September 6, 2025 • 19 mins
Colin gives his final Herd Hierarchy before the NFL season officially kicks off and why the Chiefs are no longer a top 3 team
He gives his NFL predictions before the start of the season
Colin shares his best bets for week 1 of the NFL season including Steelers v Jets and Lions v Packers
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Oh well, committed to Tuesday football is back?
Speaker 3 (00:29):
We are back and are set. Listen.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
I don't talk about sets much, okay, or graphics, but uh,
the people that run this network to make big decisions
and you know, take town cars to work.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
They have done a good.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Job with our sets, our design and our graphics. And
so you'll see some flares out there and some cool
stuff and we appreciate the effort. You know, if the
host gets older, you know you need help. I need support.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
My back's hurting from cherry.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Com lit backs hurting from all that golfs. You can
tell what's happening to this show, Nick right in a
couple of minutes.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
So here we go.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
This is our last heard hierarchy going into the season. Listen,
the hardest part of this hierarchy was not the top.
It was who do I put ten to eleven twelve.
I got to watch the first couple of weekends.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
So here we go.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Heard hierarchy. I'm now go the top ten NFL teams
according to College.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Number ten, I'm gonna put Detroit in there. They've got
two new coordinators, they lost two offensive linemen. The strength
of their team. They get Aiden Hutchison back. I think
their division is better this team last year. You know
you're talking fourteen to fifteen wins. I think it's major pullback.
They are so good upstairs. They've built a really cool culture.
(01:54):
I've always liked Jared Goff more than the rest of
the media gallery. But I don't think this team wins
their division, and I think losing elite coordinators go as
Philadelphia can get ugly fast.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
I have them at ten.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Number nine, I'll put the Rams, although I think Houston
is a dangerous opener with Will Anderson, the Rams left
tackle just started practicing this week, and I mean, anybody
spotted Matt Stafford in LA.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
I think it's a dangerous opener.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
But I think they have the second best coach in
the league, and when Stafford has time to throw with
this young defense, they'll win games.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
This is amazing.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
They were the young They played more rookies than anybody
in the NFL last year, and yet we're.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
The least penalized team.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
They're a completely buttoned up organization, but left tackle and
quarterback is a lot of question marks, and Houston is
a scary opener with their pass rush. Number eight the Packers.
Let me ask you, is Jordan Love good? I don't know,
but I.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Like the culture. I like the team.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
They were actually last year one in five in division,
which is rare for them, so I think they'll improve.
There were ten and one against everybody else. Jordan Loves
starts the season slow, so that's a real thing. Joe
Burrow's done the same thing. Reasons I don't know. Again,
I thought they went out and got a number one
ride receiver. The Mica trade is absolutely worth a win.
(03:20):
I don't know if it's worth two. But they won
eleven games last year and we're banged up at quarterback.
Just out of respect for the organization and the coach,
I think the Mica trade works for them. I think
they win the division. Number seven Commanders are good. I
wonder if they're great. They have five primetime games. They're
the oldest team in the league.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Did you know that?
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Looked it up this morning. Older players do not like
primetime games. The Chiefs are used to it, but it
can be disruptive. Also, Jadeen Daniels and the Commanders scored
on fifty percent of their drives. I'm gonna go with
that's not going to happen again. The Deebo Samuel Chess
piece is really interesting, but I have them at seven.
(04:01):
I'm higher on the Seahawks than everybody else. At five
to one. They're the best bet to win a division.
And here's my thing. Second year, with a really bright
young coach, upgrade at coordinator and quarterback, they will be
more run specific. Gray's Abel has been a big pickup.
He had a great preseason. They could not run the
football last year. They will be a run first team.
(04:22):
They'll miss some big plays with DK Metcalf, absolutely, but
I gotta tell you, I don't think there's a better
personnel guy in the league than John Snyder. Their last
three drafts not a lot of misses, and I love
this draft. I have the Seahawks at six, number five,
But are they Kansas City? No. I think this is
where the gap happens. The final five teams. Listen, Kansas
(04:45):
City was twelve to zero one score games. That's not
going to happen. But Andy Reid and Mahomes are, you know,
the best at what they do in this sport, which
is leaning offense. But the problem is that Rashi Rice
six game suspension. I feel like they've been bailing water
at wider receiver for three years and it's worked. But
you know, let's be honest about that. Guess who was
(05:06):
closer to his prime Travis Kelce. So they're going to
be good. They have the best defensive coordinator, the best coach,
the best quarterback. The division is a handful, but I
think they'll be a playoff team. But they got They
were so good in one score games, and I think
the Raiders, the Broncos, and the Chargers are all going
to be a step better.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Number four Denver.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
I think it's universally understood that bow Knicks is a
hit and will only get better. This is the team
last year that was very good but not great in
one score games. Now Breeze and Peyton were great in
one score game, so boone Nicks is not going to
be one in six and one score games. They also
went out and got real players the fun get safety, Green,
(05:50):
bought linebacker greenlot linebacker Evan Ingram at tight end. They
went and got productive veterans who will make an impact immediately.
