October 15, 2025 • 53 mins
Gregg Rosenthal is joined by Jourdan Rodrigue, Patrick Claybon and Steve Wyche to preview all of the Week 7 NFC home games around the NFL starting with the Buccaneers at the Lions followed by Eagles at Vikings (07:00), Falcons at 49ers (15:40), Commanders at Cowboys (23:30), Packers at Cardinals (30:07), Texans at Falcons (36:21) and Saints at Bears (43:40).
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome back to NFL Daily, where we can't believe the
disrespect of what's happening in Vegas. And I usually just
don't jump right into the games. But the Bucks five
and a half point underdogs, and Patrick will tell me
they're just putting the number in a way that's gonna
inspire people to to go. But that in theory, you
(00:26):
want it to be on both sides, and I feel
like everyone would be taking the Bucks as a five
and a half point dog to a banged up Lions team.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Yeah, correct that?
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Okay, Well, this is why I'm not doing very well
on game debut and why I'm not.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Allowed to the Bucks anyway. What are you so upset?
Speaker 4 (00:47):
Champion Greg has successfully picked the actual Super Bowl before.
Either way, don't let Greg sell himself short. Uh, you
know who will never sell himself short.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
One.
Speaker 4 (00:55):
Baker Mayfield his Tampa Bay Buccaneers going on the road
to take on those two Troit Lions. The disrespectful according
to Craig line of five and a half as the
Detroit Lions are giving that up. The over under is
fifty two and a half and Steve Joe Buck, Troy Aikman,
and Lisa Salters and Laura rt lizz are going to
see a great game with two of the NFC's best.
(01:16):
But with the Lions coming off a rough long that
was a tough low. How do you how do you
see this?
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (01:21):
Look, I think the Lions doo bounce back. They didn't
look Jared Goff. That offense could never get going. They
got stuffed after that opening drive, and I think it's like, Okay,
let's let's figure this out the Chiefs. That's why I
said the Chiefs defense was back, but they just couldn't
get They couldn't stay on the field the Lion So
(01:41):
Amar roth Saint frown this defense or this offense for
the Lions, I think we'll click a little bit better.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Put more points up. The fact that it's five and
a half.
Speaker 5 (01:49):
Patrick, to your point, there's no way by the time
the game gets here, it's five and a half and
just Tampa Bay all the injuries too.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
I mean, at some point they have to stack up.
Speaker 6 (01:58):
But to me, Detroit injuries are more of.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
A concern their complimentary injuries.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Right, because losing your two starting cornerbacks Terry an Arnold
and DJ Reid, and then losing Dianne Branch and Kirby
Joseph who is going to be on the injury report
and we'll see if he actually plays. That's all at
one position, and it's a vulnerable position, and we've seen
at this point that the Bucks can handle losing skill
(02:24):
position guys. So Noah Buka this week, but you probably
get Mike Evans back. He is back at practice. No
Chris Godwin. He wasn't a factor really when he was
out there. Ultimately, anyways, this season and they've been fine
without Bucky Irving.
Speaker 6 (02:37):
The offensive line is healthy.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
So to me, if I was judging like which injuries
I'm more worried about, it's actually the Lions because I
think that's secondary getting cut up by your boy Baker johnser.
Speaker 6 (02:48):
Cape sun rolling.
Speaker 7 (02:52):
This is going to send me to the grave. Johnson,
Johnson and Shepherd esquired. Those are going to be the
to guys depending on Mike Evans's status. Now that's a hamstring,
so yes, absolutely could imagine him being back on the field.
Don't know how many deep goes he's he's getting sent
on or what his role will actually be. But Baker
(03:14):
Mayfield was hitting those other guys who made plays for him.
You know this coaching staff was so excited about Tess
Johnson all through training camp and really was impressed by
how well he did. Probably the surprise of the group
was Cameron Johnson, who steps up and makes a big play,
catches a touchdown pass. And I think on the other side,
(03:36):
where the Detroit Lions are having some serious issues in
their secondary, you're starting to watch the Buccaneers secondary truly
come to life. Jamel Dean and Jacob Parrish are both
really really important player. Teams are attacking him and he
is standing up to it. And Jamel Dean is good
for one takeaway, two takeaways a game, or at least
a splash play.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
And so this this opportunity unity for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
And I understand because Abuka is a significant loss. Yeah,
And I think going into the game knowing that he's
probably not available is a lot different than losing him
in the middle of the game. Probably more for Sterling
Shepherd in the targets than you know, because Tes Walker
(04:19):
is a great explosive playmaker. Excuse me, Tes Johnson, I'm
getting you know, wish casting my tes my preferred test.
But Tes Johnson right on those deep plays on places
where they try to get him the ball in space,
but consistently in the route like where Baker trust him
to be. I think it's more of a Sterling Shepherd
game against like considering the entire Lions secondary might not
(04:45):
be there as much as I would lean to pick
Detroit in this game, like missing your entire secondary like
five points might kind of.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
It's like, it's insane.
Speaker 5 (04:54):
This is just one where the way that Detroit just
got handled last game. Yeah, I think they are mad out.
They go on these twelve and thirteen plays drives right,
they keep the ball away from Bakery. They've run them
to death. They Dave Montgomery, they do everything they have
to do in this game. I just think this is
one You could look at the personnel and this and that,
but this is one Detroit. They just they got out physical,
(05:16):
which doesn't happen to the Lions.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
In this game though, when they try to run the
ball like that is a great run defense they're going
up against. And so that's a fascinating matchup. The numbers
are we have to run it with those two sure
to them. They have not had a lot of explosive plays,
surprisingly in their running game this year. Montgomery certainly hasn't,
but even Jamir Gibbs hasn't really been hitting like the
plus twenty plays like you're used to, and the numbers
(05:38):
are great in terms of yards before context. I think
the offensive line for the most parts doing it. But
that's strength on strength when they're trying to run the ball,
and I give the Bucks defense plenty of credit and
plenty of ability to slow them down. I don't know
if I who I'm going to pick in this game.
I'm probably leaning Bucks. They're also getting Zion McCollum back,
(06:00):
it sounds like, and I expect Evans to play, just
because Todd Bowles is not a guy who tries to
hide things injury wise, and he basically just sounds very
optimistic that both Evans and McCollum are back, And so
that's really big and this could have big timing implications
by the end of the season. Maybe one of these
teams is the number one seed in a pretty wide
(06:20):
open NFC Quick.
Speaker 7 (06:22):
Other injury note on the Lions side for the positive,
Dan Campbell said on the local radio out in Detroit
as of Wednesday morning that Alee McNeil is quote unquote
freaking playing let's go all right, go.
Speaker 6 (06:35):
Yeah, that's good.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Loves the Lion's Detach's big.
Speaker 6 (06:38):
What he's trying to say, you like to, I mean,
you're being no, he is amazing. I do worry.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Sometimes you get excited when the guy's coming back from
a really, really serious injury, and then you realize, oh,
it's gonna take a minute. That just happened with Chris Godwin,
so you know, yeah, let's just ease him in.
Speaker 6 (06:53):
Low expectations, just help out.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
My expectations are right where they should be. Because freakin'
playing is a different situation. Then yeah, he's gonna play
freaking Plain's freaking plain man.
Speaker 6 (07:06):
I think we now grow up and actually play well.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
Next match up the spiraling Philadelphia Eagles in the Carson
Wentz Refinish Eagles favored by one and a half. They
are at the Minnesota Vikings. The over under is forty
three and a half out of them mean, g Reg
and Pam Oliver on the call as Jordan, how do
the Birds stop this slide?
Speaker 7 (07:30):
I mean, it's here's the thing. There was this debate
over the first part of the season about the people
who are worried about the Eagles legitimately because some of
the symptoms that they were showing were signs of a
greater illness that we've seen in the past. Right, and
then there are the people that were getting so mad
at the people who were worried, Right, And now I
(07:51):
think we can see it's okay to be worried about
the Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaker 3 (07:55):
This is a game they have to have.
Speaker 7 (07:58):
The fact that Minnesota SODA's defensive line is not playing
up to the standard that was advertised or invested in
in this offseason when they kept trying to add to
that group. They've allowed fifteen explosive runs through five games
in twenty twenty five. There are only three explosive runs
through five games in twenty twenty four. The Minnesota Vikings
front this this reinvested, reimagined front. So if you're going
(08:20):
to get back on track, if you're going to get
Saquon Barkley back on track, if you're going to get
this embattled and I can't believe I'm saying this, this
embattled Eagles offensive line, Yeah, back on track. You are
going to try to run it right at Minnesota and
that Brian Flores defense that has to get back to
playing the way that We're used to seeing it play, and.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
I feel like trying hasn't been the issue for the Eagles.
Like there have been some games where the fans are like, well,
why did you go so pass?
Speaker 6 (08:44):
Have you here?
Speaker 1 (08:45):
For the most part, they've just been banging their head
against the wall. It's not creative. I agree, it's not creative.
It's not effective, and they are embattled, but they're the
ones in battling themselves.
Speaker 6 (08:55):
Like Lane Johnson.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
For all the talk that Aj Brown's you know, Instagram
posts or whatever got, like Lane Johnson saying after the
game that they're predictable and that they need to be
more creative. To me, that is more meaningful than anything else.
So that's Lane Johnson. Lane Johnson saying that. So I'm
very curious to see how that running game, which you
can go through a lot of the numbers in terms
(09:18):
of how much Saque has been hitting the backfield and everything.
Speaker 6 (09:20):
It's ghastly like it. It's just not working for them.
Speaker 5 (09:23):
What he's saying is we're leaving a lot of stuff
on tape. The teams you're taking advantage. M Like, I mean,
that's that's what they're prepping for you. Brian Flores will
go ahead and set that up. The interesting thing is
JJ McCarthy is supposed to be healthy enough to play
this week.
Speaker 7 (09:37):
But I yeah, but you can't make him the backup.
But you can't make him the backup, you got to
at least pretend at least pretend that he's not healthy
enough to relay why Because if he's healthy enough to
play and he's not playing and he's not starting for you,
that's wrong.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
If he's healthy enough to play, he's going to start.
Speaker 6 (09:54):
I don't think so.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
I think he is healthy. Well, he's got to practice
this week, but that's the main thing. But when Kevin
o'c ronald said on Wednesday, I believe that they've really
been focused on improving his lower body mechanics and that
he won't be able to play until he demonstrates that
the lower body mechanics are better. And Carson Wentz he
(10:17):
basically indicated it is.
Speaker 6 (10:19):
He doesn't care.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Lower is fine, And I think Carson Wentz is starting
this game over a healthy JJ McCarthy.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (10:26):
I mean, if Wentz starts, it's well, we'll see what's
his offense going to be. I mean, Wentz could give
you a great one or he can lay an egg.
I mean, you just don't know. But the Vikings are
kind of like to me too, like the Eagles, Like man,
they just haven't hit it yet. Yeah, you know, because
they can't score, we still know what they are offensively,
I mean defensively, I think they're going to be fine.
(10:49):
I mean we talked about some of the run issues
that they have. At some point foot off, he's going
to have to pass yea and that's where all the
question marks. And so I'm just wondering if the Vikings
can take advantage of it. He defense it hasn't played
well and makes him plays regards to who's a quarterback
that guy there eighteen justin Jefferson needs to be going
off because he's gonna have some opportunity and.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
Have to wait to see it.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
Like which of the very very important Philadelphia Eagles defenders
are available for this game because no Carter no Quinnyon.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Was huge, a huge issue.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
In the game against the Giants, And like we've we've
got another year of like this journyman quarterback now playing
for Kevin O'Connell taking all these deep shots thirty four
point eight percent of Carson Wentz's balls. How about that
are going down the field, like we're gonna aggressive Carson
Wentz and you know being able to throw to eighteen. Uh,
probably is a big part of that. But like, how
(11:43):
aggressive is O'Connell going to be against this Fangio defense.
It's an interesting game and I'm excited.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
I am really excited too. I think I'm going to
assign myself this game. Sorry, guys, I.
Speaker 6 (11:54):
Really want to see it.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
Hey, you're the host man, you should.
Speaker 6 (11:57):
I want to see more Carson Wentz.
Speaker 7 (12:00):
Well, let's go the thing that I I don't want
to have my point miss kinstrut either. So like when
I say, you cannot have JJB the backup to Carson
Wentz if JJ is healthy enough to play. I remember
back in twenty twenty when Kevin O'Connell was the offensive
coordinator for the right in the middle of the divorce
between Sean McVay and Jared Goff, when a healthy enough
(12:21):
to play Jared Goff was benched for John Walford and
that was the point of no return. I'm not saying
there's a fracture in Minnesota at all, but you invested
in this young man in JJ McCarthy, and you have
to at least say, okay, even if he's healthy enough
to play, you're not gonna make him the backup to
Carson Wentz, putting him in this weird uh like headline
(12:44):
zone of noise and mess that they tried so hard
to avoid all of last year and all of entering
this year. You make Max Brosmer the backup and you
just roll with it, and you say, when JJ is
healthy enough to play, he will come start for us.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
That is what you get.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
The problem in that insist though, was McVeigh making the
wrong decision. Yeah, as long as.
Speaker 7 (13:03):
You make decisions, you're not always predicting that the backup
quarterback who becomes a starter is leaving Seattle in an ambulance,
like you're not predicting that happy.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
So JJ's twenty two and it started two games, So
I'm just saying that's ultimately putt him a healthy one
behind Max Brosmer, who is an undrafted rookie, y older.
Speaker 7 (13:21):
But he's not healthy enough to play. That's what you say.
