November 26, 2024 • 24 mins
Should the Philadelphia Eagles be ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs after another dominating victory over the Los Angeles Rams? Do the Baltimore Ravens deserve to be a top-5 team following their win vs. the Los Angeles Chargers? What are the Los Angeles Chargers after they lose another game to a team with a winning record? Does Erik still like the Commanders even after a few bad losses?
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
The uncertainty of the NFL season continues to unfold before
our eyes. Welcome to a brand new edition of NFL
Power Rankings. Mike mp Eric get home with you. If
you want to see complete analysis of all thirty two teams,
just head to NFL.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Dot com a complete list of rankings.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Eric, Look, I've been thinking about you the last couple
of days. We've seen some chaos NFC West. I don't
know what to make of the division. I don't know
who goes and wins it. The Houston Texans drop a game.
I cannot wait to find out where they actually sit
in your rankings. The reality is you got a tough job,
but it's your time to try to figure out where
these teams are supposed to be slotted.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
It is my job, right, I mean, they're still in
the playoff picture. But it's hard to rank some of
these teams, especially after Week twelve. We had some funny results,
even some wins, some expected wins ended in unexpected fashion.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Oh yeah, the Kansas City Chiefs, by the way, one
of those teams that figured out a way to get
it done. But boy, oh boy, I was like there
might be a free fall in the rankings.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
According to Eric.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
But let's get right to it. Teams one through eight
in the rankings. No surprise here. The Lions, off to
their best starts since nineteen thirty four. At ten and
one sit at the top spot. Are they the best
team in the NFL? According to Eric and I think
a lot of us, the answer is a resounding yes.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
The Bills at too.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
The Eagles flexing the seventh straight win for them. They
are at three. The Kansas City Chiefs they fall just
one spot, got all they could handle from Carolina. The
Ravens check in at number five with a nice road
win on Monday Night Football against the Chargers. Vikings are six,
needed overtime to survive. The Bears, Packers easily a winner
against the Niners at seven, and.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
The Steelers fun game for everyone because of the snow,
but maybe not fun for them.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Time for the team of the week, the Philadelphia Eagles
sitting at that number three spot here, Eric, I gotta
tell you there is a legit argument right now. I
know the Lions and Buffalo are two teams that you
really like. I don't know if there's a team outside
of maybe Detroit that's playing better over these last few games.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Than Philadelphia.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Absolutely, and that's why I moved them up over the
Chiefs in spite of the Chiefs winning Sunday because it
wasn't that impressive. We'll get to that in a minute,
but Philadelphia was impressive. They really put on a show
Sunday night, flexing on both sides of the ball. Saquon Barklay,
I mean, we debated the value thirteen million dollars per
year plus you know the first the fumble against it
Land early in the year, was it going to be
(02:26):
worth it? I think he's worth it. I think they've
done pretty well for themselves ROI wise, and you know,
you hit for two fifty five on the ground in
a game, you're doing something right. Ninth best rushing game
all time. And that doesn't even begin to mention the
defense and what they've been able to do on that
side of the ball. They targeted big areas of need
(02:46):
another explosive offensive player, improving that secondary, the pass rush.
They've done it all. Vic Fangio and Saquon Barkley have
been two massive additions. That's why they're rising up the
charts right now.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Barkley the fourth running back in the Super Bowl era
to have at least three hundred scrimmage yards in a game.
For what it's worth, I didn't think the Rams played
that bad. I just think Philadelphia was that much better,
which is eye opening because I like the Rams for
a few weeks here and now I'm questioning just because
of the way the division shapes up for him. The Eagles,
by the way, matching up against the Baltimore Ravens this week,
(03:19):
that is going to be one of the best games
of the entire year. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs, you
made reference to it. They drop a spot here. What
am I supposed to make of this football team? Because
it's again another one possession game for him. They figure
out a way to get it done. But when you're
coming off of a loss, your first loss since December
of last year, you would imagine that they would absolutely
put a thumpin on Carolina. Should I be worried right
(03:42):
now if I'm a Chiefs fan?
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (03:44):
I mean.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Look, I was reading a story by Nate Taylor or
The Athletic, and he was describing the postgame scene in
the locker room and Charlotte after a win, right after
a dramatic victory with a new kicker, and they drive
down the field for the game winning score. But the
way Taylor described it, it felt more like a funeral,
more like a sigh of relief than it was joy
in there. So look, I mean, Patrick Mahomes has ways
(04:05):
of doing things as a great scramble at the game
at the end of the game setting up the game
winning score. They had no trouble really moving the ball day.
They did bog down quite a few times. But defensively, Mike,
this is where my concern lies. They've allowed these either
game winning or game tying drives at the ends of games.
