2021 Week 7 Preview - Spirit Day

a little bit of a breather here. Uh, And that's nice. Greg. We get to focus up a little bit more on Sunday and teams get to get healthy. That's nice too. It does feel like a big weight off the shoulders for some reason. It's a big deal. But we're not doing them the math thing anymore, where you figure out how many teams, because it's a new equation at this at this stage, here we go fresh math teams play already six games the mind twelve games to talk about matters.

Got it? You know you nailed it? Still got it? Baby? Alright? So good stuff, Greg, Um, good job wearing purple today. You are a ally, as they say, yeah to give the listeners context. I think it's it's um, it's a ware purple day. It's a ware purple day to support the LGBT community. And you guys didn't. Yeah. Yeah, Mark and Dan were actually texting this morning and they were like, I'm not wearing purple, Like there's no way. I feel

like it's a little showy. And Greg not only wearing a purple tie, but then a pin that wardrobe gave me. He doesn't even know what the pen means. Just it's like, what is great means an ally something and you're not it? Actually they said that is it like this? If there's ever there's as a thirsty ally, it's Greg. I mean we got we got like seven emails about it. I wasn't gonna say a word. There was signs up around the building and say just do it. You don't say anything.

You don't make a big deal. You're the one making a big deal. Hold on because you're insecure about your prejudice. And also also I would just say, as a note to the to the organizers, yeah, I mean you're suggesting that, like you you you know. Erica sent a fire text to us yesterday telling us that we must show up in purple. Well, I absolutely wouldn't. I don't. I don't own in purple. I don't own purple clothes. I told you to go to Target. You could go down to

wardrobe and you could get handkerchief. I had a thunder Dan Marley Jersey for the Sun's I don't know where that is. That was the last time I had something purpose that's yours, I know. But do you know I'm an ally and a supporter of you and the entire community. Right your angle on it is aggressive, Mark Um, you told me to perish before the show. I was connected to the That was life style. This is the last show of the Round the NFL podcast. We hope you

enjoy it. Um, Okay, good good job. Greg was having some fun. You are. Yeah, the next edition will be just be me, Colleen and Erica. It's gonna be like split around the Split Ends. And we heard by the way that there's there's percolation out there that the Split Ends podcast is doing well. And and that's fine that the new podcast with Erica Tampost and Colleen Wolfe has been successful. But I need a data dive, grave digger, can you get on the microsecond? And we got so

many games to get to. But there's some important stuff we've gotta talk about. You, Grave Digger, what's up? Hey, how's it going? Ricky? Don't listen? Um, I need you to do a data deep dive analytics style to make sure that the numbers that Ricky and Connie are getting off this podcast aren't shaving off the backs of our shows. Numbers. You're saying you don't want listeners tuning out of a t n just to tune into our numbers are dipping in correlation with the arrival of the show. That show

needs to go away executed, especially the Tuesday show. I think that's when you can really Okay, you could give Ricky headset back, but just if you could do that for me, Grave Digger, it's a it's a really good show. We heard. I mean, it's also taken over our Instagram page and uh, you know that's fine. Just you know it's I have heavily advertised I have not missed an episode yet, so I would assume all listeners are in the same boat. Can I trust you for this? No?

She he works for her, she's his boss. You can trust nobody. That's true. All right, let's get to it. Week seven usually start with the prime time games, but they don't do much for me. I don't know about you, guys. We'll get to them very They're solid, but unspectacular. So let's start with the draft and UM. This week, Greg picks number one. I picked two, Mark picks three. Now, if you listen to them to the Tuesday show, you'll know there was a trade that went down Greg to

get back Chargers Ravens last week. Gave me three opportunities. This is the agreement to jump him at any point, and I get to use those whenever I wish. Greggy, I'm using one right here. I'm jumping. Yeah. I'm curious for what well say. I wouldn't call it UM the A plus state of the year, but I'm gonna use it on the two best teams in the NFC North. Okay, it wasn't my pick since Pat Baltimore. There you go. We'll start right there, the Bengals at the Baltimore Ravens.

I'm surprised that that's not your first pick, and I'm a little bit upset. I don't think you're telling the truth. M And I'll explain why a minute. Anyway, here we go, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, first place in the a f C North on the line, and I'm so excited for this mark because the Bengals are a great story obviously right now, and they are playing very well. They're playing well against good competition. Now this is a big test though. You go on the road to Baltimore, who is playing

lights out right now. They've won five games in a row. They just embarrassed the Chargers. Um So, if the Bengals are indeed for real and a team that we should look when we start to look ahead and take a peek at the playoff picture and all that, is Cincinnati a nice story or an actual player in this thing. How they perform on Sunday is going to go a

long way for me personally. Yeah, I think it's a chance for the Bengals to announce to everyone, for people that haven't been tracking them that closely, Hey look at us. We're spicy, our bodies are spicy. We are a team to contend with, and you're getting a peak version of the rave which bodies specifically, I'm in a pro athletes, I would whole host of that compared to other teams. Are I think they do they are probably spicier than ever physically. Um, that one was just sometimes you'll throw

bodies and things like that. But that one really stood out for some reason because it's this because this team is standing out and it's not just you know, it's not just Joe Burrow and Jamaar Chase. I think their offense is so resilient, though there is something different with Burrow, who just wants the ball at the end of the game. And I think they are they are not. They talked about Jamar Chase said that last week. The attitude in this locker room is we will step on people's next

We're going to take people out. And that's not been how you've thought about the Bengals forever. And this is the ascid test. And it's not just offense, it's it's it's lou and a Rumo, who Greg announced in our newsroom. Uh mentioned his name on NFL Network. You're right, how often does that happen? Greg? Not too often. But this defense is the fifth fewest points allowed league wide. They've been really good against the run. That's totally different when

you play Lamar Jackson and Ravens backfield. That despite having like the entire cast wiped out. They run the ball really well with some of those backs the last couple of weeks they they have, and yet I think they're gonna need to throw it to win this game. I don't really trust that running game totally yet. Outside of Lamar and I think if you look at the Bengals, like you said, a good rush defense, I think Rashad

Bateman being back makes a difference. You know, he came in last week, he had six targets, looked competent, and Sammy Watkins comes back eventually. I trust the Bengals defense though, to keep this game close. This number I think is six six and a half. Like I like the Bengals to keep it closer in that because of the defense. But it's the offense that I have bigger questions on for Cincinnati because I just think they need to have a little more dimensions. I want to see him against

a blitzing type defense like Baltimore. I remember that nightmare game they had against the Ravens a year ago where Burrow and Zach Taylor and the offensive line was flummixed about everything they sent. And I love Jamar Chase, but I'd like to see a little more dimensions. You're not getting Tee Higgins involved, Y're not getting Boyd involved, and they are starting to get Chris Evans involved, who I really like as this pass catching back spice Rack is

a huge fan, like great hands, moves really well. They might have found like a Geo Bernard upgrade in this kid, Chris Evans, But it's the offense I don't quite trust as much. And you know, uh, I like their roster though beyond I know, I love their big three, like you're saying that Joe Mix and Jamaar, Chase, Joe Burrow, They're gonna win a lot of games if those guys stay healthier at least score a lot of points. But there's I think Boyd's a player. I think t Higgins.

The're good that they're not getting involved that much like the two of them combined. The artis and it's not close to what Chase has a right Well, maybe this will change any other thoughts on the Ravens. By the way, who would you just more broad question, who would you

rather have for the next ten years at quarterback? Burrow or Lamar oh Lamar by far, I mean he's already won an m v P and he's on plate pace for another Burrow has set a really great bassline with his sixteen games, But I don't know if he's going to be special. I guess. I mean, is it cliche to wonder physically where Lamar would be eight years from now with the way that they could just count well

Joe Burrows and the exploded last year, that's fair. I mean, I I I'm thinking about the next three year half because you have to say Lamar. But I think Burrow has been in one of the better stories of the a f C after that awful August for the entire offense. Basically, Eli Apple is playing a lot for this Bengals team and he has not really been picked on. So I think the Ravens now have the dimensions in this passing game.

