2019 Week 7 Preview

foreman on this show. Finally, once again Greg projecting things within him that he feels on the couple of uncomfortable with. We're all in good shape right now. I find myself to be a standard like masculine male, So I don't feel uncomfortable with being connected to I'm not you know, those type of things in the world. But you tend to do that a lot. As I pointed out in the past, you'll you know, group us in in a somewhat effeminate way. I find it's not somewhat a feminine way.

I mean, I'm making a joke that you know, we're not the four like biggest bros in the world. But I also I also do think it's it's finally a sponsor worthy. I say this and I'm not even saying it like that. I'm proud of it. I feel like I'm a bit of a bro. So that's why when you make those kind of comments sometimes I feel I feel I feel different. I feel like maybe I don't belong in that conversation, not like me pounding my chest over it or anything. I don't I don't sense you

pounding your chest. Um. It's an interesting place to break this down and dig into it, but that's what the show is for. We don't really speak to each other outside of this this format. You mean at the top of the week set. I mean, there's a lot of people that have never watched the show at all, and at this point they're probably wondering, what on earth is

this about? What they're about to find out? I hope, well at some point, how exciting, uh, that we're here back in the States West with football to talk about. How's your jet leg? By the way, how are you sleeping these days? I'm sleeping okay, catching up. My game passes way behind, and I'm I had to resort to Mark show me a little shortcut. You can watch some like ten minute highlights on on YouTube. So I've had

to resort to that feels like a ridiculous shot. That's a Sunday thing that you do when you've not watched the games. Well, see, if they're gonna squabble, we can squabble too. I don't like the way that went down at all. Greg nice Tie were on the video show. Now they're going to try to become friends to make us look going on, Nice Tie, I like it. There's a lot of going on. There's a lot to unpack

so far in today's episode. Theyll haven't really overcome the fact that Dan sees himself as a bro kind of a bro. But I mean, I feel like there's a positive to negatives to being a bro if you if you take bro too far. Yeah, And when I'm saying that, I really it wasn't even trying to be derogatory about our group. But even if you're like average broness, still the overall average bronness of the foursome lower than I got it. I didn't take offense to I just wanted

to kind of, you know, share my feelings. You're not comfortable with the trust trade. It does seem fair to suggest that the Marines are tad more manly than three of the four of us. If not all idea was kind of they're the most masculine hard possible. Maybe we didn't quite stack up to their level. I feel comfortable in that conversation. You know that's I guess that's there's the disconnect as it turned out, UM football blogger that I am. Okay, guys, so much to get West. We're

gonna get into it. We've got to get going on the show. But you've got some histories. It's staring right at you right now with the lock situation. I got off the SNIDA Monday night. We need you week seven before this becomes a national story. I'd like to say this has been keeping me up at night, but I haven't thought about it until like thirty seconds before the show. Well, I think it's time to start thinking about it because history is knocking on the door. Now. We need you

to lock one up this week. Okay, will keep trying to get my game pick right because think about it. West. Thank you are the scientist along with Greg. What we need. What I need is the host. I need my scientists

to start nailing some locks. I think UM listeners in general, and maybe you're a part of this put way more stock into game picks than I ever have, or it's I mean from another angle, set history by going oh and seven and maybe go even further like thinking, oh, en sixteen uh locks scenario would turn you into a legend. And was that your original plan? That was my plan when I got off to an O and to start, but then I got too hot. It hard to do. I got too hot. All right, So let's get into

it as we always do. Um. We will do it snake style draft and the Thursday, the first game of week seven, Chiefs at broncos Um. The Scientists will be hitting that game later tonight in a mini pod, so stay tuned for that. But we're gonna go through the rest of the games we have. We have four teams again for the second straight week. On I who we without this week? We are without got the Panthers, the Browns, the Steelers, and the Bucks the to London teams. Brownie

is a nice little way to exhale. I would imagine Mark right now after a rough start for the season. Don't care, all right, let's get into it. Marks. You are holding the first overall pick UH in today's draft, so get us going, all right? So number one because there's only three late games, and I want to be actually involved in the late slate this time where I've made a habit of getting out of that late slate scenario. I'm going Saints at Bears, and because number one, I

want to watch Ray. It's solid because there's only three options there. And this to me is one of these games where I'm hoping it's like seven to six because the way that both defenses are playing right now. We know about the Bears now they fell off the edge of the bed a little bit against the Raiders. That didn't go so well in London, but a lot of things can happen in London. We know that ourselves. Weird

stuff happened across the across the sea right. The Saints to me are the team that, no matter what happened to the team they played the week before, how inflow they were, uh in offense like that you look at like the Jaguars with Gardner Min show what happened last week, It's like this was the team coming in the big story hot Gardner Min Sho's the guy on fire. The Saints just come in and just squeeze the life out

of you and end everything right away. And their defense to me is as compelling as the Bears at this point. They're not the same type of defense entirely, but they're doing Teddy Bridgewaters run with the team. He's done everything you could ask a backup quarterback to do, but it's not it's because it's not just him alone. They're a very balanced team in their defense to me is fascinating.

You're gonna get Mr Robiski back in this one. I want to see this be one of these games that comes down to like the final seconds because no one's scoring touchdowns. It's like seven to six, eight third we have to that would have to be nine to six or something. Just one of these little old school matchups from nineteen twelve. Let's go on with Alvin Kamara here, because that's gonna be a big part of this game. You didn't look the same to me in the last

few games. High ankle type of issue of what they're saying, and they signed Mark's boy double z Zack center was. I thought you put it well on Twitter yesterday. The disparity between the two skill sets is mind boggling. I don't see any difference between those time. I think with this team, they will be tempted to sit Alvin Kamara this early in the season, in a season they're expecting to make the playoffs, and he's as important to them as anyone, but Drew Brees, why would you be pushing it.

You also have a bye week, I believe, coming up, and you have Arizona at home, which you should be able to take care of, and then the bye. So yeah, that would make sense to give him a you know, one plus day blow. LaTavia s Murray looked pretty good last week. I thought too. He sooked good in smaller doses. Now how he looks carrying the load will be something center. The Bears put a Keem Hicks and Kyle Long on

injured reserve this week. Kyle Long, you know, not the player he was earlier in his career, but still a big disappointment for him. I hope he keeps playing football. At this point, that's four straight years uninjured reserve. UM No had not but had a really great career beginning and start. Um that's really been racked by injuries, and I'm sure it's really tough times for him. Kiem Hicks is the bigger loss though, you know, maybe they're key, you know, interior player for sure, one of the best

in the entire league. And I think you look at this matchup and it's like, which you know, you think of the Bears for defense, which defensive line would you take right now? I would think about it. I would take the Saints, and I'd certainly take the Saints offensive

line over the Bears offensive line not playing well. And if there's a tackle tandem that can maybe handle Leonard Floyd and Clio Mack, it's Toronto Armstead and Ryan Ramchick's not a premier return spot for Mitch Robinsky, who is not going to be rather have Teddy bridgewriter than Mitch Robinsky too, because I know what I'm getting with Teddy. I don't know what I'm getting with Mitchell. True, I don't know what I'm getting with Teddy. But I mean, really,

I think you're getting what is it twelve point? Is that what I'm You're getting kind of a Dalton line. I mean, you're getting Alex Smith before Andy Reid got there. You're getting competent quarterback play and you're playing around it. I barely competent. Though I would not equate Teddy Bridgewater with Alex Smith or Andy Dalton. But it's been good enough chucked in within this team, so I guess it's a good thing. They don't need for him to give

you more. And I'm amazed the Saints are underdogs in this game, are they? No? Alvin Kamara defense into um. Speaking of the quarterback, Drew brees Um is continuing to work his way back. He's now quote graduated to the NFL ball, so he's he's getting closer and closer. But you know what, they they're kind of in a perfect situation that rarely happens. When the backup comes in and they win every game. Usually that leads to some type of controversy. The Saints are the exception in this case.

No one's considering anything like that. It's just when he comes back, they get that much more dangerous. You're a manly fellow. When you go out of the park and throw the ball around, do you use an NFL sized ball or do you use perhaps something a little daintier. I use a dainty ball that just makes my hands feel like they're uh No, Marians would use an oversized ball, rugby ball even all right, let's move on to the second pick. It will be Greg Rosenthal all right, let

me guess. Am I picking last again? No? I mean you listen. I think you gotta plug in on this Thursday show a little bit more West. I need you to know who you're gonna lock up and understand that the draft the way it works. Two weeks ago you drafted first. Alright, that means last week you draft last, and then this week you draft third. Next week you'll draft second, and then the week after that you're back to first. I think it's the way our seating is arranged.

