2021 Week 3 Preview

There was a wrestler in the eighties. I know you weren't that plugged into WWF and the ol days. Honky tonk man, I had a year or two. You're you're you're wrong. Actually there there was a year or two where I like rented all the old Summer Slam and uh Royal Rumble like videos and bang through them. So I know my stuff. So remember renting videos? Yeah, of course, of course, um colic and videos. I think it was the hockey talk man. That's I'm gonna start building out

your nickname repertoire, and that is that's you. When you start talking too much, start hawkey time. It's like anybuddykay talk Man's in the building. I thought I was gonna say, I'm not really giving off like a Southern musician, probably a racist considering like the time and place of honkeydyk Man. I don't know if I'm giving off that vibe. Uh.

This is Week three in the NFL. A little later tonight, Greg and Danny Kelly of The Ringer will recap the beginning of Week three, which is Texans Cults and now we're going to dig into the rest of the games. Now, the Colts, as we tape this, are one of seven teams that enter Week three windless, and we call this on the show. It's like the caged animal, the cornered animal, the wounded animal. This is the week and I don't think it changes, Greg, even though we have seventeen games.

I guess it does change in a little bit because it's just math. There's more more, there's more opportunities now to get back into a race. But I would think that statistically, if we're still doing a season this long in twenty years, the data is going to be similar. You start knowing three you're banged in a big spot. No, you're done. So Jets, this is one of your best, um, you know routines every year, or at least theories is the corner animal routine. You're done at oh and three,

I don't want to hear it. And it's some teams and now getting our mentions and say no, this team and that team that that is the exception that proves the rule. Jets, Jaguars, Giants, Detroit, Minnesota, Atlanta all need to win this weekend to really keep their season on track if you want to make the playoffs. And Greg, not for nothing, we do a little game here ourselves called the lock game. You've started owing two. Well, that's that's not the same as the cornered Animal because we're

like the a f C South. I mean, I'm only one game behind. I'm not expecting any of these teams to go undefeated or anything. Um So that list you just made though, if like you had made a list of who's gonna be o in two before the season, almost none of those are a surprise except Minnesota, who you know, not for nothing, lost in overtime and on a missed kicks right, they could easily be to and know the rest of those teams, especially when you think

about the coult schedule. The Cults, of course playing Sunday. We got the uh the Panthers Texans on Thursday night the Colts. If you looked at that schedule going into the season, it is not a shock that they couldn't beat the Seahawks in the Rams. All right, so we're gonna go through all the games. And because now just two of us, Greg, I don't know, man, now it's two of us. Ricky's here too, Ricky, you're not You're still here, right, I'm still here, still here? Are you?

By the way, I'm doing well, are you guys? I don't like these huge monitors. Um. Yeah, it's blocking my eyesight. Well, I'm also like, I'm too dressed up. I want to wear a T shirt. Just the weirdest noise like it was like a like an armpit fart out of your mouth. I'm gonna play it an now I can just look at Maybe I gotta move my seat up. But Dan just looks like he's like towering over me in this in this situation, I know, but I'm not usually like looking at it. I feel small, huge on the inside.

That's good, that's the most important thing. Um. Alright, So Ricky we're gonna do instead of going around a draft one to three with Mark will work things out for Sunday. Um, Greg and I are just gonna go back and forth. But let's start. Let's mix things up and start this preview show with the primetime games. Uh, and we will start with both are great, well, one's amazing. One's real good, especially if you're a guy likes the NFC East, and

I do, because you know who else I liked. I liked Poppy my grandfather sitting on the chair, the big brown chair and the den we called it the den in my grandmother's house, Grampy's place, with his root beer, watching the g men, not talking to anybody. It's like not one of those things where it's like I learned so much about football from my grandfather. I would sit at his knee and he would he would show me Phil Sims and Lawrence Taylor and tell me that's the

way football should be played. No, Poppy didn't that much to say, but we did watch the games in silence together. When I got home from St. Margaret's when we had church on Sunday, Keith would be playing softball, usually me, my mom my, sister Shay and Kevin. We would then go to Granby's and there's Poppy on the couch. Were you in silence? Yeah? I mean it was like eleven ten nine. If Poppa doesn't really want to talk, what am I gonna say? I mean that it was a

different experience than me. If you think I'm a honking try to get a word in edge drives at the Rosenthah, especially watching sports. But I like, your your comfortable in the silence. That's one thing I've noticed now we're here in the Chris Wesleyan podcast studio, and I have wondered, like what would Chris think about all this because it all is very fancy. Um, but you know back in the day, like you wouldn't have just been comfortable kind

of like luxuriating in these poses. That's like a power broadcasting move. And you are there a lot of positives. Maybe I'm just maybe just two of us. So I'm just trying to kill seconds at this point. Um. Anyway, NFC is football always fun. Let's start there. Monday Night Football, Eagles at Cowboys UM and man the Eagles. Let's start with the Eagles here. It feels like the Cowboys UM got away with one on Sunday on some level. But that's a big one on the road, and we'll get

to the um where we stand on Dallas. But the Eagles, you know, Jalen Reagor stepping out of bounds on that touchdown catch, you have, UM, the Quaes Watkins ninety one yard reception setting up first and goal, and then you go four, you know, four and out with the not so Philly special in a game that ended nineteen four. That's a bad beat. That's a tough beat against the Niners. UM, But how do you feel about the Eagles going into this game? Did you take positives out of that performance?

I did. I just look at the two weeks as a whole that if you told me before the season they'd be one and one with a blood against the Falcons and a close loss to the Niners. Be like, okay, I feel a little bit after seeing them play for the most part there who I thought they were, which is really strong up front on both sides. I think they're gonna have to figure out how to actually use Jalen Hurts his legs because even though he ran a

lot last week, it wasn't really schemed up. And when they needed to come up with a play to get a first down in short yardage. They couldn't really do it. Um, But I love this matchup if I'm the Eagles when I have the ball against this Philly, this Dallasty line. I know they played hard last week. Michael Parsons is is a star and can play defensive end and rush the passer. But they might be without Dorn's Armstrong, who

has been, you know, their best defensive end. I guess I don't even know because they don't have Lawrence Gregory comes back and I don't know. That seems like a little bit of a mismatch, and I think like that the Eagles could grind them up a little bit. It was also a game of attrition for the Eagles. Uh, they suffer a huge setback. It's a team that really their strength is in the trenches. You lose Brandon Graham now for the season with an achilles injury, so that

that's gonna hurt. And then on the other side of the ball, Brandon Brooks, their right guard. He goes down with a peck strain that moves. He's going to the i R. They don't think it's season ending, but he's gonna be gone at least three weeks. So that concerns me as well, because if if, if their strength is in the trenches and you're you're weakening on both sides. You start to balance out a team that isn't hyper talented to start with, you take away from their strength

and what's left. Of course, Landon Dickerson, my boy, the second round rookie pit uh second round rookie is now getting more playing time. He didn't play very well his first go around here in week two, but now he has a week to prepare. I I think at least their positions there deep at I mean they drafted a guy high in the second round. Hopefully you can fill in and Graham at defensive and that's a huge loss. He's kind of their locker room leader going back ten

years now. I mean he's played next to Fletcher Cops Cox ten years. Cox is getting emotional after that game, so you do worry about that. But they are deep there. They just signed Josh Sweat to a big contract they um of course, like Derek Barnett, who's in the final year of his deal. Like I'm not worried. Javon Hargrave is playing like one of the best defensive lineman in

the league. I'm more worried about, you know, can they stop Cooper who's a little banged up, and Ceedee Lamb and this Dallas offense who seems like they can kind of do whatever they want and they look good on the offensive line so far. That's been a big takeaway from me, as Tyrann Smith looks like the old Tyrant Smith. Uh. The right tackle Steel who filled in last week for

Colins played pretty well. And that's a concern because the Eagles defense, which we don't know much about, they're supposed to be built on like preventing big plays and and they've done it so far through two weeks. They've given up one play over twenty yards, which is crazy, um and now doing it against Dallas that's another. That's another What is it can of fish? That's another type of fish. I don't know. No candle worms, can of worms. I mean,

there's a cattle of fish. I picked them to win, though. The Eagles are going to be the team that kill me in my you know, when you're keeping track of the picks on NFL dot com, because I keep picking them to win upsets. You got them winning out right, I got the I got the Cowboys in this game. And one thing to watch here Tony Pollard coming off a one yard game, what is the workload? How do

they share that with Zeke? Is it's is going to turn into uh something where they're there's a committee involved here. It is it was last week, and people need to calm down on killing Zeke, like they gotta make smaller the number one game like playing five. Splitting up is a good thing to do. But if you're splitting it up, it's not a good thing for the Cowboys because that means Zeke isn't special anymore. That's it's it's a it's

an admission that he's not. They were. They had a special running game last week, and okay, Zeke was like less spectacular. But that's what you want is two really good running backs and they just keep coming at you. I mean, I felt like they could have run all day last week. I do not think they'll be able to do this week. We'll see what the Cowboys do.

