All lines provided by Hard Rock Bet.
Nick Wright previews Week 9 of the NFL season, starting with his Kansas City Chiefs taking on the Buffalo Bills in the 10th meeting between Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. Then, Nick sets his expectations for the Baltimore Ravens now that Lamar Jackson is back from injury ahead of their Thursday Night Football game against Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins. After, Nick weighs in on the 2024 QB class and what he thinks of Drake Maye, Bo Nix, and J.J. McCarthy, before answering some scary NFL questions. Later, Nick and Damonza answer your questions. #Volume
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome in What's Driving the Great Episode three eighty five.
As always, this episode is brought to you by our
great friends at boost Mobile. Demand's a great to see you,
great looking shirt. Weather must be gorgeous in La today,
even though I'm sure folks are going to be a
little down as the Dodgers might be frittering away this
(00:24):
world series. And I have the hottest take, the hottest
take about why the Dodgers are down three two to
the blue Jays. Are you ready for it?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
What's the what is that?
Speaker 1 (00:34):
The blue Jays are better? Oh Goo days had a
better record by one game. The blue Jays don't have
a massive liability, that is their bullpen. The blue Jays
are hot and confident and bad on ball. What'd you
say ball?
Speaker 2 (00:54):
They're connecting?
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Well, yeah, exactly right, but the ball and play. And
here here's the other thing we were trying to figure
out how to discuss this on for first things first today,
which is it is a clumsy if you will, almost topic,
(01:19):
not clumsy topic, but it's unwieldy, which is, how do
you square this circle that we have seen this postseason?
Shohei o Tani have arguably you, arguably the two greatest
games anyone has ever played in the history of playoff baseball.
(01:43):
The three home run ten strikeout game and then the
two home run, two double five walk game. We've seen
that just in the last week. How do you square
that with? And other than those two games, he's been brewed,
like what do you what it is? It's and and
(02:05):
last postseason he was banged up, but he wasn't great.
But you can't be like, oh, he's not a postseason
performer because he literally might have had the two greatest
playoff games ever played, uh, in the playoffs. But also
aside and this is kind of a reverse, yeah, but
aside from that, missus Lincoln, how was the play you
don't want to Yeah, but the two greatest baseball games
(02:28):
any of us have ever seen, arguably, But aside from that,
he hasn't been good. It's really weird. And so on
first things first, we determined the way we're gonna frame
it is because Bruce been calling him the boat the
best of all time? Has this postseason helped or hurt
his quest for that title?
Speaker 3 (02:49):
And he's hitting you know, it's the game. It's really
rough on the body, dude.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
So I do wonder how much of it is that
is that of everyone, the eighteen inning game took the
most out of show hey, because the very next day,
after being on base nine times, he then also had
to pitch. But it's listen. I think my prediction before
the series was Blue Jays and seven. I think that's
(03:20):
still what's gonna happen because I think Yamamoto is going
to is gonna pitch a gym in game six. And
by the way, here is I wonder you throw in
the doc if you guys could look it up for me.
What Yamamoto's World Series MVP odds are. I think before
(03:43):
the World Series he was thirty five to one. Yesterday
he was sixteen to one because if the Blue Jay,
if the Dodgers do end up coming back to win it,
he's fourteen to one now, so maybe he was, you know,
sixteen to one in some books fourteen to one. Another
Dodgers come back to win it, and Yamamoto has two
(04:03):
complete games two of their four wins. With Shohy cooling
off a bit. I wonder if he could win World
Series MVP. I mean, the smart money right now would
be on Vlad because it looks like the Blue Jays
are gonna win it. But that is that is something.
And I've been locked in to playoff to playoff baseball
(04:25):
in the World Series. I think it's been great and
I'm thrilled we're getting at least six, if not seven games.
So right now, Yamamoto's got the third best odds, but
it's Vladdie minus two hundred, show Hey plus two thirty,
and then Yamamoto at fourteen to one. All right, let's
get to straight the voicemail brought to you by our
friends at boost Mobile. One of those things straight to
(04:47):
voicemail was the Blue Jays Austin Reeves. Holy Molly, now
I saw. I think it was. I don't want to
get it wrong. I think Kenny Smith last night compared
this him to Jared me Lynn, which is so wildly
insulting to Austin. Austin's a legit excellent player, and they
(05:08):
called me a madman a few years ago when I
said I'd rather have him than Bradley Beal. Austin's about
to get that contract Bradley Beal got in Washington that
immediately became an albatross. Austin's been great. I do wonder
this and this will tell you a lot about the
(05:29):
Lakers priorities for the year, because when Luca is there,
Austin becomes less critical. When Luca and Lebron are both there,
Austin becomes almost wholly redundant. Do they consider selling super
high on Austin to try to upgrade their perimeter defense
(05:53):
and shooting, or do they look at Austin as Luca's
running mate for the next five years. I don't know
the answer to that, And a lot of that has
to do with how good the Lakers think they can
be this season when they're fully healthy. So all that,
and then their Nick's Halloween costume. But I'm I'm not
dressing up for Halloween this year. Your little sister's going
as a ghostbuster, so that's pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
And a little vacuum or something.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
Well, yeah, I don't vacuum, but yeah, I mean I
think they.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
I mean, it's like a ghost vacuum or something. I'm
not sure exactly what it is, but it's pretty cool.
It's a it's a good costume. I like it all
right to Mom's a reminder everybody like rate subscribe review
to the pod. A lot to do today. I am
also a tad bit under the weather, if I'm being
totally honest, and so I'm going to power through. Let's
(06:49):
get to the annually the Bill's annual super Bowl, their
regular season game against the Chiefs.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Uh yeah, it is super Bowl week over there in
Buffalo and Buffalo's home dogs this time. I know, what,
what do you think we're gonna learn more from? Or
which team do you think we're gonna learn more from
in this game?
Speaker 1 (07:10):
So a lot here, right, and the Bills likely without
Ed Oliver, which is brutal for them. The Chiefs definitely
without their starting left tackle Josh Simmons. I do expect
him back by the way in November, but he's not
(07:30):
going to be there for this game. Trey Smith should
be back, which is important. Those are the maybe most
noteworthy injuries or absences for the Bills. The real question
to me is can this defense slow down what has
become the most pro with respect to the Colts, the
(07:53):
most prolific offense in the NFL. That is that that's
the question for Buffalo and for Kansas. It is actually
a similar question in this regard, which is the Chiefs
have the defense the last two weeks has been unbelievable,
(08:14):
but you're playing Mariota and you're playing the Raiders when
they have played legitimate quarterbacks. Those teams have moved the ball. Now, listen,
the Lions only scored seventeen points, but they moved the ball.
The Prince and the Jags moved the ball. Baltimore in
(08:38):
the three quarters, Lamar played moved the ball. Philly actually
struggled a bit moving the ball. But the Chargers move
the ball. So this Chiefs defense can't generate enough of
a pass rush without having to send blitz after blitz
after blitz to disrupt Josh Allen. So those are the
(08:58):
real The focus is going to be on Allen and Mahomes,
But as far as learning more about either of these teams,
it's gonna be more about the defensive side of the game.
But I will also say this, if I were just
(09:19):
to name a few Bill Simmons or Mike Greenberg or
Jim Rome or Joe Montana or Steven Ruiz or Dominique Foxworth,
some of these people are my good friends or colleague
(09:44):
or Colin Cowherd might mentor and dear dear friend, any
of a dozen people who in September or August definitively
declared that the best quarterback in football is Josh Allen.
I'd be a little nervous this week because twenty some
(10:10):
million people are going to watch the Chiefs go to
Buffalo and what very well might be the last time
Mahomes and Allen ever play in that stadium, and I
think they're going to watch Patrick put on an absolute masterclass.
