On today’s episode, Jason is joined by The Ringer’s Sheil Kapadia. During the conversation, Kapadia discusses whether it’s fair to say that the 1-2 Baltimore Ravens and the 1-2 Kansas City Chiefs are still legitimate Super Bowl contenders, why he’s picking the Indianapolis Colts to win the AFC South, how the 2025 Philadelphia Eagles are eerily similar to the 2024 Chiefs, his biggest reservation about Sean McVay’s Los Angeles Rams, and much more!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
What is up, Drake Fire Fayan, It's me Jason McIntyre,
Straight Boyer for Thursday sip Demmr twenty fith got a
great guest on today's podcast, Bounce It Back to the
NFL Shale Capatia. He moved from the Athletic over to
the Ringer. He's podcasting there. He's got some interesting insights
on the league. We talk gambling. He is an Eagles guy.
(00:33):
I you know, I know the Eagles are flying high.
Ha ha three to zero. I've got some concerns. I mean,
if you want to really drill down and look at
Saquon Barkley, what he's done, it's like three yards in
a clotter of dust. And he addresses some of the
offensive line issues. But this defense is like really historically great.
So we talk a little. We cover many of the
games for what should be a good week for in
(00:55):
the NFL. Obviously, you know there is one game better
than all Oh, we get the Dublin game to start Sunday.
Eagles Bucks is a battle of two three and zero teams.
I think Colts Rams could be a sneaky good game. Oh,
the Marquee game obviously Ravens Chiefs at that's the afternoon
slate over on CBS. The loser of that one's kind
(01:17):
of up Shit's Creek. And then a Sunday Night football
Packers Cowboys. Oh listen, I'm not gonna lie, guys. I
loaded up, loaded up on the Packers, and I'm ready
to get kicked in the teeth. Two games Monday night.
But the quarterbacks are possibly Tyrod Taylor definitely to uh,
Jake Browning and Boonix Bonicks, the lowest graded quarterback in
(01:39):
the league according to Pro Football Focus. At any rate,
our guest to Cheekpati.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
He's great, real quick.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
I don't have any money yet. On Seattle Arizona. The
line has flipped opened Arizona minus one, one and a half.
And then I don't know whether it was the James
Connor injury, whether it was you know, the market and
public better is gravitating towards Seattle after the smashing Spencer Rattler,
(02:06):
but now Seattle is favored by one and a half
on the road. I don't think you could take too
much from Thursday night football unless it's a first time
coach situation. Right, So if you look at the games
the underdog covered in the opener. Then you had green
Bay pretty handily takedown Washington game that was really never
(02:27):
in doubt, and then last week you had Miami hang
around in a divisional matchup. And these divisional matchups are
always close. But under three, I don't know that there's
anything here. I would kind of sort of lean to
the under forty three and a half. But I don't know.
Is the Arizona defense that good. They showed out against
San Francisco last week in holding them to fifteen points,
(02:49):
but it was Mac Jones. You know he's a backup,
and I know Sam Darnold doesn't terrify anyone. Last year,
these two teams played in November teen six, okay, sixteen
six Seattle. Then they played again and Seattle won thirty
to eighteen in kind of a wacky game.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
There were.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
What happened in that one. I'm just glancing at the
box score. Yeah, Arizona had a couple bad turnovers. Kyler Murray,
by the way, Kyler Murray played two games against Seattle
last year and was, as the kids like to say, cheeks.
He had two of his worst games of the season.
I mean, they just put Zach Sharbinig in the backfield
last year and he went for one hundred and thirty
four yards in another meeting. So I would look under,
(03:38):
and if you asked me for a side, I gotta
go Seattle again. I don't think they need to do
much given the spectacular defense that they have. And I
mean I got Trey Benson in fantasy because I handcuffed
what's his connor who's out for the season. But I
think the Seattle d you know, they're getting pressure without blitzing,
(03:58):
and that means you're able to load up on Trey McBride.
I think it's a good matchup for Julian Love. Trey
McBride an eleaked tight end, but love the kid out
of Notre Dame. He's really good. The corners are good.
I don't think you gotta worry. I mean, I think
you can kind of sort of spy Kyler Murray and
and uh, you know, I don't know that Trey Benson
terrifies him in the run game. He's good. But I
(04:20):
would lean Seattle, but I think the under is probably
my best play. All right, without further ado, let's get
to our guest, Shale Capatia of the Ringer.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to
listen live. You know, Jason likes to think he knows
everything when it comes to sports.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
I know what sports fans want.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
But for everything he doesn't. He knows a guy who does.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Let's just say, I know a guy who knows the
guy who knows another guy. All right, let's welcome back
to straight fire, familiar face. Man. He's one of the
great NFL podcasters out there. He wasn't the athletic. He's
now at the Ringer Shale, capatis Shale. How you doing, Man?
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Doing well? Man? Good to see, Uh, yeah, it's you know.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
I wish we were talking on better terms. I'm coming
off a week where I just got obliterated with picks.
I thought the Titans would bounce back. I was on
a lot of oho and two teams to bounce back,
and it just didn't happen. We're starting to see kind
of a hollowing of the middle class. But I don't
even know if the upper tier teams have good I'm
just curious your thoughts macro around the league after three
(05:31):
weeks where we've seen some chaos.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Yeah, it's always tough for early in this season, those
first two or three weeks. You try not to take
a beating with your with your picks there. You're trying
to figure some stuff out. You're trying not to move
off of a lot of your preseason predictions.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
But you know, I think, for the most part, the teams.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
That I thought could compete or win the Super Bowl
before the season, those six to eight teams Baltimore, KC,
Buffalo in the AFC, and then in the NFC Detroit, Bay, Philadelphia.
We could maybe throw a couple other teams in there.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
I think those teams are still there.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
You know, they haven't all had great starts, but I
feel like it's still early. Remind myself that there's a
lot of football to be played, and those are the
teams that still have those high ceilings.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
I want to start with the Indianapolis Colts. And I
know I'm doing that because nobody's asking you about the Colts.
I'm sure. Initially I was like, Okay, this is a
fun story. I've lost money on them. The last two weeks.
I had the Broncos. I'll stand by the Broncos should
have won that game. And then I had the Titans,
and I'm like, not a believer. I saw some numbers
about the Colts being not only just three and oh,
(06:34):
but three and oh against the spread, a big scoring margin.
