2020 Week 5 Preview

was that? Greg? What were you doing there with your fists in your arms, just kind of moving them in an awkward way. I call that pure uncut sex. Yeah, whats It's one of the benefits of taping at home, Like we'll always look back at this year, Like remember that year they kept putting us on the network and we could just wear T shirts. Yeah, before they buried us when everyone went back to It's like when I got four arms like this, you know, you just want

to show it off. You have to. You have to know it's demand and people are demanding it, so you do. It does remind me that there will be a time, hopefully not too far down the road, where we have a vaccine and and the government has stunned us all by rolling it out in a way that all of America benefits from it, and we move beyond this horrific plague.

And then we get told maybe via email, maybe a secondary manager type, that we no longer have television programs, that we are no longer needed really on any level except for your cute little podcast. That time is coming. But I will take that trade off if it means that we don't have to wear masks outside anymore. You know, there's some good vaccine news coming up. People getting pretty optimistic about, you know, late into early spring that you know it could happen. So it's starting to have a

little bit of alright. Week five. Week five in the NFL. Obviously, Week four was impacted by the coronavirus with a postponement, uh two post moments one game that got taken care of on Monday, and of course the Steelers and Titans, which was moved to the middle of the season. We're going to go through all the games that are going to be played Week five. We won't dig in obviously on the Bills and Titans, and that's for obvious reasons.

At the time of this taping, there's just too much unknown out there, So what's the point of us pretending to games happening. We don't even know who's playing, who's available, if they're playing, so uh, don't get angry at us. Uh tytoons, excuse me, Titans fans, and I don't know. You might have a case there at this point, but what to bring it back? I mean, I like that

about three cases right right? This is a this is a more clownish scenario that then, you know, dropping a week eight game to the Jaguars or something they've created total tumult. He said it. People, No, but I know what you're saying exactly anyway, So we're not gonna hit that game. But if it is indeed played, um, we will of course cover it on the Sunday night Flagship Show or hypothetically Monday night Tuesday Night. I don't know.

It's all so crazy right now, but let's get into the rest of the game's folks, and we do it draft style, and Mark, uh, you just so happened to have the number one overall pick where you go, I'm gonna go pick the Indianapolis called traveling to Cleveland to face the three and one Browns, and I am trying to remember a preview show in our long history where we had the Browns as the number one pick, I

mean without me pulling some sort of shenanigans. That's that's been improbable in our in the run of our show. So how did we get here? I would point to someone named Paul de Podesta, the chief strategy officer of the Browns, who a year ago before they you're gonna mention the vibriss that originated somewhere else in the world and came here. Well, that's a factor too. But de Podesta pushed to hire Kevin Stefanski before they hired Freddy Kitchens.

He pushed to hire Andrew Berry. And for the first time ever, we have a head coach in a GM that are married together without a lot of infighting and politics. And it is showing in this in this team right now. And they they asked a couple of the players, what do you think about Stefanski's play calling Darren Gutsy And we saw that against the Cowboys, a series of trick plays, the fifty yard run by Odell in a tough spot. I just think this is a different type of team

than we've seen in Cleveland a really long time. And you know people can say, why doesn't Baker Mayfield, why is he throwing for three d yards a game? Well, you don't need him to right now. He has been tracked as the when you look at perfect ball location, PFF looks at this the number one quarterback right now. And I know that there are some plays that Baker Mayfield would want back, but he is working well in

this system. The run game is on fire. You know there are concerns that Nick Chub is not part of that. But Greg, I know that you've and studying a little bit of de Ernest Johnson who stepped in for now Yeah, right, and Kareem Hunt and Ernest Johnson and the rest of that cast did not skip a beat. Now that was against the Dallas defense. Now you're playing a defense that is shut down the run and done a lot of other ian caused a lot of other problems for teams

that they've faced so far. So this is a good test for the Browns. Did you? And that was a love fest? Mark? And I'm happy for you, Mark, because that is as about as positive as you've been on a Brown's monologue since I've known you. Did you say Baker Mayfield is the number one quarterback according to PF No, no, no, according to like perfect ball placement situations. It's a niche stat. But I'm gonna deep. I'm gonna dig deep for niche stats.

Deep letter on Baker's case. Come on enough with that, because I think because I think, um, we're gonna see I don't think people are really saying, like, why isn't Baker Mayfield throwing for three hundred yards? I think it all makes sense the way their game plan is playing out. But now Nick Chubb is on I R. So that does change a lot, and it does put more pressure on Baker. For example, hit that throw down the left sideline when Baker Mayfield or when Odell bails him out

in the end of the Cowboys game. You're gonna need Baker to play at a higher level than he has. Well. They had about seven points when Nick Chubb left against the Cowboys, and they put up forty two in the final three quarters. I don't know where they find these guys. De Ernest Johnson just mowing over people, reminding Mark Sessler of of a young Kevin Mack. But you're not gonna do it this week against DeForrest Buckner. I mean, it'll

be tough for you. Gotta try to run against this Colts team, and we don't know if Darius Leonard is gonna be out there, which to me is a huge factor. I thought when you said Mark though one guy changed at all, I thought you were gonna say Bill Callahan their offensive line. To me, he's the key, He's the key. There's suddenly the best offensive line in the league. These teams are bizarre there three and one, and with their

quarterbacks not doing much. I mean Baker Mayfield's yards per attempt, Yeah, he's he's been accurate, he's been fine. It's still near the bottom of the league. And Philip Rivers, to me, has not particularly played well. If feel like I'm in bizarro land. I'm always defending Philip Rivers and his team is letting him down. And now I'm saying, I don't know, like he is being very careful with this throws, and yet he's still had plenty of turnover worthy plays. He's

missed a lot of throws. There's not a lot of juice around him. Only Lamar Jackson and Kirk Cousins have thrown the ball less than these two quarterbacks Baker in Philip Rivers out of guys who have started four games. So it's bizarre. In in an offensive league, I sort of trust the Browns a little more because they seem more like the offensive team here. Mark Cesslo, you should lock up your Browns if you really believe in him. Well you know, I I've learned to touch the Browns

in our lock exercise. But Greg, I'm with you because I don't think Cleveland is playing around Baker Mayfield. But when you watch this Cults team, you kind of get the sense that they're trying to ask Philip Rivers to do as little as possible, and I don't know if they have the offense to carry them that way. I mean, what is going on with t Y Hilton? When is he Is he deciding just to take the early autumn off when he be reignited into this attack? Not impressed

so far with t Y Hilton. I think the Colts part of it has been the schedule and they haven't needed to ask Phil Rivers to carry them in a game. It could happen here because the Browns have been putting up points and I think will continue to happen. It did show me something with the Indie defense last week

playing without Darius Leonard to shut down. Listen, the Bears are not very good on offense, but still to hold that team to three points late in the fourth quarter that they have more depth than they can keep it going. And I think, uh, this will be a real test for both teams. I think this is a good number one overall pick, mark, and it is a great sign for your Cleveland Browns that they are in the top of the show. Now, let's see what they can do

