The Ringer NFL Show - The Strengths and Weaknesses of the Potential Playoff Teams | The Ringer NFL Show

Episode Date: November 10, 2020

Ryan and Cole discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the division leaders and the wild-card teams in the AFC (4:10) and the NFC (31:09). They also talk about a couple more teams in each conference that will be fighting for that final wild-card spot in the second half of the season. Hosts: Ryan Shazier and Cole Wright Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hey, what's up guys? Cole right here with my guy, Ryan Shazir, to give you a special mid-season check-in. What are we going to do? We're going to look at the current playoff teams and reveal the strengths and weaknesses for each squad. All that and more coming up next on the Tuesday edition of The Ringer NFL show. Today's episode of The Ringer NFL show on The Ringer podcast Network is brought to you by State Farm. Getting great car and home insurance from State Farm at a surprisingly great rate? Well, that's like drafting a player that becomes an all pro. The real deal. State Farm agents provide personalized service. so you can customize your insurance to fit your needs,

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When you want the real deal, like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. All right, thanks for stopping by. You know what time is. bringer NFL show. It's a Tuesday edition. I'm alongside my guy as always, former Ohio State Buckeye, Pittsburgh Steelers. It's Ryan Chaser. And Ryan, my man, we're at the midway point. So what are we going to do? We're going to take a closer look at some of those front runners. Pittsburgh, your Steelers included, Ryan. There's one unbeaten so far, 16 teams currently under 500. And we're looking at the NFC least or the NFC East because every single squad right now

under that 500 mark. But as the midway point has finally arrived, Ryan, you know, back during your playing days, what was the message inside the locker room once you reached halftime of the season, man? So, you know, every week, we always talked about starting off, you know, 4-0 and then not another new season,

try to start off 4-no again. And, you know, they're doing that right now. You know, they have a perfect season. And you always try to win each, each quarter of the season and like in like little quarters, little four four part seasons.

And, you know, we're just going to break it down right now and just talk about every team. And I feel like the Steelers and, you know, Mike Tomlin, they're doing it what every team want to do, you know, they're winning one game at a time. Win it each week, it doesn't matter how it looks. They're doing what they have to do.

So that's something that was always kind of fun and interested in me because it doesn't matter how you start off in a certain part of the season. You know, if you go in the show, stretch and win four games, that mean you won that part of the season, and they can get you back on the road for what you want to be at. So you see that with some of the teams right now, you know, like even with the Saints, you know, how they started off a little funky, but then, you know, now they're starting to catch fire, you know, so I think it's going to be interesting

to be able to talk about everybody stress and weaknesses this week. Yeah, we're going to dig into some of those weaknesses and strength, some of those pros and cons in in just a second. But I'll always remember that you. You can listen to us on Spotify and check out all the other ringer NFL show podcast. And you can do that five times a week. Now, Ryan, like you said, we're going to do the rundown. We're going to give all the teams our special treatment here. We're going to take a look at some of their strengths, some of their weaknesses.

And you know what? I'll let you do the AFC team since that's your forte. And since I'm a Bears fan, well, I'm going to stick over there in the NFC. So I'll let you go first, man. We're talking Pittsburgh Steelers and we're talking strengths and weaknesses. And, well, seeing all that news that came out, clearly their weakness right now has to be COVID-19. Yeah, so I'm going to have to go with distiller's Achilles' Hill

is going to have to be COVID. It ain't nothing stopping these guys right now, man. They're on fire. Obviously, they start off slow. I'm going to be honest. I think that might be the Achilles Hill. They can't start off slow versus everybody. Their offense, sometimes it takes time to build up

to get where they wanted to go. And when you're playing against powerhouses like the Chiefs, Seattle, you know, and, you know, in Green Bay, those type of teams that have potent offices, you can't start off slow like that. When you're going against teams that can run the ball and they try to control the possession of the game, those are the games you can kind of come back on.

But when you're going against teams that can score just as well as you can, those are the ones that hurt you. So I feel like, you know, still is our number one in the AFC, obviously. So I'm going to have to go with them. And Derek Kelly's Hill will be COVID right now because obviously, man, I love Mason, but I don't think he's the answer of Ben it can't play this week.

You know, so I'm hoping that, I'm hoping that Mason, and I mean, I'm hoping that Ben can play this week, you know, he has no symptoms. He goes out there, you know, and the team just plays like it normally plays. But this game's going to be a little harder than people think it is. I know we're going against the Bengals, but in the day, Joe is starting to catch fire. He's feeling good, man. You know, he's storing the ball well. They have a bow week.

I don't know why everybody gets a bye week before they play. the Steelers, you know, but hey, you know, they got to give them a little bit of extra practice before they play us. But I think I think we just have to, the Steelers just have to really focus on trying to get back from COVID and actually jump starting on teams because I think it's a crazy stat that the Steelers have right now. I think it's like 27 games or something or 26 games with not scoring on the first drive of the game.

You know, and obviously we have eight straight games with like 25 points, but we end up catching up. But you don't want to start off slow every game this year, especially in the playoffs. Yeah, you know, I'm a baseball guy in addition to being a big-time football fan, but that makes me think of the Steelers offense. So I think in the movie Major League, when Willie Mays Hayes, when they took his bed and they headed out in the parking lot,

and they were running a 60-yard dash. He's like, I already got cut in that he runs and comes through and ends up winning. But that's how the Steelers seem to start. every game a little slow on offense. But before it's all said and done, you know, they're running right through that finish line. And obviously, we're going to go with their defense as their strength so far because, you know, leading the league in sacks. And they just get after the quarterback each and every single time out.

