2023 Week 1 Preview

The Around the NFL podcast is ready for a season eleven.

Whoa from the Chris Westling podcast studio. It's Around the NFL. My name is Dan Handsis I got heroes here? Greg Rosenthal, Mark Sessler? Yes, uh, Season eleven of Around the NFL. It really does feel like football is back now, finally, Greg.

Rosen, football is back.

We don't have to sleep again before seeing that game, and it's exciting. It felt like Christmas morning.

When I go back and look at some of the early years that we did this show, we look like children compared to the way we look today.

We have aged.

Yeah, we are now old enough that my child woke up this morning and was acting like it was Christmas morning, excited for this game.

You've trained that child, well.

I haven't. He makes all of his own decisions. It's like the father of Todd Marian. If anything, he pushes back.

Yes, this is a new world for Around the NFL. We have the launch of our NFL Plus partnership. The first episode is up later today Thursday. Also, you have our preview show here where we preview all of the non prime time games that's coming up right now and then later tonight in your feed you'll get yes, our reaction to the kickoff opener between the Chiefs and Lions. So a lot of ATM goodness coming your way.

Try to keep up. That's all we can say.

It's our biggest season by far, content wise.

Love it, Love it.

That reminds me we got to come up with some new catchphrases to the NFL. We always like to help them out. Send some things up to Park Avenue.

Yeah, you've come up with some absolute advertising gems in the past.

They never take them though, they don't all right. Well, that's something I'm gonna work on. All right, So we got much to get to because there are.

Thirty two Thames three prime time games?

Did those Wednesday three.

Three times? That means thirteen games to talk about. Greg.

I hate to say it because it eats me up, but you are the defending LOCKS champion, which means you get the first overall pick. It is the ATM Game of the Week presented by Draft Kings.

It's all yours and a lot of places. I could go here, Where.

Is he gonna go?

I know, I know you really, I'm I'm nervous because I got the second pick and I was kind of torn asunder if he picks what I think he's gonna pick here.

I think you want me to take a certain game, but I'm not gonna take it. I want to start my week in the hands of the best, and that's Tony Romo and that's Jim Nance, and they're calling Eagles Patriots in the afternoon. I just feel like that's the way for me to start my season, start my week. Eagles favored by four in this game, which sounds about right.

It's a yeah, It's a super intriguing matchup for that reason. I do go back, though, and look at one area that the Patriots struggled with a year ago was against running quarterbacks. They always have right and like Lamar Jackson had one hundred and seven yards against them justin fields and that Monday night game fried them for eighty plus. And now you're dealing with Jalen Hurts, who is maybe the best running quarterback in the league right now.

So that's the challenge right there, is like I.

Don't really see an Eagles team that comes out with any defined weaknesses or vast changes from a year ago. Like I feel like this is the team that can pick up where they left off. And so then it's up to New England with a vanilla offense that doesn't scare me in any way. I think that's the that was last year, but they weren't a very good team last year.

Bill O'Brien has a lot of things. He's not a vanilla play caller. I don't know if this is gonna work, but he's a pretty creative play caller. Yes, well, you think that Patrio's gonna win this, and you know you don't like it. Is this the pick that I, by the way, don't let know what.

I don't.

Feel like we should overlook because what you're saying on the surface is right mark that you look at the Eagles and they look flawless.

They look impeccable. But that happens all the time.

Like we look at a team that that kick butt last year and it all came together and then you just assume it's going to happen again. I'm excited to see what version of the Eagles we get. If this is going to be the same juggernaut. I think they're gonna be very good. But I like this as a test that Belichick has had all summer to scheme here and figure out ways to slow down Jalen Hurts and

This game and last year it was last year.

Sure, I'm not gonna put it in the same way I look at like Trevor Lawrence's first year. I'm not gonna give Mac Jones a total pass for last year because I think he could have done some things better himself, both in terms of as a player and some maturity level and some things he was doing on the sidelines and speaking to people who shouldn't been speaking to and

They sort of have to because their schedules so difficult off the jump that if they don't pull off a big upset in the first few weeks. I mean, they do have Miami next week, and then they're at the Jets at the Cowboys. Man, those are four really dangerous defenses. If mac Jones looks average in those games, or even better than average, then we will know he's back. It's a time for a reset. And I just think the things he showed as a rookie where he was a

You do up two new coordinators. The offensive coordinator has known Jaalen Hurts for ages like there. I mean, he was his QB coach a year ago and has known him since he was young. So I think that transition will be smooth. I think in general, I think the transition for the Eagles will be smooth. I'm like looking at James Bradberry and Darius Slay and their ability against a pretty low octane collection of weapons for New England

And I don't know.

Just because Tom Brady's gonna be their pre game being celebrated, is that enough emotionally to lift his team.

I don't think so.

Yes, you don't lose with Tom with number twelve, he's not playing. He's gonna gonna inspire them. That's what they need to get ready for those stories if they win that Tom Brady is if they're doing pregames not half presents, I don't even know they're honoring him. Good, good point. I don't really know when they're honoring him, but it's.

That matters to me if they pre game honor him. I'm all over the Patriots on this one. If it's a half time, it's already gonna be two las, they're gonna be down three scores.

I think you got to have a raucous pregame fest that actually might.

Tell you where the Patriots think if they're too noivous that they're getting their doors blown off and then bring out to all me at halftime.

I've got an answer.

Okay, what is it?

He is going to address the crowd during a halftime ceremony.

That's worrisome. I guess give me the Eagles.

Yeah, I would rather go play. Don't you just want to fire in the place up pregame?

I think he should be fired up. It's week one.

Eagles are good. Though this is a battle tested, loaded roster.

They are good.

They could they could just as easily. It's a lot of it. It's you know, it's bell check respect. It's like there's a there's another world where this is forty to ten and then sky.

Okay, I'm just saying, if you line up the front for the Eagles, everyone knows how deep their front is. You got Detrich Wise has been there for what six years now, Larry Guy, Matthew, Judon, Devon, Godshow, Keon White guys. Because as a rookie Guy Och Barmore, I would take the Patriots front.

I take them good for you?

I like it. So you got that juice, you know? I like that. Greg. We need I need that fan.

I mean, they're the underhill here in this room.

That was the game of the week presented by Draft King sports Book. New customers can bet us five dollars and get two hundred in bonus bets. Instantly download the Draft King sports app and use code atn that's code ATN only a Draft King sports Book. Draft King sports Book an official sports betting partner of the NFL.

All right, pick two, easy one for me, And I'm very happy it's here. And it's no disrespect to you, Mark, because I know it's one of your favorite teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

No way that I was last into three.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will host the San Francisco forteen nine Ers at Hinesfield or whatever.

It is now.