with that. That and that's a great responsibility mark your Browns right now at the top of this show. It is. I mean, I don't know if I'm shouldering the responsibility. My job is to sit there and watch them and see how they perform. But I mean, they nearly gave me a heart attack at the end of the Cowboys games. So can we make these a little less dramatic? Possibly? All right, we'll see how it plays out. All right, I am up. It is a bit of a weird slate this week. Um, So it wasn't a game that

jumped right out at me. So I will go with the Las Vegas Raiders traveling to Arrowhead to face the Chiefs, um and I thought the Chiefs performance on Monday night was interesting. They won because their defense showed it can still deliver a big performance even when it's shorthanded. You're missing Chris Jones, who is there, you know, best playmaker on the defensive line, and they still force four turnovers,

uh and hold the opposition to ten points. Now that opposition is this game playoff the same way with Cam Newton behind center instead of Brian Hoyer and Jared Stidham. Probably not the same type of game, but I still think the outcome outcome would have been the same with Patrick Mahomes stepping in and making sure the Chiefs there

win that game. So I think, on balance, even if you want to be like, oh, that was a bit of a bummer that the Chief's offense wasn't humming there in prime time, I think it was on balance a good sign for the Chiefs that they again showing that this is a well rounded team. It's just it's not

just the Patrick Mahomes show. So I expect them to be in a really good spot here against the Raiders greg a Raiders team that showed for the second consecutive week that they can hang for a while with a team better than them, but they make too many mistakes to win these games outright, and they don't have a defense. I mean, this is the perfect recipe for the Chiefs to get right offensively. It feels weird that a four NO team who blasted the Ravens on Monday Night football

needs to get right. But they are a little different. I mean, Mahomes is eighteenth and yards right now, like eighth and yards per a tempt that they're between six and eight. I mean, he's fine. I'm just saying they're not at the level that they were out a year ago. And he's playing well, and you know what gets you back to that level, a nice comfortable matchup versus this dreadful Raiders defense. I mean, they were thirty in the league last year in efficiency, thirty feet in the league

this year. They don't do anything well. They missed tackles, they're not fundamental, they don't have much skills, they don't have a pass rush. The one thing I liked about them was in their secondary with Trayvon Mullen and our net, and now our net is hurt, and so this is perfect. Mahomes cooks the Chiefs. And I think John Gruden's head is about to explode because of this defense. He's never had a bad defense like this. He always had Monty

Kiff and kind of propping him up in Tampa. Uh, this is a new experience, and you do wonder if he you know, I wouldn't be comfortable if I was employed, Uh in the you know, Raiders defensive coaching room right now. I think you're right, Gregg. And I mean I don't like to look at results from a year ago and beyond that, but there is something about this Chief's Raiders rivalry which is that it's not a rivalry and just

hasn't been for so long. Derek Carr is Owen six in Kansas City, John Cruden is not beaten Mahomes and the Chiefs, and they haven't just simply lost. Look at some of the results. They have been sandblast by the Chiefs. So you know, we can talk about Kansas City site still finding its groove on offense, but their version of finding their groove is their four No, they're undefeated. They just hammered the Ravens a couple of weeks ago. I

don't see a lot in their way this time. What I'd love to see is what happened to that Raiders offense from week one? What happened to Josh Jacobs. I mean, it's one of my favorite running backs. He's not been the same guy to ask a couple of weeks. I think he's playing fine, but he's not the central figure that he was right now. No, and you mentioned it, Dan, like, this is a team that if you want to be a frisky Raiders team, you have to be like the

Patriots were a week ago. There they had an offensive penalty was their first all season. Okay, that's well coached right there. That's disciplined. The Raiders, to me, are a mistake prone outfit and you can't be that against Mahomes and the Chiefs. You're gonna get waxed. I thought it was a perfect kind of summation of where the Raiders are, which is a team that they're not a laughing stock

by any stretch. But Darren Waller, their start tight end, gets the ball punched out of his hands by Josh Norman. The next play, uh, they go up top Uh Josh Allen and hits a fifty yard past the Digs to set up the game clinching touchdown breakdowns all over the place. So I the Raiders aren't there yet, and I do you You mentioned sand blasted mark, which is a wild way to explain it. So I'll go with like, I

couldn't we lock games every week. I couldn't look in the mirror and and say, oh, I'm gonna lock up the Chiefs here, because this feels like the sand blaster event of the week where we could be, you know, a three touchdown difference. I don't like the Raiders chances of hanging in this game. Now you would, We would kick you off the show if you detended to lock up the Chiefs. It's just it's that's illegal, all right,

show us something. They might get Trent Brown back though a big time right tackle, and they might get Henry Ruggs their first round draft pick on offense. So show us something and score some points. Right, that's another chef. See, we we challenge the Browns by making them first and say, you know, show us that you are worthy of that high placement of the show. Now, Raiders, we challenge you to make a competitive at Arrowhead. Greg you're up next

in the draft. Uh, not their game. I'm gonna challenge a team. How about the Minnesota Vikings go to Seattle and put on a show for us on Sunday Night football. I think they can do it because the Vikings offense the last couple of weeks has taken major strides because of Justin Jefferson. He has played so well. I'm almost like afraid to talk about how well Justin Jefferson is playing. Like you watch those two games and you think, is he the number one receiver and Theland's number two? Like

has he fully replaced Stefan Digs? Yet it sounds crazy because it's two games and you want to see more. But it's the way he's doing it, his yards after the catch, the way he gets the ball at the catchpoint. It's everything they were saying coming into the draft. It's everything that's making the Eagles fans crazy that they didn't wind up with this guy. And Dalvin Cook is running as hard as anyone. They're scoring over thirty points a game.

Cousins is like in a totally different offense. They barely throw the ball, but no one throws it deeper more often than Kurt Kid because he Cousins, like what is happening. It's a totally different Vikings, right, I love I love a little kid, causey you know he this they should put up points everyone plays. You know what, I thought

the same thing the past two weeks. The Vikings fixed themselves on offense, and I you know, there's too much talent there and you could get on Kirk Cousins for being flawed or a guy that can't get to the next level. But Kirk Cousins is gonna get you points and take you down the field for sixteen weeks of a regular season. So they've now fixed one side of the ball. Now they just gotta figure out how to make the defense competent and if they could do that,

they will get back in the race. But I totally I'm with you that was on Justin Jefferson. That was a huge issue for them in the first three weeks of the season where they couldn't or the first two weeks of this season where it was clear that Cousins didn't know who to trust. Once the kid kid cause he showed that, uh, he could trust the rookie. Now that offense, the lids off the offense because you have two big time receivers and you know, quietly a top

three running back in the whole league and Dalvin Cook. Yeah, they can be what they were last year. I mean it was the question of you you handed away Stefon Diggs. It wasn't. It wasn't you know, in any way of fleecing because you got picks back, and then this pick has worked out with Jefferson, So you can be what you were last year, especially when you have Dalvin Cook running for three d and forty five yards and three

touchdowns over the last two weeks. I mean, this is an explosive offense when it wants to be, and you're you're facing a Seahawks pass rush that simply doesn't exist. I mean, it's a ghost pass rush. It's the worst in the league in many metrics. Jamal Adams is out of the mix. So this has potential shootout potential that the Vikings can be what they want to be. But I'm gonna tell you something right now. I just think

Seattle is a special team right now. And you know, the desert does not provide a lot of comfortable locks this week for us. But I have no shame in picking the Seattle Seahawks to lock this game up, to win it and take the Vikings. I like it. I mean that you're right there were It's weirdly a week. There's a lot of mismatches, and I think think this game is dangerous for Seattle. I trust them ultimately because they're so aggressive offensively. The drive at the end of

the first half against Miami was unbelievable. I'm not gonna I'm not gonna shame you know what I already can tell dan Is dan is getting I'm gonna be hearing about this from Damn right around our Sunday night show. I have no problems. I haven't said anything. Let it be staying. It's you, it's your tone, it's the way that you're not, you know, sort of shaking your head a little bit. The Viking. The Vikings defense is so bad.