They're the only undefeated team in the league as we talked about off the top of the program. All right. So we make the move from number one when it comes to the AFC playoff seating to number two, who a lot of people say that this team could be the best in all the league right now. Ryan, it's Patrick Mahomes in the Kansas City Chiefs, man. Man, yeah, I'm at the degree. You know, the Kansas City Chiefs, a lot of people would say that they're the best team in the NFL.

And the only reason it's hard for me to say that and people are going to say, no, because you're a Stiller fan and you were a Stiller. Now, I'm going to be honest. Like, you have to respect greatness. You know, it's hard to go undefeated, man. You know, like in any sport. You know, I talk to people all the time.

They was like, man, such and such, they went undefeated, but they had an easy road. just because they had an easy road, you still have to win all those games, man. And, you know, the Chiefs, they had some games this year. I mean, they had a game this year when they could have came and won the game,

but the Raiders punched them in the mouth. You know what I'm saying? And in the day, if the Steelers and the Chiefs played, and the Steelers play like they've been playing all season, it's still a possibility they can punch them in the mouth and still get the win.

So I'm going to have to go with the Steelers because they're 8-0 at number one. The Chiefs, the reason I have them at number, I mean, I don't have a man number two. They are number two teams in the NFC. But I think their offense is really potent. Their office is potent. And that is their strength by far.

Patrick Mahomes, and he has weapons galore. You know, somebody would just say, like, the cheese are like a great college team. Whenever you know the chiefs are coming, you know where they're about to go. You know what you get it from them. They're going to have offense. You have just guys coming from everywhere

that you can give the ball to. but I still question their defense. Their defense has been stepping up, but I question it because I just don't know those are the guys that you need, you know, to go back to back with, you know, and they let team jump out on them sometimes, but if a team jumps out on them,

it actually starts controlling the rock and not give them the ball back. Like, for instance, the Panthers, the Panthers really had that one in the bag, and it slipped away from them. But a better team, like the Ravens, you know, I know they beat the Titans last year, but the Ravens, the Beals, the Steelers,

the guys that can actually control the ball really well, I feel like those are the ones that can beat the Chiefs. So I feel like their, my Achilles' Hills is them. It's the same thing with the Steelers. Their defense allows people to jump out on them and control it. You know, and their defense isn't strong enough to sometimes keep the ball from people. I mean, to take the ball back away.

With the Steelers and, you know, the Ravens and those type of guys, their defense keeps them in the game. The Chiefs' Devens don't keep them in the game. Their office keeps them in the game. You know, so I feel like their weaknesses their defense because, you know, sometimes it's just impenem in sticky situations and people can, you know, hide a ween on them. They can control the clock and just make it really difficult for them

to play offense. Yeah, that's no matter what, or how many times you hear just the terminology hide the weenie. Just terrible. Terrible. But I'm going to let you turn that phrase right there. But when you think of Kansas City, though, I mean, you make a college comparison. Kansas City, they remind me a Hawaii coached by June Jones back in the day.

Or even Texas Tech Patrick Mahomes' alma mater when Mike Leach was the head coach. Because you knew. Oh, I thought you'd say with Cliff. No, not with Cliff Kingsbury, not with Mike Leach and Sonny. Cumbie and those guys, they went after it. They went out there and they scored points. And everyone said, well, all they do is throw the ball. Well, then guess what?

Go out there and stop it. It's like you're playing Mortal Kombat and say, oh, he uses Lou Kang. And all he does is bicycle kick and throw fireballs. Well, if you win games and that's how you win it, then stop it. And that's exactly what we've seen from Kansas City. They put points on the board week after week after week. Now we're moving on to the three seat in the AFC. It's the Buffalo Bills and Josh Allen.

He has to be their strength right now, Ryan. Yeah, no. Yeah, man, I feel sorry for Josh. You know, he lost his grandmother. You know, everybody, I don't know how everybody's relationship is with theirs, but me and my grandmother have a great relationship. And, you know, I don't know why I'll be without her. Sure. Condolences to Josh Allen for sure. Yeah. Condolences. And, you know, he went out there and showed his ass off, man. He went out, what, 400 yards passing with four total touchdowns. Man, Josh Allen, man, the quarterback's in the league, man. We have a bright future, man. We have a really. bright future ahead of us, you know, everybody thought it was going to be Baker, but it ended up being Josh, you know, everybody thought it was going to be Sam Darnel and it ended up being I never thought it was going to be Sam Donald, just for the, just for the record. No disrespect to Sam Donald or Josh Allen, but I never thought it was going to be either one of those cats. No, but it is Josh Allen, you know what I'm saying? But yeah, you know what I'm saying?

Like everybody thought it was going to be all these other guys, and look, you got Lamar. Everybody thought it was going to be Trebisky, you know. And who thought it was going to be Chubisky? Hey, the Bears, man. Maybe Ryan Pace, but I think he may have been a man on an island for that one. Once again, no disrespect. No disrespect. No, but at the day, he's really the strength of their team right now, you know,

because they really have weapons all over the field. But do they? You know, like, they have older guys. They're making plays John Brown, Cole Beasley, you know, those guys are really playing some great football and Josh Allen is leading that team, man. And Singletary, he's running the ball really well. He's running the ball really well.

