October 18, 2025 • 40 mins
Where Colin Was Right, Where Colin Was Wrong — including why he nailed his prediction on Baker Mayfield’s breakout season, and admits he missed on Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers offense
Colin also unveils his updated Herd Hierarchy, with the Kansas City Chiefs reclaiming the No. 1 spot for the first time this NFL season
Colin delivers his Blazin’ 5 featuring his favorite bets for week 7 of the NFL season
Plus, NFL insider Mike Sando joins the show to discuss Dak Prescott's MVP-caliber season with the Cowboys and why Patriots QB Drake Maye is having a breakout year that could reshape New England's future
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
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Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Here we go. It's our number two. On a Monday
playoffs Baseball playoffs Dodgers tonight, Brewers Mariners take a one
zero lead in Toronto over the Jays. Bits surprising considering
the highly emotional series the Mariners just escaped from wild
(00:49):
weekend to college football is in the end of the
best team in college football. Penn State fires their coach.
J Mackett was a I said in from of a
TV for a lot of the weekend, it is it's
getting to be you know, it's crazy time. It's like,
you get to the point now people are going to
start getting fired with nil and the portal. There's so
(01:10):
much money in college football. It would have been you
would have never considered firing a coach a year after
he won thirteen games because he lost three close games
in a row. But that's the world we live in now.
It's like Praye, college football feels more pro than ever.
And he was in the semi final in overtime against
the Irish. By the way, how did you go an.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Hour without mentioning USC's romp over Michigan?
Speaker 1 (01:32):
What happened?
Speaker 4 (01:33):
Lincoln Riley's waiting.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
For the for the props, I will say they pushed
Michigan around. That was that is what you have to
now they have to go on the road lench Notre
Dame where they're like an eight point dog and should be.
I don't know if they're built to beat Notre Dame.
Weather's getting a little chili in the Midwest. But they pushed,
they pushed Michigan around. It wasn't that they won, it
was how they won. They won in the trenches with
(01:56):
a third string walk on running back. King Miller was unblolble.
Here we go, Colin Wright Colin wrong on.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
A Monday where Colin was right.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Well, when the Eagles started four and oho, I said
they got a coaching issue. You can't tell me they're
beat up and injured. A lot of teams are beat
up and injured. They had a player's only meeting and
AJ Brown sort of denied it. I just I don't
I don't buy the Philadelphia Eagles. They are they're in
trouble right now. They're twenty eighth in yards per rush,
(02:27):
twenty fifth in the NFL in total offense. Even when
they were winning, I said, this isn't going to last.
This is the drip, drip, drip. And last week we
saw the Fawcet burst where Colin was wrong firing James Franklin.
I don't know. I don't get it. Apparently insiders at
(02:48):
Penn State are saying it was untenable. But I will
tell you he'd won ten plus games in three straight seasons.
Are you telling if if he beats you CLA at
the end of the game, you'd keep him. It feels
very reactionary to me. Again, they're a playaway from beating
Notre Name last year, what did they finish fifth in
(03:11):
the country. But this is the world we live in.
Get rid of the coach if there's any questions, And
I just don't like the way it looks I was wrong.
I would have never guessed this where Colin was right
to Pittsburgh, Oh, MVP Baker Mayfield. Yeah, A couple of
weeks ago, I said, I think he's MVP. He's never
(03:34):
been this good. And again, players get better, players get worse,
they regress. Look what's happened to Justin Field. Baker is
better now. He was good early. He didn't play with
his confidence. He's got nothing to work with. Bucky Irby,
Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, Abuca got hurt. I said, two
or three weeks ago, let's not get ourselves here. This
(03:54):
is what an MVP looks like. And I said, Cleveland,
it was a poor fit. It's a bitter fan base
and an angry media poking them in the rips. Tampa's chill,
Todd Bowles high IQ high EQ opening all the doors
for him every weekend.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
More and more.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Baker's the MVP of this league.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Where Colin was wrong?
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers four and one? Are they
going to wrap this division up in four to five weeks?
Aaron right now, smartly is getting rid of the ball
from snap to getting rid of the ball faster than
he has in his entire career. And I got to
tell you, with the size of his targets in Pittsburgh,
I think it's smart. There's there's no wow plays. He's
(04:40):
not doing that. He's doing the back shoulder. He's accurate.
He's completing seventy three percent. This is an offense for
the last seven years. And this is not the best
aeron This is old Aaron. This is an offense in
the last three weeks. He's got a one to twelve
passer rating. Now I know he's he's got an advantage.
That D fence is gobbling up backup quarterbacks. But it
(05:02):
looks good to me. Where Colin was right, I said,
New England, watch out. They're gonna be the double the
win total team in the NFL. This will be my
fourth year in a row. If I hit this after
the Raiders loss, I said, slow down between free agents
and draft picks. They're they're starting like a dozen new guys.
(05:23):
Don't freak out. When they lost to Pittsburgh. Guy said,
let it play out. No team is starting more new bodies.
Vrabel's brilliant. Guy Drake May's really good. And this is
one of those things where not all opening losses are
the same. Detroit's obviously a good team. They got housed
in the first game. New England lost to the Raiders.
(05:44):
I kept saying, don't worry, they'll figure away. They're building
a culture. And we were right where Colin was wrong.
I had Dante More as the number one pick last week.
He got out played by Fernando Mendoza and it wasn't
particularly close. Couple of picks minus twenty seven yards rushing,
didn't see the field particularly well, sacked six times. Listen,
(06:07):
Indiana's really good. Indiana's a really good football team and
really well coached. But Dante More it did not look great.
Let's just be honest about this. It was a really,
really bad game. Considering the quality of the staff and
the quality of Oregon talent, this was a stinker.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Where Colin was right.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Well, I said the Dolphins, I don't trust the culture
and the head coach. Here was Tua after losing to
the LA Chargers. Listen to this.
Speaker 5 (06:39):
I think it starts with the leadership in helping articulate
that for the guys, and then what we're expecting out
of the guys. Right, we're expecting this? Are we getting that?
Are we not getting that? We have guys showing up
to only player only meetings late, guys not showing up
to player only meeting Like there's a lot that goes
into that. It's a lot of it's a lot of
(07:01):
things of that nature that we got to get cleaned up.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Yeah, it till a little late. Three picks had the
game one toa basically saying is yeah, we don't have
a culture here of accountability. Not good.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Where Colin was right.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Let's wrap it up with this. The Mariners to go
one on lead in the American League Championship Series. I
said two weeks ago. Despite having the number fifteen payroll,
they are a more balanced even team than the Yankees.
They can defend, They have good starting pitching. Right now,
opposing hitters in the playoffs are hitting a buck eighty
three on Mariners pitching. Mendoza is a great closer. They
(07:40):
can hit for power station to station baseball. They can
do whatever you want. It's a very complete team. You know,
cal Rawley's their star. There's no question they're not as
star studded as a team like the Yankees, but the
Yankees don't do a lot well outside of hit home runs. Mariners,
I believe will make the World Series and they'll face
the Brewers when they get there.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays
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Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Hi. This is Jay.
Speaker 6 (08:11):
I'm the producer of the Paula and Tony Fusco Show.
Usually in these promos they asked you to listen to
the show. I'm here to ask you please don't listen
to the show. The hosts are two absolute morons who
have the dumbest takes on sports, imagicable. Don't listen to
the show so it can get camps.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
What the hell are you doing in our studio? Get him, paul.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Ignore that fool.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
Listen to the Pauline Tony Fusco Show on the iHeartRadio
app or wherever you get your podcast.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
He's still moving.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Heard hierarchy time.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
Now let's go the top ten NFL teams according to
College Number ten.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
New England Patriots' easiest NFL schedule going forward. This is
not a mirage. Drake may leaves ranks top five income
poletion percentage, passing yards, big plays in passer rating. He's
getting better than average protection, He's got.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
A running game.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
The kid moves well. Easy schedule three and zero. Also,
as Jamak pointed out last week, since Christian Gonzalez, the
cornerback has returned three and oh number nine, number nine.
The Steelers listen, they don't turn it over and they
take it away. That does count as a good trait.
(09:28):
They're taking the football away now. They're not facing great quarterbacks,
but their only loss came to the Seahawks, a team
that is better. They're the second least penalized team and
they have a receiving corps and a tight end core
that looks like an NBA front line that looks like
the Dallas Mavericks. Everybody's six six and up, so they
are using some height advantages, some size advantages. They don't
(09:52):
throw it down the field, but it's working. Pittsburgh at nine,
number eight. I like the Colts. I think they have
the second best offensive line in football to Detroit, fewest
sacks allowed in the NFL Indianapolis. They are scoring on
sixty two and a half percent of their drives. They
also should have beaten the Rams. They have the number
(10:14):
one scoring offense leaves the NFL in first downs again,
Warren the rookie Pittman, Jonathan Taylor, a top two or
three offensive line. Daniel Jones this year, all you need
to know he's completing over seventy one percent of his throws.
I think they have a ceiling. I don't think they're
a conference championship team yet. They may be this weekend
(10:37):
if they beat the Chargers, I may reassess. But I
have the Colts at number eight, number seven, Green Bay.