(10:33):
And I understand that it was very in vogue, as
it is every September, and again I have been very
complimentary of Josh the last couple of years, but it
was very in vogue to just flatly assert, oh, Josh
(10:57):
Allen's the best player in the league after the first
few weeks of the season, and since then he's been good,
but not great. The team has been just fine since
that three and zero start two and two, and right
(11:18):
now this year, the only win the Bills have to
hang their hat on is a Ravens win. That Ravens
win that has not I guess I think it's fair
to say aged amazingly because the Ravens were such a
mess the first six weeks of the year. And this
(11:40):
gets us to demands the rivalry questions. So go ahead,
I'll let.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
You yes, like like you said this is gonna be
the tenth time that they face each other, So what
would Allen need to do.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
In this game for it to be considered a rivalry
or a true rivalry.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
So I under it is a rivalry. I want to
like I don't think it's not a rivalry. It's the
two best quarterbacks in the league, and it is two
of the three best teams in the league over the
(12:17):
last five years. I don't think you can call it
the two best teams in the league because I think
you have to get Philadelphia. It's credit. They've been to
two Super Bowls, they've won one, But it is It
is unlike any rivalry we've seen in NFL history, where
(12:40):
despite the fact that the teams are you know, in
any given year, even or one guy just has a
slight advantage. Early on when they were playing, the Chiefs
clearly had the better offensive weapons, the Bills clearly had
the better defense. The last couple of years, the Bills
(13:04):
probably had the better offensive weapons, offensive line, running back, core,
tight ends, you know, and the Chiefs might have actually
had the better defense. And one team has consistently won
the regular season matchups, and one team has won every
(13:24):
single one of the postseason matchups, and it is and I,
you know, ranted about this on the TV show yesterday,
so I don't have to spend too much time on
it here. But people so badly want it to be
Brady Peyton and it has just been nothing like Brady Peyton,
(13:50):
and it's maddening to me. Brady Peyton.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
Was.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Peyton was the guy with the multiple MVPs. Peyton was
the guy with the crazy stats, and Brady was the
one with the rings in this instance. And by the way,
Peyton in their third playoff matchup beat Brady, and in
their fourth playoff matchup beat Brady, and in their fifth
(14:19):
and final playoff matchup beat Brady. Fact that nobody seems
to remember but me is Peyton finished the Brady Peyton
playoff rivalry with a winning record. He was one and
two with the Colts and two and zero with the Broncos.
But set that aside Josh and Patrick, Josh is the
(14:44):
Patrick is the one with multiple MVPs. Patrick is the
one with the gaudier stats, and Patrick is the only
one that's ever won. So it is far closer to
Jordan Ewing or or lebron Toronto than it is bird
(15:08):
magic or Peyton Brady?
Speaker 3 (15:12):
What do you like, bron Toronto is crazy.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
I mean that's what it's been. I mean, that's what
that they even when Toronto had the better regular season
record than Cleveland, even when they were the favorite in
the series, which people will pretend to said true twenty eighteen.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
Holmes has always had the gaudier stats. I feel like
some years Josh Allen has beaten Patrick Mahomes out on well.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
No, I mean last year Josh was literally League MVP,
and the year before Josh had better individual numbers. But
I'm talking about for the totality of their careers, Patrick
has more passing yards, more touchdowns, fewer turnovers, a higher
passer rating, and no, no, no, the last two years Josh
(15:58):
has had the the better numbers, and the last two
years they've played in the playoffs, once in Josh's building,
once in Patrick's. The last two years, Josh has had
the ball in his hands less than five minutes remaining
down three points, chance to go slay the dragon, and
(16:21):
the last two years the Bills have walked off the
field getting zero points from those drives, and the Chiefs celebrate.
I mean, that's just what's happened, and uh and so
I just people so badly want Patrick dabber peer and
he just doesn't at this point. And as far as
(16:44):
can this game change that, no could. Would the Bills
beating the Chiefs in the playoffs finally change that? Sure,
but we're far a long way from it. All right,
let's talk MVP. Uh yeah, how far.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Do you think that this game will go into side
in the MVP?
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Well and also another follow up on this, could the
loser still be eligible for MVP?
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (17:10):
Yeah, I mean again, we do too much. It's week
eight or we just finished Week eight. A lot of
people are still eligible for MVP. You're not knocked out
of it here. But Josh's MVP case right now to
me is very shaky. And listen, I was on the
(17:32):
record throughout last season that I thought at the end
of last season he was the MVP. But right now
this moment, Josh's team has a good but not great record.
But that's the same with Patrick. They both have five wins.
Josh is, however, twentieth in the NFL in passing yards.
(17:56):
He is tied for fourteenth in the NFL in passing touchdowns.
He is ninth in the NFL in passer rating, and
you can say, well, you know, we've got to and
we do have to give Josh credit for the rushing
(18:17):
piece of it. So he's rushed for two hundred and
sixty yards and has rushed for five touchdowns. The touchdowns
more impressive than the yards. Obviously, on that note, Josh
has not up to this point played like an MVP,
and the point I was making earlier after he was
(18:38):
unbelievable in that Ravens game, and he was unbelievable in
the Dolphins game. That was the game after the Dolphins
game when Mike Greenberg said he's never seen anyone play
the position better than Josh Allen. Since those three game,
those opening three weeks, he's been mediocre against the same points.
(19:01):
Threw for two hundred yards, two touchdowns and a pick
against the Patriots and a loss. Threw for two touchdowns
or two touchdowns, one pick and two hundred and fifty
three yards against the Falcons and a loss. Was bad.
Two touchdowns, two picks at seventy three rating one hundred
and eighty yards. I against the Panthers last week, didn't
have to do anything, and I mean they won forty
(19:22):
to nine. You don't hold it against it. He threw
for one hundred and sixty yards.
Speaker 4 (19:26):
So it is.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
Right now if we were talking NFL MVP as far
as not projection demons on who's going to win it,
but on who if the award were given out, if
we had a mid season MVP, better candidates than Josh
(19:54):
would be Drake May, who, honestly I think would be
the mid season MVP. I think right now this moment,
Drake May has you could argue, has been the MVP.
Drake has a better case. Jonathan Taylor, if we're going
to open it up to running backs, has a better case.
(20:17):
Matthew Stafford.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
That's Baker.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Like I know, he got knocked out, but given the
totality his his season has been equal to, if not
better than Josh Allen's.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
Up to this point. Yes, I and so the right now,
if again, if we're voted on right now, my my
top five would be Drake, Stafford, Taylor, Baker, and Patrick.
And then I think you well, I'm going with Jonathan
(20:54):
Taylor as the MVP of that team. If it's a
quarterback only than Daniel Jones would have to be involved.
Jared Goff some would argue, and Jalen hurts. I wouldn't argue,
but the twenty touchdowns to two turnovers something else, and
the insane passer rating, you know, with something else. It's
just his yards are so low. It's a tough one.
(21:18):
But all those guys set Jalen aside because it's such
a unique case, have stronger MVP cases at this moment
than Josh. Uh. All right, let's a couple more questions
on this.
Speaker 3 (21:35):
You joked on Tuesday show that if the Chiefs lost
the or won the regular season matchup, that they might
be in jeopardy to lose the postseason matchup. Are you
all worried about that with his game coming up?
Speaker 1 (21:45):
Well, here's what I find really interesting. This is the
first time these two teams since Patrick and Josh have
been there are playing in the regular season with neither
one of them in first in their own division. Usually
both are in first. This is the only time that
(22:07):
neither's been in first. And I do feel that the
Chiefs historically have had an edge in the playoff matchup
against Buffalo Demonse because Buffalo goes all out for that
(22:27):
regular season game and the Chiefs, to me, have a
pretty vanilla game plan. They obviously want to win, and
they've been important games, but a pretty vanilla game plan
and try to use that regular season game as a
scouting opportunity for the postseason game. I don't know that
(22:47):
Kansas City or Buffalo for that matter, really has that
luxury this matchup because neither one of these teams say
it again.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
Oh, I was gonna assume with folks being hurt, like
you can't get but.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
No, no, no, it's because both of these teams are
in a real divisional fight. Neither one of these teams
wants to be a wild card. Since Josh and Patrick
have been there, they've never neither one of them ever
has been a wild card like and so that where
you have to start the postseason on the road. Both
of these teams, I'm sure believe they are still very
(23:28):
alive for the number one seed. The Chiefs get to
play the Colts that. I don't think the Bills and
Colts play each other, do They're.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Both of them are going to be going going at again.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
I would think yeah, because it's the the Chiefs lose
this game, I mean they'll be going into Week ten
the seven seed. The Bills lose this game, and New
England takes an even stronger hold on the division, so
you it's a super important spot for both teams. And
(24:06):
I am pleasantly surprised that the Chiefs are road favorites,
like we've seen the Bills come to Arrowhead and the
Bills be road favorites. The Chiefs being road favorites with
what people were saying about Kansas City just four weeks ago,
(24:26):
is pretty stunning. And if you want my full pick
for this game tomorrow's gambling show, this will be prominently featured.
Today's show is brought to you by our presenting sponsor,
hard Rock Bet. Week nine football kicks off tonight with
Ravens Dolphins. Check out these streaks from hard Rock Bets
(24:47):
stats up. You can find odds to bet on all
these streaks right now in the hard Rock Bet app.
Derrick Henry has scored a touchdown in twelve straight games
against AFC East opponents. I didn't know. Miami has dropped
twelve in a row as underdogs against the AFC. I
didn't know that either, and that is stunning. Devon a.
(25:11):
Chan has reached the end zone in eight straight home games,
and the Dolphins have failed to cover the spread in
seven consecutive games as an underdog following a win. All
of that info available in the hard Rock Bet Stats hub.