We saw the Panthers come down tie it at twenty seven,
(04:26):
the Broncos the week you know before, or two couple
weeks ago, we're about to win the game, Buffalo goes down,
you know, Josh Allen on fourth and two. Even the
Tampa Bay game, letting Baker Mayfield kind of move down
the field there at games in I mean, this has
been a repeated problem here, and you kind of wonder, Look,
the defense had been kind of carrying this team for
a big stretch last year. In this year, are they
(04:47):
able to do it again if the offense can't kind
of pick up the slack. That's why I moved them
down a slot. Still recognize they are able to beat
almost anybody on any given day. I just don't know
about their long term ability and whether they can repeat
this year.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Well, look on Black Friday, they will get an Aidan
O'Connell led Raiders squad, and look, we will talk Panthers
a little bit later.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
I know I'm not alone here.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
I actually is pretty happy for Bryce Young because he
gets benched. There's a lot of negativity around him. Played
pretty well, and I think maybe we're turning the corner
in terms of his career and maybe even that future
in Carolina that looked really grim just a couple of
weeks ago. All Right, take a closer look at the
odds in the AFC North.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
How about this.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Steelers just beat the Ravens a couple weeks ago, and
it's Baltimore in pole position according to Fandle. Then it's
the Steelers, then Cincinnati, followed by the Cleveland Browns. But
let's circle up on this number five team and that's
the Baltimore Ravens. They move up two spots for you, Eric,
When you look at this squad, this was an impressive
win for them. And I think the other aspect of
(05:48):
this is they're going up against the number one scoring
defense in the Chargers. Light them up offensively, most points
that the Chargers have given up so far this season.
This is the Baltimore team that I thought we were
going to get at the start of the year. When
they're at their best, Eric, they can beat anyone.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Yeah, as I wrote, I think they can heat up
as quickly as anybody Lamar in that offense, when they
get cooking, there is no preheat time. They go from
cold to nuclear, and that's what we saw at the
end of the first quarter. They turned it over quickly,
Lamar hitting this long deep pass to kind of get
them spurred a little bit. And then also the fourth
and one from their own sixteen. Boy, I remember how
(06:23):
blue in the face we got talking about Belichick going
four years ago from his own twenty nine. Late in
the game, here are the Ravens kind of rewriting the
rule book, if you will, and getting it without two
best players touching the ball. So they have ways of
confounding people, even the best defenses like the Chargers. Maybe
they were a little exposed against the Bengals, and certainly
on Monday Night against the Ravens. But I'll tell you what,
(06:45):
if they play moderately well on defense, they can overcome
some of these penalties, which are a problem every single week.
They can overcome a slow start on offense because they
have the chance to get nuclear hot all of a sudden,
And that's what makes them so dangerous this year, even
if last year's team was maybe the better model.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Yeah, three for three. By the way, on those fourth
down conversions he highlighted one of them.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Was certainly huge here. And you can story what could
have been an undefeated season for this team if you
think about some of the losses.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Isaiah Likely in Week number.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
One against the Kansas City Chiefs back of the end
zone looked like it was good.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
It obviously wasn't.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
We saw them with a ten point advantage in the
fourth quarter against the Raiders. They lose that one. Jamis
Winston comes in for his first start. He goes and
beats them. You know, the point is, they are these
tight games, but Baltimore at their best as dangerous as anyone.
To number six, we go Sam Donald in overtime, big
drive leads to a game winning field goal. I don't know,
I'm I'm cautiously optimistic. I'm buying on this Viking squad,
(07:40):
and it looks like you are too. With the six
position on your rankings.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Yeah, I mean I dropped him down a spot because
I thought, boy, they shouldn't have led it to get
to overtime. But the best thing that came out of
that game was the fact that it did go to
overtime because Sam Darnald, I thought, had his best series
of the season, six for six ninety yards passing to
set up the game winning field goal. Hard to get
ninety yards passing on a single drive, but Sam did it,
overcoming a couple penalties to do so. Made decisive reads,
(08:07):
accurate throws, looked like he had command. You know, there
have been times where it's been a little shaky this season.
We know Donald's reputation from previous stops in Carolina New York,
but this was arguably one of his best moments of
the year. Again, I don't like the fact that they
blew an eleven point lead with a little over ninety
seconds left, but you know this, this Vikings team has
(08:28):
to feel a lot better about itself. Didn't get a
whole lot from Justin Jefferson It was all Jordan Addison
in this game pretty much. He had career high numbers.
Jefferson had one seven yard catch until about halfway through overtime.
So you know, it's on the one hand, good that
they can win these games without Jefferson going off. They
can have other people, you know, sort of carry the load,
(08:48):
if you will. But seeing Donald convert that drive after
the Bears punted, I think was a big confidence statement
for them, and knowing that at some point they're going
to need a drive like that in a huge game.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
No no question about that.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
By the way, I like where you have the vikings
because those teams that you slotted in front of them,
it makes sense to him. The only pushback that I
have for you from a Chicago perspective, they're playing some
of the best ball that they've played this entire season.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Is just not equaling wins for them at this point.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
But I think you're spot on from a Minnesota perspective
the Steelers. I was telling people here in the building
before this game, I go, I'm telling you, I think
the Browns are gonna win this thing.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
It feels like a leftown.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
I wasn't overly impressed by the win against the Ravens
because of how it looked on the field and how.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Baltimore played in this game.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
But is there anything cooler than watching a game in
the snow and seeing some of those high risk slow
motion videos on social media?
