, 81 is Fernando. Okay. I don't, 77 and 78 are not, I think Valenzuela. You're right, because that was, yeah, you're right.

Yeah, that was the strike here, I think. Yeah. All right. Well, the Dodgers stayed alive. I think that's big for baseball. And at least we get on Friday night, we get one game five. And we may get, you know, a couple of more on Saturday, depending on what happens in the American League games today. Cleveland trying to stay alive.

and the Yankees trying to put it away against the Royals. All right. Cleveland's got to stay alive in Detroit. Did I just say in Cleveland? In Detroit, they've got to stay alive. Baseball talk, here to start. It's such a completely different consumer watch in the postseason than the regular season. The drama is just, it just drips.

It's so great. Yes. Yes. Every pitch is the story onto itself almost. Yeah. All right. Let's talk some football team. We'll do that right after these words from a few of our sponsors.

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and whether or not it was a rivalry game. He had the perfect answer. He essentially said he doesn't view it that way. He thinks, you know, the NFC East. He kind of thought when he got here, the NFC East teams are where the rivalries exist. So I did talk about it on the show yesterday. I got a lot of feedback.

This from Big John, I thought it was strange that this question kept being asked today. Who thinks the Ravens are a rival? Sure, D.C. and Baltimore are rivals, but that really never extended to sports for me. It's fun for the area, but not rivals. This from Quinn. Quinn writes, Kevin, you sounded angry

that anyone would consider the Ravens arrival. I moved to this area 20 years ago, there's been a running feud in my neighborhood. I live in Frederick on Redskins versus Ravens for years. So, you know what? You've lived in, by the way, two of the areas that have been battlegrounds for, you know, Redskins, Washington football team Ravens, Commanders Ravens, all of the different names. You lived in Howard County for a long time. You've now lived in Frederick County for a good run. What do you think? Well, you know why? I think, I think, it's funny because I think business-wise, I think there is a rivalry.

Football-wise, no. I think business-wise between the organizations, there has been a rivalry over the years. And fans flying their, you know, wearing their jerseys and their neighborhoods and stuff, I think that's a rivalry. You know, that part. very limited, it's a very limited rivalry. It does not extend to the football, the actual football teams. No, I don't think it's a rivalry. Like you said, I was listening to your radio show yesterday.

You know, when the Colts left town, Baltimore fans never adopted the Redskins as their team, not like Washington did when the senators left and they gravitated to the Orioles. They never bought in to, even though Cook wanted them to. they never bought into the Redskins as their new team to root for. So no, I don't think they see it as a rivalry at all. Yeah, I think you nailed it with the business part of it. There's no doubt that Baltimore and Washington have battled it out for fans in those respective areas. And Baltimore has been winning that business battle for a long time.

Because it's been my sense, and you probably have a better sense, that Howard County, you know, was largely a Skins County, you know, especially when the Colts left and they didn't have football in Baltimore. And, you know, the Ravens came back in, you know, 96. But I think that that was largely a Skins area. And I think it probably turned towards the Ravens as, you know, the Skins became such a terrible organization. Frederick I've always felt was dominated by Washington fans. I would say so. I would say, you know, the jersey, if you measure by people wearing jerseys, I would say so.

It's interesting because there's some Steeler fans here, you know, because there's a part of Western Maryland, farther west. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Garrett County. Yeah, and, you know, Allegheny County to some extent, that identify more with the Steelers than they do with, with, with, Washington and the Redskins. But here I'd say it's more Washington-based. You know your Maryland counties. Do you know the county after Frederick and before Allegheny County, traveling west? Okay, don't do this to me. What? I used to cover that area. It's Washington.

Very good. Hagerstown. That's it. That was my beat. That's what I did at the Baltimore Sun. I covered everything west of Frederick. You know, when you are out in Garrett County, which is so beautiful. You know, you're out at Deep Creek Lake or Wisp for those of you that have spent time out there. It is much more today Washington-centric in terms of the people that, you know, own property, own real estate there. But for many, many years, it was a Pittsburgh destination because it's closer to Pittsburgh than it is to Washington or Baltimore. And you still, when you're out there, you'll still see a lot of Steelers, flags. and, you know, penguins and pirates and the whole thing.