If you saw that drive that the Seahawks guys made at the end of that first half, they had twenty five seconds and they scored a touchdown against Miami. In the past, that would have been Brian Schottenheimer running into the line and running into halftime. Instead, they scored a touchdown in four plays like that is outrageous, and Minnesota's kind of showed nothing defensively where you actually think they'll get many stops. So you're right, Mark, this is a

good pick. I feel good about Russell Wilson on pace for seventy five touchdowns at home against the worst past defense in the league, a team that's one and three. I feel like this is a good lock for you. Thank you. I well, you know your approval is something that I'm constantly seeking, So this this matters to me. Feeling good? All right, Greg, you're up next. That snakes to you, all right. Early games, I'm excited to see the first matchup of Lamar Jackson versus Joe Burrow Bengals Ravens.

Isn't it fun that the Bengals are in games that we actually want to watch. I don't know if they can win this game, but I think they can slow down the Ravens. Like the Ravens are, it's tough to compare them to the two thousand nineteen Ravens, like that's unfair for any team, even Ravens. But they're not They're not the same. They're eleventh in efficiency right now. They don't have those long drives. I think the offensive line is not playing quite as well. They have the explosive place.

I mean, you saw Lamar Jackson last week. He makes a couple of incredible throws and incredible runs and you don't worry about them that much against the Bengals defense that the numbers is a lot better this year. Um, but you think this is a game where they'll still do enough. But it's it's not the same feeling. And you do wonder if if it's familiar matchups, if it's

tough defenses they're facing. But like that seven yard you know run that Lamar kind of does to the outside, that always felt like the easiest playing football, they're not getting that this year, and they're not getting the easy runs out of their running backs either. So now that they're heading into division play, I'm curious to see if this Bengals defense, which is played fairly well, can slow

him down a little bit. I'm with you. I think it's an interesting matchup, and you're right, the Bengals are attractive to view for the first time and that I can remember in a long time, because Andy Dalton never really got it done for me. I'd imagine, though, if your defensive coordinator and we're going back to you know, February and March, and you have time to dissect film, well, what are you doing. If you're gonna face the Ravens in September October, then figure out ways to neutralize what

they did last year. They were ahead of the curve and defenses catch up to some of this stuff. That said, I mean watching Lamar Jackson last week, he made a couple through was one to Marky Andrews, who still remains incredibly dangerous. That are just pinpoint accurate. So I think they can do more and more. I have no problem with them kind of working themselves out of a funk a little bit. This Ravens team, to me, I would consider it a Titanic upset if the Bengals snow slowed

them this week. Am I wrong here? I mean, I don't think anybody's gonna pick Sincinni to win this game, but I I do feel the same way that Burrow makes them exciting Cincinnati. And you know what, Finally, Joe Mixon becomes a huge part of that offense. And it's kind of weird. It's the same weekend last weekend. Then he began the weekend in the hospital with a mysterious chess chest pains that he wondered if he got it

from sleeping the wrong way. I've never had issues from sleeping on my chest that I've I've put my arm to sleep before. I've woken up with a short neck before from sleeping. But but like you know, put me in a hospital with a chest injury from sleeping. I don't know. But he was he was awesome. Uh. In Week four, he carried the offense three touchdowns over a

hundred and fifth the total yards. And that's like a nice reminder, Hey, Joe Burrow doesn't have to go out and go at this alone with a bad offensive line and limited skilled talent on the outside. You have this all pro caliber running back behind you. So um, having Joe Mixon playing like Joe Mixon is huge uh for Cincinnati and makes them frisky in this game. And my thought on the Ravens is, yeah, maybe they're not humming like they did last year on offense, but they might

not ever do that again. Lamar Jackson will play fifteen more years and never have a season like he had last year. That was just a blessed season. Uh. If he can do what they did last week, that will win nine out of ten weeks as well. So I feel good about the Ravens this week. But this could be an interesting game. Could be defensively, I think they have to be a little worried about their pass fresh too.

They get no pressure without sending blitzes, and so this is a good test against Joe Burrow where you figure you shouldn't need to send the house to get to Joe Burrow in this offensive line. They played better against Jacksonville, but Baltimore, I know they're worried about that. They don't have guys that can win one on one, and I think against the better teams that can expose you. And Joe Burrow, I don't know he makes the right decisions. He might know where to throw against that blitz. He's

got weapons to Higgins playing pretty well too. I mean I would say that the Bengals have helped pass rushes get right all seasons, so it could be arrow up for the Ravens on that front. All right, I am up next and I will select drumroll please Monday Night Football Chargers at Satan. Okay, So, uh, I really liked

what I saw from the Saints against the Lions. You know, they fall behind fourteen nothing, uh and you're thinking, oh, this looks like a disaster shaping up and then they reel off five consecutive touchdowns and take control of that game and and win it and get kind of get their mojo back a little bit. I'm not saying all is right in New Orleans right now, but that is a win that I feel like I can get them going. I continue to think the handeringing around Drew Brees is

a little bit absurd. Yes, he's not a downfield passer at this stage of his career, but they're putting up points and Michael Thomas is the best wide receiver of the league. He hasn't been anywhere near the field since Week one, and they've They've still been okay, and a big part of that is because Alvin Kamar is the best running back alive, with all due respect to Christian McCaffrey, who's injured right now, but Kamara, week after week is

the best player on the field. And I think we're gonna just gonna continue to see this offense piling up points even if Drew Brees isn't hitting on fifty yard bombs. I don't know why everyone's so obsessed with the idea that Drew Brees has to hit on these long passes

for the offense to be good because it doesn't. Well, I I just you know, I I'm with Dan in the sense that I think Breese right now is like an adjunct professor of Gridiron smarts, and he's leaning on you know, twenty years of dissecting film and in actual teams in real life, in real time, and guys like tray Kwon Smith stepped up a manual send Sanders finally

appeared last week. Take a lot to go down fourteen nothing when they were up untill like you know, two three in the morning with their Corona scare and then turn around and it wasn't just it wasn't just that it was five straight touchdowns. It was long drives. They put drives together and completely beguiled the Lions. My one concern though, if you're the Chargers, is you loosed Austin