Historically teams to start like this, they're in the playoffs
eighteen of the last twenty two times that fit the
Colts profile. I did not see this coming. Daniel Jones
looks like a new quarterback. Your thoughts on the Colts.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
Yeah, no, I was making fun of them all summer,
saying this organization doesn't know what they're doing. They're banking
on Daniel Jones. They paid him fourteen million dollars. The
guy was a disaster with the Giants, and I gotta
give him credit.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
I'm with you.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
I saw it in week one and I go, all right,
do it again. And then I saw it in week
two and I go all right, do it again, and
they've done it three weeks in a row. Now it's
three weeks. Let's see. Daniel Jones has had durability issues
in the past, but I think Shane Steichen has done
an awesome job scheming up that offense, catering it to
fit Daniel Jones's skill set, and they've been the best
offense in the NFL statistically, and I had them as
(07:25):
like a bottom five offense going into the season again,
just going on Daniel Jones's track record, So I want
to see more. But yeah, if you ask me right now,
do I think they're gonna make the playoffs? I think
I would say yes, give me the way that rest
of the division looks well.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Also, the Borough injury.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
And listen, I know everybody loves the Chiefs. They could
be one in three after this week. And I don't
know about you, Schelle, I'm sick of this. Hey, just
wait wait until zavier' worthy gets back. We're gonna be fine,
like za if you're Worthy. Really, So, the AFC feels
even Baltimore is flawed defensively, I don't know about the AFC.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
Man, Yeah, they're vulnerable. All these teams are vulnerable. The
Bills are the favorites to three and zero. They've got
the easiest schedule the rest of the way of any
team in the NFL, so they are in a nice
spot here to.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
If they can just take care of business.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
Now, there's a long way to go, But they're in
the driver's seat for the one seed. You know, the Chiefs. Still,
to me, it's like, I'm not gonna say they're gonna
win the Super Bowl. They are a flawed team. I
don't like watching their offense. I didn't like watching it
last year. I didn't think their offseason moves were really
gonna work out.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
But they still have a high floor.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
Like I still they're gonna be in the yes mayor
the end in the playoffs, I would say yes. Do
they have a chance to win the AFC West, I
would say yes, like they've been in all these games.
They've been one score games that they're two losses against
the Chargers and the Eagles, who, by the way, both
look like pretty good teams right now. So I'm with you,
Xavier Worthy is not gonna save the day. But if
you say Rashi Rice Xavier Worthy rookie O lineman gets better, Like,
(08:55):
I'm not ruling out the possibility that we're in December
going all right, this happens every single freaking year with
the Chiefs, and they're right in the mix with these
other AFC teams.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Well, it's funny eleven to zero in one score games
last year, and I believe they're zero to two already
this year. Sure, I know how that flips year to year.
Let me ask it feels like and I looked at
the quarterbacks. You know, sometimes you'll just look at the
quarterback stats.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Every week.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
We had like, I don't know, nine or ten quarterbacks
go for under two hundred yards this past week, and
there's some numbers that the offensive yards per game are down.
I don't know if it has to do with the
kickoffs or defenses have just caught up with these passing games.
Do you have any theories as to why the offenses
kind of don't look great early in the season.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
Yeah, I don't know specifically for this year, but this
has been sort of a two to three year long
trend where defenses are playing with two safeties back and
they're saying, let's make these offense, well, let's limit explosive
plays basically at all costs. So if you want to
run the ball, go ahead and run the ball. If
you want to complete passes underneath, go ahead and complete
passes underneath. But we're going to bank on the fact
(09:56):
that at some point in a nine or ten play drive,
most of you are not good enough to be flawless
and avoid that penalty or avoid that sack, or avoid
that turnover or that drop pass.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
So that's been a.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
Defensive philosophy that's got to take it over the league.
I'm kind of annoyed by it. Honestly, it's like, this
is not fun to watch with Josh Allen. I mean
that game last week, his average pass. I forget how
far it went. But it's like, Josh Allen's one of
the most talented quarterbacks we've ever seen. I would like
to see him chuck the football downfield, but to his credit,
he's taking what the defense gives him. So yeah, I
(10:27):
think that's certainly part of it. But as the NFL,
everything's cyclical, you know, it'll go back and forth. We
might be having a conversation next year at this time saying, man,
the offenses are just chucking it downfield and offenses back baby.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
So it's a small sample, so let's see what it
looks like at the end of the year.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
All right, let me ask a couple specific teams. So
the Lions going Monday night football Island game and kind
of I thought they destroyed the Rats. It was up
and down the field for down conversions.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
They were perfect.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
They look like the better team. They're now laying ten
at home against the Browns, even though the Browns just
beat the Packers. But I don't know, I kind of
want to lay it with the Lions here. They're at home,
Cleveland off a big win, but it was kind of fugazi.
Their touchdown drive was four yards and I think the
game when you feel go, they went like fifteen yards.
So they didn't do much and it almost feels like
(11:16):
the Lions maybe are not dropping off as much as
everybody thought.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
Yeah, that was the most impressive win by any team
this season in my opinion, the Lions on Monday night.
I mean, they looked incredible.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
I'm with you.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
There was nothing fluky about that. They looked like the
better team. They it was a statement game. Everyone's talking
about how our coordinators left and we're not the same team. Well, look,
we are the same team and we're going to be
in the mix.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
So tenpoint.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
That's a stay away for me because Cleveland's defense, I
think is legit.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
Now.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
The Browns have had some weird splits over the past
few years here where they're much better defensively at home
than they are on the road, So I'm with you.
If I had to pick a side, I would go
with Detroit because I think the Browns offense is not
good and I feel like the Lions most weeks can
score on anybody. But to me a number that big
against the defense that I do think has some talent.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
I would probably stay away.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
This is an ugly one, but I'm gonna bring it
up because Ray Bowl is kind of off to a
rocky start, and I know he's got to purge a
lot of the nonsense. They've been dumping recent draft picks
left and right. But the Patriots are somehow laying five
and a half the Patriots against the Panthers. Panthers coming
off their big win over the Falcons, I guess people
are seeing regression coming. I gotta be honest. I like
Drake may a lot. I don't know what's going on
(12:30):
with that team. They just make a lot of mental mistakes.
It feels like I.
Speaker 4 (12:34):
Was thinking the same thing, like if if you didn't
know that Mike Rabel took over for Drowd Mayo, you'd
be like, oh man, this jiwd Mayo coach team. Honestly,
the way they're playing, I mean they're making a lot
of mistakes. They outplayed the Steelers last week, you know
that entire game, and if you look at a lot
of the advanced numbers, they're pretty favorable on Drake May
just like down to down.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
Is the offense working?
Speaker 4 (12:55):
Yes, the offense is working, but it doesn't matter if
you're turning the football over, if you're fumbled it. If
you're making kind of one or two plays each half,
that leaves you scratching your head. So I get the
number because the Panthers looked like the worst team in
the NFL through two weeks and then they played well
last week, so you don't know what to make of them.
I do think the Patriots are the better team, and
(13:17):
I do think they're gonna have one of these weeks
in the next two three weeks where it's like, Okay,
they avoided the mistakes and they actually are interesting. Maybe
a sleeper wild card team in the AFC.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Well, it's interesting you say a wildcard team in the
AFC because the AFC feels down. I mean, jet stink,
dolphin stink. You go down the list, there's this. I
think six teams are above five hundred in the AFC.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Wow, is that what?
Speaker 1 (13:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Even coming into the season, it was I was looking
at the Patriots and Raiders, going, let's find a sleeper
here in the AFC to sneak in.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
So Patriots should get Christian Gonzales backs soon in their
number one corner again.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
And I have actually been encouraged with what I've seen
from them offensively so far.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
This now, you never want to overreact, but sometimes you
get the underreact on the Rams. So no, I haven't
heard anybody say this. They beat the Texans, who are winless, right,
and then they beat the Titans, who are winless, and
then they gagged away a huge lead against the Eagles.
I how good are the Rams? Shall?
Speaker 3 (14:20):
I think their offense is pretty good?