But, yeah, that's not, you know, part of the DMV. Frederick and Howard County are. I just, you know, our favorite, I don't, I shouldn't say favorite. One of the trolls of our show, Ion wrote, if you have to ask if it's a rivalry, it's not a rivalry, that's kind of a decent point. Now, of course, he had to say, just like how Marilyn thought Duke was their rival.

No one ever asked if Duke was a rival. We knew they were a rival. In fact, when another team says not our rival, that's actually an indication that it is a rivalry. But beyond that, no, look, this franchise barely has the rivalries that they used to have with the teams in their division. Like they're fighting, we're kind of fighting to hold on to those rivalries. Hopefully, if we are at the beginning of something of a run of sustained

success and, you know, winning, those rivalries will be reborn or rejuvenated, resuscitated. But, you know, I think I said before the Giants game a couple of weeks ago, Washington for the other three teams in the division are almost dead last across the board in terms of importance to those fans. The cowboy fans now really view the Eagles as their top rival. Giant fans have always viewed kind of the Cowboys and the Eagles a little bit more than the skins, and Eagles fans have certainly looked at the Cowboys and the Giants' bigger rivals. I think, you know, I think Dallas fans probably view Washington second after Philadelphia, but, you know, there was a time, and we got to go way back to when this franchise was a legitimate

mid-NFL franchise, where Washington, Dallas was not only the number one rivalry in the sport, it was a top five rivalry in all of sports. Washington Giants was massive. Washington Philly was massive. And hopefully we can get back to that. Like, that's what I would love to see. I want to see those games. And like you said the other day, we have four games against the Eagles and the Cowboys this year.

If this continues, and I think, you know, there's a chance it will with Washington. Washington being good. These are going to be huge matchups. And it's been a long time since you've viewed division games late in the year as looking forward to them because they're going to mean a lot. Right. If they did mean anything

in recent history, it was typically because either Washington was a long shot to win one of the games or probably going to blow the game like they did against the Giants so

many times when they had a chance to get into the playoffs. You want to make Baltimore and Washington, the Ravens and commanders are rivalry, realign the NFL and put them in the same conference. Then they'll be a rivalry. Division, yeah. Ravens fans don't view Washington as a rival. They view the Steelers as a rival. I mean, Pittsburgh, Baltimore has been one of the best rivalries of the last 20 years.

But, yeah, I mean, I think, look, for Quinn, who emailed me, it's not that I'm angry. I just think it's so silly because it's like when, and I think I said this yesterday, like the wizards don't have a rival, but sometimes people like during those three or four years in which they were playing Cleveland in the playoffs, it's like, oh, they got a rivalry with the calves. No, they don't. You know, the Nats don't really have a rival, a true rival.

You know, the other team has to feel the same way about you. pretty much, for it to be a true rivalry. And, you know, the Phillies don't feel about the Nats, the way they feel about the Mets. Right. And so... We're the brave. But we've had, you know, with the football team, we've had true rivals. Like, legitimate rivals.

The Caps have had a true rival, you know. With the penguins. Yeah, with the penguins. This is what... But you have to play these... meaningful games consistently over a period of time to develop it. And it's not possible between an AFC and an NFC team because they play so infrequently. You know, I did mention that the Cowboys Steelers, when you go back to the 70s and the 80s,

when they played, you know, in the Super Bowl twice, they ended up playing for a third time in 96. But when you, 95, that was the closest thing to a, to an interconference rivalry. that the NFL's ever had. Cowboys Steelers, but even that wasn't a rivalry. It's rare to get an in-conference rival. The Cowboys and the 49ers had that going for a while. You know, the Steelers and the Raiders had that going for a while. The Colts and the Patriots had that going for a while with Peyton and Brady. But, yeah, it's not that I'm angry. I just think it's silly. And the fact that you admitted that you just moved to the area 20 years ago, now that's a good. good run for our area. I understand that. But what you described, you know, neighborhood, hey,