The Niners are laying two points. It's minus two. That seems like a lot of respect for the Steelers, And I think it's been a very very optimistic time around Pittsburgh because they kind of overperformed compared to expectations down the stretch last year to get people juiced up. And then, of course we talked about it a lot on this podcast. They looked really good the reports out of Pittsburgh Latrobe.

Yeah, one of the few teams that still goes.

Away were excellent, and then the preseason played by the first team offense, they kind of cooked up whoever they were up again. So the idea here is that Pittsburgh

Yeah, I think like Brock Purdy to me is obviously one of the mysterious figures heading into the season because we do have a period in time where Jimmy Garoppolo came in in a Kyle Shanahan offense in his first five or six games and looked like a god. And then you went into the next season thinking like does this just translate with this relatively inexperienced former backup and it didn't. I mean, Jimmy Garoppolo was more than competent

I think these are huge X factors for the night.

Yeah, the largest guaranteed money for defensive player, you know, the largest total value for defense. But this is what happens if you sign, if you're the next guy to sign a contract and you're at the level of Nick Bosa, defensive player of the year type of guy, then you get the biggest contract. And he waited it out and he got max money. I'm curious to see how much

That was the word I was really looking at.

Yeah, I just wonder all this talk about the Steelers, like the one fly in the ointment is their offensive line. I think it does look better on paper. I think they're going to be improved. But Bosa Javon kin Law getting some pop in terms of how he's looked. Javon Hargrave, you bring it in the offseason. Armstead Drake Jackson's a very

That's very hard, That's very difficult because in both cases, Pickett was excellent in the last eight games. As a team, they were excellent the Steelers in the last eight games. But his numbers. I think this gets forgotten a little bit. We just imagine because I know he had a primetime game or it was a Saturday game, Saturday night game maybe where he played really well and they have this nice victory in those last eight games. Six point four yards per attempt passer rating of eighty four.

He threw.

He threw five touchdowns in the last eight games and now only one interception. So he was careful at the ball. But this wasn't a guy that was lighting up teams. No, I mean, but my point is like and Purty Purty was a consistent He was a rock down the stretch and it was like every game it was like two touchdowns, two touchdowns, two touchdowns, mistake free for mistake free football.

Yeah, I mean he had Christian McCaffrey around them, Deebo, Samuel, George Kittle, I mean in a quality offensive line. Pickett, I mean is an unfinished product too. But the one thing I like is the accuracy. I think what we've had a larger sample size in the preseason. I think

You must have him winning this game. I mean, you're all in on the Steelers.

This is this is a tough I do and I think this is a This reminds me of Eagles Patriots because this is a tough drawl for both teams out of the gate.

Well, if you have him, if you have him as like a twelve win team, they have to win some of these big time matchups.

Because it's in Pittsburgh. You know, you got a West team, West Coast team traveling.

You're locking this up.

No, these are the mental games that I felt for in the past, and I will not this time.

I I, uh, but you're picking Pittsburgh.

I'll pick Pittsburgh to win in a very tight game.

Yeah, I think two points sound sounds right to me. This should be just about a pick. This is the right time of year to face the forty nine ers. I don't know if you guys remember way back in twenty seventeen, how that Kyle Shanahan era started with about nine straight lasses and ever since then they've been really poor. Coming out of the gates year after other than that one thirteen and three year where they were just great throughout last three years, three and four to start.

Last season, remember that, not really, I don't.

Know, really, you don't remember that they were like in the middle.

Was that Lance's quarterback or for games?

For two games?

Okay, it totally different.

You were ten in the monsoon, but they were one and one.

I got right, yeah, three out it we're back now.

Three and three the year before that, and three and four the year before that. So they've been you know, very just average getting out of the gates under like seven.

Now, yeah, our division has changed to mark, you have two in a row? What's your first pick?

All right?

Well, uh, I think that the juiciness of these contests does certainly fall off a little bit after the two games you picked. But I am personally, as you know, very wed to the concept of what the Atlanta Falcons can be. Yeah, so I'm going Carolina with Bryce Young at Atlanta Atlanta minus three point five. I think the Falcons are is it really though?

I mean, look at the rest of the board. When Chris Meyers goes third overall.

I am not no matter what you know that the announcing the announcing team does not is not the.

Reason couple still on the board here.

But but I I'm going with what fascinates me, and I think that I think this. I think by week five or six, the Falcons, if they are what I think they are, are going to be a consistent high pick in these drafts because I think they're one of the stories of the NFC.

And I don't know, because me and you are in these drafts, so you're.

That was actually really funny because Mark was actually looking at Greg saying that I think by week six they're gonna be really good, Like, please, let's go into our little Falcons world and rise up together.

I don't I don't think that it's even let me say this, Yeah, after all this summer to talk, you better take care of business at home against the number one absolutely.

A rookie quarterback with really not a lot around them.

The Panthers clearly in a place where they're figuring things out, and that's okay.

Win the damn game. They will go. Want to know here, they will.

If there's anything I'm most concerned about for Carolina's.

I'm going to be a jerk on Sunday night. If the Falcons don't show up in this game.

Well we will be a jerk on Monday night at the Jets don't show.

Yeah, that's fine, that's fine. Okay.

The Falcons already started doing last year what it is they want to do this year. They had four games of two hundred plus yards on the ground and a bunch over like one hundred and fifty on underd and sixty where they just started running through people. And I think that this isn't a reach in terms of concept. Arthur Smith has already shown an ability to run this offense. You add Bejon Robinson to the situation. Kyle Pitts is back. I think Drake London is a is a future star

Now, I tell that to be don't be a liability. I suit.

I think if you go and look at you know, he got put into a tough situation post Mariota last season, but he had a couple quarters and a couple of games where you started to see that. I can see why the team believes in them, why they didn't go trade for Ryan Tannehill. We'll find out in real games if you can do it. I think this Carolina front seven is the kind of front seven someone like Derek Brown could be a difference maker in terms of stopping

But now he's back again. He's back, but I think he's bad.

They're calling it sort of a day by day in terms of how much work he gets. I just I think this is I think Bryce Young is going to have a bit of a tough scenario out of the game.

I mean, they need that.

Brian Burns no is also the reason he's doing this, which I don't like the move, and I understand, go get paid. I get it, but this this late It reminds me when Summer Slam ninety one, where Ultimate Warrior told the Vince McMahon the day before the big tag team bout of Hogan and Warrior against Colonel Mustafa and Sergeant Slaughter is very Gulf war heavy Warrior goes, if you don't give me like one hundred percent raise, I'm not going to show up at the at the venue.

Should do that, but he's He's now in a weird move. He's doing an ultimate warrior move. But you never never go full warrior.

He had twelve and a half sacks, twenty two QB hits, seven teen tackles for loss last year, all career highs. Nor other Panthers player had more than seven sacks last year. So they need him to give that push and to make a young quarterback like Desmond Ridder uncomfortable.

