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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast It is, indisputably, time to start thinking Super Bowl for these teams in the latest installment of the Preseason Power Rankings Countdown. Once again, we will not reveal who the teams are in this episode description, but we will provide these clues from our conversations: Team 12: Will this be the best third-place team in football? And what do we make of the newness of it all (or the maybe lack of good-ness in the linebacking corps)? Team 11: Let’s see just how much competent quarterback play a...
Aug 22, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s a special emergency episode of the The MMQB NFL Podcast, as Conor and Gary delve into the final (maybe?) settlement of the Deshaun Watson suspension. Watson did a 180-degree turn on his apology soon after word of the settlement came out. What might Roger Goodell and the league think about that? And is there any mechanism in that settlement for this suspension to go past 11 games? Also, looking at the messaging coming out of Watson’s camp—from his agent, his private quarterbacks coach and th...
Aug 19, 2022•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast We’re in the middle of the NFL’s middle, then moving toward the top of the middle as Conor and Gary continue their four-at-a-time season preview countdown. This episode features two teams with Super Bowl titles in the past five years, lots of quarterback questions, and plenty of blind trust. Once again, we will not reveal who the teams are in this episode description, but we will provide these clues from our conversations: Also Team 16: The second half of a tie carried over cliffhanger-style fro...
Aug 15, 2022•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s time to get into the middle-iest of the NFL’s middle, as Conor and Gary continue their four-at-a-time season preview countdown. This episode features two 2021 playoff teams, one underdog darling and one former underdog darling of whom we’ve talked about quite a bit. Once again, we will not reveal who the teams are in this episode description, but we will provide these clues from our conversations: Team 20: Taking on the crushing noise that will define 2022. Team 19: Let’s get carried away w...
Aug 08, 2022•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast Conor and Gary welcome back Jenny Vrentas of the New York Times to delve into all things Deshaun Watson once again. A discussion of why Sue Robinson’s factual determinations in her ruling are much more significant than the number of games she suggested for a suspension, how the door was flung open for the NFL to determine its own punishment, and how all of it should force the NFL to confront some of its outdated stances (and terminology) regarding sexual violence. Plus, what’s next as the NFL mo...
Aug 04, 2022•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast The third episode of Conor and Gary’s team-by-team, four-at-a-time season preview countdown is here, and they’re getting into the teams that should be entering 2022 with playoff aspirations (of varying degrees). Once again, we will not reveal who the teams are in this episode description, but we will provide these clues from our conversations: Team 24: A way to program the quarterback to carry out one of three tasks: Quick throw, throw away, or crumple like a deflated Christmas decoration. Team ...
Aug 01, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Transcript available on Metacast One long-awaited quarterback contract got done this week, but as with all things Cardinals-front-office-and-Kyler Murray since the team’s wild-card round meltdown in January, it wasn’t without loads of negativity and drama. Specifically, the now infamous “homework clause” that appears in Murray’s record-setting deal, the cause of tremendous embarrassment for the star QB this week. Conor and Gary welcome MMQB Business of Football columnist and former Packers team president Andrew Brandt, to discu...
Jul 29, 2022•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast The second episode of Conor and Gary’s team-by-team season preview countdown has arrived, and this one is chock full of underserved optimism. And ties! Once again, we will not reveal who the teams are in this episode description, but we will provide these clues from our conversations: Team 27: Just send them over to the B Field for now—they’ll be ready for you to watch them in 2023. Also Team 27: It’s time for professional football coaches and professional football players to assemble and form a...
Jul 25, 2022•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s that time of year, when Conor and Gary ignore the beautiful summer weather, retreat to their respective basements, and take on the Herculean task of previewing the 32 teams, podcast-style, four at a time. But this year, it comes with a twist! Rather than simply going division by division, it’s a power ranking, unveiled from the 32nd best team to the best, all over the course of eight Monday shows. Thus, the first episode in this installment? The four worst teams heading into the 2022 season...
Jul 18, 2022•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast It was an unexpectedly rocky year for last season’s crop of rookie QBs. Now, it’s time to examine: Are better days ahead in 2022? To help answer that question, Conor and Gary welcome Charles McDonald of Underdog Fantasy. What does Doug Pederson do for Trevor Lawrence? What was behind Zach Wilson’s absolutely erratic play out of structure last season? Is this Trey Lance thing going to work out in San Francisco? Some appreciation for the cursed early career of Justin Fields, the lack of speed arou...
Jul 14, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Transcript available on Metacast It was centuries ago that the Baker Mayfield trade talks first started up, and last week we finally reached the end of the road with he would-be-Cleveland-Browns franchise QB mercifully shipped off to Carolina for a conditional 2024 fifth-round pick. Conor and Gary discuss a deal that left pretty much everyone unsatisfied, whether it be the draft compensation, the split of his salary, the paycut, or the domino effect on the Panthers’ QB depth chart. What does it mean for Mayfield, for Ben McAdoo...
Jul 11, 2022•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