Excuse me, Look what the Browns do they have? They have Nick Chubb, a guy that they could give the ball times too, and he's probably gonna have a hundred and sixty yards every game, but they choose not to because they want to. They want a closer at the end of the game, and then they want a battering ram that's healthy in January, and Kareem Hunt allows them to do that. All right, Sunday Night football, Green Bay Packers at San Francisco Fort. Now we're talking. I love

the poppy games, but this is next level. What do you think about this game? I mean, I like to start with the whole La Fleur Shanahan thing. Doesn't this feel like a big moment for the boy in the Beard, because like Kyle Shanahan is just like Mike Shanahan is turning into one of the most influential coaches of his era because every one worked for him at some point. They were all just trailing around wanting to be like Kyle.

And then Old Kyle, as Mike Silver reminded us today on Twitter, you should check out this you know thread he had. Old Kyle called up the Packers and tried to get Aaron Rodgers out from under him. They're supposed to be friends. This creates some problems. At some point the news comes out and I wonder if that's a little where the tension lies is like who's leaking this, who's putting this out there? This undrafting and Silver has all this stuff between them, And then you think back

to the La Fleur's first year NFC championship. Here I go against my mentor and I got blown out. I got the doors blown off because off if the Packers can't beat the forty Niners now with a lot of injuries and this and that, like that says a little something about where they're at. Yep, And we talked about it on Tuesday's show. The Packers obviously turned it on against the Lions, but I can't say that I feel completely at ease if I'm a Green Bay fan that

things are under control now. But now you have a big test and with with the San Francisco forty Niners, I have to ask you this, do you think when Kyle Shanahan and I'm watching that game, I'm watching the Eagles game and I know he led a couple long

touchdown drives and you know they won the game. So I'm not saying it's a panic situation, but do you think there's a similar vibe with Kyle Shanahan now when he's on the sideline and they cut to him when the offense is on the field, the same type of vibe that Sean McVeigh had last year when he's watching Jared Goff and you know, and it's it's born out because of what happened in the offseason that followed when he kicked Golf out the door as quickly as he could.

He's watching it like he's like, this offense could be so much more special if I could just have someone, if only there was someone. But there is someone. But he didn't even play Trey Lance last Sunday. I'm gonna go deep conspiracy theory here and think like, if there ever was a game to save Trey Lance for really

break them out, this is it. Because you think about this Packers defense and they've got a little bit of new scheme disease, which is like when you get the new coach and you got the new scheme, and it's they're trying to be a little too complicated and then they immediately say, well, we're going to simplify, Like that's always a bad sign. They're trying to communicate. Who's going to test your communication more than Trey Lance. This is the week to play him. So yes, I think he

is thinking all of those things. I think that's why he drafted Trey Lance. Lance maybe isn't quite as ready to be the starter as he would have loved coming into this season, but I think matchup wise, this is a much easier one than Philly, who I think could be one of the better defenses in the league. And yeah, play me some Trey Lance this week. We want to see it on Sunday night. We want to hear like Chris Chris get breaking up down all the stuff and now going crazy like this is it. That is the

analysis people come to see. That is why they tune into a t N every week. I mean it though, like, does this feels like the big moment where it's like we're unveiling Tree Lance to it make the offense more Blosi. I mean that that if this guy is ready to go, then we'll see it. And we're getting gonna get to the sho Chicago Bears on a little bit because their first round quarterback is about to get in action, whether

he's ready or not. Um, all right, there's the primetime games and I, by the way, no Elton Jenkins potentially in this game, their left tackle who would be trying to go against no Nick Bosa. We don't know Jenkins status and but it doesn't sound great and that that's a big loss because then you're down to your third string left tackle by the week three. The forty Niners aren't quite as scary as they were when a yuk is in detention and they've got like four different running

backs injured. But it does sound like Mitchell will probably play this week. Maybe Tray sermon too. So I like the forty Niners here. Yeah, that's a tough one. I'll go Packers, but I do not feel strongly. All right, let's get now to the draft element of things here, Greg, I will see to you the first overall pick. I think it was my turn, alright, because I've been I

was thinking about this on my run this morning. Really be the pop culture trivia back in Week one, you came in third place, so you guess it's your turn. There's a lot of strategy because it's tough. There's one game, but sometimes you just gotta take the best game on the board. You gotta take bucks rams. I don't know what the NFL is doing. They always front load these best matchups possible early in the season, we got Chiefs Rams Week two, Bucks Rams Week three, we got Troy,

Troy and Joe. I think I know why, by the way, I have a theory because it doesn't make any sense too. You would think to put these games all front loaded, when they'd be better and the team's even better and the stakes would be potentially higher late in the season. But I think it's just like like the power rankings, I write QB index is probably the same way um fantasy leagues. Everyone is so much more involved because everyone still believes in their team, so you have to get

the biggest number you're gonna get. Everyone's still in on football and big there's less chance of something in bad happening, like the Rams being poor or Tom Brady getting hurt, but that doesn't happen because Tom Brady is a cyborg. I just don't have a feel for like either of these teams yet, but especially the Rams. Stafford's dropped back to past fifty nine times. That's less than I think

every single starting quarterback in the league. The defense, like think we think that the Rams defense is great, probably will be. I mean it has great players. They've played the Colts, they've played the Bears. They've only forced three punts. There's, like my little stat there's been like a lot of long drives against them. I just want to see these two teams like their Their past protection has been really good and if you protect Stafford, he's probably gonna be great.

But there's been some surprises. I think out of both teams. Tristan Worse is struggling for the Bucks. There's no Antonio Brown for this game. The Bucks defense hasn't looked as good. It's so early. I just I feel like I need to learn more about these teams. In what better way than to have the Rams, especially tested like this at home. I see what you're saying about the Bucks that the defense hasn't put it together yet. Uh and yet, And this isn't breaking any new ground because everyone is amazed

by it every week. I just Tom Brady is playing at such a level right now. Is Tom Brady in the best quarter? Where is he in your QB? And I put him one this week? I think he's number one. I think he's the best quarter. It's either him or Homes And for these two weeks it's been Brady. And then I thought, well, for the last seven weeks, last year was Brady too, So you go to who do you take for the next five years? I take my homes but that's not even a slam dunk at this point.

But who do I take right now? Brady is just playing so out of his mind, So I just it's hard to pick against the guy that's the best quarterback right now. Um, and he covers up a lot of things. And I think even if Antonio Brown is not playing, you have so many players there to make to to pick up the slack. Yeah, but let's just call up Scotty Miller, who has been awesome. They're they're fine. Scotty Miller was kind of a guy in the rise until Antonio Brown took his role last year. But I think

they'll be find the rams. Yeah, I I kind of struggle with them trying to. I have him in the top five in the power rankings because you see it on both sides of the ball. But establishing a running game is important, and you know, I think I think they'll be okay. Though. You know who I really like is um Cooper Cup. I think Cooper Cup, I mean you might have a chance. I think I think the number Stafford is gonna put up. If he plays seventeen games, he could be an All Pro this year. I think

Cup could be an All Pro. I think those two guys, you could tell they're locked in and just putting together those one yard weeks and just stacking them up. I think that's uh, that can absolutely happen. And they could do it against the Bucks too. He could he could lead the league in receiving. You're right, Cups seems like he's at another level. I don't know who I would compare him to. Don't do it. Don't say Jordy Nelson. No,

but he's so good after the catch right now. He's always been good after the catch, but I feel like he's like getting even better. Uh. And you're right, he's gonna get the ball switch. Like I said, they've only thrown they've only dropped back the past fifty nine times in two weeks. They're like one of the lowest teams in the league because they haven't had too They've been so efficient. And in the Bucks secondary is a little

banged up, Murphy Button has been out, Davis isn't healthy. Like, I think, there's just gonna be a lot of points. I want to see Stafford though, in a position where he has to keep up with Brady in a shootout. To me, that will be sort of the first real Stafford in l A like moment. I think we've had it yet, first in l A moment. This is crazy. This is Tom Brady's first ever game in Los Angeles.