They're young and can't figure out how to put away
inferior teams, but all three wins have come by thirteen
plus points. I like Jordan Love He's more far than
Aaron Rodgers. He could get a little careless, but they're
the best third down offense in the NFL well, and
(11:00):
you can't run on them. They're the opposite of the Bills.
You can't run on them. So they're doing a little
bit of takeaway this year, which they haven't historically done.
Crafts an unbelievable tight end. I like this team a lot.
They're very young, which concerns me. The quarterbacks, the receivers,
the tight end really young. But Jeff Hafley's got that defense,
(11:23):
can't run on it, and they're taking it away. Green
Bay at seven, number six, Well, Seattle was my surprise
pick in the NFL this year. New England and Seattle.
They lead the NFL in yards per play. That is
a huge stat and if you watch them, jsn is
absolutely become a number one ride receiver in this league.
(11:45):
Sam Darnold, according to PFF, is the highest rated quarterback
in the NFL. I think Baker would be my MVP.
But they can run it. They can get you over
the top, they throw to their tight ends. They are
young and athletic defensively and lead the league in yards
per play at Vegas loves that number.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Number five.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Philadelphia thirtieth ranked offense. I mean, it's pretty simple. When
Jalen Hurts throws the ball thirty three times plus they're
not good. When he throws at twenty five times, they win.
I do think they're eventually gonna to some degree right
the ship. But they've been out gained in every game
(12:29):
this season, and they have had three or four of
the worst halfs in the league thirty punts this year.
Only Cleveland the Bengals have more. So their personnel puts
them at five, but I'm not sure they're five. Let's
see him play Minnesota. Let's see Minnesota off of Bibe
hosting Philadelphia. I may knock him out of the top
ten like I've done Buffalo.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Number four.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
I think Detroit's good. I just think Kansas City is
separated from the league. Four games with thirty four plus points,
best offensive line. They're doing something that the Lions haven't done.
And I said this last week. A lot of sacks,
a lot of takeaways. They have the hardest remaining schedule. Again,
this is a really good football team. What Kansas City
(13:14):
did to them, nobody else in the league, in my opinion, could.
In fact, they play Tampa this week and I think
Detroit's gonna win that game, and maybe comfortably. Detroit at four.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Number three, Colin, what.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Are you doing putting Sean Payton at Denver at three?
Speaker 4 (13:30):
Do you know?
Speaker 1 (13:31):
They are the best in the league at protecting their
quarterback and the best in the league at getting after yours.
I think they're one of the few teams that actually
can make Kansas City a little uncomfortable high altitude for
home games. I like their weapons. I don't think bo
Nicks is playing particularly well, but they you can't get
to bo Nicks and he's at I think he should
(13:53):
run more. You can't get to him, and they get
after your quarterback. So they have the number one ranked
offensive line, best third down defense, best red zone defense.
They don't have to be great at quarterback. They can
play poorly and win like this past week. I have
them at three number two. Tampa's five and one. They
(14:13):
could also be two and four, but Baker Mayfield would
be my MVP. They are playing without their number one receiver,
their number two receiver, their number three receiver, their number
four receiver. They're going to a D two guy in
Tesz Johnson, no Bucky Irving. Baker Mayfield has accounted for
seventeen hundred yards. Only Mahomes is accounted for more. I
think they're resilient. I think they're tough, and they're doing it.
(14:37):
I've always liked their GM. They are doing it right
now with backups. I think Tampa's two number one, but
I don't think it's particularly close. I think Kansas City
is with Rashi Rice coming back, he's not going to
get thirteen targets in his first week back. He'll probably
get four to six. But Hollywood Brown, Juju Smith, Travis Worthy,
(14:59):
o line, I didn't even have their left tackle. This
is a good football team, suffocating defensively. I said when
they beat the Ravens. I don't want to hear about injuries.
They physically stopped Lamar. Lamar was completely not only in
his head. He could didn't have any space. So next
to the Colts, they have the second most efficient offense.
They're not giving the ball away. I mean to play.
(15:21):
Detroit did not have a penalty, not have a turnover
in one punt. Detroit's good, really good. That's why I
only dropped him to four. This is my Herd hierarchy.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
at noon Eastern non a Empacific.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
He hos a podcast every day, the Athletic Football Show.
His name is Robert May's Chicago based, and he was
so good last time. We're like, all right, let's just
rebook him. It's like the restaurant, you like, just bring
it back. Let's go again. So I said earlier today,
I said what Ben Johnson essentially did. He just got
rid of the ridiculous They can now score in the
(15:58):
first quarter. They don't on Hail Mary's. The clock doesn't
run out. They run the ball and don't turn it over.
It's not wizardry to me. Last night and the week
before was like you know, the giveaway takeaway thing. They
figured out a little bit and it's just fundamentally more
sound football. It's not Andy Reid play design. To me,
(16:20):
what do you see?
Speaker 4 (16:21):
I think there's some of that coming. What's more encouraging
to me is that when you watch the offense last year,
understand Shane Waldron, none of it made sense. The ways
that they were using the individual skill position players is
the best example of this. They're using Keenan Allen on
vertical routes and they're using roma dunes and all these
change of direction ways. It's like, what is your personnel
do well? And just put them in those positions and
so they have checked that box. The run game structure
(16:42):
looks good. I think some of the details have been
off over the first month, all the penalties, the fact
that you're missing like little assignments here and there. But
the overall plan feels like it's well conceived. Yes, you
feel the plan and you can understand what they're trying
to accomplish. There's intention behind it, and that for somebody
who watches this team every week for a long time,
it's a nice change of plas.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Yeah, no, we said, when your son's been getting d's.
You're not going to argue over a B minus. I
thought it was kind of a B minus performance.
Speaker 4 (17:10):
I think that's right. And I was joking with a
friend earlier this week. All I want is to be
like the sixteenth best offense in a leak. I don't
understand why that's a huge ask, Like I feel like
it's a reasonable thing to want, and it seems like
we're trending in that direction.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Yeah, you know, Caleb's funny, like he's got Relationships are hard,
you know, like Harbaugh and Herbert was easy because Justin's
like the nicest kid ever. It's ego less, and Jim
is almost as his age is almost parental. But Ben
is young and ascending and this is his first big job,
(17:45):
and Caleb had a bad rookie year. I'm gonna argue
this is not as easy as we all think it
is between coach and star quarterback.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
I think that's right. I mean the word that was
used to me when I was there at House Hall
before the season and I was asking about their relationship,
there was one word that somebody said to me. It's intense.
It is intense between them, but not in a bad way.
Intense where you feel growth, where the tension can be healthy.
And I think after his rookie year, Caleb needed that
he needed a little bit more structure. He needed somebody
to push him. And by all accounts, that's exactly what
(18:12):
it has felt like so far. And I think you're
starting to see their returns on that.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
So I use the example earlier of Mark Jackson and
Steve Kerr. Mark Jackson was more than capable. They were
winning games, but you had this transformational talent in Steph Curry,
and you needed this ecosystem that was kind of impenetrable
that was unique. Draymond was a small ball, became a thing.
You had Klay Thompson, and all of a sudden you
(18:38):
look up and they weren't maybe as good initially defensively,
but it did make sense in a division. Now was
Sean Payton, and then Andy Reid and then Mike vrabel
is gaining on you and Jim Harbaugh. They're iconic guys
in the East. And I kind of look at Sean
McDermott as a really great SUPERVI that's not crazy creative,
(19:03):
and I wonder, I wonder if Josh Allen now has
a little self doubt losing to Young New England, losing
to Atlanta. I mean, Michael Pennix looked really comfortable last
night doing kind of whatever he wanted to. I don't know.
I mean, do you think did Josh and McDermott get
along really well?
Speaker 4 (19:24):
I think that my biggest frustration with the Bills right
now is that there was a version of the Bills
when Josh Allen was ascending. They're very specific on offense,
They're very spread out. They used a lot of college concepts.
Their run game was very bad, and at a certain point,
I think that fed into Josh's worst impulses. There was
no calming force on offense, and when Joe Brady took over,
(19:44):
they developed this really downhill run game that they could
rely on. And now they have this flexibility where if
we need to throw the ball forty times, we can,
If we need to run the ball forty times, we can.
That evolution has not happened on defense. All they're doing
now is they're tinkering within the same world in which
they've always existed, and I think that's where you're seeing
some of the limitations, and ultimately that does fall on
the coach. This on that side of the ball is
(20:07):
his vision.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
You can't stop the run.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
They can't because of the way they're built. If you
look at the types of players that they prioritize on
the in the back seven, it's undersized guys who move
well and are smirt right. They're trying to recreate Mike Apart,
mikeah Hyde and Jordan Poyer in the back end because
they want to do all this disguise, and they still
disguise coverages more than any team in the league. Well,
all offenses are doing is saying, you can do all
(20:30):
that funky stuff on the back end you want to,
We're going to bludgeon you up front this entire game.
And it's so funny that the Bill's offense figured that out.
We're going to be the dominant, We're going to be
the enforcers.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
Now.