It has me confused. I am I'm excited to end this conversation move on to Oakland Green Bay. Oh yeah, I'm back to the Tony Romo experience. And I also am thinking about writing about the old Green Bay Packers on my Monday column. So you gotta like combine at all because I'm whether no matter what happens in this game, if the Raiders pull off an upset, there suddenly very

frisky and one of the stories in the league. But I'm more interested in what I've been watching the last couple of weeks out of Aaron Rodgers and thinking this is the best three games stretch I've seen out of him in a while. I thought Monday night was the best game period I've seen out of him for a while. Uh. He was making some unbelievable throws against the Lions, many of which were dropped, a few of which were caught in tough spots too. He's making plays in rhythm, He's

getting rid of the ball. It's all making a little more sense. I gotta say, Matt Lafleur, I'm warming up to the flower. The running game is working a little better. Everything is just kind of exactly if you're a Packers fans on schedule in terms of it makes a little more sense and it looks a little better every week

despite all the injuries that they've had on offense. Yeah this may not you know, and get me on Mark's good graces, but they've Packers are back to being the only team I watched regularly on coaches film, just because I love watching Aaron Rodgers so much. In their defense, um Mark finds the Packers to be a little TV not this year's not this year's because they have it.

They've got a defense. The I like teams that can you know, isn't this It's a different They've changed up the narrative little bit so we're in good place, West go back in a good place. On the show, Simpatico, I liked that the Packers not practicing on Thursday. Their top three wide receivers, their top two pass catching tight hands, their top safety there stud defensive tackle Kenny Clark, and UH slot corner Tremont Williams. I think they're super vulnerable here,

right if those guys don't play. They Yes, they are super vulnerable because I don't think Derek Carr in the Raiders offense is gonna light up the Packers um at Green Bay. But I do think this is a theme. And yes that while Rodgers is Rogers and he's still at his apex, they needed some things to go their way, uh to to steal that game last week, and to score twenty three points. I think scoring points is going to be an issue for them until some of these

guys get healthy. Davante Adams at the front of the line with that. If you're the Raiders, I mean, so you you got the Bears in London and I and I just think that that's if you if you handle that week, well, you've got a different Bears team potentially, then you're getting the most banged up version of the Packers you could possibly imagine right now, coming off a short week, it's a good setup for the Raiders. I also think there's a bit of a revenge element. Dan.

You remember these two teams they battled in Canada and Ruden was very offended at the Flower wanted to cancel a very important preseason about just because the field was stripped of an end zone. If I recall, and I think Ruden has never really exactly right, I'll fill in the detail. Did not get that where the goal post they had to move back, So there was a patch of turf that the Flower believed wasn't firm enough and put his players in danger. So he didn't say to

cancel the game. He pulled all the starters out of the game, and then they shortened the field. It was a fiasco, I cares. I think Ruden felt like the intet was yeah, you know, and on a hard knocks that he made some comments that you know on Mike that he was a little incredulous about the whole Well, I know, we'll get into some what people are fired about us a real revenge game this week. This to me is because of that scenario alone, the real revenge

game in this week's slate. I mean, let's calm down about the Raiders shutting down Aaron Rodgers. They don't have a pass rush, and I think you can get away with that. You know, maybe against the Colts and they're certainly competitive, they're playing hard. You can get away with that against the Bears. I don't. I don't care if it's Alan Lazard and who's out there. I'm you know, I'm loving Aaron Rodgers in this spot. Is he gonna His tackles are playing well, his centers playing well, and

his defense is playing well. And that's why I'm gonna walk much, all right. I like it. It's good luck because you're lack. You're locking Aaron Rodgers at home against an okay team. It's a good luck. But I don't think anybody said that there are Rodgers gonna get shut down by the Raiders. But I don't know if we're gonna we're gonna be approaching a thirty burger. I guess I'm not. I'm not buying into this Raiders story because the wait, you're the one selling the story. How up?

They're fun, they're fun to watch, but I'm not buying them as a team that's gonna win a lot of tough games on the road. Uh, I get Bears and Cults are different. I guess they've done it. I mean they've proved me wrong in that sense. And the offense is efficient. They're running the ball well there Cars getting rid of the ball. I think they'll be able to move the ball somewhat. But I still see them as like a seven win type of team. And and good for Darren Waller, by the way, the tight end for

the Raiders. Speaking of hard Knocks, he flashed on that show and you got to learn about his battles against substance abuse and even the you know one trip to a twelve step program. Uh. He has come out bawling all through the beginning of the season and now just got a three year contract extension. So that that's pretty crazy. To playing with nobody at wide receiver happened? I mean's been the past quarterback? Would you rather have with no receivers?

I mean Derek Cars throwing to Trevor Davis, Keelan Doss, Hunter, renfro and z Jones have fun with that. Dan. Darren Waller dropped an album too, didn't he? Did he I was not aware of that. A year. I'm less excited about that. Um, you you have it out for Hunter Renfro. I've decided you're coming for your coming for the run from He's like the most you know, he's the guy who looks most like me at that plays wide receiver

in the league. And in terms of well, no, that would make sense, there can only be one, so you're that, I think, well, it's just one of those things that you get annoyed when everyone says the same thing. And back in August, like Hunter Renfro, he's gonna catch seventy balls in that ovine. Know that he was a fifth round pick. They've thrown it to him twenty five times. He has like six catches. Love when Gregg gets whipping boys, I was essentially teeing up because I knew wanted to

take some swings at the kid. It's like Specknola all over again. All right, West, you are now up with a third overall pick. I will go back to the four o'clock slate and do Ravens at Seahawks game. Oh yes, oh Wes, you're really unlocked an eastg is. It's time now for a road to Victory presented by the United States Marine Corps. Dig into this game, West, why did you select it? Well, it's two of the most dominant rushing attacks that we've seen since the start of the

two thousand eighteen season. Um and it's two of the most exciting quarterbacks to watch, and in this season, Russell Wilson I think is becoming the favorite for m v P and Lamar Jackson, as Greg will tell you, is just good old plane fund to watch every week. This is this is a matchup of two teams that are fairly similar, great offenses and not so good defenses, which is opposite of what you're used to from these teams.

Totally opposite. I mean, it's a total turning the fell on its ear that you would be expecting, uh, these teams to be, you know, pounding it out in a ten seven game and instead people wondered why Lamar Jackson had so many attempts on the ground last week, And one of the reasons watching that game was that the Bengals looked like a defense that had never seen a read option play before that it worked out of the gate and they just kept going at it and they're

starting to use all their backs now, not just mark ingram and they are so punishing that while it up. They they to me, they they they're a target to trade for potentially a second wide receiver. I think if they wanted to add to that attack and make it a little bit. I don't know how long you can assume this will go without a hiccup at some point, and at some point maybe in January. But they're tight ends.

I mean Mark Andrews, outside of his leap and fumble routine that happened last week, I'm not sure we're gonna see that leap over the defender thing again. I mean, he he is. He has become a one of the bigger weapons in the a of see North in a total factor and on the flip side will display out for the Seahawks. That's a big loss that tight end for them. He will have a surgery on an achilles tendon injury, so that's unfortunate. He's done for the year.

Marcus Brown is sidelines in terms of practices. That's one of the reasons I think they had to run the ball so much against Cincinnati. They just do not have much of a passing game at receiver right now. Other than Marquis Brown. That's reliable, and if you don't have him going to Seattle, that's troubling because you're playing against the team who's got a nice making the leap candidate.

Warner Back Shaquille Griffin the other Shack Griffin, the one who's I think right now, having a Pro Bowl type of season. Not a lot that you love about the Seahawks defense right now in terms of their overall play. The pass rush is not great, but Shaq Griffin has really been playing well, locking down one side of the ball to the point where the opponents are just kind

of peppering the other side NonStop. Earl Thomas Revenge Game, Chris Westling, you've seen any improvements from Earl since a couple of weeks ago when you found him to be potentially an irreversible decline, Well, he hasn't had any angles that would um take advantage of his lack of foot speed, so it's hard to tell. I think he's still the same guy instincts wise, He's always in the right place

until somebody blows past him. But he's like he's he's playing a position where intelligence and instincts matter, so I think he can cover up for the lack of foot speed. They've only the Seahawks defense ninety yards rushing or less than four of six games. And it's not because they have a great run defense necessarily, but it's pretty good. And I think I I'm tempted to lock the Seahawks up in this, but if the Ravens get hot early, they're just too much to deal with. And I'm not

losing a lock to the Ravens. I would my head would fall off. Seahawks have been so clutch, you could say, or lucky could be the other way. I mean, you're lucky when Greg's airline misses a kick. They've had four games that came down to the final minute, you know, really the final seconds. They've won all four of those, so that usually doesn't keep up. But the Sea how I feel like that's been half of the Russell Wilson era. So maybe it isn't there d NA to come back

from anything. I mean, they did that. Dan and I were sitting there when they were down twenty eight to Cleveland, and if you asked my p level, it would have been twenty six because there's no way they're winning that game. The Seahawks do this week after week the max is ten, Well it would have been ten point two. A little bit, just a little bit more, just a little bit more soaked. All right, my turn like this? Happy how this worked out?