He's not healthy enough to play. It's not his mechanics,
it's not his this, that or the other. You say
he is not healthy enough to play. Carson Wentz is
starting for us this week. Max Brasner is the backup
when JJ McCarthy is healthy enough to play.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
He is our starter.
Speaker 8 (13:36):
That's all you do, or or they believe that ort
to get to the real point, though, you know, you
gotta do it for Carson Wentz because remember Jalen Hurts
wasn't even playing, he was just drafted.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Carson was. You know, he got the yips.
Speaker 5 (13:50):
So if Carson might be looking over his shoulder in
any way, shape or form, that's why you make the
move you're making because Carson has shown what he's got
a capable backup.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
That maybe he's not as Yeah, I think it's okay if.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
I think it's just be honest, honestly, it's because even
because if you're honest and it's like, well, you know
JJ is playing bat, so we're gonna play at Carson
Wentz and then ultimately JJ goes to the Browns and
leads a franchise revolution.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Guys, we're not even close. Come on, come on now,
we're not even close.
Speaker 7 (14:18):
We're not even close to getting to the points to
where you guys are insinuating we're going here. I am
just saying you have you have dealt with headlines about
this kid that you invested so much in for two
years now and is he gonna be ready? And it's
okay if he's going to take some time to actually
be ready, I.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Don't say that. Yeah, so don't put.
Speaker 7 (14:39):
Him into any situations in the press, in whatever, don't
talk him into any situations, don't back him into any
corners that he can't.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
Cash out himself. Like that's that's all I'm saying.
Speaker 7 (14:48):
Don't you don't need to worry about this yet, Like
this isn't a split or a fracture or anything like that.
I'm saying you don't need to even pretend that this
guy is going to be playing or on the field
for you in any sort of a urgency option until
he's actually ready to be on the field for you. You
don't have to pretend. Just just do what I Just
do what I'm telling you.
Speaker 6 (15:07):
Just listen. Also, there's a very real chance he's starting
on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Yeah yeah, so this might mean nothing like most things.
Speaker 6 (15:13):
Don't even know.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
And they might look at this matchup too as like
one that they could get over on for like we'll
move on. But the Eagles defensive decline is way bigger yeah,
and like more significant than the offensive decline this year.
The offensive decline basically hasn't even happened, right. Quinna and
Mitchell did practice in a limited fashion, so did Jalen Carter,
and so did Landon Dickerson. So it does look like
(15:35):
they're going to get some good injury news of players back.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
And they've needed it. It's time for the Sunday Drive
presented by Toyota. Let's go places you want to talk
about a defense that is resurging on Sunday night football.
The Atlanta Falcons defense is going on the road. The
defense led by a former Jets interim head coach, Jeff Albert,
putting on a show on Monday night taking on these
San Francisco forty nine ers were favored by two inns
(16:00):
and a half points. Greg The over under is forty
seven and a half. It's Sunday night, so Mike, Chris
and Melissa will be there. We will all be there.
We'll be podcasting and waiting to watch a great game.
How do you think that game goes?
Speaker 6 (16:13):
I have no idea.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
These two teams are perfect examples of I think where
the NFL is right now, where twenty teams have three
wins or more, and you're just not really sure, Like
do we trusted Atlanta. It's a short week coming off
such a big win to go across the country and
they might not have either of their starting tackles. Then again,
(16:34):
the forty nine ers are so banged up their defense
is just like a walking bummer at this point to
not have Bosa and Warner. Brockbirdy could be back, he
was limited in practice. Pearsall was not at practice. George
Kittle is fully expected to play, you know, according to
you know Shanahan and John Lynch in terms of their
(16:54):
optimism publicly, and he was back at practice. So there's
just like so much up in the air, and that
these coaches I just I predict mess, That's what I have.
Speaker 7 (17:04):
It is interesting because Kyle Shanahan said early in the
week that while mac Jones and brock Purty are both limited,
brock Purty is more limited. Yeah, so this could be
yet another Mac Jones game.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
Man.
Speaker 7 (17:17):
You guys mentioned Atlanta's defense all the show that they
put on against Josh Allen and the Bills. Sorry to
our producer Eric behind the glass over there, who's been
hitting me with the killer drops all day. Today, but
I get my revenge.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
No that tho.
Speaker 7 (17:36):
The way that they are blitzing, it's it's uncharacteristic of
what Raheem Morris would typically like to do. But this
is the blend of Raheem Morris and Jeff Ulbrich now
partnered together. And I love it because they blitz creatively
and with different timings depending on the angle that you're
pass rushing from. So the outside guys and the inside
guys obviously they have their rush plan, but then when
they're sending the extra players for extra pressure, they're doing
(17:59):
it in a way that's cutting off almost where you're
looking at the court as the quarterback, you're looking at
what lanes you can then come to find, and the
blitz comes and fills that lane just fast enough to
make the quarterback hesitate. He was kind of scrambling around
in this sort of cloudy looking for his rush lanes situation.
Didn't trust what he was seeing downfield to throw the ball,
(18:20):
couldn't really cut and run the way that he wants
to because of the way that they were pressuring him.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
It was so create it was like geometric art. You guys,
I loved it.
Speaker 6 (18:30):
And you do that every week. They've been doing it
week after here.
Speaker 5 (18:33):
Here's why they can do that, and it's hopefully this
becomes a story because one Kaden nellis the INSI linebacker.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
So it's underrated player in the NFL.
Speaker 5 (18:39):
I've said this for two years, but they've taken Divine Diablo,
who was with the last name by the way, We're
a former safety type player who can run. And Rahiem
told me this in training camp. You're going to see
some things out of this kid. You haven't team. You've
got a guy who can run, and that goes to
Jordan's point when you're blitzing a certain way and you've
got two linebackers who can go. We saw this with
Drake green Law on Fred Warner with the Niners. They
(19:02):
can clean up any stuff up front. But the thing
is the guys in front have been so gap disciplined.
You saw that when Josh Allen was like, Okay, where
can I go nowhere? Like, but they've got two linebackers
who can clean it up. Aj Terrell at the corner
is playing his tail off. Yeah, he got two great safeties.
You got the rookies Javier Watch and Jesse Bates. So
defensively they're sound on all three levels and they're cranking
(19:24):
it up all bricks. You know, was with Raheem when
they were there and the before when dan Quinn was coaching,
they usually kind of wait, wait, wait, now we're gonna
come after you. Now they're like, nope, we're coming at
you from the gate. So I love the ways they're playing.
This game is gonna be interesting. But with mac Jones,
who's gutting through that knee and that oblique mm hmm,
(19:45):
you could see it show up some in that in
that game against the Bucks. If he's stationary like he is,
it's gonna be tough. It is gonna be really tough
because those linebackers can match up with Christian McCaffrey at
the backfield.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
And a lot goes on Kendrick bourne shoulders, which is
nothing new to Kendrick Born after getting there is at
one hundred and forty two yards and could say like.
Speaker 6 (20:03):
Exactly, Fantasy pickup of the year.
Speaker 4 (20:06):
No, yeah, go ahead, a great pickup by the forty
nine er because there was some negotiation that was going
on before Kendrew Borne actually got signed.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
And ice went up.
Speaker 4 (20:14):
Yeah, yesterday's price evolved and so now where the Bills
were in a situation where, especially in the second half,
they couldn't shake free of the Falcon secondary. Like better
hope that there's a kittle availability in this game, because
if those pressures were getting that was the most That
was the highest blitz rate that Josh Allen has seen
(20:36):
in almost four years. Like you gotta go back to
twenty twenty one for a blitz rate like that against
Josh Allen or teams kind of felt unsafe to come
after him to that extent, but the Falcons were able
to clean out of the gate.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Yeah, I mean the entire game.
Speaker 4 (20:50):
And so if like seeing Mac Jones like adjust the
knee brace and like hobble up and get up slowly
for the past few weeks, like I don't know, maybe
they both have to play in this game.
Speaker 7 (20:59):
And on the other side, I think this is so
cool and unfortunate because I really would have loved to
see Fred Warner and not even just Mike Pennix, but
Fred Warner and Jean Robinson chess match as well, because
Jean Robinson and the pistol. We talked about this on
NFL Daily with him last week, Friend of the Program,
like how he's setting up his own runs. They're giving
(21:19):
him the autonomy directionally as if as a quarterback would
have to set up different layers of the defense if
that quarterback was setting up his runs, and Insteadjon is
able to kind of help do that and do that,
especially aligned if they're going to run outside in the pistol,
which has its detractors. But I am a big fan
of and it's it's cool because I would have loved
to see Fred Warner negotiate that and and counter that
(21:43):
and that battle. And these are really this is a
young forty nine ers defense that I think has played
really really admirably, especially undermanned and sort of rebuilding as
it as it is. And Robert Sala has really coached
this group up. And by the way, the Venn diagram
of coaching staffs here, Roberts's Ala, Jeff Oulrich, Raheem Morris,
Kyle Shanahan, a bunch of assistants. Yeah, And so it's
(22:06):
it's it's so interesting for all those reasons, and I
can't help but think and wish that if any player
I wish could see go against this the way that
Atlanta is playing schematically right now, it is Fred Warner.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
The forty nine or superpower used to be incredible game
planning plus super duper stars like we are more talented
than you, and like physicality without Moosa, without Warner, Perdy
hasn't been healthy. Not that he's at that level. Trent
Williams is not quite where Trent Williams.
Speaker 6 (22:36):
Used to be.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Like they they just don't feel like that super team,
Whereas in Atlanta, sure it's like greater than the sum
of their parts on defense, but on offense you have
two Capital D dudes in Bijon Robinson and Drake London's
and uh, they're just more talented, I think than the
forty nine ers. All right, we're going to take a
break and we're going to go to the NFC East,
(22:59):
which is all jumbled up, and everyone's looking at the
Eagles thinking maybe we can win the division.
Speaker 4 (23:05):
This that was the Sunday Drive presented by Toyota. Let's
Go Places. Toyota is all in all season with another
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Speaker 9 (23:28):
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Speaker 1 (23:45):
Back on NFL Daily, Washington and Dallas coming off disappointing
losses each, but there's good injury news on the horizon.
CD lamb practicing on Wednesday and Cavante Turpin.
Speaker 6 (24:00):
Maybe we're getting CD lamback.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
For this game, and maybe the Cowboys have needed all
the offensive help they could get considering the way things
have gone for the defense. These both of these things
were on win streaks, but now it's the Commanders who
are favored by two and a half points at the
Dallas Cowboys. Fifty four and a half is the over under.
It is Fox one, Kevin Brooker, Tom Brady, Aaron Andrews,
and Tom Rinaldi there for the call, as Steve, do
(24:23):
we finally get an opportunity for Dallas to show its
defensive strength against the division opponent.
Speaker 5 (24:28):
No, oh, no, that's no the defense. Their defense is
not good. Jayden's gonna be upset by the way that
game ended. Bill Krosskey Merrit's gonna be upset by the
fact that he gave it up in the first half.
The offensive line's gonna have to play a little bit
better in the run game. I just think this is
one Terry McLaurin is supposed to be back practicing this week.
(24:49):
Washington's just gonna go off. They That was one of
those you could tell by Dan Campbell's body language after
the game that he was sick. I mean the mistackle.
I'm sorry, yeah, Dan Quinn, sorry about that, the body
language that.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
He had to go te you guys, it's fine, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (25:04):
The mistackle at the end on Deandres Swift, Like, I
think Washington's gonna come out and play one of its
best games of the season.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
I think Jane's gonna come out and play well.
Speaker 5 (25:14):
The fifty four and a half line is not even
high enough. There's gonna be some point score in this game.
I think Washington's gonna put a whole lot of them
up there.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Everyone plays their best against this Dallas defense, and you
look at like the approach that the Bears took, which
I thought was really good. I know it wasn't perfect
against Washington, but when teams have slowed down Cliff Kingsbury's commanders,
it's been a lot of just we're gonna have more
numbers than you in the running game, and we're gonna
(25:42):
make you try to win one on one matchups, which
works better when Terry McLaurin is out of the lineup
and now he will be back in. But they ultimately
like got totally stonewalled by what going into the game
was maybe the worst run defense in the league, the Bears,
and I thought it was a good game play, and
it's like, oh, you know, who else you know could
run that game plan? Like the former Cowboys coordinator Dan
(26:03):
Quinn problem is no longer there, And like who is
the most inflexible defensive coordinator in the league. It's Matt Eberflus.
Like I just I can't imagine it.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
I think Flus is not loose and like those.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
Guys get Deron Bland and Trayvon things like they would
be up for it. But I just kind of can't
see the Cowboys having that sort of approach in this game.
Speaker 7 (26:21):
But I think both with both offenses, we're going to
see a lot of points. Points on both sides, And
I agree with one hundred percent with what you guys
are saying about the Commanders. I think that this is
an all out. You try to score seven, six or
seven on every single drive, right, and I think that
is it's possible against what this Cowboys defense is doing.
(26:42):
I also think though, that this Commander's defense looks old
to me. I mean, they look slower, and we were
worried about this last year, and they play really hard.
Nobody's questioning that, and they are really smart players. And
Frankie Luvu is flying around looks back to his old self.
Teams were kind of putting a lot on them in
terms of how they were countering him earlier in the season.
He's flying around. But I just I don't I they
(27:06):
just they're creaky to me in different ways too. And
I think that if you're getting the guys back on
this Cowboys offense that does have something. No, they could
not run the ball this last game, but overall throughout
the season, they've run the ball extremely well. Schematically, they've
looked great up front. Javonte Williams has looked explosive. I
think that that is an anomaly last week versus the
(27:27):
norm that we've seen. And if you're getting these guys
back with Dak playing the way that he is, and unfortunately,
I do believe this is another possibly wasted Dak game
like most of these losses have been. But him and
Schottenheimer and Javante and this offensive line who also got
guys back and are getting back into a rhythm, like
there's just something there.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
I just like it.