They didn't just go to the transfer portal and get
rotational guys. They want and got productive stars in this league.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
I have Denver at.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Four, number three.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
You know, Lamar Jackson seven years, won seventy eight games,
and every game they lose is either against a playoff
team or it's close. I know, I know they don't
win in the postseason. It's a fair criticism, but I'm
I think structurally, like Kansas City, I don't see holes
in the organization. Number one rushing defense, number one rushing offense.
(06:32):
Everybody else says it's a passing league. Baltimore's like, yeah,
we can do that. But I have them at three,
number two. Listen, well, they've beaten the Chiefs in the
regular season, just not the postseason. I like Buffalo, James
Cooks got his deal signed, they got all their early
draft picks. They went with defense, and that's what they
(06:52):
should have done. Listen, I think Josh Allen is the
most talented football player in the world. His strength movement.
I don't think there's anything quite like it. He doesn't
have Mahomes as hardware, but he doesn't have Mahomes as coach.
Joey Bosa that's like under the radar. Still a good player,
(07:13):
but the Chargers didn't want to pay play for two
rush ends.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
So I just think they're lined up to get to
a super Bowl.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Number one, best overall roster composition in the league. Don't
love their head coach, but what do you want me
to say? In the trenches O line and D line,
they nailed two early round corners. I think they have
the most players in the NFL, either in their prime
or close to their prime. I can't find a hole
(07:41):
on the team outside of I don't always love the
personality of the head coach, but for a team that
just blew out the Chiefs, they were kind of strangely
under the radar, So I have them at number one.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
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Mean a lot to have you joined us on our
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Speaker 2 (08:08):
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Speaker 2 (08:21):
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Speaker 1 (08:28):
Okay we start. Here's my predictions for this year. We
start in the AFC, an easier conference to predict because
the top quarterbacks are so good. In the AFC East,
I'm going Josh Allen and the Bills, Patriots' most improved
team get in as a wild card team. Maybe not
good enough to win a playoff game, but coach and
rosters much better. Dolphins third, I'm going with that just
(08:51):
because of Tua and an offensive coach. I think the
Jets roster is good. I don't know what Aaron Glenn is.
They just lost their best or second best offensive lineman.
I'm staying put with that one. AFC North again, I
think it's fairly predictable. Ravens arguably best operation in the
sport With Lamar, I'll go with the quarterback and Joe
Burrow next, although, like J. Mack, I worry about how
(09:12):
they start and their offensive line. Aaron and the Steelers
will be around five hundred or a game above or below,
and the Browns are in a rebuild. I love their
coaching GM. I like Joe Flacco, Miles Garrett's amazing, but
they're fourth AFC South. I'm just gonna go with what
I know. Demiko Ryans hell of a coach, and I
like c J. Stroud.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Rebuilding the old line worries me. CJ.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Stroud's a gamer. Step back a little last year, but
it wasn't his fault. He couldn't keep wide receivers healthy.
Jaguar second, I'm like J.
Speaker 5 (09:41):
Mack.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
I like them, but I never love them. Titans.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
Third, Coles don't know what quarterback they're gonna use. That's scary.
Their fourth, well, they do know what quarterback, and it's
not a great one. AFC West, I think it's very difficult.
I think you have four really good teams. I think
the Broncos have the best roster. Kansas City, Reid and Mahomes.
Once again, I don't know a rookie left tackle. Joe
Tooney's gone, worries me also wide receiving Corps, no Rashi Rice, Travis,
(10:07):
Kelsey getting old. I think the Broncos will look very
clearly early in the season like a Super Bowl contender.