Because let's talk about the lions. Oh, by the way, that was the road to Victory presented by the United States Corps. And you got what they were asking for. What a product will deliver and they deliver to our country. All right, let's now move on. That is the oddest and most much for the Marine Corps I've ever had, what a product they deliver. It's not it's just a weird it's a weird way to get there. It's it's a bravery and heroism and an ability to conquer evil.

That's a commodity. Now you're getting there. But I mean the way it was initially pitched Semper five baby, All right, now the Detroit Lines and some bozo on Twitter yesterday. Listen. Sorry, we went to London and did four shows in six days and wanted to take one extra day so we could get our mental health day knocked out. Uh he said he unsubscribed from the show because we didn't talk about the lines on Wednesday show. Well, you know, hey, get get a few of your bodies together, get in

your garage, and start your online podcast. You won't even need to listen to us. Very well, very well put west. Now I will talk about the lines now spinning forward, because yes, a crushing loss to the Packers, a game in which we know everyone knows it follows the NFL uh two penalties on Trey Flowers that were not just suspect that the league came out and said we got it wrong. The second one which essentially allowed the Packers to run out the clock and kick the game winning

field goal. It was a killer because I believe if that play just goes off and it's fourth down, you have Crosby attempting what early forties range field goal, and even if he makes it, he misses it. Lines when if he makes it, there's a minute and change I believe left with Matthew Stafford's playing really well with a chance to drive down the field didn't work out. So now we see what the Lions got in terms of intestinal fortitude. Remember what a grill mount soon used to

call it testicular fortitude. Because now you go and you have a big division game again, this time it is the Minnesota Vikings. Uh. And it is in Detroit, so you get to come home, uh to play the Vikings. Who you know? You really it would have been better to catch him a couple of weeks ago when they were in crisis mode. Uh, and Kirk Cousin was Becausin was absorbing a ton of heat. Well, two wins later for the Vikings, it seems like that ship has been righted. Now.

We'll see if it stays that way. Because the Lions, as we saw once again Chris westling um, we're able to hang against a good opponent, and the Packers were so luckily to get out of that game. Do you expect the Lions to once again put up a big, good fight against the high quality team and maybe even get over the Hub for once? Absolutely? I do. I. Anytime you get a chance to take on the Vikings outside of their dome, it's a good it's a good matchup for you. I don't trust this Vikings team on

the road. I tous trust him totally at home. Uh. The Lions have outplayed a lot of good teams. I did not think they outplayed the Packers. I thought every break went their way for fifty minutes until about ten minutes to go in the fourth quarter when the breaks started going the Packers way. Um, I understand why Lions fans are upset, but I did not think in any

way that that was their game. No, I agree. I think the Packers outplayed him in the interception return, especially by Justin Coleman, was just kind of a bit of good fortune where that game could have ended differently. And ultimately they gave up leads of what they're sixteen and nothing or thirteen and nothing and twenty three to twelve in the start of the fourth quarter, so that when Kield goals, stop stop giving up, stop giving up drives. The Matt Patricia defense reminds me so much of the

Patriots defense under Matt Patricia, which is smart. You can change up what you do each week. You're you're good situationally, you're good in the red zone, but you're not that good. You you're not. You don't have a pass rush. I mean, they really they missed the Shawan hand. They haven't had him all year. Mike Daniels has given them nothing, and

he's been hurt too, so that those are injuries. You don't have a one on one pass rusher and you're kind of coaching around it, and ultimately you're kind of middle of the pack and solid, maybe a little better than the middle of the pack on defense. Those Patriots teams had a top five offense to carry them through. This Lion's offense has been resourceful and fun to watch, but they're not at that last Well. I think it's

a start, and the Vikings a lot of credit. Um, I've flamed them multiple times for being unwatchable on offense outside of Dalvin Cook for the earlier part of the season that big bounce back game, But I almost feel like you've got to be a little cautious with what they accomplished because they were playing an eagle secondary that gave up one big play after the next. So just dial it down a little bit, and that maybe what

Minnesota's capable of. But to go through what they went through, the two weeks of total chaos in fighting and have Kirk Cousins respond the way he did, I thought he played the best game he's played. Not just I get it all of this year, but in a while. I mean he he just seemed in sync. They had been out of sync through the air all year, and they

put it together and that's that's super encouraging. I still think the Lions though, could knock out any team in this division if they kind of just needed one of these teams that's been beaten down. So I gotta learn how to win in the In the end of the they've sandwiched a buy with a extremely painful thirty or thirty loss to Kansas City. When it was it seemed like it was a done deal, that they were going to get it done, and then of course what happened

on Monday night. So yeah, it will take it will take a team that has some mental toughness to shake those losses off and not let this slip away from them. But this I think is a really good game, and and West you you have a limited amount of patients for it. But I find kirk Cousins to be compelling theater about how his career continues to progress. Let's see if he continues to pour it on. This wouldn't fall under the uh Kirk Cousins umbrella totally because it is

on the road uh. And it's also not a not a huge spotlight game. Um, So I that I think keeps it open for him to keep it rolling. Most likely, right my My lack of patience is with the people who decide, and this is a very vocal group. Just think that Cousins is a laughable clown who can't play quarterback at all, and I think he has five years in the NFL. They say the opposite of that, that he he's one of the sixteen or eighteen best quarterbacks in the NFL. Lion gotta win this game. They've been

a nice story. Quarterback is playing well. It's just tricky how the schedule falls. Ultimately, you lose this game. You've just lost three in a row, and the Packers and Vikings are rolling and you're just hoping for some wild cards scraps after that. Are you're a real contender or you just to feel good story a team that can compete? We'll see all right now, snake time. This is a home run. This is a great This is what's the best second round pick in recent seasons? Darius Leonard in

that zone there, all right, Darius Leonard pick. Oh look, it's the Cults. That wasn't on purpose, but I'll pretend it was. They are back off thereby and now they welcome the first place Houston Texans to Lucas Oil Stadium with the first place on the line in the A it out already? Did it? Are you locked up tonight's game? In fact? Um? And I love it. I'm excited because Deshaun Buston is probably my favorite player in the NFL uh not named Sam Donald, so I UM love to

watch him. So whenever I could draft him in a big division game, I'm gonna do it. And it will be so interesting to see the Colts such a you know, a well coached team, Um, a team that's has a good defensive pieces. But Deshaun Watson when he when he gets rolling, it is scary. And um, we'll see which

version of the Houston Texans offense shows up. That would be my only concern, Uh if I'm a Texans fan is that when they are rolling, they are awesome to watch, but every every once in a while and maybe it was just maybe it ends up just being a situation where they're working out the kinks early on. They have had some games where they haven't been able to get it going. Um, but I expect Houston to to to do business here in Indy. Well, it's a rematch right

of the playoff game a year ago. Am I crazy. No, you're absolutely You're absolutely right. I hallucinate how poorly they were. The Texans were stumped that Tuxans were shut down in Houston. And I think the Colts kind of are a nice litmus test right now for this Texans team because I think the Cults are really well coached. I think they're gonna give you a great effort. Of course, at home, they're pretty good Situationally, they're smart, they they run the ball.

They'll probably figure out a way to keep this game close. But the Texans best game should be better than the Colts is best game. I mean, their ceiling is higher. In the past, this might have been a game that the Texans kind of stubbed their toe and it ends up being a whole race throughout the year in the NFC South. If if this Texans team can be at the type of team that gets to buy, which I think they are, they can be that type of team,

you go win this game, I think. And if the last time these teams played in India in the regular season, it was a thirty seven thirty four Texans winning overtime. Um, I think these are just two well matched teams. I believe. I think the Cults are team that can make the playoffs. I think I think you can see two playoff teams out of the ANFC South and these would be my picks.

Where are we at on Jacoby percent I haven't seen enough to where I think, like automatically he should be their guy going forward, and like two thousand and twenty and beyond, I think they should try to aim higher. I agree with you. He's averaging what under seven yards per attempt. He shows become a run first offense, he shows off his arm. You know, they've kind of coached very conservatively in terms of focusing on the running game.