I'm a Ravens fan, hey, I'm a Redskins fan. That's not, that's not a, you know, a competitive rivalry in terms of, wow, we can't wait to play you twice this year because you don't. Right. If you moved here 20 years ago, you haven't seen this Washington franchise as competitive consistently. Yeah, and you haven't seen what a true rivalry game. is because in my lifetime of being, you know, born and raised Washingtonian and having followed this team since, you know, 71 basically, the intensity of the Cowboy Redskins games in particular, 70s, 80s, 90s. You know, even into the early 2000s, there were a couple of those games when Gibbs came back. You know, the 2004 Monday Night Miracle, 2005 Monday Night Miracle game in Dallas.

was incredible. But the intensity of that game, the build-up, the anticipation, no one's ever said about this football team, hey, I don't care if we go 2 and 14 as long as the two wins are over the Ravens because they don't play the Ravens twice. But people used to say that about the Cowboys, which I thought was ridiculous too, because I don't want to be 2 and 14. But the intensity of those games, oh, all time. I would put...

But here, go ahead. Here's what raises the level of a rivalry. And I don't know if you'll ever have this again the way the leagues are set up now. What the Dodgers and the Padres are going through right now, where the players actually feel it and don't like each other, that's the way Cowboys and Redskins used to be.

I know. I mean, it was a rivalry that went down on the field, into from the stands to the field, them back. It was through and through. Now, they're all Union brothers. You know, they signed jerseys. I know this is Old Man Talk. I'm just saying how it's like. They sign each other's jerseys after the game. So, I don't know if you will ever have that

again with Washington and Dallas. It may be in the stands, but I think what adds to it is when it's also on the field. completely agree it's just not you know the Padreys Dodgers thing is interesting and the game 5 is going to be awesome

to watch tomorrow night but yeah I just I want the feeling that I used to have for the games against the long-standing rivals let's just get that back because we play those teams twice a year

and we're going to continue to play those teams twice a year. And we have to finish in front of those teams, you know, every year. And there's a chance that we'll be playing those teams in, you know, massive games, late in seasons, and even in the postseason. And that's what I'd like to get back, because there was nothing, nothing that equaled a huge Dallas-Washington game in, you know, for a 25-year period. Nothing equaled that ever in this town. The build-up for those. games, the crowd for those games. And then, you know, there were also moments with the Giants, certainly in the late 80s and into the early 90s. There were moments with the Eagles, for sure.

The Caps have had it with the Penguins. Maryland had it with Duke, no doubt, in terms of just this feeling when you're in that arena or you're in that stadium that there is true fan, you know, hate for the opponent. won it so badly. It's been a long time since we've had that against our own division rivals. This game isn't going to end up deciding anything in terms of, I wouldn't even call it a bragging rights game between Baltimore and Washington. You know, hey, we're the winner of the Battle of the Parkway this year. We're the winner of the Battle of the Beltways. It means nothing to me other than trying to get to five and one and be a badass contender in the NFC. That leads me to this before we

get to your prediction, which we will. Quinn said yesterday, I also agree with this, from his standpoint, that it's not a measuring stick game. It's not the way they view these things, that this is just another game to try to go out and play well and get a win to get to five and one. From a fan standpoint, from a media standpoint, do you consider this to be a measuring stick game? You know, this sounds like a fan the way I'm talking, but I think it will have a bigger impact on the perception of Washington if they win than if they lose. I think if they win, the conversation about Washington is Super Bowl contender.

If they lose, they're four and two, and still a playoff contender. you know, still farther than anyone thought they would be at that point. So I think it's a measuring stick only if they win because then you're talking Super Bowl contender. I actually think it's a bit of a measuring stick game. I think that this is an opportunity. I think Cincinnati in some ways was that on a Monday night. but, you know, at that point, they were only one in one, you know, and they had barely beaten the Giants who didn't have a kicker.

And we hadn't seen, you know, we saw some of it because they didn't punt against the Giants, but they kicked seven field goals. We hadn't seen the explosiveness. We hadn't seen the points come with what they have, you know, with the great offense that they have had over the last three games. And so I think that going to Baltimore, a legitimate Super Bowl contender out of the AFC, I do kind of think that I'm going to be watching this game to see how we measure up because it's a big spot.