If you still haven' dried your first bet on hard
Rock Bet, there's still time for you to get one
(25:33):
hundred fifty dollars in bonus bets if you win. Just
place a five dollar bet and if it hits, you
get not only your winnings, but also an extra one
hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets. Plus. Tonight on hard
Rock Bet, you can get a Thursday Night profit boost
for the game boost your same game parlay or SGP max,
so your bet pays extra winnings. There's new promos every day,
(25:55):
so if you're listening to this later, just open the
app and check out what you've got in day of
the week. Download the hard Rock Bet app today, take
a look around and make your first deposit. Payable and
bonus bets not a cash offer offered by the Seminal
Tribe of Florida in Florida, offered by Seminal hard Rock
Digital LLC in all other states. Must be twenty one
(26:18):
plus and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois Indiana,
New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, or Virginia to play. Terms and
conditions apply. Concern about gambling in Florida, call one eight
eighty eight. Admit it in Indiana. If you are someone
you know as a gambling problem wants help, call one
eight hundred and nine with it. Gambling problem called one
(26:39):
eight hundred gambler in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee,
or Virginia. All right, demand, let's get to Thursday night
football as your Ravens once again try to keep their
season alive.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
I didn't tune in for the show when you said this.
Did you give us like the tackle that turned the
tide like a little bit thing?
Speaker 1 (26:58):
No, this is the our producers being funny.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
All right.
Speaker 4 (27:04):
So after this one, after the spectacular go ahead, go ahead,
say it, spectacular season saving snoop start, the Ravens are
two and five and Lamar Jackson is officially back and
understands that every game is a must win.
Speaker 3 (27:19):
At this point, we obviously need to win this game tonight.
What do you need to see from the Ravens to
feel like we can do something in the postseason.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
You've got to show that this defensive improvement's real. They
played way better defensively against the Rams. They played a good,
very good to very good defensive game against the Bears,
and now you have a Dolphins team that seemed just dead. However,
last week that Dolphins team tore up the Falcons, and
(27:52):
that Falcons pass defense has been good and Tua had
four touchdowns and six incompletions. Uh, they ra and the
ball well Waddle got off like that's the best the
Dolphins have looked in a year. And I do part
of the Ravens playoffs, making the playoffs. Conversation to Mons
(28:15):
is part of that's about the Ravens and part of
that's about the Steelers and the Bengals, two of the
worst defenses in the league, both two teams starting forty
year old quarterbacks, one of them is now hurt. Say
it again.
Speaker 3 (28:29):
I mean we're two and five right now, we're favorites
to win the division. So yeah, it's just a lot
of us, right.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
And so it's kind of we can talk about the
Ravens just by being mediocre, might be able to find
a way to eight wins, and eight wins could win
the division. And if you're and we can throw up
the Ravens schedule. If you are a Raven supporter, you
(28:58):
have to feel like we are going to win our
next four Tonight at Miami, then on extra rest at
Minnesota and JJ McCarthy, then at Cleveland and Dylan Gabriel
or Shadoor or whomever, and then home for the Jets.
You've got to feel like we are going to be
(29:18):
six and five going into our stretch run of four
divisional games, two against Cincy, two against Pittsburgh, plus New
England and Green Bay. So that is the math on
the Ravens finding a way to make the playoffs. The
logic demands on the Ravens actually being dangerous in the playoffs.
(29:42):
Involves the defense having a second half of the season
turnaround similar to last year, and we'll see if they
can do it. As far as tonight, tonight's a weird
spot because we have so little regard for Miami that
it feels like any short of a thirty to ten
(30:02):
bludgeoning is going to feel unimpressive. Like, if you really
want to feel good about Baltimore, Lamar in his first
game back in a month, has to look sharp, and
more importantly, the defense has to look excellent, Like, of
course you would take a twenty eight to twenty four win,
but I don't think you'd feel great about it, if
(30:24):
that makes sense.
Speaker 3 (30:26):
Yeah, yeah, I mean I understand they just locked up
the Falcons or they did what they needed to do
against the Falcons, but it would be a letdown if
Miami came to hug around with the Ravens, given how
their season is gone.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
And let me throw another scenario at you of something
potentially coming down the tracks here. Okay, let's just say
that in these three games this weekend, the Vegas favorite holds. Okay,
(31:00):
So the Patriots, who this weekend they're I mean they're
playing who are favored against the Falcons. The Patriots win,
and the Ravens, who are playing the Dolphins tonight, the
Ravens win. And the Chiefs, who are playing the Bills,
(31:23):
the Chiefs win. Okay, And I'll go ahead and add
again if we're just doing the Vegas favorites hold. The
Colts who are hosting the Steelers at the Steelers. The
Colts win, and we're staring at going into week ten,
the Ravens are three and five. The Steelers have fallen
(31:44):
to four and four. The Patriots have improved to seven
and two, while the Bills have fallen to five and three.
You would be staring at the very real possibility that
the Buffalo Bills win eleven or twelve games and are
(32:08):
the number one wild card in the AFC. And the
twelve and five Buffalo Bills first playoff game is on
the road at the number four seed, the worst record
of any divisional champ and they are on the road
at the nine and eight Baltimore Ravens, and Josh versus
(32:32):
Lamar in Baltimore is game one of the post is
the you know, opening AFC crazy game crazy. But now
let me say something else. Let's say the Bills beat
the Chiefs this weekend and the Chiefs fall to four
(32:54):
and four, they are then potentially looking at a wild
card and maybe they would have to go to Baltimore
in the first playoff in the wildcard.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
Run, Well, that'd be good for Lamar.
Speaker 3 (33:08):
I mean, if we beat either one of those teams
going out the first round, I mean, that's the super crazy,
that's the super Bowl, I mean.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
And so it's just if we assume the AFC North
winner is going to be eight or nine wins at
this point, they are going to be hosting a really
good wild card team, because the best wildcard team is
either going to be Bills or Patriots or whomever comes
(33:37):
in second in the AFC West. So Chiefs Bronco's Chargers, Like,
that's a hell of a potential Round one matchup. All right.
Speaking of the AFC West, we've got Denver facing off
against Houston.
Speaker 3 (33:51):
Two of the most unstoppable defenses are going head to
head this Sunday. The Broncos are playing Houston. We've seen
the last five quarters Broncos football, but somebody's been pretty
skeptical and kind of called the positioning that they're in
right now, we're gonna play it.
Speaker 1 (34:09):
We got a sound bite, got a sound bite, you guys,
all right, let me hear it. I think there is
a chance the Broncos start like four and two, and
I'm dealing with a lot of chirping because they go Titans, Colts, Chargers, Bengals, Eagles,
really tough, Jets, Giants, Cowboys. How many games that was that? Eight?
(34:33):
That's eight games? So I think they you know what,
I think they might be able to even start six
and two.
Speaker 3 (34:41):
Don't care, Wow, I mean you kindled it, I.
Speaker 1 (34:47):
See, but I didn't. I thought that in that clip
I had said they might start five and three. I
didn't know I said they might start six and two.
That makes me feel even better. Yeah, let's pave that
for a potential Broncos spiral. Uh.
Speaker 3 (35:06):
You love that so so you're standing on it.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
You don't, You don't feel differently.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
This is what I'm gonna say. Bon Nicks has been
awesome in the last five quarters. YEA, the fourth quarter
against the Giants, which might have just wrecked the entire
Giant season, and the whole game against Dallas, which obviously
I got Stone wrong. That Dallas game, he's looked great.
(35:35):
If he plays anywhere close to that level, that team's awesome.
They lead the league in sacks and they allow the
few of sacks. The defense is great. Now, Sir Tans injury,
uh is a real one, and he's going to be
out a month and that's significant. But I do think
(35:55):
Broncos Texans is a really good bone test because the Texans,
for all their struggles, have a great defense, and if
Bow looks now, I think the Broncos could win that
game in theory without Bowl looking good. And because I
think the Broncos defense. Yeah, I mean this such a mess,
(36:20):
right and so and Tunsl's injured Like that's a oh
Tunsall's not on that team anymore. He is injured, but
he's on the Commanders, So ignore that piece of it.
But the so, I think this could be an ugly
seventeen to thirteen game. But if bow looks good against Houston,
(36:43):
all have to take them far more seriously. I find
it very interesting that Vegas has no respect right now
for Denver. The fact that they're one and a half
point dogs against the Texans team that's looked decent once
all year is really noteworthy to me.
Speaker 2 (37:05):
And so go the loss.
Speaker 3 (37:07):
With the loss, Houston would drop to three and five
if they lost, Should they start selling some stuff with
the deadline?