Well, he's also coming off a fractured ankle. He's very high on my twenty twenty four free agents list. He's a guy who was part of one of the most shocking near trades in NFL history in terms of being turned down when the Panthers, this is malpractice, turned down multiple rams first round picks for Brian Burns. Do you know how good the car. I know Brian Burns is a great player. Do you know how good the Panthers would feel right now to own the next two Rams first round picks and Bryce Young?

Those could be top ten ts.

That is, that was a terrible trade offer, and it was even worse, and it was because I think there was a vacuum of power and ownership got involved. I am a little worried that they are affront that could slow down Atlanta compare to other teams. You mentioned Brown and Burns and Justin Houston's there now, and they're somewhat familiar. It's a new defensive coordinator at zero. Ever, we'll see though, because that defense usually kind of invites you to run.

I like it. That's a good lock.

And again, even though I get a little bit annoyed because there's so much guessing up. I like the Falcons too. I like their chances to be competitive a hang and maybe even win this division.

So I think that's a I think it's a good lock.

And just for when I say I'm gonna be a jerk, it's gonna be like you get the Panthers aren't a very good football team. Now, you could be a jerk to me if the Bills stop the Jets. But it's the Bills, Okay, that's a that's a monster you are.

We're being childish toy that we're gonna cut on the jem.

I'm just saying it's not.

It's more with My point is like time, if we agree that the Falcons, it's time to take the next step, you gotta win. Here's a nice yes, it's not a platter for you to get your season going in a good way.

I don't think anyone would would disagree with your concept.

And I one quick thing is just I do think this is a nice first game for Bryce Young. I do buy the idea that Frank Reich was not showing anything in the preseason, and I saw some nice anticipation, but Young. And the reason I think it's a nice first matchup is I'll believe the Falcons pass rush when I see it. They haven't had one in about fifteen years since they're John Abraham. I mean, so they they got an okay offensive line. Probably might be bad, but

All Right, we're three games in. Let's take a break and we'll continue to hit Week one preview.

All Right, we're back.

I love it.

We are right.

Give me some of that music, Give me some of that skittles, Sam Spence, we are back. Baby Up as she rises one of the classics.

You know, from the NFL film's music half.

An anthem fitting after the rise up of the Atlanta Falcons.

He just could happen, certainly within the range of outcomes this season.

But just as we went from a dance speech and we gotta hit five minutes per game to a minute of total silence as Dan conduct the air.

This is what matters up. She rises, up as she rises. You know what rises in the twenty twenty three season.

Coming up. Pick four snakes back to you.

I want to say one thing.

I remember when we spoke with fabulous play by play man Kevin Hardin that he told us on the mornings before he announced games, he'd sit in his hotel room in his bedclothing, listening to NFL films blasting off of.

I love that man.

He's a great guy and you can see it in his production.

Tradition with whenever my father or my brother comes to the Super Bowl, I'll be out working, we're doing the podcast. I will set in the hotel room and I'll leave a key for him downstairs. I'll have the Sam Spence playlist on repeat so they come into the room to Spence. I mean, that's that's the power of that music in our great sport.

All right, I'm gonna pick a match up that hearkens back to those old days of NFL glory. The Green Bay Packers at the Chicago Bears Bears minus one Bears have lost good pick I like this, Yeah, you know what, you know what's different. I would have avoided this matchup for years on ends because the Packers, to me and the Bears were a lost cause. But the Packers were sort of the same story over and over, and I

And I'm intrigued.

And it has to do with the Bears too, because I think we've talked about it all offseason and there's been a bit of assumption that Justin Field is just going to do what Jalen Hurts did and develop like that. We don't know that at all, but he certainly has a better shot around him to become a better passer with DJ Moore there, Chase Claypool up and down, but he's in that system for another year.

I like Cole Kmet.

I think this is a team that last year they averaged one hundred and thirty passing yards per game, the fewest in the NFL by a lot. That's got to change. You've got to have a more balanced offense. I think they know that.

Flip side.

I just I cannot wait to see what a month plus of Jordan Love is where we are in a month, and I think this is a good test.

Right out of the gate.

Chicago's defense, their pass rush is not gonna scare anyone but Christian Watson, Romeo Dobbs dealing with hamstrings. So I want to monitor see where that where those guys are on offense. If you get what the late light season version of Watson. I think Jordan Love can have a fast start to this season. And this Packers team being overlooked a little bit, they have everything inside of them to win the division if they need to.

And I think you start strong in Chicago.

You mentioned Watson though, and that came out of nowhere, and it's such a bad deal. Dobbs returned to practice Thursday. Christian Watson did not I mean this. I love the young group that they have. It's not a deep young group, and the backups that they have behind Watson and Dobbs, like it gets thin real fast. Jayden Reid, I think will be a nice rookie slot receiver. It's a rookie slot receiver. You know who also is in practice. It's August thirtieth. Tell me if you've heard this one before.

Nobody knows.

Uh, they're calling it veteran rest days for now, but he hasn't practiced. It's a little hard to imagine. And that that's a bummer to me because I was so excited to see what this offense looks like. I think the offensive line for the Packers could be special, but Bachtiari is such a huge part of that psychically, don't you and this is why it's.

Such a good pick. Don't you just feel like this this is.

One of the biggest games of Week one just for each fan base, Like a division game makes a Week one feel game feel bigger to me, and these two teams kind of starting over. I just feel like this game has outsized importance for both these teams, especially the Bears. If you lose to the Jordan Love Packers, we're a little banged up in Week one. That's a really tough way to start your season. You win it, you're fly it well.

Remember remember there was another quarterback in Green Bay before Jordan Love who owned the Chicago Bears and let them know it infamously. If you're from the Midwest, and now you're right. If you're a Bears fan, this season is the fresh start and the first thing you want to do. It's a perfect setup. Schedule wise, it's kick the Packers ass and announced announced. Well, listen, we maybe never got

Well, and it would be huge for Matt Ibraflus, who I still is somewhat of an anonymous character. The Bears certainly line up as a team that, after the win total year ago, could jump up by six seven wins. I think they're that kind of team. I just think it does so much matter on justin field.

Just give me a little pass rush here, Bears. I mean, you know they didn't go out and get any one. They didn't. You got in gotway, but they didn't get enough. And without Bachtiari, maybe there's a vulnerability there. It's probably Rashad Weaver at left tackle. But if Jordan Love's protected, it will get a good chance to see. To me, the test of if you can be an NFL quarterback is if you're protected, can you deliver? It's a fairly low bar. I would say twenty to twenty five guys

But it's a big test. We haven't seen it.

This seems impossible.

Last known on this game true in twenty twenty two, Modern football the Bears averaged one hundred and thirty and a half passing yards per game.

Well, we met, like as mentioned, it's but it was by far the lowest in the NFL.