Ekeler and they're running backs. Just Justin Jackson and Joshua Kelly come in and combined for fifteen carries for sixteen yards, greg and a killer fumble before the half against the Bucks. This isn't the Bucks defense against the run, but the Saints feel like they've got an advantage there on that front. Yeah, they have a lot of advantage. I'm worried. You're right. I mean, the Bucks are a historic rush defense last year,

so that's not a shock. I think Joshua Kelly's fine, but I'm worried about Justin Herbert because I like this kid so much. I've enjoyed watching him. He's been my favorite part of the entire season. I mean, he is a kid. We're old, We're in. You've said that we're old fourteen times on the shows of our Think yourselves, what kind of midlife prices are you going through right now? I'm forty one. I'm embracing it. But this kid, and

he's unbelievable. The touch, the accuracy, and it's almost like thinks have been going too well for him, and you worry about in prime time because he's not just playing well, he's carrying them. They're missing five defensive starters. They're not the same team without Chris Harris and Melvin ingram Uh and the rest of their starters, Derwin James. They're not the same without Austin Neckler. They didn't have Mike Williams last week, they didn't have the right side of their

offensive line. We'll see how the injuries shake out this week. But you're playing a veteran team that's pretty um deep upfront, that's getting players back, and it just feels like it's it's asking Herbert an awful lot to carry them to your point on on the defense, like you're up against Tom Brady and the Bucks and you let that slip away, like stocked Chargers defense would not have done that. Well, that is true, but also Joshua Kelly putting the ball on the ground there at the end of the first

killing killed him. That changed the entire game. It was would have been seven at the half. I believe they could have just kneeled on it and got out of there with that lead. They handed off at deep in their own zone, he coughs it up, Brady does what Brady does, and and then they took off from there.

I just want to, you know, you feel for Tarrod Taylor or Tyrod Taylor, who is now just kind of disappeared and he's never coming back to the starting lineup barring an injury to Herbert at this point because the rookie, the kid has showed off that he deserves to be playing. But we aren't. We should be thankful that this Monday night game has juice because Tyrod Taylor against the Saints doesn't do much for me at all. A young Justin

Herbert against the old Drew Brees, that's fun. But for all the reasons that I've stated earlier, I'm locking up the Saints here against Justin Herbert in prime time. I just think, uh, you know, he's got a little bit of a tall task ahead of him. Is that okay with you know? And if it helps Dan? Like I as you approved of my lock, which means a lot to me in reverse, I approve of yours. Greg, How do you feel it's fine? This is like a week where we're just hitting some four ft pots, moving on

to moving on to the next one. Watch us all lose? Okay, time now for a road to victory presented by the United States Marine Corps. Mark Cecily, you're up, all right? Well, I'm gonna go with the Giants at Dallas. And this is a Newsy game. Damn. We already have some issues bubbling up in this one. Oh yeah. The Cowboys This from Mike Garretfolo and Jane Slater might be without Tyron Smith,

their star left tackle. They're gathering medical opinions on his neck after a setback, and one option is being considered shutting him down for the season, according to A Garafolo and Jane Slater, So a killer development for the Cowboys who are already hurting. Yeah, it's it's really rough, and you know he hasn't really been healthy to begin with. And you saw what Myles Garrett and the Browns pass

rush did to this offense last week. You know, there was that to drive stretch where the Cowboys head back to back fumbles which put them in a big hole. But outside of that, at this offense, your offensive line issues aside, this offense is unbelievable right now. I think Seedee Lamb is just morphing into a star before our eyes. Guys like Dalton Schultz. Uh. My thing though, is you just cannot They are almost an offense that cannot make mistakes.

If their defense under Mike Nolan is going to continue to play the way that they've been playing, I mean, it looks like a unit that never really got off zoom meetings onto actual on field progressing. They are getting torn up now. I don't know if the Giants can take advantage of that, but if they can, I'd be really concerned about the Giants offense. Yeah, I don't know what to make of this Cowboys defense because I do think you can put it on the coach in the scheme.

You know, you look at the Giants defense for instance, they they installed the new scheme and you try to keep it simple for your players, and you know what, their defense is a lot better this year without Tyrone Smith. I don't know. I think this game becomes a little more dangerous for the Cowboys. That's devastating because we haven't really talked about why Ale Collins being likely out for the season, as Jeans later also broke, Yeah, big year

for Jane Slater and tackle news in Dallas. I mean, they go from having the best tackle combination in the league to one of the worst, and it really it makes you think they're not gonna be able to keep up and keep getting into these shootouts if they're not as good up front. Dan, Yeah, the whole thing is crumbling for the Cowboys once again. It feels like it

happens every year for different reasons. But when you factor in how bad this defense has been and now with the offensive line issues, it's just none of this points to a big rally come back to win another NFC East title. And you look at where Dallas is defensively, they're the worst in the league statistically in terms of points allowed. Well, the Giants are on the opposite end of the spectrumunt offense. Uh, nobody has been worse than them points wise this season. And I think that the

heat is turned up here on Danny Dimes. And I know you don't want to judge a quarterback so quickly. He's just in his second season. But at the same time, just like the other team in the East, Rutherford doom Zone, the Jets, you have to make a decision with when you have a high first round pick coming and some real quarterback talent in the upcoming draft class, what are you gonna do with your quarterback? And we haven't seen a lot from Danny Domes since about the third quarter

of Week one. If he doesn't get right and start putting up points against this Cowboys defense, it's gonna get louder and louder the buzz about what his future is this quickly In New York, They're gonna miss Pat Schermer at some point. It sounds crazy, but Giants fans have to look at what Danny Dimes was doing last year, and you saw a guy who was playing freely who I thought was exciting to watch. In the difference right

now under Jason Garrett is he's indecisive. He's he's trying to avoid turnovers, but he's not doing the positive things Danny Dimes that is that at least made him intrigue. It's a tough watch on offense, and you're right if he can't get it done this week, Jason Garrett's gonna get a lot of heat. Cowboys fans are loving this

having Garrett come into town this week. The one thing that I think the Giants are doing well is you know they had the Rams last We could under sixty yards rushing with about eight minutes to go in that game. They are a pretty solid defense against the run, and if you can take Zeke Elliott out of the affair,

that will help a little bit. But I just it's I struggle to come up with the way where this game is a close nail biter in the fourth quarter, if Dallas is operating the way that you'd expect with their star players. I mean, Amari Cooper used to be this inconsistent guy, right he has been like the most maximized version of Amari Cooper we've ever seen. It's I

don't know how Dallas here. I mean, I wouldn't say you could judge what the future of the Cowboys based on going against the giants in week five, but I I think because you're gonna see. My prediction here is even with all the stuff going on in front of Dak Prescott, he's gonna be airing it out and piling up yards and points. Again, I don't know if it's five hundred yards, but Cooper Gallop ceedee lamb. They are going to have their way with this giant secondary. So

we'll see how it plays out. But Cowboys in a tough spot that was road to victory presented by the United States Marine Corps Mark Snakes, do you baby sneaks to me, I will go rams at Washington. I kind of want to see what happens with this Washington offense. Like we know that Dwayne Haskins is now been benched. Kyle Allen, the Kyle Allen of ex Panther's fame, if

you want to call it that. From a Seattle goes in there, I mean, Kyle Allen to me, like I I fell in love with him early, had that game right out of the gate where he threw four touchdowns, no picks and looked like an aggressive down field thrower. But then he had stretches of incredible turnover scenarios that just completely deep six that team, and he wound up as the least deep, past deep, accurate deep passer in