Speaker 4 (20:42):
The Bill's defense has never gotten there, and I think
you're seeing how that's holding them back right now.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
So I was saying, Sean Payton texts me over the
last year about bow Nicks and it was a good
fit and it's got Drew Brees's composition to it right,
But Bo's not a great beat ball thrower so far.
And Mims Franklin and Sutton can all be deep ball
receivers and Bo misses it badly, and Sean likes that.
(21:08):
He wants that, you know, I also I don't think
he wants to run Bonnicks that much, because you know,
most coaches don't. It feels like to me, this roster
is really stacked. It's got a lot of long, twitchy
athletes and they just it's all underneath stuff Like it
(21:29):
feels to me that sean body language last week in
London felt frustrated. To me, Sean looked frustrated.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
It's interesting that you talked to him, because when he
has talked about Bonnicks over the last year, anybody who
will listen, it seems like he's willing to tell them
I believe in this guy, like I think this guy
can be a winning quarterback. But then you watch how
they approached the offense last week on third and four,
third and five, these really high leverage moments, and it's
all screens all the time, and so he's saying one thing,
(21:57):
and then the construction and the decision making is another
thing about the quarterback, And so I wonder how much
does he actually believe in him if he's not going
to let him drop back to pass on third and
seven in the biggest moments of a game.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
Yeah, it's I like Denver's roster.
Speaker 4 (22:13):
I think it's fantastic, undeniably. I mean, the defense top
to bottom might be the best in the league. The
offensive line is great. I think you're seeing some of
the limitations that bo had last year continue to crop
up again this year, and it's a little bit disappointing.
You hope that there would be some gains in those areas,
but some of the stuff that's holding them back now
some of the same stuff that was holding them back
in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
So I have defended Aaron Rodgers not much over the
last seven or eight years. I can remember years ago
not liking his body language. I pointed out years ago
he has very few come from behind wins considering how
great he is, Fewer than Derek Carr, Andy Dalton. Some
of that is kind of body language changes. If he
has an early pick. He's a little bit more of
(22:54):
a Baylor than a Baller in big spots, but he's gifted.
I actually love this Aaron. So the Steelers have like
an NBA front line. I mean, Washington Friarmouth DK Metcalf
like if there was a loose ball, they're getting the rebound,
and I think he's My take on Robert May's joining
us for the radio audience. My take on it is
(23:16):
Aaron is looking at this and like, we're not small
and twitchy. That's not what we are. We're gonna win
one on one matchups. We're so damn big. And he's
not throwing it deep and he's getting crushed by the pffs.
But when I watch them play, his risks are well
thought out. It's beautiful back shoulders three to four times
a game. I know I'm being told he's not rating well,
(23:39):
but it looks like the right play to me. What
am I missing?
Speaker 4 (23:43):
I think you're missing the limitations down the road. That's
what I would be most concerned about the way that
he's approaching some of these games. The Minnesota one is
a perfect example. Against that Vikings defense, it's going to
bring a lot of heat at you. They play a
lot of very soft zone coverage. If you're getting the
ball out very quickly, that's the way to attack them.
But I think ultimately these guys who have super super
low time to throws Joe Burrow comes to mind when
(24:05):
the best version of Joe Burrow that we've ever seen
was the Joe Burrow we saw last year when he
started creating a little bit more deeper into the play.
You saw some of the pocket movement. Eventually, you're going
to need to do that against the best defenses in
the league. You can't just hunt these matchups and get
rid of the ball in two and a half seconds.
But it's exactly what he's doing right now, and that's
what he wants to do. If you look back at
(24:26):
it last year, he had a very low time to
throw when he's got a slot fade to DeVante Adams
or a one on one slamt Dara Wilson. He does
that very very well. He can still pin the ball
on guys. But ultimately, when you're playing against the Broncos
defense on Divisional weekend, you're going to need to re
stuff out and access different parts of the play than
(24:46):
whatever your first immediate one on one opportunity is. And
I still don't think we've seen him do that enough
over the last couple of years.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
Yeah, and Haslbeck came on the show yesterday, Matt, and
he's like, let me tell you, when the first numbers four,
you want to get rid of the ball quickly. You've
taken so many hits. He goes, I think it's subconscious,
you just want the ball out. And I kind of
defend him based on his history and how many times
he's been hit.
Speaker 4 (25:10):
That's absolutely what I've seen over the last couple of years.
And I think now he's been able to exist in
this box and it's been okay. If you push him
outside of that, I think that's where things get a
little bit dicey, because I totally agree with Matt. I
think you can feel him not wanting to sit in
the pocket very long and read stuff out a little
bit deeper into these plays.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
So Baker won a playoff game in Cleveland. Stefanski didn't
like some of the personality. He was a bit of
a fire starter, and so they moved on. It's a
mistake now with Baker. But Baker was never terrible. Sam
Donald was Sam Donald was regrettable, and so he goes
to Minnesota and a lot of the compliments was well
justin Jefferson and Kevin O'Connell. I don't know, did Seattle
(25:51):
are they surprised Sam's been this good because I think
a lot of people felt like, okay, that that was
a bit of an outlier. Are you surprised? Do you
think Seattle is he's the number one graded quarterback. Now
there's a guy that will throw the ball down the
field in Donald. Are you surprised?
Speaker 4 (26:07):
I'm surprised it's been this good. He had flashes last year.
But I think the combination of the lack of mistakes
plus all the high end plays. We've never seen that
version of Sam Donald before turnover worthy plays, the amount
of sacks that he's taking, all of that stuff. The
volume has beurn turned all the way down and you're
still getting the high end stuff. And so I had
a conversation with Sam last summer that was illuminating to
(26:28):
me just about the ways that he was seeing the
game a little bit deeper in his career, and I
think when he was in San Francisco and he finally
was in an offensive system where the intention of what
they were trying to accomplish was articulated to him. Why
are you doing this as a quarterback? Why should you
be seeing it this way? I think that's carried over
over the last couple of years and It's funny. We've
seen this with Baker, with Sam, with Gino, to an extent,
(26:50):
Daniel Jones, these guys with their second act that have
made the most of it. You see this convergence of
physical talent and mental maturity, and that happens for quarterbacks
at twenty seven, twenty.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
Eight years old humans. Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 4 (27:01):
And I think so many athletes we think, oh, they're
peaking at twenty three, that's what they're going to be.
Quarterbacks aren't like that, right. Your prime comes in your
late twenties, and so for somebody as talented as Sam Darnold,
he needed another opportunity to make good on it. But
that convergence of those two things I don't think is
more pronounced for any player in the league than it
has been for Sam. So.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
I like Drake May out of college. I loved Vrabel
as a coach. They were my pick to double the
win total, and some of it was because I thought
Miami and the Jets were fairly lifeless, hapless. Drake May
is better faster than I thought, right, Like, what the
coverage is? I mean, he had a really bad pick
(27:43):
in the end zone against Pittsburgh, and you're like, Okay,
that's just it's okay. I defended him when they lost
to the Raiders, Robert, I said, okay, they've got nine
news free agent starters, six prookies, Like this is like
an NIL portal gone wrong. In college, I way too
many guys, second, third, fourth week. So I kind of
(28:03):
gave him a pass. I kept saying, be patient. I
didn't think he was this good like I thought. I'm
not sure I ever thought seventy five percent completion percentage, Like,
let's explain it.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
I think that's a really good way to look at it.
To me, it's a combination of three things. Lack of mistakes,
like truly boneheaded mistakes. You just picked out one. That's
about all there's been. You know, there haven't been that many.
And in college and even as a rookie, there are
more of those flubs mentally for him that I think
you want to see. And he's really really toning that down.
And then there's a combination of high floor plays and
(28:34):
high ceiling plays, what he can do with his legs
and as a scrambler, all the easy completions that he's taking.
That's what's so encouraging and exciting to me is that
those completions that are there underneath checking the ball down.
He's doing all of that stuff at a really competent
level early on, and he is so talented and so aggressive,
the high end stuff is going to come. That was
(28:54):
never a question. It was all about the steady aspects
of his play in the offense. And I think you
seeing all that stuff come together at the exact same time,
and I'm one hundred percent with you. He has been
so much better, so much faster than even the most
optimistic Drake May believers probably would have thought.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Yeah, the you know, I I we can end it
on this and chew on this a little bit. Maybe
because I like Brian Dable, so even when the Giants
came into this season, I wasn't sure about the GM Shane,
but I like Brian. I like their left tackle and
healthy neighbors Scataboo I thought would be interesting, and their
(29:31):
defensive front's excellent. The Jets have players, and there's there
is a Freddie Kitchens aspect to Aaron Glenn where I'm like, wow,
nothing's good and I and I do wonder because you know,
the Jets will tell people privately who criticize them on Sala.
We gave him multiple years. I mean the Aerin thing
(29:53):
is I mean, if I was a college quarterback and
the Jets had the number one pick, like I, I
think that if I got the right nil number, I
may stay with my college program. What's too soon to
pull the plug with a Jets like Robert? Nothing works.
The play calling was weird. It feels Freddy Kitchens. Where
(30:13):
he may be a good play caller. Some guys are
just vice presidents if that is fine, I mean, what's
happening there?
