Baker Mayfield’s year-long freefall seemingly continued into December, as he asked for—and was granted—his release from Carolina, and went unclaimed by everyone but the Rams. Conor and Gary discuss the real story behind “only one team claimed him,” where he fits in L.A. for the near-term, and where he might fit elsewhere in the longterm. Then, a discussion of Titans GM Jon Robinson’s surprise firings, and the always underestimated world of office politics in an NFL building. Also, looking back o...
Dec 08, 2022•42 min
There were some very intriguing matchups in Week 13, but all eyes were on the return of Deshaun Watson in Houston. Conor and Gary discuss why that was particularly unfortunate, as Watson struggled in his first game back, the broadcast team struggled desperately to articulate why Watson hadn’t played in a meaningful football game in 700 days, and everyone else was treated to one of the worst games in recent memory. Then, things take a turn for the better in discussions of the Bengals’ already-gre...
Dec 05, 2022•1 hr 13 min
Deshaun Watson is set to play in his first regular-season game in 700 days on Sunday, when he returns from his 11-game suspension for multiple violations of the personal conduct policy regarding many accounts of sexual assault and harassment from massage therapists Conor and Gary once again delve into why, as of Thursday morning, Watson’s public denials of wrongdoing in the face of overwhelming evidence have been hugely problematic, and what it means to earn a second chance. Then, they discuss w...
Dec 01, 2022•48 min
It was an entirely pleasant football Sunday in Week 12, with some close games, some stout defensive performances and some interesting developments. And nowhere were the developments more interesting than in Philadelphia, where Aaron Rodgers exited early and Jordan Love got a chance to show what he could do. Conor and Gary discuss Love’s impressive fourth-quarter showing against the Eagles, and what it means in light of another Packers loss and reports that Aaron Rodgers’s thumb is in bad shape. ...
Nov 28, 2022•1 hr 3 min
Whether you’re listening to this episode on your drive to Thanksgiving dinner or at some point in the summer of 2024, it doesn’t matter. This show is simply timeless. At least Conor and Gary assume so. The Hodgepodge starts with a discussion of the Odell Beckham Jr. Sweepstakes. Are these sweepstakes exciting? Who should want to win these sweepstakes? And who should Odell want to win these sweepstakes? Then, a discussion of Brandon Staley’s increasing meekness on fourth downs. Is it the Chargers...
Nov 22, 2022•1 hr 9 min
It had been months of frustration watching Justin Herbert and the meek offense the Chargers’ offensive coaches had him operating. But those who waited patiently were finally rewarded on Sunday night when Herbert’s Chargers and Patrick Mahomes’s Chiefs played a classic in L.A. Conor and Gary breakdown that AFC West showdown and much more from Sunday. That includes the weirdly almost-unbeatable Vikings getting very much beaten by the Cowboys, the Eagles making a narrow escape in Indy against the J...
Nov 21, 2022•1 hr 12 min
As it has been since the beginning of time, the third Thursday in November must be a mailbag show on any podcast. Thus Conor and Gary answer your questions, to an extent that might or might not satisfy you. Among the hard-hitting questions taken on in this episode… From an analyst standpoint, are we happy or unhappy about games being played in heavy snow? Deshaun Watson reportedly chose the Browns because they were good—but aren’t the Browns not good? Is Carson Wentz ever going to get the starti...
Nov 17, 2022•38 min
In light of the incredible, unfathomable final moments of the Vikings’ (make that the 8–1 Vikings’!) victory in Buffalo, it’s time to really understand what this all means. That’s why Conor and Gary call on the wise words of one Kirk Cousins before freaking out about the most bizarre finish of the NFL season so far. Then, the Packers finally catch a break, and maybe find a new element for their offense as they pull off an unlikely upset, the 49ers do their thing against a Chargers team light on ...
Nov 14, 2022•1 hr 16 min
This episode was supposed to be a good ol’ fashioned, straightforward midseason report show, but then things went a little wacky. There was Josh Allen’s elbow injury (what now, Buffalo?!?!?!), but mostly, there was the Colts—and, seemingly, owner Jim Irsay specifically—going absolutely rogue. Thus, Conor and Gary try to talk through what might be going on in Indianapolis, where Jeff Saturday is now the interim head coach, logic has been suspended and nothing is as it seems. Why might Marcus Brad...
Nov 10, 2022•43 min
It was a smaller slate in Week 9, but there were still a couple of monstrous underdog wins—not to mention a lifetime worth of frustration for two star quarterbacks. Conor and Gary start things off in East Rutherford, home to lots of winning football in 2022, including the Jets’ victory over the Bills. An examination of just how good this team is, and just how they’re going to manage around an erratic young quarterback. Then, a new kind of frustration for Aaron Rodgers as the Packers let one slip...