the league. So, you know, I don't know why the switch was made at this point other than they've completely given up on Dwayne Haskins and it's a tough situation for him. You're a second year quarterback under a completely new regime that by all accounts is ready to draft another quarterback next off season. So tough role. And Kyle All and to I, what's that hippie with your theory? Please? I have a theory. I think Ronrivert never liked Dayne Haskins,

and it's his right, his decision. He I think he kind of had it in his mind, probably before he even took the job, when he was studying tape of last season He's like, Ah, this guy's no good. And then in a truncated training camp where he didn't, you know, wow him, and then start to the season, River already knows that this is his show and he's gonna want his quarterback, and he's kind of made that decision that Haskins is never gonna be his guy. So, uh, that's

thanks for Haskins. But Greg also he's gonna he'll get a fresh start somewhere else next year. And getting out of Washington is not the worst thing in the world either. No, probably not, but I I expect he'll get another chance this year. I expect we'll see Alex Smith start at some point. Alex Smith was made the backup and Haskins will be number three, which is which is fascinating to me. I I don't think it's a big mistake to to bench Dwayne Haskins when he's not ready to play right now.

We're in this weird era where you have to succeed right away and he's in his second year. It's like some quarterbacks can get better over time, like we've seen that. And I think if you watch Haskins play this year, including last week. I know people are kind of on them for benching him after a three yard game, but if you watch that game, his decision making him holding onto the ball forever, him missing some open throws. He has struggled, and so what's the point of putting out

a quarterback that's not ready? Now? Is Kyle Allen gonna be any better? I have my doubts, but you can tell Scott Turner, their coordinator who was with Alan Um, has some belief in him. When when you see the rap sheet pregame report on you know, NFL game day morning Dan, like last week before the game, that's like they're considering benching Dwayne Haskins. It's like it's over, Like, don't even put him in that game. You've already made

your decision. And I think that's fine, and I and I really believe Alan and probably Smith will struggle eventually too, and we'll Haskins will get one more chance. Well that that's fine, but that's not by design. It's because you're you're one of these teams with no quarterback essentially. I mean, it would be incredible to see Alex Smith play, though, I think that that would be one of the more They're ready for it right, doesn't make anybody else nervous.

I just I mean, I hear that, but like he's been checked out by doctors and they asked that to Rivera and he said, look at if our doctors say that he can do what he can do it. I mean, if you're Haskins and you're at number three to meet, I don't know who a buyer would be, but are you potentially thinking about shopping Dwayne Haskins this season for next to nothing if he's been buried down at the

number three position? I mean, it's just an unusual situation for a second year quarterback that should have more rope, I think. I mean, I I agree with Gregg, he's not playing well at all, But I mean, young quarterbacks play, they don't sit. They don't get relegated to third, the third spot at this point in it's very unusual. And uh, by the way, they did it again, Greg, the Washington football team down thirteen with four and a half minutes to go, facing a fourth and six at midfield, they

punted that servera putting up that white flag again. But you have like akable four fourth down. Why are you putting the ball away? What are we doing here? He keeps it. He says he wants to play Alan because he sees there's an opportunity to go win the NFC East. And you know, it's funny they mentioned they kind of like the upcoming schedule. Well that that good upcoming schedule starts next week because you're playing the Rams this week,

a very professional team. I'm just amazed that the Rams have like totally transition to the most run heavy team in the league. They are. They are the number one running team in the league according to Football Outsiders. And it's not just like, oh they're efficient, No, they're like running it every down. They're running it down your throat. It's a tougher matchup this week gainst Washington, but it's like, I think that's all you're gonna need to do against

washing It. It's it's crazy that McVeigh has really gone this hard as like, even in neutral situations, we're gonna be running on second and ten and it's working pretty well. I mean, I would say this though they were asleep at the wheel against the Giants until the final like eight minutes of that game. I mean, it's and I trust the work work their way out of that, but

that was not a good performance. I feel like those games happened to every team every once in ahime especially you kind of played down to the level of a team that stinks and the good teams find a way to get out of there with the w Yeah to your to your point, Greg. The rams top three running backs have all had at least twelve carries in a game uh this season through four weeks. So they're just like running it down the throat with all these different options.

And what a blessing for the NFC West this year to get the NFC East on their schedule. The Rams are three and oh and I think they'll be four and oh after Sunday. All right, I am up next. Let us let us pray, all right, philadelp The Eagles at Pittsburgh Steelers, the Battle of Pennsylvania. iBOT. That has anybody done that yet? No, that's new. That's the key Stone State keyth Stone Scramble. All right. I'm excited to see the Eagles with some momentum if they could really

start to roll here. I don't know where we're at right now with their skill players and if car and Wentz is going to have more help. But I did. I really enjoyed his performance with nothing on Sunday night, especially the deep shot to uh folk Caam. He just goes by his last name for me, what is it? Travis? Travis foam fallam uh. And now you have a chance to stack up some wins again in a terrible division. So I like the Eagles is the favorite in the NFC East and on the Steelers side and on the

Steeler side of things, I don't know. Like Ben Roethlisberger was talking this week how he feels, you know, that they were kind of putting a tough spot here and he especially he's coming off this elbow injury and he felt like he was getting into a group. I get it. I mean, it's it's stinks. I mean, the Steelers just got caught up in this COVID madness. But at the same time, just like every other team has to do,

you just have to roll and adapt. So we'll see if that makes a difference if they come out looking a little clunky. Uh that I like the Steelers in this game, but I think we have a nice competitive game. I love this as a value pick in the draft right now. Isn't it interesting that, like you get Mike Tomlin a week ago giving you really pretty badass quotes about the fact that listen, Corona, no Corona, the Pittsburgh Steelers are all business. We're gonna do whatever it takes

no excuses and then playing according to type. Big Ben is sort of whining and complaining about it, and we didn't get our way, and it's like everyone's just kind of kind of roll with this. I feel like we haven't watched the Steelers and Ages, but to me, the one guy that stands out that's working on that team, Eric Ebron, has been a great fit for them. I just I'm watching the Eagles and Dan, I'm appreciate that you enjoyed the performance on Sunday night. I do not

like boring teams. The Eagles to me, are like the most boring team out there right now. I'm not and they need to win me back over. I am tired of predicting them for the playoffs and everything else. Show me something. For two years in a row, they've been dull to the eyes. Carson Wentz is fun to watch it, and now he's kind of you know, he's starting to run a lot more. I mean, he's erratic, but you're

not sure what you're gonna get. We don't know who's gonna play at receiver in this game for either team. We could get the Shawan Jackson and Alston Jeffrey back for the Eagles. Uh. Juju didn't practice, the Auntie Johnson didn't practice, So Ben should maybe be happy they got that week off because his receivers are still a little banged up. It's two really good pass rushes. Uh. The Eagles have that defensive line going right now. They're they're

among the league leaders in sacks. They can bring waves of guys. But there's only one decent offensive line in this game, and that's Pittsburgh. So when you have Pittsburgh on defense, them coming after Carson Wentz with that blitz. You saw Stefan too. It had his best game in Week three before we lost the Steelers from the schedule for a week. And it's like they they are the team I think that can win with two pass rushers up front on any given play, more than any team.