And their defense, you know, they start off a little funky, but now they're starting to catch up. And, but I think that their strength is really going to be, it's Josh Allen. He's controlling the offense. He's controlling the way they play. And my biggest Achilles Hill with Josh is sometimes he wants to do a little too much.

and sometimes you just got to depend on your guys and, you know, check the ball down or just get rid of it. And he's been learning to do that better. If you become more efficient at doing that, I feel like they're going to be a problem. But my biggest Achilles of the bill is Josh Allen just wants to be trying to do too much sometimes

and sometimes they can pitch you in bad situations versus really good defenses. Yeah, playing a little hero ball. We've seen that with Josh Allen. We've seen that with a bunch of other quarterbacks throughout the years. Hopefully, Sean McDermann and those guys will be able to rein things in and have him play a smarter brand of football,

especially when they're in those big games late in the season. Usually we've seen strengths and weaknesses, Ryan, on one side of the ball as opposed to the other. It's an offense is a strength or a weakness or the defense, vice versa. But on this next team, the four seed currently in the AFC, the Tennessee Titans, I think their strength and weaknesses, both on the offensive side of the ball. What do you say?

Yeah. My biggest weakness for them, one of them is, that Taylor LeWine got hurt, so their office aligned is not the same as it's always been. But I don't, me personally, I just don't trust Ryan Tenney. That's exactly what I was thinking. But you have to say no disrespect, though.

No disrespect, but. I'm not saying no disrespect. I don't trust him. I'm just going to be honest. Like, he's a great guy, man, but it's just, I don't know, man. He has weapons. He has Corey Davis. He has AJ Brown.

You know, they have Johnny Smith. And then Derek Henry, he's running that thing, man. He's really running it. Like, their running game is really solid. It's really solid. But when you slow that running game down, you know, like the Steelers did a little bit and then really make Tenon Hill start throwing a ball, I feel like that's when they kind of get in trouble.

You know, when, you know, they can run it whenever they want to. Then Tenon Hill can throw whenever you want to. Their offense is potent. It's really hard to stop. But when you make them, hey, Tenon Hill, it's first. down and y'all can't run the ball, make something happen. That's where they scare me because it's a lot of good teamfaces that can make them do that. You know, so I just, you know, I don't really, I don't really trust, I don't really trust them around that much.

So I'm going to have to, yeah, Tannenhill, it has to be their weakness to me, you know. And their office, a lot of players playing well, but the fact that they don't have Taylor the Wine, who is like their leader, you know, that's going to slow things down. and it really helps defenses stop. They're running in a little bit. But their defense, I don't really see a problem on their defense. Their defense is solid, you know. And they just got Desmond King.

He's a really, really good cornerback. You know, so I know he wasn't doing well at the charges, but he's a good quarterback, and I think he's going to surge really well in their defense. So me personally, I'm going to have to go with Tannenhill is going to be the weakness for me. You know, I just don't, I don't, I don't really trust them that much to just be like, hey, Derek's having a bad day. Derek, Derek has Corona.

You know, obviously they messed everybody up, everybody else up with Corona at the beginning of the season. But, hey, Derek has Corona. I make some work. I don't really, I don't really trust it, you know, so. Okay. Well, let's make the move to the fifth seat in the AFC. Let's go to Baltimore, Lamar Jackson, the Ravens right now. I mean, we saw what they did last year, 13 and 3 this year,

you know, one of the best teams still in the league, but not on that same clip as they were a season ago. I'm going to be honest. I was watching that game, and I was like, yeah, the Ravers are losing this one. The Ravers are losing this one. Their defense really stepped up, and the officials gave them the worst pick of the NFL history.

Did you watch that game? Did you see what happened? That pick was terrible. The one of the game, Marcus Peters. That was one of the worst picks I've ever seen. I'm sidetracking right now. But their defense is solid and their defense constantly getting turnovers, and that's what they make them really good.

Their offense is really questionable. I don't, you know, Mark Engel being out, I didn't think it would be as big of a pain as it was, but it really is kind of hurting them a little bit. But it's really not because they're still running the ball well. But Lamar has been starting off really bad kind of in the first half of games lately. And, you know, when people are starting to force him to throw the ball, it gets a little funky for the Ravens. You know, so, you know, I think my Achilles-Hill is Lamar just accuracy in the pocket,

just being a quarterback in the pocket. But their offense in general, you know, their running game, they're kind of, they're, I'm going to be honest. Their Achilles heel is the same Achilles Hill I have with the Titans. You know, I just, Lamar, I understand he's a former MVP. but I just don't really trust them. You know, like, he doesn't really like throwing his receivers touchdowns that much. You know, he liked throwing him to his tight ends.

And, you know, like, even Hollywood Brown said that when they play the Steelers, man, why you got shooters if you're not going to let them shoot or something like that? I forgot exactly what he said. But he was just like, man, get your playmakers the ball. And I think it's more of not just the play call him, but less the more, you know, he has to do better at throwing a ball in the pocket. Okay. How about that six-seater team that I projected as the AFC wildcard, at least one of them.