That is, Oh did you say that much?

Yeah, but the counter was like they had the most dangerous ground attack out there.

No, but I feel like you need to get that number up there.

You got to get a little and they and the reason why, the in part that the pass rush is not where it is and the defense has a long way to go, is that they kind of use this offense to build around field. So you're gonna want to see it. Yeah, he was pretty electric before he got hurt again. Uh, that stretch in November around he looked like he was about to take over the league. That guy hit the ground running.

This year a lot to not to find out. All right, I'm up.

This is where, like the Great Game, gms really separate themselves in the middle craft.

I want to like, I want to pick a late game here, and I want to pick a game that I want to.

I want to watch Here's.

That is the point thinking out loud.

Let's see what's going on with the Raiders and Broncos. Broncos by three and a half.

I like it an old rivalry.

Surprise picks. I might call it a reach.

It is, it is a reach, But I was I'm thinking about Shook a little bit in the game that he's watching the Raiders, a team that, in the eyes of some Mark Edward Sessler, for one, why even exist.

You're not You're not a team to be taken seriously.

I'm hearing from Raiders fans daily about that that I've been far too dark on the whole situation.

You're an also ran, you don't really have it together. You have maybe potential issues behind the scenes. Again, Josh McDaniels. It happened the their opponent this week, the Broncos. It happened with McDaniels. There is it happening again.

We don't know.

Maybe Chandla Jones' instagram was weird. But here is the positive news if you're a Raiders fan. There are still weapons on this offense and big time players. It's a top heavy roster, but it's a type of roster if you get big games from Max Crosby, from Josh Jacobs, from DeVante Adams, and a very capable and for the time being healthy Jimmy Garoppolo, you should be able to hang with a team like the Broncos, who I know there's a lot of optimism about them. I think they

So interesting.

Look, there's a couple things going on with the Broncos that I think are absolute positives. One is Sean Payton is taking over what was the worst coach team in the league a year ago, and Sean Payton to me as a top three coach who is going to organize this entire operation in a different way.

They're going to look different.

I think the physical stature of Russell Wilson after what we've seen, sleeker better shape than a year ago. That was a big problem last season. And Javonte Williams. It's like, this is someone that I didn't even know you could count on at this point. But Peyton's basically saying he's going to have a big role right out of the gate. I think if you are, if you're Sean Payton, you don't need to make Russell Wilson do everything early on.

There could be a lot of run.

I think there could be a lot of power running, a lot of trying to control the game from that aspect versus putting Russell Wilson into a tough spot. But that's one of the biggest stories obviously of the entire offseason going into this week. It's a great pick because it's eyes first on where we are with Russell Wilson and Sean Pate.

Well, if Russell Wilson.

Had heard these quotes from Sean Payton that they had an ESPN dot Com was an insider peace by Seth Lugersham in the middle of June, It's all we would have talked about for two months. You drop it right before the season. It kind of gets lost in the in the shuffle, but.

In the half of it, and they got busy in the piece.

Peyton told Wilson he needs to focus less on quote Russell inc will you bleeping stop kissing all the babies? Peyton said, you're not running for public office. Love it as I mean, it's good advice. It's harsh and I think of your Russell Wilson, you have to worry a little bit about Sean Payton's motives, motivation and where his heart is that this is getting out there in the public. If it had stayed private, it's good advice. But it didn't stay private. It got into this article.

Sean Payton was just shooting from the hip the entire offseason, apparently in any interview.

Don't you think Sean Payton was told before he took this job, like you are not attached to the hip, to Russell Wilson, You've got Jared Stidham if you if you want to chose.

He chose to sign Stidham on the first day of free agency for a very aggressive backup quarterback.

I just don't think that there was any There was no notion that Sean Payton couldn't break free from this Russell Wilson situation.

If it is as ugly as it was.

A year, here's the here's the hierarchy in Denver.

He also flamed the GM verbally, so you know, well, yeah.

Here's the hierarchy. Last year it was Russell Wilson, that's it, yep. And now this year it's Sean Payton, and then about eight eight spots Kevin Saunders the GM, and then five more spots down and then maybe Russell Wilson sneaks in like he is no longer viewed as the center piece or or the tea the guy that is the future, undoubtedly, and I think there's gonna be a lot of pressure on Wilson immediately out of the gate this season to do something unimit.

I'd love to talk just like X's and I was having Patrick Graham versus Peyton is fine. DeVante Adams versus Patrick Stertan is as good as it gets looking. I'm curious about the Raiders rookies. Michael Meyer, Tyree Wilson's looking better. But this Chandler joneson we should hit on because it seems quite serious, like I don't know what's going on

And Chandler Jones, he gets after the quarterback for a living. Russell Wilson sect fifty five times last year, tied for the most in the NFL.

Career high, so they redid their offensive line.

We're gonna want to see how that looks like because Wilson, yeah, the old sack of potatoes thing and he's morse felt and he's moving better, but the line needs to be better.

So on he needs to be quicker with this decision making.

I think Sean Payton, probably, when you think about it, is the perfect coach to come in and tell him things like stop kissing babies, like you're not as good as you thought you were. It's time now to start over. And does that get through to Russell Wilson. Well, I don't know, that's the question.

I don't know, mister unlimited.

I don't know if if he has that capacity to be humbled in that way and start over, or if he's thinking to himself, this guy doesn't really understand me.

Maybe, but he also hasn't He hasn't you know, lashed out in reverse. I think he's handled it at least front facing pretty well.

Doesn't do that though, you know what I mean. He's like such a positive guy. It'll be interesting.

He's been challenged, no doubt, on a number of levels, both in the media, from the public and even with a new quarterback in the building there who could be ready to take over because Peyton brought him in.

Mister unlimited, all right, it is time for Greg to make his second pick.

I take it back. It wasn't a reach. I really want to see that game.

And we'll see the first round pick.

We'll see if you're interested in the Tennessee Titans at the New Orleans Saints. Have fun little uh truck conference to figure this out.

I don't know.

Interconference SATs Saints favored by three in this game, which is the official desert position of I don't know, which actually is a little less respect than I would have expected from the for the Saints and a little more respect for the Titans than I would have expected, because it's definitely a I don't know type of line and it's gonna be the first game I watch all year, which is just feels weird that this is it ten am start. I don't know if all the Saints hype

Ah.

But I also wound up with Juwan Johnson and Michael Thomas very late too, and suddenly I am knee deep in Saints offense. Derek Carr, I mean they know none of them. I mean these were good value. They were very late in the draft.

Like grounds do you, Jamal Williams.

I didn't do that.

You know, a little rusty, it sounds.

I mean, we'll see. I like the ship lost at suit.