Speaker 4 (30:20):
It's so strange. The offense. I think we all could
predict that they might have struggled this year. Right Justin
Fields has been an afterthought quarterback. He's been a backup quarterback.
We're not going to see this resurgence with all these
guys getting another opportunity. The passing game with him and
the receivers that they have on that roster was always
going to be limited, and I think we've realized those limitations.
What's most discouraging to me is the fact that their defense,
(30:41):
too often over the first six games has just looked lost.
Like you look at what some of their second and
third level defenders are doing in space, their eyes against
the run, These things that should be the strongest parts
of your team with a defensive minded head coach. Coaching
to me as simple in the NFL, I think we
based coaching. We evaluate them. Are you getting the most
out of your players what you're supposed to be good at?
(31:03):
Are you good at those things? Are you getting returns
on those things? And for the Jets specifically, that hasn't
happened on defense, and I think that's where it gets
really worrying.
Speaker 1 (31:11):
Yeah, let's circle back one to the Bears. I think
it was interesting last night. They put a stat up
it was just the Bears scored twenty seven first quarter
points and they're at thirty seven. Now, it's remarkable. Now,
they did get Drew Dolmon, they got Toony Jonah Jackson.
They were going to be better. And it is interesting
that the cohesion on the ole line takes time because
(31:31):
starters don't play in the preseason, so it was pretty
rough the first two weeks. You could see the dominance
on the ole line last night, and you start looking
at their schedule and they're three and two. Of course
again they could be they could be two and three
or one and four. I mean the Raiders game. It's
a block kick, but they're getting better by the week.
(31:52):
I looked at their offensive skilled people and the whole lineup,
Drew Dolmen's elite Toony's elite. Dundee's a nice young player,
DJ Moore's talented, DeAndre Schut's always been capable. Tight ends
are at least average. I don't know if the coaching
(32:13):
I thought say this. I felt the Bears last night.
I thought skill and coaching, they can match up with
everybody except the Chiefs. And is that just hyperbolic and nonsense.
I actually like their personnel and offense a lot.
Speaker 4 (32:28):
I don't think that's unreasonable at all, and I think
you're starting to see it come together. I think their
by came at the exact right moment. When you look
at the way they handled training camp. It wasn't just
that those guys didn't play in the preseason. They're swapping
out left tackles the entire way through training camp. They
didn't know who the left tackle was going to be
until the season started, and so now they settle in
with THEO Benette left tackle. And the way that they
handled installing the offense in camp, they said this openly
(32:51):
they threw everything at all of those guys. We're going
to figure out over this month what are we good
at and what are we not And that leaves you
not a lot of time to hone the things that
you're good at. And so thereby coming five weeks into
the season is perfect because you get to take a
step back, You get to take a breath and say, Okay,
now that we have all this information, let's start to
really zero in on the stuff we can be good
(33:12):
at with the line that we feel comfortable with. With
Darnold Wright getting back, now you're starting to see that process.
I think that now they're really starting to find tune
things they couldn't find tune in August.
Speaker 1 (33:24):
I watched the Bills last night, Rashi Rice is coming back,
and I watched the Explosive Chiefs on Sunday. And my take, Isy,
you're wasting Josh Allen's years. I don't care if it's
Calvin Ridley. I don't know if it's Dj Moore trade deadline.
Doesn't Buffalo have to do something on the perimeter.
Speaker 4 (33:44):
I honestly think they could do something at a perimeter on
the other side of the ball, like I think corner
and defensive back, and just I would be more interested
in beefing up the defense than I think I would
be with the pass catchers, because for the most part,
I think that Josh Allen and a good offensive line
is a route to in the offense. I think they'll
get there on that side of the ball. I'd be
looking at my defensive personnel, whether it's safety, linebacker, and
(34:07):
just the lack of size physicality that they have. If
I was Brandon Bean, I think that is what would
be keeping me up at night right now.
Speaker 1 (34:13):
Robert May's The Athletic Football Show, great podcast. Do it
every day so it's consistent. Really appreciate you stopping by
any time.
Speaker 4 (34:20):
I really appreciate it. Thank you.
Speaker 3 (34:21):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and newon Easter nine. Em Pacific. Let's blaze it up
right up. It's Collins Blazon fuck Dolphins at Browns.
Speaker 1 (34:33):
High like Cleveland at home minus two and a half.
There's an argument when Cleveland's at home. They have the
best defense in the NFL. PFF has it as the
highest graded defense. You cannot run on this team and
the wins are going to be over forty miles an hour,
the gusts are and it's going to be rainy. Dylan Gabriel,
He'll be fine. They're not going to ask much. The
(34:55):
Dolphins only win this year came up by win over
the Jets.
Speaker 2 (34:59):
Barely.
Speaker 1 (35:00):
They have been out gained in five or six games.
They have culture issues, the quarterback calling out the coach,
and they give up the second most yards per play
in the league. You're talking about an elite defense at
home against the Dolphins defense that is atrocious, and generally,
if your defense is bad, it's worse on the road.
(35:23):
I think it's mostly low scoring, sloppy. I trust Cleveland's
defense to carry the day, maybe get a turnover in
points twenty four to seventeen. Browns win and cover giant,
said Broncos. I like Denver to win and win big.
If you know Jackson Dart yards per play is behind
Russell Wilson this year, and Russell Wilson got bench. This
(35:46):
defense is the best in the league, best third down defense,
best red zone defense, leaves the NFL in sacks. Okay,
they're two to zero at home, both comfortably and Jackson Dart.
Let's not kid ourselves. Russell Wilson had fewer giveaways and
average more yards per play. Jackson Dart's the better story.
(36:06):
He's got good energy, but against this defense in Denver,
forget about it. The Broncos defense at home this year
is unbelievable, relentless pressure. And again I think the Giants
are a really fun story, but they're owing three on
the road this season. I'm gonna take Denver to win
twenty eight to twenty. Cover the spread. Don't think it'll
(36:27):
feel this.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
Close, Commander said, Cowboys.
Speaker 1 (36:31):
Take the over fifty four and a half. I don't
care If Terry mcclaurin plays opposing quarterbacks against the Cowboys
and Commanders are completing sixty eight percent of their throws
in a passer rating almost one to ten, both quarterbacks
are gonna eat. The Commanders have scored twenty four points
plus in four straight games, but their run defense has
(36:53):
gotten worse with injuries and their secondary the mess Ceedee
Lambs back for the Cowboys, but the problem is they
allow the most big plays in the NFL. With or
without Terry McLaurin, I think you're gonna get wild scoring.
The Cowboys defense this season has lasting virtually everything, and
now Washington's has progressively gotten worse over the last three weeks.
(37:17):
I don't need Terry McLaurin. That's not the issue. Remember
when Washington scored points against Chicago and turned it over
three times. They didn't play a clean game and they
scored points. I'm taking the over. Commanders win. That's not
my play. Thirty twenty seven. Take the over fifty four
and a half points, Packer said Cardinals. I think green
(37:38):
Bay wins. I'm taking the seven. It's moved up to
seven Arizona. It doesn't matter if Jacoby Brissett or Kyler
Murray play. Kyler Murray foot injury, may play. Last week,
Kobe Brisett had nine big plays against the Colts Okay,
and Green Bay has yet to win a road game.
They're very young, they're a little banged up on offense.
(38:01):
Listen Arizona. All six of their games this year, most
in the NFL have been one score game. They've let
in the fourth quarter of five of their six games,
and they're always feisty at home. And green Bay is
not taking the ball away this year. The Arizona offense,
green Bay is going to have to prepare for Kyler
Murray and Jacoby Brissett. I think that's a disadvantage. I'm
(38:25):
going to take Green Bay to win close. Seven points
is too many. Twenty eight to twenty four. Feisty Arizona
with either quarterback at home keeps it close.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
Buccaneers at Lions one.
Speaker 1 (38:38):
Of my favorite bets of the weekend. I like the
Lions to win and cover. First of all, the Lions
are not only nine and two at home. In the
last couple of years, they averaged thirty seven points a
game at home. They're a different offense, very good. Jared
Goff leads the NFL in completion percentage that chiefs game.
Kansas City's the best team in the league, probably by
a touchdown. When this team gets home, they are lethal
(39:03):
and their defense is taking the ball away this year
top five in the league in Baker Mayfield has a
lot of, as j Max told you the last couple
of weeks, turnover worthy plays. So the Bucks have trailed
in four their in the fourth quarter in five of
their six games. Twenty fourth in scoring defense, They're missing
a couple of corners. So a team that is really
(39:23):
stacked on offense comes home after an ugly loss. They
face a Tampa team that is winning close but trailing
in all their games, finally their separation. I don't think
it's a great Sunday for Baker in the law. Bucks
Lions win it, Lions cover twenty eight to twenty one.
(39:43):
A game I strongly considered was the Colts beating take
the points with the Colts over the Chargers, but reportedly
Khalil Mack and Joe All are going to play for
the Chargers, so I'm not betting against Harball if he's
got his starting left tackle and his best pass rusher.
So again, I'll take the in an ugly game with
horrendous weather against the Miami team that's got cultural issues
(40:06):
right now and more. I'm gonna take the Broncos comfortably
the over in the Cowboys Commander's Wild shootout. Green Baya
win but look ugly, Cardinals cover, and I think the Lions.