Speaker 2 (14:22):
You know.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
I just I do the Ringers Philly Special.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
And so I watched the Eagles film every week, and
that Rams offense is schemed up like McVeigh is in
his bag as an offensive schemer right now. And Stafford
is not the same guy he was two years ago.
It's a lot of play action, but guys are getting open,
they're running the football well Stafford. You know, I feel
like no one busts to criticized Stafford. He missed some
throws on third down last week that could have flipped
(14:45):
that game.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
And then what always makes me nervous about McVeigh and
you saw it rear ats ugly head.
Speaker 4 (14:49):
Last week, is that his game management man, he is conservative.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
He doesn't follow the analytics. He turtles.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
I mean, he had four or five times in that
game he could have gone for it on a fourth
and two, on a fourth and three, he could have
gone for a touchdown at the end of the first half.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
And it just kind of boggles my mind that a
guy was so good at the hard parts.
Speaker 4 (15:09):
Of coaching and has that mentality like let's be a great,
then when it comes to making those decisions in game,
he's let's be conservative, and they start thinking about the
worst case scenario. So that makes me a little bit
nervous with the Rams, But I do see their ceiling.
I don't know that Stafford's gonna be able to do
it for seventeen games, but if you just said, like
this weekend, I think they could play with almost any
(15:29):
team in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
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dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to
listen live.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
NFC is a little tougher because it feels like a
lot of teams are good. You know, Packers, obviously the Eagles.
Let me drill down on the Eagles with you, because
you are a Philly guy, you know them as well
as anybody. I'm just gonna skip over all the positive
stuff because we know that a few negatives. We'll start
with Saquon Barkley, who we knew he had a heavy
workload last year. I haven't seen the pop in the
(16:05):
juice that I saw last year. I think he's at
like three point three yards per carry. Your early thoughts
on Saquon and do they need to supplement him with
a little more Tank Bigsby or whoever.
Speaker 4 (16:18):
Yeah, I actually think it's been Their offensive line is
not as good as it was last year, and so
it goes back to that question, you know, running back
versus situation versus offensive line. Saquon Barkley last year looked
like a different guy than Saquon Barkley. With the Giants
and the interior of the Eagles offensive line, they're dealing
with some injuries.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
I honestly, there haven't been.
Speaker 4 (16:38):
A lot of plays where you go, oh, he had space,
and he didn't have the juice to create an explosive there.
It's kind of been the opposite where it's like there's
not a lot there, and you know, he turns kind
of nothing into something a little bit. So I want
to see a bigger sample. I hear what you're saying,
and it's certainly a concern for them. Where it's like
when you have what four hundred and eighty two whatever
it was last year including the playoffs, it was a
(16:59):
crazy number of touches that running backs rarely come back
from that and are like the same guy the next year.
But I haven't seen anything with my eyes that tell me, hey,
he doesn't look like the same guy.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
I purposely didn't draft him, told my son not to
draft him in fantasy. I just don't have a great
feeling about that. But that being said, their defense is
so good. My old neighbor I was talking to him
last night and he's like an Eagles guy through and through.
They have like an Eagles flag outside their house. He's like,
we're nineteen and one in the last twenty games, and
the loss was when Jalen Hurts got hurt and had
(17:33):
to leave. Why are people not calling this like a
historically great defense, and I'm like, you know, he's got
to put I mean, Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter in
the middle is like Chicago Bears nineteen eighty five stuff.
Speaker 4 (17:43):
Yeah, no, they I think it's seventeen in a row
when Jalen Hurts has started and finished a game, which
is like it's craygy. I tell Eagles fans, I'm like,
you'll never see a stretch like this again in your life.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
I don't care how long you live.
Speaker 4 (17:54):
But yeah, defensively, they are good, you know, and it's
been a different team than last year because they lost
a lot of guys in free agency. But Jordan Davis,
you identified, he looks like a different guy this year.
He's playing more snaps, he's been more impactful. And so
they've got some injuries there where they're gonna have to
sort through it. They're not great at their second corner spot,
but these are first world problems for the team. You
(18:15):
still look at their roster and their depth chart and
it's like, all right, they're gonna win.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
A lot of games this year, So let me ask.
So the second corner slot is kind of a weakness.
This week's matchup against the Bucks. No Mike Evans and
it's basically no Godwin yet no Jaalen McMillan is therefore
he's out, so it's basically abuca. Do the Eagles play enough?
Will they scheme up defensively where they just have I
(18:40):
don't know Cooper Dejen follow Abuka, would that you know anything?
Speaker 4 (18:44):
It kind of depends where he lines up. If he's
in the slot, you know he'll get Degene. If he's
on the outside. Quinon Mitchell is their number one corner
who he played really well last week. He followed DeVante
Adams a little bit. But they play a lot of
zone coverage, so it's not like, hey, you know, just
follow this guy and you're covering him the entire time.
It's more just all right, let's get him on that
player's side. So they're gonna have a tough time, you know.
(19:05):
Baker Mayfield and the Bucks last year really played well
against this Vic Fangio defense. Now it was the first
month of the season, they didn't have all their guys,
but still it was one of the most impressive performances
by an opposing offense against the Eagles in the last
two years. So it's one of those where the Bucks
have injuries on the offensive line. Eagles have some injuries defensively.
(19:26):
You know, Todd Bowles has had Jalen Hurts his number
over the years, so it's it's an interesting matchup for sure.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
I still remember that playoff game. Oh my gosh, that
was bad. But it's interesting you mentioned that because I
think didn't Philly get smacked around by Tampa last year?
Speaker 3 (19:40):
They did.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
AJ Brown missed the game four.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
Yeah, they didn't have AJ Brown, they didn't have DeVante Smith,
they didn't have any so they were really banged up
in that game. But still, you know, Tampa did play
really well in Tampa this year. You know, they'll make
some mistakes offensively, but they are able to like create
a sixteen yard completion. It feels like almost any time
they want. I mean, you know how Baker Mayfield's gonna play.
He's gonna be aggressive throwing the football. And I've been
(20:04):
impressive that they haven't had that drop off offensively, even
though they switched offensive coordinators.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
So you know, you can only dance between the rain
drops forever, right, I Mean, they've won essentially three games
with game winning drives in the final two minutes, you know,
and then the Falcons kicker misses, they could easily be
oer and three, and I know you can play that
game a lot. The Eagles being minus three and a
half tells me a lot on this one. I think
the Eagles get big time revenge here and if they
(20:32):
could win by twenty, That's what I kind of feel
in this one. But the Eagles haven't. They don't usually destroy.
Speaker 4 (20:38):
People like that, right, They've won three one score games themselves.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
You know, they're kind of like the Chiefs the last
year in some ways. The Eagles.
Speaker 4 (20:45):
You know, they win that game last week on the
last second field goal block, and the Cowboys game in
week one, Ceedee lamb is dropping passes. In week two,
Travis Kelsey's dropping that pass in the end zone.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
So not that they could be ozer in three.
Speaker 4 (20:58):
But yeah, to your point, they're not blowing teams out either,
So yeah, I thought that line was very interesting. I
need to kind of see the injury reports this week
before figuring out who I'm gonna pick. But again, Bowles
has had Jalen Hurts his numbers. It's not just last year.