It's a bit of a pressure spot. I'm not saying that they're feeling it necessarily, but it feels that way to me to, you know, I think that what I'd love to see, I'd love to see them go in there. just with that, you know, swagger that they went into Arizona with, that they, you know, annihilated Cleveland with, that they went into Cincinnati with. Because there does seem to be this feeling that we got a dude at quarterback. We got the guy right now. And we're actually expecting to win.

We actually feel like we're better than the teams we're playing. I want to see that. I think that's, that can be measured on Sunday. And I actually think it can be measured in a win. or a loss. Not that I want and won't even talk about, you know, a close loss and feel good about a close loss. But I do think that there's, we're going to learn a lot about this team Sunday. I think the anticipation for this one, the buildup for this one, and the team they're playing. And by the way, I'm expecting a lot of Washington in the crowd. I think a lot of Washington fans are

going to get into that stadium Sunday. Do you know how expensive these tickets are? Have you seen this? No. They're like, I mean, my son who follows this, oh, he loves the whole ticket thing, and he was trying to go. He said lower level seats, 800 bucks minimum, minimum. Really? Yeah. It's like really hard to get in for anything, you know, reasonable.

Wow. I'm looking right now just to see what they are like upper deck. Listen, the Ravens have empty seats from time to time. They don't always sell out. I don't think they're going to have empties this weekend. No, they don't. They probably won't. Yeah, I mean, lower level.

Okay, I see some in the 700s. I see some in the 600s. But, wow. I mean, you got $800, $900, $900 a $1,000 a ticket lower level. Upper level, it looks like, you know, basically you can't get into the upper level for anything less than $350. Wow. Should be a good crowd. I think there would be a lot of Washington in the crowd.

When I bought tickets last year for my visiting Spanish cousin to go see the Ravens Bengals on Thursday night, we were in upper deck. We were like sweet level. And those tickets cost maybe 220 apiece. And that was for a Thursday night game against the Bengals. 200-level seats? I don't know. Is that the suite level for Baltimore? I mean, they're in the thousands.

I think so. They're in the thousands Sunday. I mean, right now I'm just looking. It looks like you can't get in a 200-level seat. Certainly. I don't know what level the sweet levels are. Well, I bet it's this level. I mean, you got tickets.

You got some seats there at midfield that are going for $8,000 a seat. So, but you've got some that are in the corners for 900,000 a ticket. Yeah, this is, this really feels like a big game, a big regular season NFL game. It definitely feels that way. All right. Your prediction on the game when we come back. right after these words from a few of our sponsors. All right, guys, best time of the year is football season.

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That's a free inspection and up to 30% off at L.E. E-A-F-Filter.com slash Kevin. See representative for warranty details. Promotion is 20% off plus a 10% senior or military discount. One discount per household. All right, Tommy, tell us about Shelly's. Well, Shelly's Backroom, like I've told you before,

if you go to their website, shelley's backroom.com, you'll see the menus of excellence that they have for food and drink and cigars. They have three different menus for three of their excellent products that they put out. And, you know, maybe Philly is added a playoffs, but they're not out of Shelly's, because this week's food special is the Philly Cheeseburger, okay? I'm not quite sure what a Philly Cheeseburger is. Do you know? I would imagine it includes some sort of cheese whiz on top, but probably not.

No, I'll describe it to you. Is it a Pats cheese steak? No, it's not. Orginos. Yeah. You know, it's not a cheese steak. It's a cheeseburger. I know.

And as I read it here, you know, they've got that custom blend ground beef. Oh, that shelley's is made for shelleyes. Provalon caramelized onions and sauteed peppers on a butter toasted roll. Okay, this is the part. serve with tangy, silly sauce dressing. Okay. I'm not quite sure what that is.

Yeah. I'm not, I'm not either. But here's the thing. Shelly's, I can guarantee it's good. Yeah. Of course,

everything is good. The food is excellent there, people. This is not an exaggeration. The food, it's a cigar bar. It's a cigar bar and restaurant, but the food at Shelly's is great.

Bob's done a phenomenal job with the menu and with the food offering there. It's always good when we're there. Yes, and it'd be a great place. If you're looking for a place to watch the Ravens Commanders, and you can't afford the $800 ticket, you'll get a bargain going to Shelly's and watching it. I wanted her eight high-definition TVs there.