Chargers losing Rashawn Slater, the left tackle worries me greatly.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
Joe Alt moves over.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
But now they've got a right tackle issue, and the
Raiders will be the best, best fourth place team in
the division. So Bill's Ravens, Texans, Broncos are the division winners.
Patriots Bengals, Chiefs are wild card teams. New England Bengals
are both new playoff teams. NFC again, I think it's
pretty static. Eagles, Commanders, Giants, Cowboys. I actually have said this.
(10:43):
If the Giants get B to B plus quarterback play,
they're gonna shock some people. They're gonna They're gonna go
toe to toe with Washington. But I don't know if
Jackson Dart's ready, if Russell Wilson falters. But I do
like the Giants roster. I love Abdull Harder in their
defensive front. It's nothing but dogs up front. I think
(11:05):
in the NFC North again, I'm just gonna kind of
roll with the quietest offseason. The Green Bay Packers young still,
but I like their first pick, another wide receiver for
Jordan Love. Lions have two new coordinators, but I love
almost everything else about the organization. Bears, Vikings all know
(11:25):
a lot more after Monday Night, third and fourth, respectively.
NFC South is not a very good division. The Sainte stink.
I'm not sure the Bucks are as good as a
lot of the NFL execs and betters think. But I
trust Baker, I trust the GM, I trust the roster.
Atlanta is weird. I've spent more money on the Falcons
(11:46):
losing bets. I don't know what Atlanta is. I'll just
wait till Thanksgiving. Panthers are better than people think. I'll
put them third, Saints fourth NFC West. Here's my big change, Rams.
I'm going to have them winning the division again. Bottom
line is they won the division last year. Despite starting
one to four, they still won their division. No team
played more rookies last year, and their defense the last
(12:08):
month of the season was second best. With all those rookies,
it was second best scoring defense in the NFL last month.
It'll be better. It's had a great camp. Seattle the
reason I moved them from first to second. They have
the cheapest offense in the NFL. They don't have a
number one receiver. Gray Zabel is a potential impact offensive lineman,
(12:29):
but their online last year stunk, so I don't think
they have the firepower again. I think Seahawks could win
nine games. I think the Niners could win nine and
Seahawks win the tiebreaker. I don't think there's a big
gap in this division between the Rams, Seahawks, Niners, and Cardinals.
I don't if the Cardinals won eight and the Rams
won ten, that could be the difference. I only have
(12:51):
one new team making the playoffs in the NFC, it's
the Seahawks. I only have three new playoff teams. The
NFL average is closer to five, but I have argued
that number has been going down in recent years. Why
because it's becoming a more quarterback dependent league, and if
you've got a great quarterback or a very good one,
(13:13):
you are more predictably a playoff team. So it used
to be there were six new playoff teams, then five
playoff team It's getting down to four, and I think
this year it's three. So as the quarterback becomes more important,
and offensive coaches have a better relationship with that quarterback.
The league is getting, at least not on a week
(13:33):
to week basis, but on a macro level, a little
easier to predict.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
One more heard. The Herd streams twenty four hours a day,
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Speaker 1 (13:47):
You know a lot of people would not do a
blazing five to start the year because well, I'm terrible
in Week one, but it's too much fun. Let's have
Let's have a good five minutes here with my picks.
I feel good, as I always do. I felt good
every week last year that didn't mean anything. And here
we go with our opening blazing five.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Let's blaze it up right up. It's Collins Blazon fuck
Giants had Commanders.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
I like the Giants plus six and a half. At
least one underdog of six plus points is one outright
in Week one. I think the Giants could be the play.
They played nine one score games last year and both
games against the Commanders were close. Brian Burns, Dexter, Lawrence
abdul Carter. This is a top two or three defensive line,
and I mean, let's be honest, it's week one. We
(14:36):
saw what d Lins can do last night. Malik neighbors
matchup problem even with dan Quinn back into the defense.
Last year for Washington was a bit of a mess.
The Commanders great year, but they played twelve one score
games and their defense again was bad with a defensive coach.
So I think the debo Terry McLaurin thing is fascinating,
(14:59):
but I think it won't be perfect until later in
the season. This is a go either way game. I'll
take Washington to win, but six and a half. I'm
taking it with the Giants twenty seven to twenty three.
Commanders close, Steelers and Jets. I like the Jets plus
a field goal. This is the lowest over and under.
(15:20):
I'm gonna take the home dog plus the three points.
They held fourth quarter leads in six of their twelve losses.