I mean it makes sense, but also WHOA, his career started when you were and I were in college, and people need to calm down about like, oh is Jalen Ramsey gonna travel with Mike Evans like he's only been in the slot. They are using Ramsey a lot differently this year, but they'll do whatever they feel like he can do anything. They did that in the first two weeks because that's what made sense for them in those weeks. If if locking down Evans makes sense this week, that's

what they'll do. And with the Bucks and as I was saying, with Brady leading the charge, uh, so far the season, they're averaging thirty and thirty nine and a half points per game. He's throwing for almost three thirty yards a game. He's got nine touchdowns in two weeks in a pass rating of book not decide who to pick for this game. The Rams started as a slight favorite, and then you know that it moved to the Bucks being a slight favorite because because more people are on

the Bucks. I took the Bucks for the most insanely small, um pathetic reason possible, because I don't want the Bucks to lose before playing the Patriots. So I just want that's what I want to root for. Okay, I see that, Well, we want to build. I mean, Tom Brady's dad's already honking about how he feels syndicated, and uh, Alex Guerrero's out there honking about how tellcheck can't keep up with the time. It's already starting and we're like a week

and a half away. Yeah, Alex Grrero said that Bill Belichick, and you know what, there might be something to this, Greggy, and I know you like to bury this deep down inside you, but the fact that he's still arguably the best quarterback in the league, it's you could still be on the Patriots. He never adjusted. Gero said, that means Tom Brady's telling you, Alice, he never treated me like

a man. He always treated me like a twenty year old kid, even when I was thirty eight with six Super Bowls, And because Belichick wanted to have some type of code in that locker room. It led to an estrangement. That's all. That's all there, it's all leave it for next Yeah. We had Tom Seniors on the Tom Current podcast and he was like, you know, do you feel vindicating? He was like, damn right, like they are loving this. They're gonna be They're gonna be spiking the football. I

see you, Tom Senior. I love time Senior. But when I see those sources that are guess I know where those sources close to Brady are. We just want That's what I want. I want the Bucks to go into if Foxborough undefeated and flying high and just to set the best possible Patriots. But more importantly, we want Tom Brady to get out of this game healthy. Well that of course, which is usually he's only been really years. Okay, before we move on, you're not gonna believe this. The

Westling Brothers also wounded animal game. They need to win. They're owing two and there's a lock on the line with Rams and Bucks. Let's hear from Nick Westling. Hey, guys, after knowing two starts, some of the Westling Brothers wanted to take an easy game this week just to get a win under our belt. That's not exactly the way we operate, is it. So we decided to go after the biggest game of the week. We're talking about the Bucks and the Rams. Mattie Stafford finally looking like the

quarterback we always knew he was. It's Tom Brady with an offense loaded with talent and a defense that can be stifling. But we're going up against the greatest defensive tackle we've ever seen two Aaron Donald in that defense have been mothering so far this year. And Chris always told me never bet against Tom Brady, but I'm gonna have to go against him on this one. And we're

locking up the Rams. Wow, I have you here. I just wanted to thank you guys all for helping Chris so much during his two fights with cancer and what you're still doing for Kesha and Link. I love you and hope you guys are well. And how about that. And by the way, he sounds just like Chris. Ah he is Chris. I mean, anyone that knows Nick when the two of them were next to each other, I mean they looked the same, they talked the same, They

talk about honking Nick Nickel. They going nuts at night I love I love that man, the best thing I think if you can give me like I don't care what it would be like if Tyson holy Field or um Ali Frasier or whole Cogen versus The Ultimate Warrior. No, don't give me ticket, front row tickets, any of that. Give it to When Nick and Chris were playing cornhole together and the talk was through the roof, all right,

I'll draft next right after this. All right, here we go. Uh, Okay, you took the late game, which it's the best game of the week non prime time, but also a mistake, tactical mistake by you. I'm gonna let you know why. Of course you're watching that game either way. I'm not like that though. I just focus on you're not watching bucks Rams. That's why I wanted to take That's what I mean. I only focus on my games because I have a hard time even doing that, all right, surrounded

by too much. I guess I'm just more advanced on So I want to be able to like check that box and not go back to have to watch it still. And so I want I want all eyes on that bucks Rams. I want the full experience. Well, I'm gonna go to the early slate and go Chargers at Chiefs. Oh and and it's the nance and Romo game. That's

a good job by me. And it's also a nice little measuring stick game for the charge years and a nice little how are we doing game for the Chiefs who outlasted the Browns obviously in Week one and then get picked off um by the Ravens in week two on Sunday night football in an instant class classic. And I'm not gonna look at that game and be like, oh, well, the Chiefs are actually in trouble now. Actually drove people crazy the power rankings this week. I don't know what

it is. I don't know if it's just life is hard right now. People are just so much anger that I feel like they've ever been with power rankings in my third year doing it now and you've only been doing it for three years. We'll get to that in a little bit, um, but like, uh, they're so mad that I kept the Chiefs at two. Just a level of anger because I still think the Chiefs are fine. I think to the best team in the a f

C there behind the Bucks. And the bottom line is if Clyde Edwards Lara doesn't put that ball on the ground. It's that's a whole different conversation. It only comes down to his butt kerk kick the field goal or his Mahome's going to the end zone at the end of that game. Uh So, since the running back blew the game, that stinks, But it doesn't change how I feel about the Chiefs that they're gonna be able to score on anyone that when the game's on the line nine times

that attended less something weird happened see Sunday night. They're going to always prevail and in their building. I'm picking the Chiefs to win this game. But it is gonna be fun, Greg, because you got Justin Herbert in this game. Justin Herbert, who his head coach, as I said Tuesday after a game and less in which Herbert through the two interceptions, as if to say, hey, dummies, it's not just about the STA statue. Brendan Saley said, Justin Herbert

was the best player on the field. Uh in that game against the Cowboys, all pros all over the place in that matchup. So you have Justin Herbert against Patrick Mahomes in Arrowheads. Seventy people put it in my vight. I love. We get this matchup twice a year now. Maybe my two favorite to watch. I don't know, Lamar, I gotta throw Lamar in there. Uh, the two quarterbacks I would trust most on third and very long. I felt like Herbert was escaping third and eleven, third and thirteen,

third and fifteen all last week. Mahomes is the greatest I've ever seen at that. Also, the two quarterbacks even now that I would trust the most with a big deficit to make a comeback. So if the Chargers are down in this game, I just don't feel like they'll be out of it, and we know the Chiefs are never out of it. The Chief's defense, on the other hand, you could like getting near the panic button with it.

I know they've played the pretty good offenses here the first two weeks, great offenses, but that was kind of a wounded Ravens team. I mean, you are giving up at some point. These are NFL teams you're playing. You're giving up six yards per carry this season, You're giving it more than ten yards per passing the tent. You you are statistically the worst defense in the league. That that is partly about the opponent, but it doesn't get

that much easier this week. I am a little concerned about what's going on on on that side of the ball, because it's not just the contracts where Kelsey and Mahomes and Hill are taking a lot of spots like the Rams do that. But I don't feel like the Chiefs have a lot of hits otherwise right now, and in some of their linebacker group and some of their secondary and some of their defensive line. I think it's a pretty bad looking defense and that they've gotten into the

habit of winning these close games. They were not a dominant team last year. They kept winning shootouts all last year. They were like eight and nine and one in in one score games last year, And like, that's what I expect here. That this line started at eight, it creeped to six and a half, and I like the Chargers

to at least keep it close. I would never pick against the Chiefs in Kansas City, but I just feel like it's gonna have a crazy ending, just like the last two Chargers games to your point, uh, And it's just through two weeks, and this is gonna happen when your first two games or thirty three and thirty six,

thirty five. But the Chiefs defenses last in yards per play, last in big plays, which I believe the NFL or next Gen dictates his plus twenties, uh tied for twenty and red zone defense, Uh, they can't get off the field and third down they don't have a real uh twenty one and sacks last and rushing so they're getting run on. Lamar Jackson doing his thing obviously shades that as well, but so they need to get better in

that realm uh. And I think how about a little Derwin James covering Travis Kelsey about that as a sun, I said, I was on the James for Defensive Player of the Year bandwagon. He looks open awesome. I love the Mike Williams bandwagon. Right now, they are treating him as a true X receiver, the true like Michael Thomas in the Saints offense or Marcus Colston in the Saints offense type of receiver. He has more targets in these last two weeks, like in a two game stretched than

any point in his career, and he's handling it. That's that's why I think the Chargers have answers and they'll just go back and forth. It was a good choice you got Romo, you know I'm gonna get fireworks. These are the two times I want to save a game for game pass if I feel like I'll be distracted. But that's not really what I did here. There These two quarterbacks are the best at attacking downfield in the league.

So there's gonna be a lot of points. Uh. And you know the Chargers obviously coming off a very disappointing home loss to the Cowboys game, they don't want to get in ahold and if the Chiefs are trailing late in this game, it's gonna feel like a big game, them not wanting to go to one and two in a pretty good division. All right, there we go, So I got that. Oh speaking of which, uh, speaking of the power rankings Pat McAfee show, Uh, it came up.

They do a thing where they kind of go through the ESPN Power rankings, and they were kind of trying to figure out it was. It was McAfee and he has his two buddies that do the show to do the show with him. I guess they're like producer type guys. One of them is a J Hawk at something, but I don't know if this wasn't Hawk, and they were kind of picking apart the ESPN power rankings, and then they kind of moved over to what's going on over

at the NFL. Let's hear let's hear that also. It's interesting. I mean, you get me take this for what it's worth. I don't know how you do a power ranking unless you don't even ask Dan Handzus or Matt money Smith, and these two different networks, obviously, I don't think they can. They should. I don't think they can put their power rankings together. But you're right, hand Zeus, hand Juice and Matt money Smith are the power ranchers. Yeah, like the god.