And going up against this Eagles line, which is so banged up. We don't know about Lane Johnson either. Uh. To me, that is a mismatch and that's why I'm locking up the Steelers. Like Okay, Okay, I like that. I think that's a solid lock. For as much as I kind of admire the moxie of Cars and Wentz and their ability to I mean that was a nice win on the road in prime time. To find a way to win in San Francisco with all those variables working against them, I think that this is going to

be a tough task for them. I think it's gonna be a very tough task. Um all right, up next Greg on the draft, I'll go Carolina Atlanta. I love this Panthers team. I uh, I'm kind of like you, Mark and that I am gonna totally crowned Matt Rule too early. Like I am so impressed with the coaching job that he's doing. Teddy Bridgewater is on pace for yards and that aide that's rising Dan, you know, Robby

Anderson's on pace for fifteen hundred yards. Their defense after just I just kind of like assumed they were going to be a joke all year. Their rookies are playing pretty well, Derek Brown and yetur gross Matos. You know, I thought they were gonna be an embarrassment. I was thinking a lot in this game up to until I saw you guys kind of take it with some you know, Shorter puts here and decided I'm not gonna get as creative use. But I this Carolina team, what what an indictment.

This would be of dan Quinn if Matt Rule goes in there with an underman team and that's coaching. Is there anything else? Is there anything else that we can indict poor dan Quinn for he's already I mean, he's a dog that's been kicked so many times. Like what what could we what could we learn now at this point to make us think less of where he's at? Well, how about out coach Matt Rule? Which tea people are

not doing? They're just not doing it. I mean, who thought they were gonna knock off the Cardinals a week ago? I think it's also it's their coordinators, Joe Brady innovative on offense doing stuff. I mean that offense is so much better than it was a year ago. Phil Snow is an aggressive defensive coordinator. I really am into Mike davis Man. I know that he's he's moved around a little bit, but a lot of coaches love him. He has a little bit of mark Ingram to him, a

little bit of maybe Pierre Thomas. I just see running backs of old I like his style. And you know, Reggie Bonafon has been helpful too. And you said it with like Anderson has been a perfect fit. I just think this offense is frisky. Teddy Bridgewaters playing as well as he ever has so to me, I mean, you know, Atlanta's defense completely crumbled last week and You've got nothing

from Julio Jones. You got nothing from Calvin Ridley. The offense fell apart, and it's like, if they're not scoring thirty five points in these games they're in, they're in a serious hot water. I mean literally nothing from Calvin Ridley and it didn't It makes you think about what is what's the future of Matt Ryan and this whole this whole regime because it feels like the wrecking balls

coming to the Falcons at this point. And that is I mean to go from where they were up three and the Super Bowl, and I'm not going to relitigate that. Falcons fan's don't worry to where they are now. It's just been kind of a sad downward trajectory. Uh. They did get back to the playoffs and even won a game the next year, but ever since that, really it's been a bummer. I you know this narrative Sessler and now Greg's buying into it that he was the only

one that was truly buying into Matt Rule. I mean, I love Matt Rule that higher. We had him on our show and he was awesome, and he was he's a Jersey guy and wait a minute, no, wait a second, And it was never like a situation like, oh, Matt Rule is not a good NFL coach. It was like, let's hold off putting him into Canton and he's held back to back wins, and that's nice. That's very nice. And I think they're making progress and they're ahead of

where people thought they would be, including myself. But at no point was it like, oh, Matt Rule, he doesn't have a chance in this league. I don't think anyone was down on him. But I think it's difference in styles, damn, Because I if anything, if I, if I fault in any direction, it's falling in love with a coach before he's done anything and just riding that train and seeing

where it goes. Right, I think you are someone you want to see a couple ten and six, eleven and five seasons before we start talking about Matt Rule in a certain way. It's just a different approach. Mine is equally faulty, but Matt Rule to me, it's about where he came before that, he's been a guy that's you know,

overseen multiple reclamation projects. And you know, I remember reading a Peter King thing from June saying the Panthers of the team that probably has an excuse to go one and of team, they've got two coordinators that have never been at the NFL level. They've got a bunch of guys on defense who were living in a college dorm a year ago, and he's he's turned them into something interesting very quickly. So it only adds to his stock in my mind. Yeah, I like to get back for

defensive starters, by the way, in this game. I mean in dan Quinn's defense. He was missing six defensive starters last week. It looks like four of them are back, like three in the secondary in Tach McKinley. So it's it's not quite as easy a matchup for Carolina as it was for Green Bay. Alright, Greg, it snakes to you, my friend. Alright, let's go with the late afternoon game. What do we got. Let's go forty nine Ers Dolphins.

The cavalry is arriving for this. You know, practiced this week with Jimmy g on the field and raheem moosted on the field and Debot and Kittle and Ayu or ayak they're now calling him. I like that one. I

like that. So the first time they've been on the field together period, like including practices, uh, this entire season, and they're still banged up defensively, especially in the secondary, And that makes you think that Ryan Fitzpatrick can do just enough to remind you that the Dolphins are well coached, but then lose a close game. But man, Jimmy G has to love how how it worked out. I mean, it would have it would like them to win the game. But it's like, all right, you can quiet down with

the talk. I'm gonna re enter the lineup against this Dolphins defense, which is no better, by the way than the day Brian Flores arrived and I got all my guys back, and now I'm gonna go put up some points. Beautifully set up for Jimmy G's arrival. I mean, because there is it is not talked about this earlier in the week, but it's like, you don't like to just put a loss on one player. But Nick Bolins lost

that game. On Sunday at the Eagles had no business win in that game, but Mullins refused to let the Niners win it, and so that puts them in a situation now where Jimmy g again looks like the Golden Boy, and there's no question or controversy. He doesn't have to look over his shoulder if he has a couple of bad weeks out of the gate coming back slow, because they're not gonna say, oh, maybe Nick Mullins is the answer after what happened on Sunday Night football. So I

agree with you. I think it's a great spot for the Niners where they're getting healthy, gets a Dolphins team that, yes, they're frisky, you got fits magic. I agree Brian Flores has done a nice job overall there, but this also looks like a team that could travel across the country and just get she lacked by a San Francisco team that has a lot more talent. Yeah, I mean, I think it's it's also the winner is Kyle Shanahan not having to answer questions or go through the rigamarole which

quarterback deserves to start clean? You're right, it just cleans that board. I mean, I when I look at the Dolphins, I guess the frisky I mean, I don't know. This seems sort of like been in every game they are bether than the Patriots game. They've been in every game against some good teams. I think they're well coached. I mean, we all are on the Brian Flores thing. I'm just wondering, like, how long until you give to a chance to play?