Last year, the Jets were in games, and that's with
an old quarterback that couldn't extend plays.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
Now they have a young quarterback that can.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
The Steelers had a lot of turnover left tackle gone,
quarterback gone, best receiver gone, best running back gone. With
a defensive culture, you think they're going to look good
in Week one. I mean, my takeaway is, is the
wrong team getting points here? I think the Jets rosters
good and I've got a young quarterback who played in
Pittsburgh and knows their personnel. And by the way, Aaron
(15:56):
Rodgers with all these new parts week one, last three
times week one he started, he's lost all of them
and has not played well, and he's not the most
committed guy in the offseason. I like the Jets here
to win straight out twenty four to twenty money line baby.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Forty nine ers at Seahawks.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
I like the Seahawks.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
You know, since lumen Field opened up in two thousand
and two, Seattle's got the best home winning percentage nine
to one record at home week one and by the way,
six of their final late games last year after the
bye they won. They needed a buy for this new
coaching staff, and they've upgraded at coordinator. They're gonna run
the ball, They're gonna speed the game up. Gray's Abel,
(16:41):
the draft pick, watched them run the ball. Sam Darnold's
an athletics upgrade at quarterback, and the Niners McCaffrey's banged up,
Brandon Ayyuk's out Greenlaw's gone.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
Who fungus gone?
Speaker 1 (16:52):
By the way, Niners were not great against their division
last year. They were one in five in division and
two and six on the road last year. Were not
a great road team or division team. And the red
zone defense, that's why they brought sala in, was a
bit of a mess.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
That was thirty first.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
I liked the Seahawks and the points to win straight
out twenty four to twenty three.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Lions at Packers.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
I really like green Bay bet of the weekend, young
team entering their prime, added Micah Parsons.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
I like green Bay.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Here only team in the league top five offense and
total defense. And by the way, we think to ourselves,
you know, Jordan Love wasn't great last year.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
I went and looked it up this morning.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
Final seven games last year, nine touchdowns, no picks.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
He's fine. Lions lost both coordinators.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
If they do replace them deftly, it'll probably be later
in the season. And Dan Campbell's not been a good
underdog coach twelve and twenty one and one as an
underdog head coach. When they got better players, they win.
When they're at home with better players, they win on
the road. Did they have better players than Green Bay.
I'm not sure Jared Off without McVeagh and Ben Johnson
(18:02):
never been quite as good. I like Green Bay to
win outright. Twenty eight to twenty four. Texans and Rams
take the under forty three and a half. Nineteenth ranks
scoring offense Texans against the twentieth scoring offense. Here's the
truth about the Rams. Last year didn't have a great
point differential even with Stafford. Both teams come into the
(18:23):
season with o line issues, Stafford's backson issue, left tackle
Alaric Jackson blood Clotts didn't practice a ton, and the
Texans beat up on their division. They were five and
one against the AFC South. They weren't great out of
their division. They've got a first time play colored offensive
coordinator and a lot of new faces on the offensive line.
(18:43):
And I am here to tell you the Rams defensive
front is filthy and getting better. I think it is
a very low scoring game at the over unders forty
three and a half. It feels like twenty seventeen or
twenty one seventeen Rams to me, probably at home. I
give him the edge, but I'm taking the under. Here.
Take the under forty three and a half. J mack
(19:07):
any thoughts on that love Love Love the Jets pick.
Speaker 5 (19:12):
That's my favorite of your five outside of the Packers,
which I also have.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
But that forty nine Ers one.
Speaker 5 (19:17):
You didn't really mention the Christian McCaffrey missed practice yesterday,
then the forty nine Ers did not make him available
to the media. I have him in multiple fantasy leagues
and I'm sweating bad.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
Oh.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
I feel so terrible for you.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Thanks, friend.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
You need to go into every weekend with a little humility,
rock perty, taken over that game and winning.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
On the road, beating your guy, he would deserve credit.
That's a tough no.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
I yuk And if mccaffreick.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Even kaim told me a week ago, I said, where
did you hate going when you were a the GM Arizona.
He goes Seattle. He goes that is a rough place
to play. He goes that crowd lubricates, they're ready to roll.
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio and
noon to three Eastern nine am to noon Pacific. Find
your local station for The Herd at Fox Sports Radio
dot com, or stream us live every day on the
iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Oh well, committed to Tuesday football is back?