I think the Bucks have been a really fun team
to watch, but man, coming off an ugly loss Detroit
(40:27):
at home, I'm going to take the win and the
cover
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in
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 (00:25):
Here we go. It's our number two. On a Monday
playoffs Baseball playoffs Dodgers tonight, Brewers Mariners take a one
zero lead in Toronto over the Jays. Bits surprising considering
the highly emotional series the Mariners just escaped from wild
(00:49):
weekend to college football is in the end of the
best team in college football. Penn State fires their coach.
J Mackett was a I said in from of a
TV for a lot of the weekend, it is it's
getting to be you know, it's crazy time. It's like,
you get to the point now people are going to
start getting fired with nil and the portal. There's so
(01:10):
much money in college football. It would have been you
would have never considered firing a coach a year after
he won thirteen games because he lost three close games
in a row. But that's the world we live in now.
It's like Praye, college football feels more pro than ever.
And he was in the semi final in overtime against
the Irish. By the way, how did you go an.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Hour without mentioning USC's romp over Michigan?
Speaker 1 (01:32):
What happened?
Speaker 4 (01:33):
Lincoln Riley's waiting.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
For the for the props, I will say they pushed
Michigan around. That was that is what you have to
now they have to go on the road lench Notre
Dame where they're like an eight point dog and should be.
I don't know if they're built to beat Notre Dame.
Weather's getting a little chili in the Midwest. But they pushed,
they pushed Michigan around. It wasn't that they won, it
was how they won. They won in the trenches with
(01:56):
a third string walk on running back. King Miller was unblolble.
Here we go, Colin Wright Colin wrong on.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
A Monday where Colin was right.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Well, when the Eagles started four and oho, I said
they got a coaching issue. You can't tell me they're
beat up and injured. A lot of teams are beat
up and injured. They had a player's only meeting and
AJ Brown sort of denied it. I just I don't
I don't buy the Philadelphia Eagles. They are they're in
trouble right now. They're twenty eighth in yards per rush,
(02:27):
twenty fifth in the NFL in total offense. Even when
they were winning, I said, this isn't going to last.
This is the drip, drip, drip. And last week we
saw the Fawcet burst where Colin was wrong firing James Franklin.
I don't know. I don't get it. Apparently insiders at
(02:48):
Penn State are saying it was untenable. But I will
tell you he'd won ten plus games in three straight seasons.
Are you telling if if he beats you CLA at
the end of the game, you'd keep him. It feels
very reactionary to me. Again, they're a playaway from beating
Notre Name last year, what did they finish fifth in
(03:11):
the country. But this is the world we live in.
Get rid of the coach if there's any questions, And
I just don't like the way it looks I was wrong.
I would have never guessed this where Colin was right
to Pittsburgh, Oh, MVP Baker Mayfield. Yeah, A couple of
weeks ago, I said, I think he's MVP. He's never
(03:34):
been this good. And again, players get better, players get worse,
they regress. Look what's happened to Justin Field. Baker is
better now. He was good early. He didn't play with
his confidence. He's got nothing to work with. Bucky Irby,
Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, Abuca got hurt. I said, two
or three weeks ago, let's not get ourselves here. This
(03:54):
is what an MVP looks like. And I said, Cleveland,
it was a poor fit. It's a bitter fan base
and an angry media poking them in the rips. Tampa's chill,
Todd Bowles high IQ high EQ opening all the doors
for him every weekend.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
More and more.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Baker's the MVP of this league.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Where Colin was wrong?
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers four and one? Are they
going to wrap this division up in four to five weeks?
Aaron right now, smartly is getting rid of the ball
from snap to getting rid of the ball faster than
he has in his entire career. And I got to
tell you, with the size of his targets in Pittsburgh,
I think it's smart. There's there's no wow plays. He's
(04:40):
not doing that. He's doing the back shoulder. He's accurate.
He's completing seventy three percent. This is an offense for
the last seven years. And this is not the best
aeron This is old Aaron. This is an offense in
the last three weeks. He's got a one to twelve
passer rating. Now I know he's he's got an advantage.
That D fence is gobbling up backup quarterbacks. But it
(05:02):
looks good to me. Where Colin was right, I said,
New England, watch out. They're gonna be the double the
win total team in the NFL. This will be my
fourth year in a row. If I hit this after
the Raiders loss, I said, slow down between free agents
and draft picks. They're they're starting like a dozen new guys.
(05:23):
Don't freak out. When they lost to Pittsburgh. Guy said,
let it play out. No team is starting more new bodies.
Vrabel's brilliant. Guy Drake May's really good. And this is
one of those things where not all opening losses are
the same. Detroit's obviously a good team. They got housed
in the first game. New England lost to the Raiders.
(05:44):
I kept saying, don't worry, they'll figure away. They're building
a culture. And we were right where Colin was wrong.
I had Dante More as the number one pick last week.
He got out played by Fernando Mendoza and it wasn't
particularly close. Couple of picks minus twenty seven yards rushing,
didn't see the field particularly well, sacked six times. Listen,
(06:07):
Indiana's really good. Indiana's a really good football team and
really well coached. But Dante More it did not look great.
Let's just be honest about this. It was a really,
really bad game. Considering the quality of the staff and
the quality of Oregon talent, this was a stinker.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Where Colin was right.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Well, I said the Dolphins, I don't trust the culture
and the head coach. Here was Tua after losing to
the LA Chargers. Listen to this.
Speaker 5 (06:39):
I think it starts with the leadership in helping articulate
that for the guys, and then what we're expecting out
of the guys. Right, we're expecting this? Are we getting that?
Are we not getting that? We have guys showing up
to only player only meetings late, guys not showing up
to player only meeting Like there's a lot that goes
into that. It's a lot of it's a lot of
(07:01):
things of that nature that we got to get cleaned up.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Yeah, it till a little late. Three picks had the
game one toa basically saying is yeah, we don't have
a culture here of accountability. Not good.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Where Colin was right.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Let's wrap it up with this. The Mariners to go
one on lead in the American League Championship Series. I
said two weeks ago. Despite having the number fifteen payroll,
they are a more balanced even team than the Yankees.
They can defend, They have good starting pitching. Right now,
opposing hitters in the playoffs are hitting a buck eighty
three on Mariners pitching. Mendoza is a great closer. They
(07:40):
can hit for power station to station baseball. They can
do whatever you want. It's a very complete team. You know,
cal Rawley's their star. There's no question they're not as
star studded as a team like the Yankees, but the
Yankees don't do a lot well outside of hit home runs. Mariners,
I believe will make the World Series and they'll face
the Brewers when they get there.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays
and Noone Eastern, non a em Pacific on Fox Sports
Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Hi. This is Jay.
Speaker 6 (08:11):
I'm the producer of the Paula and Tony Fusco Show.
Usually in these promos they asked you to listen to
the show. I'm here to ask you please don't listen
to the show. The hosts are two absolute morons who
have the dumbest takes on sports, imagicable. Don't listen to
the show so it can get camps.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
What the hell are you doing in our studio? Get him, paul.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Ignore that fool.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
Listen to the Pauline Tony Fusco Show on the iHeartRadio
app or wherever you get your podcast.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
He's still moving.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Heard hierarchy time.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
Now let's go the top ten NFL teams according to
College Number ten.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
New England Patriots' easiest NFL schedule going forward. This is
not a mirage. Drake may leaves ranks top five income
poletion percentage, passing yards, big plays in passer rating. He's
getting better than average protection, He's got.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
A running game.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
The kid moves well. Easy schedule three and zero. Also,
as Jamak pointed out last week, since Christian Gonzalez, the
cornerback has returned three and oh number nine, number nine.
The Steelers listen, they don't turn it over and they
take it away. That does count as a good trait.
(09:28):
They're taking the football away now. They're not facing great quarterbacks,
but their only loss came to the Seahawks, a team
that is better. They're the second least penalized team and
they have a receiving corps and a tight end core
that looks like an NBA front line that looks like
the Dallas Mavericks. Everybody's six six and up, so they
are using some height advantages, some size advantages. They don't
(09:52):
throw it down the field, but it's working. Pittsburgh at nine,
number eight. I like the Colts. I think they have
the second best offensive line in football to Detroit, fewest
sacks allowed in the NFL Indianapolis. They are scoring on
sixty two and a half percent of their drives. They
also should have beaten the Rams. They have the number
(10:14):
one scoring offense leaves the NFL in first downs again,
Warren the rookie Pittman, Jonathan Taylor, a top two or
three offensive line. Daniel Jones this year, all you need
to know he's completing over seventy one percent of his throws.
I think they have a ceiling. I don't think they're
a conference championship team yet. They may be this weekend
(10:37):
if they beat the Chargers, I may reassess. But I
have the Colts at number eight, number seven, Green Bay.
They're young and can't figure out how to put away
inferior teams, but all three wins have come by thirteen
plus points. I like Jordan Love He's more far than
Aaron Rodgers. He could get a little careless, but they're
the best third down offense in the NFL well, and
(11:00):
you can't run on them. They're the opposite of the Bills.