I mean, what what if to Ah could flip the switch and turn them from frisky to winning some of these games like being close as nice? But that's that's better at their problem though, he they say to uh isn't ready for whatever. And if they say that this is this is Ryan Fitzpatrick's final start because he isn't ready, turns to He's starting this Sunday very quickly in the NFL. Here's the thing, though, You're gonna put him behind And this is where I think I'd be a little worried

if I'm a Dolphins fan. You're gonna put him behind two tackles, including your first round pick, by the way, who are ranked in the bottom ten of PFF qualifiers. The whole point of this season is to find some players and some young players, and I'm looking around, you're gonna get Byron Jones back. He was a nice free inside. I'm looking around and who is it right now? You know it's it's sicky, it's Isaiah Ford, Like, who are you getting excited about that that you're taking with some

of these draft picks. You had three first round picks. Austin Jackson struggled. I know it's early, but Igbanogeny struggled. He was another first round pick. I know it's early, it's like you you want to start fighting these young players, including like two is not gonna like he's a football player. He was drafted to a football team to be their football quarterback. Like, I understand you're probably not going to

put him into an ideal situation. But the days of, you know, putting him a guy on the bench for a year and and building up a better situation around him, I feel like that's a bygone era in the league, right And it's nice to be Brian. You can save for two straight years. We're not gonna put our I mean, if you're Brian Flores, though, it's like, how how much time is he given to show us what the Dolphins really are? I mean, I get I'm more of a fan of your three every quarterback into the fire. But

he's got to start soon. Nobody thought Justin Herbert was ready. Right, it's fair do alright, I am up. I believe hamana hammahamma I And you know, let me tell you something. The Jets are on the board, but Sam Donald is not playing this week. I have no interest in watching the Jets. This Jets team, with this coaching regime, without the quarterback, who's the only kind of piece that we're trying to work out right now, that game means nothing to me. Take the slate off because I'm not picking

the game. Denver at New England is my next. I need, I need a four pm game. Greg. I'm not taking it from you. I know you're gonna watch it either way, but now I'm not gonna watch it. I'm attentionally passing. I don't like watching them live every week. This is one I'm I'm fine a little game pass. You can, you know, luxuriate a little bit with all right? Good, so everybody wins. The cooperation between the Broncos at the Patriots.

Obviously Cam Newton everything is upside down with his his COVID nineteen positive test, But you still gotta like their chances here. Um, Brian Hoyer is not starting. That's the only thing I can tell you with certainty. And uh, we're gonna see. Well you don't know that. Well do you think? Do you think after what we saw on Monday night? Bill Belichick is gonna be like, you know what, anyer is still my guy, unless he's really trying to stick it to the media, which he's been known to do,

uh in the past. So Damian harrisk is a guy Greg that I know you liked what you saw from him last week. This is a bit of a weird game. You got uncertainty at the quarterback position all over the place. But you imagine the Patriots can take care of business in their building. I'm a little shocked how heavily, Um, the Patriots are favored in this game. Uh, it's a lot of faith. So we don't we don't know that

the matchup could be Drew Lock versus Cam Newton. I mean, there's no no one said that Cam Newton is definitely out and the way they do the test if he was asymptomatic, I haven't ruled it out mentally. The Patriots, you know, as we're taping this, haven't been back in their facility, so Hoyer didn't practice before last week start.

It's possible after Stephon Gilmour's test, and we haven't done a podcast um since uh Stephon Gilmore tested positive, it's possible the Patriots aren't allowed to practice this week either. Hoyer didn't practice before that one, so the matchup could be locked. Versus Hoyer could be locked, versus Stidham could be locked, versus Cam could be Brett ripping against any one of those three. We don't really know. Lock Drew Lock has been at practice for the Broncos. That obviously

changes the entire complexion of this game. That them playing without stuff on Gilmore changes their defense. I mean, it's all just so messy. Yes, in fact, it's so messy. I don't even think we should really talk too much more on this game unless someone has another effect ed before we move on. I'm just gonna say that the the Broncos defense has been really competitive and playing well.

That the Jets game wasn't like their best game. But if it is Stidham or Hoyer, they have been so competitive each game and there's no Gilmore like I think Bill Belichick is legitimately worried about what a Vic Fangio defense could do against Hoyer or something Stidham up next. Mark Sessler, all right, well, I will take what is nothing less than a bullet to the chest going Cardinals Jets. I guess I'm gonna take this Jets game. I don't like what you did to me there, but now I

I am going to do it. And I I like watching um things just burned to the ground, right and and that's what's happening with the Jets a little bit. But it doesn't make me um happy at all. For you, Dan, so I you know I'm not taking any place. It sounds like a real bittersweet Sunday of viewing coming up for you. It's, uh, you know, that may not be something I'm zoned in on snap after snap, but I would say if if you're the Cardinals, you've got to

get out of a funk. I mean, where we were with them two weeks ago, it was all Listen, we spent all offseason hyping up the Cardinals, and there's one of those rare teams that hits the scene and does everything we expected. And they're super frisky and they're gonna potentially win the NFC West or slide them right into a wild card and then they lose two in a row, and I you know, I look watching them against Carolina Kyler Murray like through the air, they just seem a

little bit lost to me. I mean, it's essentially the ball is going to DeAndre Hopkins um at incredible amounts and in very few other people. I don't think Kenyan Drake is get is giving us everything that we thought from Kenyan Drake at this point, and I'm just wondering our people catching up to Cliff Kingsbury's offense a little bit.

Are these parts just not necessarily working together? I mean again, though, like we've talked about the Jets, to be real, it's hard to scout teams that play the Jets because of what they've been this season, which is next to nothing. So I would be surprised if Arizona can't go into MetLife and do what they want to do in this game. The Jets defense has not been a total disaster, but

I don't think. I mean, they're coming off a game where they've been getting killed all season, uh pass and the run, and we're coming off a game people are wondering, why isn't Adam Gates fired yet Well, and I'll give Greg, I'll give you shout out on this one because you

pounded the drum on this in the past. Is that Greg Williams is having another one of those a tenure is where he's excellent one year and then dog poop the next and six personal fouls against the Broncos by the defense in addition to not being able to figure out a way to stop Brett Rippy and beyond those I know it's Brett Rippon, beyond those interceptions, just a weird game on Thursday night. You can't fire Adam Gates and then promote Greg Williams Sean Jefferson, I mean, I

promote their assistant head coach, but promote their special teams coach. Yeah, but you need to have and if nothing else, Adam Gates has experience. The team's going nowhere. Uh, you can't just like take somebody and make him the head coach for twelve games that has no experience. Things could get even more embarrassing. Why not? I mean, it gives him at the point that it's humane. I think it's at

the point where it's humane. If they lose. This is like a lose lose, because if Flacco plays well and they and they like won this game, that would almost be bad for the Jets. It makes him darned to look bad. But yeah, I think it's humane. If you've made the choice to move on from Gates, which I would imagine they are, just put Sean Jefferson and he's been a coach for sixteen years, easy assistant head coach. I give him experience. I think he would like that.

Or Joe Vett or or Boyer, their special team's coach has done a good job. I don't know, Like, what's the point of keeping that's a fair point. I just as long as and don't put anything past the New York Jets if their organizational feeling on this is it's Greg Williams or Adam Gays. I am fine with keeping getting Gates there until New Years. Even then move right. The only thing though, if you really want to go out.