Speaker 1 (37:14):
Yeah? I think that's a good take. The if they win,
they're in it, like this is a fork in the
road game for Houston where they and Houston's weird because
their wins have been dominant wins. They shut out the Titans,
(37:35):
they beat the thirty four, they handled the Niners easily
last week, and their losses have been frustrating, like five
points to the Rams, one point to the Bucks, touchdown
to the Jags. The Seahawks game only eight, but they
were dominated in that game. They after the Broncos, they
(37:56):
have two divisional games Jags and Titans before the schedule
gets real. Tough Bill's Colts Chiefs. So Houston could be
an AFC playoff spoiler as far as making the playoffs,
but they have to win this game in order to
do that. All right, let's go to Patriots Falcons.
Speaker 2 (38:15):
So the MVP race.
Speaker 3 (38:16):
We talked about this a little bit earlier, but it's
down to three guys, Mahomes, Allen, and Drake May.
Speaker 2 (38:22):
May and the Patriots are going.
Speaker 3 (38:24):
Up against the Falcons, and it seems like they haven't
exactly but on everybody's radar. But do you think that
this game has the potential to kind of put May
and the Patriots on everybody's radar.
Speaker 1 (38:34):
For sure? And I I understand Mahomes, Allen and Drake
are right now the three MVP favorites. I do I
think at the midway point of the season, we can't say, like,
you know, it's just these three guys. I think the
MVP race can evolve over the course of the year.
And I right now, I you know, Stafford has a
great case, a great case and to me a far
(38:57):
better case than Josh Allen. Drake May has a great case.
And when you're a great quarterback and Drake May might
be that year two is not too early to be awesome.
And Lamar won an MVP in year two. Patrick won
the Super Bowl second year as a starter. Burrow went
to the Super Bowl second year as a starter. Russell
(39:20):
Wilson won the Super Bowl second year as a starter.
Like year two, you can be great already, and the
Drake May has been since Week one, playing the position
as well as anybody in the league now. So I
I think the Patriots are better than the Colts. I
(39:45):
think the Patriots are the third most dangerous team in
the AFC. I think it was Chiefs, Bills, Pats, but
I don't think they right now have that universal respect
to your point, Demon's so yeah, I I think that
it's gonna be hard for them to get it, only
because they don't play anybody like all year long. They
(40:07):
already had the easiest schedule up to this point in
the season, and they have the second easiest schedule remaining.
They have I think, you know, three games left that
can be statement games at the Bucks home for the
Bills and at the Ravens. Everything is the rest of
(40:28):
it is Falcons, Bengals, Jets, Giants, Jets, Dolphins. So the
Patriots should have a really, really good record. This is
one of the reasons I picked them to make the playoffs.
And credit to them that post Buffalo, they've really taken
care of business. Beat the Saints in a game that's
(40:48):
probably closer than they liked, and then blew out the
Titans and blew out the Browns, and at Leana, I
just can't get a beat on whatsoever. Such a weird team.
Hey guys, you ever notice how everything keeps going up?
Vents going up, Streaming services are going up. Favorite burrito
spots charge an extra for Salza. Boost Mobile, though you
and your phone bill, don't have to play the will
(41:09):
this go up soon?
Speaker 2 (41:10):
Game?
Speaker 1 (41:11):
Why because boost Mobile has an unlimited talk, text and
data plan at a price that'll never go up. In fact,
same price you pay for life. So switch now for
unlimited wireless at a price that'll never go up. Only
at boost Mobile. After thirty gigs, customers may experience low speeds.
Customers will pay twenty dollars per month as long as
they remain active on the Boost unlimited plan. All right, demons,
(41:37):
let's go to Vikings Lions quickly.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
All right.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
So the throwing JJ McCarthy in the fire, they kind
of did that soft benching and had him on the sideline.
And now he's facing the Detroit coming off a buye
with a paid Aiden Hutchinson who just signed a massive deal.
Speaker 2 (41:53):
What do you think this game is gonna look like?
Speaker 1 (41:55):
I think Detroit's gonna annihilate them. And I think that
the Vikings are in real trouble. They clearly did not
want to play JJ until he was fully healthy. That
ankle's frame took a long time. They trotted Carson Wentz
out there week after week even though he was injured.
And I think that you know JJ McCarthy, we've seen
(42:18):
him play two games in the NFL in two years,
and he's played one good quarter. Now again, the sample
size is nothing, and they have good weapons. But if
I'm the Vikings, I'm very nervous about the way this
season could unravel on me. And I think it's already
kind of unraveling.
Speaker 3 (42:37):
And you see, I think Carson Wentz is gone, by
the way, So it's it's just it's just JJ hare
right now right?
Speaker 1 (42:47):
No, yeah, I mean Carson Wentz had surgery, like Carson
Wentz is out for the year. Uh, but getting blown
out like you did by the Chargers is really disconcerting.
And they their wins this year. They beat the Bears
in Week one. In the game they were outplayed, but
(43:08):
JJ had that great fourth quarter. They beat the Bengals
by a million in Week three in the first game
without Burrow, and they beat the Browns in Week five
on a touchdown with twenty five seconds left. Was that
a London game? I'm trying to remember. Was that a
(43:29):
London game? I feel like that was a London game.
I feel like that was up early in the morning,
London game, the Vikings, Vikings Browns. It was a London game.
And so I think the Lions are gonna absolutely put
it on them, and that might show up in tomorrow's
pick show. All right, demand they want me to do
(43:50):
a Halloween bit.
Speaker 3 (43:51):
I don't know what they are Halloween version of writ ends.
We haven't done this in a while. We're bringing it
back from the dead, back from the tombstone Halloween bit.
So it's time for you to fill in the blanks
on the scariest team in the NFL, oh crap, scariest
team in the NFL, the scariest players in the NFL
is and the scariest move a team could make it
(44:12):
the trade deadline would be.
Speaker 1 (44:15):
All right, the scariest team in the NFL. The scariest
team in the NFL is obviously the Chiefs, and the
scariest player is obviously Mahomes. So let me do non Chiefs.
I mean, it just is like that's just it's not
even debatable, So let me do non Chiefs. The scariest
non Chiefs team in the NFL right now is the Packers,
(44:37):
because if Jordan Love keeps up this level of play,
that defense can be so good, and he's getting his
weapons back, their ceiling is crazy high. The scariest player
in the NFL right now, I'm going to give again
non Mahomes category to Jonathan Taylor because it just seems
like he can pop for sixty yards at any given time,
(45:01):
and that Colts offense has been unstoppable because of it.
The scariest move a team could make it the deadline
for me would be the Patriots trading for AJ Brown
reuniting AJ with Mike Vrabel giving Drake May a legitimate
(45:24):
number one and really going for it. So those are
my answers there. All right, let's do some listener questions
real quick.
Speaker 2 (45:31):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (45:31):
Scott asked, why didn't you go to Toronto for the World
Series in the Buffalo game?
Speaker 2 (45:35):
That that would be a nice weekend.
Speaker 1 (45:37):
I mean that would have been sick. I'm not gonna
that is true. Going up to Toronto tomorrow night for
Game six and then seeing a potential Game seven, and
then on the way back home stopping by Buffalo for
Chiefs bills. That would have been awesome.
Speaker 2 (45:54):
Stadium? Would you Yeah, it'd be bad.
Speaker 1 (45:57):
It'd be bad. Yeah, I'd legit neate like Fox Security.
Speaker 2 (46:01):
Yeah, yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1 (46:04):
What's Stefan's question?
Speaker 2 (46:05):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (46:05):
Stefan asked, can we get your trade deadline?
Speaker 2 (46:08):
Wishless for the Chiefs?
Speaker 1 (46:10):
Listen, I've wanted a chan for a while. It doesn't
look like they're trading him. I the Chiefs have been
adamant they're not adding a running back. I'd still call
about Camara, but I think they're more likely to go
after a D lineman, particularly with the second round pick
(46:30):
Omar Norman Lott tearing his acl Let's go to.
Speaker 3 (46:34):
Indy Indie ask, is passer rating becoming overrated? Mahomes passer
rating in twenty eighteen was one thirteen point eight and
that was one of the best seasons in NFL history.
Right now, Jalen Hurts is a better rating than that
at one fourteen point four.
Speaker 1 (46:49):
So here's the thing. The new style of play, which
is shorter passes, very very good at a void interceptions
and super high completion percentage kind of cracks the passer
rating code and it's made it. I agree, like it
(47:09):
is insane that the number of guys that have a
passer rating above one oh five just totally nuts. And
so I still think it's a good metric, but it's
not good to compare era over ERA at this point
because to your point, to the uh, the questioner's point,
(47:33):
the Indy, the no, no, no, the oh yeah the questioner, Indy,
the high completion percentage low mistake but not a lot
of boom plays is kind of a hack for passer rating,
the way being a good rebounder is a hack for
player efficiency rating in the NFL or in the NBA.