Speaker 3 (00:29):
We are back and are set. Listen.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
I don't talk about sets much, okay, or graphics, but uh,
the people that run this network to make big decisions
and you know, take town cars to work.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
They have done a good.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Job with our sets, our design and our graphics. And
so you'll see some flares out there and some cool
stuff and we appreciate the effort. You know, if the
host gets older, you know you need help. I need support.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
My back's hurting from cherry.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Com lit backs hurting from all that golfs. You can
tell what's happening to this show, Nick right in a
couple of minutes.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
So here we go.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
This is our last heard hierarchy going into the season. Listen,
the hardest part of this hierarchy was not the top.
It was who do I put ten to eleven twelve.
I got to watch the first couple of weekends.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
So here we go.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Heard hierarchy. I'm now go the top ten NFL teams
according to College.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Number ten, I'm gonna put Detroit in there. They've got
two new coordinators, they lost two offensive linemen. The strength
of their team. They get Aiden Hutchison back. I think
their division is better this team last year. You know
you're talking fourteen to fifteen wins. I think it's major pullback.
They are so good upstairs. They've built a really cool culture.
(01:54):
I've always liked Jared Goff more than the rest of
the media gallery. But I don't think this team wins
their division, and I think losing elite coordinators go as
Philadelphia can get ugly fast.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
I have them at ten.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Number nine, I'll put the Rams, although I think Houston
is a dangerous opener with Will Anderson, the Rams left
tackle just started practicing this week, and I mean, anybody
spotted Matt Stafford in LA.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
I think it's a dangerous opener.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
But I think they have the second best coach in
the league, and when Stafford has time to throw with
this young defense, they'll win games.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
This is amazing.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
They were the young They played more rookies than anybody
in the NFL last year, and yet we're.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
The least penalized team.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
They're a completely buttoned up organization, but left tackle and
quarterback is a lot of question marks, and Houston is
a scary opener with their pass rush. Number eight the Packers.
Let me ask you, is Jordan Love good? I don't know,
but I.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Like the culture. I like the team.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
They were actually last year one in five in division,
which is rare for them, so I think they'll improve.
There were ten and one against everybody else. Jordan Loves
starts the season slow, so that's a real thing. Joe
Burrow's done the same thing. Reasons I don't know. Again,
I thought they went out and got a number one
ride receiver. The Mica trade is absolutely worth a win.
(03:20):
I don't know if it's worth two. But they won
eleven games last year and we're banged up at quarterback.
Just out of respect for the organization and the coach,
I think the Mica trade works for them. I think
they win the division. Number seven Commanders are good. I
wonder if they're great. They have five primetime games. They're
the oldest team in the league.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Did you know that?
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Looked it up this morning. Older players do not like
primetime games. The Chiefs are used to it, but it
can be disruptive. Also, Jadeen Daniels and the Commanders scored
on fifty percent of their drives. I'm gonna go with
that's not going to happen again. The Deebo Samuel Chess
piece is really interesting, but I have them at seven.
(04:01):
I'm higher on the Seahawks than everybody else. At five
to one. They're the best bet to win a division.
And here's my thing. Second year, with a really bright
young coach, upgrade at coordinator and quarterback, they will be
more run specific. Gray's Abel has been a big pickup.
He had a great preseason. They could not run the
football last year. They will be a run first team.
(04:22):
They'll miss some big plays with DK Metcalf, absolutely, but
I gotta tell you, I don't think there's a better
personnel guy in the league than John Snyder. Their last
three drafts not a lot of misses, and I love
this draft. I have the Seahawks at six, number five,
But are they Kansas City? No. I think this is
where the gap happens. The final five teams. Listen, Kansas
(04:45):
City was twelve to zero one score games. That's not
going to happen. But Andy Reid and Mahomes are, you know,
the best at what they do in this sport, which
is leaning offense. But the problem is that Rashi Rice
six game suspension. I feel like they've been bailing water
at wider receiver for three years and it's worked. But
you know, let's be honest about that. Guess who was
(05:06):
closer to his prime Travis Kelce. So they're going to
be good. They have the best defensive coordinator, the best coach,
the best quarterback. The division is a handful, but I
think they'll be a playoff team. But they got They
were so good in one score games, and I think
the Raiders, the Broncos, and the Chargers are all going
to be a step better.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Number four Denver.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
I think it's universally understood that bow Knicks is a
hit and will only get better. This is the team
last year that was very good but not great in
one score games. Now Breeze and Peyton were great in
one score game, so boone Nicks is not going to
be one in six and one score games. They also
went out and got real players the fun get safety, Green,
(05:50):
bought linebacker greenlot linebacker Evan Ingram at tight end. They
went and got productive veterans who will make an impact immediately.