They'll take shots. Uh, they have some good schemed up but I think it's been a great job of coaching. But I don't think he's shown enough where you're thinking he's the guy moving forward. He's kind of been a perfect middle of the road type of starter to keep the ship afloat. But maybe not that you're gonna be buying into long term. Yeah. I mean, they seem content to run through Marlon Mack right now, and he's so pivotal to him with the Texans. The one thing that

and maybe someone else predicted this happening. I know I didn't after watching Carlos Hide the past couple of seasons to have him the amount of usage he's getting in Bill O'Brien's offense and to be as productive as he had. Him and Duke Johnson together have have worked out for a team that when they lost Lamar Miller and I get the week, Lamar Miller is Lamar Miller, and we can try to make him something he's not. But he's not,

but it's that he's been. They've been. They have been able to really kill people on the ground in the ground for a while, and they have a diverse running attack right now. And I thought Bill O'Brien did a nice job last week using Hide, And you've got to keep wondering as a defense if you're facing them, when is this run out? Because this is a player that I essentially thought his career was on the on the edge. And you know what, Duke Johnson adds a lot too.

I'm surprised how it's shaken out that Hides clear the lead guy. But ultimately Duke Duke Johnson has three five yards from scrimmage through six games. Hides got about four fifty together. That's a really strong combo. Hides not as good in the passing game. The cults are healthier, though, and I think that's important. They're coming off there by week. They still have a lot of injuries in the secondary even then after the bye, but you have t Y

Hilton back, you have Darius Leonard back. Uh, your defensive line is healthier than it was. It's pretty significant. You're raising your eyebrows. Well. Your secondary injuries don't matter when you can just plug in a guy like Cary Willis, who has been phenomenal, their fourth round pick, who's a safety in plays like Honey Badger all over that defense. And the Texans are as short at cornerback right now

as pretty much any team in the league. They lost Bradley Roby for a month, Jonathan Joseph has been banged up, and they weren't exactly deep at that position to begin with. But they just beat the Chiefs and uh, two more thoughts after you know, last week Cayami Fairbaron killed him to the point where you wondered if they were gonna have to do the dreaded. We know we need to feel kick a field goal, but we can't because we

can't trust the kicker from anywhere outside thirty yards. I thought that would lead to, you know, maybe a change or a workout. But I guess he was so good last year. Bill O'Brien is keeping the faith, and maybe O'Brien is. You know, he's hot right now. He's got the uh what do they call it in basketball? Heat check came on the same same week that Brian Baldinger, a guy that we all respect mightily for his football knowledge, especially in the trenches, called Laramie Tunsel the best left

tackle in the NFL. That seems to be a pretty good trade. Now, uh, excuse me, great trade, all right? Now? Moving on? Picking next will be out of the Snake and back to Chris Wessell. Well, since there are no good games left, there are some. This is this is the first week. Are you look at the schedule top to bottom, there are a full slate of um stinkfest operations. I'm going to choose a grass field with a new quarterback starter Chargers at Titans. Thank you, going back to

the Titans. Yes, you are a good man. Thank you for taking that off. No problem. I will leave such gems as Jaguars, Bengals, Dolphins, Bills and forty Niners redskins for you, Dan, all right, thank you, go ahead. Oh you want analysis of this game? Well you you, I mean you're the one. You're the completest who watched the entire sixteen to nothing tennis. You're a Titans fan. You know you're you're you're taking over my previous mantel back in the two thousand and thirteen season as the Ryan

Tannehill believer in the podcast. I am not a believer. Remember this moment, you know, for posterity, maybe clip it off West speechless about to get into a game. He didn't know what to say. Well, there was nothing to say. I have an inkling that Ryan Tannehill is going to have the same problems as Marcus Mariotta behind this offensive line with a play calling that has left a lot to be desired. I just don't see much of a difference there. That's why I want to watch this game

to find out if there will be a difference. Does Ryan Tannehill jump start this offense? I don't know. When you see guys like a J. Brown and you know Corey Davis is a top five picked Laney Walker's out there, what if they start using these weapons or you know d quote weapons that they have. Well, Greg Cosl, who we also respect, it said mightily. I like that we have to point out our respect for these various basically individuals. If we don't say that we respect them, assume we don't.

It's a short list of of these analysts that truly, you know, across all boards, whether it's in this room or the Twitter, you know, atmosphere, stratosphere, whatever you want to call it, that everyone knows is the real deal. Baldy and Coseell are to those guys, I mean, you've created a bit of a problem for us. We now need to go out and announce our respect for anyone

who comes up at all. It's a short list. Well, it doesn't seem like Cosell respects Mariota that much because he said receivers have been opened and he thinks that's for on tape that he thinks receivers have been open and they haven't been pulling the trigger, and there should be some receivers open when you play the Chargers. This secondary has been injured and disappointing. The defense in general has taking a big step back. I am interested in this game because there are two, two and four teams

that made the playoffs a year ago. And whoever lose this game is in deep trouble. And the Chargers fall has kind of been under the radar here. Um, but I don't I don't want them to be totally out of our lives here. I want Philip Rivers to go to Nashville. And uh, there's a lot of rumors he would replace Marcus Mariota or he was gonna get traded for Marcus Mariota back in the day, and he wants to go back go to Nashville. And then he'll talk about a player who deserves to have a little player

empowerment and get himself out of a bad situation. Be free, Philip Rivers. This organization has let you down. Go to Nasha. I mean they paid him like hundreds of millions of dollars or whatever. But I will say they've been Philip Rivers to the Titans feels like like a total purgatory move. He wants to get back to where you know he's from. Also, it's not gonna happen because a free agent at the end of the year, because they're the Titan closer to

the Midwest. Because yeah, because because they're the Titans. You know, they're not going to bomb out and go three and thirteen here, They're gonna shrink together. Some wins. Nine at seven might actually be tough of them now, but who knows, maybe like West as Tannehill lights a spark. So they won't be at the top of the draft unless they

pull off some type of audacious trade. So go get Philip Rivers as your bridge guy, and go find a developmental prospect that can sit behind one of the greatest ever slan it well, the Charges would have something to say about that, unless Rivers truly wanted out. He has a free agent. There's some good news though. They got Hunter Henry back last week. He looked awesome. I mean, it was a terrible performance by them on Sunday Night Football,

but he looked great. And it sounds like Russell Okung, their left tackle, is returning from his pulmonary embol is m shortly, maybe as early as this week, and that's a pretty big addition. Chargers are the most disappointing team in the a f C right now. They have lost four or five, their one win coming against the Dolphins. Where do they rank on your dirt Knap rankings? They're getting close because if they ever lost this game, whoever loses this be in hot water they too and five

with the Bears and the Packers coming up next. Charges are already on my dirt map watch. I am enjoying it. I think they might be the more boring team in this matchup. I like, I think we're going we have something here with the dirt knap, because maybe we can put together a graphic where it shows how far under these people are beneath the dirt and dirt, and then maybe if they start to dig themselves out, the hand

sticks out something like that. Yeah, I like that. I mean they would be it's in sort of a zombie but if you're buried under the dirt, you're dead to begin with. But you're saying some would come, no, because remember like Uma Thurman and kill Bill. Oh yeah, there are scenarios where people could come, put him in the put them in the wood coffin, and then maybe they fight their way out. So it's just like the old Forks segment, except there's a possibility of zombie ism it

the forks segment. Yes, and you what did you call it? Stick a fork in him? Yeah? No, oh, but you said dirt nap too, But then there's also Bill Simmons calls it the loser goes home, loser leaves town match. So these are all I mean saying the same thing, the losers in deep deep trouble. But I like dirt nap, and I think there's certain nap is powerful. It doesn't

get there's not a lot of wiggles. Was a listener at our meet up after our show on Friday like using the word dirt nap, But I was like, there's no way you actually use that word before Mark Sessler came into your lives right, came from my dad, just the same way that you have terminologies that came from your lineage, your ancestry. Let's move on. Picking next will be Greg Greg Rosenthal. Yes, well, I'm boxed out of the four PM games, which is you did me a favor.

There was watch Lamar as I wanted to, and uh, I'm gonna take a game that maybe doesn't have much playoff implications, but I think is a perfect backup morning game Cardinals Giants. This game could be in the thirties. It's a matchup of two rookie quarterbacks drafted in the top ten who I think are going to go up and down the field because they have terrific matchups, and I think it should be fun to watch Kyler Murray's playing her each week. I really liked what they did

a week ago. And the Giants and Danny Dimes are getting back Evan Ingram, Quon Barkley, maybe Sterling Shepherd, well them has been back. Uh Darius Slayton as a player. Uh. Dimes has got plenty of weapons, and neither of these defenses are good. I think they could go up and down the field and it could be a fun Sunday afternoon at the Old Meadowlands. Perfect opponent I like to pick right, perfect opponent for Danny Dimes, who could use

another look at me. I have a bright young future ahead of me, and you get to play at home against Arizona. Who's gonna give you opportunities to do so. I like the Giants a lot here. Okay, I just I think Kyler Murray's playing a lot better than Daniel Jones right now. Yeah, I agree, he's had you know. Part You're wondering whether it's just the opponents that you know Jones has had, you know, including the Patriots a

week ago when they're so shorthanded. But for the most part, I agree Murray's played his best against pretty black luster opponents. But you're right, he's been playing better. Are you gonna, Are you gonna? You know you gonna, you know, black it on? Are you No? I haven't decided who I'm locking it. I thought about the Giants. That's the way to handle this. Yeah, the Giants are my kind of my backup thing because I do think their defense, their defense is really bad, but I think it's gotten like

slightly better. Dexter Lawrence is playing great. Yeah, as this, I don't think they're quite as embarrassing. And I think the Cardinals coming off those two games, you know, they were great matchups for them at home. They were kind of coin flips against you know, against bad, really bad teams. Uh. I don't know if I really trust them on the road. They're getting healthier to Barkley's back, Evan Ingram's practicing. I this one is tough. I wouldn't touch this lockwise at all.