Speaker 7 (27:48):
I don't like their defense at all, but I just
like what the Cowboys have cooking on offense. And I
think they trade blows back and forth all day.
Speaker 4 (27:55):
Yeah, even the passing game, despite the fact that the
run game went in to the singularity that is the
Panthers defense in Charlotte for some reason that we won't
be able to and never understand.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
But the past game.
Speaker 4 (28:09):
Still looked good and and to imagine Dak having the
full compliment where it's not Ryan Flinoy on the field
is said, it's now ceedee lamb he ryd. He had
a great game. But they've they've all been been able
to be successful. But to when George Pickens is the
number one threat and still having the performances that he's had,
it shows that all the potential which is kind of
(28:32):
wasted by this inflexible, as Greg says, defense, which does
have some flexibility because kyri Elam.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
Is not playing almost at all anymore.
Speaker 4 (28:42):
It was to the start of the season where it's
like that trade didn't necessarily yield the results that the
Cowboys would have liked to had, but for for weekend
and week out to be the same exact situation we
expect to be in the game.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
Oh, the Cowboys are going to be in this game.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
They've got to score a lot of points to try
to eke it out at the end and be right
every single week, like someone's gotta eventually give here.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
It's such a big game. I do like thinking about
these in the context of the season. It's why that
Cowboys loss of the Panthers I think really hurt. Like
their schedule is difficult, but if you want mess oh,
always just imagine, you know, the Cowboys do get this win,
they can get they get back to like three to
three in one. You got the Giants and the Eagles
(29:21):
playing twice in three weeks. If the Giants could ever
like sweep that matchup, that game next week is gonna
be big. And even though I've kind of liked what
I've seen overall, out of the commanders this year. Like,
if they found a way to stub their toe this week,
I don't think they will, but if they did and
they're at three and four, yeah, it's just like a
shake it all up. This thing is is gross and
it's the NFC East of like four or five years ago.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
No, that would be great.
Speaker 5 (29:45):
And look, I just think you know that, especially knowing
that coaching staff in Washington, like they're sick. The mistackles,
poor run angles are on defense. You know, offensively they
were fine, they said that the giveaways, Like, I just
think this is gonna be a a much better week,
but you don't know what you're gonna get out of this.
And they're one of these teams right now we're like
what are they?
Speaker 1 (30:06):
Because the two quarterbacks, you kind of know what you're
getting every week from these two teams and that's about it.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
Yeah, I would say that.
Speaker 5 (30:12):
And in Jaden, you know, still he's coming back getting
healthy and he was he's a little spotty from time
to time, but you know they get Terry McLaurin back
that that changes that offense.
Speaker 4 (30:21):
And I think, you know, as much as they love
to be at home, to not be in the elements
after the weather caused a lot of those issues. Yes,
it's gonna be a nice, comfortable seventy two degrees inside
a AT and T Stadium with a zero.
Speaker 3 (30:35):
Percent change out for the sun.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
Right there's dead. The green Bay Packers are going on
the road.
Speaker 4 (30:41):
They are six and a half point favorites at the
Arizona Cardinals. The over unders forty four and a half.
Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma and Jen Hale on the call.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
We saw a.
Speaker 4 (30:52):
Moral victory from the Arizona Cardinals in a Jacoby Prisette
game where the Colts like oddly fell apart and warm
ups and that had to make some adjustments.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
How do you see this one going towards?
Speaker 7 (31:03):
I would argue that this is not really a road
game for green Bay considering how many Packers fans in
wisconsinights do reside in the state of Arizona overall, and
how deep they will travel for this game and fill
up the stands there at State Farm Stadium. I suspect,
you know, I still think the Packers have it. They've
got all the pieces. Jordan Love's playing great, the offense
(31:26):
is starting to come together. The run defense is the
best in the league, right now in terms of yards
per game, and Mike Parsons is still on the team,
lest we forgot. I would just really like for not
only Packers, this Packers team as a whole, but also
like some of their fans to just like loosen up
(31:46):
a little, to lighten up. We had people guys in
our show mentions mad that we were having fun with
an icing the kicker moment, like lighten up, guys like
the expectations, like like enjoy, enjoy something. The expectations on
this team are so high. And I say this carries
(32:07):
right even through to the team itself that plays still
to me a little tight sometimes and a little in
its own head sometimes the head coach. And that's including
the play caller, which I was about to say, and
I feel like this, I just want this team looser.
I just want to see them cut it loose and
play loose and schematically sound and fundamentally sound obviously, but
I can tell the second they made that move, and
(32:30):
a great move and one that is going to take
them to the playoffs, deep in the playoffs, and one
that makes them instant Super Bowl contenders. In trading for
Micah Parsons, you also saw them get tight. You also
saw them clench up a little bit because this is
a team that knows it's got what it takes to
go the whole way. So just enjoy it, have some fun,
loosen up.
Speaker 6 (32:49):
Be free play like a complete game.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
I think that's what would Yeah, they just are always
frustrated and there there's always something about the game that
they're a little.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
Enjoy something about.
Speaker 1 (33:00):
Like they haven't been a totally complete team I would expect,
like I would definitely take the Cardinals plus six and
a half year because every cart like the Cardinals are
the example of the middle of the NFL. They are
the most average team in the NFL, even with their
back two and four is not indicative like they actually
have a plus scoring differential this year because the four
(33:21):
games they've lost have been by a combined nine points,
but the two games they won, we're also one score games,
like everything is a last minute field goal or a
last second throw for Jacobi Brissette. And I think they're
they're a tough enough defense to give Jordan love in
this offense problem which hasn't been able to put together
like a totally complete game, and.
Speaker 5 (33:40):
Arizona just does know how to win I mean that
that's the main thing. That's why they're losing these close games.
So it's a little mistake here they are. They just
don't know how to close it out. But in terms
of Greenbay, I mean, defensively, they should be whether it's
Jacoby Brissett, whether it's Kyle or they should be able
to handle this offense. This is one where I really
want to see their defense kind of choke a team out. Yeah,
like we're that good. They don't have the weapons. Marvin
(34:02):
Harrison is doing ancussion protocol. I believe, like, let's go there,
choke them out, not expect their offense to do something,
and beat a team that doesn't know how to win
a close game.
Speaker 4 (34:10):
Marvin Jr. Was limited as of Wednesday, as was Kyler Murray.
And so there's if Jordan or anybody else is looking
for a loose Packers moment. Josh Jacobs was miked up
against the Cincinnati Bengals, much like the Leonard Fournette miked
up of a few years ago. He was laughing every
time he was tackled. So there's a light Packers moment
(34:35):
where yeah, just.
Speaker 7 (34:36):
Enjoy the ride, guys. This is gonna be fun for
Packers fans just just just.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
Enjoy A lot of them are A lot of them
are just plenty of them are.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
I know, it's just fund They just you know, expectations.
Speaker 6 (34:48):
About the Cardinals fans. They will crush a team.
Speaker 1 (34:50):
I'm more worried about the Cardinals fans, who did have
high expectations this year and this is their last game
before thereby it just feels like a big moment for
them if they go into that buy too, and it's
the lowest moment of the Jonathan again An era, and like,
I give them a chance. There are some things to like.
Part of it was because Jacoby Brissett played, so that's tricky.
I assume Kyler Murray will be starting if healthy. He's
(35:13):
limited as you mentioned. Then again, they have the bye week,
so reading between the lines, to me, it sounded like
they weren't counting on Kyler Murray earlier in the week.
Speaker 6 (35:22):
But maybe he's making good progress.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
Like with Jacoby Brissett, you saw the play action rate
went way up. He was not kind of the dink
and dunk Jacoby Brissett.
Speaker 4 (35:31):
He was.
Speaker 1 (35:32):
They had more chunk plays in that game than almost
the entire season combined, and they actually had their offensive
line that they intended to have going into twenty twenty
four before a number of injuries struck to different players,
and that's been the case somewhat this year. And Will
Hernandez is coming back from an injury. They actually had
it all together for the first time since before last season,
(35:53):
and they.
Speaker 6 (35:54):
Played pretty well against the Colts.
Speaker 1 (35:56):
So like, I'm not counting this Cardinals team out in
this week or long term. Oh why not? I think
they're They're like right in the middle. They're right in
the middle the NFL.
Speaker 4 (36:06):
Congratulations the Arizona Cardinals at twenty twenty five. I'll look
at Greg like, okay, you are the middle reach that
termon my brother.
Speaker 7 (36:13):
I actually look at Steve every time Greg makes a point,
because Steve is in within within reach of the swinging
mits here.
Speaker 1 (36:20):
Oh yeah, yeah, so you can take a shot.
Speaker 2 (36:24):
Steve Greg's wingspan in.
Speaker 3 (36:29):
That shockingly large wings.
Speaker 2 (36:30):
In that great shirt.
Speaker 4 (36:32):
By the way, let's go, hey, A reminder of the
Houston Texans exists. Coming off of the buy, they went
into Baltimore, got healthy on offense, and now they get
to be a part of the Monday night doubleheader. The
later start at the Seattle Seahawks, who are a three
point favorite. Chris Fowler, Lewis Riddick, Dan Orlovsky, Katie George,
(36:53):
Peter Schrieger on the call as we get a chance
to see if that offensive revolution Greg was just the
Baltimore Ravens or if the Texans are back.
Speaker 1 (37:04):
This will be a very tough game to figure that out,
because they could put up sixteen points as long as
it wasn't complete disaster class like that might be a
good performance against this Seattle team. We'll see if Devin
Witherspoon gets back on the field this week. I just
think he's so important to what everything Mike McDonald wants
to do, especially the combination of him and Julian Love
(37:26):
who have been out. But I like that you frame
it in the not just the Ravens, you know game.
I like that coming off of buy I think coaches
and staffs tell us a lot about themselves. So what
have they worked on during this by what are they
going to look like, especially in terms of being able
to pick up pass rushers, because that's what they've really
(37:46):
struggled with upfront, and Seattle makes it as hard as
any team in the league to do.
Speaker 7 (37:49):
Yeah, This is yes, because you could see like small
incremental improvements, and yes, some of it was the opponent.
I will I definitely allow that and a lack of
pass rush in Baltimore, but you could see you could
see slight starts of incremental adjustments and improvements, getting woody
marks in there a little bit more, help them out,
(38:10):
the offensive line in general, settling down a little bit.
They're young in some places and need to obviously put
continue to build positive blocks and steps forward. So the
bye week, yes huge. This is a nightmare opponent defensively
to go again night Maripon. But it's a night mare
opponent for both teams because Seattle is the most explosive
offense in the NFL, right now, love that for them.
(38:32):
They are so fun to watch, but they're going to
go against a brick wall in that Houston Texans defense,
not just their secondary but also Seattle has to improve
their run game for as great as as much as
we love the blueprint of it, and as much as
we love watching this offense overall, this is not going
to be an easy defense to go against to get
to fixing certain things that need to be fixed.
Speaker 5 (38:53):
No, I mean, you look at Houston's front seven one
of the most talented front sevens in the NFL. I mean,
from the linebackers, you know, you got to so you
got some of the guys, you know, as he's outsider,
and then of course the bookend pass rushers come for
Sam Donald. But again, I think the timing offense way
she out of running its offense right now. You can
still move the ball up and down the field on Houston.
It's gonna be whether they can get into the end zone.
(39:15):
I think that's the issue.
Speaker 2 (39:16):
But the way Donald is playing right now, I'm all
on the Sam club.
Speaker 7 (39:21):
He's number one in e PA per play Composite ranking
out over them every week.
Speaker 2 (39:26):
We got him on the island.
Speaker 1 (39:27):
I mean, I mean, he's there quite an island, like
right now. We got to get CJ back. They're not
going to be a game though. That will probably support
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (39:37):
Man TJ seems to be I mean, I know is
the Ravens and the Titans the last two games, but
he just seems to be like, Okay, now I feel
a little more behind this offensive line.
Speaker 2 (39:46):
So I don't think he's scret right.
Speaker 5 (39:48):
He's going in his game ready to deal a little
bit so I think this is going to be a
tight game.
Speaker 2 (39:52):
It's just tough because it's in Seattle.
Speaker 6 (39:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (39:55):
Well that's the thing though, because the road to Warriors,
they think you of all kinds of problems. Folks and
douvall were on cloud nine after that win against the Chiefs.
But there comes JSN streaking down the field for sixty one.
But the Jags, you know, there's a reason that they're
shipping corners out and trying to make changes in the
secondary that the Texans, I think, talent wise, are uniquely
(40:18):
positioned to be a problem for Seattle's offense to an
extent that maybe they hadn't seen yet.
Speaker 1 (40:23):
And they should be a problem for everyone's offense, like
the physicality that they have. Although I was thinking about
like bigger picture that this season, I always think this
it just as a reminder it's really tough to build
around defense. I did like the Texans defense is great,
but ultimately they've given up a couple drives in key
moments this season where even though the offense has struggled,
(40:45):
they could easily be four and won this year if
the defense made a I think about the Vikings really
built around their defense and it's tough for their defense
to carry them week after week. I think about the Broncos,
who you think of as one of the best defenses.
Those last aren't even in the top ten in DVOA
right now. Because when you go up against an offense,
and I would include the Seahawks in one of these,
(41:06):
at least their passing games that's truly efficient. It's just
nothing is set up for you to dominate in this league.
So you better have like a respectable the better offense,
or your team is kind of de a If your defense.