It's like, go go pick on Eli Apple for four quarters, Go go do it, Go pick on Eli All right, let's get to it. Who that Remember when Eli got then he get when he was a giant rookie, Get thrown app dunc take dunk Tanklili Apple. I don't know. His mom was always you know, doing stuff, tweeting. Somebody threw him in like a cold tank or something in the locker room and it was a story. Yeah, you're right, there was. There was a lot of can you look that up for me? The Eli apple Um hazing incident?

All right, let's um okay, Yeah, that's a great game. Alright, Greg, you're up. Okay. So this my number one pick was going to be and now and still will be Bears at Bucks. And here's why. In the four pm slot there's two dog games. Don't want one of those dog games. Number two. You've got Trent Green on your call. I've got Jim Dance and Tony Romo. I care and I'm interested in this game because this was the game last year where you started to wonder, are the Bucks really

got to get it together? And they've mentioned it a lot this week. They scored only nineteen points against Chicago a year ago. It was the game where Tom Brady held up the four number because he got confused at the game. Not that they're not motivated every week, but I think they want to show how much they've changed. And I want to see how much Justin Fields has changed, because to me, this is been This is gonna be his toughest matchup since he played Cleveland. You can't run

it on Tampa. But there's such a good running team Chicago over the last couple of weeks, You're gonna have to rely on Justin Fields and them to handle all the blitz. Is Todd Bowles has sends at him. I've liked what I've seen out of Fields and Naggy the last couple of weeks. It's like a slow build. This is a big time test and I've had fun watching him, so I'm gonna have fun watching him whether he gets

blown out or not. I'm with you on Fields. I mean, they had fifty five passing yards against the Packers in the first half, but if you go look at the drive where the Bears made it seventeen to fourteen. I thought Fields made some good throws a first drive of the game. He had some dimes. Then they went to sleep though for a while after that they are a little streaky. I think at this in this game, I don't know if you're gonna hold in the nineteen points

like you did a year ago. You might have to ask Fields to do a little bit more in this and just open it up. I mean, there is a bit these Bucks secondary is banged up. It sounds like Antoine Winfield, who had a concussion scenario but practiced in full, will be back. But you know, Carlton Davis, Shaun Murphy, Bunting, Richard Sherman. I mean, there is an opportunity for them to do more than just be this sort of run, big, pretty,

run heavy offense. It's been They've been so good running that they kind of haven't had to pass that much. But yeah, you need a little more. I was thinking Robert Quinn, who it was put on the COVID list. It sounds like he's been vaccinated though, because he's done his interviews without a mask. But he has got to get a couple of positive tests. He has been a huge difference maker for that defense. I don't I don't love well, I don't love anything about this game for

the Bears. Um, I don't know if it would be there at six overall in our draft. Greg, So if you really wanted it that bad, it's kind of about the time of day. I also watched the Ravens live last week and that hurt me, and so I I don't like to do it twice in all right, you have interesting you have a different way of drafting. I've

noticed that the last couple of weeks. But you know the fact that the Bucks on top of it, have had a you know, half of bye week, so they haven't played in ten days because they played t N f UM on October fourteenth. So that that, I think is only going to help a team, a veteran team

like the Bucks in terms of health and preparation. Um, so I fully expect Tom Brady to do what he does now, which is, um, I know you have, by the way, Doc by the way as your number one quarterback in the QB rankings now, Greg, but just Brady's mastery of the position is like, Okay, it's like it's the Peyton Manning thing where he's just smarter than everyone now and just has figured every He's figured it all out,

and they all it's that old sports thing. It's like, Um, when you're an athlete, the more you learn about the sport as you get older, Um, you know, your physical abilities sometimes go down as your knowledge goes up. So but Brady's somehow got into situation where he mastered the sport from an intellectual standpoint, but he's still at a high level. Uh, Physically, it's not supposed to work that way.

So that I just think he's gonna pick a part of good Chicago defense because he does it to everybody. And the other guy I wanted to bring up was Leonard Fournette, who's uh a really good player for these Bucks. And I know we brought him up a couple of weeks ago, and maybe it's just the Brady effect, but he's been a really big addition to that offense in terms of a week to week ad that keeps them from getting too predictable. I'd have to make a list, but I feel like he's a top ten to fifteen

running back right now. He's playing great and they're gonna need him. They might not have Antonio Brown, they might not have Rob Gronkowski. He was a big part of this book I got sent in the mail. It's good.

It's called The Season in the Sun. It's by Lars Anderson, and it's about the Bucks and this Bears game figured big in it and it really kind of goes through how much Brady struggled mentally to make this offense his own, and they they he needed the bye week to basically here from arians that like, make it, do whatever you

want with it, make it the Brady offense. If you want, and Brady sort of took charge after that, but it was pretty fascinating, like how much he was struggling mentally early in that season, ripping through the entire book during a busy pretty good. Nice job. He's a reader. He's a reader. Tom Brady through six games, two thousands. Want to be two thousand, sixty four passing yards, seventeen touchdowns, three picks. He's got eleven touch on, zero picks on

the red zone. It's stupid that I should be number one by It's a little early to talk m v P. I think it's too early because there's so many great quarterbacks right now. But I've noticed Brady has never mentioned because the narrative isn't great, and it's like Brady is playing as well or better than By the way, what's wrong with the Brady narrative? The forty four year old that's a fine narrative. But people are just more excited

about Kyler. Just as same thing. Why Belichick when they won four hundred titles in four d twelve years, um wasn't when the coach of the year of the year. It's just like, yeah, I'm bored of that guy. Giving somebody else. All right, stay right there, we'll be right back. Let's move on. Mark, you're up your first pick. I feel like you got a good spot here because Greg a little bit of a reach there, even though he

gave you his reason. Isn't much of a week you took the Oh I love, I love, I love what what's happened to me? Because you're going to take the other good four pm game at some point here, at some point I may, but not right here at this spot. I'm going Kansas City at Tennessee in the early window. And I looked at the spread on this game, and I think the Titans have a reason to feel a little a little disrespected at home after wiping up the Bills. Is the rainmaker? Is he gonna do it? I'm not

going to do it. I just think that if you're them, you'd have to be a little flummixed by how people view them after what we just saw against Buffalo. But they're a little bank since that game. In fact, in fact, the spread became more um. I thought appalling. Didn't shrink the way that you didn't. There wasn't a huge um pro Titans a footage on five or something. It's well, I mean, the last time I checked, it was like five five, five point five or something like that set

the line in Las Vegas. You're a little banged up too if you're Tennessee coming off that game. Obviously Tarrill of the wand but Caleb Farley, torn a c L. Christian Fulton is on I R. So there's a chance here for the Chiefs to do what they do, which is roll up points. But there's still a team that

I mean, they're rushing defense. Was talking to the Grave Digger before this uh podcast, and it's like, there's hope for the Titans because you can go do what you do well, and I thought that's exactly what they did against Buffalo. Just lean on Derrick Henry and the rest of the crowd and if you get a kind of game from a J. Brown that you did. I mean, the Chiefs to me feel like they started the season as remember when Cleveland played them. Cleveland has to be

perfect to keep up with the Chiefs. Now it's almost like Kansas City's offense outside of Washington can't make the mistakes it's making and it leads to league in giveaways. With the defense as poorous as it's been and I think the Washington game is a bit of an admiration. Doesn't solve all their issues on defense. They made some changes though. You know, first of all, Chris Jones hasn't been playing. Sounds like he might be back for this game.