I mean, Kyler Murray looked too good last week, and guys like David Johnson Chase Edmonds getting a lot of touches totally wide open in space, and I think that has a lot to do with the Cardinals offense. They're finding ways to get like four or five or six people out there, and the defense defenders defenders to do with it, and I don't really trust the Giants defense. And I'm sure Eddie Spaghetti behind the glasses. Actually, yeah, I was gonna go to Eddie is producing the show

for US today. Erica still on vacation um. But actually Eddie's reached his capacity for Giants analysis on this podcast after doing seventy four minutes on Giants Patriots last week, so that we just can't go to him. We can't. It was great, you did a great job. I actually brought out the clock to time and I'm like, they usually like it like the ten to fifteen minutes, and I had that thing. I looked back and I saw like it's like twenty seven or something like that. It

gets away from me quickly. It's happened a minute before to Yeah, we didn't get any complaints. No, you did a great job. I'm just joking. Eddie a Staten Island resident the borough of New York City, and he looks Staten Island ready for the Yanks tonight I'm so I'm so nervous right now. My stomach is up my throat. Wow, five hours before the game. I can't focus anything else. Yeah with you, let's talk after the show. Let's take that offline. Um, alright, let's move on. Next up, Mark Sessler.

And by the way, Mark, I'm in the same position as you last week. West. You were calling shenanigans on the draft. In these weeks when we have eleven games to break down in the draft, if you are picking fourth, you just get two games and out. So I'm out of the dam. I'm done, and now you're up. Mark. Or if you're picking fourth, you get three games and the guy picking third gets too. That happens sometimes as well. Yeah, that that's where I think what West was by last week.

But I hear you, Um, I don't know if two or three is better in this situations. Picked fourth last week? I mean, I what am I missing here? You pick fourth? There was one week where I got covered more games than Mark, even though I drafted last. That's what I'm saying. I mean, it's not a big deal. I'm just pointing out. All right, we get confused sometimes. All right, here we go. I'm gonna go. Let's see. The battles are just changing, you know, the matchups are changing as the show goes on.

I'm looking through the options here and it's got me on that one. The options are not good. I'm gonna go Jacksonville at Cincinnati, and I'll tell you why, because I'm gonna lock up the Jaguars right now on the road. Go into an angry Bengals team. If they're capable of being angry, you're annoyed. And I looked at the desert are surrounding you a real person right now? What do

you mean they're never facing angry Bengals. Yeah, in Cincinnati, they're like, like, the Bengals are never angrier than when they lose their entire secondary to injury the week before. We're furious, Mark, the Bengals are six and you're locking up against them. Oh, I don't. I don't care about that. I went to I went to anything. What does the desert say? It's well within It's I just I just vieuted it. It's completely within within the boundaries. I'm cool with that. I was just more kind. I saw a

look on your face. That was a man that looked in the mirror and saw nothing. I mean, Dan, the problem is that if any of us do anything that you don't approve of or that concerns you, it all then like you because you put it. I don't know. That's a great question. You ask yourself that you are at the centerating this has nothing to do with you at all. I'm perfectly fine with this and rolling with it. I'm rolling with it because the Jaguars got stung last

week hard by the Saints. They've got to look themselves in the mirror after what happened. They could not get their offense going on any level. And this is a good bounce back game. The Bengals cannot stop the run. They can't stop much of anything. It's Gardner, Minshew and DJ Shark and you never look back. Leonard Fournette has been good to this season. I thought that after a couple of weeks that he was going to be off this roster at some point, maybe even trade bait. But

he has helped them. When they can run, that offense is completely different. That's what happened against the Bengals. When they've been good, He's been a big part of it. And you've got to set up Minshew to make the big drive at the end. He's up Jordan Howard, which is nine that much out of him. In the passing game, he's not. He doesn't great lateral agility. He's just running hard and running straight and doing it pretty well. I don't have a problem with that in this offense at

this point. They they are they are missing elements, no doubt about it. I mean, there's no tight end on this team. They've got one right receiver you can count on. Their third round pick, Josh Oliver, is finally practicing again. He's missed the whole season with a hamstring injury, so it'll be interesting to see if he plays. Dak Taylor of the Bengals coach, has been, you know, trying to find positives, saying how hard they played last week? Okay,

did they That's great? You're playing hard. GI mean the defense, well, that's an improvement from last year. Competed in hell the points down to Baltimore, but they were dominated. I mean that you're playing hard, but you're not playing well. What are they doing? I mean they're so short there. They have the lowest yardage rushing per game since they're on pace four. That's where the Bengals are at and they have two really good running backs. That's how bad they are.

They've trailed the entire seat like there's nothing about this team that's remotely competitive. It's it's crazy. Other than the first week, I gotta remember that next year. What not to get too excited about week ones? Well, I do feel like you were you verbaliz that, yeah, but I lead the I led the way I was the first three weeks. They were, you know, a competitive team. But right if they're going to be competitive, it would have to be against a defense. It's not I mean an offense.

It's not too explosive, which maybe the Jaguars are are that. You know, they've even in their good games, they've started slowly. Well that's a bad Hals. You can give them an excuse for the injuries. But what worries me about this team going forward is that the best players are over thirty. Yep, and I mentioned you know, losing their secondary. Will William Jackson's out I think for a month. Drake Kirkpatrick is out, and Carl Dunlap was hurt before last week's game. I

think he's still kind of up in the air. Dark has Dinard is practicing again, eligible to come off the publist soon. So that is yeah, that's rough, all right, game number two because I enjoy maybe more than anyone in the room. I've mentioned it a lot, just the ultra beat down. And that's why I'm taking the Niners traveling into the Nation's capital, because what are you gonna do? Redskins? Are you gonna try to throw us Adrian Peterson forty

five times? Again? That worked last week? Not against this sense, did you see the I saw a gift of it, but um case Keenum tried to check out of a play or he did check out of a play, and Adrian Peterson took his mouthpiece out and he was in like the I formation and started screaming no, no, no, no no, because all the Adrian Peters, the only reason he's in the league is for no other reason than to take the balls many times as possible, continue to

compile yardage, maybe pass Walter Payton. Do not check out of a play on Adrian Peterson in twenty nineteen. I'm with you with that, and it's to me, I think this is and we talked about the Kyle Shanahan revenge factor here and we have a sound bite. I believe we'll get to in a second on that, But what a perfect way to have a revenge game against Bill old Callahan shot out of a cannon from two thousand two coaching again as a head coach in this league,

and the way that they runned offenses. How differently their approaches are. Kyle Shanahan one of the best in game play callers. Their ground game right now, I believe it's the Ravens that currently lead on pace of yards per game, which is well over two hundred and the Niners last week were one of those teams too where you find these regurgitated stats, but this one does intrigue me because they were on pace to outpace the nineteen seventies seven

Bears on the ground. And to me, the Niners, the way they're doing it is even more impressive than the Ravens because it's they get up early, their defense destroys people, and they use the latter part of the second half to just destroy you on the ground against tired out defenses. And their record five and oh is not a fluke on any level. I think it's fair a couple of weeks ago just to wonder what that meant and what it would translate to against some of these better teams.

They physically thumped the Rams last week and Garoppolo didn't play well. They are one of these old fast teams that likes to compliment play field position ball and make their offense look better by how good their defense is. Um. But you know, I love I love the way George kittles playing and he reminds me sort of the way

Todd Gurley was playing before the knee injury. And if you we take this comparison a little bit further, if George Kittle suddenly became Kyle Rudolph, That's what happened with Todd Gurley between two thousand eighteen and two Kittle is so explosive right now, and he's just running people over like a runaway train in the open field. Gink fantasy fan.

You know, fantasy owners panicked a little bit because he wasn't producing quite as much in the almost at all in the first few weeks of the season as a receiver, But he thinks the best tight ending right Even though Darren Waller has had the season he's had, Austin Hooper is having a monster season, and I don't think it's gotten any love on this podcast. There's been some great tight end season. I to take Kittle over all of them. Yeah.