By the way, this has been an issue for me since I started here because Schack called me hand Zus, and now half the building and half the world thinks it's hands Zeus. Um. That's why they went back and forth trying to figure out what's hear the rest of this. Well, I like hands Us because he's been doing this for years. Well, these eighty one people that are honously voting on this thing, I don't think any of them are on the same page.

I don't think we know any of them, but maybe one of them has been doing as long as hand us a chance handsers is the authority when to come in the rankings? Who was? This is nothing to say correct Stone, Thank you McFee and his buddies. And if you guys need a fourth if you're going to Vegas, like if you're going to top Golf, maybe you could do some gambling at the casino, just give me a

call because it sounds like you guys are fun. Twenty five years, been three and then I think about that is like, it's my third year doing the Power And then he's like, oh, they watched the TV show because he's talking about money. Um, It's like, do I look like a guy that's been doing Power rankings for twenty five years on television? That's a problem. Anyway, Thanks for the shout out, boys, you're up. That was great. Well, now you've you've left it open. I've strategized. I wrestled

with it. But not choosing Saints Patriots feels like too much of a I'm trying to be too cool for school move because I don't. I sort of don't watching the Patriots live anymore. But these are my team. I mean, Jamie, if you had told me five years ago, Jamis Winston will be on the Saints, and he will be going to New England for a game like That's the game I want to see as much as any game all year. It's like the most fascinating thing possible. I've been shaken though,

right You've you were shaken by that game. I was shaken. I'm shaken on on both friends. I don't know what's going on with either of these teams, and that makes sense if you look at the history of the Patriots, they don't really turn into who they're gonna turn into until October and November. But the Saints are very similar.

They they often finished very strong, they start slow. They're trying to figure out their roster, and I haven't figured out anything through these two weeks because both of these teams have struggled in areas you thought they would be good. Number One, the Saints offensive line was a mess last week. A lot of it was communication. Seems like the type of things he could fix. Their tackles are awesome on paper, they shouldn't be this bad. But Jamis is gonna be tested.

They're gonna send a lot of crazy stuff at him to see if they could handle it. He had no chance last week as as bad as he was, and he was bad, he had no chance. The Patriots offensive line has been pretty bad. The right tackle has been a disaster. They're starting this guy, Sear Durant who they picked up a couple of weeks ago. Trent Brown might be back for this game. That helps, But Isaiah Win hasn't played well. They've getten up, given up pressure in

the middle. It hasn't been good. Mac Jones didn't play well last week. I think because he was trying to get rid of the ball too quick. His version of Zack Wilson having a rookie freak out moment is just dumping off four yard passes like after one and a half seconds and not looking for open receivers like I'd rather that type of freak out. But that was his type of freak out, and that could absolutely happen again

against a very creative Saints defense who's getting healthier. They're gonna get Latimore back, their best player on defense, ceed douce Back, who's extraordinarily underrated. That that changes their secondary and there'll be a better defense this week. Uh. The Mac Jones thing, okay, I could see your perspective on that. I you know, I thought watching it live last Sunday, and I gotta be that's a game I don't go

back to. If you're Jets fans, the entire future is tied into this kid, and he throws four picks and three and a half quarters, you're not going back to the game. But I thought it was a conservative game plan by the Pats, or maybe it wasn't. Maybe it was conservative play by the quarterback, that's what he said. He said he missed a lot and it wasn't shows that.

But honestly, unless you're like the goal here is to absolutely blow the doors off the opponent, which I guess it always is, that was fine because if the other quarterback is imploding and giving you the game, you don't need to get too cute. Just take the to six

win and get to the next week. I guess the thing to keep your eye out on with the Pats is if is if this becomes with their offenses where they're just super conservative and it's in part because of the quarterbacks decision making, or maybe McDaniels isn't ready to really turn the reins over to the kid yet. We're going to see that in the coming weeks, And I guess this will be a good game and a good test. But also at the same time, if the Saints put

some points on the board, what is going on? We know the jamis Winston issue, but Alvin Kamara now through two games and I know lest we got away from them, but I don't care if if if the game's getting away from you or you fall behind, find a way to get the ball in Alvin Kamara's hands. And he has add one scrimmage yards through two games. That's a

few greatly since it's gonna rookie. Here's the thing that when you play a team like the Patriots, Belichick trying to shut down your number one weapon, it's gonna be Kimara. The limitations of what Sean Payton did this offseason in terms of not adding receivers allows defensive coordinators to get

really creative. You can blitz like crazy because you can kind of trust the Patriots to guard Markey's callaway and a little Jordan Humphrey and Deante Harris one on one, so you can get creative upfront, or you can you can do anything you can to stop Kimara and say, okay, go beat us, because you're kind of afraid, like as conservative as the Patriots have been, the Saints have been more so. Jameis Winston's throwing like passes each week. That's

a bad it's a bad situation. Um. Alright, James White is back though, that is one thing I want to say, The old vintage James White is back. Uh. He had some juice last week and that will really they have an Their best players are at n He's gonna have a monster Harris and White? Are there two best players offensive? Where Harris health was? He's he's fine, he's playing through it. He looked good last week. The line's got to be better. I don't understand why their line is struggling so much,

but it is. Ricky I figured out. But I actually thought about this um with your locks because you took a l last week with the Eagles. Um, and because Greg was so hot the pants about it. Let's not give you the week one victory um either, because you know, let's not do that. Let's double weight this game one. I think she just has one less game. That's that doesn't make any sense. You can't just make up different rules.

She was all right, all right, well listen, I'm still the pants and now you're not just making up rules where you give just I would do that any week possible. And you can't just do that. You can't just do you missed. You missed the first week that was yoursensese make it, make it countable. And since you just brought up you just brought up the you know, my l with the Eagles again. Nick Sirianni at a press conference just now showed up in t shirt that said beat

Dallas for his presser. Okay, so they're mad. They're coming off a close loss to the forty nine ers. That was a tough game to get through. And you know what, me and my new my podcast partner calling Wolf Split ends. The trailer drops tuesday. Check that out. I'm going to go with the Eagles again. And if you're gonna put double on it, no, I'm not allowing that. You can't just this a significant advantage. You wouldn't much rather that.

What do you mean if she loses, because that would mean she's made two picks and she's two and one instead of one and one. How do I lose? I don't know. Yeah, we don't need to punish you where whatever anybody says, he's going to say, no, no, I think anyone that scored over a thirty nine on the math test would understand how it's unfair. Now you're hitting out at me. Yeah, well I'm locking up the Eagles again? Well that was Is that okay? Greg? That's okay? I

picked the because well yeahs ready? You know what do we talk about the games other rules? Can you like? You should have him? You should have him? Ready? Well? The press conference really just that didn't for you? The Eagles. I I like the Until Erica finishes ahead of Greg in the standings, she very well might, because she's gonna dance on your grave, my friend. It's uh. I'm I don't. I have no confidence whatsoever, but I never did uh

in this game? Um? Where were we? By the way, the one last quick note on the Patriots, talk about how far you've fallen as a Patriots organization, like how far we are from Drew Brees and Tom Brady playing in this game? Mark Slayrat is the analyst for this game. We've had Trent Green back to back weeks. That is a sign of where the Patriots have fallen in the power in the whole situation. That's a tough stitch. Um, all right, I'm up, alright, let's see hawmana hamana hammanah ah.

You can edit, edit this out and post definitely not. Let's go. Let's go, let's do it. Let's see what's going on over here. Let's see what's going on the a f C. South. My goodness. So we don't have Carson Wentz in this game. Double sprains, we don't think, so. I don't know for sure they got old double sprains wins.

I was told it certainly looked to me that Aaron Donald sprained both his ankles with that takedown, but then it was clarified that it was only one ankle that's got sprained on the take that I don't buy it.

I don't think they wanted out there that their quarterback could sprain both his ankles on one play, on a play that he he kind of you hate to blame a guy for an injury, but that was sort of a I'm gonna fight through the play even though Aaron Donald is eating me alive, and how to protect hurt a little more like if it was a different quarterback there, they just falled out. They just got to protect yourself,

and you know, you said it. He plays with his frantic energy now out and it's unnerving as a fan. You're watching it, and I can't imagine it as a Colts fan, how you feel it really is unnerving. And he's out of the picture now, so it's going to be Jacob Easton at quarterback. They they're trying to play. They're trying to put out through the media that it could possibly be Brett Hunley and Jacob Eason. But I feel like they're Doc Carson Wentz if if wins doesn't play.