You can't run on them. So they're doing a little
bit of takeaway this year, which they haven't historically done.
Crafts an unbelievable tight end. I like this team a lot.
They're very young, which concerns me. The quarterbacks, the receivers,
the tight end really young. But Jeff Hafley's got that defense,
(11:23):
can't run on it, and they're taking it away. Green
Bay at seven, number six, Well, Seattle was my surprise
pick in the NFL this year. New England and Seattle.
They lead the NFL in yards per play. That is
a huge stat and if you watch them, jsn is
absolutely become a number one ride receiver in this league.
(11:45):
Sam Darnold, according to PFF, is the highest rated quarterback
in the NFL. I think Baker would be my MVP.
But they can run it. They can get you over
the top, they throw to their tight ends. They are
young and athletic defensively and lead the league in yards
per play at Vegas loves that number.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Number five.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Philadelphia thirtieth ranked offense. I mean, it's pretty simple. When
Jalen Hurts throws the ball thirty three times plus they're
not good. When he throws at twenty five times, they win.
I do think they're eventually gonna to some degree right
the ship. But they've been out gained in every game
(12:29):
this season, and they have had three or four of
the worst halfs in the league thirty punts this year.
Only Cleveland the Bengals have more. So their personnel puts
them at five, but I'm not sure they're five. Let's
see him play Minnesota. Let's see Minnesota off of Bibe
hosting Philadelphia. I may knock him out of the top
ten like I've done Buffalo.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Number four.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
I think Detroit's good. I just think Kansas City is
separated from the league. Four games with thirty four plus points,
best offensive line. They're doing something that the Lions haven't done.
And I said this last week. A lot of sacks,
a lot of takeaways. They have the hardest remaining schedule. Again,
this is a really good football team. What Kansas City
(13:14):
did to them, nobody else in the league, in my opinion, could.
In fact, they play Tampa this week and I think
Detroit's gonna win that game, and maybe comfortably. Detroit at four.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Number three, Colin, what.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Are you doing putting Sean Payton at Denver at three?
Speaker 4 (13:30):
Do you know?
Speaker 1 (13:31):
They are the best in the league at protecting their
quarterback and the best in the league at getting after yours.
I think they're one of the few teams that actually
can make Kansas City a little uncomfortable high altitude for
home games. I like their weapons. I don't think bo
Nicks is playing particularly well, but they you can't get
to bo Nicks and he's at I think he should
(13:53):
run more. You can't get to him, and they get
after your quarterback. So they have the number one ranked
offensive line, best third down defense, best red zone defense.
They don't have to be great at quarterback. They can
play poorly and win like this past week. I have
them at three number two. Tampa's five and one. They
(14:13):
could also be two and four, but Baker Mayfield would
be my MVP. They are playing without their number one receiver,
their number two receiver, their number three receiver, their number
four receiver. They're going to a D two guy in
Tesz Johnson, no Bucky Irving. Baker Mayfield has accounted for
seventeen hundred yards. Only Mahomes is accounted for more. I
think they're resilient. I think they're tough, and they're doing it.
(14:37):
I've always liked their GM. They are doing it right
now with backups. I think Tampa's two number one, but
I don't think it's particularly close. I think Kansas City
is with Rashi Rice coming back, he's not going to
get thirteen targets in his first week back. He'll probably
get four to six. But Hollywood Brown, Juju Smith, Travis Worthy,
(14:59):
o line, I didn't even have their left tackle. This
is a good football team, suffocating defensively. I said when
they beat the Ravens. I don't want to hear about injuries.
They physically stopped Lamar. Lamar was completely not only in
his head. He could didn't have any space. So next
to the Colts, they have the second most efficient offense.
They're not giving the ball away. I mean to play.
(15:21):
Detroit did not have a penalty, not have a turnover
in one punt. Detroit's good, really good. That's why I
only dropped him to four. This is my Herd hierarchy.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
at noon Eastern non a Empacific.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
He hos a podcast every day, the Athletic Football Show.
His name is Robert May's Chicago based, and he was
so good last time. We're like, all right, let's just
rebook him. It's like the restaurant, you like, just bring
it back. Let's go again. So I said earlier today,
I said what Ben Johnson essentially did. He just got
rid of the ridiculous They can now score in the
(15:58):
first quarter. They don't on Hail Mary's. The clock doesn't
run out. They run the ball and don't turn it over.
It's not wizardry to me. Last night and the week
before was like you know, the giveaway takeaway thing. They
figured out a little bit and it's just fundamentally more
sound football. It's not Andy Reid play design. To me,
(16:20):
what do you see?
Speaker 4 (16:21):
I think there's some of that coming. What's more encouraging
to me is that when you watch the offense last year,
understand Shane Waldron, none of it made sense. The ways
that they were using the individual skill position players is
the best example of this. They're using Keenan Allen on
vertical routes and they're using roma dunes and all these
change of direction ways. It's like, what is your personnel
do well? And just put them in those positions and
so they have checked that box. The run game structure
(16:42):
looks good. I think some of the details have been
off over the first month, all the penalties, the fact
that you're missing like little assignments here and there. But
the overall plan feels like it's well conceived. Yes, you
feel the plan and you can understand what they're trying
to accomplish. There's intention behind it, and that for somebody
who watches this team every week for a long time,
it's a nice change of plas.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Yeah, no, we said, when your son's been getting d's.
You're not going to argue over a B minus. I
thought it was kind of a B minus performance.
Speaker 4 (17:10):
I think that's right. And I was joking with a
friend earlier this week. All I want is to be
like the sixteenth best offense in a leak. I don't
understand why that's a huge ask, Like I feel like
it's a reasonable thing to want, and it seems like
we're trending in that direction.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Yeah, you know, Caleb's funny, like he's got Relationships are hard,
you know, like Harbaugh and Herbert was easy because Justin's
like the nicest kid ever. It's ego less, and Jim
is almost as his age is almost parental. But Ben
is young and ascending and this is his first big job,
(17:45):
and Caleb had a bad rookie year. I'm gonna argue
this is not as easy as we all think it
is between coach and star quarterback.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
I think that's right. I mean the word that was
used to me when I was there at House Hall
before the season and I was asking about their relationship,
there was one word that somebody said to me. It's intense.
It is intense between them, but not in a bad way.
Intense where you feel growth, where the tension can be healthy.
And I think after his rookie year, Caleb needed that
he needed a little bit more structure. He needed somebody
to push him. And by all accounts, that's exactly what
(18:12):
it has felt like so far. And I think you're
starting to see their returns on that.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
So I use the example earlier of Mark Jackson and
Steve Kerr. Mark Jackson was more than capable. They were
winning games, but you had this transformational talent in Steph Curry,
and you needed this ecosystem that was kind of impenetrable
that was unique. Draymond was a small ball, became a thing.
You had Klay Thompson, and all of a sudden you
(18:38):
look up and they weren't maybe as good initially defensively,
but it did make sense in a division. Now was
Sean Payton, and then Andy Reid and then Mike vrabel
is gaining on you and Jim Harbaugh. They're iconic guys
in the East. And I kind of look at Sean
McDermott as a really great SUPERVI that's not crazy creative,
(19:03):
and I wonder, I wonder if Josh Allen now has
a little self doubt losing to Young New England, losing
to Atlanta. I mean, Michael Pennix looked really comfortable last
night doing kind of whatever he wanted to. I don't know.
I mean, do you think did Josh and McDermott get
along really well?
Speaker 4 (19:24):
I think that my biggest frustration with the Bills right
now is that there was a version of the Bills
when Josh Allen was ascending. They're very specific on offense,
They're very spread out. They used a lot of college concepts.
Their run game was very bad, and at a certain point,
I think that fed into Josh's worst impulses. There was
no calming force on offense, and when Joe Brady took over,
(19:44):
they developed this really downhill run game that they could
rely on. And now they have this flexibility where if
we need to throw the ball forty times, we can,
If we need to run the ball forty times, we can.
That evolution has not happened on defense. All they're doing
now is they're tinkering within the same world in which
they've always existed, and I think that's where you're seeing
some of the limitations, and ultimately that does fall on
the coach. This on that side of the ball is
(20:07):
his vision.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
You can't stop the run.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
They can't because of the way they're built. If you
look at the types of players that they prioritize on
the in the back seven, it's undersized guys who move
well and are smirt right. They're trying to recreate Mike Apart,
mikeah Hyde and Jordan Poyer in the back end because
they want to do all this disguise, and they still
disguise coverages more than any team in the league. Well,
all offenses are doing is saying, you can do all
(20:30):
that funky stuff on the back end you want to,
We're going to bludgeon you up front this entire game.
And it's so funny that the Bill's offense figured that out.
We're going to be the dominant, We're going to be
the enforcers.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
Now.
Speaker 4 (20:42):
The Bill's defense has never gotten there, and I think
you're seeing how that's holding them back right now.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
So I was saying, Sean Payton texts me over the
last year about bow Nicks and it was a good
fit and it's got Drew Brees's composition to it right,
But Bo's not a great beat ball thrower so far.
And Mims Franklin and Sutton can all be deep ball
receivers and Bo misses it badly, and Sean likes that.