All right, reminder, everybody like rate subscribe review huge thank
(47:56):
you to Volume into Blue Duck and as always to
our wonderful sponsors, Harder that boost and of course Zen.
We are back tomorrow with our Week nine can't believe
it's Week nine, Our Week nine gambling show, What's Right
Welcome in What's Driving the Great Episode three eighty five.
As always, this episode is brought to you by our
great friends at boost Mobile. Demand's a great to see you,
great looking shirt. Weather must be gorgeous in La today,
even though I'm sure folks are going to be a
little down as the Dodgers might be frittering away this
(00:24):
world series. And I have the hottest take, the hottest
take about why the Dodgers are down three two to
the blue Jays. Are you ready for it?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
What's the what is that?
Speaker 1 (00:34):
The blue Jays are better? Oh Goo days had a
better record by one game. The blue Jays don't have
a massive liability, that is their bullpen. The blue Jays
are hot and confident and bad on ball. What'd you
say ball?
Speaker 2 (00:54):
They're connecting?
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Well, yeah, exactly right, but the ball and play. And
here here's the other thing we were trying to figure
out how to discuss this on for first things first today,
which is it is a clumsy if you will, almost topic,
(01:19):
not clumsy topic, but it's unwieldy, which is, how do
you square this circle that we have seen this postseason?
Shohei o Tani have arguably you, arguably the two greatest
games anyone has ever played in the history of playoff baseball.
(01:43):
The three home run ten strikeout game and then the
two home run, two double five walk game. We've seen
that just in the last week. How do you square
that with? And other than those two games, he's been brewed,
like what do you what it is? It's and and
(02:05):
last postseason he was banged up, but he wasn't great.
But you can't be like, oh, he's not a postseason
performer because he literally might have had the two greatest
playoff games ever played, uh, in the playoffs. But also
aside and this is kind of a reverse, yeah, but
aside from that, missus Lincoln, how was the play you
don't want to Yeah, but the two greatest baseball games
(02:28):
any of us have ever seen, arguably, But aside from that,
he hasn't been good. It's really weird. And so on
first things first, we determined the way we're gonna frame
it is because Bruce been calling him the boat the
best of all time? Has this postseason helped or hurt
his quest for that title?
Speaker 3 (02:49):
And he's hitting you know, it's the game. It's really
rough on the body, dude.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
So I do wonder how much of it is that
is that of everyone, the eighteen inning game took the
most out of show hey, because the very next day,
after being on base nine times, he then also had
to pitch. But it's listen. I think my prediction before
the series was Blue Jays and seven. I think that's
(03:20):
still what's gonna happen because I think Yamamoto is going
to is gonna pitch a gym in game six. And
by the way, here is I wonder you throw in
the doc if you guys could look it up for me.
What Yamamoto's World Series MVP odds are. I think before
(03:43):
the World Series he was thirty five to one. Yesterday
he was sixteen to one because if the Blue Jay,
if the Dodgers do end up coming back to win it,
he's fourteen to one now, so maybe he was, you know,
sixteen to one in some books fourteen to one. Another
Dodgers come back to win it, and Yamamoto has two
(04:03):
complete games two of their four wins. With Shohy cooling
off a bit. I wonder if he could win World
Series MVP. I mean, the smart money right now would
be on Vlad because it looks like the Blue Jays
are gonna win it. But that is that is something.
And I've been locked in to playoff to playoff baseball
(04:25):
in the World Series. I think it's been great and
I'm thrilled we're getting at least six, if not seven games.
So right now, Yamamoto's got the third best odds, but
it's Vladdie minus two hundred, show Hey plus two thirty,
and then Yamamoto at fourteen to one. All right, let's
get to straight the voicemail brought to you by our
friends at boost Mobile. One of those things straight to
(04:47):
voicemail was the Blue Jays Austin Reeves. Holy Molly, now
I saw. I think it was. I don't want to
get it wrong. I think Kenny Smith last night compared
this him to Jared me Lynn, which is so wildly
insulting to Austin. Austin's a legit excellent player, and they
(05:08):
called me a madman a few years ago when I
said I'd rather have him than Bradley Beal. Austin's about
to get that contract Bradley Beal got in Washington that
immediately became an albatross. Austin's been great. I do wonder
this and this will tell you a lot about the
(05:29):
Lakers priorities for the year, because when Luca is there,
Austin becomes less critical. When Luca and Lebron are both there,
Austin becomes almost wholly redundant. Do they consider selling super
high on Austin to try to upgrade their perimeter defense
(05:53):
and shooting, or do they look at Austin as Luca's
running mate for the next five years. I don't know
the answer to that, And a lot of that has
to do with how good the Lakers think they can
be this season when they're fully healthy. So all that,
and then their Nick's Halloween costume. But I'm I'm not
dressing up for Halloween this year. Your little sister's going
as a ghostbuster, so that's pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
And a little vacuum or something.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
Well, yeah, I don't vacuum, but yeah, I mean I
think they.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
I mean, it's like a ghost vacuum or something. I'm
not sure exactly what it is, but it's pretty cool.
It's a it's a good costume. I like it all
right to Mom's a reminder everybody like rate subscribe review
to the pod. A lot to do today. I am
also a tad bit under the weather, if I'm being
totally honest, and so I'm going to power through. Let's
(06:49):
get to the annually the Bill's annual super Bowl, their
regular season game against the Chiefs.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Uh yeah, it is super Bowl week over there in
Buffalo and Buffalo's home dogs this time. I know, what,
what do you think we're gonna learn more from? Or
which team do you think we're gonna learn more from
in this game?
Speaker 1 (07:10):
So a lot here, right, and the Bills likely without
Ed Oliver, which is brutal for them. The Chiefs definitely
without their starting left tackle Josh Simmons. I do expect
him back by the way in November, but he's not
(07:30):
going to be there for this game. Trey Smith should
be back, which is important. Those are the maybe most
noteworthy injuries or absences for the Bills. The real question
to me is can this defense slow down what has
become the most pro with respect to the Colts, the
(07:53):
most prolific offense in the NFL. That is that that's
the question for Buffalo and for Kansas. It is actually
a similar question in this regard, which is the Chiefs
have the defense the last two weeks has been unbelievable,
(08:14):
but you're playing Mariota and you're playing the Raiders when
they have played legitimate quarterbacks. Those teams have moved the ball. Now, listen,
the Lions only scored seventeen points, but they moved the ball.
The Prince and the Jags moved the ball. Baltimore in
(08:38):
the three quarters, Lamar played moved the ball. Philly actually
struggled a bit moving the ball. But the Chargers move
the ball. So this Chiefs defense can't generate enough of
a pass rush without having to send blitz after blitz
after blitz to disrupt Josh Allen. So those are the
(08:58):
real The focus is going to be on Allen and Mahomes,
But as far as learning more about either of these teams,
it's gonna be more about the defensive side of the game.
But I will also say this, if I were just
(09:19):
to name a few Bill Simmons or Mike Greenberg or
Jim Rome or Joe Montana or Steven Ruiz or Dominique Foxworth,
some of these people are my good friends or colleague
(09:44):
or Colin Cowherd might mentor and dear dear friend, any
of a dozen people who in September or August definitively
declared that the best quarterback in football is Josh Allen.
I'd be a little nervous this week because twenty some
(10:10):
million people are going to watch the Chiefs go to
Buffalo and what very well might be the last time
Mahomes and Allen ever play in that stadium, and I
think they're going to watch Patrick put on an absolute masterclass.
(10:33):
And I understand that it was very in vogue, as
it is every September, and again I have been very
complimentary of Josh the last couple of years, but it
was very in vogue to just flatly assert, oh, Josh
(10:57):
Allen's the best player in the league after the first
few weeks of the season, and since then he's been good,
but not great. The team has been just fine since
that three and zero start two and two, and right
(11:18):
now this year, the only win the Bills have to
hang their hat on is a Ravens win. That Ravens
win that has not I guess I think it's fair
to say aged amazingly because the Ravens were such a
mess the first six weeks of the year. And this
(11:40):
gets us to demands the rivalry questions. So go ahead,
I'll let.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
You yes, like like you said this is gonna be
the tenth time that they face each other, So what
would Allen need to do.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
In this game for it to be considered a rivalry
or a true rivalry.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
So I under it is a rivalry. I want to
like I don't think it's not a rivalry. It's the
two best quarterbacks in the league, and it is two
of the three best teams in the league over the
(12:17):
last five years. I don't think you can call it
the two best teams in the league because I think
you have to get Philadelphia. It's credit. They've been to
two Super Bowls, they've won one, But it is It
is unlike any rivalry we've seen in NFL history, where
(12:40):
despite the fact that the teams are you know, in
any given year, even or one guy just has a
slight advantage. Early on when they were playing, the Chiefs
clearly had the better offensive weapons, the Bills clearly had
the better defense. The last couple of years, the Bills
(13:04):
probably had the better offensive weapons, offensive line, running back, core,
tight ends, you know, and the Chiefs might have actually
had the better defense. And one team has consistently won
the regular season matchups, and one team has won every
(13:24):
single one of the postseason matchups, and it is and I,
you know, ranted about this on the TV show yesterday,
so I don't have to spend too much time on
it here. But people so badly want it to be
Brady Peyton and it has just been nothing like Brady Peyton,
(13:50):
and it's maddening to me. Brady Peyton.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
Was.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Peyton was the guy with the multiple MVPs. Peyton was
the guy with the crazy stats, and Brady was the
one with the rings in this instance. And by the way,
Peyton in their third playoff matchup beat Brady, and in
their fourth playoff matchup beat Brady, and in their fifth
(14:19):
and final playoff matchup beat Brady. Fact that nobody seems
to remember but me is Peyton finished the Brady Peyton
playoff rivalry with a winning record. He was one and
two with the Colts and two and zero with the Broncos.