They're trying to have their cake. They're trying to eat it, they're trying to bake it, they're trying to throw it in your eye. I don't buy that they're gonna use Hunley and east and that seems it's not a good situation. And now I'm already like doubting that I took this game because who wants to watch bad backup quarterbacks? But I am interested in the Titans as a team. I want to see where they are. The Colts, obviously they need to win. They win, they lose back to back

home games to start their season. The schedule makers hooked them up with back to back home games. If you can't win back to back home games, you're in deep trouble because you're gonna get sent on the road, probably against a tough opponent. That's exactly what happens here with

a division rival in the Titans. Now, the question is how good are the Titans because that obviously was a unbelievable comeback UM in that game against the Seahawks in Seattle to be down thirty to sixteen early in the fourth quarter and then just rip off the rest of the points and win thirty three and Derrick Henry anybody that was worried about the Big Dog, and there is the Big Dog still. The big Dog is gonna the

carry's gonna wear him down. And after the last two years, well maybe I guess we'll see at the end of the year how it stacks up. But that looked like vintage Big Dog in that game, especially that's sixty yard touchdown UM where he just outran everybody. So you got the big Dog. I do want to see Greg this passing game. I want to see more play action. I want to see kind of the old Arthur Smith offense more uh in in effect with the passing game, but

in in general. The arrows up after that comeback now can they start stacking some wins. I mean, you better against Hanley and Easton. It's gonna be really bad if you lose a home game. You got it. This game is lockable, by the way. Okay, I will, I will lock it up? You will? Yeah, I got it right here. Oh my gosh, I was not even on the borderline. People are not The people in the Desert are not thrilled with this Colts team. I think I'll go with you because when you got the opportunity to go, he

and you take it. Although this is a bad sign, I've switched by lock mid show, two straight shows away from wins the losses. So I the Desert has this at five, which surprises me. I thought would be higher. Part of that is that the you know, the Colts were competitive last week in the history, but that's surprising. That seems to be holding out some hope for Carson Wentz. Derrick Henry's coming out forty one touches most of his career. Will he be a little tired after that? That could

be a problem. But the play action was was back. I mean Tannehill, the play action god was back. I did the numbers. He was nine of twelve on play action last week for one sixty, I didn't do him pff doesn't. But then I take them and then I take the credit. Uh in the three and complacence were drops and he's got still got that deep all. I feel like this Titan season is just kind of be a test of like how far can four guys carry the rest of the roster, because I'm not really sure

how good the rest of the roster is. But my parents, my worry about Julio was overblown. Um my worry about this Titans defense is not that's a problem. I don't think they played that well, but they did put up five thirty one yards ultimately against the against the Seahawks, I am more concerned though the Colts can't run them the goal line. They've had struggles running and their defense, who is known to like not give up big places, is giving up a ton of big plays. Not not

not a fan, early early pick. What's up? Um Titans fan? You got your own Titans podcast titled titled The Music City Audible, Greg, we took your advice, moved to Wednesdays. Nice. See, sometimes it's like you're being too like you have too many Boston it's just the way. Sometimes it's like good to get advice. It's good advice on the surface for sure, and good good. What do you think about the Titans? Are you feeling right now compared to last week? Obviously

a lot better? Uh? This is this a slaughter situation or do you think this is going to be closer? Because I think the reason the desert is not the way you might expect is because people put a lot into the wounded animal game and thinking the cults with a good thing the Titans, well, yeah, yeah, that the Colts always play the Titans. Well. I feel like division games are always kind of weird, and the Titans traveled pretty far last week. That big comeback wins sometimes you

have a little letdown type of game after that. So I feel like the Titans should win, but I don't expect them to dominate. Actually, I feel like Frank Greig is a good coach. He's going to have that team ready with a full week to prepare for whoever his quarterback is. That's fine if Jacobson can play and they scheme up open throws Whence is. Actually, I think played fairly well the last couple of weeks, despite you know, kind of the tone we've had around him. So the

you know, receivers will be open. But I don't know. Alright, Uh, let's move on, Greggy, thank you, great bigger m hmm. I'm gonna go Cincinnati Pittsburgh. There is this was the game. Um, I was gonna lock up for the Steelers. There's so many injuries situations hanging out there right now that I'd love to know if t J. Watts playing. M I'd love to know if Ben Roethlisberger is playing, but I'm pretty much assuming that that he is. Uh. Deonte Johnson

sounds like he is probably out for this game. Devin Bush is probably back in for this game. Joe Hayden, I don't know about Alex Highsmith. I don't know about When we look at the Steelers struggling last week, I think it got a little lost in the t J. Watt injury that. Oh, by the way, they're missing like five of their best defensive players Stefan two. It's on I R. Hayden's easily the best cornerback in a rough secondary.

High Smith is you know, basically a starter in terms of their pass rush and pushes their best you know, inside middle linebacker type, off ball linebacker type. That's a lot. I think it needs to be put into context. It sounds like most of those guys will be back this week, including what I think this defense, if they have their guys, is gonna be enough because I have a lot of

concerns about Joe Burrow. Burrow right now, I am curious, like, what are your Joe Burrow feelings after a couple of weeks. I'm worried. I'm worried that they have not fixed the pass of the past protection and it's gonna get him killed. And it's it's something we all talked about entering the season,

and you saw it again. Uh in Week two he took a lot of hits, was sacked a bunch, was hit a bunch more, and um, I think the problem with Burrow, I think is if you can tinue to have issues protecting him, he's going to it's going to affect his maturation as a quarterback and he's gonna develop bad habits and the turnovers are gonna stack. Now, he did throw the three turnovers um or the three interceptions on three consecutive passes, but that's not who he's been

in his career. Not in college, not to this point in the NFL. So I'm not like, I'm not worried about all of a sudden avalanche of game changing negative players with him, But at the same time, it is it is on my radar that they are not protecting him, and that led to um a functional breakdown in their

offense in the second half. I think a lot of it's on Burrow, though, I mean, yes, the offensive line hasn't been great, but it was one of the reasons why I was worried about him going into this year is so much of his game is escaping the pocket and creativity and kind of making plays up as he goes along, and I think he's a little gunshy right now to do that. That's sometimes he's sort of the

opposite of Carson Wentz. He's taken those sacks, He's going down any should to protect himself, but he's gonna have to come up with some sort of balance where he tries to make some more plays. He took a couple of sacks where I felt like last year there's no question he would have tried to escape and make a play. And they're actually the number two team in running the ball in game neutral situations, which is kind of a

weird staff. But basically, if if the game is not a blot in one way or another, how much are you running it? And their number two behind the Ravens. So I feel like they're trying to protect Joe Burrow as much as they can and that it's a hard way to win that way, like these low scoring type of games. And there were some you know, rumbles or murmurs out of Cincinnati, Jamaar Chase lamenting, uh, not enough

deep shots against the Bears. Um Callahan, Brian Callahan. Does anybody know that offensive coordinator of the Bengals is Brian Callahan. I think Zach Taylor's calling the plays though, But he said, I understand the frustration. Yeah, the structure of that defense generally, that's Vic Fongio's system, is to limit big place. So they were saying, listen, the reason why we didn't push the ball downfield in that game was because that's what Fogio does. He wants to keep everything in front of you.

We'll see, this will be a good tests. I think this could be a low scoring game here, and I'll tell you the Steelers, I'm a little worried about the Steelers. I think if the defense can stay together physically, they're gonna stay in a lot of games and be a team that's on the making a playoff push. But this big Ben offense, I don't know. Man. They tried throwing it deep last week a ton eight times. Did not

did not work. I think they'll bounce back. All right, let's take a break and then we'll be back with the next pick. All right, I am up. I will do do do do do do do do do. I will take Jets and Broncos. Two things here. Watch. What do you think about Zach Wilson. What did you take

out of that game? That the Patriots made a couple amazing interception Two of those first three were incredible defensive plays that I think, you know a little to blame don Zack Wilson, just because like those are incredible play place by like a veteran secondary. But after that that he kind of fritz out that he just started throwing some things up. He had a couple of really nice throws in the fourth quarter. Um, but that they they're setting coverages at him that are slowing his mental process

down and he just started throwing it up. My concern is if the schedule gods have any gods of any kind were cool to the Jets, Uh, they would get a nice little and get the Jags this week, or maybe they would get the Falcons, who they get in London. We're gonna be there to see that game. Said, you get the Broncos in Denver who just chopped up and spit out Trevor Lawrence, the number one overall pick. So my my concern here is that this is going to

snowball a little bit. Um, And I just hope if he does end up taking another um, you know, he gets humbled once again here, and hopefully it's not in the meltdown that we saw the Patriots where he ended up with four turnovers by midway through the third quarter. Hopefully it's not that type of situation. But even if this ends up being another game where they don't score more than you know, ten twenty points, um, I just hope it's not something that sets him back for a

whole season. So they need to they need to do the things that they can do to help them the Jets, which they did against the Patriots. They protected they protected him better, They gave him a running game. Uh, they on the defensive side of the ball. They got the ball back to him repeatedly and gave him a chance, uh to fix his day. It just wasn't gonna happen. So the Jets, I thought it got lost in in