I like the look of my team. This matchup could course correct all that optimism to me, because I think everyone's been sleeping on this Titans front. That they're healthy, that they're back, that they have continuity with Denny Goatri and Jeffrey Simmons, all the guys that you know, and some of the guys coming back at the linebacker position and really deep in terms of their safety group. Like I like this Titans defense. I think it could be

We'll see.

I mean the Titans to me, I don't know, I don't I hear this all the time now that everyone's sleeping on the on the Tennessee Titans, they're just really well.

You hear that from our old producer, Justin Graver's Twitter account blowing up our mentions.

Well, that's one, that's one source, but he's not alone. It's just I don't see it on the offensive side of the ball. You're right that they were the best run defense in the league last year and one of the worst pass defenses. So I didn't think it's an opportunity for Chris Olave, for Derek Carr, for the rest of that crew to to go down, up and down the field on they want. You know, I know that they're so well coached, but they lost seven games in a row to end last season.

Don't you think it was Yeah, it was mostly the offense.

You're right, and it was nuts.

What about the offense at this stage gives you a lot of optimism that they can hang in.

Just just that they shuffle. It's not optimism, but it's hope, and it's hope season. Just that they shuffle the deck on the offensive. Yeah, I don't like that offensive line.

Taylor Scornsky like those guys.

They they put a lot into Daniel Bunskill's played a lot for the forty nine ers. You have Hopkins. Can Hopkins be a one still? I think people are throwing him into this Julio Jones right in Tennessee bucket.

He's not there. He's gonna be better, right, that's fair.

For the record.

After he came back from his suspension, you know, there are a lot of there was a lot of talking, some popping of the hood on the advanced stats that he didn't have the same separation ability, and that's to be understood at this age.

But he also was probably on pace for one hundred and ten catches and was well over a thousand yards receiving this. Julio Jones was a guy who in the last few years couldn't stay on the field and was not a difference maker at all. So Hopkins, if he could stay healthy, I think absolutely could can play the guitar. You know, I mean, guess I have more questions about Ryan Tannehill, who is another year older.

He's been beat up now. Last year he struggled, obviously to stay on the field. His numbers were depressed as a result, as was the offense, and his last two seasons he's been kind of in decline statistically. Can he have a bounce back? Absolutely, but I kind of got to see it. I love the Saints in this gamme Gregy. I would think I locked up the Chiefs yesterday, but the Saints are at the Superdome. I think Derek car

I would tend to agree I'm taking I would take the Titans in this game, but uh, maybe I was swayed by this. Michael Thomas tweet on September sixth, quote revenge, how I show my anger? My facial expression ain't changing.

I don't know.

There's something about the whole Michael fifteen games, the whole Michael Thomas experiments. It's it's definitely that cliched wide receiver tweet. The enemy speaks kindly and holds a knife like Michael Thomas is the king of that and if they could just get eighty percent of Michael Thomas, that guy is the heartbeat of that team.

He's a leader, the one.

Because it's been too much now the last year the team.

I think so. I think he is a rare personality and leader in terms of the work that he puts in and the way he plays football that like guys look to him as just like an incredible athlete in person. And I think it's really hurt him obviously without him last year or back to me, I thought of taking this the pick before. What would it have mattered Texans Ravens. You might say, oh, Greg, that's a ten point spread. Why would you take a game like that right now?

Gonna lock it out he's talking about, but.

I think they could slow him down. We've talked through that their secondary is better. Derek Stingley wants to step up in year two. Jalen Petree is a possible safety, all pro type of safety. I really like the Jimmy Wards. Stephen Nelson is a really good veteran cornerback. Is a nice little matchup when the Ravens have the ball, Will

That is the biggest spread here in Week one. I think that you've got an opportunity if you're the Texans. I think Tamiko Ryans is going to I really liked everything I'm hearing from his players in general.

I think he's a change agent.

I think he's going to come in and have their defense playing as well as possible. And if you're the Ravens, Mark Andrews is banged up right now, Ronnie Stanley is dealing with an ankle. He's practicing, like that's not great, and I just think that is it going to take some time. Everyone's like, oh, this will be Lamar Jackson's biggest opportunity to make a big jump in different way through the air and stuff. It's like, you, by the way, like the whole Greg Roman thing, I get it that

Change what you do.

And it's these things you know, you even look at like Matt Ryan and Kyle Shanahan in Atlanta that first season, second season MVP season, but first time around, it took Matt Ryan time to kind of figure out how that system worked. And do we just assume that we get Baltimore's offense from the jump that could.

Take a.

Todd Monkin isn't exactly Bill Walsh. So no, the idea we needed to get Greg Roman out, okay, all right? And you know they were right. It was time for a fresh mind, but I don't automatically assume. Now Todd Montkin rolls in and does whatever Lamar Jackson wants, and the offense is going to get flying. I love their running game, of course, with Lamar leading the way and Dobbin's little Gus Edwards all good.

I love Mark.

Andrews, especially if he's healthy, one of the top tight ends of the league. I'm still that solid on the wide receivers, and I know that's supposed to be fixed now. Rashad Bateman got to see it, Okay, let's see it. First round pick that hasn't truly broken out yet, is that with some health issues. Odell Beckham. We don't need to talk about this anymore, but really hasn't been a

Hitting out at Keish.

So you know that's it's it's even worse. It's mom, which I love Keeth Mom.

I love watching Lakeisha's mom watched Lamar Jackson. That's it's a ball my favorite sporting activities.

It's an as well futtle game.

All right, good, good, good show.

Show us something to here at CJ Strave too. I mean this Ravens give him time too. Okay, I know, I'm just saying. I'm just saying this Ravens defense might be a little undercook, so you may show.

A little so their offensive line, the Texans is is suddenly in a weird place. Titus Howard put on injured reserve. I mean it's they looked good in the summer.

And they've watched about three or four guys. You're right, all right, let's.

Take a break and we'll be back with more preview. All right, we're back. Let's keep it alling. I am up in the draft. I will take mm hmm. All right another late game. I'm taking Dolphins Chargers.

How about that?

I like it. I feel like there's a steal at this points, an absolute steal.

I think there's a lot to be interested in here.

I want to walk across the street and watch it.

I thought about that. I got there's an inter office raffle an email.

For tickets, and I was like, I mean you could apply.

What about your accidental you have an actual work day to attend to.

I know you could if you're on a Sunday where you if you only had one game in the afternoon, I mean, that could be your game and you would have some great insights.

Tough beat.

By the way, for the dads of a Point of Eld, Yeah, they scheduled the Elsa Gundo Little League they won the Little League World Championship. Congratulations again, I'm a.

Member of the community. Uh in the littleague group.

The parade is Sunday Week one.

You just killing the dads.

I thought that they had a like when they returned.

That was a homecoming like waving thing. Sure, this is the formal parade and ceremony Week one, Sunday, come.

Back to us. That's got to be at the very least Saturday.