But set that aside Josh and Patrick, Josh is the
(14:44):
Patrick is the one with multiple MVPs. Patrick is the
one with the gaudier stats, and Patrick is the only
one that's ever won. So it is far closer to
Jordan Ewing or or lebron Toronto than it is bird
(15:08):
magic or Peyton Brady?
Speaker 3 (15:12):
What do you like, bron Toronto is crazy.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
I mean that's what it's been. I mean, that's what
that they even when Toronto had the better regular season
record than Cleveland, even when they were the favorite in
the series, which people will pretend to said true twenty eighteen.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
Holmes has always had the gaudier stats. I feel like
some years Josh Allen has beaten Patrick Mahomes out on well.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
No, I mean last year Josh was literally League MVP,
and the year before Josh had better individual numbers. But
I'm talking about for the totality of their careers, Patrick
has more passing yards, more touchdowns, fewer turnovers, a higher
passer rating, and no, no, no, the last two years Josh
(15:58):
has had the the better numbers, and the last two
years they've played in the playoffs, once in Josh's building,
once in Patrick's. The last two years, Josh has had
the ball in his hands less than five minutes remaining
down three points, chance to go slay the dragon, and
(16:21):
the last two years the Bills have walked off the
field getting zero points from those drives, and the Chiefs celebrate.
I mean, that's just what's happened, and uh and so
I just people so badly want Patrick dabber peer and
he just doesn't at this point. And as far as
(16:44):
can this game change that, no could. Would the Bills
beating the Chiefs in the playoffs finally change that? Sure,
but we're far a long way from it. All right,
let's talk MVP. Uh yeah, how far.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Do you think that this game will go into side
in the MVP?
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Well and also another follow up on this, could the
loser still be eligible for MVP?
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (17:10):
Yeah, I mean again, we do too much. It's week
eight or we just finished Week eight. A lot of
people are still eligible for MVP. You're not knocked out
of it here. But Josh's MVP case right now to
me is very shaky. And listen, I was on the
(17:32):
record throughout last season that I thought at the end
of last season he was the MVP. But right now
this moment, Josh's team has a good but not great record.
But that's the same with Patrick. They both have five wins.
Josh is, however, twentieth in the NFL in passing yards.
(17:56):
He is tied for fourteenth in the NFL in passing touchdowns.
He is ninth in the NFL in passer rating, and
you can say, well, you know, we've got to and
we do have to give Josh credit for the rushing
(18:17):
piece of it. So he's rushed for two hundred and
sixty yards and has rushed for five touchdowns. The touchdowns
more impressive than the yards. Obviously, on that note, Josh
has not up to this point played like an MVP,
and the point I was making earlier after he was
(18:38):
unbelievable in that Ravens game, and he was unbelievable in
the Dolphins game. That was the game after the Dolphins
game when Mike Greenberg said he's never seen anyone play
the position better than Josh Allen. Since those three game,
those opening three weeks, he's been mediocre against the same points.
(19:01):
Threw for two hundred yards, two touchdowns and a pick
against the Patriots and a loss. Threw for two touchdowns
or two touchdowns, one pick and two hundred and fifty
three yards against the Falcons and a loss. Was bad.
Two touchdowns, two picks at seventy three rating one hundred
and eighty yards. I against the Panthers last week, didn't
have to do anything, and I mean they won forty
(19:22):
to nine. You don't hold it against it. He threw
for one hundred and sixty yards.
Speaker 4 (19:26):
So it is.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
Right now if we were talking NFL MVP as far
as not projection demons on who's going to win it,
but on who if the award were given out, if
we had a mid season MVP, better candidates than Josh
(19:54):
would be Drake May, who, honestly I think would be
the mid season MVP. I think right now this moment,
Drake May has you could argue, has been the MVP.
Drake has a better case. Jonathan Taylor, if we're going
to open it up to running backs, has a better case.
(20:17):
Matthew Stafford.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
That's Baker.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Like I know, he got knocked out, but given the
totality his his season has been equal to, if not
better than Josh Allen's.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
Up to this point. Yes, I and so the right now,
if again, if we're voted on right now, my my
top five would be Drake, Stafford, Taylor, Baker, and Patrick.
And then I think you well, I'm going with Jonathan
(20:54):
Taylor as the MVP of that team. If it's a
quarterback only than Daniel Jones would have to be involved.
Jared Goff some would argue, and Jalen hurts. I wouldn't argue,
but the twenty touchdowns to two turnovers something else, and
the insane passer rating, you know, with something else. It's
just his yards are so low. It's a tough one.
(21:18):
But all those guys set Jalen aside because it's such
a unique case, have stronger MVP cases at this moment
than Josh. Uh. All right, let's a couple more questions
on this.
Speaker 3 (21:35):
You joked on Tuesday show that if the Chiefs lost
the or won the regular season matchup, that they might
be in jeopardy to lose the postseason matchup. Are you
all worried about that with his game coming up?
Speaker 1 (21:45):
Well, here's what I find really interesting. This is the
first time these two teams since Patrick and Josh have
been there are playing in the regular season with neither
one of them in first in their own division. Usually
both are in first. This is the only time that
(22:07):
neither's been in first. And I do feel that the
Chiefs historically have had an edge in the playoff matchup
against Buffalo Demonse because Buffalo goes all out for that
(22:27):
regular season game and the Chiefs, to me, have a
pretty vanilla game plan. They obviously want to win, and
they've been important games, but a pretty vanilla game plan
and try to use that regular season game as a
scouting opportunity for the postseason game. I don't know that
(22:47):
Kansas City or Buffalo for that matter, really has that
luxury this matchup because neither one of these teams say
it again.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
Oh, I was gonna assume with folks being hurt, like
you can't get but.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
No, no, no, it's because both of these teams are
in a real divisional fight. Neither one of these teams
wants to be a wild card. Since Josh and Patrick
have been there, they've never neither one of them ever
has been a wild card like and so that where
you have to start the postseason on the road. Both
of these teams, I'm sure believe they are still very
(23:28):
alive for the number one seed. The Chiefs get to
play the Colts that. I don't think the Bills and
Colts play each other, do They're.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Both of them are going to be going going at again.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
I would think yeah, because it's the the Chiefs lose
this game, I mean they'll be going into Week ten
the seven seed. The Bills lose this game, and New
England takes an even stronger hold on the division, so
you it's a super important spot for both teams. And
(24:06):
I am pleasantly surprised that the Chiefs are road favorites,
like we've seen the Bills come to Arrowhead and the
Bills be road favorites. The Chiefs being road favorites with
what people were saying about Kansas City just four weeks ago,
(24:26):
is pretty stunning. And if you want my full pick
for this game tomorrow's gambling show, this will be prominently featured.
Today's show is brought to you by our presenting sponsor,
hard Rock Bet. Week nine football kicks off tonight with
Ravens Dolphins. Check out these streaks from hard Rock Bets
(24:47):
stats up. You can find odds to bet on all
these streaks right now in the hard Rock Bet app.
Derrick Henry has scored a touchdown in twelve straight games
against AFC East opponents. I didn't know. Miami has dropped
twelve in a row as underdogs against the AFC. I
didn't know that either, and that is stunning. Devon a.
(25:11):
Chan has reached the end zone in eight straight home games,
and the Dolphins have failed to cover the spread in
seven consecutive games as an underdog following a win. All
of that info available in the hard Rock Bet Stats hub.