It's their car and the Las Vegas Raiders. I feel like your mouth always wants to fix itself to say the Oakland Raiders. And I know how the old heads felt when they changed back from Los Angeles to Oakland, from Oakland to L.A. and then back and forth and forth and back. But either way, the Las Vegas Raiders right now in that playoff mix, and they're out there playing some football, right? So it's two teams that I think are going to get into the playoffs. and two things I think are going to slip out. So you think the Raiders are going to be the one that slips out, huh?

At least one of them. I think Raiders are going to be one of the teams that are. How dare you? I just said that they were playing some ball, and then you got to go out there and crush my dreams, man. I think they're going to be one of the teams that slip out. The thing is, I love Josh Jacobs as a runnerback. I love them.

I think they have a solid team, but it's just something about them. I just don't trust, man. I just don't trust, you know. Their offense is pretty good, especially when they lean on Josh Jacobs. Derrick Carr hasn't really been turning the ball over, but their defense is questionable at times.

So I think the one thing that I really struggle with with the Raiders is just their defense. I think their defense has to just get more turnovers or just stand up a little bit better. Every time the Raiders start playing the tough teams, besides the Chiefs, they have struggles. And you can't, you just can't win playing sorry teams and make it to the playoffs.

You can't make it to the playoffs, but that's when it stops. You know, you have to start, when you start playing tough teams, you have to really show up. And the Raiders, they're going to always do good

versus the Chiefs because that's a divisional opponent. When you're going to get your division, you know, it's either, it's make or break you. If you can't beat your own division team,

me teams, then it's no need to be in the playoffs. So, but I think, I think honestly, I think the Colts are better than them. And I think the Browns are better than them. Ooh.

Yikes. So this is my personal opinion. Okay. We got some Raiders fans on line one taking exception to you saying that the Colts and Browns are currently better than the Raiders. But, you know, that's what we're here for. We want you to throw those things out, those strengths, those weaknesses when it comes to some of those teams.

And you said you see two teams slipping out. If you're going with the Raiders as one, I'm going to go on a limb and go with the dolphins, the team currently in that seven hole as the other squad you see slipping out? Yeah. I'm with you on that one. That's the other team I see slipping out. Okay.

You know, because, you know, I just, the dolphins. They're the dolphins. It's okay. You can say it. They're the dolphins. I don't know. I might have a little bit of dolphin hate in my blood because I'd never like them growing up. Let me honest.

Because the reason I say that is because, you know, I grew up in Florida, Florida. And the dolphins were just never good. They were just never good. So the only people I liked to know the dolphins were was Jason Taylor. And the reason I liked Jason Taylor, because he was adult. You didn't have a Jay Feather jersey as a kid growing up?

No, no. No, I did not. I did not. The dolphins are like the Browns when it came to quarterbacks, man. But not now. I think two was going to be the guy. I definitely think two was going to be the guy. But the only reason I liked the dolphins growing up is because Jason Taylor.

He had a ball head and I was a five-year-old. with a ball head. So other than that, I didn't like anything else. I didn't like anything else for the Dolphins. But me personally, I think the Dolphins are a solid squad,

but I talked, I think with you and a few guys about this earlier. The things with the Dolphins is if you're a fan of the Raiders, name me one starter on the Dolphins' offense, but you don't play fantasy.

You can't. Like, or at least like you said, not named Mike Gussain. Yeah, not named Mike Gisicki. Because he's the best player on their team. You know, they have Devante Parker. He's a good receiver.

Those are the two guys people might know. But you don't, like, if you live in Seattle, you don't really know those guys. You know, like, you, like, and I'm not sound to say that you have household names to be a good team. But because you really don't, because the Titans, their receiver core is definitely better than the Dolphins. But, you know, some guys might not know who AJ Brown is. he's a surgeon, you know. Some guys may not know who Corey Davis is, but he's better than who the Dolphins have.

Big dude, too. He's a big dude, too. Yeah, he's a big dude, too. But, you know, Preston Williams, he's a good receiver. You know, Devonte Parker, he's a good receiver, but he's not somebody that's like all you. You know, people are not going to really, when fans think of him, you don't think you have a game plan for him.

Obviously, teams are game planning every week. And I feel like Gisickey's a guy that they game plan for him. the most. But if I, I was talking and playing a video game with my friend last night, he is a dolphin fan. And I was like, besides Gaskins who just went on the I-R, who is y'all starting running back? And this guy was like, we have some guy that's a free agent. This is a dolphin fan. You know what I'm saying? So like, that's not going to get you to the playoffs. And I'm not not saying not knowing your guys is not going to get to the playoffs, but I'm saying like, you don't have enough firepower, honestly. The best player on their team is Xavier,

Xavier, Howard, and, you know, and Jerome Baker, me personally, I think those other two best players of their team. But Tua is really balling right now. And, I mean, and Baren Jones, too, I'm sorry. But Tua is really balling right now. And, you know, they have two solid wins. So I think Flores is really getting his defense to step up. and really form into their own. So I'm really excited about that. If the Dolphins do make the playoffs, I would say they're going to make the playoffs strictly because of their defense.

Because the last two weeks, Tua had a great game this week, but the last two weeks, their defense has really sparked it for them to win these games. Because the week before, when they beat the Rams, that was strictly defense. That was strictly defense in special teams. but this week, you know, the defense, you know, they had another touchdown this week, and they showed up, but Tua had a great game. He played well. So I just don't think they have enough firepower, especially if they plan against the Colts or the Browns.