You look kind of over the years, they're kind of
the one team that the Eagles have yet to figure
out here.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Interesting, let me go to Thursday night football, Seahawks at Cardinals,
Arizona loses Connor. Seattle's defense has been just absolutely balling.
That being said, I wrote down the defense. These are
the quarterbacks. They played Rock Purty in the opener, who
didn't have a yuk. I think Kittle got hurt in
that game. He was like throwing the backups. They faced
(21:39):
Aaron Rodgers, who I think is you know, kind of
washed on a top fifty. And then if it's Spencer Rattler.
So they've only given up four touchdowns in thirty one drive.
Seattle defense great, but they're facing a real offense here.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
No, I think a team that people thought they were
gonna have a real offense. I mean, I haven't been
blown away by this Cardinals offense so far this year.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
You know.
Speaker 4 (21:59):
Now last week it wasn't Kyler Murray. If guys could
catch the ball, his numbers look a lot better, and
maybe they win that game. But I don't think they've
clicked offensively, you know. I know there was a lot
of buzz around the Cardinals coming into the season.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
To me, they're just always kind of.
Speaker 4 (22:13):
Around that eight or nine win team where if they
get a little lucky, maybe they win ten. If they
get a little unlucky, maybe they win seven. So yeah,
I think the Seahawks defense is legit. I had him
as the best defense in the NFL coming into the year.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
Wow, number one, number one, I've Yeah.
Speaker 4 (22:29):
I did the rankings for the Ringer and I had
the Seahawks number one. I think they're a great blend
of talent, scheme, coaching young players, vets, and.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
I think they're legit.
Speaker 4 (22:39):
So I actually think the Cardinals are going to have
a tough time on Thursday night.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Wow, I didn't know you best in the By the way,
has anything changed dramatically? Like I thought the Broncos would
be your one. They haven't been as great, but they've
only allowed four touchdowns and thirty five drives. They face
camp Ward, Daniel Jones, and Justin Herbert. Was Denver your
number two defense?
Speaker 4 (23:03):
No, I had the Texans too, I had the Eagles three,
and I think I had the Broncos in that four
to six range along with the Ravens and another team.
But yeah, the defense hasn't been the issue for the Broncos.
You know, you look at what they're doing. Defensively, I
thought they played well last week against the Chargers, but
offensively they have not taken that leap that I think
(23:23):
some people thought they were going to take in terms
of being a Super Bowl contender.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
All right, yeah, a couple more real quick. So I
think you just said you'd like the Texans defense a
lot coming in. I gotta be honest. The offense has
been breadful. Their offensive line, we knew it would be bad,
and the rookie left tackles getting cooked. But I feel
like people just keep making excuses for CJ. Stroud because
he had such a good rookie year and he was
drafted second overall. Why can't we just call him out
(23:48):
for not being good this season at all?
Speaker 3 (23:51):
Yeah, I've been one of the people making excuses for it.
Speaker 4 (23:55):
I can't shake what I saw his rookie season, and
I thought those were bad circumstances last year. I was
bullish on him this year, but yeah, I do think
he's developed some bad habits. I don't think it's a
great situation for him. But still, if you're a great quarterback,
you can overcome bad situations. It doesn't mean you're gonna
have a top five offense, but you should be able
to reach a level of competency, and they flat out
(24:15):
had one of the worst offenses in the NFL. I mean,
you watched that game last week, Like I was wondering,
do they practice during the when you it was like
any positive play for the Texans feels like a surprise.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
I can't believe why.
Speaker 4 (24:29):
It's maybe the most frustrating offense in the NFL to
watch right now. So yeah, I don't. I want to
give him a little bit more time. But we are
going on two years like this looked bad last year.
They were disappointment. They made changes on the offensive line,
they made changes with the offensive coordinator.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
And it still looks bad this year.
Speaker 4 (24:46):
So that's an I mean, given how bad their offense is,
they're what seven and seven point favorites seven and a
half point favorites this week.
Speaker 3 (24:53):
Against the Titans.
Speaker 4 (24:54):
Where I'm going, man, Ken, you know, are they gonna
be able to score more than fourteen points in this
football game?
Speaker 2 (24:59):
That's a d kills line. But I'm done with the Texans.
Speaker 4 (25:02):
Oh no, don't bet on Brian Callahan. No, that is
rule number one of the twenty twenty five season. Do
not bank on that team to do anything.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
All right, we'll wrap up with where's this game? Chargers Giants? Okay,
So Jackson Dart's getting the start and Jesse Minter has
essentially been one of the better defensive coordinators over the
last season and a third or whatever.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
This is.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
Why on earth is Dable doing this? Do you think
he feels like, hey, man, I gotta make him Russell
Wilson's been that bad or do you think he's worried
about his job because this is a difficult spot against
a really good Chargers defense.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
Oh, of course this is to save his job.
Speaker 4 (25:40):
I mean this is his last card to play as
an NFL head coach of the Giants. I mean if
he goes six and eleven with Russell Wilson this year, like,
you're not keeping your job doing that. His only hope
is that Jackson Dart does. They don't have to win
a lot of games. Jackson Dart doesn't have to be
offensive Rookie of the Year. He needs to reach a
certain threshold where you say, hey, there's something here with
(26:02):
this Brian Dable Jackson Dart relationship and partnership and that
he just give it one more year. Let him develop
him next year and maybe you really have something. So
I think that's the card he's playing. I know the
Chargers are a tough defense. The Giants had the hardest
schedule in the NFL. Like if you're you know, you
could have waited a week, but then it's like.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
All right after that.
Speaker 4 (26:21):
I think they got the Eagles and I think they
have Denver, So it's you know, there's no time you
can put him in where you're like, Okay, he's gonna
be safe here for the next month. You just have
to scheme around it and figure out a way to
put him in position to make play. So we'll see
what it looks like. It could be ugly. There's no
doubt it could be ugly. But that was his last
card to play.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Yeah, Jim, Jim harball Man, him, him and Herbert. I
would it's early, right, it's early. I wouldn't be shocked
if they're in the AFC Championship game. Man, they're more
would you agree they're more complete than the Bills are
Ravens right now?
Speaker 3 (26:53):
More? I don't trust them more than the Bills.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
Well, I think.
Speaker 4 (26:59):
Yeah, complete, I think complete is fit complete because they
have a defense with the way they're playing right do
right now? Yes, and I think they will have a
better defense than the Bills. I think there's a chance
the Ravens once we get to November December.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
This happened last.
Speaker 4 (27:11):
Year where they got off to a slow start and
then their defense started to play really well. So Chargers
are not the most talented team and that really held
me back from picking them to do big things this
year when you just look at the offensive line, the
defensive line.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
But they've got the coach, they've got a quarterback.
Speaker 4 (27:28):
Who's playing really well, and then a guy like Quentin Johnson,
Like I was worried about their pass catching unit, and
he's sixth in the NFL and received in yards.
Speaker 3 (27:36):
I can't believe it. I mean, Herbert trusts him.
Speaker 4 (27:37):
He's stilling sixth in the entire NFL through three weeks,
So I think they got something there. Yeah, They've been
a pleasant surprise through three weeks. There's no doubt about it.