Shelley's backroom 1331, F Street, Northwest, in the district. All right, before we get to your prediction, a couple of things. one, no smell test pick tonight. Although if you want to bet football, go to my bookie.orgie. Use my promo code, Kevin D.C., and they'll give you up to a $1,000 cash bonus on your initial deposit. But Tommy, there's a huge game in the NFL tonight. 49ers at Seahawks. The 49ers are two and three. They're not the same team, clearly, without Christian McCaffrey. And they've been banged up in other spots. But tonight, Seattle is a three and a half point dog at home. And they lost to the Giants at home on Sunday.

That was on a short week against a team that was well rested because the Giants had played the previous Thursday night. One of those real disadvantages in terms of rest time games. But the 49ers need to win this game tonight. If they lose, they're 2 and 4. Seattle would be 4 and 2. And Seattle at that point would have the head-to-head based on the one game that they've played. This is a big, big game for the 49ers tonight and should be an interesting game to watch. No smell test pick, as mentioned, but bet at MyBooky.

It's the best across the board, mybooky.ag promo code Kevin D.C. I wanted to mention something else before we get to your pick on Sunday's game. So Jaden Daniels and Lamar Jackson were asked about each other yesterday. Jaden was asked, you know, about the comparison that people have made between himself and Lamar Jackson. And he said, quote, I don't like when people try to compare me to Lamar were two different players. I want to be known as Jaden Daniels and not the next such and such, closed quote. Jackson said, quote, he's his own player, he's his own man. At the end of the day, we're trying to make a name by ourselves, not anyone else.

closed quote. By the way, Jaden also said, I'm a fan of his and how he plays and how he approaches the game. But he just said, we're two different quarterbacks, two different styles. I don't compare Jaden Daniels to Lamar Jackson. That's never been the comp for me. It's been a tough comp all along. A lot of people compare Jaden coming out to Randall Cunningham. I don't even compare him to Randall Cunningham because I don't even compare him to Randall Cunningham

because I think his release is much quicker than Randles was. But I think, you know, Jaden Daniels, as a young player, to compare him to Lamar Jackson now or to compare him to RG3 in 2012, he's just more advanced as a passer. And I think that's the big difference. I actually think he's much more comparable to Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen. And I'm not saying he's either one of those two players yet, although it feels like he's certainly on his way to being just, you know, pretty close to that. That's crazy to say, I get it, especially with Mahomes.

But I compare him more to Mahomes than I do Jackson. Jackson came out, and by the way, was essentially a running back with Greg Roman as the offensive coordinator. He is certainly... Lamar Jackson had to learn to pass in the NFL. And he's getting there. He was impressive last week. He was impressive last year at times, but not so much in the playoff game against Kansas City. But I don't think that that's Jaden's comp.

Jaden may be the people that, you know, others get, he might be the person others get comp to in the future. All right, Tommy, it is time for your prediction, Washington, Baltimore on Sunday. I don't think you've made an early season prediction that will be paid attention to as much as this one in a long, long time. So make it good. What do you got? Well, first of all, I'll be in the press box on Sunday in Baltimore covering the game because I wouldn't miss a matchup like this. And I think I'll watch a very, very, a game that will live up to the hype that will come down to the last minute. it will come down to a Justin Tucker field goal to win the game, 32 to 29.

Weird score. And I think Jane Daniels will ball out, but he'll also have some issues too. I think Kyle Hamilton and that Baltimore backfield will present some problems for him. Jane Daniels will have three touchdown passes, but he'll also have two picks. 32 to 29. That's an odd score. We've seen odd scores before. It certainly can happen. Ravens over Washington on a Justin Tucker's football. Yes, you are. You're very odd. All right. Tomorrow's show, I will have my prediction. I'll have keys to a win over the Ravens. Also, Jay Gruden will be on the show. And it looks like Vinnie Serrato will be on the show as well.

You know, Vinnie does Baltimore radio. So we'll get Vinny on to tell us about the Ravens on tomorrow's show. All right, Tommy. Good job. Appreciate it, as always. All right, boss. All right, back tomorrow.