I just, I don't know if they had a firepower to beat them. Okay. Throwing all these compliments at the Miami Dolphins, and then you say you see them as one of the teams that's going to slip out along with the Las Vegas Raiders, and you see the Colts and the Brown sneaking in real quick before we make that jump to the NFC, what are some of the strengths and weaknesses of Indy and Cleveland, man? So the weakness of Cleveland, everybody knows, the guy that's trying to get into the stadium during the commercials.

Yeah, I mean, those direct deposits, they go through every Thursday for those commercials, though. I mean, he has a book of the Weak Club at the stadium. We've seen it. Hey, so, you know, obviously, I think Baker's the problem. Wow. But I didn't mean it like that. I don't mean it like that.

But another thing, I'm not going to say he's the problem, but another. Like we said earlier in the season, though, he needs to be the point guard, not the quarterback. Just distribute. Let all the other pieces make place. Yeah, just distribute. And the thing is with them, it really hurts, too, that, like, they may have injuries too. You know, so, like, as Nick Chubbs, like I said at the beginning of season, I think he's one of the best traditional backs in the league. And they don't have him playing.

and he can really help control the clock. And then they have Odell hurt also. But I think that they have enough firepower on offense and defense to keep them in the game and just to make it to the playoffs. It's going to be hard for me to see them not make the playoffs. I feel like a few teams jump in front of them because they didn't play football this week. Okay. But they play the Texas next week.

And I don't see the Texans beating them. Before we get over to the NFC when it comes to the Colts and you see them sneaking in, strengths, weaknesses. How do you like those guys? Honestly, I think the Colts, the reason I like them, because when I seen them play versus the Ravens, I liked how they were playing. It's just, obviously, they played a really good team.

They played a really good team. But they really had that game. They had that game in the bag, but those two turtles really hurt them bad. Like, they had, because the Ravens scored on a former return, and then they got a pick, and then they scored after that pick in the third quarter. And then, you know, like, they scored a few more times. But I really feel like the, I really feel like the coach, they have some solid pieces

on offense, you know. Phillip Rivers, he doesn't really turn the ball over much. He turned the ball over that game, but he doesn't really just go crazy turning the ball over. and, you know, I feel like their defense has some solid pieces, especially with Darius Litter, you know, he's back in the fold. And I think they have some solid pieces. I think they're, to me, I just think they're better than the Dolphins and the Raiders. So that's the main reason I think those two are going to get in.

I just think the Colts. I just think the Colts. Yeah, just by default. Yeah, just by default. I just think the Colts and the Browns, if they play the Raiders and the Dolphins each, three games each, I feel like out of two games, I mean, the best out of three, I think both teams will win twice.

So that's, when we start getting down here, man, it gets a little funky, man. It gets a little funky. So it's not necessarily a vote for the dolphins or a vote for the Raiders. It's a vote against them for the Colts and the Browns then. Okay. I see how you're doing right there. All right.

Well, all right, those are the AFC teams. According to our guy, Ryan Seizier, and right around the flip side, we're going to go to the NFC because we're going to take a look at some of those strengths and weaknesses from top to bottom. Plus, I'm going to let you know which team I see sneaking in. I know that Ryan knows, but you have to stick around if you want to hear that. That's next right here. Don't move. All right, we continue to roll here on the Ringer NFL show Tuesday edition. We just gave you our top to bottom strengths and weaknesses when it comes to those AFC playoff teams. Ryan said he sees the Raiders and the dolphins sneaking out and the

Colts and Browns entering the fray once the season is finally all said and done with. And now it's time to make that move to the NFC because Ryan, there's some teams right now sitting in playoff positions. Some are going to stay. Maybe one will go. There's another one that's going to jump in, but as you gave us the strengths and weaknesses in the AFC, I'm going to do the same, and I want you to chime in on these cats in the NFC. We're going to start with the New Orleans Saints. And it's obvious. It's clear cut right now. The strength is their offense. Their top five in a whole bunch of categories, third down, sacks, turnovers. But when you take a look at the Saints weaknesses, Well, they're dead last when it comes to red zone defense.

And if you want to win ball games, what do you need to do? You need to stop the opposition from scoring and the Saints. They haven't done that a whole bunch, but they're still in first place right now and the top scene in the NFC. So that's good news for them. You know what's crazy is how they're considered number one in all those categories. And everyone's like, man, Drew Breeze is not playing good this year. Everyone's calling Drew Breeze washed up.

I don't know, did you see that meme where the guy's trying to carjack a guy with a knife? And the old man's like, oh, someone, please call an ass. He pulls on a gun. He's like, for you, not for me. That's how Drew Breeze, that's how Drew Breeze right now is probably just all the haters. Yeah, man, it's like, everybody's like, yeah, Tampa's about to come in and destroy these guys. And it's like, yeah, here you go, worst loss ever. Yeah, stop playing with me.

All right, so go ahead. Go ahead. No, I was just crazy, man. It's just like, because even at the beginning of the season, I was like, man, I don't, I don't know. But I did say when Mike comes back, I think they're going to start moving a little better. Obviously, Mike didn't have the greatest game ever, but I feel like the office is just like, hey, we're flowing. We're feeling good. We got our dog out there again, so we know we can give it to him sometimes.