Speaker 5 (41:17):
Is on the field, you know, over and over and over,
eventually the team's can hit you on a ten play
drive and eleven play drive and wear your butt down,
and then that's that.
Speaker 2 (41:26):
The offense has got to be able to point up
on the board.
Speaker 5 (41:28):
That's why, again, I think, Houston, I don't know this
watching them.
Speaker 2 (41:32):
I love this game.
Speaker 6 (41:33):
What is my favorite game of the week?
Speaker 3 (41:35):
You already gave you one.
Speaker 6 (41:36):
Yeah, I just though it's Monday night football, it's late.
Speaker 7 (41:38):
Oh my god, everyone gets it.
Speaker 2 (41:41):
Yes, we'll be there.
Speaker 4 (41:43):
Why why can't the Seahawks run the ball consistently?
Speaker 2 (41:45):
Though?
Speaker 4 (41:46):
Like, at what point is that like an issue?
Speaker 6 (41:49):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (41:49):
Last week was concerning That's the thing that's wild to
me because the scheme is there and there. They brought
some dudes in and and they've got the two back system,
and you would think all of the pieces on paper, everything,
even on scheme wise, on the field, when you're watching
the tape, you're like, I could see why that would work,
and yet you know, but here's the thing. Two weeks ago,
(42:11):
Mike McDonald was mad as heck at his pass rusher
lack thereof, spoke about it at length in the in
the media that week.
Speaker 3 (42:18):
This week, obviously not thrilled with the run game.
Speaker 7 (42:21):
Speaking about it at length in the media this week.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
This is this is the focus this week.
Speaker 7 (42:25):
He is never hiding what his team is focusing on
week over week over week. And you have to run
the ball, or at least try because if you try
to get the ball to these big tight ends that
they're having success with, you got these badass linebackers for
Houston that are making that more of a challenge. And
if you're trying to be explosive on the perimeter or
even getting some of those like gimme pickup yards and
(42:46):
conversions or yak plays that Cooper Cup kind of came
alive with last last week as well. You're gonna have
a hard time against the secondary. Everything is going to
be difficult. You have to run the ball better, and.
Speaker 1 (42:58):
That's where you want to win against Houston too, because
the tackles Charles Cross and Abe Lucas have played great,
especially protecting Sam Bradford. But if you're going to pick
a weakness, it probably has been their interior, even even
drafting Gray's Abel.
Speaker 6 (43:10):
In terms of what.
Speaker 2 (43:12):
Sam Bradford made it play, it's a walk show.
Speaker 6 (43:15):
Sam Bradford and Sam Dard sitting here for hours.
Speaker 1 (43:18):
To me, I always always used to mix up, and
now Darnold is just taking it to another level. That
the two thousand and what year was it eleven?
Speaker 7 (43:27):
The year Sam brad parking lot, you know, yeah.
Speaker 2 (43:30):
A smelling spelling the sense.
Speaker 4 (43:35):
In the run game more of the past game, because
I think back because one of those late defensive collapses
by the Texans Greg was the performance by Baker and
the box offense, which was really just Bucky Irving as
well as Rashad White making guys miss on that final drift.
So perhaps Zach Charberney as well as Kenneth Walker will
need to make some plays in this one to our
final game, we go, you changed the locations and this
(43:57):
would be the ultimate revenge game. But it is the
New Orleans Saints at the Chicago Bears, who are favored
by five and a half points. The over unders forty
six and a half. Kevin Coogler, Daryl Johnston, and Alison
Williams will be there, Steve as we get the Dennis
Allen opportunity.
Speaker 5 (44:18):
All old Dame Dennis. Dennis, he was more motivated than this.
Dennis is gonna be like.
Speaker 2 (44:25):
He We're punching it out. We're gonna get five takeaway.
Speaker 3 (44:28):
Chewingham furiously on the sideline.
Speaker 5 (44:31):
Look but with the Spears defense though, I mean it's
funny Watson gets Washington, which is a better team, but.
Speaker 2 (44:39):
They make some freaking plays. Man.
Speaker 5 (44:40):
I mean this pick right here that we're seeing on video,
that was a spectacular play. The way that they showed him,
the athleticism and speeding tenacity. I like the way they played.
Now they're they're vulnerable time, but sweat coming in the rush.
I just think this he Da like, no mercy, no mercy.
(45:01):
But again their defense has been gashed a bit of time,
but not by Spencer Ratlers, who hasn't been bad by
the way, Well.
Speaker 6 (45:08):
No, he's been good.
Speaker 1 (45:09):
And you know he was there with with DA, like
a lot of this team. I mean, there's revenge games
all over the place. Chris o'lave was essentially sold out
by Day when he basically chose Derek Carr over Chris
o'lave in kind of a public situation. Alvin Kamara and
DA definitely were not eye to eye, And there was
(45:33):
a report actually that Alvin Kamara indicated the Saints he
does not want to be traded because they basically, I
think are putting up a for sale sign on a
lot of their players.
Speaker 6 (45:43):
I think Chris a lave might be one of them.
Speaker 1 (45:45):
But Kamara indicated reportedly to them that, like he wants
to state, that would not be the case. I think
if DA was the coach, well how about this part
of the revenge game. Revenge might be the wrong word.
But once upon a time, Spencer Rattler was you know,
the number one high school recruit or whatever in the country. Yeah,
and he was displaced by Caleb Williams, and now people
(46:06):
are doing redrafts. Our friend Steven Ruiz at the ringer
of the twenty twenty four draft, and this, this was
this was a bold take. First, he had Drake may
as the number one overall pick. That's not as bold, like,
you know, you can make the argument for that that
in there, you know, yeah, but that's number one. Interesting
the hate of Jaden he had Caleb go appears he
had Spencer Rattler going tenth overall Minnesota Vikings. Oh now
(46:31):
in this redraft because that's the level that Rattler's playing at.
Speaker 7 (46:35):
I like that match too, day Yeah, wow.
Speaker 6 (46:40):
I think he is kind of playing like I like
the team match.
Speaker 3 (46:44):
I like the team match.
Speaker 1 (46:45):
Let me say that, right, he's kind of playing like
less maybe like a top ten overall pick, but more
of like like the guy after the top three quarterbacks,
Like who's played better this year?
Speaker 6 (46:54):
Bo Nix or Spencer Ratler. It's not Spencer Ratler for sure.
Speaker 7 (46:58):
Yeah, he's It's a good story because he he's the
guy that all summer everyone's like, when is when is
it no longer going to be his job?
Speaker 2 (47:05):
Right?
Speaker 6 (47:06):
Saints fans are calling for shock, which is crazy to me.
Speaker 2 (47:10):
Yeah, why, I don't get it.
Speaker 4 (47:11):
I don't understand because it seems like Kellen Moore started
to figure out a little bit more of how he
wants to utilize Spencer Rattler in this offense.
Speaker 2 (47:20):
They've used motion on seventy percent.
Speaker 4 (47:22):
How about up their plays and they they gained the
ninth fewest yards in the entire league when they don't
use motions.
Speaker 2 (47:30):
So yeah, maybe that's seventy percent should go up.
Speaker 7 (47:32):
Kellen Moore got out of Philly, where they apparently hate motion,
and it was like, I'm free, let me go run
him around.
Speaker 4 (47:40):
Ye Rashid Chris get in motion and Olave has the
fourth highest target rate among receivers this year.
Speaker 6 (47:48):
So Rattler's loading up. Chris o'lave not working well, he's
having his work.
Speaker 7 (47:51):
I mean, it's it's not The roster needs so much help.
They need to develop as a coaching staff. The defense
needs help. They're going to start replacing some of these
older place with these younger players who are coming up
to see what they've got. It is interesting, though, I
want to point this out. On the other side, something
important that I think we saw from Chicago earlier in
(48:12):
this last game. Calm situational awareness. Yes, they were playing
for the field goal for the one point win. Don't
necessarily love that, but hey, you take them where you
can get them. And I like the end of game
management between Ben Johnson and specifically Caleb Williams, how he's
(48:33):
calming everyone down in the huddle. He's reminding everybody, you know,
what their assignments are, should this happen, should that happen.
You can hear some of it on the micd up.
It just we are not that far removed from a
Chicago team in tight late game scenarios that require some
situational finesse by both the coach and the quarterback. Of
(48:56):
which way are they going to lose this week?
Speaker 9 (48:58):
Right?
Speaker 3 (48:58):
Right?
Speaker 7 (48:58):
And I see so much positive progress made out of
this Bears team. They maneuvered around their offensive line, the
guards are playing good. Jonah Jackson looked awesome for the
first time in really a while.
Speaker 3 (49:13):
He's had some struggles in his career.
Speaker 7 (49:14):
They switched around, They got a guy back on the
right side, they switched around the left side.
Speaker 3 (49:18):
Like this is it's starting to come together for Chicago.
Speaker 2 (49:22):
It's starting to come together.
Speaker 5 (49:23):
And you know, we sat here, it's gonna take some time,
but we know how incredibly talented Kayla Williams. And so
you're starting to see that come out clearly. The connection
with Roma Dunes. He's there, right, He's get some stuff
going with Loveland. That's that's here and there. But if
Swift continues to play, he stays on the field and
continues to play the way they played Chicago's is interesting.
(49:44):
I'm glad you mentioned the offensive line because what they
did to Washington late okay, when they were able to
hit the edges over and over, like you heard me
talk about how dan Quinn's gonna be just furious about
seeing that. But to play by the tackles and the
pulling linemen to hook the defender in the spring Swift
like that.
Speaker 2 (50:02):
They keep doing that, you keep opening the offense. You
can go here here, then you can work it inside.
Then he got a quarterback and can get it downfield.
Speaker 6 (50:07):
They could be very dangerous, I mean on the edge.
Speaker 1 (50:10):
How about a little shout out to the Canadian egole
theo Bennettt. Yeah, going to UBC in Canada, little Canadian representation.
They choose him as the left tackle coming out of
the by. And I was talking about that with the Texans,
like show us your work coming out of the by.
The Bears on both sides of the ball. Suddenly their
run defense was tough and look better, and they're healthier,
(50:32):
Their linebackers are healthier. Kyler Gordon is in there that
that is part of it. And then on the offensive side,
they suddenly ran the ball, and I like, man, I
want to I'm rooting for the Saints in this game.
Speaker 6 (50:42):
I want to pick them in this game.
Speaker 1 (50:44):
But I just feel like the biggest mismatch is Ben
Johnson versus Brandon Staley in this defense. And I saw
I thought it last week too with McDaniels and he
had him cooking, especially in that early script where he
just kind of knew what the Saints defense was going
to do and they took advantage.
Speaker 2 (50:59):
Of real quick.
Speaker 5 (50:59):
I mean this, this brings up a point, and I
think we look all around the what teams are mature
enough to handle this?
Speaker 6 (51:05):
Right there?
Speaker 5 (51:05):
In can Atlanta, which came out of the by like Gangbusters?
Can they handle not going to San Francisco? Right Can
the Bears coming off an ice min night when go
down to New Ords? Are they mature enough to handle it?
This is where we're gonna get some tells about some teams. Greg,
you mentioned big mismatches. We got a five one. We
got a fine one because we need to survive as
a family. We again are undefeated, and I have a
(51:28):
suggestion for you. Okay, the Denver Broncos at home against Jacksonville.
Speaker 6 (51:32):
No, don't like it. I feel like the Giants are
you know, pick the Patriots. No, don't want that either.
Speaker 1 (51:41):
On the road, our method has been to just take
the team playing the benk Yeah, it's it's a Thursday
night football game, but we're taping this on Wednesday. There's
no rule saying that we can't.
Speaker 6 (51:55):
Have you seen the last two Thursday night football.
Speaker 1 (51:57):
Games, but they have been crazy, but that doesn't impact.
Speaker 7 (52:01):
Can't you see how much Patrick cares about this?
Speaker 1 (52:04):
We could we could do the chief together. We have
yet to choose the Chiefs this season. We could just
survive and do that that way, or we could stay
consistent and go believe in the Aaron Rodgers Steelers.
Speaker 6 (52:18):
That's a little tricky too.
Speaker 2 (52:21):
Are you.
Speaker 1 (52:22):
This is your first show that you've sat in for both.
I mean it was a big get AFC NFC. I
give you the tie breaking honors here, the tie breaking honors.
Speaker 3 (52:33):
I think, oh I didn't get to submit once break.
Speaker 1 (52:35):
I thought you wanted you didn't like the Chiefs. I
thought you liked the Broncos.
Speaker 3 (52:38):
No, I want Patriots picking the Patriots.
Speaker 2 (52:42):
Right, that's what I was going to go as well. No, No,
if you're taking it seriously as I were accused of.
Speaker 6 (52:49):
Not, I am.
Speaker 1 (52:50):
I think they could lose that game. Absolutely, Nope, Nope,
he's mad. I don't think he's serious.
Speaker 6 (52:57):
I am serious.
Speaker 3 (52:57):
I don't think you take this game seriously enough. I'm
kind of disappointed.
Speaker 6 (53:00):
I am taking it so serious.
Speaker 1 (53:02):
Called road team, fired coach and a team getting a
lot of love with the number there, but beneath the
surface and they're like twentieth overall in Dvoa. And you're
telling me that's a better pick than the Chiefs at
home against the Raiders.
Speaker 3 (53:17):
I want to feel something, all right.
Speaker 2 (53:20):
Don't do it man, No, all right, but if we.
Speaker 1 (53:25):
Lose this, okay, Greg ros I take that responsibility like.
Speaker 3 (53:30):
He doesn't responsibility. He doesn't care.
Speaker 1 (53:33):
Everyone has been showing up to the players only meeting
that are not required time, and they're on time. Weiss
is there early, He's taken notes. The leadership here is great.