Terrible job.

But even then, like you know, La, everyone is college football crazy, so that's you got.

You gotta pick one of them. It's a terrible job. Yeah, it's a bad job.

It's a US Open Men's tennis Open final being played opposite these games. Level of ignorance and hubris and not understanding the moment.

Let's wake up people, sheep.

I mean, I'm just like, I want to watch a little Alkarez Djokovic and there's no chance.

That is the real tragedy. Yea, all right, here we go. Yes, I said it. I already said it. The Chargers and the Dolphins, you know who else. By the way, the Chargers lay in three points here, So the Desert likes the Bolts, just like Greg E likes the Bolts. I thought it was interesting if I'm a Dolphins fan. I'm kind of into the fact that when the off season began, everyone was like, yeah, well the Bills will be good, and you know, the Jets and the Dolphins both are

I you know what, the Dolphins came out hot under Mike McDaniel a year ago. It didn't take them, It didn't take that offense forever to get going. And I think you've got to see where we are with Toronto Armstead. That matters so much along their offensive line. But that to go back to that play Callers series that Jordan Rodrigue did. The one thing I know MC Mike McDaniel

What is part two of this offense?

And like, if Tua can stay healthy, we already have the evidence that they can be one of the best attacks league wide.

I'm with you, And yet Brandon Staley handed him his lunch. I would say it's Brandon Staley's best moment as a coach. They got worked, they stymied them the Monday night game, the Monday night game Dolphins Chargers Emmanuelacho and someone else was.

Herbert. I'm glad we're not really getting that.

This week because sorry, because look, it's not a referendum on Tua. But the defense of the Chargers had a great game plan and did a great job really slowing down this Dolphins attack. So it's a revenge game really for McDaniel and Tua because that was a healthy Tua. He had been back at that point, and they did a great job. And I'm buying the Chargers not just because I believe in the offense. It's mostly by the offense. They're deep in the offensive line. Oh that's good stuff, Herbo.

You got Bosa.

Joey Bosa missed most of last season, and I was just who is like, oh, yeah, they didn't have Joey Bosa. It's like he's one of the best players in the world. I like this Chargers defense and it's just a it's a dork dream fon Gio versus Kellen Moore. Those are two of the Dorks absolute favorites and then Mike McDaniel versus.

King of the Dorks in the NFL, I would say, McDaniel, So yeah, I think this is a shootout.

I think it's fun. I think.

I think the Chargers get back into the game after big Dolphins lead, but I think the Dolphins find a way and win this game.

Thirty seven, thirty four. What do you guys think?

I mean, I'm going Chargers.

This is where it's like, you gotta stick with your preseason stuff before this.

I got Miami thirty one, Chargers twenty eight. I'm with you.

I think this is going to be one of the great games of the early part of the season.

And by the way, one of my favorite parts, one of our favorite parts of the Thursday show is we do our locks, but there's someone else that offers up a lock of the week. So let's head to the Midwest where a certain Westling brother wants to share his thoughts.

On this matchup.

Hello heroes, I'm back baby. It's week one and then it's time for another edition of the Westling Family Zoo. No surprise here, there was some infighting amongst the Westling brothers. My brother Mike and I couldn't come to an agreement. We went back and forth. I wanted to take the Rosenthal approach, take the six point favorite with the Seattle Seahawks.

He said, no, no, no, no.

We're Westlings. We don't take the easy way out. We're going with the Los Angeles Chargers. I wasn't one on board at first, but he's been doing some real tape dogging.

He gave.

But he says the offense is going to be explosive, maybe record breaking this year. We will be locking up the Los Angeles Chargers this week. Looking forward to another great year. Rosenthal, you're going down this year.

Good day, there you go.

I send you right out of the gate. That isn't that is a daring lock. I will give the whole crew that.

The thing I love about Nick is if if Los Angeles fails, he will be the first everybody.

Under that off the bus.

Zoo is one of those zoos where nobody locks up any of the any of the cages, and the gorillas and the orangutangs and the and the wolves and the tigers, they all come out.

Now.

I'm looking forward to, uh, you know, hearing from Nick all season and for them being non competitive, for like the Fourth Street not even the.

Fact he comes back with a sling. Did take a couple of shots.

One of these years be in the mix. Come on, that's where they finished last year. I don't know, but they've never been in the mix somewhere.

They didn't win. Put it that way, and they have not won yet. All right, Mark, you are up.

All right, I'm gonna go h Jacksonville at Indianapolis. I don't know.

I kind of have surprised Greg that you didn't jump on this Jacksonville minus five. Not saying the game is going to be the competition of the season, but it's our first look at Anthony Richardson.

Jaguars contracted from the league, so that's why he's there. There is that.

There is that sometimes you have games. I just thought you would jump on Anthony Richardson.

It's my first pick or I want it to be a game pass?

Is it now? It's the end?

I wanted that to be my NFL plus first thing I turn on.

That works a little a rich Can the Jaguars pick up where they left off last year? On offense? Trevor Lawrence? Is there another level for him? What do we see from Anthony Richardson out of the gate. I think this is a kind of a weird Colts team, especially if you start to look at like their cornerbacks and like there's defense in general.

I just I feel like the Colts a couple of years.

Ago or even last season were being billed as this like playoff hopeful. They're a very strange outfit. I think you've got to give Shane Stike in time. Anthony Richardson's accuracy in general is going to take time. There's gonna be a lot of coaching up on that. But his athletics is am alone, is like one of the most exciting things that anyone in this rookie class or any past one is offered. And it's like, what do we

We'll find out.

And Jaguars are minus five in this game, so and that feels right.

They are. They're a favorite here, GREGI.

This is if you're not totally in on the Jags and you see that division as a little more wide open, there's gonna be some red Flags here if you can't take care of the Colts, because I think the Colts are just very much You're asking Richardson, a guy with very little experience, to hit the ground running in week one and be a monster.

Now, maybe he'll fill up fantasy box.

Scores with his rushing game, but he's such a work in progress passing that I could see that taking some time even beyond just this year to come together. And then there's no Jonathan Taylor, so it's like, what do the Colts have really to combat the Gays.

I don't know if it's like a good or a bad time to catch the Colts. Is it good because of everything you just said. It's a new coach too. You mentioned the secondary. They are starting gentlemen by the name of Dallas Flowers and Darryl Baker at cornerback. Dallas they were both and I was like, did they draft him because they took a lot of draftic But no, they were undrafted players from last year who are now

And you know we talked about Trevor Lawrence is really a long shot from MVP, despite really substantial growth as a franchise quarterback. They're saying, like Desert people like, if he throws four touchdowns in this game and for three hundred eighty yards, you might.

Be kicking yourself.

Yeah, and you've asked the season could really get off to a flying So there's a nice setup.

Again, I really think this year they could have.