He he's gonna maybe move back to his natural position defensive tackle. The experiment of him and wasn't working. You get Sorenson out of them, what do you mean the offseason storyline with all the leads about it, it's amazing what he's able to do on the outside. Yeah, hasn't totally worked. He hasn't been as impactful. They got Sorenson out of the starting lineup. That's seemed to help. Last week they made a couple of plays. I'm not I'm with you that it sets up well for the Titans

to just steamroll them when they have the ball. But I will always take a great passing team over a great running team, and the Chiefs are a great passing team. They still lead the NFL and yards per drive, points per drive. Like I know, I feel like the turnovers are flukey. You mentioned Fulton, who had been playing really well for Tennessee is out and so they're short at cornerback, and I know the line maybe shouldn't be that big, but when it comes to the locks, you don't need

to worry about the line. You just gotta get the w And that's why I'm locking up the chiefs road. Oh I like that one. That's good. And you are on the little streak after the miserable start, you've now won three in a row. Great. Well, you know what philosophy worked the last couple of years. Nothing's working this year. Was always take the chiefs when they're available, So we'll see if that's continued. Well, I'm doing the same thing, and that may sound un original, but it's you just

talked about. You didn't like the spread I said the Titans, don't I do. I'm perfectly fine with it, and I'm locking the Chiefs up as well. That wasn't fun. I could care less if anyone in this room um approves of it that the Chief's offensive line has come in, I could care less. I'm serious about that. I don't need to do this to get the two of you to say, what a nice job. I'm just excited. I don't care about of course, I don't care. I picked

them too. I'm saying you spent this whole preamble and you sent an Instagram video about how disrespected the Titans should feel, and then you just you just locked up against I didn't know. I didn't spend I didn't go on the whole thing about how Mark feels this. I've now feel disrespected slightly by the two of them for you know your response. I've been doing some behind the scenes host stuff for the past two minutes, and I know I feel like Mars mad at me. I don't

think I even said anything last minute. No, no, because you haven't one of your like after I announced the lock a Erica, who's annoyed at me for various reasons, doesn't use the lock sounds, and then Dan's like, it's like, what is that? I mean, It's like, I think it was a totally hey, boys talked, Let's just take a break where take a breath. We're all together, everything is okay.

And also, did you know that there was questions about the physical treatment of second year cornerback Prince A Mukamara, a relatively small player who did not appear pleased to have been carried and deposited into the tub by hulking star defensive end Jason Pierre Paul did it. That's right. It wasn't Eli Apple Prince, but there was he there was some Eli Apple controversy where he called someone a cancer,

and there was there was there. He didn't go well, he had a confrontation with his teammate and I think he got suspended for being just a pain okay point and yeah, the mother was in the mix. Um mark, I apologize and the ESPN gig for because it certainly does sound like you. It does matter to you what we think about the locks based on your Actually, yeah, you're clown bro stupid asked why is why is your

mic still on? How here's a question for you? Why? Like, by the way, I only do I care when I'm when the showing by the two of you, you know, three of you, for Heaven's sake, and who knows what else has happened in the back room over there was what it was. Otherwise it would have been fine. How about just a normal point? Was you you disrespected the Titans after saying how they've been disrespected? Well, I've only added to their motivation then, Uh yeah, so Derrick Henry

is gonna run for a bunch of yards. But It's probably not gonna matter because the Chiefs are gonna score like seven out of nine times. That's what I'm saying. Are they their offensive line is coming together. They were able to run in short yardage, Like I think they're going to be able to run the ball a little bit too, Like they're like the belt. Like the whole thing with the Chiefs is like I'm in the same campus, Greg, But like I refuse to panic because it's the Chiefs.

But if they filled to three and four, is that a mini crisis that I think that would be the last I mean the fact that in that game the three first half toneovers last week, it was like, is this the same thing again? And then they turned it on. Let's see if they get it's a big game, all right, and then they get the Giants next week, so the Chiefs have a chance to build some momentument they could win. All right, let's move on, Marks, it is snaking and

you know you've got you fiery mother. Yes, you've got to organize your Sunday's um in the role that we play diligently ahead of time. And this has been on my radar because it includes one of the most um intriguing teams I've watched in years, and it is Houston that Arizona. I just want to see the Cardinals go in there and flex their muscles. And if you watch, if you've watched Thursday Night Football, UM Erica, you know

about this. There is an ad uh that they played throughout the game on national television that somehow features uh yours truly popping up in the middle saying something totally innocuous like they are the most interesting team in the a f C. So I'm just gonna say this about the Cardinals Erica. They are the most interesting team in the NFC. Now, if you can put that up to get that into the next look at the camera and

then Greg and Dan. Greg and Dan be super and like look at Mark like very invested, and then Mark throw your pen down and really sell it. They are the most interesting team in the NFC. Money in the bank, now you can. Dan could squeeze it on the same I'm not letting him that in this cut me in that promo. Al right, you are that promo by the way, you got upset about some other promo. You're the only a t M face in that big time that makes it so much more delicious to me. And it's you know,

my kids saw it last week. They didn't know what's going on. So and on the flip side, you've got maybe I need to make another secret phone call to get rid of that commercial. No no, no, no, no no, absolutely not anyway, where where are we? I would just say this. On the flip side, for the floor is beginning to fall out, you've got Brandon Cooks, so I think has been their most valuable player this season on offense, no question about it. It doesn't matter calling them totally

undisciplined against the Colts last week. It's starting to get ugly because someone who comes in and just drops a big a bomb. So the story, I guess the story for me one of the Texans is this the Shaun

Watson situation. So, um, John McClain, who is as plugged in as anyone or you know, he's been there forever and he's with the Houston Chronicle and he is pretty strong this week and says there is a trade that is coming down between the Dolphins and the Texans for Deshaun Watson and it's happening and it could happen this week. And then uh, there's been some pushback in various outlets,

saying no, no, no, that's not the deal. But Greg, it's interesting to me that it's claim that it's coming from and uh, do you sense that something could happen even by the time someone listens to this podcast. I mean,

it's interesting that he's putting it out there. Yes, but it's almost identical wording two similar reports in training camp before training camp, so that that yes, there was there was There was one before training camp that it that it could be imminent, and it also mentioned the Dolphins

and it didn't happen. I understand that the Texans and Deshaun Watson are aligned in wanting to get him out of there and get something for him now, and so you have to believe that that's where this information is coming from. I I kind of don't want to slam anyone for doing it until it happens, because I don't

necessarily believe it yet. I just I guess I just don't believe that a team will trade for a guy who is you know, if you read all of the material, sure looks like a sexual predator and has twenty two counts that are up in the air. In terms of the civil case in ten counts in a criminal case that could go to jail. So I guess I don't believe it until I see it. Well, And to your point, you know Greg and a little Bertie to play him this year. By the way, I think that's super missy.

But Greg and I a little Bertie told Greg and I that there, yeah, there are major issues in Miami sort of all over the place with various coaches by that ownership in Miami wants the Shawn Watson and that's what it's gonna take to make this happen. But I don't necessarily buy that it's going to happen in the next couple of weeks. We'll see. I don't really know that. I'm just saying I don't want to like cast judgment

on I want to see what happens. So like, if I were a team, say the Miami Dolphins, Um, why would I want to make this trade before I know about the criminal situation? Like? What is is there a rush here? I mean the Texans. I guess I could see from their perspective, like we don't know about this guy's future. Let's get him out of the building before he has no value to us. If things take a turn for Deshaun Watson, agent is as powerful as there is the league. So I think he's part of this too. Um,

So you have that side of it. It makes sense the Texans, they've already, they've processed it, they understand the situation. He's never playing another down for them. Get him out of here while you can. But if you're the Dolphins or any other team, imagine, just imagine a scenario where you pull the trigger on this trade, You give up

multiple first round picks, you get slaughtered from all corners rightfully. So, by the way, if you trade for a guy with the allegations he's facing right now, and then he don't play for you because he ends up his career goes up in flames because of his legal situation, why would anyone trade And maybe maybe even though I like John McClain and he's a friend of the show and he went to Baylor, and I like Baylor because I like my family, uh in Texas, maybe this is all this

is all b s because the Texans are so desperate to get this thing done that they're just trying to scare somebody up and to do a deal you think doesn't get down because it comes from McClain. I think that there's something very different about it. Are you selling low at this point right now? With so much unknown about if are the Dolphins you're maybe thinking, can I get them lower now and not face any competition for him?