Speaker 2 (27:45):
All right, Choll Capatia the Ringer, great stuff as always,
continued success on the podcast.
Speaker 3 (27:50):
My man, all right, thanks for having me. Talk to
you soon.
This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
What is up, Drake Fire Fayan, It's me Jason McIntyre,
Straight Boyer for Thursday sip Demmr twenty fith got a
great guest on today's podcast, Bounce It Back to the
NFL Shale Capatia. He moved from the Athletic over to
the Ringer. He's podcasting there. He's got some interesting insights
on the league. We talk gambling. He is an Eagles guy.
(00:33):
I you know, I know the Eagles are flying high.
Ha ha three to zero. I've got some concerns. I mean,
if you want to really drill down and look at
Saquon Barkley, what he's done, it's like three yards in
a clotter of dust. And he addresses some of the
offensive line issues. But this defense is like really historically great.
So we talk a little. We cover many of the
games for what should be a good week for in
(00:55):
the NFL. Obviously, you know there is one game better
than all Oh, we get the Dublin game to start Sunday.
Eagles Bucks is a battle of two three and zero teams.
I think Colts Rams could be a sneaky good game. Oh,
the Marquee game obviously Ravens Chiefs at that's the afternoon
slate over on CBS. The loser of that one's kind
(01:17):
of up Shit's Creek. And then a Sunday Night football
Packers Cowboys. Oh listen, I'm not gonna lie, guys. I
loaded up, loaded up on the Packers, and I'm ready
to get kicked in the teeth. Two games Monday night.
But the quarterbacks are possibly Tyrod Taylor definitely to uh,
Jake Browning and Boonix Bonicks, the lowest graded quarterback in
(01:39):
the league according to Pro Football Focus. At any rate,
our guest to Cheekpati.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
He's great, real quick.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
I don't have any money yet. On Seattle Arizona. The
line has flipped opened Arizona minus one, one and a half.
And then I don't know whether it was the James
Connor injury, whether it was you know, the market and
public better is gravitating towards Seattle after the smashing Spencer Rattler,
(02:06):
but now Seattle is favored by one and a half
on the road. I don't think you could take too
much from Thursday night football unless it's a first time
coach situation. Right, So if you look at the games
the underdog covered in the opener. Then you had green
Bay pretty handily takedown Washington game that was really never
(02:27):
in doubt, and then last week you had Miami hang
around in a divisional matchup. And these divisional matchups are
always close. But under three, I don't know that there's
anything here. I would kind of sort of lean to
the under forty three and a half. But I don't know.
Is the Arizona defense that good. They showed out against
San Francisco last week in holding them to fifteen points,
(02:49):
but it was Mac Jones. You know he's a backup,
and I know Sam Darnold doesn't terrify anyone. Last year,
these two teams played in November teen six, okay, sixteen
six Seattle. Then they played again and Seattle won thirty
to eighteen in kind of a wacky game.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
There were.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
What happened in that one. I'm just glancing at the
box score. Yeah, Arizona had a couple bad turnovers. Kyler Murray,
by the way, Kyler Murray played two games against Seattle
last year and was, as the kids like to say, cheeks.
He had two of his worst games of the season.
I mean, they just put Zach Sharbinig in the backfield
last year and he went for one hundred and thirty
four yards in another meeting. So I would look under,
(03:38):
and if you asked me for a side, I gotta
go Seattle again. I don't think they need to do
much given the spectacular defense that they have. And I
mean I got Trey Benson in fantasy because I handcuffed
what's his connor who's out for the season. But I
think the Seattle d you know, they're getting pressure without blitzing,
(03:58):
and that means you're able to load up on Trey McBride.
I think it's a good matchup for Julian Love. Trey
McBride an eleaked tight end, but love the kid out
of Notre Dame. He's really good. The corners are good.
I don't think you gotta worry. I mean, I think
you can kind of sort of spy Kyler Murray and
and uh, you know, I don't know that Trey Benson
terrifies him in the run game. He's good. But I
(04:20):
would lean Seattle, but I think the under is probably
my best play. All right, without further ado, let's get
to our guest, Shale Capatia of the Ringer.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to
listen live. You know, Jason likes to think he knows
everything when it comes to sports.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
I know what sports fans want.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
But for everything he doesn't. He knows a guy who does.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Let's just say, I know a guy who knows the
guy who knows another guy. All right, let's welcome back
to straight fire, familiar face. Man. He's one of the
great NFL podcasters out there. He wasn't the athletic. He's
now at the Ringer Shale, capatis Shale. How you doing, Man?
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Doing well? Man? Good to see, Uh, yeah, it's you know.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
I wish we were talking on better terms. I'm coming
off a week where I just got obliterated with picks.
I thought the Titans would bounce back. I was on
a lot of oho and two teams to bounce back,
and it just didn't happen. We're starting to see kind
of a hollowing of the middle class. But I don't
even know if the upper tier teams have good I'm
just curious your thoughts macro around the league after three
(05:31):
weeks where we've seen some chaos.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Yeah, it's always tough for early in this season, those
first two or three weeks. You try not to take
a beating with your with your picks there. You're trying
to figure some stuff out. You're trying not to move
off of a lot of your preseason predictions.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
But you know, I think, for the most part, the teams.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
That I thought could compete or win the Super Bowl
before the season, those six to eight teams Baltimore, KC,
Buffalo in the AFC, and then in the NFC Detroit, Bay, Philadelphia.
We could maybe throw a couple other teams in there.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
I think those teams are still there.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
You know, they haven't all had great starts, but I
feel like it's still early. Remind myself that there's a
lot of football to be played, and those are the
teams that still have those high ceilings.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
I want to start with the Indianapolis Colts. And I
know I'm doing that because nobody's asking you about the Colts.
I'm sure. Initially I was like, Okay, this is a
fun story. I've lost money on them. The last two weeks.
I had the Broncos. I'll stand by the Broncos should
have won that game. And then I had the Titans,
and I'm like, not a believer. I saw some numbers
about the Colts being not only just three and oh,
(06:34):
but three and oh against the spread, a big scoring margin.
Historically teams to start like this, they're in the playoffs
eighteen of the last twenty two times that fit the
Colts profile. I did not see this coming. Daniel Jones
looks like a new quarterback. Your thoughts on the Colts.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
Yeah, no, I was making fun of them all summer,
saying this organization doesn't know what they're doing. They're banking
on Daniel Jones. They paid him fourteen million dollars. The
guy was a disaster with the Giants, and I gotta
give him credit.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
I'm with you.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
I saw it in week one and I go, all right,
do it again. And then I saw it in week
two and I go all right, do it again, and
they've done it three weeks in a row. Now it's
three weeks. Let's see. Daniel Jones has had durability issues
in the past, but I think Shane Steichen has done
an awesome job scheming up that offense, catering it to
fit Daniel Jones's skill set, and they've been the best
offense in the NFL statistically, and I had them as
(07:25):
like a bottom five offense going into the season again,
just going on Daniel Jones's track record, So I want
to see more. But yeah, if you ask me right now,
do I think they're gonna make the playoffs? I think
I would say yes, give me the way that rest
of the division looks well.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Also, the Borough injury.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
And listen, I know everybody loves the Chiefs. They could
be one in three after this week. And I don't
know about you, Schelle, I'm sick of this. Hey, just
wait wait until zavier' worthy gets back. We're gonna be fine,
like za if you're Worthy. Really, So, the AFC feels
even Baltimore is flawed defensively, I don't know about the AFC.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
Man, Yeah, they're vulnerable. All these teams are vulnerable. The
Bills are the favorites to three and zero. They've got
the easiest schedule the rest of the way of any
team in the NFL, so they are in a nice
spot here to.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
If they can just take care of business.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
Now, there's a long way to go, But they're in
the driver's seat for the one seed. You know, the Chiefs. Still,
to me, it's like, I'm not gonna say they're gonna
win the Super Bowl. They are a flawed team. I
don't like watching their offense. I didn't like watching it
last year. I didn't think their offseason moves were really
gonna work out.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
But they still have a high floor.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
Like I still they're gonna be in the yes mayor
the end in the playoffs, I would say yes. Do
they have a chance to win the AFC West, I
would say yes, like they've been in all these games.