the shuffle a little bit. And all the other power ranks out there, it's like, oh, Bury, the Jets last in the league and all this stuff. It's like, well, if you watch the game, it was Zack Wilson who wasn't competitive in Week two and they didn't look like two teams that were like one team was better than the other. Right, So the Jets need to take that effort as a team to Denver, and then Zack Wilson

needs to be better. And then the Broncos side of things, Um, I think this is just gonna be fun to watch if they're going to really set themselves up well here, if they can start their season get off to a three and oh start you know who knows we just talked about the charges. Greg, you love you love the Broncos so much that you think they could be a

twelve or thirteen win team. Well, if that's who they are and and they're gonna get they're gonna get to three and oh here most likely, uh, maybe the Chiefs are gonna slip up enough like they did in a week two, or this turns into a division race. I like the problem is like every time I say a number like that, it goes up one every time. Like I think it started at a level ten to eleven. Then it was like eleven and twelve. Nownts to off

the thirteen. It's like, I appreciated you calling me out when I said the Texans were like the best team in the league through six. I just get it. It's because of because what are you talking about? It's because I'm excited about them. Twelve wins, I think is a realistic goal. With this defense, Vic Fongio forces quarterbacks into holding the ball the extra half second and and forcing them to overthink. You saw it with Lawrence, He saw it against Daniel Jones. You'll probably see it. I am

disappointed in the lack of advantages. It seems like the offense is giving. Zack Wilson there was a lot of excitement about this offense and the coaching staff on both sides of the ball. I think if you look at the defense right now, they're coaching up that defense. They're frisky. The Broncos are ten n half point favorites in this game. To me, that's too much, because I think the Jets defense is too frisky, uh to just give away that

many points against it. I mean, they're playing guys that were cut from other rosters as starters and they're playing pretty well. Like Colbert from the Patriots, I was like, oh wait, he's a starter for the Jets. I didn't realize that, like he was on the Patriots two weeks ago. Quincy Wilson's a bust in Jacksonville just got cut a few weeks ago. He's starting for the Jets, and yet they look pretty good. They're good up front. I don't think the Broncos are gonna score a ton of points

even in these great matchups. The last two weeks, they've still been kept in like the upper mid twenties. So I could see this being a little nerve racking for Broncos fans, but you just have to trust the Fongio defense to shut them down. The Jets have twenty points through two weeks. I like the Broncos here obviously, but I think this is of your Jets fan again and it's all incremental progress. You don't need to have a winning season, but you want to make sure there's development happening.

Sala seems to be developing the defense through two weeks. Let's see if Wilson can bounce back. And Jamison Crowder by the way did not practice again today and they took the Pats the whole thing. It's like when you're the playing the Jets, You're like, Okay, let's take away their biggest weapon. You're like, what is it? It was Corey Davis. And without Corey Davis, they don't have enough

um that's helping Zack Wilson. So if the Broncos, who have great cornerbacks, Sir Tan had a great first start as a rookie, uh, if they can take away Corey Davis, there's not a lot there. Listen, we all like Braxton Burrios, but he is not Jamison crowd Why you see their leading it's a that's one of those things where it's a bad sign for your team. When Braxton Barrios is your leading receiver. You need crowder in there. He's a great security blanket for young quarterback. And where's Elijah More

start making some plays? I know he got on the stat sheet. And Denzel Mims, I guess he's just not on the team really anymore. He was deactivated a week two. That's a bad look for the entire organization. And Joe Douglas, let's go Jets. Clean it up. Greg, You're up, all right, I'm just gonna go. The next best game on the board I think is Minnesota Seattle. We mentioned at the

top how the Vikings are like most oh and two teams. Yeah, it's gonna get drowned out by the Rams Bucks also at but this Vikings team, they could be two and out. They probably should be one in one in some way, but instead they're owing two. It makes it a classic cornered animal game. And I like what I saw to their offense last week. How could you not not just the Kubayak running game, which is now entering year two, you expected to really like ramp Up Man. It was cohesive.

They freaking destroyed Chandler Jones and j. J. Watt and and Davin Collins and sim I mean they destroyed them on the ground last week. It wasn't all just Dalvin Cook making plays that intrigues me. Against Seattle, kJ Osborne you were wondering, where's the third receiver to step up? K J. Osborne is your number one receiver in Minnesota in terms of yard he looked pretty good for two weeks. So it's a good offensive team. And I'm not sure what the Seahawks are, but I don't think they're a

good defense. I think they're mediocre. So to me, it's a coin flip game. But I think give the Vikings a pretty good chance at home. It's so and football is crazy with this because the line between O and two and two and oh is so thin, and the Vikings just if they just execute a little bit better at the end of those first two games, they're in a great position. And that you know, everyone's thinking, Oh, the Vikings are back. They're ready to make a playoff run.

Instead they're seasons online, uh in in week three. Um, so you gotta bounce back. You gotta find a way. This is you gotta you gotta figure it out and find a way. I think Russell Wilson's owned them for what it's worth. I never put much stock into this, but he is seven and oh against the way, and you don't like if you're a Viking study, you don't like that the Seahawks blew that game in Week two, because now the Seahawks also are extra motivated to bury

demons from week two. You you want them to to find a way to beat the Titans and then go they're fat on the hog and get Minnesota's home opener. I mean they were on the road twice. I give a little bit of a little bit of leader right. And the Seahawks defense, they're best players, Adams Wagner. They played eighty eight snaps last week. That's that's a lot

of football. You've got to travel on the road. And the Seahawks offensive line is a little on my raider, haven't haven't been able to get a running game going. And Wilson again has one of the highest sack rates in the league. So it's kind of like a little bit of feeling of the same old Seahawks here. Yeah, I think the you're gonna see some big plays. And Tyler Lockett is you know, he's another guy that looks like an All Pro. They're gonna just games in the thirties.

The cornerbacks are so attackable on on both sides. Kirk Cousins has been real good through two weeks um, and which isn't always a popular thing to say, because nobody likes Kirk. Now he's been great personally professionally otherwise, I'm sure his family loves him, and that's the most important thing. Um. That's a good game, and I think it's a total coin flip game. And I think the Vikings find way

that's what I took to. Let's uh, let's go through the rest of these games now that we have our drafts set up here Falcons at Giants, all right, so Jike's all right, Kenny, Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma. By the way, Mark Sanchez Vilma, I love that crew. Give me that crew instead of Schlais. I'm sorry Coogler and Mark Sanchez on the Seahawks Vikings Ho Sanche has been so far to you. You know, we're all in the

same business here. They're learning. You see. You were talking about me with like pregnant pauses, showing like a level of advancement you being in a place, and I was like, well, you know, Mark Stune is best. We're all out enjoyed. I haven't enjoyed those broadcasts yet. Like the old Greg's just like slinging. I just hammered sla He's got the crossbow, just taking out everybody in the industry. Where's that guy?

Bring him back? I mean, the best analysis Sanchez had was about how awkward it would be for Jimmy g to be hugging that would maybe that wasn't his game, but just he was talking about that, It's like, Okay, he's been there, He's been there in those situations. Um, all right, Falcons, Giants, this is who who? When he got two wounded animals, it's gonna be bloody, it's gonna be gross, and somebody's gonna end up dead. Uh. So that's that's the Kenny Albert john development game. It's at

the Metal Lands. I really liked. We haven't talked about this game because the Giants because it was the Thursday night game last week. I mean, listen, they found a way to lose that game against Washington. I love the way Daniel Jones played in that game, and I'm not gonna put too much into it because that's the whole

Daniel Jones experience. But it wouldn't surprise me if he stacks up two really impressive games back to back here and people start buzzing a little bit as we enter week four, Hey, is this the Daniel Jones season finally where he fulfills the promise? That's what I think is gonna be a conversation on Monday after the Falcons get their ass beat. Lock that up, then uh the uh? I agree with you. I do like the Giants in this game. They've lost too offensive linemen for the season

already that I mean, it can't be good. Lemieux was one of them. Was Shane Lemieux, and Nick Gates was another. I don't know. They're starting guys who just joined the team a couple of weeks ago. That's not great. But I'm with you. I loved what I saw out of Daniel Jones, and I loved what I saw at Jason Garrett. For fifty eight minutes. It was a creative, aggressive game plan that took advantage of Daniel Jones's leg game. No,

I get it. It was great, but I think everyone did until they got the ball with three minutes left, and then he talked into Jason. Well, that was the moment where I lost him, where he just he turned back into Jason Garrett and got very conservative with the game on the line, when all it really took was one throw to win the game. And then you go Jason Garrett run run pass and it fell apart. But you gotta win this game. It's Eli Manning retirement Jersey game.