They didn't just go to the transfer portal and get
rotational guys. They want and got productive stars in this league.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
I have Denver at.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Four, number three.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
You know, Lamar Jackson seven years, won seventy eight games,
and every game they lose is either against a playoff
team or it's close. I know, I know they don't
win in the postseason. It's a fair criticism, but I'm
I think structurally, like Kansas City, I don't see holes
in the organization. Number one rushing defense, number one rushing offense.
(06:32):
Everybody else says it's a passing league. Baltimore's like, yeah,
we can do that. But I have them at three,
number two. Listen, well, they've beaten the Chiefs in the
regular season, just not the postseason. I like Buffalo, James
Cooks got his deal signed, they got all their early
draft picks. They went with defense, and that's what they
(06:52):
should have done. Listen, I think Josh Allen is the
most talented football player in the world. His strength movement.
I don't think there's anything quite like it. He doesn't
have Mahomes as hardware, but he doesn't have Mahomes as coach.
Joey Bosa that's like under the radar. Still a good player,
(07:13):
but the Chargers didn't want to pay play for two
rush ends.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
So I just think they're lined up to get to
a super Bowl.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Number one, best overall roster composition in the league. Don't
love their head coach, but what do you want me
to say? In the trenches O line and D line,
they nailed two early round corners. I think they have
the most players in the NFL, either in their prime
or close to their prime. I can't find a hole
(07:41):
on the team outside of I don't always love the
personality of the head coach, but for a team that
just blew out the Chiefs, they were kind of strangely
under the radar, So I have them at number one.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
Hey, it's Ben host of a Fifth Hour with Ben Mallero.
Mean a lot to have you joined us on our
weekly auditory. You ask, what in God's name is the
Fifth Hour? I'll tell you it's a spin off of it.
Ben Mathershow, a cult hit Overnights on FSR.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Why should you listen?
Speaker 4 (08:09):
Picture if you will a world will We chat with
captains of industry in media, sports, and more every week
explore some amazing facts about human nature and more. Listen
to the Fifth Hour with Ben Mather on the iHeartRadio app,
Apple Podcast.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Or wherever you get your podcasts. Be sure to catch
live editions of The Herd weekdays and noon eastern non
am Pacific.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Okay we start. Here's my predictions for this year. We
start in the AFC, an easier conference to predict because
the top quarterbacks are so good. In the AFC East,
I'm going Josh Allen and the Bills, Patriots' most improved
team get in as a wild card team. Maybe not
good enough to win a playoff game, but coach and
rosters much better. Dolphins third, I'm going with that just
(08:51):
because of Tua and an offensive coach. I think the
Jets roster is good. I don't know what Aaron Glenn is.
They just lost their best or second best offensive lineman.
I'm staying put with that one. AFC North again, I
think it's fairly predictable. Ravens arguably best operation in the
sport With Lamar, I'll go with the quarterback and Joe
Burrow next, although, like J. Mack, I worry about how
(09:12):
they start and their offensive line. Aaron and the Steelers
will be around five hundred or a game above or below,
and the Browns are in a rebuild. I love their
coaching GM. I like Joe Flacco, Miles Garrett's amazing, but
they're fourth AFC South. I'm just gonna go with what
I know. Demiko Ryans hell of a coach, and I
like c J. Stroud.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Rebuilding the old line worries me. CJ.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Stroud's a gamer. Step back a little last year, but
it wasn't his fault. He couldn't keep wide receivers healthy.
Jaguar second, I'm like J.
Speaker 5 (09:41):
Mack.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
I like them, but I never love them. Titans.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
Third, Coles don't know what quarterback they're gonna use. That's scary.
Their fourth, well, they do know what quarterback, and it's
not a great one. AFC West, I think it's very difficult.
I think you have four really good teams. I think
the Broncos have the best roster. Kansas City, Reid and Mahomes.
Once again, I don't know a rookie left tackle. Joe
Tooney's gone, worries me also wide receiving Corps, no Rashi Rice, Travis,
(10:07):
Kelsey getting old. I think the Broncos will look very
clearly early in the season like a Super Bowl contender.