But I feel like their offense looked at really good this week. Yeah. And you know, the one thing that is the common denominator in all these NFC teams, at least for the most part, is that they have that top flight quarterback. So we go from Drew Breeze and the top ranked Saints to the number two squad. And, well, we might as well call their quarterback the chef. He's not Rayquam, but he is Russell Wilson. That man is always out there cooking. And the strengths have to be with that Seattle offense.

I mean, when they're first in red zone, and they just make so many plays. And Russell Wilson, he's that quarterback. Not only is he just scrambling to maybe make a play, but he's scrambling to find that open play. We've seen that year after year, the guy doesn't miss games. It gets out there and gets after it.

But on the flip side, you know, when years past, what was Seattle known for it? Not just Russell Wilson and that explosiveness, but they were known for that Legion of Boom. the Seattle defense, and that's what we're not seeing this year. Their defense is ranked dead last overall. And if you want to win ball games, like we said, you got to keep the other team from scoring.

Well, the Seattle Seahawks, if they get down early, chances are they're going to be playing catch-up all game long. The difference should be called the Legion of Let You Get Buckets. If you want to score some points and you want to pass some stats, Seattle, come on, let's go. We just, hey, our defense has to be a little bit better than yours, and we got a chance. Hey, no, but, yeah, like, Russell even just trademark, let Russell cook, let Russ cook. Because he does be cooking.

I can see Russ having, like, a cooking show on, on HGTV, he and Sierra once it's all said, done with, right? Couldn't you see Russell in, like, in a Carlton Bank sweater cooking it up and taking stuff out of the oven? I mean, he's just that guy. Let Russ cook with guest appearances by Andrew Zimmern and Bobby Flay. a chef Alex Gwanda Shirley, something like that. Yeah, he's definitely one of those type of guys, 100%. And he's an L.A. type of guy. He's a great guy, but I definitely see him doing that.

Yeah, all right. So we go from Russell. He's going to cook. We see that every single week. Another guy who's in the kitchen, no doubt, is Aaron Rogers. He and his Green Bay Packers currently six and two. And, well, they don't turn the ball over. That's how you win football games.

And that's what we've seen Aaron Rogers do. He's been very democratic with the football. but that red zone defense once again, and it seems to be teams that are lopsided, the offense and that top flight play caller, that's how they win games. But when they lose games, they do so because of that lack of defense, Ryan.

Yeah, man, it's crazy how people, defense just can really make a breakdown. I mean, it's kind of crazy how the AFC and the NFC are, like, different. Because the NFC have a lot of, like, power house. defenses while they, I mean, the AFC, while the NFC, they're like, hey, we're about to throw so much offense at you right now, you know.

You know, so I feel like that's why the sanks are actually in the first the C right now because they actually have a solid defense, you know, and they're keeping them in the game and it allows them to play, hey, if our offense can't play well, at least our defense is going to stand up. And you see that with

the Seahawks and the Packers. When their defense does not play well, it's hard for to offense. Okay. Now, the fourth seed right now, it's the Philadelphia Eagles. We know the NFC East. I mean, they're about as garbage as it gets. I think the NFL, they need to do maybe some realignment and say, hey, best records get in. If you win the division and you're a sub 500, you're not kidding. We're not going for that right now. But, you know, when it comes to strengths and weaknesses in Philly, looking at their record, let's just say all they have right now are weaknesses. So let's move from four straight to number five. Are you down with that?

right yeah i'm cool with that i just i just don't feel i don't feel it's fair that they have that they have a home game like a home game cole they're gonna have a home game and have probably the rams or the cardinals come into philly in the winter and they won four games this is bullshit it's not great it's not great so let's just let's just move right on along with carson wince and no disrespect but I think a lot of people have elevated him to a spot. Maybe he shouldn't be in. Maybe he should be. We'll see how the rest of the season unfolds.

But like we said, top flight quarterbacks. And there's one down in Tampa who got the brakes beat off of him on a national stage. Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the strength. It's the offense because it's Tom Brady. And what more can you say when he has pieces of the puzzle working, he's spreading it around, he's getting all of his receivers involved. Antonio Brown is there. Rob Grunkowski.

he's feeling good. But if they're not all on the same page, is what we saw against Drew Brees and the Saints, it's not always going to work for him. Yeah, so do you think their offense is their strength? I mean, anytime that Tom Brady is leading an offensive unit, I feel like there's so much room for improvement, if they're not looking as strong as they should.

But they can go out there, they put points on the board, and that's the thing. Is Tom Brady? Is this his second act? Is this his new life? Will he be the guy that's able to turn? things around down there in Tampa after we saw James Winston not able to do that. I don't

know, but right now, I can't go against any team that's led by Tom Brady offensively and not say that that's their strength. I'm going to be honest, man. I don't know. I don't know. You think it's the defense right now? I'm not to go to the defense. Obviously, they gave up 38 points, but their office gave them three. The office, I mean, their office only gave them three points

to work with, you know, and Tom Brady. had, what, three turnovers? Come on, man. It's hard to play defense when you turn the ball over and constantly giving a good offense to ball, especially if they're playing against the number one seed in the NFC. But I feel a weakness can be trying to keep everybody happy because that, I think with the, like, for instance, them and the chiefs both have just unlimited weapons. But I think The thing is with them and the chiefs is the bucks, everybody over there is playing for a contract right now.