You can this giant. You can't lose this game. You you did the ping pong and the you know, the the beer pong and Hackensack with Eli. He's your mentor do it? Who remember rookie year? They would show those, They would show those like clips pictures of Daniel Jones and Eli Manning like in in Hackensack drinking beer and they're like, say they are bros. Matt Ryan his his

last in the league in average depth of targets. I know you love a dot he has thrown in in two weeks, He's thrown three passes over twenty yards and hasn't completed any of them. He threw one pass um early in the game in week two that just hung up and he had his receiver had a step. I don't know if it was Ridley um and it just made you think, oh, okay, so we got something going

on here. I think my prediction Leonard Williams has a big game and you're gonna see a lot of Matt Ryan the the above, the shot on the wire of him flat on his stomach from week one. We're gonna see that again at MetLife Stadium. Up next Bears at Brown's. Okay, so Justin Fields is the starting quarterback. Andy Dalton's knee injury is not an a c L tear, but it's

jacked up enough where Justin Fields is starting. But not, but the belief in Andy Dalton hasn't changed to the point where they're saying this is now Justin Fields's team. They're still letting it out there. It's Andy Dalton's job until we decide it's Justin fields job. But that also ultimately doesn't matter Greg because if Justin Fields place well in Cleveland this week gets done, it's done. They're just saying this. I mean, I guess he's leaving out some room.

If Justin Fields was so bad and Andy Dalton gets quickly healthy, then you could change it. But that's what they said about Tony Romo and Dak Prescott back in the day. That was Tony Romo who was like a great quarterback who was their starter for eight or nine years. Well, what's his job when healthy? Well, then he's not gonna be healthy or they're just gonna have to admit it was a lie. I want to see Justin Fields move

the ball a little better. I know Allen Robinson dropped a touchdown pass, but it's got to be said they won that game because Andy Dalton had the best two drives of the game. He was the best quarterback on the Bears in that game. They both played, so like, yeah, that matters, matters a little. Well, it matters in the sense of like people just blindly saying screw Andy Dalton put in Justin Fields while they both played in a game that mattered and one look better than the other.

But that doesn't matter anymore in the sense that there's only one quarterback left to play. So I think they're so freaked out about their offensive line that everything is short, short, short, and Dalton can do that. There's only one. The Bears have one play over seventeen yards this season, and this is a test for the Browns, who their defense rebuilt just hasn't looked any better this year. The secondary, the imported rams Troy Hill and John Johnson are off to

slow starts. Clowney and Garrett I think are off too slow starts. So it hasn't come together. This is a game, and I know you don't know what's gonna happen with Fields. It's like put a bang thing on them, cover that cover those seven or ten points. I don't even know what it is, right, but I'm saying I'm liking the Browns. I think they will. I think they will. You think is we're going to bank Town on this game? Yeah, it's only seven. So that's weird to me that it's

a smaller number by far than Houston. To to me, Houston has looked like a better team than Chicago. Uh. And I I know Chicago won that game last week and they look good on defense. I'm not It's not like they're gonna slow down the Browns. They're just not. So it's gonna be thirty Ken Justin Fields keep up with a team that scores thirty, I just don't think. So. Yeah, I'm nervous a little bit of him the Browns because you probably have a good chance of getting beat last

week if you're the other quarterback Tyrod Taylors and blows hamstring. Um, we'll see how Justin Fields looks. If Justin Fields looks good in the first quarter and they start to get a little juice and excitement. That could be a really tough game for the Browns. It helps at their home, all right. Ravens at Lions, Uh, this is a nice spot for the Ravens here. You have that emotional win on Sunday night, and now you get the Lions who

are showing greg through two weeks. They're gonna play hard, but they're just gonna get overwhelmed as long as you, you know, put your will upon right. I was kind of thinking, like, what would the reaction be if Matt Patricia had these exact two straight games. No one would be saying, well, they're playing hard. They would just be like, Matt Patricia blows, defense blows, and this Lions defense is a problem. They it didn't look very good on paper and they look like they're going to be one of

the worst defense in the league. That's asking golf to keep up with that. It's it's gonna be tough. But as we tape this. Lamar Jackson missed practice Thursday for mysterious reasons. He did he did. He was there for a walk three. Now he was there for a walk through on Wednesday and said his hip was kind of sore and wasn't there Thursday and there didn't. As we're taping this, they haven't said why if I can jump? If I can jump off? Yes, if I may so.

A couple like two hours ago, Shufter said that he wasn't at this because yesterday his hip was sore from his t d Umi flip. Yes, but but Dan, but Dan. So then now it's coming out that it's a non COVID illness and he has a bit of a stomach bug. So you remember that game where he ran into the locker room. So yeah, Twitter is a is a wasteland rumper against the Browns. Yeah, so that they're thinking that basically he should be fine for for Sunday depending on this.

That's good to know. If ever, there was like a hangover type of game, and I'm sure that's not why he's out hangover. Uh, wouldn't this be it? They kind of slay the dragon. You're going to Detroit, not saying they would lose, but that it might be uncomfortable cause I'm not convinced this Ravens team is gonna be great. I know they put together a great performance. The running game was Wow. People get on Greg Roman. But oh my god, I I rewatched. I watched this thing in

like they were doing things I've never seen before. It was infusing. It was blowing my brain, the type of motions and the way they're using their tight ends and full back. It was a lot that they threw out. He changes so much. Of course, he changes, not just him I'm saying, but just what he does with an offense, and how defenses have to account for where he is.

And all of a sudden he's sticking in somebody else's gut and they're all looking at Lamar like he that's why, and like motion guys going one way and like man, they were like a two seconds late on so many of those runs. And Tyson Williams is a player. I love that way that he runs. He's I would take him over Gus Edwards just as a pure runner. And I don't know if they're missing that much not No, he oh I don't need with running backs. You know

he can run maybe just like Barry Gus. I didn't bury J. K. Dobbins by the way, the Lions are burying Jamie Collins. They said they're trading him. He's no longer showing up to practice. I'm only mentioning this because, like when Jamie Collins quits on you, I mean, he

really this is three teams. I don't know how to personally attack the guy, but it is three teams where the team has kind of been like, we're gonna get rid of this guy like now because something right and uh, you know, there were some questionable efforts when he was on the field in Week one. I wanna, hey, breakout player, it's happening, Hollywood. Brown he is, and he's building off to the end of the last season. He really has

looked very good and that's what they need desperately. They Sammy Watkins, I think he's given them what they've wanted so far. And Rashad Bateman when he gets back from the core muscle surgery, that's you know, you hope he's gonna be able to have an impact this season. He's really behind now. But I really think Brown this could be the season he is a first round pick back in twenty nineteen. I think this could be like yard eight touchdown season the Ravens thought they were getting because

they seem to have some real chemistry. Um, let's pause quickly for a break up. Next Cardinals at Jags. First, let's start with urban Meyer. Greg, you've been down in urban Meyer since he took the job. I don't know what it's about, but you're hardly alone. And a lot of people thought, oh, would he be able to be dominant in the college game or in the pro gaming like he was in college as he prepared to understand it's such a different landscape. Well, here's a little snippet

from inside the NFL. Remember inside the NFL is still here of urban Meyer speaking with Vic Foggio ahead of a Week two matchup. A lot of players in this way round it's Alabama every week, and Vix like, yeah, yeah, dude, it is different. Yeah, I mean people are killing Erban Meyer for this, Like, but he's just saying every team is great. I don't think he's saying like every team is so good because Vick Vick mentioned this in his

presser too. And they don't know each other, so like you don't think because they're pro you know, coaches and everything, and it's a different world. It's the same as like if you were at the Are Cooler with Joe Blow after the show and you didn't know what to say and you just said, hey Man, this new office is real nice. Huh, Like that's what that's Urban Myers version of small talk. Hey Man, college was easy. It's the

same thing. Uh. And he was on my radar from the beginning because it just feels like there's a level of confidence, I guess would be the nice way to put it in these college coaches who are like imperial war lords over you know, their entire It's the media, it's the players, it's being the highest paid like public

employee in the state. And and the fact that Urban Meyer also had all these Fox guys and some NFL network guys to have worked with them, who are like in the stalladium, and it's like, all right, let's see how it goes. Like it's you know, you had these great players, we know you can recruit. You know, we did some creative things offensively at at in College, at Utah and in certainly Florida and beyond. But it's like, okay, see how it goes and it's not going on. It's

not The offense has been it's been rough. And uh, they had a hundred eighty nine yards total against Denver and again that's a very good Broncos defense. But even last year, seen the one one in fifteen, cleared that bar every week and uh Lawrence, Trevor Lawrence has seventy three of his A hundred and eighteen passing yards on the first drive. They don't want to ruin him. They're so past happy. They're kind of the opposite of the Bengals.

I know they have been behind in these games, but even early the first drives, like they are just letting him throw the ball. He he looks like he's like really inaccurate. But I think it's just he's late. I hope, yeah, that's that's what they've been saying, that he's just that he's just like kind of slow to see things, and so the ball gets there and the receiver is no longer in the place that he was supposed to be. I think he'll be fine, but their defense is a mess.