Chargers losing Rashawn Slater, the left tackle worries me greatly.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
Joe Alt moves over.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
But now they've got a right tackle issue, and the
Raiders will be the best, best fourth place team in
the division. So Bill's Ravens, Texans, Broncos are the division winners.
Patriots Bengals, Chiefs are wild card teams. New England Bengals
are both new playoff teams. NFC again, I think it's
pretty static. Eagles, Commanders, Giants, Cowboys. I actually have said this.
(10:43):
If the Giants get B to B plus quarterback play,
they're gonna shock some people. They're gonna They're gonna go
toe to toe with Washington. But I don't know if
Jackson Dart's ready, if Russell Wilson falters. But I do
like the Giants roster. I love Abdull Harder in their
defensive front. It's nothing but dogs up front. I think
(11:05):
in the NFC North again, I'm just gonna kind of
roll with the quietest offseason. The Green Bay Packers young still,
but I like their first pick, another wide receiver for
Jordan Love. Lions have two new coordinators, but I love
almost everything else about the organization. Bears, Vikings all know
(11:25):
a lot more after Monday Night, third and fourth, respectively.
NFC South is not a very good division. The Sainte stink.
I'm not sure the Bucks are as good as a
lot of the NFL execs and betters think. But I
trust Baker, I trust the GM, I trust the roster.
Atlanta is weird. I've spent more money on the Falcons
(11:46):
losing bets. I don't know what Atlanta is. I'll just
wait till Thanksgiving. Panthers are better than people think. I'll
put them third, Saints fourth NFC West. Here's my big change, Rams.
I'm going to have them winning the division again. Bottom
line is they won the division last year. Despite starting
one to four, they still won their division. No team
played more rookies last year, and their defense the last
(12:08):
month of the season was second best. With all those rookies,
it was second best scoring defense in the NFL last month.
It'll be better. It's had a great camp. Seattle the
reason I moved them from first to second. They have
the cheapest offense in the NFL. They don't have a
number one receiver. Gray Zabel is a potential impact offensive lineman,
(12:29):
but their online last year stunk, so I don't think
they have the firepower again. I think Seahawks could win
nine games. I think the Niners could win nine and
Seahawks win the tiebreaker. I don't think there's a big
gap in this division between the Rams, Seahawks, Niners, and Cardinals.
I don't if the Cardinals won eight and the Rams
won ten, that could be the difference. I only have
(12:51):
one new team making the playoffs in the NFC, it's
the Seahawks. I only have three new playoff teams. The
NFL average is closer to five, but I have argued
that number has been going down in recent years. Why
because it's becoming a more quarterback dependent league, and if
you've got a great quarterback or a very good one,
(13:13):
you are more predictably a playoff team. So it used
to be there were six new playoff teams, then five
playoff team It's getting down to four, and I think
this year it's three. So as the quarterback becomes more important,
and offensive coaches have a better relationship with that quarterback.
The league is getting, at least not on a week
(13:33):
to week basis, but on a macro level, a little
easier to predict.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
One more heard. The Herd streams twenty four hours a day,
seven days a week within the iHeartRadio app. Search Herd
to listen live or on demand whenever you like.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
You know a lot of people would not do a
blazing five to start the year because well, I'm terrible
in Week one, but it's too much fun. Let's have
Let's have a good five minutes here with my picks.
I feel good, as I always do. I felt good
every week last year that didn't mean anything. And here
we go with our opening blazing five.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Let's blaze it up right up. It's Collins Blazon fuck
Giants had Commanders.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
I like the Giants plus six and a half. At
least one underdog of six plus points is one outright
in Week one. I think the Giants could be the play.
They played nine one score games last year and both
games against the Commanders were close. Brian Burns, Dexter, Lawrence
abdul Carter. This is a top two or three defensive line,
and I mean, let's be honest, it's week one. We
(14:36):
saw what d Lins can do last night. Malik neighbors
matchup problem even with dan Quinn back into the defense.
Last year for Washington was a bit of a mess.
The Commanders great year, but they played twelve one score
games and their defense again was bad with a defensive coach.
So I think the debo Terry McLaurin thing is fascinating,
(14:59):
but I think it won't be perfect until later in
the season. This is a go either way game. I'll
take Washington to win, but six and a half. I'm
taking it with the Giants twenty seven to twenty three.