One thing that the Panthers did this last year with Matt Rule was they got rid of Ron Rivera and they started the process of vetting and looking at candidates early. And if you're the Jets, you don't want to get caught not getting the guy you want, so you can do that while Adam Gays is still the head coach. You can. But I mean, I think it's a clear for with candidates that are out there, some of them are not gonna want to talk to you with a head coach in place. And I think it a game

the Cardinals. This is a huge decision. What New York does. This is Sam Donald's career, Like, you cannot go get this wrong and higher the next Ballyhood version of Adam Gates, who is just simply Adam Gates. You gotta nail this thing. I'm gonna call Joe Brady is the next Jets coach or Bill O'Brien one or the other. Greg What we're gonna trade for Matt Rule You almost had him before. I'm just saying it's a big game for the Cards. The Cards just lost the Lions and the Panthers, and

the Panthers game was convincing. That was a beat down. They have to win this game. They're not take advantage of this easy schedule and they're beautiful. You're they're passing game. You're right, is a mess and if we're if we're totally honest about it, it's never been above average since Cliff Kingsbury and Murray has been there as a passing game. I think it'll get there, but like it's been a

good running game, they're just not there yet. I think they will in time, but they're they're tough to watch right now. It's funny, much more reliant on they gotta win. They gotta win this game. You gotta win this game. If they lose it, it's a tire fier. There's they were more reliant on Kyler Murray running than Baltimore is with Lamar. I mean it's and it's like that's there's quarters at a time where that's the throwing the differences.

Murray is just scrambling. The difference is they're not even calling those plays. It's Murray just scrambling, right, He's getting them out of jams. So it's it's funny how quickly things change, because two weeks ago, the entire story was Cliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray are leading a revolution, and now we're asking these questions. That's just funny exactly. That's sports. That's football. Have one more game, Mark Seessler, close it out, alright, we've got what am I I feel like I've wedded

to total disaster scenarios. This week, I got the Texans, like, you know, fresh off of firing Bill O'Brien. Well, you know what, they played Jacksonville. So there's a little something alike there this game. To me, I guess it's like, no, you know what, I'm just done, prim I'm just done with I'm done with the Texans and I and I do feel a little annoyed because I have a bunch of games here with teams that I would like watch last on game pass. So give him. That's a good move.

And if he's watching this, I will not do that, but then behind the scenes, that's exactly what I'll do. I to me, it's it's I want to just get more of an idea of what what Gardner Minshew is because I think it's fair at this point, whether you're a minshu Vian or not, to say that this is a streaky quarterback in a streaky offense. I I like him overall, but it's tough to say this is this is the guy that you're gonna base years off of um with what we're seeing, because it just seems to

be up and down. I think that he the offense was completely different when DJ Shark was not in there, it's compared to when he is. I think that they're passing game runs around him entirely. I don't know, it's like it to me. The Jacksonville Jaguars, like are, are a more interesting offense to watch than the Texans have been. I know that, like I like to. But they're the best group in this game. The Jaguars offense, I don't even think there's a question they're a good offense. I

don't think they're a good team. Um. I think they moved the ball pretty well, that they they're on time with their throws. Like I, I expect them to put up a lot of points. But I think they're probably the worst defense in the league. And man, there's a lot of bad defenses, so you look, the Texans could be in that mix. I don't think they're quite there.

I would put the Jaguars as the very worst. If you look at the quarterbacks the Jaguars have played, all of them have had their best game by far against the Jaguars. Joe Burrow finally gets off and gets protected against the Jaguars. Ryan Fitzpatrick, you know, you know, takes it back on Thursday Night football and shows his chest there against the Jaguars. The only game where Philip Rivers went up and down the field was against the Jaguars.

The Titans put a thirty three points. This defense is terrible and the Texans offense is not terrible, so this should be a nice little Hey, we got rid of Bill O'Brien. We want to show you that everyone's happy under Uncle Romeo Cornell. Let's go get a victim. I came very I came this close to locking up the Texans based on the no Brian factor at play here.

And there was the report this week that J. J. Watt, who's the face over there with Deshaun Watson, was in a shouting match of some kind with O'Brien a couple of weeks ago in practice that led to O'Brien losing the team for goods. So Romeo is like we we talked about with Seth Paine, who covers Houston Sports down there in Texas. Romeo is that guy that everybody likes it, just hangs around and he's he's down with emotions, he's cool with promotions. Uh So, he's just somebody that everybody

roots for and wants to play hard. For uh, it feels like a perfect spot for a winless team that's not an oh and sixteen team the to get right against a deeply flawed Jaguars team with up and down offense and a truly dreadful defense. So, I mean, the Jaguars are on pace to set franchise worst marks for points allowed per game, yardage per game. We are not

that far away from Saxonville. I mean, I know it feels that way, but that was like three seasons ago, and it's gotten from that point to here, which is such an organizational failure, uh that I don't know what else to say. I would say though, they I mean their defense last year, remember how teams were running on them, literally destroying them on the ground. So they've been a

bad defense for a while. There is one insanely annoying nuggets to me, and it happened late, you know, late yesterday, that this Jack easter Be character is now essentially anointed himself general manager. I mean, this is one of the most absurd things that has happened in the National Football League in my entire life. This power hungry individual is the most magnuvaliant in person, and it's sorry it's not just this guy. This is this is the This is

the kind of thing that drives me nuts. This guy who was essentially a culture coach for the Patriots is now the general manager of the Texans. I don't trust anything. Even even worse than that. They say, well, don't worry about it. Um, the plan is he'll take a step back. We're gonna hire a GM. Well guess who's hiring that GM, old Jack Easter give me a break by the you are hey if the tech I feel like the Texans ownership. This is a case where the media does sometimes matter.

I think the media has a chance in Houston, and they might just do it to Bury Easter be enough and this plan enough, and I'm gonna help as much as I can over the next three months. Um that this is a bad idea because you have Deshaun Watson, you have that, you have the stadium, you have everything. You've got cash like they always have the most cash of any team other than like the Cowboys. You got

it all. And if i'm Eric b enemy, for instance, I'm not taking a job with Jack easterby I would tell my agent if I'm the enemy, and you don't do this publicly. You tell your agent to tell them I don't want to do the interview if Easterby's running it, and you know you enough people from the league, you know, start whispering like that, and who knows people you people got Bill O'Brien fired. I'm sure you could do this

as well. It's him as a person at all, but he's an evil as a dragon in a medieval tale. So let's run him out of town as well. Past the same process or jets took. That's how you got, you know, Adam Case and not talk about hit back at me, No, but you talk about a progress stopper. I mean, Jack Easterby lodged in your front office is a progress stopper. If you're trying to get a candidate worth as salt, blind faith in your leaders or anything

will get you killed. Bruce Springsteen, Texans fans, Texans players take note. What a way to end it, all right? Weird? I hope, I hope Holly Easterby, daughter of Jack Easterby, is not a podcast listener. Blinds and packers are off. We didn't even on We didn't touch on Tennessee, uh and Buffalo for obvious reasons. But we will be back on Sunday. The only thing we can tell you, actually, I can't even tell you this. We we presume that we will be back on Sunday night for the flagship

programing around the NFL podcast. Uh that is the plan. Uh so please, if that is indeed the case, check out that show to recap. That recaps every show we just talked about here. Uh, thank you to everybody for watching. This is Dan hands As signing off for the Quiet Storm, the Old Boss, Rooky Hollywood behind the virtual Glass until Sunday. speA