I thought the the the app comparison for Kittle based on one play last week where he's just rumbling through defenders was marked of or Ow and that Eddie. I don't believe you were probably watching that as essential being at that point. But Mark Bavarro had that one season where he had his jaw wired shut for like two months and he never spoke to anyone in real time,

so no one knew that about him. But he would just take it out on people every Sunday, and he was one of the more one of the There weren't a lot of tight ends back then doing that, and Kittle looks just like him on the field. Were real Gary Cooper stuff for Bavaro back then. I thought you were gonna say my referencing Mark Bavar, are we gonna hear that sound drop? You tease all I like and

not deliver all right. Kyle Shanahan talking about his time with the Redskins um being able to work with my dad and benches, Well, that's what he liked about it. What didn't he like everything else? That's how you set up a clip. Good Mark, I had no idea what he also was coming there at the timing stuff. Also, my favorite made was about he found out that this

is like a homecoming game for the Redskins. You know, they're having a lot of old stars and whatnot come back for that, and they must be really old if Kyle Kyle Shane, I was just like, I didn't. I didn't know professional teams did that. I just thought that was a high school thing. That's a little petty, but okay, I mean every team, Like imagine if you worked for an organization fired you and your dad, you just be like,

forget forget that. I get it. But okay, if you want to, if you want to get on the the labeling of it. Uh, okay, homecoming is a high school thing. But wait, bring back, bring back all the old hogs. As they said, I'm with damn be be up to be up to speed on how the league is operating this ship. Every team has one of these games, and it's got a lot of grief. When they did that a few years ago with the Patriots, well they wore

those they were that was Tiffany Jackets. That was entirely different they're just now digging out of the rubble of that. Oh my god. All right, up next is Greg Rosenthal. Oh ahead, buddy. That means they have three ten am games. We gotta make a trade West. I'm sorry, all right, open for business. You'll know you love Philip Rivers in the charge. Thanks, But I will watch Jalen ram I at least select Jalen Ramsey's first game as a member

of the Los Angeles Rams. The indication is that they planned for him to play, and uh, it's early Thursday afternoon here in Los Angeles. The sign is that it's going to happen. And if that happens, we'll have the first ever matchup of Julio Jones, who's having a great season every once in a while, I just gotta hey, remember, Julio Jones, you still might be the very best wide

receiver in league. And going up against Jalen Ramsey and uh, a secondary that's gonna have to figure out kind of who they are now after losing to keep to Leave and John Johnson for the year and trading Marcus Peters. We didn't even mention that during the Ravens thing. I hope this Julio Jones doesn't turn into a Larry Fitzgerald's situation where the back end of his prime gets gobbled

up by a bunch of irrelevant teams. Well, that makes he's got a great quarter, right, Matt Ryan sixth straight three yard games has been probably the least talked about. I mean from a team wide standpoint, right, the Falcons are not a relevant NFL team right now, not right now. But this is a this is a new thing, and this is also a game everyone assumes the Rams we'll

go in there and right the shift. I don't just because any team like the Falcons that's putting up thirty points a week, they're dangerous, and they've lost a lot of close games. They're not quite as bad as they're one in five records. Their defense is is that bad and it's solved basically every offensive problem they've gone again. So if the Rams can't get right offensively in this game, then it's panic time unlocking this one Upcon. You're going

with the home underdog. I just don't think the Rams are that good. Wow, you know what, you gotta go big, and he just went big in a big spot. I'm gonna show my solid I'm gonna lock it up with you. I'm switching my lock to show my solid narity to West. He's gonna ride to Vic. It doesn't work well, West and I did. A's gonna work this time because it is called true solidarity. Well, it's guilty, because I just made up this lock on the right. It's uh, well,

it's okay. It's Thursday. It's not even one pm. Dan already has the first lock victory of the week by guilty market to jumping off the old Bengal fand wagon. Well, it's you know what, because it's a marriage. Ultimately, Ultimately, it is simply not worth dealing with Dan over the next hundred and twenty hours on this situation. Here's what I see when I look. Don't put it on me. It's not worth it. There is no reflection. It's entirely on you. So I'm holding up something. I'm looking in

the mirror. It's our record. It's seven and eighteen. Comebine, that's what I see in the mirror. It's a it's a disgrace. You got Dan's point though, that you tug us all down the drain. Okay, I'm dugging myself that I'm three and three. That's nothing to be proud of either. That's terrible too. You can only see a mirror when the other three of us are involved with you. Okay, you look in the mirror, you see O in six if you want me to sing, I don't really look

at my record. I'm just looking at these games, and I feel good about this. This is a nice lock, healthy lock. I mean it's you know, what does this work for you? Team? Okay, it's a lock I can respect. Is it a last dand game? If we're talking about um, I think last week and I think they already lost the last The Falcons have a week nine by Arthur Blank is not expected to make a decision on dan Quinn's future until that By per rap Sheet, they had

not considered a change before the Cardinals game. But this defense is really the point of firing dan Quinn, though, what do you well, who's going to replace him? He doesn't even have a defense. But they have a lot of They have a lot of former head coaches on this roster. I get it, But what is that really going to make you better? I don't think so. Just wait till the end of the This is some real cahones Wes, I like it. This is how you get off a schnide. Yeah, it does take a lot of

guts to pick against your wife's favorite team. Again, feel like this happening repeatedly now and they haven't given There's a lot, a lot of logic that goes into these locks defense. It's just like there's not much to him. It's mostly they're all coin flip games. That's what that's what a lock pick is. West let me um going off your point, which was a good one, about if George Kittle became Mason not not Mason, Kyle Rudolph, what

would that do to the Niners offense? Well, everyone, that's absolutely you know, killing Jared Goff, who I know is not played very well this season. And who's wondering throwing out comments about Sean McVeigh whether you know he used up all his magic pixie dust. Well, how about just the idea that the Rams, in addition to their offensive

line struggles, they just lost their George Kittle. You know, Todd Gurley became who who would be the He became Lamar Miller, not not the same type of player, but became just a guy. And maybe it's gonna take time of the Rams to make a transition that and the time that goes beyond two thousand nineteen, because he was the identity of this team, well, not just as a runner, but he was one of the most devastating pass catching backs in the league. And now he's a total non

factor in the passing game. That is a huge loss to me. Goff's the bigger problem, though, as much as you could replace Girly if the line's good. Golf's last fourteen games six point seven three yards per tempt, fourteen touchdowns, fifteen interceptions, fourteen fumbles. That's a that's a pretty large sample size, and I think Golf will be fine in the long run. I'm actually not as worried, but they're passing game has been pretty mediocre now for almost a year.

I think stress We spend the offseason looking at the free agent pickups, and it's wide receivers and running backs and all these fantasy guys, but the Rams are studied. There's a couple of these teams out there that went into the season with a totally inadequate line, and everyone suffers, everyone's reputation suffers. Sean McVeigh. I mean, it's like the offense looks plain and ordinary to me right now, and they don't have a first round pick over the course

of five years. That's absolutely true. There's a belief out there among some people who evaluate quarterbacks that you throw out everything that's not a drop back, that you take the training wheels off with all the boot action, role action r p o s and you go by drop backs. And that's where Jared Goff struggles, when you take away the training wheels of the boot action and the play action. Did they have the whole season in front of them, though,

And I could see why they could be optimistic. If you beat the Falcons and the Bengals the next two weeks, you get to your by you of the Steelers. After that, the schedule opens up pretty nicely. I think they're smart enough to fix some things on the fly and be a better team in December. We'll see if they lost one of those games in the next two weeks, especially Cincinnati, if there was a fan base here, they'd go absolutely

nuts over it. By the way, Dan Jalen Ramsey wanted you to know and a quote, just wait to see the type of swag I bring by ram They do a pretty good job filling up that building. Now the Chargers there, I mean, that's gonna be our We're gonna be able to work at the same building as Jalen Ramsey in a couple of years. He's gonna be there. Can't wait the Chargers. And we didn't hit this story,

but God, the Dignity Healthcare Sports Park. I mean, guys, I know you were trying to do the rick roll thing that's very popular where you try to lower in the opposing fans in the building. Is it? It was that was popular like a decade ago. It's still popular. When we went to Petco down in San Diego for West's bachelor party, they did the same thing with the