Thursday night Football, it'll be Nick Schook and Eye. That's
the next show. In your feed. We will see you
then
Welcome back to NFL Daily, where we can't believe the
disrespect of what's happening in Vegas. And I usually just
don't jump right into the games. But the Bucks five
and a half point underdogs, and Patrick will tell me
they're just putting the number in a way that's gonna
inspire people to to go. But that in theory, you
(00:26):
want it to be on both sides, and I feel
like everyone would be taking the Bucks as a five
and a half point dog to a banged up Lions team.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Yeah, correct that?
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Okay, Well, this is why I'm not doing very well
on game debut and why I'm not.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Allowed to the Bucks anyway. What are you so upset?
Speaker 4 (00:47):
Champion Greg has successfully picked the actual Super Bowl before.
Either way, don't let Greg sell himself short. Uh, you
know who will never sell himself short.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
One.
Speaker 4 (00:55):
Baker Mayfield his Tampa Bay Buccaneers going on the road
to take on those two Troit Lions. The disrespectful according
to Craig line of five and a half as the
Detroit Lions are giving that up. The over under is
fifty two and a half and Steve Joe Buck, Troy Aikman,
and Lisa Salters and Laura rt lizz are going to
see a great game with two of the NFC's best.
(01:16):
But with the Lions coming off a rough long that
was a tough low. How do you how do you
see this?
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (01:21):
Look, I think the Lions doo bounce back. They didn't
look Jared Goff. That offense could never get going. They
got stuffed after that opening drive, and I think it's like, Okay,
let's let's figure this out the Chiefs. That's why I
said the Chiefs defense was back, but they just couldn't
get They couldn't stay on the field the Lion So
(01:41):
Amar roth Saint frown this defense or this offense for
the Lions, I think we'll click a little bit better.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Put more points up. The fact that it's five and
a half.
Speaker 5 (01:49):
Patrick, to your point, there's no way by the time
the game gets here, it's five and a half and
just Tampa Bay all the injuries too.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
I mean, at some point they have to stack up.
Speaker 6 (01:58):
But to me, Detroit injuries are more of.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
A concern their complimentary injuries.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Right, because losing your two starting cornerbacks Terry an Arnold
and DJ Reid, and then losing Dianne Branch and Kirby
Joseph who is going to be on the injury report
and we'll see if he actually plays. That's all at
one position, and it's a vulnerable position, and we've seen
at this point that the Bucks can handle losing skill
(02:24):
position guys. So Noah Buka this week, but you probably
get Mike Evans back. He is back at practice. No
Chris Godwin. He wasn't a factor really when he was
out there. Ultimately, anyways, this season and they've been fine
without Bucky Irving.
Speaker 6 (02:37):
The offensive line is healthy.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
So to me, if I was judging like which injuries
I'm more worried about, it's actually the Lions because I
think that's secondary getting cut up by your boy Baker johnser.
Speaker 6 (02:48):
Cape sun rolling.
Speaker 7 (02:52):
This is going to send me to the grave. Johnson,
Johnson and Shepherd esquired. Those are going to be the
to guys depending on Mike Evans's status. Now that's a hamstring,
so yes, absolutely could imagine him being back on the field.
Don't know how many deep goes he's he's getting sent
on or what his role will actually be. But Baker
(03:14):
Mayfield was hitting those other guys who made plays for him.
You know this coaching staff was so excited about Tess
Johnson all through training camp and really was impressed by
how well he did. Probably the surprise of the group
was Cameron Johnson, who steps up and makes a big play,
catches a touchdown pass. And I think on the other side,
(03:36):
where the Detroit Lions are having some serious issues in
their secondary, you're starting to watch the Buccaneers secondary truly
come to life. Jamel Dean and Jacob Parrish are both
really really important player. Teams are attacking him and he
is standing up to it. And Jamel Dean is good
for one takeaway, two takeaways a game, or at least
a splash play.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
And so this this opportunity unity for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
And I understand because Abuka is a significant loss. Yeah,
And I think going into the game knowing that he's
probably not available is a lot different than losing him
in the middle of the game. Probably more for Sterling
Shepherd in the targets than you know, because Tes Walker
(04:19):
is a great explosive playmaker. Excuse me, Tes Johnson, I'm
getting you know, wish casting my tes my preferred test.
But Tes Johnson right on those deep plays on places
where they try to get him the ball in space,
but consistently in the route like where Baker trust him
to be. I think it's more of a Sterling Shepherd
game against like considering the entire Lions secondary might not
(04:45):
be there as much as I would lean to pick
Detroit in this game, like missing your entire secondary like
five points might kind of.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
It's like, it's insane.
Speaker 5 (04:54):
This is just one where the way that Detroit just
got handled last game. Yeah, I think they are mad out.
They go on these twelve and thirteen plays drives right,
they keep the ball away from Bakery. They've run them
to death. They Dave Montgomery, they do everything they have
to do in this game. I just think this is
one You could look at the personnel and this and that,
but this is one Detroit. They just they got out physical,
(05:16):
which doesn't happen to the Lions.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
In this game though, when they try to run the
ball like that is a great run defense they're going
up against. And so that's a fascinating matchup. The numbers
are we have to run it with those two sure
to them. They have not had a lot of explosive plays,
surprisingly in their running game this year. Montgomery certainly hasn't,
but even Jamir Gibbs hasn't really been hitting like the
plus twenty plays like you're used to, and the numbers
(05:38):
are great in terms of yards before context. I think
the offensive line for the most parts doing it. But
that's strength on strength when they're trying to run the ball,
and I give the Bucks defense plenty of credit and
plenty of ability to slow them down. I don't know
if I who I'm going to pick in this game.
I'm probably leaning Bucks. They're also getting Zion McCollum back,
(06:00):
it sounds like, and I expect Evans to play, just
because Todd Bowles is not a guy who tries to
hide things injury wise, and he basically just sounds very
optimistic that both Evans and McCollum are back, And so
that's really big and this could have big timing implications
by the end of the season. Maybe one of these
teams is the number one seed in a pretty wide
(06:20):
open NFC Quick.
Speaker 7 (06:22):
Other injury note on the Lions side for the positive,
Dan Campbell said on the local radio out in Detroit
as of Wednesday morning that Alee McNeil is quote unquote
freaking playing let's go all right, go.
Speaker 6 (06:35):
Yeah, that's good.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Loves the Lion's Detach's big.
Speaker 6 (06:38):
What he's trying to say, you like to, I mean,
you're being no, he is amazing. I do worry.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Sometimes you get excited when the guy's coming back from
a really, really serious injury, and then you realize, oh,
it's gonna take a minute. That just happened with Chris Godwin,
so you know, yeah, let's just ease him in.
Speaker 6 (06:53):
Low expectations, just help out.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
My expectations are right where they should be. Because freakin'
playing is a different situation. Then yeah, he's gonna play
freaking Plain's freaking plain man.
Speaker 6 (07:06):
I think we now grow up and actually play well.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
Next match up the spiraling Philadelphia Eagles in the Carson
Wentz Refinish Eagles favored by one and a half. They
are at the Minnesota Vikings. The over under is forty
three and a half out of them mean, g Reg
and Pam Oliver on the call as Jordan, how do
the Birds stop this slide?
Speaker 7 (07:30):
I mean, it's here's the thing. There was this debate
over the first part of the season about the people
who are worried about the Eagles legitimately because some of
the symptoms that they were showing were signs of a
greater illness that we've seen in the past. Right, and
then there are the people that were getting so mad
at the people who were worried, Right, And now I
(07:51):
think we can see it's okay to be worried about
the Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaker 3 (07:55):
This is a game they have to have.
Speaker 7 (07:58):
The fact that Minnesota SODA's defensive line is not playing
up to the standard that was advertised or invested in
in this offseason when they kept trying to add to
that group. They've allowed fifteen explosive runs through five games
in twenty twenty five. There are only three explosive runs
through five games in twenty twenty four. The Minnesota Vikings
front this this reinvested, reimagined front. So if you're going
(08:20):
to get back on track, if you're going to get
Saquon Barkley back on track, if you're going to get
this embattled and I can't believe I'm saying this, this
embattled Eagles offensive line, Yeah, back on track. You are
going to try to run it right at Minnesota and
that Brian Flores defense that has to get back to
playing the way that We're used to seeing it play, and.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
I feel like trying hasn't been the issue for the Eagles.
Like there have been some games where the fans are like, well,
why did you go so pass?
Speaker 6 (08:44):
Have you here?
Speaker 1 (08:45):
For the most part, they've just been banging their head
against the wall. It's not creative. I agree, it's not creative.
It's not effective, and they are embattled, but they're the
ones in battling themselves.
Speaker 6 (08:55):
Like Lane Johnson.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
For all the talk that Aj Brown's you know, Instagram
posts or whatever got, like Lane Johnson saying after the
game that they're predictable and that they need to be
more creative. To me, that is more meaningful than anything else.
So that's Lane Johnson. Lane Johnson saying that. So I'm
very curious to see how that running game, which you
can go through a lot of the numbers in terms
(09:18):
of how much Saque has been hitting the backfield and everything.
Speaker 6 (09:20):
It's ghastly like it. It's just not working for them.
Speaker 5 (09:23):
What he's saying is we're leaving a lot of stuff
on tape. The teams you're taking advantage. M Like, I mean,
that's that's what they're prepping for you. Brian Flores will
go ahead and set that up. The interesting thing is
JJ McCarthy is supposed to be healthy enough to play
this week.
Speaker 7 (09:37):
But I yeah, but you can't make him the backup.
But you can't make him the backup, you got to
at least pretend at least pretend that he's not healthy
enough to relay why Because if he's healthy enough to
play and he's not playing and he's not starting for you,
that's wrong.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
If he's healthy enough to play, he's going to start.
Speaker 6 (09:54):
I don't think so.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
I think he is healthy. Well, he's got to practice
this week, but that's the main thing. But when Kevin
o'c ronald said on Wednesday, I believe that they've really
been focused on improving his lower body mechanics and that
he won't be able to play until he demonstrates that
the lower body mechanics are better. And Carson Wentz he
(10:17):
basically indicated it is.
Speaker 6 (10:19):
He doesn't care.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Lower is fine, And I think Carson Wentz is starting
this game over a healthy JJ McCarthy.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (10:26):
I mean, if Wentz starts, it's well, we'll see what's
his offense going to be. I mean, Wentz could give
you a great one or he can lay an egg.
I mean, you just don't know. But the Vikings are
kind of like to me too, like the Eagles, Like man,
they just haven't hit it yet. Yeah, you know, because
they can't score, we still know what they are offensively,
I mean defensively, I think they're going to be fine.
(10:49):
I mean we talked about some of the run issues
that they have. At some point foot off, he's going
to have to pass yea and that's where all the
question marks. And so I'm just wondering if the Vikings
can take advantage of it. He defense it hasn't played
well and makes him plays regards to who's a quarterback
that guy there eighteen justin Jefferson needs to be going
off because he's gonna have some opportunity and.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
Have to wait to see it.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
Like which of the very very important Philadelphia Eagles defenders
are available for this game because no Carter no Quinnyon.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Was huge, a huge issue.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
In the game against the Giants, And like we've we've
got another year of like this journyman quarterback now playing
for Kevin O'Connell taking all these deep shots thirty four
point eight percent of Carson Wentz's balls. How about that
are going down the field, like we're gonna aggressive Carson
Wentz and you know being able to throw to eighteen. Uh,
probably is a big part of that. But like, how
(11:43):
aggressive is O'Connell going to be against this Fangio defense.
It's an interesting game and I'm excited.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
I am really excited too. I think I'm going to
assign myself this game. Sorry, guys, I.
Speaker 6 (11:54):
Really want to see it.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
Hey, you're the host man, you should.
Speaker 6 (11:57):
I want to see more Carson Wentz.
Speaker 7 (12:00):
Well, let's go the thing that I I don't want
to have my point miss kinstrut either. So like when
I say, you cannot have JJB the backup to Carson
Wentz if JJ is healthy enough to play. I remember
back in twenty twenty when Kevin O'Connell was the offensive
coordinator for the right in the middle of the divorce
between Sean McVay and Jared Goff, when a healthy enough
(12:21):
to play Jared Goff was benched for John Walford and
that was the point of no return. I'm not saying
there's a fracture in Minnesota at all, but you invested
in this young man in JJ McCarthy, and you have
to at least say, okay, even if he's healthy enough
to play, you're not gonna make him the backup to
Carson Wentz, putting him in this weird uh like headline
(12:44):
zone of noise and mess that they tried so hard
to avoid all of last year and all of entering
this year. You make Max Brosmer the backup and you
just roll with it, and you say, when JJ is
healthy enough to play, he will come start for us.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
That is what you get.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
The problem in that insist though, was McVeigh making the
wrong decision. Yeah, as long as.
Speaker 7 (13:03):
You make decisions, you're not always predicting that the backup
quarterback who becomes a starter is leaving Seattle in an ambulance,
like you're not predicting that happy.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
So JJ's twenty two and it started two games, So
I'm just saying that's ultimately putt him a healthy one
behind Max Brosmer, who is an undrafted rookie, y older.
Speaker 7 (13:21):
But he's not healthy enough to play. That's what you say.
He's not healthy enough to play. It's not his mechanics,
it's not his this, that or the other. You say
he is not healthy enough to play. Carson Wentz is
starting for us this week. Max Brasner is the backup
when JJ McCarthy is healthy enough to play.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
He is our starter.