Nov 07, 2022•1 hr 5 min
What was billed as a quiet trade deadline was anything but, as a record number of deadline-day deals went down in the NFL. After a little bit of time to reflect, Conor and Gary are ready to dispense the takes. Why there’s plenty of reason to like what the Bears did, the Dolphins are taking advantage of perhaps an open window, the Lions' forever rebuild carries on, the Bills add yet another dynamic to their already very good offense, the bizarre twists and turns of the Indianapolis Colts, and...
Nov 03, 2022•1 hr 7 min
We had points, lots of them, (even in touchdown form!), on Sunday as offenses across the league kinda got back on track. Except for the one Aaron Rodgers oversees. Conor and Gary look at the things that went right, but also the things that continue to go wrong for the Packers offense, this time in Buffalo. Also, what Christian McCaffrey did to the Rams and what the Rams did in one half, but not the second half, against the 49ers; the Summer of Geno Smith continues in Seattle; the absurd ending a...
Oct 31, 2022•2 hr 41 min
It’s late October, and Conor and Gary find themselves assessing two very unlikely starting (or, one starting and one potential starting) quarterbacks: Sam Ehlinger in Indy and Bailey Zappe in New England. First, what does Ehlinger create for the Colts’ offense that Matt Ryan can not? What kind of effect does his mobility have on the run game? Is it worth the trade off for what will likely make life more difficult for a play-caller? And what are the behind-the-scenes, front-office politics factor...
Oct 27, 2022•40 min
Week 7 Sunday unfolded as the trade deadline looms, though the first big move has already happened, with the 49ers acquiring Christian McCaffrey. Conor and Gary fire off all takes regarding the new-look Niners (who, O.K., aren’t really the new-look Niners yet) and some of the issues that still very much face this team. A look at the return of Dak Prescott for Dallas and why it was kinda inconsequential (for now) for the Cowboys, Kenny Pickett’s long night and Tua Tagovailoa’s uncomfortable retur...
Oct 25, 2022•1 hr
It’s time for Conor and Gary to dig into the mailbag and answer the most pressing questions that the NFL public has. First, a look at the 5–1 Vikings. Is this sustainable? How much does strength of schedule matter? Are they this year’s Arizona Cardinals? Is there really that much of a difference between this year’s Vikings and last year’s Vikings? Then, gauging potential return for the Panthers’ trade pieces (Christian McCaffrey, DJ Moore and Brian Burns) as the deadline nears. The reasons to be...
Oct 20, 2022•34 min
It was an upside down slate of games in the NFL, though the two headlining games more than made up for it all. Conor and Gary break down everything that went down on Sunday (including, sadly for our listeners, some baseball playoffs). It starts in Kansas City, where the Bills didn’t really exorcise anything, but they did prove they can overcome some execution issues, on the road, against an elite opponent. Throw in a rapidly improving defense and you have a team that is just much, much better th...
Oct 17, 2022•58 min
The biggest surprise of the season thus far isn’t that Russell Wilson is merely struggling to adjust to a new team and new scheme. It’s that, over his first five games as the Broncos’ quarterback, he’s been one of the absolute worst quarterbacks in the NFL. Conor and Gary set out to find out just how bad it’s been, why it’s been precisely that bad, and what—if anything—can be done to fix it. A deep dive into Wilson’s unique set of strengths, undeniable set of weaknesses, and baffling alteration ...
Oct 13, 2022•41 min
It really was a series of weird games in Week 5—lots of sloppy offense but somehow lots of big plays in between. Conor and Gary break it all down, starting with the Bengals’ continued struggles, this time in Baltimore. How much of it was the absence of Tee Higgins? How much of it was a vastly different approach from first-year Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald? And how much of it was the Bengals simply coming back down the earth with an offense that asks so much of its quarterback? The...
Oct 10, 2022•1 hr 24 min
On the mid-week episode, there is some Week 5 previewing to be done. Conor and Gary take a look at the Ravens’ woes heading into a showdown with Cincinnati, Jared Goff’s latest shot at a Belichick defense, and whether Geno Smith Fever will continue to spread after a matchup against a very good Saints defense. But this episode is more about the future—the distant future. Therefore, Sports Illustrated college football writer Richard Johnson returns to the show to discuss the top 2023 draft quarter...
Oct 06, 2022•1 hr 7 min
The Week 4 Sunday slate brought us some humbling losses and heartwarming victories, and Conor and Gary are here to discuss all of it, as well as remember two former Northwestern quarterbacks. We’ll start with the Chiefs in full on Sunday night, as K.C. got an early turnover and steamrolled the Bucs with a Mahomes-ian moment or two along the way. In Green Bay, the Packers continue to work through their growing pains while the Patriots, down to their third-string QB, are looking to become the scra...