(21:08):
He wants that, you know, I also I don't think
he wants to run Bonnicks that much, because you know,
most coaches don't. It feels like to me, this roster
is really stacked. It's got a lot of long, twitchy
athletes and they just it's all underneath stuff Like it
(21:29):
feels to me that sean body language last week in
London felt frustrated. To me, Sean looked frustrated.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
It's interesting that you talked to him, because when he
has talked about Bonnicks over the last year, anybody who
will listen, it seems like he's willing to tell them
I believe in this guy, like I think this guy
can be a winning quarterback. But then you watch how
they approached the offense last week on third and four,
third and five, these really high leverage moments, and it's
all screens all the time, and so he's saying one thing,
(21:57):
and then the construction and the decision making is another
thing about the quarterback, And so I wonder how much
does he actually believe in him if he's not going
to let him drop back to pass on third and
seven in the biggest moments of a game.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
Yeah, it's I like Denver's roster.
Speaker 4 (22:13):
I think it's fantastic, undeniably. I mean, the defense top
to bottom might be the best in the league. The
offensive line is great. I think you're seeing some of
the limitations that bo had last year continue to crop
up again this year, and it's a little bit disappointing.
You hope that there would be some gains in those areas,
but some of the stuff that's holding them back now
some of the same stuff that was holding them back
in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
So I have defended Aaron Rodgers not much over the
last seven or eight years. I can remember years ago
not liking his body language. I pointed out years ago
he has very few come from behind wins considering how
great he is, Fewer than Derek Carr, Andy Dalton. Some
of that is kind of body language changes. If he
has an early pick. He's a little bit more of
(22:54):
a Baylor than a Baller in big spots, but he's gifted.
I actually love this Aaron. So the Steelers have like
an NBA front line. I mean, Washington Friarmouth DK Metcalf
like if there was a loose ball, they're getting the rebound,
and I think he's My take on Robert May's joining
us for the radio audience. My take on it is
(23:16):
Aaron is looking at this and like, we're not small
and twitchy. That's not what we are. We're gonna win
one on one matchups. We're so damn big. And he's
not throwing it deep and he's getting crushed by the pffs.
But when I watch them play, his risks are well
thought out. It's beautiful back shoulders three to four times
a game. I know I'm being told he's not rating well,
(23:39):
but it looks like the right play to me. What
am I missing?
Speaker 4 (23:43):
I think you're missing the limitations down the road. That's
what I would be most concerned about the way that
he's approaching some of these games. The Minnesota one is
a perfect example. Against that Vikings defense, it's going to
bring a lot of heat at you. They play a
lot of very soft zone coverage. If you're getting the
ball out very quickly, that's the way to attack them.
But I think ultimately these guys who have super super
low time to throws Joe Burrow comes to mind when
(24:05):
the best version of Joe Burrow that we've ever seen
was the Joe Burrow we saw last year when he
started creating a little bit more deeper into the play.
You saw some of the pocket movement. Eventually, you're going
to need to do that against the best defenses in
the league. You can't just hunt these matchups and get
rid of the ball in two and a half seconds.
But it's exactly what he's doing right now, and that's
what he wants to do. If you look back at
(24:26):
it last year, he had a very low time to
throw when he's got a slot fade to DeVante Adams
or a one on one slamt Dara Wilson. He does
that very very well. He can still pin the ball
on guys. But ultimately, when you're playing against the Broncos
defense on Divisional weekend, you're going to need to re
stuff out and access different parts of the play than
(24:46):
whatever your first immediate one on one opportunity is. And
I still don't think we've seen him do that enough
over the last couple of years.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
Yeah, and Haslbeck came on the show yesterday, Matt, and
he's like, let me tell you, when the first numbers four,
you want to get rid of the ball quickly. You've
taken so many hits. He goes, I think it's subconscious,
you just want the ball out. And I kind of
defend him based on his history and how many times
he's been hit.
Speaker 4 (25:10):
That's absolutely what I've seen over the last couple of years.
And I think now he's been able to exist in
this box and it's been okay. If you push him
outside of that, I think that's where things get a
little bit dicey, because I totally agree with Matt. I
think you can feel him not wanting to sit in
the pocket very long and read stuff out a little
bit deeper into these plays.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
So Baker won a playoff game in Cleveland. Stefanski didn't
like some of the personality. He was a bit of
a fire starter, and so they moved on. It's a
mistake now with Baker. But Baker was never terrible. Sam
Donald was Sam Donald was regrettable, and so he goes
to Minnesota and a lot of the compliments was well
justin Jefferson and Kevin O'Connell. I don't know, did Seattle
(25:51):
are they surprised Sam's been this good because I think
a lot of people felt like, okay, that that was
a bit of an outlier. Are you surprised? Do you
think Seattle is he's the number one graded quarterback. Now
there's a guy that will throw the ball down the
field in Donald. Are you surprised?
Speaker 4 (26:07):
I'm surprised it's been this good. He had flashes last year.
But I think the combination of the lack of mistakes
plus all the high end plays. We've never seen that
version of Sam Donald before turnover worthy plays, the amount
of sacks that he's taking, all of that stuff. The
volume has beurn turned all the way down and you're
still getting the high end stuff. And so I had
a conversation with Sam last summer that was illuminating to
(26:28):
me just about the ways that he was seeing the
game a little bit deeper in his career, and I
think when he was in San Francisco and he finally
was in an offensive system where the intention of what
they were trying to accomplish was articulated to him. Why
are you doing this as a quarterback? Why should you
be seeing it this way? I think that's carried over
over the last couple of years and It's funny. We've
seen this with Baker, with Sam, with Gino, to an extent,
(26:50):
Daniel Jones, these guys with their second act that have
made the most of it. You see this convergence of
physical talent and mental maturity, and that happens for quarterbacks
at twenty seven, twenty.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
Eight years old humans. Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 4 (27:01):
And I think so many athletes we think, oh, they're
peaking at twenty three, that's what they're going to be.
Quarterbacks aren't like that, right. Your prime comes in your
late twenties, and so for somebody as talented as Sam Darnold,
he needed another opportunity to make good on it. But
that convergence of those two things I don't think is
more pronounced for any player in the league than it
has been for Sam. So.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
I like Drake May out of college. I loved Vrabel
as a coach. They were my pick to double the
win total, and some of it was because I thought
Miami and the Jets were fairly lifeless, hapless. Drake May
is better faster than I thought, right, Like, what the
coverage is? I mean, he had a really bad pick
(27:43):
in the end zone against Pittsburgh, and you're like, Okay,
that's just it's okay. I defended him when they lost
to the Raiders, Robert, I said, okay, they've got nine
news free agent starters, six prookies, Like this is like
an NIL portal gone wrong. In college, I way too
many guys, second, third, fourth week. So I kind of
(28:03):
gave him a pass. I kept saying, be patient. I
didn't think he was this good like I thought. I'm
not sure I ever thought seventy five percent completion percentage, Like,
let's explain it.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
I think that's a really good way to look at it.
To me, it's a combination of three things. Lack of mistakes,
like truly boneheaded mistakes. You just picked out one. That's
about all there's been. You know, there haven't been that many.
And in college and even as a rookie, there are
more of those flubs mentally for him that I think
you want to see. And he's really really toning that down.
And then there's a combination of high floor plays and
(28:34):
high ceiling plays, what he can do with his legs
and as a scrambler, all the easy completions that he's taking.
That's what's so encouraging and exciting to me is that
those completions that are there underneath checking the ball down.
He's doing all of that stuff at a really competent
level early on, and he is so talented and so aggressive,
the high end stuff is going to come. That was
(28:54):
never a question. It was all about the steady aspects
of his play in the offense. And I think you
seeing all that stuff come together at the exact same time,
and I'm one hundred percent with you. He has been
so much better, so much faster than even the most
optimistic Drake May believers probably would have thought.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Yeah, the you know, I I we can end it
on this and chew on this a little bit. Maybe
because I like Brian Dable, so even when the Giants
came into this season, I wasn't sure about the GM Shane,
but I like Brian. I like their left tackle and
healthy neighbors Scataboo I thought would be interesting, and their
(29:31):
defensive front's excellent. The Jets have players, and there's there
is a Freddie Kitchens aspect to Aaron Glenn where I'm like, wow,
nothing's good and I and I do wonder because you know,
the Jets will tell people privately who criticize them on Sala.
We gave him multiple years. I mean the Aerin thing
(29:53):
is I mean, if I was a college quarterback and
the Jets had the number one pick, like I, I
think that if I got the right nil number, I
may stay with my college program. What's too soon to
pull the plug with a Jets like Robert? Nothing works.
The play calling was weird. It feels Freddy Kitchens. Where
(30:13):
he may be a good play caller. Some guys are
just vice presidents if that is fine, I mean, what's
happening there?
Speaker 4 (30:20):
It's so strange. The offense. I think we all could
predict that they might have struggled this year. Right Justin
Fields has been an afterthought quarterback. He's been a backup quarterback.
We're not going to see this resurgence with all these
guys getting another opportunity. The passing game with him and
the receivers that they have on that roster was always
going to be limited, and I think we've realized those limitations.