Okay. A, B's playing for a contract. God was playing for a contract. Fournette's playing for a contract. It's like you have to give all these guys the ball and keep everybody happy. And sometimes that doesn't help. That's not the best way to win.

The best way to win is like, hey, whatever works, we're going to do to win. I feel like they're so focused on trying to make everybody get a piece of the pie that he's going to end up hurting them in the long run. Okay. Because how come AB, who only played one week, has more targets than Grunk? And Grunk, because he was starting to catch fire, you know? So, you know, I just, I don't know, man.

I think, I'm not even trying to throw no shit on him. I'm just saying that just as an example. But I just feel like that can be, that can be, like, That could hurt you sometimes. When you have too many options sometimes, too many options is bad for you, man. Yeah, so like the phrase, too many cooks in the kitchen. I mean, if you have a pot on the stove and you've got 17 chefs that keep coming through and pouring salt in that in that gumbo, then when you finally take that final bite,

it's not going to taste right. Like you said, too many cooks in the kitchen. And like you said, not throwing shade on Antonio Brown, but say if any big name receiver came in to the season late in the full with Tampa and got that many targets. That would have thrown everything off schematically when it comes to the Tampa Bay offense. And so it's not just Antonio Brown right now. It's just another fly in the ointment. And that's what we've seen in Tampa.

And the Saints, they took full advantage. They said, you know, let that Antonio Smoke, Antonio Brown smokescreen. Let's let let that be the reason for their undoing. And let's go out there and put up some points. And that's exactly what we saw. Now we make the move to the Arizona Cardinals because we talked about the beginning of the season. I mean, Kyler Murray, if Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson and Lamar Jackson, if they were to spawn an offspring, Kyler Murray, he'd be that dude right now. He's their strength for me. And, you know, their weakness, I don't see a whole bunch of weaknesses. So if I have to go with one weakness, I'm going to go with something that we mentioned earlier in the show.

And we talked about Texas Tech. I'm going to go with Cliff Kingsbury being their weakness right now. And not to say that he doesn't know what he's doing, but at five and two, he's done a formidable job so far. but when things get a little more high intensity down the stretch, maybe we'll see some of his inefficiencies come out that we saw when he was in Lubbock, Texas. Yeah, I could definitely agree with you with Cliff Kingsbury. I feel, you know, it's just a lot going on over there, man. I don't know. I just don't trust them, man, because their defense is starting to step up.

Collar is a good player. He's a really good player. Electric. They have a number one receiver in the, in the NFL right now. I just, sometimes he has, he has bad play calling

in the wrong situations, man. And I feel like it really pissed them in bad situations. It really pissed them behind some time. And, and now you ask him, Cala Mary, who is it incredible

to do incredible things constantly throughout the game. And I feel like sometimes he has to make it a little bit easier for him. I feel sometimes he tried to, he try to outsmart itself, and I think he just needs

to allow his weapons to work and not always try to go for the impact play right now, the big play right now. And I think sometimes when he does that, it kind of pits their team in bad situations. Yeah, and we know right now that the NFC West is probably the best division in all of football, the Arizona Cardinals, whether or not they'll be able to stay strong to the back half of the schedule. That's yet to be determined. There's still some tough ones on their docket.

They still have the dolphins, which, you know, it's going to be, or excuse me, they already played the dolphins. that's the one that they took that on the chin. Kylea Murray, not a big fan of that one, but they're at Seattle, at New England, at the Giants, at the Rams. And some of those games in division, they're going to prove to be sticky. And that last week at the Rams, I mean,

the Rams right now currently in that seven hole when it comes to the NFC playoff picture. And that's the team, Ryan, that I don't see sticking around. I mean, when it comes to their strength and their weakness, I mean, their strength is number 99. It's Aaron Donald eight days a week. But their weakness is their inability to go out there and have an offense that has an ironclad identity from week to week.

Who are the Los Angeles Rams? Is it going to be Jared Goff? Is it Darrell Henderson Jr.? I mean, who is that team when it comes to their offense? To me, I think the biggest thing with Shalmy Bay, he actually does a good job of just trying to get everybody involved. You know, and I think that's the one thing about the Rams. He seems like the ultimate politician, though, doesn't he?

I mean, he always says the right things, and he's the smartest guy in the room. He can call out any play that he's seen. Oh, by the way, he's the guy who pretty much crafted some of those plays up, and he's the one who called a lot of those plays. So it's no surprise that he knows what they are. Yeah, to me, yeah, he definitely is like a politician, but I think he does a good job with just really figuring out,

all right, let me see what kind of weapons I have in making it work. Obviously, Jared Gough isn't what everybody thought he would be, you know. And, you know, they pay him that huge contract. just like the Eagles. But I feel like they have a decent amount of weapons. I just think, but if it is a team to slide out, I think it would be the Rams because, like you said, their offense is their weakness.

But I think they still do a good job of still distributing the ball and just trying to figure things out because since they lost Todd Gurley, their offense has not been the same. Yeah, I know they got to be sick as they watch Todd Gurley out there with the Falcons. I mean, he hasn't racked up tons of yardage,

but he seems to always be there when they need a touchdown. And I know this isn't a fantasy podcast, but you can always count on Todd Gurley at least this season to give you about eight to 11 points. And it's not what you're always going to see from running backs in the league. Sometimes it's feast or famine with those guys.