Than it could still give out three round first round pictures is the most then then it would be absolutely Everything about it to me is ludicrous. It does make it puts a little extra I know we'll get to the Dolphins, but it puts a little extra on tour and Chris Greer their GM and Brian floores this week. I feel like it makes this week next week a little bigger in Miami's first round picks are looking good though right now, right and sorry Cardinals fans, but you're

playing the Texans. Your defense will give them some love. They're winning games for the Cardinals. Their defense has really won them games, and so you would think they're gonna blitz Davis Mills into the ground and you guys will have fun. Why I kind of like the chances of the Cardinals winning at home again eighteen point favorites, I think, and I would take the Cardinals. They're not. It's not that there's some huge college like spreads. This week in

our league, you have seventeen and a half. I'm looking at the Caesar's book here, seventeen and a half for the Cardinals, twelve and a half bucks. Uh, let's see there's another huge fifteen over the Lions. Jared Goff has gotta be feeling good about the trajectory of his career. All right, let's push pause here from our sponsors. We'll be right back. Let's move on up next. The old

Zeus are some interesting picks in the top four. So I am very happy to announce that I will be taking a late game and it will be the Eagles at the Raiders. Um Eagles. By the way, they continue to be connected to Shaun Watson as well, and they've got the picks too. I feel like Jalen Hurts. While he hasn't been bad this season, I don't know if he's done enough to this point to make them be like, oh, we got our guys, so we're getting out of that messy,

muddy business of Deshaun Watson. So keep an eye in that situation. But uh, in the here and now, I'm just I'm not feeling good about the Eagles. I don't think. I don't think this is a very good team. I think, you know, the injuries have hurt them and especially in their positions of strength, and it's it's showing week after week. And I think when they play good teams, they get exposed.

And if you're going to go on the road and play the Raiders, who are have usually been very good in that building, I think this is going to set up well. Now there's the Bisaccia bump? Is that still a thing? That is the question around the Raiders. Rich Pisacci the interim coach. Where now uh clear of the John Gruden ness by nearly two weeks, so you would think there's some type of combat in that organization inside the building. Uh does the Bessaccia bump bump extend? Uh?

We shall see. But I really like the Raiders. I don't don't you're about to lock it up, the whole bump thing. I mean, we're asking, like people's emotions on the Raiders players to still be bubbling because Rich Pisaccia is the coach or according to Greg's theory, John Gruden doesn't exist as a human being anymore. So they're very It's like a one week bump right the most part. But but the other bump. But we've never it's truly unique.

No one's ever seen the Bassaccia bump. There's been other bumps since it's a different bump, but the Bassaccia bump could have more well, so mystery. We're in the middle of that mystery. We don't. I remember when Bobby Petrino quit, everyone was like, oh, now they're gonna really play great to stick it to him. I was like, Nope, that falcons tea. It's like a nine year old serious about this. Yeah,

we were already working in football. That go ahead, Mark I. I would say that you also had a bit of a Greg Olsen bump, who you know is in the shadow of Gruden for so long. Like Evan Silva pointed out the cars yards per past attempt last week, we're twelve point six, the most of any game is a hundred and sixteen start career. They really leaned on play action a bunch more. They got a little bit better

along the offensive line, I thought. In terms of the run game, Josh Jacob said that something changed last Sunny, that lanes were appearing. I'm not sure that happens against the Eagles. But one other thing I like. The Eagles offense annoys me. It's been so streaky and even you go to that Bucks game, they were completely you know, in a slumber for long stretch of time, and then you know, Jalen Hurts gets going fantasy wise towards the end. They do have Lane Johnson back, who has been out

for a personal matter. That matters a lot. That's huge. That improves two tackles spots. Lane Johnson, who said he was dealing with mental health issues, released it really interesting statement on it uh and appreciated the support of the organization as he got himself right. Is one of the best right tackles in the league. And now you move Jordan Mylata back to left tackle replacing Dillard, so suddenly

you just you improve both tackle spots. So I think you match up pretty well to slow down the Great Raiders pass rush. And the one thing that kills the Raiders is their offensive line, and I think the Eagles could take advantage of that. So I think this is a coin ful, But I picked the Eagles. I've been wrong about the Eagles so many times. I'm just gonna keep being the wrong picking them and the Raiders. This is really a tough spot for me. I just never

and and now I'm in. I never thought Derek Carr could be this good. I think he's so much better than he's ever been. I have like I have him as a top five. I have him ahead of Patrick Mahomes right now, like Chiefs fans worried about that he is playing out of his mind because I don't think he's gotten a ton of help either. And you just got to look at how he's playing in four or five of these games. It's been awesome there. Their quarterback is so much better that it makes me a little

worried about picking the Eagles. I believe in the Bisacci bump. I believe in the You talk about Greg Olson, the Olsen. Oh wait a second, Olson, you come up with another one. Well, but when you say that's like a negative thing, the bull then hits, it's just frisky. That's like a bad offensive lineman yanking that thing back. What is it the it's also like a woman. The sash basics the ol And that's why I'm locking up the silver and wow, okay, I like that pretty good. That it's fine, that's good,

doesn't anger me. I know, I know in my heart that's a nice lock in a big spot. I think it's a nice lot because I think the Raiders are gonna lose. I know, but you know there's some pixie dusk on these Zeuster locks lately. I mean, you and Mark at the same ones, and everyone like included like a missed field goal or a going at least something

interrupt together. I had the Cowboys locked up last week, and legitimately I was watching the game as it was unfolding against the Patriots, being like, I locked up the Cowboys, so something weird is going to happen in their favor because I got sub juiced right now, I think that the sprinkle you got that sprinkle a little hands is hop we had the same record, but you have all this juice, and does what am I? You've got the Jeremy sprinkle. I'll lock up Patrick Mahomes. This whole ra

is absurd. All right, here we go. That's a good job, by mean, a nice four o'clock game, Greg, What is this show about? It's about me? Go ahead, Greg, So I'm gonna I'm gonna have to pick two games here so that that's how it works. Something to keep in mind, I jump you again. Panthers Giants. Panthers Giants. The rest of the early games have problems. Panthers Giants interests me

if only because this Anther's team. He's going to be part of this season, or at least we thought so, and that this Sam Donald thing is sinking a little bit more each week. The first play last week to me was Sam Donald in a nutshell. There was no pass rush pressure. He he looks to his left, his first read is taken. When the first read is taken away and teams are sitting on these short routes with Carolina, they're daring him to go deep. He panics sometimes and

he just starts running around. There was no pressure on that play. He starts running around, he runs left, he throws right, it gets picked off, and he seemed to be in a terrible headspace the rest of the game. Then again, he threw some dimes in the fourth quarter. It was kind of outrageous. The seam ball he threw on fourth down was one of the best throws of the year by anyone. He made another great throw on fourth down to d J Moore on the sideline to keep the game going. So he he has his moment,

he has his throws where you really are impressed. I think this Giant's defense has been getting a little better by I don't know what happened to them this year. They gotta win this game. Carolina New York is all banged up, and I guess I just I want to see if Carolina is gonna be in the mix. I was really tempted to take the Giants because I feel like they're due, but I just can't buy them right now. They're gonna be missing Andrew Thomas, who's played well for

them at left tackle. They're gonna be missing Darius Tony, who to me was their best player along with Daniel Jones this year. And without those two guys, I think Carolina does get it. And without them after a hot start by Tony like in the first quarter before he went out with that ankle, and he's to me one of the biggest stories. To me, that hasn't been a big story. I think he could have been like offensive

Rookie of the Year type stuff if he had been helped. Yeah, it's a big loss, and I mean they were a disaster after he left the lineup, and Daniel Jones, who had only, you know, two turnovers in the month previous. Totally imploded last week against the Rams. I get it, it's the Rams, but it was just it was an eyesore and and they're just missing too many people. And I think Carolina basically is just sort of a nine win team that has to try to struggle to get

through the Sam Donald experience. I mean, Matt Rule came out after you gotta make me get him better though, right, No, he's throwing. He's completed under fifty of his throws over the three game losing streak, which you know that's fine. In nine seven one completing of your throws is unheard. I remember in London, Dan was happy to see Donald struggling ultimately, like it was a tough day. I'm on record on this. I don't hide from it. I don't

want Sam Donald to become an elite quarterback. I don't need him to be embarrassed and play the way he played for most of that game last week either, because I know he's a good guy. Um, but yeah, this sign then you're I think, is they made a massive mistake. What was that? Yeah? These guys are awesome, all right, Sam, I got you. You should know that at one point, Donald, if you didn't watch this game, was five for eighteen for ninety nine yards with six and a half minutes

to play in the fourth quarter. Well like that ending wiped out everything else. We would be saying kind of

build off it. But and after that, I think Rule was steaming over the first three and a half quarters because the quote he had after the game was we need to become a or it was Monday, I think he even had time to think it over, and he's like, we need to get back to being a running team, which, by the way, Christian McCaffrey another Carolina failures he's on I R right now, is uh not playing And yet he's saying we need to be a run team. And

here's his quote. We're going to read Readefine, who we are. That's the only way we can win. That sounds like a guy who for the second straight year is having second thoughts about who he got behind is the starting quarter. I mean, not for nothing, their offense never struggled this much last year in d v O Weight. They kind of did right at the end and that was that was where Teddy got Yeah, but this wasn't a plan.