What's most discouraging to me is the fact that their defense,
(30:41):
too often over the first six games has just looked lost.
Like you look at what some of their second and
third level defenders are doing in space, their eyes against
the run, These things that should be the strongest parts
of your team with a defensive minded head coach. Coaching
to me as simple in the NFL, I think we
based coaching. We evaluate them. Are you getting the most
out of your players what you're supposed to be good at?
(31:03):
Are you good at those things? Are you getting returns
on those things? And for the Jets specifically, that hasn't
happened on defense, and I think that's where it gets
really worrying.
Speaker 1 (31:11):
Yeah, let's circle back one to the Bears. I think
it was interesting last night. They put a stat up
it was just the Bears scored twenty seven first quarter
points and they're at thirty seven. Now, it's remarkable. Now,
they did get Drew Dolmon, they got Toony Jonah Jackson.
They were going to be better. And it is interesting
that the cohesion on the ole line takes time because
(31:31):
starters don't play in the preseason, so it was pretty
rough the first two weeks. You could see the dominance
on the ole line last night, and you start looking
at their schedule and they're three and two. Of course
again they could be they could be two and three
or one and four. I mean the Raiders game. It's
a block kick, but they're getting better by the week.
(31:52):
I looked at their offensive skilled people and the whole lineup,
Drew Dolmen's elite Toony's elite. Dundee's a nice young player,
DJ Moore's talented, DeAndre Schut's always been capable. Tight ends
are at least average. I don't know if the coaching
(32:13):
I thought say this. I felt the Bears last night.
I thought skill and coaching, they can match up with
everybody except the Chiefs. And is that just hyperbolic and nonsense.
I actually like their personnel and offense a lot.
Speaker 4 (32:28):
I don't think that's unreasonable at all, and I think
you're starting to see it come together. I think their
by came at the exact right moment. When you look
at the way they handled training camp. It wasn't just
that those guys didn't play in the preseason. They're swapping
out left tackles the entire way through training camp. They
didn't know who the left tackle was going to be
until the season started, and so now they settle in
with THEO Benette left tackle. And the way that they
handled installing the offense in camp, they said this openly
(32:51):
they threw everything at all of those guys. We're going
to figure out over this month what are we good
at and what are we not And that leaves you
not a lot of time to hone the things that
you're good at. And so thereby coming five weeks into
the season is perfect because you get to take a
step back, You get to take a breath and say, Okay,
now that we have all this information, let's start to
really zero in on the stuff we can be good
(33:12):
at with the line that we feel comfortable with. With
Darnold Wright getting back, now you're starting to see that process.
I think that now they're really starting to find tune
things they couldn't find tune in August.
Speaker 1 (33:24):
I watched the Bills last night, Rashi Rice is coming back,
and I watched the Explosive Chiefs on Sunday. And my take, Isy,
you're wasting Josh Allen's years. I don't care if it's
Calvin Ridley. I don't know if it's Dj Moore trade deadline.
Doesn't Buffalo have to do something on the perimeter.
Speaker 4 (33:44):
I honestly think they could do something at a perimeter on
the other side of the ball, like I think corner
and defensive back, and just I would be more interested
in beefing up the defense than I think I would
be with the pass catchers, because for the most part,
I think that Josh Allen and a good offensive line
is a route to in the offense. I think they'll
get there on that side of the ball. I'd be
looking at my defensive personnel, whether it's safety, linebacker, and
(34:07):
just the lack of size physicality that they have. If
I was Brandon Bean, I think that is what would
be keeping me up at night right now.
Speaker 1 (34:13):
Robert May's The Athletic Football Show, great podcast. Do it
every day so it's consistent. Really appreciate you stopping by
any time.
Speaker 4 (34:20):
I really appreciate it. Thank you.
Speaker 3 (34:21):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and newon Easter nine. Em Pacific. Let's blaze it up
right up. It's Collins Blazon fuck Dolphins at Browns.
Speaker 1 (34:33):
High like Cleveland at home minus two and a half.
There's an argument when Cleveland's at home. They have the
best defense in the NFL. PFF has it as the
highest graded defense. You cannot run on this team and
the wins are going to be over forty miles an hour,
the gusts are and it's going to be rainy. Dylan Gabriel,
He'll be fine. They're not going to ask much. The
(34:55):
Dolphins only win this year came up by win over
the Jets.
Speaker 2 (34:59):
Barely.
Speaker 1 (35:00):
They have been out gained in five or six games.
They have culture issues, the quarterback calling out the coach,
and they give up the second most yards per play
in the league. You're talking about an elite defense at
home against the Dolphins defense that is atrocious, and generally,
if your defense is bad, it's worse on the road.
(35:23):
I think it's mostly low scoring, sloppy. I trust Cleveland's
defense to carry the day, maybe get a turnover in
points twenty four to seventeen. Browns win and cover giant,
said Broncos. I like Denver to win and win big.
If you know Jackson Dart yards per play is behind
Russell Wilson this year, and Russell Wilson got bench. This
(35:46):
defense is the best in the league, best third down defense,
best red zone defense, leaves the NFL in sacks. Okay,
they're two to zero at home, both comfortably and Jackson Dart.
Let's not kid ourselves. Russell Wilson had fewer giveaways and
average more yards per play. Jackson Dart's the better story.
(36:06):
He's got good energy, but against this defense in Denver,
forget about it. The Broncos defense at home this year
is unbelievable, relentless pressure. And again I think the Giants
are a really fun story, but they're owing three on
the road this season. I'm gonna take Denver to win
twenty eight to twenty. Cover the spread. Don't think it'll
(36:27):
feel this.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
Close, Commander said, Cowboys.
Speaker 1 (36:31):
Take the over fifty four and a half. I don't
care If Terry mcclaurin plays opposing quarterbacks against the Cowboys
and Commanders are completing sixty eight percent of their throws
in a passer rating almost one to ten, both quarterbacks
are gonna eat. The Commanders have scored twenty four points
plus in four straight games, but their run defense has
(36:53):
gotten worse with injuries and their secondary the mess Ceedee
Lambs back for the Cowboys, but the problem is they
allow the most big plays in the NFL. With or
without Terry McLaurin, I think you're gonna get wild scoring.
The Cowboys defense this season has lasting virtually everything, and
now Washington's has progressively gotten worse over the last three weeks.
(37:17):
I don't need Terry McLaurin. That's not the issue. Remember
when Washington scored points against Chicago and turned it over
three times. They didn't play a clean game and they
scored points. I'm taking the over. Commanders win. That's not
my play. Thirty twenty seven. Take the over fifty four
and a half points, Packer said Cardinals. I think green
(37:38):
Bay wins. I'm taking the seven. It's moved up to
seven Arizona. It doesn't matter if Jacoby Brissett or Kyler
Murray play. Kyler Murray foot injury, may play. Last week,
Kobe Brisett had nine big plays against the Colts Okay,
and Green Bay has yet to win a road game.
They're very young, they're a little banged up on offense.
(38:01):
Listen Arizona. All six of their games this year, most
in the NFL have been one score game. They've let
in the fourth quarter of five of their six games,
and they're always feisty at home. And green Bay is
not taking the ball away this year. The Arizona offense,
green Bay is going to have to prepare for Kyler
Murray and Jacoby Brissett. I think that's a disadvantage. I'm
(38:25):
going to take Green Bay to win close. Seven points
is too many. Twenty eight to twenty four. Feisty Arizona
with either quarterback at home keeps it close.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
Buccaneers at Lions one.
Speaker 1 (38:38):
Of my favorite bets of the weekend. I like the
Lions to win and cover. First of all, the Lions
are not only nine and two at home. In the
last couple of years, they averaged thirty seven points a
game at home. They're a different offense, very good. Jared
Goff leads the NFL in completion percentage that chiefs game.
Kansas City's the best team in the league, probably by
a touchdown. When this team gets home, they are lethal
(39:03):
and their defense is taking the ball away this year
top five in the league in Baker Mayfield has a
lot of, as j Max told you the last couple
of weeks, turnover worthy plays. So the Bucks have trailed
in four their in the fourth quarter in five of
their six games. Twenty fourth in scoring defense, They're missing
a couple of corners. So a team that is really
(39:23):
stacked on offense comes home after an ugly loss. They
face a Tampa team that is winning close but trailing
in all their games, finally their separation. I don't think
it's a great Sunday for Baker in the law. Bucks
Lions win it, Lions cover twenty eight to twenty one.
(39:43):
A game I strongly considered was the Colts beating take
the points with the Colts over the Chargers, but reportedly
Khalil Mack and Joe All are going to play for
the Chargers, so I'm not betting against Harball if he's
got his starting left tackle and his best pass rusher.
So again, I'll take the in an ugly game with
horrendous weather against the Miami team that's got cultural issues
(40:06):
right now and more. I'm gonna take the Broncos comfortably
the over in the Cowboys Commander's Wild shootout. Green Baya
win but look ugly, Cardinals cover, and I think the Lions.
I think the Bucks have been a really fun team
to watch, but man, coming off an ugly loss Detroit
(40:27):
at home, I'm going to take the win and the
cover
Hosts And Creators
Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
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