Speaker 8 (13:36):
That's all you do, or or they believe that ort
to get to the real point, though, you know, you
gotta do it for Carson Wentz because remember Jalen Hurts
wasn't even playing, he was just drafted.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Carson was. You know, he got the yips.
Speaker 5 (13:50):
So if Carson might be looking over his shoulder in
any way, shape or form, that's why you make the
move you're making because Carson has shown what he's got
a capable backup.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
That maybe he's not as Yeah, I think it's okay if.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
I think it's just be honest, honestly, it's because even
because if you're honest and it's like, well, you know
JJ is playing bat, so we're gonna play at Carson
Wentz and then ultimately JJ goes to the Browns and
leads a franchise revolution.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Guys, we're not even close. Come on, come on now,
we're not even close.
Speaker 7 (14:18):
We're not even close to getting to the points to
where you guys are insinuating we're going here. I am
just saying you have you have dealt with headlines about
this kid that you invested so much in for two
years now and is he gonna be ready? And it's
okay if he's going to take some time to actually
be ready, I.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Don't say that. Yeah, so don't put.
Speaker 7 (14:39):
Him into any situations in the press, in whatever, don't
talk him into any situations, don't back him into any
corners that he can't.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
Cash out himself. Like that's that's all I'm saying.
Speaker 7 (14:48):
Don't you don't need to worry about this yet, Like
this isn't a split or a fracture or anything like that.
I'm saying you don't need to even pretend that this
guy is going to be playing or on the field
for you in any sort of a urgency option until
he's actually ready to be on the field for you. You
don't have to pretend. Just just do what I Just
do what I'm telling you.
Speaker 6 (15:07):
Just listen. Also, there's a very real chance he's starting
on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Yeah yeah, so this might mean nothing like most things.
Speaker 6 (15:13):
Don't even know.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
And they might look at this matchup too as like
one that they could get over on for like we'll
move on. But the Eagles defensive decline is way bigger yeah,
and like more significant than the offensive decline this year.
The offensive decline basically hasn't even happened, right. Quinna and
Mitchell did practice in a limited fashion, so did Jalen Carter,
and so did Landon Dickerson. So it does look like
(15:35):
they're going to get some good injury news of players back.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
And they've needed it. It's time for the Sunday Drive
presented by Toyota. Let's go places you want to talk
about a defense that is resurging on Sunday night football.
The Atlanta Falcons defense is going on the road. The
defense led by a former Jets interim head coach, Jeff Albert,
putting on a show on Monday night taking on these
San Francisco forty nine ers were favored by two inns
(16:00):
and a half points. Greg The over under is forty
seven and a half. It's Sunday night, so Mike, Chris
and Melissa will be there. We will all be there.
We'll be podcasting and waiting to watch a great game.
How do you think that game goes?
Speaker 6 (16:13):
I have no idea.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
These two teams are perfect examples of I think where
the NFL is right now, where twenty teams have three
wins or more, and you're just not really sure, Like
do we trusted Atlanta. It's a short week coming off
such a big win to go across the country and
they might not have either of their starting tackles. Then again,
(16:34):
the forty nine ers are so banged up their defense
is just like a walking bummer at this point to
not have Bosa and Warner. Brockbirdy could be back, he
was limited in practice. Pearsall was not at practice. George
Kittle is fully expected to play, you know, according to
you know Shanahan and John Lynch in terms of their
(16:54):
optimism publicly, and he was back at practice. So there's
just like so much up in the air, and that
these coaches I just I predict mess, That's what I have.
Speaker 7 (17:04):
It is interesting because Kyle Shanahan said early in the
week that while mac Jones and brock Purty are both limited,
brock Purty is more limited. Yeah, so this could be
yet another Mac Jones game.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
Man.
Speaker 7 (17:17):
You guys mentioned Atlanta's defense all the show that they
put on against Josh Allen and the Bills. Sorry to
our producer Eric behind the glass over there, who's been
hitting me with the killer drops all day. Today, but
I get my revenge.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
No that tho.
Speaker 7 (17:36):
The way that they are blitzing, it's it's uncharacteristic of
what Raheem Morris would typically like to do. But this
is the blend of Raheem Morris and Jeff Ulbrich now
partnered together. And I love it because they blitz creatively
and with different timings depending on the angle that you're
pass rushing from. So the outside guys and the inside
guys obviously they have their rush plan, but then when
they're sending the extra players for extra pressure, they're doing
(17:59):
it in a way that's cutting off almost where you're
looking at the court as the quarterback, you're looking at
what lanes you can then come to find, and the
blitz comes and fills that lane just fast enough to
make the quarterback hesitate. He was kind of scrambling around
in this sort of cloudy looking for his rush lanes situation.
Didn't trust what he was seeing downfield to throw the ball,
(18:20):
couldn't really cut and run the way that he wants
to because of the way that they were pressuring him.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
It was so create it was like geometric art. You guys,
I loved it.
Speaker 6 (18:30):
And you do that every week. They've been doing it
week after here.
Speaker 5 (18:33):
Here's why they can do that, and it's hopefully this
becomes a story because one Kaden nellis the INSI linebacker.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
So it's underrated player in the NFL.
Speaker 5 (18:39):
I've said this for two years, but they've taken Divine Diablo,
who was with the last name by the way, We're
a former safety type player who can run. And Rahiem
told me this in training camp. You're going to see
some things out of this kid. You haven't team. You've
got a guy who can run, and that goes to
Jordan's point when you're blitzing a certain way and you've
got two linebackers who can go. We saw this with
Drake green Law on Fred Warner with the Niners. They
(19:02):
can clean up any stuff up front. But the thing
is the guys in front have been so gap disciplined.
You saw that when Josh Allen was like, Okay, where
can I go nowhere? Like, but they've got two linebackers
who can clean it up. Aj Terrell at the corner
is playing his tail off. Yeah, he got two great safeties.
You got the rookies Javier Watch and Jesse Bates. So
defensively they're sound on all three levels and they're cranking
(19:24):
it up all bricks. You know, was with Raheem when
they were there and the before when dan Quinn was coaching,
they usually kind of wait, wait, wait, now we're gonna
come after you. Now they're like, nope, we're coming at
you from the gate. So I love the ways they're playing.
This game is gonna be interesting. But with mac Jones,
who's gutting through that knee and that oblique mm hmm,
(19:45):
you could see it show up some in that in
that game against the Bucks. If he's stationary like he is,
it's gonna be tough. It is gonna be really tough
because those linebackers can match up with Christian McCaffrey at
the backfield.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
And a lot goes on Kendrick bourne shoulders, which is
nothing new to Kendrick Born after getting there is at
one hundred and forty two yards and could say like.
Speaker 6 (20:03):
Exactly, Fantasy pickup of the year.
Speaker 4 (20:06):
No, yeah, go ahead, a great pickup by the forty
nine er because there was some negotiation that was going
on before Kendrew Borne actually got signed.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
And ice went up.
Speaker 4 (20:14):
Yeah, yesterday's price evolved and so now where the Bills
were in a situation where, especially in the second half,
they couldn't shake free of the Falcon secondary. Like better
hope that there's a kittle availability in this game, because
if those pressures were getting that was the most That
was the highest blitz rate that Josh Allen has seen
(20:36):
in almost four years. Like you gotta go back to
twenty twenty one for a blitz rate like that against
Josh Allen or teams kind of felt unsafe to come
after him to that extent, but the Falcons were able
to clean out of the gate.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Yeah, I mean the entire game.
Speaker 4 (20:50):
And so if like seeing Mac Jones like adjust the
knee brace and like hobble up and get up slowly
for the past few weeks, like I don't know, maybe
they both have to play in this game.
Speaker 7 (20:59):
And on the other side, I think this is so
cool and unfortunate because I really would have loved to
see Fred Warner and not even just Mike Pennix, but
Fred Warner and Jean Robinson chess match as well, because
Jean Robinson and the pistol. We talked about this on
NFL Daily with him last week, Friend of the Program,
like how he's setting up his own runs. They're giving
(21:19):
him the autonomy directionally as if as a quarterback would
have to set up different layers of the defense if
that quarterback was setting up his runs, and Insteadjon is
able to kind of help do that and do that,
especially aligned if they're going to run outside in the pistol,
which has its detractors. But I am a big fan
of and it's it's cool because I would have loved
to see Fred Warner negotiate that and and counter that
(21:43):
and that battle. And these are really this is a
young forty nine ers defense that I think has played
really really admirably, especially undermanned and sort of rebuilding as
it as it is. And Robert Sala has really coached
this group up. And by the way, the Venn diagram
of coaching staffs here, Roberts's Ala, Jeff Oulrich, Raheem Morris,
Kyle Shanahan, a bunch of assistants. Yeah, And so it's
(22:06):
it's it's so interesting for all those reasons, and I
can't help but think and wish that if any player
I wish could see go against this the way that
Atlanta is playing schematically right now, it is Fred Warner.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
The forty nine or superpower used to be incredible game
planning plus super duper stars like we are more talented
than you, and like physicality without Moosa, without Warner, Perdy
hasn't been healthy. Not that he's at that level. Trent
Williams is not quite where Trent Williams.
Speaker 6 (22:36):
Used to be.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Like they they just don't feel like that super team,
Whereas in Atlanta, sure it's like greater than the sum
of their parts on defense, but on offense you have
two Capital D dudes in Bijon Robinson and Drake London's
and uh, they're just more talented, I think than the
forty nine ers. All right, we're going to take a
break and we're going to go to the NFC East,
(22:59):
which is all jumbled up, and everyone's looking at the
Eagles thinking maybe we can win the division.
Speaker 4 (23:05):
This that was the Sunday Drive presented by Toyota. Let's
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chance to win big every week at the NFL season.
Terms of conditions applied to individual giveaways, Enter to win
(23:25):
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Speaker 9 (23:28):
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Speaker 1 (23:45):
Back on NFL Daily, Washington and Dallas coming off disappointing
losses each, but there's good injury news on the horizon.
CD lamb practicing on Wednesday and Cavante Turpin.
Speaker 6 (24:00):
Maybe we're getting CD lamback.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
For this game, and maybe the Cowboys have needed all
the offensive help they could get considering the way things
have gone for the defense. These both of these things
were on win streaks, but now it's the Commanders who
are favored by two and a half points at the
Dallas Cowboys. Fifty four and a half is the over under.
It is Fox one, Kevin Brooker, Tom Brady, Aaron Andrews,
and Tom Rinaldi there for the call, as Steve, do
(24:23):
we finally get an opportunity for Dallas to show its
defensive strength against the division opponent.
Speaker 5 (24:28):
No, oh, no, that's no the defense. Their defense is
not good. Jayden's gonna be upset by the way that
game ended. Bill Krosskey Merrit's gonna be upset by the
fact that he gave it up in the first half.
The offensive line's gonna have to play a little bit
better in the run game. I just think this is
one Terry McLaurin is supposed to be back practicing this week.
(24:49):
Washington's just gonna go off. They That was one of
those you could tell by Dan Campbell's body language after
the game that he was sick. I mean the mistackle.
I'm sorry, yeah, Dan Quinn, sorry about that, the body
language that.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
He had to go te you guys, it's fine, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (25:04):
The mistackle at the end on Deandres Swift, Like, I
think Washington's gonna come out and play one of its
best games of the season.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
I think Jane's gonna come out and play well.
Speaker 5 (25:14):
The fifty four and a half line is not even
high enough. There's gonna be some point score in this game.
I think Washington's gonna put a whole lot of them
up there.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Everyone plays their best against this Dallas defense, and you
look at like the approach that the Bears took, which
I thought was really good. I know it wasn't perfect
against Washington, but when teams have slowed down Cliff Kingsbury's commanders,
it's been a lot of just we're gonna have more
numbers than you in the running game, and we're gonna
(25:42):
make you try to win one on one matchups, which
works better when Terry McLaurin is out of the lineup
and now he will be back in. But they ultimately
like got totally stonewalled by what going into the game
was maybe the worst run defense in the league, the Bears,
and I thought it was a good game play, and
it's like, oh, you know, who else you know could
run that game plan? Like the former Cowboys coordinator Dan
(26:03):
Quinn problem is no longer there, And like who is
the most inflexible defensive coordinator in the league. It's Matt Eberflus.
Like I just I can't imagine it.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
I think Flus is not loose and like those.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
Guys get Deron Bland and Trayvon things like they would
be up for it. But I just kind of can't
see the Cowboys having that sort of approach in this game.
Speaker 7 (26:21):
But I think both with both offenses, we're going to
see a lot of points. Points on both sides, And
I agree with one hundred percent with what you guys
are saying about the Commanders. I think that this is
an all out. You try to score seven, six or
seven on every single drive, right, and I think that
is it's possible against what this Cowboys defense is doing.
(26:42):
I also think though, that this Commander's defense looks old
to me. I mean, they look slower, and we were
worried about this last year, and they play really hard.
Nobody's questioning that, and they are really smart players. And
Frankie Luvu is flying around looks back to his old self.
Teams were kind of putting a lot on them in
terms of how they were countering him earlier in the season.
He's flying around. But I just I don't I they
(27:06):
just they're creaky to me in different ways too. And
I think that if you're getting the guys back on
this Cowboys offense that does have something. No, they could
not run the ball this last game, but overall throughout
the season, they've run the ball extremely well. Schematically, they've
looked great up front. Javonte Williams has looked explosive. I
think that that is an anomaly last week versus the
(27:27):
norm that we've seen. And if you're getting these guys
back with Dak playing the way that he is, and unfortunately,
I do believe this is another possibly wasted Dak game
like most of these losses have been. But him and
Schottenheimer and Javante and this offensive line who also got
guys back and are getting back into a rhythm, like
there's just something there.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
I just like it.