If you still haven' dried your first bet on hard
Rock Bet, there's still time for you to get one
(25:33):
hundred fifty dollars in bonus bets if you win. Just
place a five dollar bet and if it hits, you
get not only your winnings, but also an extra one
hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets. Plus. Tonight on hard
Rock Bet, you can get a Thursday Night profit boost
for the game boost your same game parlay or SGP max,
so your bet pays extra winnings. There's new promos every day,
(25:55):
so if you're listening to this later, just open the
app and check out what you've got in day of
the week. Download the hard Rock Bet app today, take
a look around and make your first deposit. Payable and
bonus bets not a cash offer offered by the Seminal
Tribe of Florida in Florida, offered by Seminal hard Rock
Digital LLC in all other states. Must be twenty one
(26:18):
plus and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois Indiana,
New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, or Virginia to play. Terms and
conditions apply. Concern about gambling in Florida, call one eight
eighty eight. Admit it in Indiana. If you are someone
you know as a gambling problem wants help, call one
eight hundred and nine with it. Gambling problem called one
(26:39):
eight hundred gambler in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee,
or Virginia. All right, demand, let's get to Thursday night
football as your Ravens once again try to keep their
season alive.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
I didn't tune in for the show when you said this.
Did you give us like the tackle that turned the
tide like a little bit thing?
Speaker 1 (26:58):
No, this is the our producers being funny.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
All right.
Speaker 4 (27:04):
So after this one, after the spectacular go ahead, go ahead,
say it, spectacular season saving snoop start, the Ravens are
two and five and Lamar Jackson is officially back and
understands that every game is a must win.
Speaker 3 (27:19):
At this point, we obviously need to win this game tonight.
What do you need to see from the Ravens to
feel like we can do something in the postseason.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
You've got to show that this defensive improvement's real. They
played way better defensively against the Rams. They played a good,
very good to very good defensive game against the Bears,
and now you have a Dolphins team that seemed just dead. However,
last week that Dolphins team tore up the Falcons, and
(27:52):
that Falcons pass defense has been good and Tua had
four touchdowns and six incompletions. Uh, they ra and the
ball well Waddle got off like that's the best the
Dolphins have looked in a year. And I do part
of the Ravens playoffs, making the playoffs. Conversation to Mons
(28:15):
is part of that's about the Ravens and part of
that's about the Steelers and the Bengals, two of the
worst defenses in the league, both two teams starting forty
year old quarterbacks, one of them is now hurt. Say
it again.
Speaker 3 (28:29):
I mean we're two and five right now, we're favorites
to win the division. So yeah, it's just a lot
of us, right.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
And so it's kind of we can talk about the
Ravens just by being mediocre, might be able to find
a way to eight wins, and eight wins could win
the division. And if you're and we can throw up
the Ravens schedule. If you are a Raven supporter, you
(28:58):
have to feel like we are going to win our
next four Tonight at Miami, then on extra rest at
Minnesota and JJ McCarthy, then at Cleveland and Dylan Gabriel
or Shadoor or whomever, and then home for the Jets.
You've got to feel like we are going to be
(29:18):
six and five going into our stretch run of four
divisional games, two against Cincy, two against Pittsburgh, plus New
England and Green Bay. So that is the math on
the Ravens finding a way to make the playoffs. The
logic demands on the Ravens actually being dangerous in the playoffs.
(29:42):
Involves the defense having a second half of the season
turnaround similar to last year, and we'll see if they
can do it. As far as tonight, tonight's a weird
spot because we have so little regard for Miami that
it feels like any short of a thirty to ten
(30:02):
bludgeoning is going to feel unimpressive. Like, if you really
want to feel good about Baltimore, Lamar in his first
game back in a month, has to look sharp, and
more importantly, the defense has to look excellent, Like, of
course you would take a twenty eight to twenty four win,
but I don't think you'd feel great about it, if
(30:24):
that makes sense.
Speaker 3 (30:26):
Yeah, yeah, I mean I understand they just locked up
the Falcons or they did what they needed to do
against the Falcons, but it would be a letdown if
Miami came to hug around with the Ravens, given how
their season is gone.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
And let me throw another scenario at you of something
potentially coming down the tracks here. Okay, let's just say
that in these three games this weekend, the Vegas favorite holds. Okay,
(31:00):
So the Patriots, who this weekend they're I mean they're
playing who are favored against the Falcons. The Patriots win,
and the Ravens, who are playing the Dolphins tonight, the
Ravens win. And the Chiefs, who are playing the Bills,
(31:23):
the Chiefs win. Okay, And I'll go ahead and add
again if we're just doing the Vegas favorites hold. The
Colts who are hosting the Steelers at the Steelers. The
Colts win, and we're staring at going into week ten,
the Ravens are three and five. The Steelers have fallen
(31:44):
to four and four. The Patriots have improved to seven
and two, while the Bills have fallen to five and three.
You would be staring at the very real possibility that
the Buffalo Bills win eleven or twelve games and are
(32:08):
the number one wild card in the AFC. And the
twelve and five Buffalo Bills first playoff game is on
the road at the number four seed, the worst record
of any divisional champ and they are on the road
at the nine and eight Baltimore Ravens, and Josh versus
(32:32):
Lamar in Baltimore is game one of the post is
the you know, opening AFC crazy game crazy. But now
let me say something else. Let's say the Bills beat
the Chiefs this weekend and the Chiefs fall to four
(32:54):
and four, they are then potentially looking at a wild
card and maybe they would have to go to Baltimore
in the first playoff in the wildcard.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
Run, Well, that'd be good for Lamar.
Speaker 3 (33:08):
I mean, if we beat either one of those teams
going out the first round, I mean, that's the super crazy,
that's the super Bowl, I mean.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
And so it's just if we assume the AFC North
winner is going to be eight or nine wins at
this point, they are going to be hosting a really
good wild card team, because the best wildcard team is
either going to be Bills or Patriots or whomever comes
(33:37):
in second in the AFC West. So Chiefs Bronco's Chargers, Like,
that's a hell of a potential Round one matchup. All right.
Speaking of the AFC West, we've got Denver facing off
against Houston.
Speaker 3 (33:51):
Two of the most unstoppable defenses are going head to
head this Sunday. The Broncos are playing Houston. We've seen
the last five quarters Broncos football, but somebody's been pretty
skeptical and kind of called the positioning that they're in
right now, we're gonna play it.
Speaker 1 (34:09):
We got a sound bite, got a sound bite, you guys,
all right, let me hear it. I think there is
a chance the Broncos start like four and two, and
I'm dealing with a lot of chirping because they go Titans, Colts, Chargers, Bengals, Eagles,
really tough, Jets, Giants, Cowboys. How many games that was that? Eight?
(34:33):
That's eight games? So I think they you know what,
I think they might be able to even start six
and two.
Speaker 3 (34:41):
Don't care, Wow, I mean you kindled it, I.
Speaker 1 (34:47):
See, but I didn't. I thought that in that clip
I had said they might start five and three. I
didn't know I said they might start six and two.
That makes me feel even better. Yeah, let's pave that
for a potential Broncos spiral. Uh.
Speaker 3 (35:06):
You love that so so you're standing on it.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
You don't, You don't feel differently.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
This is what I'm gonna say. Bon Nicks has been
awesome in the last five quarters. YEA, the fourth quarter
against the Giants, which might have just wrecked the entire
Giant season, and the whole game against Dallas, which obviously
I got Stone wrong. That Dallas game, he's looked great.
(35:35):
If he plays anywhere close to that level, that team's awesome.
They lead the league in sacks and they allow the
few of sacks. The defense is great. Now, Sir Tans injury,
uh is a real one, and he's going to be
out a month and that's significant. But I do think
(35:55):
Broncos Texans is a really good bone test because the Texans,
for all their struggles, have a great defense, and if
Bow looks now, I think the Broncos could win that
game in theory without Bowl looking good. And because I
think the Broncos defense. Yeah, I mean this such a mess,
(36:20):
right and so and Tunsl's injured Like that's a oh
Tunsall's not on that team anymore. He is injured, but
he's on the Commanders, So ignore that piece of it.
But the so, I think this could be an ugly
seventeen to thirteen game. But if bow looks good against Houston,
(36:43):
all have to take them far more seriously. I find
it very interesting that Vegas has no respect right now
for Denver. The fact that they're one and a half
point dogs against the Texans team that's looked decent once
all year is really noteworthy to me.
Speaker 2 (37:05):
And so go the loss.
Speaker 3 (37:07):
With the loss, Houston would drop to three and five
if they lost, Should they start selling some stuff with
the deadline?
Speaker 1 (37:14):
Yeah? I think that's a good take. The if they win,
they're in it, like this is a fork in the
road game for Houston where they and Houston's weird because
their wins have been dominant wins. They shut out the Titans,
(37:35):
they beat the thirty four, they handled the Niners easily
last week, and their losses have been frustrating, like five
points to the Rams, one point to the Bucks, touchdown
to the Jags. The Seahawks game only eight, but they
were dominated in that game. They after the Broncos, they
(37:56):
have two divisional games Jags and Titans before the schedule
gets real. Tough Bill's Colts Chiefs. So Houston could be
an AFC playoff spoiler as far as making the playoffs,
but they have to win this game in order to
do that. All right, let's go to Patriots Falcons.