By the way, what's that if it's struggled at the end of the now, I get it, but at no point where they best offense. And I actually want to give him a little darn old anim rule, a little more leeway here and evaluated after seventeen weeks, there is a chance that's fair. He could respond, uh positively, you know the rest It's almost like he was Donald was got a ton of praise in the first three weeks, and upon a closer look at the games is like,

maybe he shouldn't be getting this much love. Now he's getting destroyed as being like the worst version of himself the last three weeks. And maybe that's not quite accurate either. He's just one of those guys. He's a little bit of both. Like he's just think Giants fans want Gettleman out like now, so they could really use a win just this right, And and Joe Judge is looking at it like, how do I separate myself from the bath water? All right, let's move on Greg's snakes to you. You

know my drafting tendency as well. You knew I didn't want to take Jets Patriots or watch it, and I don't. It's just like only thank you for that public service announcing. So I'm gonna take the Packers uh and the football team as my second game there. I think the Packers are due for a blowout win. My strategy, like you know I said, my strategy was take the Chiefs as much as he can. My strategy the last couple of weeks is pick against the football team as much as

you can. Uh. They're out of the bounds for locking them up this week, but it's a defense that's now moved landon Collins Tow. Linebacker Ron Rivera had to have that conversation with him. I think if he wasn't guaranteed money wouldn't be on the team anymore. Chase Young has been good this year, but they play him so much. He's played like fifty more snaps than any other pass rusher and so he's first in snaps twentye and pressures. And the Packers might get back try back soon, probably

not this week, but they got Jenkins back. I think they're often showed a few more dimensions getting Lazard into the mix last week. I think the defense, even though they're short four or five starters right now, has gotten incrementally better. They haven't had that week where you're just like, oh, this is the Packers. I think they get that sort of week against the football team and it heads into a really fun Thursday Night or which should feature two

six and one team's Packers Cardinals next week. And they have the Chiefs after that too, So you you have to handle your business here against Washington. Uh. Yeah. I have been hard on the Aaron Rodgers like experience for years, just because I don't know, I can't explain. There's some teams that just don't do it for you the way that they might for someone else. But I love watching this offense because of its balance and it's Aaron Jones

and a J. Dillon. They they beat up on Chicago last week a hundred and fifty four yards on the ground, and that team, the Bears are good. Defense were able to get to Aaron Rodger. I think they sacked him three times twice in the first quarter, so they were able to create chaos. But then the ground game comes in and totally solves it. So I I don't think there's any real road map for Washington to keep up

with Green Bay because their offense. I like Taylor Heineke in theory, but that thing has fallen off a clip to some degree. They need a second receiver. They really miss Curtis Samuel. That's been a rough free agent signing that Logan Thomas they resigned to a massive contract. I think he's got about a hundred yards this year. He's not even the leading tight end on the team. He's been hurt. He's been hurt um, but even when he's been in the lineup, they haven't been able to get

him the ball. Uh. I also like that Aaron Rodgers kind of take a step back this year. Reminds me a little bit of Brady and may Ending and Breeze when their offensive line isn't playing as well and they you know, they're they're not quite as healthy on offense. He's kind of game managing and just trying to like get better as the season goes along, laying back, not doing anything. You could read that that he's totally disengaged, but I don't. I don't think that's what's happened. Doesn't

seem too distinct, doesn't. I mean he's he's still if you get rid of the Week one, which is a disaster, he's top ten or top three and major categories across the board past yards pert tempt twelve picks, one twelve touchdowns, one pick since week one, one seventeen passer rating so very efficient, like not throwing like they signed Whitney Merciless. We should mention the former Texan Uh, one of the

all time great Texans. Whitney Merciless should also. Yeah, and they need some help up front because they're gonna be without Preston Smith. They don't have Zadarius Smith. So they're gonna give Whitney Merciless a spin and just spending back real quick to Carolina. Stephon Gilmore, Uh could play week seven.

Oh you didn't mention that we Um. You know, here's a guy like Stephan Gilmore, the New England Patriots that would get Um you didn't fit in with the culture anymore because he wanted, Well, we gotta bring Jamie Collins back, gotta free up that highly un Jamie Collins. This is gonna be grizzly blowout. We'll get to that. Greg Um Washington has been a big disappointment this year. Heineke has been, yeah, struggling a little bit lately. The defense, you know, you bothers,

you Mark. You saw some people saying the Browns are one of the biggest disappoints in the league. The Washington football team, they are very lucky, very fortunate. They have been one of the worst teams in football. And uh, I'll show your boys scary Terry McClory. McLaurin is banged up, bad hammy. So that's another witches on his performance this year, he's been okay, it's been his team that Um, you're

in You're in trouble there. I'm in big trouble alright up next the old do Sir, didn't count on Heineke for seventeen. No, you know Greg's draft is complete. Chicago at Tampa, a line of giants, Washington and Green Bay. Is there a good game here? Is there a competitive football game here? I don't know. I'd have to give him a seat. You give Greg a c on the draft. You know it's not a great week of games that he agrees. He all right, I'm gonna do Jets New England. Um,

we'll see what you're saying. When when Trent Green is like, hey, you know what you gotta do on third down? You gotta pick up that that that first down and I've got Tony Romo just like educated, he's not wrong. I mean, he's accurate. Do you need that first down on third down? Uh? Jets at New England don't like anything about this game for the Jets. I think it's a great spot for the Patriots, but the Patriots also kind of hard to figure out, Like who are the Patriots at this stage?

We know they're not a great team anymore. Uh, but I don't think they're a bad team either. Um, they could be potentially you have a chance to continue to progress. And I've been on the record with this, Greggy. I think that mac Jones has been pretty good all season, and I like what I'm seeing from and I love that even in you know, after the pick six, Um, you know that he goes right back on the field and he connects with Born on the seventy five yard touchdown.

And and I believe I believe it was Robert sal that said this week, a study of the Patriots game plan shows that they're opening up the playbook little by little for mac Jones and that that is encouraging. He's gaining the trust of Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels, and I think he's gonna have his way with the Jets defense. Now, the Jets the first time these two teams played there,

playing twice here in about six weeks. Uh, the Jets pass rush got home, so that that could change things potentially. But I just think that Mac Jones will make plays. They're gonna score some points, and there's no reason to trust the Jets on offense. Well, and the last time they played, they picked off Zach Wilson four times. Who I look at this offense and it's like I would just say, at this point, can we just see more Elijah more? Can we just start to see any remnants

of the Shanahan attack that we talked about. I don't think Robert sal has the pieces obviously to win it. I don't know what kind of grade you give this entire coaching staff after this stretch of play. It's not a good one. Offensively, it's it's rough. I've I'm not that confident as a Patriots fan going into this game. They haven't shown like that they can dominate. Even that Jets game was all about Zack Wilson imploding. Now maybe maybe that happens again. I think this is an important

game for Sale and Wilson. They're coming off of a bide. They've gotten two weeks to prepare for it. Show some progress. Zack Wilson, I in three games out of what is it, five has been the reason they lost, Like he has not given them a chance to to win. I think for the next what twelve games, don't be the reason that they lost, because maybe one but not more not be the reason. And and I want to see Sala, you know, come up with a game plan, like I think this is a chance for the Jets to show

some progects. It is for for Mac Jones and the Patriots too. They gotta let Mac cook a little bit more. Yeah, go on aggressive. This unaggressive play calling by Bill Belichick is driving me absolutely insane to be fourth and three and not go for it and overtime to give the ball back to Dall It Like, what is happening here? You need to let them go. But I totally I'm like,

I agree with you, Greg. I'm really nervous about this game because it's so like these Patriots to not necessarily, you know, hammer home a win like they need against the Jets. But I'm still going to lock them up past it is a little over, No, it's seven, it's right at seven. Oh damn, I think at this. I mean, you play by your own set of rules though, So

that's yeah, So Zach Wilson, I was. It happens sometimes as a Jets fan, and I feel like it's happening more in recent years because I'm just so frustrated with the organization that no show in London just piss me off. It's like you you go in there and you totally no show on offense and you don't get a big stop on defense to try to save the day, and it's just too much of this disappointment. I need something to hold on too. I need something to build off.