And okay, so that's the Rams. And the Rams, they're in that seven hole. And that's the team that I see falling out, Ryan. Like I said, that division, the NFC West, it's as tough as it gets. And if I had to go with two teams coming out of that division, I'm going to go with Arizona and Seattle, just because I like their quarterback play

with Kyla Murray and Russell Wilson that much more. But if I had to go with that team that's going to sneak in and get that final postseason spot, you know where I'm going. You know, I'm going with the team from Sweet Home Chicago. I'm going with those Chicago Bears. That is if they can get things figured out with their weakness. And their weakness right now, it's glaring. It's that offense, whether it's Nick Foles or Mitch Trubisky.

They seem to always want to wait around and say, all right, at halftime. Guys, now we're going to start scoring. We saw 17 points in the fourth quarter. Too little, too late versus Tennessee. And that's a team, and that's a game that they could have won. Yeah, to me, the thing that just scares me, I think y'all had like the six best, like six scoring offense in the NFL.

All right, that's, like, I feel like that's the thing that that scares me with you guys. You know, and I've been talking about this from the beginning of the show. And I feel like a lot of people that watch the show might think I'm a bear's hater, but I'm not, I just, I just don't, I just don't see a lot of, you know,

movement in your offense, you know, sounds like hate to me. Man, how's it, hey, if y'all, you know, not the sixth office, you're the sixth worst offense in the field. Yeah. So, like, yeah, my fault. That's a big, that's a big,

to understand it. You're not a hater, you're just a stater. You're just stating facts. All you're doing is throwing that information out there and letting everyone else at the house digested. I'm just saying, like, you know, like, being 26 and the league is scoring is, that's not good, man.

And I just, so when it comes to trying to make it to the playoffs, that's not a, that's not a good recipe for success, you know? So if I had a team, I feel like you sneak in over you guys with my having to be the Panthers. Ooh, okay, Teddy two gloves. Yeah, it has to be the Panthers because Chris McAfree's back, they're starting to play some good football. And then they're actually playing, they're playing some really good teams,

really tough, you know. And they, this isn't about. how tough you play guys or not, this is the NFL, and the day it's either you get in or you don't. But I just, I feel like their offense is playing a little bit better than y'all's.

But your defense is always so good and it keeps you in the mix. So I can see y'all slipping in and kind of being like the Steelers was last year. Yep. And going, but the Steelers went 8 and 8. I think y'all can go like 9 and 7, you know. But I just don't,

it's going to be hard for me to see y'all consistently win. you know, when your office is the 26th in the NFL. Yeah, two things, as Mary J. Blige said, that we don't need in this dancerie, Ryan, hayteration or holleration, and you're bringing plenty of it when it comes to the Chicago Bears. But like you said, Carolina Panthers, if they sneak in, it wouldn't be that surprising

because they have played, you know, a different style of football lately. And this week on a Fandul, more ways to win. If you're tuning in in your local area, you know, I picked the Carolina Panthers as one of my two upsets this week. I have them 21 to 20, 20 over those Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Carolina.

I also went with Seattle over the Rams. That shouldn't be an upset, but the Rams are favored in that one. 3121, I'm going Russell Wilson. The Rams are favored. Favored. Can you believe that? Can you believe it? I don't know if you're-Is it, is it in L.A.?

It's at Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium. But Russell Wilson, he's at home in Los Angeles. I mean, you see his gear. Is somebody hurt? Not to my knowledge. Not, I think maybe it's just at home cooking. It's just the Rams. and right now and what they have laying in front of them

that has them as the favorite in this game. But I'm going with Russell Wilson. He's going to cook this week, 31, 21, and once again, Carolina, 21 to 20 over Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. They're going to take advantage of that game that we saw Drew Breeze and then punch him in the mouth

because that's exactly what it was. So, Ryan, there we have it, man. How you feel about my NFC picks as far as 1 through 7 and then the Bears being that team that sneaks in? No, I think that's solid. I think that's really solid. I can see the Bears

thinking in over the Rams because they both have solid defenses, but the Bears' defense is better. So I would have to go with the Bears over the Rams. So I don't see nothing bad going on with there. I feel like I just have to figure out a way to get out of Robinson and David Montgomery involved a little bit better. It really hurt that Tyreek Cohen is out. And Nick Foes is just going to have to figure something out.

I don't know if Neg is going to have to switch over play cards. calling duties or whatever, but y'all got to make some type of changes if y'all really want to get into the playoffs. Yeah, we're going to need to see Nick Foals manufacturer, because after all, Chicago, Illinois is called the city that works and the Bears. They have plenty of work to do as the season unfolds, and there you have it. Those are our strengths and weaknesses, our pros and cons when it comes to those postseason teams and those squads still looking to sneak into the postseason. And that's going to do it for this edition of the Tuesday Ringer NFL show. He's Ryan Shazir. I'm Cole. Right. And as always, we're part of the Ringer podcast network. And you can

follow us over on Spotify or wherever you get your podcast. You can also give us a follow on Twitter at the Ringer NFL. And next Tuesday, we'll be back. Same place, same time, same channel. But next Wednesday on the Ringer NFL show, that's right. It's Warren Sharp. He's going to provide some week nine thoughts, analytics, and some betting insights. He and the guys, they're always a great listen. So tune in then and we'll see you next time. Say goodbye, Ryan. See you guys.