They've been one score games that they're two losses against
the Chargers and the Eagles, who, by the way, both
look like pretty good teams right now. So I'm with you,
Xavier Worthy is not gonna save the day. But if
you say Rashi Rice Xavier Worthy rookie O lineman gets better, Like,
(08:55):
I'm not ruling out the possibility that we're in December
going all right, this happens every single freaking year with
the Chiefs, and they're right in the mix with these
other AFC teams.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Well, it's funny eleven to zero in one score games
last year, and I believe they're zero to two already
this year. Sure, I know how that flips year to year.
Let me ask it feels like and I looked at
the quarterbacks. You know, sometimes you'll just look at the
quarterback stats.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Every week.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
We had like, I don't know, nine or ten quarterbacks
go for under two hundred yards this past week, and
there's some numbers that the offensive yards per game are down.
I don't know if it has to do with the
kickoffs or defenses have just caught up with these passing games.
Do you have any theories as to why the offenses
kind of don't look great early in the season.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
Yeah, I don't know specifically for this year, but this
has been sort of a two to three year long
trend where defenses are playing with two safeties back and
they're saying, let's make these offense, well, let's limit explosive
plays basically at all costs. So if you want to
run the ball, go ahead and run the ball. If
you want to complete passes underneath, go ahead and complete
passes underneath. But we're going to bank on the fact
(09:56):
that at some point in a nine or ten play drive,
most of you are not good enough to be flawless
and avoid that penalty or avoid that sack, or avoid
that turnover or that drop pass.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
So that's been a.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
Defensive philosophy that's got to take it over the league.
I'm kind of annoyed by it. Honestly, it's like, this
is not fun to watch with Josh Allen. I mean
that game last week, his average pass. I forget how
far it went. But it's like, Josh Allen's one of
the most talented quarterbacks we've ever seen. I would like
to see him chuck the football downfield, but to his credit,
he's taking what the defense gives him. So yeah, I
(10:27):
think that's certainly part of it. But as the NFL,
everything's cyclical, you know, it'll go back and forth. We
might be having a conversation next year at this time saying, man,
the offenses are just chucking it downfield and offenses back baby.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
So it's a small sample, so let's see what it
looks like at the end of the year.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
All right, let me ask a couple specific teams. So
the Lions going Monday night football Island game and kind
of I thought they destroyed the Rats. It was up
and down the field for down conversions.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
They were perfect.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
They look like the better team. They're now laying ten
at home against the Browns, even though the Browns just
beat the Packers. But I don't know, I kind of
want to lay it with the Lions here. They're at home,
Cleveland off a big win, but it was kind of fugazi.
Their touchdown drive was four yards and I think the
game when you feel go, they went like fifteen yards.
So they didn't do much and it almost feels like
(11:16):
the Lions maybe are not dropping off as much as
everybody thought.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
Yeah, that was the most impressive win by any team
this season in my opinion, the Lions on Monday night.
I mean, they looked incredible.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
I'm with you.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
There was nothing fluky about that. They looked like the
better team. They it was a statement game. Everyone's talking
about how our coordinators left and we're not the same team. Well, look,
we are the same team and we're going to be
in the mix.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
So tenpoint.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
That's a stay away for me because Cleveland's defense, I
think is legit.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
Now.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
The Browns have had some weird splits over the past
few years here where they're much better defensively at home
than they are on the road, So I'm with you.
If I had to pick a side, I would go
with Detroit because I think the Browns offense is not
good and I feel like the Lions most weeks can
score on anybody. But to me a number that big
against the defense that I do think has some talent.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
I would probably stay away.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
This is an ugly one, but I'm gonna bring it
up because Ray Bowl is kind of off to a
rocky start, and I know he's got to purge a
lot of the nonsense. They've been dumping recent draft picks
left and right. But the Patriots are somehow laying five
and a half the Patriots against the Panthers. Panthers coming
off their big win over the Falcons, I guess people
are seeing regression coming. I gotta be honest. I like
Drake may a lot. I don't know what's going on
(12:30):
with that team. They just make a lot of mental mistakes.
It feels like I.
Speaker 4 (12:34):
Was thinking the same thing, like if if you didn't
know that Mike Rabel took over for Drowd Mayo, you'd
be like, oh man, this jiwd Mayo coach team. Honestly,
the way they're playing, I mean they're making a lot
of mistakes. They outplayed the Steelers last week, you know
that entire game, and if you look at a lot
of the advanced numbers, they're pretty favorable on Drake May
just like down to down.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
Is the offense working?
Speaker 4 (12:55):
Yes, the offense is working, but it doesn't matter if
you're turning the football over, if you're fumbled it. If
you're making kind of one or two plays each half,
that leaves you scratching your head. So I get the
number because the Panthers looked like the worst team in
the NFL through two weeks and then they played well
last week, so you don't know what to make of them.
I do think the Patriots are the better team, and
(13:17):
I do think they're gonna have one of these weeks
in the next two three weeks where it's like, Okay,
they avoided the mistakes and they actually are interesting. Maybe
a sleeper wild card team in the AFC.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Well, it's interesting you say a wildcard team in the
AFC because the AFC feels down. I mean, jet stink,
dolphin stink. You go down the list, there's this. I
think six teams are above five hundred in the AFC.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Wow, is that what?
Speaker 1 (13:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Even coming into the season, it was I was looking
at the Patriots and Raiders, going, let's find a sleeper
here in the AFC to sneak in.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
So Patriots should get Christian Gonzales backs soon in their
number one corner again.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
And I have actually been encouraged with what I've seen
from them offensively so far.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
This now, you never want to overreact, but sometimes you
get the underreact on the Rams. So no, I haven't
heard anybody say this. They beat the Texans, who are winless, right,
and then they beat the Titans, who are winless, and
then they gagged away a huge lead against the Eagles.
I how good are the Rams? Shall?
Speaker 3 (14:20):
I think their offense is pretty good?
Speaker 2 (14:22):
You know.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
I just I do the Ringers Philly Special.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
And so I watched the Eagles film every week, and
that Rams offense is schemed up like McVeigh is in
his bag as an offensive schemer right now. And Stafford
is not the same guy he was two years ago.