Speaker 7 (27:48):
I don't like their defense at all, but I just
like what the Cowboys have cooking on offense. And I
think they trade blows back and forth all day.
Speaker 4 (27:55):
Yeah, even the passing game, despite the fact that the
run game went in to the singularity that is the
Panthers defense in Charlotte for some reason that we won't
be able to and never understand.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
But the past game.
Speaker 4 (28:09):
Still looked good and and to imagine Dak having the
full compliment where it's not Ryan Flinoy on the field
is said, it's now ceedee lamb he ryd. He had
a great game. But they've they've all been been able
to be successful. But to when George Pickens is the
number one threat and still having the performances that he's had,
it shows that all the potential which is kind of
(28:32):
wasted by this inflexible, as Greg says, defense, which does
have some flexibility because kyri Elam.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
Is not playing almost at all anymore.
Speaker 4 (28:42):
It was to the start of the season where it's
like that trade didn't necessarily yield the results that the
Cowboys would have liked to had, but for for weekend
and week out to be the same exact situation we
expect to be in the game.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
Oh, the Cowboys are going to be in this game.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
They've got to score a lot of points to try
to eke it out at the end and be right
every single week, like someone's gotta eventually give here.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
It's such a big game. I do like thinking about
these in the context of the season. It's why that
Cowboys loss of the Panthers I think really hurt. Like
their schedule is difficult, but if you want mess oh,
always just imagine, you know, the Cowboys do get this win,
they can get they get back to like three to
three in one. You got the Giants and the Eagles
(29:21):
playing twice in three weeks. If the Giants could ever
like sweep that matchup, that game next week is gonna
be big. And even though I've kind of liked what
I've seen overall, out of the commanders this year. Like,
if they found a way to stub their toe this week,
I don't think they will, but if they did and
they're at three and four, yeah, it's just like a
shake it all up. This thing is is gross and
it's the NFC East of like four or five years ago.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
No, that would be great.
Speaker 5 (29:45):
And look, I just think you know that, especially knowing
that coaching staff in Washington, like they're sick. The mistackles,
poor run angles are on defense. You know, offensively they
were fine, they said that the giveaways, Like, I just
think this is gonna be a a much better week,
but you don't know what you're gonna get out of this.
And they're one of these teams right now we're like
what are they?
Speaker 1 (30:06):
Because the two quarterbacks, you kind of know what you're
getting every week from these two teams and that's about it.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
Yeah, I would say that.
Speaker 5 (30:12):
And in Jaden, you know, still he's coming back getting
healthy and he was he's a little spotty from time
to time, but you know they get Terry McLaurin back
that that changes that offense.
Speaker 4 (30:21):
And I think, you know, as much as they love
to be at home, to not be in the elements
after the weather caused a lot of those issues. Yes,
it's gonna be a nice, comfortable seventy two degrees inside
a AT and T Stadium with a zero.
Speaker 3 (30:35):
Percent change out for the sun.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
Right there's dead. The green Bay Packers are going on
the road.
Speaker 4 (30:41):
They are six and a half point favorites at the
Arizona Cardinals. The over unders forty four and a half.
Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma and Jen Hale on the call.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
We saw a.
Speaker 4 (30:52):
Moral victory from the Arizona Cardinals in a Jacoby Prisette
game where the Colts like oddly fell apart and warm
ups and that had to make some adjustments.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
How do you see this one going towards?
Speaker 7 (31:03):
I would argue that this is not really a road
game for green Bay considering how many Packers fans in
wisconsinights do reside in the state of Arizona overall, and
how deep they will travel for this game and fill
up the stands there at State Farm Stadium. I suspect,
you know, I still think the Packers have it. They've
got all the pieces. Jordan Love's playing great, the offense
(31:26):
is starting to come together. The run defense is the
best in the league, right now in terms of yards
per game, and Mike Parsons is still on the team,
lest we forgot. I would just really like for not
only Packers, this Packers team as a whole, but also
like some of their fans to just like loosen up
(31:46):
a little, to lighten up. We had people guys in
our show mentions mad that we were having fun with
an icing the kicker moment, like lighten up, guys like
the expectations, like like enjoy, enjoy something. The expectations on
this team are so high. And I say this carries
(32:07):
right even through to the team itself that plays still
to me a little tight sometimes and a little in
its own head sometimes the head coach. And that's including
the play caller, which I was about to say, and
I feel like this, I just want this team looser.
I just want to see them cut it loose and
play loose and schematically sound and fundamentally sound obviously, but
I can tell the second they made that move, and
(32:30):
a great move and one that is going to take
them to the playoffs, deep in the playoffs, and one
that makes them instant Super Bowl contenders. In trading for
Micah Parsons, you also saw them get tight. You also
saw them clench up a little bit because this is
a team that knows it's got what it takes to
go the whole way. So just enjoy it, have some fun,
loosen up.
Speaker 6 (32:49):
Be free play like a complete game.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
I think that's what would Yeah, they just are always
frustrated and there there's always something about the game that
they're a little.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
Enjoy something about.
Speaker 1 (33:00):
Like they haven't been a totally complete team I would expect,
like I would definitely take the Cardinals plus six and
a half year because every cart like the Cardinals are
the example of the middle of the NFL. They are
the most average team in the NFL, even with their
back two and four is not indicative like they actually
have a plus scoring differential this year because the four
(33:21):
games they've lost have been by a combined nine points,
but the two games they won, we're also one score games,
like everything is a last minute field goal or a
last second throw for Jacobi Brissette. And I think they're
they're a tough enough defense to give Jordan love in
this offense problem which hasn't been able to put together
like a totally complete game, and.
Speaker 5 (33:40):
Arizona just does know how to win I mean that
that's the main thing. That's why they're losing these close games.
So it's a little mistake here they are. They just
don't know how to close it out. But in terms
of Greenbay, I mean, defensively, they should be whether it's
Jacoby Brissett, whether it's Kyle or they should be able
to handle this offense. This is one where I really
want to see their defense kind of choke a team out. Yeah,
like we're that good. They don't have the weapons. Marvin
(34:02):
Harrison is doing ancussion protocol. I believe, like, let's go there,
choke them out, not expect their offense to do something,
and beat a team that doesn't know how to win
a close game.
Speaker 4 (34:10):
Marvin Jr. Was limited as of Wednesday, as was Kyler Murray.
And so there's if Jordan or anybody else is looking
for a loose Packers moment. Josh Jacobs was miked up
against the Cincinnati Bengals, much like the Leonard Fournette miked
up of a few years ago. He was laughing every
time he was tackled. So there's a light Packers moment
(34:35):
where yeah, just.
Speaker 7 (34:36):
Enjoy the ride, guys. This is gonna be fun for
Packers fans just just just.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
Enjoy A lot of them are A lot of them
are just plenty of them are.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
I know, it's just fund They just you know, expectations.
Speaker 6 (34:48):
About the Cardinals fans. They will crush a team.
Speaker 1 (34:50):
I'm more worried about the Cardinals fans, who did have
high expectations this year and this is their last game
before thereby it just feels like a big moment for
them if they go into that buy too, and it's
the lowest moment of the Jonathan again An era, and like,
I give them a chance. There are some things to like.
Part of it was because Jacoby Brissett played, so that's tricky.
I assume Kyler Murray will be starting if healthy. He's
(35:13):
limited as you mentioned. Then again, they have the bye week,
so reading between the lines, to me, it sounded like
they weren't counting on Kyler Murray earlier in the week.
Speaker 6 (35:22):
But maybe he's making good progress.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
Like with Jacoby Brissett, you saw the play action rate
went way up. He was not kind of the dink
and dunk Jacoby Brissett.
Speaker 4 (35:31):
He was.
Speaker 1 (35:32):
They had more chunk plays in that game than almost
the entire season combined, and they actually had their offensive
line that they intended to have going into twenty twenty
four before a number of injuries struck to different players,
and that's been the case somewhat this year. And Will
Hernandez is coming back from an injury. They actually had
it all together for the first time since before last season,
(35:53):
and they.
Speaker 6 (35:54):
Played pretty well against the Colts.
Speaker 1 (35:56):
So like, I'm not counting this Cardinals team out in
this week or long term. Oh why not? I think
they're They're like right in the middle. They're right in
the middle the NFL.
Speaker 4 (36:06):
Congratulations the Arizona Cardinals at twenty twenty five. I'll look
at Greg like, okay, you are the middle reach that
termon my brother.
Speaker 7 (36:13):
I actually look at Steve every time Greg makes a point,
because Steve is in within within reach of the swinging
mits here.
Speaker 1 (36:20):
Oh yeah, yeah, so you can take a shot.
Speaker 2 (36:24):
Steve Greg's wingspan in.
Speaker 3 (36:29):
That shockingly large wings.
Speaker 2 (36:30):
In that great shirt.
Speaker 4 (36:32):
By the way, let's go, hey, A reminder of the
Houston Texans exists. Coming off of the buy, they went
into Baltimore, got healthy on offense, and now they get
to be a part of the Monday night doubleheader. The
later start at the Seattle Seahawks, who are a three
point favorite. Chris Fowler, Lewis Riddick, Dan Orlovsky, Katie George,
(36:53):
Peter Schrieger on the call as we get a chance
to see if that offensive revolution Greg was just the
Baltimore Ravens or if the Texans are back.
Speaker 1 (37:04):
This will be a very tough game to figure that out,
because they could put up sixteen points as long as
it wasn't complete disaster class like that might be a
good performance against this Seattle team. We'll see if Devin
Witherspoon gets back on the field this week. I just
think he's so important to what everything Mike McDonald wants
to do, especially the combination of him and Julian Love
(37:26):
who have been out. But I like that you frame
it in the not just the Ravens, you know game.
I like that coming off of buy I think coaches
and staffs tell us a lot about themselves. So what
have they worked on during this by what are they
going to look like, especially in terms of being able
to pick up pass rushers, because that's what they've really
(37:46):
struggled with upfront, and Seattle makes it as hard as
any team in the league to do.
Speaker 7 (37:49):
Yeah, This is yes, because you could see like small
incremental improvements, and yes, some of it was the opponent.
I will I definitely allow that and a lack of
pass rush in Baltimore, but you could see you could
see slight starts of incremental adjustments and improvements, getting woody
marks in there a little bit more, help them out,
(38:10):
the offensive line in general, settling down a little bit.
They're young in some places and need to obviously put
continue to build positive blocks and steps forward. So the
bye week, yes huge. This is a nightmare opponent defensively
to go again night Maripon. But it's a night mare
opponent for both teams because Seattle is the most explosive
offense in the NFL, right now, love that for them.
(38:32):
They are so fun to watch, but they're going to
go against a brick wall in that Houston Texans defense,
not just their secondary but also Seattle has to improve
their run game for as great as as much as
we love the blueprint of it, and as much as
we love watching this offense overall, this is not going
to be an easy defense to go against to get
to fixing certain things that need to be fixed.
Speaker 5 (38:53):
No, I mean, you look at Houston's front seven one
of the most talented front sevens in the NFL. I mean,
from the linebackers, you know, you got to so you
got some of the guys, you know, as he's outsider,
and then of course the bookend pass rushers come for
Sam Donald. But again, I think the timing offense way
she out of running its offense right now. You can
still move the ball up and down the field on Houston.
It's gonna be whether they can get into the end zone.
(39:15):
I think that's the issue.
Speaker 2 (39:16):
But the way Donald is playing right now, I'm all
on the Sam club.
Speaker 7 (39:21):
He's number one in e PA per play Composite ranking
out over them every week.
Speaker 2 (39:26):
We got him on the island.
Speaker 1 (39:27):
I mean, I mean, he's there quite an island, like
right now. We got to get CJ back. They're not
going to be a game though. That will probably support
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (39:37):
Man TJ seems to be I mean, I know is
the Ravens and the Titans the last two games, but
he just seems to be like, Okay, now I feel
a little more behind this offensive line.
Speaker 2 (39:46):
So I don't think he's scret right.
Speaker 5 (39:48):
He's going in his game ready to deal a little
bit so I think this is going to be a
tight game.
Speaker 2 (39:52):
It's just tough because it's in Seattle.
Speaker 6 (39:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (39:55):
Well that's the thing though, because the road to Warriors,
they think you of all kinds of problems. Folks and
douvall were on cloud nine after that win against the Chiefs.
But there comes JSN streaking down the field for sixty one.
But the Jags, you know, there's a reason that they're
shipping corners out and trying to make changes in the
secondary that the Texans, I think, talent wise, are uniquely
(40:18):
positioned to be a problem for Seattle's offense to an
extent that maybe they hadn't seen yet.
Speaker 1 (40:23):
And they should be a problem for everyone's offense, like
the physicality that they have. Although I was thinking about
like bigger picture that this season, I always think this
it just as a reminder it's really tough to build
around defense. I did like the Texans defense is great,
but ultimately they've given up a couple drives in key
moments this season where even though the offense has struggled,
(40:45):
they could easily be four and won this year if
the defense made a I think about the Vikings really
built around their defense and it's tough for their defense
to carry them week after week. I think about the Broncos,
who you think of as one of the best defenses.
Those last aren't even in the top ten in DVOA
right now. Because when you go up against an offense,
and I would include the Seahawks in one of these,
(41:06):
at least their passing games that's truly efficient. It's just
nothing is set up for you to dominate in this league.
So you better have like a respectable the better offense,
or your team is kind of de a If your defense.
Speaker 5 (41:17):
Is on the field, you know, over and over and over,
eventually the team's can hit you on a ten play
drive and eleven play drive and wear your butt down,
and then that's that.
Speaker 2 (41:26):
The offense has got to be able to point up
on the board.