Commanders close, Steelers and Jets. I like the Jets plus
a field goal. This is the lowest over and under.
(15:20):
I'm gonna take the home dog plus the three points.
They held fourth quarter leads in six of their twelve losses.
Last year, the Jets were in games, and that's with
an old quarterback that couldn't extend plays.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
Now they have a young quarterback that can.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
The Steelers had a lot of turnover left tackle gone,
quarterback gone, best receiver gone, best running back gone. With
a defensive culture, you think they're going to look good
in Week one. I mean, my takeaway is, is the
wrong team getting points here? I think the Jets rosters
good and I've got a young quarterback who played in
Pittsburgh and knows their personnel. And by the way, Aaron
(15:56):
Rodgers with all these new parts week one, last three
times week one he started, he's lost all of them
and has not played well, and he's not the most
committed guy in the offseason. I like the Jets here
to win straight out twenty four to twenty money line baby.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Forty nine ers at Seahawks.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
I like the Seahawks.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
You know, since lumen Field opened up in two thousand
and two, Seattle's got the best home winning percentage nine
to one record at home week one and by the way,
six of their final late games last year after the
bye they won. They needed a buy for this new
coaching staff, and they've upgraded at coordinator. They're gonna run
the ball, They're gonna speed the game up. Gray's Abel,
(16:41):
the draft pick, watched them run the ball. Sam Darnold's
an athletics upgrade at quarterback, and the Niners McCaffrey's banged up,
Brandon Ayyuk's out Greenlaw's gone.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
Who fungus gone?
Speaker 1 (16:52):
By the way, Niners were not great against their division
last year. They were one in five in division and
two and six on the road last year. Were not
a great road team or division team. And the red
zone defense, that's why they brought sala in, was a
bit of a mess.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
That was thirty first.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
I liked the Seahawks and the points to win straight
out twenty four to twenty three.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Lions at Packers.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
I really like green Bay bet of the weekend, young
team entering their prime, added Micah Parsons.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
I like green Bay.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Here only team in the league top five offense and
total defense. And by the way, we think to ourselves,
you know, Jordan Love wasn't great last year.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
I went and looked it up this morning.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
Final seven games last year, nine touchdowns, no picks.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
He's fine. Lions lost both coordinators.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
If they do replace them deftly, it'll probably be later
in the season. And Dan Campbell's not been a good
underdog coach twelve and twenty one and one as an
underdog head coach. When they got better players, they win.
When they're at home with better players, they win on
the road. Did they have better players than Green Bay.
I'm not sure Jared Off without McVeagh and Ben Johnson
(18:02):
never been quite as good. I like Green Bay to
win outright. Twenty eight to twenty four. Texans and Rams
take the under forty three and a half. Nineteenth ranks
scoring offense Texans against the twentieth scoring offense. Here's the
truth about the Rams. Last year didn't have a great
point differential even with Stafford. Both teams come into the
(18:23):
season with o line issues, Stafford's backson issue, left tackle
Alaric Jackson blood Clotts didn't practice a ton, and the
Texans beat up on their division. They were five and
one against the AFC South. They weren't great out of
their division. They've got a first time play colored offensive
coordinator and a lot of new faces on the offensive line.
(18:43):
And I am here to tell you the Rams defensive
front is filthy and getting better. I think it is
a very low scoring game at the over unders forty
three and a half. It feels like twenty seventeen or
twenty one seventeen Rams to me, probably at home. I
give him the edge, but I'm taking the under. Here.
Take the under forty three and a half. J mack
(19:07):
any thoughts on that love Love Love the Jets pick.
Speaker 5 (19:12):
That's my favorite of your five outside of the Packers,
which I also have.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
But that forty nine Ers one.
Speaker 5 (19:17):
You didn't really mention the Christian McCaffrey missed practice yesterday,
then the forty nine Ers did not make him available
to the media. I have him in multiple fantasy leagues
and I'm sweating bad.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
Oh.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
I feel so terrible for you.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Thanks, friend.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
You need to go into every weekend with a little humility,
rock perty, taken over that game and winning.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
On the road, beating your guy, he would deserve credit.
That's a tough no.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
I yuk And if mccaffreick.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Even kaim told me a week ago, I said, where
did you hate going when you were a the GM Arizona.
He goes Seattle. He goes that is a rough place
to play. He goes that crowd lubricates, they're ready to roll.
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