It's a lot of play action, but guys are getting open,
they're running the football well Stafford. You know, I feel
like no one busts to criticized Stafford. He missed some
throws on third down last week that could have flipped
(14:45):
that game.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
And then what always makes me nervous about McVeigh and
you saw it rear ats ugly head.
Speaker 4 (14:49):
Last week, is that his game management man, he is conservative.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
He doesn't follow the analytics. He turtles.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
I mean, he had four or five times in that
game he could have gone for it on a fourth
and two, on a fourth and three, he could have
gone for a touchdown at the end of the first half.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
And it just kind of boggles my mind that a
guy was so good at the hard parts.
Speaker 4 (15:09):
Of coaching and has that mentality like let's be a great,
then when it comes to making those decisions in game,
he's let's be conservative, and they start thinking about the
worst case scenario. So that makes me a little bit
nervous with the Rams, But I do see their ceiling.
I don't know that Stafford's gonna be able to do
it for seventeen games, but if you just said, like
this weekend, I think they could play with almost any
(15:29):
team in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to
listen live.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
NFC is a little tougher because it feels like a
lot of teams are good. You know, Packers, obviously the Eagles.
Let me drill down on the Eagles with you, because
you are a Philly guy, you know them as well
as anybody. I'm just gonna skip over all the positive
stuff because we know that a few negatives. We'll start
with Saquon Barkley, who we knew he had a heavy
workload last year. I haven't seen the pop in the
(16:05):
juice that I saw last year. I think he's at
like three point three yards per carry. Your early thoughts
on Saquon and do they need to supplement him with
a little more Tank Bigsby or whoever.
Speaker 4 (16:18):
Yeah, I actually think it's been Their offensive line is
not as good as it was last year, and so
it goes back to that question, you know, running back
versus situation versus offensive line. Saquon Barkley last year looked
like a different guy than Saquon Barkley. With the Giants
and the interior of the Eagles offensive line, they're dealing
with some injuries.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
I honestly, there haven't been.
Speaker 4 (16:38):
A lot of plays where you go, oh, he had space,
and he didn't have the juice to create an explosive there.
It's kind of been the opposite where it's like there's
not a lot there, and you know, he turns kind
of nothing into something a little bit. So I want
to see a bigger sample. I hear what you're saying,
and it's certainly a concern for them. Where it's like
when you have what four hundred and eighty two whatever
it was last year including the playoffs, it was a
(16:59):
crazy number of touches that running backs rarely come back
from that and are like the same guy the next year.
But I haven't seen anything with my eyes that tell me, hey,
he doesn't look like the same guy.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
I purposely didn't draft him, told my son not to
draft him in fantasy. I just don't have a great
feeling about that. But that being said, their defense is
so good. My old neighbor I was talking to him
last night and he's like an Eagles guy through and through.
They have like an Eagles flag outside their house. He's like,
we're nineteen and one in the last twenty games, and
the loss was when Jalen Hurts got hurt and had
(17:33):
to leave. Why are people not calling this like a
historically great defense, and I'm like, you know, he's got
to put I mean, Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter in
the middle is like Chicago Bears nineteen eighty five stuff.
Speaker 4 (17:43):
Yeah, no, they I think it's seventeen in a row
when Jalen Hurts has started and finished a game, which
is like it's craygy. I tell Eagles fans, I'm like,
you'll never see a stretch like this again in your life.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
I don't care how long you live.
Speaker 4 (17:54):
But yeah, defensively, they are good, you know, and it's
been a different team than last year because they lost
a lot of guys in free agency. But Jordan Davis,
you identified, he looks like a different guy this year.
He's playing more snaps, he's been more impactful. And so
they've got some injuries there where they're gonna have to
sort through it. They're not great at their second corner spot,
but these are first world problems for the team. You
(18:15):
still look at their roster and their depth chart and
it's like, all right, they're gonna win.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
A lot of games this year, So let me ask.
So the second corner slot is kind of a weakness.
This week's matchup against the Bucks. No Mike Evans and
it's basically no Godwin yet no Jaalen McMillan is therefore
he's out, so it's basically abuca. Do the Eagles play enough?
Will they scheme up defensively where they just have I
(18:40):
don't know Cooper Dejen follow Abuka, would that you know anything?
Speaker 4 (18:44):
It kind of depends where he lines up. If he's
in the slot, you know he'll get Degene. If he's
on the outside. Quinon Mitchell is their number one corner
who he played really well last week. He followed DeVante
Adams a little bit. But they play a lot of
zone coverage, so it's not like, hey, you know, just
follow this guy and you're covering him the entire time.
It's more just all right, let's get him on that
player's side. So they're gonna have a tough time, you know.
(19:05):
Baker Mayfield and the Bucks last year really played well
against this Vic Fangio defense. Now it was the first
month of the season, they didn't have all their guys,
but still it was one of the most impressive performances
by an opposing offense against the Eagles in the last
two years. So it's one of those where the Bucks
have injuries on the offensive line. Eagles have some injuries defensively.
(19:26):
You know, Todd Bowles has had Jalen Hurts his number
over the years, so it's it's an interesting matchup for sure.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
I still remember that playoff game. Oh my gosh, that
was bad. But it's interesting you mentioned that because I
think didn't Philly get smacked around by Tampa last year?
Speaker 3 (19:40):
They did.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
AJ Brown missed the game four.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
Yeah, they didn't have AJ Brown, they didn't have DeVante Smith,
they didn't have any so they were really banged up
in that game. But still, you know, Tampa did play
really well in Tampa this year. You know, they'll make
some mistakes offensively, but they are able to like create
a sixteen yard completion. It feels like almost any time
they want. I mean, you know how Baker Mayfield's gonna play.
He's gonna be aggressive throwing the football. And I've been
(20:04):
impressive that they haven't had that drop off offensively, even
though they switched offensive coordinators.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
So you know, you can only dance between the rain
drops forever, right, I Mean, they've won essentially three games
with game winning drives in the final two minutes, you know,
and then the Falcons kicker misses, they could easily be
oer and three, and I know you can play that
game a lot. The Eagles being minus three and a
half tells me a lot on this one. I think
the Eagles get big time revenge here and if they
(20:32):
could win by twenty, That's what I kind of feel
in this one. But the Eagles haven't. They don't usually destroy.
Speaker 4 (20:38):
People like that, right, They've won three one score games themselves.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
You know, they're kind of like the Chiefs the last
year in some ways. The Eagles.
Speaker 4 (20:45):
You know, they win that game last week on the
last second field goal block, and the Cowboys game in
week one, Ceedee lamb is dropping passes. In week two,
Travis Kelsey's dropping that pass in the end zone.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
So not that they could be ozer in three.
Speaker 4 (20:58):
But yeah, to your point, they're not blowing teams out either,
So yeah, I thought that line was very interesting. I
need to kind of see the injury reports this week
before figuring out who I'm gonna pick. But again, Bowles
has had Jalen Hurts his numbers. It's not just last year.
You look kind of over the years, they're kind of
the one team that the Eagles have yet to figure
out here.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Interesting, let me go to Thursday night football, Seahawks at Cardinals,
Arizona loses Connor. Seattle's defense has been just absolutely balling.