Also, we haven't seen Calvin Ridley in this offense yet, and I think that is one of the the Jaguars sort of mysteriously did nothing this offseason to patch up a defense that was a problem all last year and maybe just as.

Bad as so much money the year before it did, but that it.

Didn't translate to defense, but their offense they've added more weapons, and I just I don't know. I think Trevor Lawrence is like I don't get the whole MVP being overlooked for MVP, Like he's got a good chance, all right, Cincinnati minus two and a half at Cleveland. I think Cleveland is another one of these, like they're the opposite of the Jaguars on defense.

They did so much to shore up their defense.

I think it starts with the fact that Jim Schwartz runs a new it's a whole new thing where it's like last year there was too much thought and the defensive guys were just not able to unleash the way they wanted. Now you've got Shelby Harris to Zaria Smith. I am because I don't I know this.

Is a bit like I don't know what the bit is.

I think the bit is is Mark and to slide back into being a Browns fan.

I don't I don't feel it. I hear, okay, I don't feel it.

Come home mark, I don't feel it and.

Barrow through it.

The offense, though, I think, is one of the biggest question marks around, and it's like, we don't know what you're gonna get from the quarterback position. Are they going to be as run heavy as they were in the past. You still have a great offensive line. Joe Burrow has really struggled against the Browns. It's one of these weird outliers where he's like excellent against the Chiefs, but his

Oh yeah, one the Burrough health question I think is very real entering this game. And I'm on record, I think Cleveland's gonna be a good team this year. I think they're gonna win ten games and I think they're gonna be in the playoffs. So like again as a catapult for a season, you know, the Dog Pound's gonna be going off and the team is obviously just complicated

Now, great, I'll.

Point it out they didn't have rave reviews throughout the summer and how the offen look, so that might come to fruition and be like, well, yes, they stuck out the joint and the Bengles lit him up and what is up with his offense? But it's one of those things that I kind of enjoy about Week one. It's a litmus test now for what did all that mean versus now the lights are on and you have a very good play caller.

With the opportunity who kind of looks like George Looney. We forget about that I.

Had the opportunity, well now to get into his bag in a game that counts.

Like this was an awkward moment, but like when he was introduced as the Browns coach and spoke with Andrews Siciliano, I tweeted out that the fact that Stefanski looks like Clooney and they asked Stefanski that I think he was just like, why on Earth am I being asked this on NFL networks?

So yeah, I mean when Burrow came back last year after missing so much time with the appendectomy, Yeah, the worst game of his career. Basically week went made a lot of throws, but also through those interceptions. Bengals fans will point out like he had lost a lot of weight. It was a whole thing last year post that surgery that he didn't have to go through this time. It sounds like he's healthy. I'm not too worried about that.

Lights you up every chance they get, right.

That's a good point.

This This Bengals defense and in division matchups are are about like who the defensive line, offensive lines, how they match up against each other. Gave up four hundred and forty yards in that first game against the Browns, and that's the offensive line. As much as I like Jacoby Brissett, it really wasn't because of Jacoby Brissett that they put up what was it a thirty ber you know, it was like thirty two to thirteen in that game, and they ran all over him. And that's the cornerstone of

The quarterback. Can't be a bottom ten guy like he was down the stretch.

No, sure, it's got to be a top ten guy. That's what they paid for, and you can't.

And they're not gonna hide Watson in this offense. I don't think if they do.

If you're seeing very heavy Nick Chubb offenses end of October, it's a really bad sign. I think they're gonna want to pass the ball a lot and use they're gonna try to make Watson the guy and and will it work?

And he played in this matchup a year ago two they had ten points in the in the rematch where the Bengals did a much better job on both sides of the ball.

All right, I am up again.

It's funny you just keep coming up in these drafts, just kind of oh, here I am again.

It's time to make another pair.

There's essentially three teams, right, three of us. You are the middle pick, so you have less time in Yeah.

Let's let's grab one. Just the little backgrounds. I always I just like watching them. I think I like their uniforms. I love the building they play, and I love the fan base, and I feel kinship with them as a fellow tortured fan base. The Minnesota Vikings will welcome in Baker and the Bucks Minnesota lay and six points here of Wood minus six. There's not much that I need about on the buccaneer side of things. Now, if you're a Bucks fan, you're excited. We're all excited.

It's Week one.

R Books fans excited after what they've had the last few years, for this year.

It's different.

You're right, there is a hangover here because yeah, whenever Tom Brady exits the picture, it's different. But on the Minnesota side of things, I think one of the reasons why I think they could surprise people. It's weird to say because they went thirteen and four, but their expectations. Everyone has recalibrated them as a also ran team and I don't think they're a Super Bowl contender, but I think their offense, even with Davin cook on, is going to be a top ten offense, maybe even top five.

I mean, I kind of want to see what the Brian Flores effect is on this defense too, because it's another for like some of these teams with some negative buzz happening, it has just been all positive in terms of like players just loving Brian Flores and there was a lot of that in Miami too, and he made a big difference in Miami. They are missing pieces on that defense, no doubt about it, but they can't be any worse than last year. And I'm with you to

You know what Kirk Cousins is great at, by the way, beyond throwing spirals and having good accuracy and being a good father, it seems appears to a nice guy, he's great at getting paid. Yes, and Kirk Cousins is in like a contract year's.

Like him and Sam Bradford are in that world.

Like and you don't see him that way.

But Kirk, I don't think he's gonna like try hard. I know he's trying his hardest.

But Kirk, the way his career has played out, the payday's always line up very nicely for him. If he hit throws forty touchdowns this year and then gets another monster contract, like he's closing in on Sneaky one of the highest paid quarterbacks ever.

Yep.

Good for him, And it might be from the Vikings, the fourth round pick yep, in the same draft as three RG three. I want to see that defense that you mentioned hold up like because to me, Flores is such a risk taker and you got to figure out what your players can do and what they can't do. And they have a pretty good veteran group at safety who I think are going to do a lot of

Well.

I don't think of him as a winning from the neck up. He's just not that quarterback. He hasn't been, and so this is gonna be a big first test for both of these sides. There's gonna be a chance here for Baker to just throw it up to Godwin and Evans and like it could go wrong and we could have a lot of points.

I actually think this could be a sneaky, fun little game. Man. It is tough to get jazzed up about the Bucks though, right.

I mean, this is this was the year that was coming. By the way, this is surprising because we talked about it earlier Greg. With Mayfield, when things break down a little bit, little chaos enters the fray, things tend to get really bad. Per Next Gen Stats, Mayfield has the worst completion percentage and passer rating when not under pressure twenty twenty.

Is one of the worst.

Quarterbacks in the league. And it's just like he has this Q rating and he has these performances every once in a while that makes people believe in him and T shirts gets made and everything, but I'm setting his over under it starts four and a half.