And me one win against the Titans. Uh, that's not gonna like make me feel good. Beat the Patriot They're they're eminently beat a ball. And wait, but you look at you look at Davis Mills. I know it was in Houston, but Davis Mills had his way with the Patriots defense. Just because he's a Jet quarterback doesn't mean that Zack Wilson should be dead in the water because he's going up to New England in two thousand twenty one. So go show me something, show me that in the

bye week you got better as a team. You made adjustments. Yes, get Denzel Mims involved, get Elijah more involved, figure out ways to get this kid comfortable, because if he's as good as you think he is, he should be able to improve as the season goes along. The fact that he they took that win over the Titans and then completely no showed in London annoys me. Do something, Jets. You want to see them develop young players and grow

with the team they have, and it's not happening. I am slightly stunned that we're acting like New England's just gonna roll over and die against the Jets. That would be an embarrassing loss. They went punched from all boys last week, right, but the last time basically they had their or leading the league in more of it. This would be a total embarrassment for Bill Belichick to lose to this Jets team, of course, but he's he's lost to the Jets before with much better team, like three times.

My point is they played eighty nine snaps on defense last week. The last time everyone gave you know, every the Patriots their flowers for winning a moral victory in a big primetime game against a great team. They were down ten points against the Texans the next week. Like to Erica's point about being aggressive with Mac Jones that the end of the game not going for fourth and three didn't bother me as much as the fact that they kneeled on the ball in nineties seconds left in

the first half. Davis Mills and the Texans were in the exact same situation last week, even worse. And they're going for points, so you gotta let Mac open it up a little bit. And uh, I just don't think a two and four Patriots team, which is below average, can be counted on to blow out anyone. You've prepared yourself for a potential stunner in Foxboro, and I like it. I like it. All right, We're gonna take a quick pause here. We'll be right back, all right. They'd be

tied at two and five. How about marks number five? I mean, I think we have multiple picks left, do we not? Oh, you're right. I will take at lant at Miami. It's my It's like, literally the only game available to me. I was eye in something else which is unavailable. So Atlanta at Miami. The one thing about the game, if you want it, I don't like you know that the other game is a late game. I like my day to become easier as it progresses, not

more challenging. Suddenly double games at four o'clock like shoot me out of a window. Um. But Falcons at Miami Dolphins in total disarray. The Falcons last two weeks. You start to see the Arthur Smith offense. I know that it came against you know, the Jets defense, but they're they're spicy. Matt Ryan's been playing really well. And for me, I think this is you know, I always was interested to see what Arthur Smith's imprint would be on the on the Falcons, and it's, uh, we're talking about a

Jets team, for instance, it's not developing. You can see it with Atlanta's offense. I can't wait to see what they do with my With the Dolphins, I guess like last week it looked like it was a stepping stone for Tua. Earlier on in the game. Uh, they lost to Jacksonville. And this is that you talk about the most disappointing team in the NFC in Washington, Miami's the a f c's one. There's a lot of bad juju with this team. Whether Flores will be there, whether Chris

career or will be there. With the Watson stuff swirling, it just feels like a big game in London. They did not have Xavian Howard and Byron Jones, who to me are kind of the identity of their team, certainly of their defense, and so they'll be back. Uh. They also get healthier on offense at receiver. They get Parker and Preston Williams back, So those are big guys returning. And yet I just I don't know if they can

beat the Falcons. Like the Falcons are a little frisky and offense, they get Calvin Ridley back, They're kind of fun to watch. I I will think of Kyle Pitts a little bit differently. I think, having seen them from that sideline view, it's just break The way that he moves at his size is just outrageous and strong he is at the catchpoint. Like combining those two traits on the same field as Patterson and Ridley, Like they're they're kind of fun to watch. I think they could be

a sneaky fun team the rest of the year. Offensively, we'll see. I still think they could find it. I could think they could lose this game because I'm not buying their defense at all. And I think this game does a coin flip game. Just being totally on a scheme does nothing for me. The Falcons don't excite me. The Dolphins are depressing. Well, thankfully you don't. You don't remember that Cordurel Patterson U shove that he had inside.

That was exciting, That was thrilling. I'll never forget it, but that was some veteran quarterbacking we saw live, like the way he moved in the pocket and was just like seeing it all. It was something like maybe he could do it again here, But I think that I don't know. I feel like he gets exposed a little bit and in modern day Matt Ryan against good competition.

But luckily for him, the competition comply stopped trusting like a Miami defense that a couple of weeks ago I thought might have a way to, you know, get in the grill of any quarterback and like they've been too has to be annoyed. Falling apart too has to be annoyed because it's like, you know, I'm still very young.

I was injured, I came back, I played well, and then this entire week and this entire organization is all about bringing in the sky to trade for me, and the reports that the Texans have zero interest in me, and it's just like, this is hard. This NFL life has not been so enjoyable. This is not what I signed up for. But I guess he's paid. It's missing three wide outs a week ago. Their offensive line is uh D minus disaster. I mean, it's not an easy place.

Maybe the one team though that you don't need much of an offensive line against UM. Finally, before we get to the primetime games, the Detroit Lions at l A Ram Slaughter uh L A well positioned for an easy win here, Detroit the last winless team in football. I know they've been competitive a couple of weeks, but this doesn't set up well for them. I thought, I want to give Sean McVeigh a little bit a credit for manning up and acknowledging that he did not treat Jard

Goff well on the way out the door. That never sat well with me. The way they handled the end of that season, the press conferences there, there's a different way to go about it. When Goff was a former number one overall pick who thrived for you for a period of time, that helped take you to a Super Bowl, and then you were like all cute about it, and then you know, buddied up with Stafford and Cobo and then said that never happened, so he owned up. I

could have been better. I could have been more communicative with Goff, who, by the way, never heard from Sean McVeigh between the end of the season and getting the phone call he was traded. It was just like, why ice the guy out. I don't know, maybe there's more to the relationship, but I'm glad he brought it up. I mean, and that said, if you're a Rams fan, I love what they did. I mean, yes, you could have handled that part. They benched them for John Walford.

It should not be forgotten. You would not even they It was a brilliant, no doubt about it, move by the Rams. I'm just saying it could have been handled a little more class from the coach. I mean, it's within days of each other you have Stafford being talked about by McVeigh and McVeigh. You know, I asked on our TV show last week, what do we think McVeigh would say about stafford seasons so far? And he said he's been better than I thought, and I thought he

was gonna be really good in Detroit. You've got Dan Campbell saying that Golf needs to step up more than he has. We're already at that point where it's like Golf could be benched at any moment. Here. I'm curious about this Rams defense, who really played well against the Giants and know as the Giants, but they just haven't had a dominant performance. It was really their defense that took control of that game. So many parts of the