Reds or something I believe, I can't remember. It's pretty bad when you're trying to get the Reds fans and yeah, but uh, you know, you can't play the Steelers party song or whatever when the place is Steelers fans because when you go to the rick roll, they're just gonna keep going nuts and waving the yellow flags. Yeah, and it looked terrible on Twitter, and you know, it's it's such a tough last station need right now because it's it's gonna get more magnified when the opposing fan base

surrounded by a flood of empty seats. It's you they cannot move into a stadium five times the side. And you would think that that that type of thing, something as silly as that this would be something that would be talked about on Twitter and that would be it. But no, the Chargers players, they're on the sideline. They feel it that they are the enemy in their own building, and they go to the media and and express how unhappy they wear with it. I mean, I feel it

for those guys. It's a tough situation. UM. The teams West close it out an a f C East showdown. I refused to call this the Ryan Fitzpatrick revenge game, going back to Buffalo where they once overpaid him to the tune of like six years and sixty six million dollars. Are people floating it as a thinking now, well, if in defense of this whole thing, like Ryan Fitzpatrick, almost every game he plays as a revenge game. He's played

for fourteen different teams at this point. This is the the Um paid him the most handsomely while he was there, and then he proceeded to reward them by playing down below his countryt anyway this Greg, I'll be happy to trade this to you since it's your beloved Dolphins. But um, this is now. This is a one PM game. I can't accept another. How is Greig able to force a trade into something that he wants and West does not want to give away? Well, we'll talk after he's done

me favors over the years. What's we'll talk that was coming off of by could get to five and one get ready, And what's exciting to me is Devil's Devin Singletary looks like he's back, He's practicing fully and what we've seen from him looks like he could be in Austin Ekeler type of talent on that team, especially in the passing game, which they need. Um, I don't think t j Yelden is really moving the needle as your past passing down back. So get Singletary in there. No

more is a Jones. They like Duke Williams and we'll see if Duke Williams starts playing more as a number two there. Josh Allen I don't think has gotten better this year, but he is mean off maybe his best game of the year against the Titans. I know they only one fourteen to seven. But I thought Josh Allen played a very clean, good game, Whereas if he played that each week, they'd be in business. The Dolphins have zero pastor. Of all the things that the Dolphins do, poorly,

rushing the pastor, you know, might be number one. Maybe protect protecting the pastor might be number one, and rushing the pastor is number two. So this we can give you, then this is the day they should get up. You know, I know we're not into the whole desert thing and whatnot.

If there is, you are, if there was a thing out there, you know, just making a hot take, like what are the odds that the Buffalo Bills get a playoff by in the year two thousand nineteen where they're a top two, a f C seed, whatever it is. I would take that. I feel like they got a chance. They got a chance to win division and get a top two is definitely a chance. But they you look at their weekly results, I mean they're putting up about

fourteen or fifteen points and holding teams to ten. I mean, that's why Leslie for Asia has I'm remissed to not have mentioned him in the running for assistant coach of the year. I know that he you know, the shine is off after the Minnesota experience and all that business. But sometimes that's what happens is they go back to the comfort. If that's the word of being a coordinator. You hone, you've you've already been out there in the bigger world. You go back to the smaller town of

the coordinator, and you just start dropping bombs. I mean, what more can you ask him to do with this defense? To your point, Greg four and one and by the way, the last two times the bill started four and one, uh in the century, they missed the playoffs. But this is different because look at the schedule ahead they have as as we're talking about Miami at home, you get the Eagles at home, which six weeks ago seemed like a Titanic challenge. Potentially, now you feel like they can

handle the Eagles, you know, outside of their building. Then you get the Redskins at home, so you've got three straight home games. You really you you don't have to squint to see three wins there that would put him at seven and one. Then you go to Cleveland. Who knows with Cleveland anymore what you're gonna get with that team?

Then you go to my ammy and that takes you all the way through week eleven, and then things tighten up a little bit in the back end, but you still got Denver down the stretch, the Jets, who knows who? The Steelers, if you take care of a duck, who knows what's going on? They they could be you know, eight and two. And then if you can get to that spot. And we look at the a f C because we don't want to get to ahead of ourselves here, but you know the Pats are going to be in

that twelve to sixteen win range. Uh you you assume the Chiefs will get into that tend to twelve range, and then the Texans are another team you see tend to twelve range potentially, and then who else it would be. They'll need the Pats to stub their toe and you'll probably need to go to New England and win in week sixteen. And don't don't chuckle that I said twelve to sixteen. It's all in play for your boys again.

Or or they could wind up with a better record than the second by team because they're in New England's division. And then still get right, they don't give three buys out could change that for the Bills, that would be a little bit I feel like they they deserve that three buys, So what would happen? Who would the third bus? I mean, I like the idea of it, but I think I mean that would be kind of almost insulting.

I mean almost maybe not as insulting as like when the Bills through a parade for Andy Dalton because they, you know, were the twelve team in the playoffs and you know, got steamrolled by Blake Bortles thirteen to six or whatever. I mean, it's like that was that was a little bit of a loss of dignity. I wish this was the team that broke that streak. I feel like it's more worthy because what do you think the ceiling is for the Bills? Like best case scenario game,

but twelve twelve wins and win a playoff game. I mean, the Pats to somehow with the way that the defense is. I mean, it's like, the twelve wins feels very possible in this a f C like getting a Meati chat here. Didn't see that coming, didn't see it? Come, Let's move

to Sunday night football. Oh yeah, now you want to talk about two teams that need a w It is the Philadelphia Eagles traveling to Big Day, Big d Jerro World to face the Cowboys, and um West, I'll tee you up on this one because I know we heard, you know, to three and three teams, But it's the Cowboys West who who captured your heart in your imagination entering the season and at three and oh and they were just rolling over teams. Well, now you look back

on it, they beat the Giants with Eli Manning. They went to FedEx Field and beat the Redskins and then beat the Dolphins. As soon as the schedules tightened up, and of course there's been injuries, but as soon as the schedules tightened up, they have went in the tank. Where you at after watching some film was I'm still not seeing eye to eye with the rest of the

football world on this team. I don't know why people are picking on this offense and especially the quarterback who has been let down by drops, injuries, um, some flukiness in the red zone. They need to play better and the Jets game was a huge loss considering their schedule, but people are misread this team. The offense is playing pretty well. They need to do better in the red zone. Uh, and they need to get healthy. But it's the defense

that's failing this team. Um, the star studded defense that played so well down the stretch. I think they're twenty five and defensive d v A in second in offensive d v A. I just don't see this as like a bad team or a bad offense. Now. I don't know why people are acting like suddenly they're playing terribly. They have not been blown out there in all these

games that they lose. If you had gone into the year or even into the week and said, the Cowboys have to play the Jets with Sam Donald without their top two tackles a Maori Cooper and Randall Cobb, Like if you went into the season and you said, okay, they're starting receivers are Cedric Wilson and Tavon Austin, and

they're starting tackles are the two tackles. The last year, no one would have thought they were like a Gangbusters team, and they performed and went up and down the field pretty well overall against the Jets, You're right, Layton vanderash and Jalen Smith make a play. I mean they're I'm not like killing I don't think they're problems. Of course they're not problems. But they haven't been making big time game changing plays like they did a year ago. They've

just kind of been fine. I think that takes a little bit away, not that you're trying to do this Greg from the Jets, though, who this is the Cowboys? Sorry, but this is what they tout themselves to be and they were banged up. But if anyone had said a week ago, like the Cowboys are going to march into New into New Jersey and lose to the Jets, that would have not been an acceptable proposition for the Cows are good offensively, I think now, or they have a

chance to be pretty good offensively. I guess it was more of the Cowboys offense that I think. If you can put up almost four hundred yards and twenty three points as they did, like what more do you expect of a team with that crew out there? I mean, I just don't understand the criticism. But they're losing every week right now, so that's why they're getting killed in Jason Garrett especially. It's been another week where people are wondering if Jason Garrett is somebody that deserves to be

the head coach of the team. Farek question, that's a different conversation. But this is I wouldn't call this a game. I don't think this is a dirt knap game for these teams. But I do think, um, it's an incredibly important game for both teams and for the Cowboys they go into a buy after this UH and come back and get the Giants UH in New York, which won't

won't be an easy game, it never really is. But I will say that they can get their season back on track pretty quickly if they could deliver a good performance at home. I kind of expected to play out that way, and I think, why don't we pick this game? We haven't picked the game yet, Mark, what do you think Eagles at Jeral World. Eagles to me on offense

just lack identity at the moment. And their defense is I think that they have they get right defense for whoever they played right now, and I think the Cowboys are gonna win this game. Typical Sunday Night NFC East, tight matchup, last second field or a touchdown by the Cowboys. This is how far in my own head I am on the locks. I was gonna lock up the Cowboys. But then I realized I'd actually be really invested in this game while it was going on, Whereas with the