Speaker 5 (41:28):
That's why, again, I think, Houston, I don't know this
watching them.
Speaker 2 (41:32):
I love this game.
Speaker 6 (41:33):
What is my favorite game of the week?
Speaker 3 (41:35):
You already gave you one.
Speaker 6 (41:36):
Yeah, I just though it's Monday night football, it's late.
Speaker 7 (41:38):
Oh my god, everyone gets it.
Speaker 2 (41:41):
Yes, we'll be there.
Speaker 4 (41:43):
Why why can't the Seahawks run the ball consistently?
Speaker 2 (41:45):
Though?
Speaker 4 (41:46):
Like, at what point is that like an issue?
Speaker 6 (41:49):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (41:49):
Last week was concerning That's the thing that's wild to
me because the scheme is there and there. They brought
some dudes in and and they've got the two back system,
and you would think all of the pieces on paper, everything,
even on scheme wise, on the field, when you're watching
the tape, you're like, I could see why that would work,
and yet you know, but here's the thing. Two weeks ago,
(42:11):
Mike McDonald was mad as heck at his pass rusher
lack thereof, spoke about it at length in the in
the media that week.
Speaker 3 (42:18):
This week, obviously not thrilled with the run game.
Speaker 7 (42:21):
Speaking about it at length in the media this week.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
This is this is the focus this week.
Speaker 7 (42:25):
He is never hiding what his team is focusing on
week over week over week. And you have to run
the ball, or at least try because if you try
to get the ball to these big tight ends that
they're having success with, you got these badass linebackers for
Houston that are making that more of a challenge. And
if you're trying to be explosive on the perimeter or
even getting some of those like gimme pickup yards and
(42:46):
conversions or yak plays that Cooper Cup kind of came
alive with last last week as well. You're gonna have
a hard time against the secondary. Everything is going to
be difficult. You have to run the ball better, and.
Speaker 1 (42:58):
That's where you want to win against Houston too, because
the tackles Charles Cross and Abe Lucas have played great,
especially protecting Sam Bradford. But if you're going to pick
a weakness, it probably has been their interior, even even
drafting Gray's Abel.
Speaker 6 (43:10):
In terms of what.
Speaker 2 (43:12):
Sam Bradford made it play, it's a walk show.
Speaker 6 (43:15):
Sam Bradford and Sam Dard sitting here for hours.
Speaker 1 (43:18):
To me, I always always used to mix up, and
now Darnold is just taking it to another level. That
the two thousand and what year was it eleven?
Speaker 7 (43:27):
The year Sam brad parking lot, you know, yeah.
Speaker 2 (43:30):
A smelling spelling the sense.
Speaker 4 (43:35):
In the run game more of the past game, because
I think back because one of those late defensive collapses
by the Texans Greg was the performance by Baker and
the box offense, which was really just Bucky Irving as
well as Rashad White making guys miss on that final drift.
So perhaps Zach Charberney as well as Kenneth Walker will
need to make some plays in this one to our
final game, we go, you changed the locations and this
(43:57):
would be the ultimate revenge game. But it is the
New Orleans Saints at the Chicago Bears, who are favored
by five and a half points. The over unders forty
six and a half. Kevin Coogler, Daryl Johnston, and Alison
Williams will be there, Steve as we get the Dennis
Allen opportunity.
Speaker 5 (44:18):
All old Dame Dennis. Dennis, he was more motivated than this.
Dennis is gonna be like.
Speaker 2 (44:25):
He We're punching it out. We're gonna get five takeaway.
Speaker 3 (44:28):
Chewingham furiously on the sideline.
Speaker 5 (44:31):
Look but with the Spears defense though, I mean it's
funny Watson gets Washington, which is a better team, but.
Speaker 2 (44:39):
They make some freaking plays. Man.
Speaker 5 (44:40):
I mean this pick right here that we're seeing on video,
that was a spectacular play. The way that they showed him,
the athleticism and speeding tenacity. I like the way they played.
Now they're they're vulnerable time, but sweat coming in the rush.
I just think this he Da like, no mercy, no mercy.
(45:01):
But again their defense has been gashed a bit of time,
but not by Spencer Ratlers, who hasn't been bad by
the way, Well.
Speaker 6 (45:08):
No, he's been good.
Speaker 1 (45:09):
And you know he was there with with DA, like
a lot of this team. I mean, there's revenge games
all over the place. Chris o'lave was essentially sold out
by Day when he basically chose Derek Carr over Chris
o'lave in kind of a public situation. Alvin Kamara and
DA definitely were not eye to eye, And there was
(45:33):
a report actually that Alvin Kamara indicated the Saints he
does not want to be traded because they basically, I
think are putting up a for sale sign on a
lot of their players.
Speaker 6 (45:43):
I think Chris a lave might be one of them.
Speaker 1 (45:45):
But Kamara indicated reportedly to them that, like he wants
to state, that would not be the case. I think
if DA was the coach, well how about this part
of the revenge game. Revenge might be the wrong word.
But once upon a time, Spencer Rattler was you know,
the number one high school recruit or whatever in the country. Yeah,
and he was displaced by Caleb Williams, and now people
(46:06):
are doing redrafts. Our friend Steven Ruiz at the ringer
of the twenty twenty four draft, and this, this was
this was a bold take. First, he had Drake may
as the number one overall pick. That's not as bold, like,
you know, you can make the argument for that that
in there, you know, yeah, but that's number one. Interesting
the hate of Jaden he had Caleb go appears he
had Spencer Rattler going tenth overall Minnesota Vikings. Oh now
(46:31):
in this redraft because that's the level that Rattler's playing at.
Speaker 7 (46:35):
I like that match too, day Yeah, wow.
Speaker 6 (46:40):
I think he is kind of playing like I like
the team match.
Speaker 3 (46:44):
I like the team match.
Speaker 1 (46:45):
Let me say that, right, he's kind of playing like
less maybe like a top ten overall pick, but more
of like like the guy after the top three quarterbacks,
Like who's played better this year?
Speaker 6 (46:54):
Bo Nix or Spencer Ratler. It's not Spencer Ratler for sure.
Speaker 7 (46:58):
Yeah, he's It's a good story because he he's the
guy that all summer everyone's like, when is when is
it no longer going to be his job?
Speaker 2 (47:05):
Right?
Speaker 6 (47:06):
Saints fans are calling for shock, which is crazy to me.
Speaker 2 (47:10):
Yeah, why, I don't get it.
Speaker 4 (47:11):
I don't understand because it seems like Kellen Moore started
to figure out a little bit more of how he
wants to utilize Spencer Rattler in this offense.
Speaker 2 (47:20):
They've used motion on seventy percent.
Speaker 4 (47:22):
How about up their plays and they they gained the
ninth fewest yards in the entire league when they don't
use motions.
Speaker 2 (47:30):
So yeah, maybe that's seventy percent should go up.
Speaker 7 (47:32):
Kellen Moore got out of Philly, where they apparently hate motion,
and it was like, I'm free, let me go run
him around.
Speaker 4 (47:40):
Ye Rashid Chris get in motion and Olave has the
fourth highest target rate among receivers this year.
Speaker 6 (47:48):
So Rattler's loading up. Chris o'lave not working well, he's
having his work.
Speaker 7 (47:51):
I mean, it's it's not The roster needs so much help.
They need to develop as a coaching staff. The defense
needs help. They're going to start replacing some of these
older place with these younger players who are coming up
to see what they've got. It is interesting, though, I
want to point this out. On the other side, something
important that I think we saw from Chicago earlier in
(48:12):
this last game. Calm situational awareness. Yes, they were playing
for the field goal for the one point win. Don't
necessarily love that, but hey, you take them where you
can get them. And I like the end of game
management between Ben Johnson and specifically Caleb Williams, how he's
(48:33):
calming everyone down in the huddle. He's reminding everybody, you know,
what their assignments are, should this happen, should that happen.
You can hear some of it on the micd up.
It just we are not that far removed from a
Chicago team in tight late game scenarios that require some
situational finesse by both the coach and the quarterback. Of
(48:56):
which way are they going to lose this week?
Speaker 9 (48:58):
Right?
Speaker 3 (48:58):
Right?
Speaker 7 (48:58):
And I see so much positive progress made out of
this Bears team. They maneuvered around their offensive line, the
guards are playing good. Jonah Jackson looked awesome for the
first time in really a while.
Speaker 3 (49:13):
He's had some struggles in his career.
Speaker 7 (49:14):
They switched around, They got a guy back on the
right side, they switched around the left side.
Speaker 3 (49:18):
Like this is it's starting to come together for Chicago.
Speaker 2 (49:22):
It's starting to come together.
Speaker 5 (49:23):
And you know, we sat here, it's gonna take some time,
but we know how incredibly talented Kayla Williams. And so
you're starting to see that come out clearly. The connection
with Roma Dunes. He's there, right, He's get some stuff
going with Loveland. That's that's here and there. But if
Swift continues to play, he stays on the field and
continues to play the way they played Chicago's is interesting.
(49:44):
I'm glad you mentioned the offensive line because what they
did to Washington late okay, when they were able to
hit the edges over and over, like you heard me
talk about how dan Quinn's gonna be just furious about
seeing that. But to play by the tackles and the
pulling linemen to hook the defender in the spring Swift
like that.
Speaker 2 (50:02):
They keep doing that, you keep opening the offense. You
can go here here, then you can work it inside.
Then he got a quarterback and can get it downfield.
Speaker 6 (50:07):
They could be very dangerous, I mean on the edge.
Speaker 1 (50:10):
How about a little shout out to the Canadian egole
theo Bennettt. Yeah, going to UBC in Canada, little Canadian representation.
They choose him as the left tackle coming out of
the by. And I was talking about that with the Texans,
like show us your work coming out of the by.
The Bears on both sides of the ball. Suddenly their
run defense was tough and look better, and they're healthier,
(50:32):
Their linebackers are healthier. Kyler Gordon is in there that
that is part of it. And then on the offensive side,
they suddenly ran the ball, and I like, man, I
want to I'm rooting for the Saints in this game.
Speaker 6 (50:42):
I want to pick them in this game.
Speaker 1 (50:44):
But I just feel like the biggest mismatch is Ben
Johnson versus Brandon Staley in this defense. And I saw
I thought it last week too with McDaniels and he
had him cooking, especially in that early script where he
just kind of knew what the Saints defense was going
to do and they took advantage.
Speaker 2 (50:59):
Of real quick.
Speaker 5 (50:59):
I mean this, this brings up a point, and I
think we look all around the what teams are mature
enough to handle this?
Speaker 6 (51:05):
Right there?
Speaker 5 (51:05):
In can Atlanta, which came out of the by like Gangbusters?
Can they handle not going to San Francisco? Right Can
the Bears coming off an ice min night when go
down to New Ords? Are they mature enough to handle it?
This is where we're gonna get some tells about some teams. Greg,
you mentioned big mismatches. We got a five one. We
got a fine one because we need to survive as
a family. We again are undefeated, and I have a
(51:28):
suggestion for you. Okay, the Denver Broncos at home against Jacksonville.
Speaker 6 (51:32):
No, don't like it. I feel like the Giants are
you know, pick the Patriots. No, don't want that either.
Speaker 1 (51:41):
On the road, our method has been to just take
the team playing the benk Yeah, it's it's a Thursday
night football game, but we're taping this on Wednesday. There's
no rule saying that we can't.
Speaker 6 (51:55):
Have you seen the last two Thursday night football.
Speaker 1 (51:57):
Games, but they have been crazy, but that doesn't impact.
Speaker 7 (52:01):
Can't you see how much Patrick cares about this?
Speaker 1 (52:04):
We could we could do the chief together. We have
yet to choose the Chiefs this season. We could just
survive and do that that way, or we could stay
consistent and go believe in the Aaron Rodgers Steelers.
Speaker 6 (52:18):
That's a little tricky too.
Speaker 2 (52:21):
Are you.
Speaker 1 (52:22):
This is your first show that you've sat in for both.
I mean it was a big get AFC NFC. I
give you the tie breaking honors here, the tie breaking honors.
Speaker 3 (52:33):
I think, oh I didn't get to submit once break.
Speaker 1 (52:35):
I thought you wanted you didn't like the Chiefs. I
thought you liked the Broncos.
Speaker 3 (52:38):
No, I want Patriots picking the Patriots.
Speaker 2 (52:42):
Right, that's what I was going to go as well. No, No,
if you're taking it seriously as I were accused of.
Speaker 6 (52:49):
Not, I am.
Speaker 1 (52:50):
I think they could lose that game. Absolutely, Nope, Nope,
he's mad. I don't think he's serious.
Speaker 6 (52:57):
I am serious.
Speaker 3 (52:57):
I don't think you take this game seriously enough. I'm
kind of disappointed.
Speaker 6 (53:00):
I am taking it so serious.
Speaker 1 (53:02):
Called road team, fired coach and a team getting a
lot of love with the number there, but beneath the
surface and they're like twentieth overall in Dvoa. And you're
telling me that's a better pick than the Chiefs at
home against the Raiders.
Speaker 3 (53:17):
I want to feel something, all right.
Speaker 2 (53:20):
Don't do it man, No, all right, but if we.
Speaker 1 (53:25):
Lose this, okay, Greg ros I take that responsibility like.
Speaker 3 (53:30):
He doesn't responsibility. He doesn't care.
Speaker 1 (53:33):
Everyone has been showing up to the players only meeting
that are not required time, and they're on time. Weiss
is there early, He's taken notes. The leadership here is great.
Thursday night Football, it'll be Nick Schook and Eye. That's
the next show. In your feed. We will see you
then
Host
Gregg Rosenthal
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