Rams are like surprisingly good other than Stafford. Darrell Henderson has now started sixteen games in his career. In those games, he's got eleven hundred and thirty nine yards and ten touchdowns. Good ball player, Darryl Henderson. The offensive line, which people really got on them. They didn't try to upgrade it at all this offseason, just kind of went with the same guys. Suddenly their offensive line looks great, like they

test out as one of the best offensive line. And remember that hard knocks guy, Dante Dion like one of the only highlights of that season. Now he's starting. Oh he was like the fun I know, I'm the hard knocks guy. Is he the guy? The dinosaur guy? No, no, no, no, not that one. The one with the Chargers. He's starting now. He played well. Like they're getting contributions from a lot of people, not just like the big names. I mean, the Lions had sixty one yards in the first half

last week. They didn't score until about, you know, fifty something minutes into the game against the Bengals. It's they were plucky. I found them interesting for the first couple of weeks because they were in garbage time showing up to some degree. But they to me, they are headed in the wrong direct. And I get and I like when coaches are honest to the media. Um, it makes our job better. But you know, Dan Campbell saying Jared Goff needs to step up and all that, It's like, dude,

let's not forget what this has always been about. Jared gov has always been a patsy for this team, means to an end to get a better draft pick and better positioning next spring. He was always going to fail. You're surrounding him zero talent and he's a middling quarterback to start, So let's ease off on the public criticism of a guy. Why why am I the Jared Goff? Mike Silver now I'm like the silver of NFL media current day. That's about It's like they're without their top

two receivers. They're starting center, their left tackle might be coming back finally, But like they've expect is what I mean. They're leading receiver DeAndre Swift and the second is t J. Hawkins. Don't act like you when you traded for Jared Goffe, you're expecting to get like Pro Bowl level play at quarterback position. You never gave the guy a chance. Uh and and Goff knows that. And Goff's just you know, Golf's getting paid very well as well, So it's like,

I can't feel too bad for him. It's gonna be I feel like this is awkward for everyone, especially when it's forty one to three, Like, well, what if paint is scenario. What if Golf ever won this game? It was one of the greatest things we've seen in a long Yeah, people keep throwing out that stats. He's owing thirteen without McVeigh. You know that the situations were pretty difficult terrible teams, But uh, if if he won this game, that's their super Bowl. They don't need to win another game.

They don't need to do anything else. That would be. I think it's much more likely that Aaron Donald literally pulverizes Jared Goff in a pancake sack situation. He's on the sideline at the end of the game. That's a much more likely scenario. Unfortunately, it doesn't feel like it's gonna end with the storybook conclusion. But we'll see, we'll see, and that concludes me defending Jared Goff at every turn. Apparently, UM Prime Time Sunday Night Football Cults at forty niners. Okay,

so it looks like it's gonna be Jimmy Garoppolo. Trey Lance has a spring knee. He did not practice on Thursday. Uh, Garoppolo is practicing. He has the calf issue, so he'll probably be the starter. And they welcome a Cults team that I thought UM Sunday watching Sunday's game, they really looked like a team that was coming together a little bit.

And then you think about the Monday night collapse against the Ravens and be like, okay, well, great quarters, three awesome quarters in that game, four awesome quarters last week, and even beyond that, Mark Carson Wentz, I think Paris Campbell went down with an injury, which is unfortunate, but uh, t Y Hilton's back and they're bombing it down field and he's looking like Eagles. Carson was like, Okay, put in Jonathan Taylor here and we're cooking a little bit. Yeah.

They they're averaging nine more points per game in a hundred more yards per game over the last three weeks. Wentz has had two of his three highest single game passer ratings in weeks five and six, and right, if you look at that Ravens game, yes, the collapse was a mess. Love the way they responded last week, but the first three quarters showed you the kind of team that no one's done that to the Ravens, not that way.

And like you've got DeForrest Buckner coming back into town, maybe a little agitated after San Francisco traded him away. Darius Leonard has been awesome for me. I find the Niners, uh kind of sucking as the most depressing storyline around. I mean, I they genuinely raised my excitement over the season, and Super Bowl teams do not lose three games in a row the way they've lost. And I don't think that with Trey Lance, were there yet eat whether he plays or not. I mean, and Jimmy g has a

very identifiable ceiling. Are you guys taken because this this one, like the Colts have just looked like a better team than the forty and yet the four owners have to win this game. You know this is Jimmy Garoppolo's last stand potentially a starting quarterback. You're right about that. Buckeer trade has not worked out very well for San Francisco. They drafted Javon Kinla, who hasn't been great, is injured

right now. The one thing I'll throw in there before I'm curious about your picks is that the Cults seem snake bit. Julian Blackman tours Achilles is out for the season. Was a big time player for them uh last year, was struggling a little this year, but was coming on lately. He's gone t Y Hilton reinjured or got a new injury. He's out of practice with the quality. Braden Smith hasn't

come back yet at tackle. Rock Giessen, who's the starting corner, has also been hurt, so that his team has been pretty snake and with these injuries mentioned, Paris Quentin Nelson's still on I R WE don't know if he's gonna be back. It's a lot of Campbell's on I R. He hurts his foot after scoring fifty one yard touchdown, so that it is a it's a coin flip game.

Because of that, I am so unimpressed with the Niners to date this season, but in their bill and gets the super banged up Cults team, I'm still picking Indie. I think, are you are you loving this? Uh? You know, Shanahan maybe not doing what we thought Shanahan would do. You specifically, it's a big moment for him because the hero worship of the guy who was always a little weird to me because he's done had one good season and it's still that case. You know what's funny, I

just never understood it. You you've talked about him. Mark is a guy lording over a dynasty, literally win multiple super Bowls? How about multiple winning seasons? All right? But I've also called it the most storyline. So I'm I'm I'm equally annoyed by it, but I don't I don't like, I'm not like pumped about it. But it's like, yeah, this is like they're kind of like this and under Shanahan,

this is who they are kind of go ahead. It's similar to uh, it's similar to his dad, who for the last fifteen years of his career would get so much love as like an innovator and the hardest guy to coach against and all this stuff, but couldn't get them back to like a winning formula over again. Like Shanahan feels like one of the most influence coaches Kyle that is, of the last twenty years. And yet Dan's right, he has one winning record that's said as a head coach,

that's said. And that's why Trey Lance is the secret to all of this. If he can get healthy and get the trust to Shanahan, getting the lineup and and thrive, Okay, everything changes because I feel like he's the guy that's supposed to unlock Kyle Shanahan's greatness once again. It just

hasn't played out that way. And we're starting to get lifetime game because these teams are both confusing to me but could be something like it's a big game for the two of them, even if it's not a big one for better than Seattle Pittsburgh, right, that's true, or Seattle New Orleans for that And finally, Monday Night Football and now another edition of check Smith. He had a chance to be a hero last week. I mean he was. He set them up. Remember that field goal drive. It

was like a legacy drive. Well, the bar is very late. He can he get them to overtime. He's got nineties seconds to do it, something Baker Mayfield couldn't do. Can he do it against this great Steelers? And then he kicked? They got the field goal. But that's the end of the hero. So all you need Greg, and let's look

at it. So they got New Orleans this week, Seattle, they got Jacksonville next week, then they get to bye and then probably we'll see, but probably you would think Russell Wilson might be back for Week ten at the Packers. That's all conjecture, obviously. But all you need Greg to save face here, um is gino to have one big time game just before that bye and now you're down. He couldn't do the rams. He had the one and a half good drives. Uh in relief Pittsburgh not very good.

But how about the grade you get two? You get to home games here and we'll start with the Saints. Bad news though, Greg, because we like the Saints. Uh, certain parts of the Saints. We do like their defense. If you're the Saints, you feeling good because you have a bye week, You've got a great coaching staff, so you're gonna be coached up again, getting healthy and I get Gino Smith. Uh, this feels like a good spot

for the Saints. Unfortunately, right they're the number three defense in terms of d v O A, so this is a tough spot for Geno Smith. Carson's hurt and now they might have lost Collins to the Seahawks. Seem like they found something in terms of their run blocking in the second half of that game, and that would certainly help Gino out. But this is a tough Saints team to run against. Two Like I I don't see um them winning with the approach they took against the Steelers.