And I look at the things you worry about is when players that were good before aren't really that good now. And Miles Jack has been a little bit lost in this defense, getting picked on uh C J Henderson, and I guess hasn't done much in the past, but he's been lost to the defense. Being this bad is a is a bigger surprise and oh, by the way, you got you know, comfortable Kyler Murray coming in there and comfortable comfy Kyle. He just looks so at home in

this system. That's the benefit of keeping the same coordinator. You know, we get on franchises for changing out coordinators, whether you like Cliff or not. Like Kyler knows this offense. He knows where everyone's supposed to be. Um new Copkins. Did not practice Thursday, didn't practice Wednesday. Uh, keep an eye on Friday. We're recording this on Thursday. But you do take some solace if your card spend knowing that

Ron del Moore is developing at a high rate. Uh, seven of eight targets for one fourteen and a touch against the Vikings. If he's still on your waiver wire and fantasy go get him. That's my little tip for you fantasy heads out there. Let's move on the Washington football team at Buffalo Bills. Uh, what do you think here? I think that the Bills def ends is a problem. That if the Bill's defense in a good way for the rest of the league, if the Bills wait for

the Bills, it's a problem. The defense is playing well, it's a problem for the a f C East. It's a problem for the a f C. If they're this good man, it just gives them such a markin margin for error. And we're seeing that so far with Josh Allen in the offense, not quite quite being there, but people are kinda forget how good this Bill's offense has been at various points, and and Matt Milano is leading

the way. I don't know if you have this experience, dan Um, when players that West really loved are like popping on game pass. I had that with Kareem Jackson last week. I just you just think about him, you think, and because he was so early on Milano and he was so right, he kind of makes their defense and maybe West could see it all back then it wouldn't it wouldn't surprise me. But I feel like he's playing

at a level now that is just mind blowing. That is like Navarro Bowman in his prime, like changing the game, like all pro. Whatever you want to say. It's it's two games, but he has really stood out to me, and their defense to me, is just gonna be too good for Tyler Heiniki. I mean what they did to the Dolphins was that was was borderline cruel. And the Dolphins building their home open or first time in front

of fans in two years. Uh too. Absolutely just steal, just steal their will with by the second series and and by the way, and we're gonna get to the Dolphins next. Um, that's a broken rib for to a Now who's out of the picture. That's that's what the Bills. They can bully you, uh with that front seven. And now if you get the offense figured out, if they get airborne on offense and get to the level they were last year, that this is the team we've all talked on in the offseason. This is a super Bowl

level team. How can the offense get there? We'll see and this might be a good matchup to do it. The Washington defense has been so disappointing through two weeks. Young and sweaty. I can't get a nickname off the damn ground if you're not gonna take the next step, professionals, you know what, Sweat was pretty good in that game, actually pretty good. They haven't dominated, but it feels like the rest of the defense is an even bigger problem,

like the secondary, the linebacker group. This on paper, I think is a pretty good spot for Josh Allen to get right. Josh Allen is absolutely not shooting straight through two weeks. I don't you said should be panic after one week, I was like, Man, now that it's been two weeks, I'm like, okay, let's keep an eye on the third week. I don't think he He played about as bad as you can to win thirty five nothing. He had some great plays in that game, but he

missed a lot of They disappeared. They kind won that game fifty six to nothing for for throughout after they had an early touchdown, the offense just disappeared for a long stretch there in. The defense just carried the day by the way last thing because we've got to get

out here in a few minutes. But the Washington football team, Uh, if there isn't a questionable hold that wipes out of Daniel jones fifty eight yard touchdown run, If Darius Slayton can make a football play in a big spot on an end zone drop when there was no Washington defender within twenty yards, you're looking at a monster Daniel Jones game on your team. Washington defense, it's supposed to be one of the best in the league, so they got lucky and so many levels to win thirty twenty nine.

In that game, it could have been a totally different game if the Giants just executed and got some um if a flag gets picked up finally, Dolphins at Raiders, Yes to a and you kind of felt this happening. You felt a trending this direction all week that Okay, they said he just got banged up and he's gonna be okay, but no, Uh, he's got fractured drips. So he got hit three times hard and I think seven

plays against the Bills. And now he's on the shelf and you have you're asking questions about his future, not just because he didn't look so hot in week one. Uh, and as a rookie. Now he's heard again, and that put you in a situation. There's no Ryan Fitzpatrick. It's Jacoby Brissette going to Vegas. And this sets up really well, Greg for the Raiders to get off to a three and oh start. You know, I love me some Jake Brisket. Um, we don't have the Jake Brisket, but we do in

our hearts. I'm I'm hearing it in my head. I hear it as well. He's back in the mix, but him in this offensive line and slice me off a piece of that, Jake blisk, but we do have it. Don't shake your head. Well, no, I mean it's on. It's totally second. I knew that, but I just meant, like coming, I just went at some point while we're having to discuss she could have hypothetically in post just dropped it right when you said it. But then since you kind of called the producer out, so just now

I have to address it. You know what I mean? I mean, slice me off a piece of that. I mean, it's all right, him behind this offensive line. It seems like a bad combination, don't you think. I mean, Jacobe Procide is sort of famous for holding the ball more than any quarter act almost in the history of the NFL. How about a Max Max Crosby hat trick three sacks this league? Right, So that's probably gonna happen. And yet I still think they'll be able to move the ball

on the downs that you can't get some protection. Fuller might be back for this game, Waddle is still a player. I think it's the biggest test yet for the Raiders receivers. I'm impressed by Byron Jones this year. Impressed by this Dolphins defense. Don't think they played that bad last week despite the score. I think it's gonna be tough to find open receivers. You're gonna you can send a lot at Derek Carr. I don't think this is necessarily like a cake walk game here for the Desert and then

the games of the Desert, the Desert sees. This is four points I took. I took the Dolphins to cover. I took the Raiders to win by a field goal. So you're not in because I have the Raiders at eleven and the power rankings and Raiders Nation. They are coming for me. I mean, they are so upset, but I guess me putting them outside the top ten, I'm I'm not totally sold that this is a juggernaut by

any stretch yet. So but if you get beat by the Dolphins or the backup quarterback, if you need a late field goal to get to three, and though you're probably not a top ten teams, Dolphins are. Okay, I give the Dolphins. I'm not giving up on the Dolphins for one week though, And to me to it to Jacoby Brissette isn't necessarily a downgrade, and that's a problem. That's a problem. I mean it maybe it is, but not from what we've seen, because it's wounded here. The

pride is wounded after last week. They're probably gonna come out and they have a really good head coach. Uh now I'm starting to come around a little bit, and they It is actually a great test, though, I think for where the Raiders are at, because this was the moment last year where you realized it was all falling apart, or that it did officially fall apart. It was the day after Christmas you gave up that crazy drive to Fitzpatrick. Was a lot of bad luck in that game, but

they shouldn't have let them back in. And the Dolphins were just felt like like a better coach team. Uh, you know, show me I'm wrong. But Raiders fans, you know, they get worked up. But this these are just the facts. They got some good breaks when they played the Ravens week one, with the injury situations happening so late in the week, with Villanueva playing the right side, which you can't play in Stanley a shell of Stanley on the left side, and everything that happened, and they won that

game in overtime. Good job, you played the Steelers last week and they were missing five of their best players. Again, Derek Carr's bawling out through two games has been top five quarterback. But this is another good situation. Backup quarterback. Go take advantage, go get the three, and now let's see what happens. Let me see before we signed off here, I'm just curious what the Raiders have, because because the top of the schedule is pretty tough, you would think

it might even soften here in October. Let's see they have at Chargers home, Bears at Broncos home, Eagles at Giants. Okay, so not really, it softens up. It's not, it's it softens up a lot of gimme's there. All right, good stuff. That's the Week three preview. We'll be back on Sunday Night Podcast Style for the flagship show. Um Friday, Um, we're recording our TV show which air sat today on NFL Network, Uh, the Around the NFL Broadcast where we go around the NFL all thirty two teams and yes,

also that program is now on Sky Sports. The critics have have spoken big hit with the critics they love this new format. You get all thirty two teams two minutes. When is it? It's at noon on Sky or two pm. It's in the yearly afternoon and we're on NFL network. By the way, seven am U in the morning East Coast time, So if you're on the West Coast DVR that we're also on late night Saturday. Yeah, we got we're working on that time slot. But we gotta we have some we gotta win battles. We gotta win in

the ratings war. And I know Andrew Marshaun, who covers the media for The Post in New York Um, has been on the show. His brother is a listener. So hey, bro, if you can tell Andrew to give us a little New York Post right up about our TV show and that we're growing. What do you want to go with broadcasting superpower? Put it that way to Andrew and see if you can get him to nibble. Yeah. I wanted to compare us to the ratings of other sports shows on at four am in the West Coast, like we've

got to be. We've gotta be crushing it. Definitely cornering that market for sure. That's the time slot you want, all right, good stuff, Thanks to everybody for listening. Uh and yes, we'll be back on podcast side with the flagship show Sunday and night. Until then, you know what you gotta do. Heed the call.