That being said, I wrote down the defense. These are
the quarterbacks. They played Rock Purty in the opener, who
didn't have a yuk. I think Kittle got hurt in
that game. He was like throwing the backups. They faced
(21:39):
Aaron Rodgers, who I think is you know, kind of
washed on a top fifty. And then if it's Spencer Rattler.
So they've only given up four touchdowns in thirty one drive.
Seattle defense great, but they're facing a real offense here.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
No, I think a team that people thought they were
gonna have a real offense. I mean, I haven't been
blown away by this Cardinals offense so far this year.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
You know.
Speaker 4 (21:59):
Now last week it wasn't Kyler Murray. If guys could
catch the ball, his numbers look a lot better, and
maybe they win that game. But I don't think they've
clicked offensively, you know. I know there was a lot
of buzz around the Cardinals coming into the season.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
To me, they're just always kind of.
Speaker 4 (22:13):
Around that eight or nine win team where if they
get a little lucky, maybe they win ten. If they
get a little unlucky, maybe they win seven. So yeah,
I think the Seahawks defense is legit. I had him
as the best defense in the NFL coming into the year.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
Wow, number one, number one, I've Yeah.
Speaker 4 (22:29):
I did the rankings for the Ringer and I had
the Seahawks number one. I think they're a great blend
of talent, scheme, coaching young players, vets, and.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
I think they're legit.
Speaker 4 (22:39):
So I actually think the Cardinals are going to have
a tough time on Thursday night.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Wow, I didn't know you best in the By the way,
has anything changed dramatically? Like I thought the Broncos would
be your one. They haven't been as great, but they've
only allowed four touchdowns and thirty five drives. They face
camp Ward, Daniel Jones, and Justin Herbert. Was Denver your
number two defense?
Speaker 4 (23:03):
No, I had the Texans too, I had the Eagles three,
and I think I had the Broncos in that four
to six range along with the Ravens and another team.
But yeah, the defense hasn't been the issue for the Broncos.
You know, you look at what they're doing. Defensively, I
thought they played well last week against the Chargers, but
offensively they have not taken that leap that I think
(23:23):
some people thought they were going to take in terms
of being a Super Bowl contender.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
All right, yeah, a couple more real quick. So I
think you just said you'd like the Texans defense a
lot coming in. I gotta be honest. The offense has
been breadful. Their offensive line, we knew it would be bad,
and the rookie left tackles getting cooked. But I feel
like people just keep making excuses for CJ. Stroud because
he had such a good rookie year and he was
drafted second overall. Why can't we just call him out
(23:48):
for not being good this season at all?
Speaker 3 (23:51):
Yeah, I've been one of the people making excuses for it.
Speaker 4 (23:55):
I can't shake what I saw his rookie season, and
I thought those were bad circumstances last year. I was
bullish on him this year, but yeah, I do think
he's developed some bad habits. I don't think it's a
great situation for him. But still, if you're a great quarterback,
you can overcome bad situations. It doesn't mean you're gonna
have a top five offense, but you should be able
to reach a level of competency, and they flat out
(24:15):
had one of the worst offenses in the NFL. I mean,
you watched that game last week, Like I was wondering,
do they practice during the when you it was like
any positive play for the Texans feels like a surprise.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
I can't believe why.
Speaker 4 (24:29):
It's maybe the most frustrating offense in the NFL to
watch right now. So yeah, I don't. I want to
give him a little bit more time. But we are
going on two years like this looked bad last year.
They were disappointment. They made changes on the offensive line,
they made changes with the offensive coordinator.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
And it still looks bad this year.
Speaker 4 (24:46):
So that's an I mean, given how bad their offense is,
they're what seven and seven point favorites seven and a
half point favorites this week.
Speaker 3 (24:53):
Against the Titans.
Speaker 4 (24:54):
Where I'm going, man, Ken, you know, are they gonna
be able to score more than fourteen points in this
football game?
Speaker 2 (24:59):
That's a d kills line. But I'm done with the Texans.
Speaker 4 (25:02):
Oh no, don't bet on Brian Callahan. No, that is
rule number one of the twenty twenty five season. Do
not bank on that team to do anything.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
All right, we'll wrap up with where's this game? Chargers Giants? Okay,
So Jackson Dart's getting the start and Jesse Minter has
essentially been one of the better defensive coordinators over the
last season and a third or whatever.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
This is.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
Why on earth is Dable doing this? Do you think
he feels like, hey, man, I gotta make him Russell
Wilson's been that bad or do you think he's worried
about his job because this is a difficult spot against
a really good Chargers defense.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
Oh, of course this is to save his job.
Speaker 4 (25:40):
I mean this is his last card to play as
an NFL head coach of the Giants. I mean if
he goes six and eleven with Russell Wilson this year, like,
you're not keeping your job doing that. His only hope
is that Jackson Dart does. They don't have to win
a lot of games. Jackson Dart doesn't have to be
offensive Rookie of the Year. He needs to reach a
certain threshold where you say, hey, there's something here with
(26:02):
this Brian Dable Jackson Dart relationship and partnership and that
he just give it one more year. Let him develop
him next year and maybe you really have something. So
I think that's the card he's playing. I know the
Chargers are a tough defense. The Giants had the hardest
schedule in the NFL. Like if you're you know, you
could have waited a week, but then it's like.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
All right after that.
Speaker 4 (26:21):
I think they got the Eagles and I think they
have Denver, So it's you know, there's no time you
can put him in where you're like, Okay, he's gonna
be safe here for the next month. You just have
to scheme around it and figure out a way to
put him in position to make play. So we'll see
what it looks like. It could be ugly. There's no
doubt it could be ugly. But that was his last
card to play.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Yeah, Jim, Jim harball Man, him, him and Herbert. I
would it's early, right, it's early. I wouldn't be shocked
if they're in the AFC Championship game. Man, they're more
would you agree they're more complete than the Bills are
Ravens right now?
Speaker 3 (26:53):
More? I don't trust them more than the Bills.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
Well, I think.
Speaker 4 (26:59):
Yeah, complete, I think complete is fit complete because they
have a defense with the way they're playing right do
right now? Yes, and I think they will have a
better defense than the Bills. I think there's a chance
the Ravens once we get to November December.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
This happened last.
Speaker 4 (27:11):
Year where they got off to a slow start and
then their defense started to play really well. So Chargers
are not the most talented team and that really held
me back from picking them to do big things this
year when you just look at the offensive line, the
defensive line.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
But they've got the coach, they've got a quarterback.
Speaker 4 (27:28):
Who's playing really well, and then a guy like Quentin Johnson,
Like I was worried about their pass catching unit, and
he's sixth in the NFL and received in yards.
Speaker 3 (27:36):
I can't believe it. I mean, Herbert trusts him.
Speaker 4 (27:37):
He's stilling sixth in the entire NFL through three weeks,
So I think they got something there. Yeah, They've been
a pleasant surprise through three weeks. There's no doubt about it.
Speaker 2 (27:45):
All right, Choll Capatia the Ringer, great stuff as always,
continued success on the podcast.
Speaker 3 (27:50):
My man, all right, thanks for having me. Talk to
you soon.
Fox Sports Radio News
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Jonas Knox
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