They're gonna have to be a little more aggressive offensively, and it's gonna be tough because you have in Marshawn Lattimore, the rare guy that you think can match up pretty well with DK metcalf. I I know a Lattimore had that one or two plays against the Giants that went sideways. Other than that, I think he's the best cornerback I've seen this year. I think he is having his best see in and he's the key to that defense. It's a tough matchup, you know, Quan Alexander back at practice,

Marcus Davenport. I mean, we'll see who's all. They got a lot of read they're getting healthy coming. So I I to me because personally, I'm not saying that you guys have to do this, but I am personally forking the Seahawks. They are now well I did. I mean, I'm not announcing that you can join me, but I'm they're out of my It's been a nice, you know, decade, almost a decade run with Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll. But I'm not even sure that Russell Wilson won't be

the Saints starting quarterback Week one next year. Here's yere's we we haven't forked a team in years, an old segment where we would all have to agree, all four of us. You guys would get infuriated when I wouldn't fork teams sometimes that right, but it's too safe. It's a personal forking. I don't know what anyone. We haven't done the segment in a long time. You were saying they have no chances. You're putting you are saying you

will donate to charity if they make them. I am not saying I'll donate to anyone, but that's that is how it's worked in the past. So I don't think, God, Mark, stop it. I think I think Mark. I think, um, that was a mistake. I think that was a mistake because the NFC is very top heavy. It's gonna be a little dirty down there in the wild card battle

where you don't need to have a big season. Uh, you might even maybe even eight wins, who knows, get you in the playoffs nine and if you can just even if you lose this week and you beat Jacksonville next week, you get to the buy at three and five, and then Dangerous comes back and they heat up with Dangerous. I think it's gonna it was a precise hit. You're gonna be sweating. I don't know who. The girl is telling me to stop it, she can stop it. No, I think you like that. I do like it, but

but I can counter back. Oh my god, Mark, stop it. I think they maybe found good one. I found something last week and Trey Brown the rookie corner, you know, between him and DJ read that might good combo and Adams is playing a little closer to line of scrimmage. Okay, maybe you find something there. He certainly had a pressure in that. What was the interception of the thing? I

found it? D make a play right? And this is a this is a quarterback, Jamis Winston that I think Sean Payton has seen the light that he's gonna have to trust Jamis a little more. But Jamis make a throw the ball, get rid of it on pff. He faces the highest pressure percentage of any quarterback in the NFL. And that is not a reflection on his offensive line. That is a reflection on him holding the ball and pat and it. He's got to get rid of it.

He's inviting all this pressure and Sean Payton's getting driven a little crazy. Alvin Kamara fifteen catches on the year, It's not even throwing him ride that Jamis coaster. And then was another edition of sipping on Veno checking one one big game payoff five years you like you know this bit goes on and on and on. Your Gino bit has been going on as long as almost any better on the show. But this will pay off with

a big performance in primetime. Now, what if they lost thirty to thirty one, but he plays great, that's fine, That totally checks. I mean, it'll be better if he's the one that leads the final field goal drive or touchdown drive. But if he plays lights out and they just get beating the shootout, that counts as you being right about you know. I mean, yeah, Jamis Winston versus Geno Smith. Um I can. I hear Chris's voice a lot on this show and and with this game. I

hear his voice and it's annoyed, it's angry. Well, he's not the only one voicing. It's saying things to me that are not kind. I do want to point out too, because this is important for you, Greg, because I know you know everybody wants to be right on the show.

And you've went to bat for three quarterbacks repeatedly in the show, and especially this summer, many more than just three, but in particularly where it has been polarizing, where you've been on an island, Jamis Teddy Gino, you need at least one of these guys to come through by the end of the season. I mean, it depends what you define has come through. I think we know where they are at this point in their career relatively. I think Jamis Winston is going to lead this feisty Saints team

to a fun season. It's a weird team. I'm I'm kind of fascinating. Yes, I think they're going to make the playoffs, by the way, And I should say that Jameis Winston, by the way, is you know, twelve touchdowns, three interceptions. Uh, he's got the season. His numbers are pretty good, his baseline numbers, so that is an improvement. But we'll see. There's a lot of football to go. He's had some rough ones as well. All right, before we go, The Westling brothers just rife with drama inside

that family. And if you think this is something new, then you don't know the way the family is constructed. This is a family that when they were young, Mama Westling, Uh, there's so many mouths to feed. She would bring home a piece of raw steak and send the boys into the basement and throw it to the bottom of the stairs and say eat up. So and that was dinner. That was Sunday dinner. And they and there was no holds barret. It was clawing and biting and scratching and

punching and kicking. Poor Larry was just a baby when when when some of the brothers are much taller than others, so you could tell kind of who we're winning those battles back in the exactly so. The fact that they've been scuffling uh in this protect particular game, the locks challenge, uh, you know, not surprising, but it should also be known they're doing very well here with this week's pick is

Nick Westling. Hey, guys, Nick here again, I just want to let everyone at home know, in case you already didn't that's four in a row for the Westling brothers. And just to address Larry's so called spike pick last week, it's a good thing we didn't let him lock up the Browns since they got smoked. And we were all on board with taking the Jaguars over the Dolphins in London, so onto this week, once again we couldn't come to a consensus. We took ryone's second choice, So we're going

with the Kansas City Chiefs in the Tennessee Titans. I know what you guys are thinking. The Chief's defense is weak and Derrick Henry is an absolute bulldozers that that's gonna run right through people. But reports of the Chief's demise have been greatly exaggerated. Patrick Mahomes is going to round in the Forum this week and that's why we're locking it up. Good day. You might want to get

on Larry for how he chose me. And you know what, Larry brought a lot of energy, a lot of entertainment to his read I think Larry right now number one in the Westley. Well wait a minute, though, I thought that was a nice, nice calm delivery affectation for the Western brother They should be who they are. Nick is

usually pretty charged up. He's been doing great. I'm just saying if he's going to take a shot at Larry, Larry brought it, and so I just wanted that to be No, I mean during the pod a little bit, but I understand. Um. All right, so you guys all took the chiefs. I know, I don't feel like warriorer. What what what are you settling on now? So yeah, I mean I thought it was seven just take the chiefs, So you know, no, no, I will I will take

the Ravens over the Bengals. Hey get Grave, Okay, that's yeah, It's just it's six six Grave Digger, Get him on here? What about this? What about all these jabronies locking up against the Titans after that performance on uh Monday night, it looks like you guys are trying to end your streaks. I don't know, it's kind of crazy. What that was a victory for? You know, this grave Digger doesn't usually drop a hammer. And yeah, I don't feel touched by a hammer or anything. He just you just got the

buns of burner blow. I feel nothing from the Grave Digger in a big spot. But this is the rare time when Greg and I are on the same island, and you know, an uneasy alliance between Cessler and Rosenthal too many. I always thought it was silly when we have the same same picks. All right. And meanwhile, um, I got the Basochi bump, I got the oldson ol A got that going on? I mean, zoom is not something you want. Hey, come, you've got a bull counter back? Yeah,

come here for him? Here. You think you got me figured out? Bang, you haven't. You went right through the old curtain like a third of them winding dead these and you go bowl. You guys are out of control, all right, we'll be wait, can I say one thing. Here we go. What I'm thanking a listener named Benjamin David Dawes who sent my face reaction to Mark same guy one wherever. Seriously, this is a very nice listener, Benjamin David as who sent lollipops. Dan, you've had one

already one but he didn't send me the lollipops. Okay, I have some for the kids. Can I bring I'll happily give you something. This one is very very you know I do. You didn't even pick a purple on You didn't even pick that. That's not there was not one. I am an ally. We previously had someone send us lollipops for one of the flavors was breast milk, and I'm not that that. There was a very strange box of them. And this has more wholesome. Yes it is

a wholesome product, but this is more lollipop. Is there anything more wholesome than I think? I think that would bank Mark such an ally if he was just licking a purple lollipop walking around the halls. Yeah, I'll work on that. Alle Bro lick a lollipop. Good stuff marks Thursday night football blank bleep that out because that's a surprise, How did you find out? I have sparrows Thursday Night Football Recap coming up Sunday, the flagship where we recap

every game that we just previewed. Please come back for that, and of course the around the NFL broadcast doing big numbers, like huge numbers both here and internationally in terms of the rating um NFL media requested. We don't share what the numbers are, but they're big, just real big. So get get on the train, get be a part of the revolution. Saturday NFL network, set your DVR and carrying the network wouldn't be too strong, all right, Dan hands a signing off for a quiet storm. The old Boss,

Ricky Hollywood, the grave Digger. That's it all. The Westling brothers fighting over that beat Heed the call