Falcons and Rams. If I lose that one, who cares, You're not even gonna watch it. Plus if you if you bailed and went into this game, Mark has already used his bail out, so he would be stuck with the one in five teams. This was actually my lock, Dallas, but it's shaky. Well, this it's a tricky one. I took the Cowboys In my game picks column, my picks have been poor NFL dot Com slash game picks. You know you really go for the you know the joke. Overall,

what's the overall picks have been poor slash games. I mean they're not as bad as our locks, but they're bad. But I do really think the injuries as bad as Dr Rainmaker. No, not that bad. Tell the stories. De Sean Jackson, we don't know if he's gonna play. It sounds like he's probably out. Randall Cobb and Marie Cooper

are both missing practice again. They expect Mariy Cooper to practice in some fashion on Fridays and then and then it does look like they're going to get their tackles back though, so Tyrant Smith and Yole Collins should be back, so that's that's a boost for them. I like I took the Cowboys by a point. I mean it was I don't feel good about it's I think it was six a little higher scoring. May whoever loses that the losing team's fan base and you know, media corps is

gonna be on fire. Yeah, but it's the right division to fall to three or three to four, and because it's like there's no six and two, the loser goes two ft under. I don't bury like that. When you were buried under found you die if you don't breathe for twelve. Because if I'm not going either of these

teams there yet. Even if the Eagles lose this game, there one game back and they just lost the road game to Dallas and they get them back later, I mean, it's not a devastating until there's a month long streak in one direction or another. These teams aren't going to separate from each other. Trying to get you a show, Mark, trying to get your own network show. You just gonna work with me here? What is it? The show? It sounds like, that's not gonna get a cat in this building. West,

what was your pick? Six and a half? Cowboys? Cowboys? Easy? Hard? Well? I was going to lock it, as I said, it was easy until I realized I was going to be invested in it throughout the game. West, we would twin jump over to this game and twin lock up the boys. Why not makes that night fun? All right, let's do it? All right, here we go. We're locking about the cowca No, it's gonna happen, right, Yeah, but it's more fun. Falcons are gonna win. Well, I don't want to hear about that.

The Jaguars will win, the Falcons will win, the Cowboys will lead it. Yes, that's exactly. But we're we are Dan, we are also we do have shards of manliness in us too. It's not just you and there has to be some accountability or a loser here. I like it. I think it'll be fun. Just went from like a three three and a half point underdog to a three point favorite. So you're you're we're you're living large. I don't look at that stuff very good. West. That was smart.

This makes a lot more sense. I like you like Falcons. Yeah, that him that that was highly masculine to go one in five. This one is why do you only give West credit for these locks over? What you don't want is affirmation from us about what's a good luck? I like that Mark, he needed a terrible call to get

hairs all. It's all the nonsense. If Mark, who has really been so generous with his social media love and boosting all of our boosting all of our tweets in Instagram, Yeah, really retweeting us, He's now doing that with me on locks and I appreciate whatever takes us. Finally, Monday night football, let's go Eagles the other a f C East game. Now I got something to root for. It to be fun crash into the ocean. It's not going to go that way. The New England Patriots are undefeated, first place

in a f C East. They traveled to the Meadow Ends to face those New York Jets who finally got their first win of the season. Um in a game that Greg is spooked by it. And I know it because I couldn't feel it. I could feel it. He Greg usually gets a little bit jumpy about Pat's games that most people expect dominance, But I think this one especially is on his radar a little bit. Yes or no, I think they could lose the game. Yes, I wouldn't say I'm spooked by it because it doesn't feel like

like a big game or a meaningful game. If he didn't introduce it in that way, Greg's nest next sentence was going to be I'm a little spooked by this. He just doesn't want to admit. I'm also annoyed. I'm not going to be able to watch this game because of life things getting in the way, which is very annoying. Curious.

I had to switch around the the other podcast justin Nick and Rosenthal Vanity Project tape that night because my daughter has this huge uh Fall Festival thing that she was really looking forward to and we couldn't make it last you know, year the following night. So now I'm out, good dad, work, annoying, good words, annoying. Then what you had to do, well, it's gonna be a good game for you to miss, because the Jets are coming to play and get back on their feet. And guess what

I'm looking at this, I'm looking ahead. I am I'm one of the I'm one of the only optimistic Jets fans in the world. I believe them uh to be a team that their Patriots run. A dynasty run is always just around the corner if they ever ever took care of the Patriots. On Monday night, I'm looking ahead and I see at Jacksonville, at Miami home to Giants, at Washington home to Oakland, at Cincinnati home to Miami

through Week fourteen, Boulevard of green lights. Basically the Patriots what they've had so far that the cake Patriots Now. When I when I looked at the schedule at the beginning of the season, before everything went to hell, I thought to myself, if they can get to through weeks six, at three and three or even two and four, they had a shot. When they started owing four, it just seemed like it's more likely they'd be oh and seven

by the time they got to the Dolphins. But now you can at least talk yourself into some thing crazy happening and then winning back to back games to get to that too and four and put themselves in some type of position to be relevant in December, which is all any Jet fan could ask for, considering how poorly the season, I couldn't agree more. And if you look at the zero or one win teams around the league. They all are wildly gigantic, messy operations with zero hope

except for the Jets. And it has everything to do with what happened last week. And you know, you can over praise Donald for some of the stuff that happened down the stretch last year, but a lot of it's confirmed by the play I saw against the Cowboys. It is we will just not know how hard it is to come off the kind of illness he had. We don't know what he was dealing with you here, you know, yes, that's great. When you were eighteen, you had Mono. Good

for you. You You have no idea what it means to go back and then deal with on field practice all week, short week and then roll in and deal with the Cowboys. I thought the way through the ball, the ways saw the field, everything changed in that offense. All you really can ask for from a quarterback is that the same parts that were unable to do anything for a week on n e weeks on end come in and play in Unison the way they did with Donald. I'd like

to see a little more from Levy on Bell. I think that will come in time, But they still have a bad offensive line. But and I'm not just saying this, Dan, because I know you're a Jets fan. I truly think they have a chance to be one of these second half teams that because of the schedule, one because of who they are, will be interesting. And that's not the worst thing to ask for as a fan. There is a revenge game here, oh, I mean a thousand times

over if not. But I mean, of course you've got you know, the Bill Belichick, but you also have Damarus Thomas, who was not happy about the way he was out this week. Yes, he feels that he was jerked around by the Patriots who weren't honest with him. In Belichick he actually answered to it. He usually doesn't, and he said how much he respected Damarus as a player and all that, and he feels, you know, he said it's too bad or whatever that you know, they didn't see

eye to eyes. Basically, Yeah, they Thomas was gonna leave for the Jets when they cut him, and they said we're gonna bring you back in a week and so, and they did. He trusted them, he'd rather be on the Patriots. And then they signed Antonio Brown and they traded him away it's a bad spot for him. And that that said, you know, they're not missing to Marius Thomas even though they could use you know, they need wide receivers in general. I'm just more interested to see

what Donald does against this defense. It sounds crazy, but the Jets offense with Sam Donald might be the best offense that the Patriots have played this year. That says, that says easy, and often they did, but they were they weren't operating well, and they continued to not operate well within without Ben Roethlisberger last week. I think when you saw Donald, he moved the ball, he moved his feet in the pocket so well he moves away from

pressure and still is able to grow is incredible. It's you know, it's it's like Tom Brady, but you know, a much more athletic, you know, but but moving and staying in the pocket is really impressive. And then he changes speeds like no one else. I mean, he can throw the touch pass, he can throw the heater. He he mixes and knows what speed to go with better

than anyone. I think it's gonna be a wake up call for the Jets offense just because this offensive line, this offensive line is not good, and I really don't trust the Cowboys to put pressure on quarterbacks outside of Robert Quinn right now, but I do I do think the Patriots are getting a lot of heat on quarterbacks yea, and from their linebackers and one of its highest sac

rate in the NFL. Wow. And it's it's not a coincidence that all of a sudden, Uh, you guys can tell me about the metrics if you looked at it, but all of a sudden, the Jets offensive line was able to protect the quarterback. It just shows that it's it's a two part deal. You have to be able to block, but the quarterback has to have that awareness, the spatial awareness, and that's why they actually were able to extend plays and take shots down field because he

knows what he's doing back there. So it's very exciting to have Donald back. West could be absolutely right. The Jets have had more than a few of these games where they thought they were gonna, you know, put New England on the ropes or or hanging a game. And it's twenty eight to three late in the third quarter, so it could go either way. But I think will be potentially a fun Monday Night game, and maybe, just maybe booger McFarland will put some respect on Jamal Adams

name this. We'll see though, what happened. Oh yeah, he didn't like well no, just the he called. He said it was a selfish play on the hit on Baker Mayfield, and then the league actually rescinded the fine. Um so selfish was a weird word to use in that situation. Um, all right, good preview, guys, saucy preview. So just the and the the locks. You guys both have the Cowboys correct? That will be fun Sunday Night football. So yes, coming

up later tonight. Yes, uh, the scientists recapt theirs the Night Football, and then we'll be back Sunday night to recap all the games we just previewed. The wheel keeps turning, Stand Hanson signing off, four Quiet Storm, the Mailman, the Old Boss, Eddie Spaghetti, Ryan Bartlett, everybody else behind the glass till Sunday,