It doesn't have anyone else though. I mean, I know Kyle Trask is there, but that's a worse option. John Wilford hun taking me over at four and a half there, Yes.

I would take.

I think if anything can lose its job, then it's it's only because there's no no one else there.

It's only all right that takes us to greg two picks to finish things out here.

Okay, well, I don't really have any choices, and yet I know which game deserves to be last, So I'm going ram Seahawks next.

Fun little game.

This works out well for you, too, little pet teams.

Fun game.

I thought hard as Nick mentioned about locking up the Seahawks in this spot. They are five and a half point favorites in this game and they should win. There's no Cooper Cup. He's officially out. They're considering injured reserved for him. We'll know about that for the weekend, so that would knock him out for four weeks.

That stinks.

I think Van Jefferson is a great fantasy pick up if he didn't get drafted in your league. And I noticed that he didn't in some like someone's got to catch passes on this team. I actually think the Rams have a lot of potential fantasy wise, because I think the defense is gonna be so bad. They have a really good quarterback if he's healthy, and he's healthy right now, and they're just gonna throw the ball a ton. Someone

I am not overly concerned about those two games from a year ago. Baker Mayfield and John Wolford nearly slaid the Seahawks twice, so that there there's that it's out there. But uh, Jackson Smith and Jigba practicing again. I think the Seahawks offense, uh that we know the wide receiver group is, has a chance to be just phenomenal.

Two of them already are.

And Ginoe he did fall off a cliff a little bit in certain respects down the stretch last year, but I think you're gonna get the Gino Smith that you got for the vast majority of the season and you have no Cooper Cup. This Rams team on defense is a high school team half the time. Oh they are. There's like all these guys talk about like the most anonymous defense we've seen.

In the here. Oh these are pros, bros.

I'm locking up Seattle. I don't care what anyone says. This is my lock I feel confident. I got to come out of the gate and go like seven or zero or eight and zero to start this season, and it starts right here.

I respect it as the line moved since the Cooper No.

It's yes, two five and a half. I think it was four and a half.

Yeah, that's similar, and that is we're not I would think with Cooper Cup out of the game, that should be out of the lock zone.

Now you're safe as long as it's not moved before the show.

It's not even close though. It's five and it's still a point in a half away.

The Rams win this game on the road without Cooper Cup coaching.

And it's football.

We talk about all this football, yes, but that it's a good explanation why there's literally only one spread that is over seven points this week, because it's football and these teams are not as we convince ourselves that they're so different like the Seahawks last year. In the Rams you think of them is so different, right, But the two times they played, it came down to one play.

What I just think there's a talent disparity and a road element to this, and.

I just think we overrate the differences between these teams on a week to week basis.

Vegas knows better than us in this week. That's fine.

But I think the Rams defense, it's not just Gino Smith. I think they can run all over on this defense, yea, and I can take some things away from the preseason and it's like they were manhandled on the ground. There is just not a lot of evidence that they can stop anyone.

I love, I love me a little ramharb Zach Sharbony in this game, but also keep an eye on the Rams running game. I trust our friend George Rodrieg and I think That's how Sean McVay sees this season being different. They're gonna unveil a lot of new fun stuff in terms of the running game with Akers and Kyrien Williams, and they might be pretty effective running too.

As Bob Slas said on Hard Knocks, the season is a climb. It's Mount Everest. Just getting to this point is base camp and there's a long way to go. And I refer to Fox's Adam I mean Mark Schlereth and Christina Pink were tasked with traveling to Landover for Cardinals. I thought we were commanders the final game. I'm sorry for Adam, Mark and Christina. Move up that pyramid at Fox and you won't be assigned to this game in the ature right now, that's where you're at, and that's where we're at.

Last game.

Well, you know what this is not. They actually do rank the teams. They are not the bottom team. They were like actually in the middle.

Guess what.

There's a tech thread with Adam, Mark and Christina on it, like, wtf, we're not at the bottom.

I get. I guess it's that the Commanders have a nice audience.

I don't know they renamed the thread WTF.

I like.

I like this game enough because it involves the Commando's, my sneaky playoff team. They're seven point favorites even in this game. This is one of the Craig there I do because Week one I do, I do Week one I do. They're all special teams that we don't know about.

Cardinals.

I'm less interested in Sam Howell. I'm very interested in Terry McLaurin back at practice. Sounds like he might play. We'll see just a little word of advice, like a pain. Let's just look at the Cardinals as maybe a week we can handle things with Johan Dotson, with Logan Thomas is back in the mix, with our running game and with our defense. And that's where I really worry about the Cardinals. I think Josh Dobbs is going to start this game, according to Rapshi, even though the coach for

It has kept me.

Up competition decision.

He says it could be Clayton Tune, it could be Josh Stabbs, but being rap part says it's going.

To be I think, first of all, Dobbs was brought in by, you know, the O C who was his There's got to be some connective tissue there. I think Sam Howell makes this spicy. I really do, because it's like we we saw, we saw a lot in the preseason, we saw at the end of last year, and like they're an intriguing team.

To me because of this.

I think that Greg, I think you have them as a playoff team, right, your final card team.

They do go in and handle business. But Sam Howell like makes them.

They have been a tough watch for years on end, and I feel differently about him right now.

If you can play, go be special. Commanders D line. I have been talking you up. This is not necessary a great car, those offensive line otho. It's probably one of the parts of the teams they feel best about. But they could make Josh Dobbs' life trouble.

This is it late in the afternoon game, pass knockout. This is.

The NFL plus.

Yeah, it's that old one where yeah, he's starting O and off and you got to keep on rewinding back around and realize that you knotted off again, and all of a sudden you're an hour deep into this project of.

Watching the game.

Unless Sam Howe lights up the world and then again, and that's why week one is beautiful, perfect landing spot for week one for the Commandos and how they light up the Cards all.

Of a sudden, like, oh, maybe Washington.

Is a player here and how is the guy that they're talking about he is now keep in mind the opponent.

But nice start for them.

It's gotta be tough to take Cardinals without though their team captain, Kyler Murray. I thought that was very interesting. They named Kyler Murray the team captain, one of the few despite I think it makes sense.

We were just talking about how the potential that he's an afterthought and could be moved. Why would you do that unless you kind of maybe thought in your heart that not only do you see him as a part of the team now but in the future and a guy that you want to play this year because he's a captain.

It also would have been a little weird if you weren't named captain. Yeah, I know he's hurt, but he is your quarterback.

You could but you're right, there's that side of it as well. Good stuff anything else that's Week one. The preview, Like I said, we will have the Thursday night recap for you to enjoy. You will have an NFL Plus premiere. The Dreamatorium comes alive for around the NFL, So if you have an NFL Plus subscription or on dot om in international territories, that's where you can find that program.

Football's back, Greg Football, keep a call.