Speaker 2 (38:15):
So the MVP race.
Speaker 3 (38:16):
We talked about this a little bit earlier, but it's
down to three guys, Mahomes, Allen, and Drake May.
Speaker 2 (38:22):
May and the Patriots are going.
Speaker 3 (38:24):
Up against the Falcons, and it seems like they haven't
exactly but on everybody's radar. But do you think that
this game has the potential to kind of put May
and the Patriots on everybody's radar.
Speaker 1 (38:34):
For sure? And I I understand Mahomes, Allen and Drake
are right now the three MVP favorites. I do I
think at the midway point of the season, we can't say, like,
you know, it's just these three guys. I think the
MVP race can evolve over the course of the year.
And I right now, I you know, Stafford has a
great case, a great case and to me a far
(38:57):
better case than Josh Allen. Drake May has a great case.
And when you're a great quarterback and Drake May might
be that year two is not too early to be awesome.
And Lamar won an MVP in year two. Patrick won
the Super Bowl second year as a starter. Burrow went
to the Super Bowl second year as a starter. Russell
(39:20):
Wilson won the Super Bowl second year as a starter.
Like year two, you can be great already, and the
Drake May has been since Week one, playing the position
as well as anybody in the league now. So I
I think the Patriots are better than the Colts. I
(39:45):
think the Patriots are the third most dangerous team in
the AFC. I think it was Chiefs, Bills, Pats, but
I don't think they right now have that universal respect
to your point, Demon's so yeah, I I think that
it's gonna be hard for them to get it, only
because they don't play anybody like all year long. They
(40:07):
already had the easiest schedule up to this point in
the season, and they have the second easiest schedule remaining.
They have I think, you know, three games left that
can be statement games at the Bucks home for the
Bills and at the Ravens. Everything is the rest of
(40:28):
it is Falcons, Bengals, Jets, Giants, Jets, Dolphins. So the
Patriots should have a really, really good record. This is
one of the reasons I picked them to make the playoffs.
And credit to them that post Buffalo, they've really taken
care of business. Beat the Saints in a game that's
(40:48):
probably closer than they liked, and then blew out the
Titans and blew out the Browns, and at Leana, I
just can't get a beat on whatsoever. Such a weird team.
Hey guys, you ever notice how everything keeps going up?
Vents going up, Streaming services are going up. Favorite burrito
spots charge an extra for Salza. Boost Mobile, though you
and your phone bill, don't have to play the will
(41:09):
this go up soon?
Speaker 2 (41:10):
Game?
Speaker 1 (41:11):
Why because boost Mobile has an unlimited talk, text and
data plan at a price that'll never go up. In fact,
same price you pay for life. So switch now for
unlimited wireless at a price that'll never go up. Only
at boost Mobile. After thirty gigs, customers may experience low speeds.
Customers will pay twenty dollars per month as long as
they remain active on the Boost unlimited plan. All right, demons,
(41:37):
let's go to Vikings Lions quickly.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
All right.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
So the throwing JJ McCarthy in the fire, they kind
of did that soft benching and had him on the sideline.
And now he's facing the Detroit coming off a buye
with a paid Aiden Hutchinson who just signed a massive deal.
Speaker 2 (41:53):
What do you think this game is gonna look like?
Speaker 1 (41:55):
I think Detroit's gonna annihilate them. And I think that
the Vikings are in real trouble. They clearly did not
want to play JJ until he was fully healthy. That
ankle's frame took a long time. They trotted Carson Wentz
out there week after week even though he was injured.
And I think that you know JJ McCarthy, we've seen
(42:18):
him play two games in the NFL in two years,
and he's played one good quarter. Now again, the sample
size is nothing, and they have good weapons. But if
I'm the Vikings, I'm very nervous about the way this
season could unravel on me. And I think it's already
kind of unraveling.
Speaker 3 (42:37):
And you see, I think Carson Wentz is gone, by
the way, So it's it's just it's just JJ hare
right now right?
Speaker 1 (42:47):
No, yeah, I mean Carson Wentz had surgery, like Carson
Wentz is out for the year. Uh, but getting blown
out like you did by the Chargers is really disconcerting.
And they their wins this year. They beat the Bears
in Week one. In the game they were outplayed, but
(43:08):
JJ had that great fourth quarter. They beat the Bengals
by a million in Week three in the first game
without Burrow, and they beat the Browns in Week five
on a touchdown with twenty five seconds left. Was that
a London game? I'm trying to remember. Was that a
(43:29):
London game? I feel like that was a London game.
I feel like that was up early in the morning,
London game, the Vikings, Vikings Browns. It was a London game.
And so I think the Lions are gonna absolutely put
it on them, and that might show up in tomorrow's
pick show. All right, demand they want me to do
(43:50):
a Halloween bit.
Speaker 3 (43:51):
I don't know what they are Halloween version of writ ends.
We haven't done this in a while. We're bringing it
back from the dead, back from the tombstone Halloween bit.
So it's time for you to fill in the blanks
on the scariest team in the NFL, oh crap, scariest
team in the NFL, the scariest players in the NFL
is and the scariest move a team could make it
(44:12):
the trade deadline would be.
Speaker 1 (44:15):
All right, the scariest team in the NFL. The scariest
team in the NFL is obviously the Chiefs, and the
scariest player is obviously Mahomes. So let me do non Chiefs.
I mean, it just is like that's just it's not
even debatable, So let me do non Chiefs. The scariest
non Chiefs team in the NFL right now is the Packers,
(44:37):
because if Jordan Love keeps up this level of play,
that defense can be so good, and he's getting his
weapons back, their ceiling is crazy high. The scariest player
in the NFL right now, I'm going to give again
non Mahomes category to Jonathan Taylor because it just seems
like he can pop for sixty yards at any given time,
(45:01):
and that Colts offense has been unstoppable because of it.
The scariest move a team could make it the deadline
for me would be the Patriots trading for AJ Brown
reuniting AJ with Mike Vrabel giving Drake May a legitimate
(45:24):
number one and really going for it. So those are
my answers there. All right, let's do some listener questions
real quick.
Speaker 2 (45:31):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (45:31):
Scott asked, why didn't you go to Toronto for the World
Series in the Buffalo game?
Speaker 2 (45:35):
That that would be a nice weekend.
Speaker 1 (45:37):
I mean that would have been sick. I'm not gonna
that is true. Going up to Toronto tomorrow night for
Game six and then seeing a potential Game seven, and
then on the way back home stopping by Buffalo for
Chiefs bills. That would have been awesome.
Speaker 2 (45:54):
Stadium? Would you Yeah, it'd be bad.
Speaker 1 (45:57):
It'd be bad. Yeah, I'd legit neate like Fox Security.
Speaker 2 (46:01):
Yeah, yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1 (46:04):
What's Stefan's question?
Speaker 2 (46:05):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (46:05):
Stefan asked, can we get your trade deadline?
Speaker 2 (46:08):
Wishless for the Chiefs?
Speaker 1 (46:10):
Listen, I've wanted a chan for a while. It doesn't
look like they're trading him. I the Chiefs have been
adamant they're not adding a running back. I'd still call
about Camara, but I think they're more likely to go
after a D lineman, particularly with the second round pick
(46:30):
Omar Norman Lott tearing his acl Let's go to.
Speaker 3 (46:34):
Indy Indie ask, is passer rating becoming overrated? Mahomes passer
rating in twenty eighteen was one thirteen point eight and
that was one of the best seasons in NFL history.
Right now, Jalen Hurts is a better rating than that
at one fourteen point four.
Speaker 1 (46:49):
So here's the thing. The new style of play, which
is shorter passes, very very good at a void interceptions
and super high completion percentage kind of cracks the passer
rating code and it's made it. I agree, like it
(47:09):
is insane that the number of guys that have a
passer rating above one oh five just totally nuts. And
so I still think it's a good metric, but it's
not good to compare era over ERA at this point
because to your point, to the uh, the questioner's point,
(47:33):
the Indy, the no, no, no, the oh yeah the questioner, Indy,
the high completion percentage low mistake but not a lot
of boom plays is kind of a hack for passer rating,
the way being a good rebounder is a hack for
player efficiency rating in the NFL or in the NBA.
All right, reminder, everybody like rate subscribe review huge thank
(47:56):
you to Volume into Blue Duck and as always to
our wonderful sponsors, Harder that boost and of course Zen.
We are back tomorrow with our Week nine can't believe
it's Week nine, Our Week nine gambling show, What's Right
Hosts And Creators
Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.