Oct 03, 2022•1 hr 27 min
On the mid-week show, Conor and Gary take a look at three big Week 4 matchups. Will Doug Pederson get booed in his return to Philly? (And, also, do the Jaguars have the defensive formula to slow Jalen Hurts and friends?) How will the Bills offense respond in Baltimore after 90 plays in the South Florida heat? And will the Chiefs play nice offensively, and continue to put the pressure on Tom Brady defensively? Then, special guests Rashad Jennings and Lindsay McCormick, co-hosts of Sports Illustra...
Sep 29, 2022•1 hr 13 min
It was a bittersweet third week of the NFL season—lots of great games, but lots of bummer injuries. Conor and Gary work through the tears and break down everything that happened on Sunday. It starts with another peculiar performance from the Broncos offense, who were stuck in the mud until the final drive of Sunday night, and seem to be melting down while also being 2–1. Meanwhile, Jimmy Garoppolo’s first start of this season looked a lot like his final start of last season, and an injury to Tre...
Sep 26, 2022•1 hr 29 min
We all know the—albeit fluky—stat regarding the drought of 0–2 teams going to the NFL playoffs, but what about 0–3? Because by Sunday evening, either the Titans or the Raiders, both playoff teams a year ago, will be in that unenviable hole. With that in mind, Conor and Gary discuss those two teams and their Sunday matchup, including whether or not to believe in their coaching staffs, and just how deep the hole is for either franchise if they lose a third straight to start the year. Then, a look ...
Sep 22, 2022•42 min
The second Sunday of the NFL season was nothing short of incredible when it came to fantastic finishes and unlikely upsets. But what does it all mean!?!?! Conor and Gary are here to take some big-picture looks at what went on in Week 2. Is it time to flip the Tua Meter (should it exist) into the green (green being good) after a miracle win in Baltimore? It is time to give Mike McCarthy a big pat on the back after another win with Cooper Rush? Is there something really wrong with the Bengals, and...
Sep 19, 2022•1 hr 21 min
The first Sunday of the 2022 NFL season is in the books. A few of the games were really good. A lot of the games were really close. And the day ended with one star quarterback, Dak Prescott, injuring his thumb in an ugly loss to the Bucs. Conor and Gary unite to discuss it all, and to figure out what we can actually take away from Week 1. Are the Steelers going to pile up weird and wild wins again? Are the Colts going to keep on getting into dogfights with bad opponents? Is Saquon Barkley here t...
Sep 12, 2022•1 hr 27 min
The NFL Opener is in the books and, basically, the defending champs lost by three touchdowns in a game that wasn’t even that close. The Bills picked up where they left off in terms of their general unstoppableness on offense, but it was more than that. They showed off an identity we haven’t seen much of from Josh Allen (it’s so quick!) and on the other side of the ball they had a cast of 10,000 very fast, very young pass rushers to go along with Von Miller in a dominant performance. For the Rams...
Sep 09, 2022•37 min
There are six—no more, no fewer—storylines that will define the 2022 NFL season (as stated in the episode title, try to keep up), and Conor and Gary, only on this show, will unveil each one of them to you. That’s just the start of what might be the most important MMQB NFL Podcast of our lives. Editor Mitch Goldich joins the show to insult and otherwise taunt Conor over his 272 games predictions process, then tries his hand (by request!) at More Than Four But Fewer Than Six Questions. And, finall...
Sep 08, 2022•2 hr 41 min
At long last, Conor and Gary arrive at the thrilling finale of their preseason power rankings countdown series. It’s time to reveal, indisputably, the four best teams in the NFL. As usual, we will not reveal who the teams are in this episode description, but we will provide these clues from our conversations: Also Team 4: The most controversial team of the countdown. Gary made Conor pick them to go 12–5. Team 2: How will the longer season wear on them. Also, maybe it’s time for everyone to take ...
Sep 06, 2022•1 hr 14 min
And, more specifically, the back half of the Elite Eight, but the Elite Eight nonetheless. Conor and Gary delve into the NFL’s borderline elite teams heading into the 2022 season. Once again, we will not reveal who the teams are in this episode description, but we will provide these clues from our conversations: Team 8: Either the most exciting debut in football or the soon-to-be most disappointing debut in football. Team 7: A Pythagorean Win projection of nearly 16 games! But that’s after losin...
Aug 29, 2022•1 hr 6 min
With Gary Gramling away, Conor Orr is joined by SI Fantasy Football Guru Michael Fabiano, and we talk about the shrewdness of Jim Nantz in celebrity studded fantasy leagues. Also, you’ll want to stick around to hear about a fantasy football collective that includes the band mates from Alice In Chains, Anthrax and…Michael Buble? Plus, Fabiano tells us who we’re overdrafting, underdrafting, and everything in between Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://red...
Aug 24, 2022•45 min