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (09:40):
Man, I love it. I absolutely love it. I look,
I live in a winter climate. I'm here in Chicago,
so obviously the snow is sort of my friend, or
I've learned to embrace it. But yes, there is nothing
more cinematic, more exciting than to see a game in
the snow.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Now.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Players may not like it, guys from the southern part
of the country, and the Steelers may not like it
because they didn't perform all that well. It started getting
heavier and they were trailing. They found a way to
get back in the game, but just couldn't hold on
at game's end. So, you know, I'm worried about the
Steelers offense a little bit too hot and cold. I
know they came in with a lot of points scored
on average, but you know that dry, that streak of
(10:16):
twenty two straight quarters with the points ended in this game,
and by games end, you could see they were having
trouble handling the ball, having trouble with communication up front,
didn't hit enough big plays, and they lost a crucial
division game. So yeah, I mean, it's it's hard to
know exactly what we have with the Steelers. Clearly better
than a year ago, Clearly a team that could win
a playoff game, but I think at this point their
(10:39):
limitations are starting to become a little more outsized.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
And they will match up in another divisional matchup in
a game that one team is very desperate, and that
is the Cincinnati Bengals. Still more to get to though.
On NFL Power Rankings, one team in the NFC. They've
been making a ton of headlines most of the season,
but now they're dropping some games.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Or the Commanders pretenders.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Plus a stat about the Chargers that you gotta hear that's.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
Coming up next.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Back here on power Rankings, as we go through Erics
teams nine through sixteen, the Chargers lose a tough one
at home on Monday Night Football. No change, though, still
sitting in the top ten at number nine. At ten,
it's the Broncos snap an eight game road losing streak
to the Raiders. Don't look now, but bo Nix is
really coming on strong here. The Commander's at eleven the Texans.
What is going on with the squad We will discuss
(11:29):
in just a moment. At number twelve, the Bucks dominate
the Giants. They are at thirteen. Don't look now, but
Seattle all of a sudden making some noise and got
a real chance to go and winning that division because
they took out the Cardinals who sit at fifteen, and
the Miami Dolphins might be the best second half story
in the NFL at sixteen. At number nine, I want
to get your take on this Charger squad because I
(11:49):
like them. And let me preface this by saying, I
think they are a dangerous team once the postseason comes
around because of style of play. But Eric, they've beaten
one team this season with a winning record, and that's
the Denver Broncos.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
So what are the Chargers?
Speaker 3 (12:02):
Yeah, I think you make a good point. You know,
could they go on the road to the AFC South winner?
Presumably Houston win that game. Sure, but as we've seen
when they are stacked against some of the league's heavyweights,
lost of the Chiefs, lost Monday night to the Ravens.
There are a few more games like that. They just
haven't weighed in the same class as those teams. Right,
they take the early ten to Dozhering league kind of
(12:24):
establish their their dominant force up front. Then they start
dropping passes, penalties. They had at least one penalty by
every single starting offensive lineman, just mistakes on defense, blown coverages,
couldn't tackle, bad angles to the ball. All the things
that had made them a good team seemed to come
on glued and for whatever reason, when the talent level rises,
I think that's when you see their challenges kind of
(12:46):
increase a little bit. So, yes, dangerous team style of play.
I think all those things are right. Can we please
get Justin Herberts some better receivers. There are some more receivers,
guys who can hang on to the football. Because until
that happens, till they catch the ball consistently, I am
a little worried about their potential.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
Yeah, at one point in the second half, Quinton Johnson
gets hit in the hand with the football, drops it.
He had so much green grass that might be a
touchdown And maybe we're talking about a different game. Lad mccauckey,
by the way, has emerged as Justin Herbert's go to
wide receiver. Yeap think he's a really, really good player,
but you're right, they need some other pieces that are there.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
And look, JK.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Dobbins going down did not help the cause. Monday night
against the Baltimore Ravens at number eleven, here are look
I teased it. I said that the Commanders are they contenders, pretenders.
They've lost some tough games here the last couple of weeks.
I still like the squad, do you.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
I do.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
I like the fight, but I also realized that, look,
these types of games are the ones we kind of
expected them to lose this season, right, I mean, it
wouldn't have been a shock to suggest that the Cowboys
beat the Commanders, and you know, everything we've seen up
to this point has pretty much belied that. But you're
starting to see the cracks in the armor a little bit.
The offense has not been nearly explosive. I mean, prior
to that long touchdown to Terry McLaurin, they stall, they
(14:00):
didn't have the same kind of juice. You know, Daniels
was having trouble finding his receivers open. He had some
scrambling room, but Brian Robinson in the run game not
exactly humming as well. So issues on that side of
the ball. Obviously some questions on defense, and then the
way the game ended, the Special Team's disaster one of
the worst sort of three or four play stretches that
(14:20):
you'll ever see in a game. But even before that,
I think some of their troubles did come out. So
I love the job they've done, but they're hitting the
wall on both sides of the ball, and that is
a problem heading into the home stretch.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
I have four touchdowns scored in the final three thirty
of the game. What a wild finish and the Commanders
this close to pulling this thing out. I don't know
what to do with the Texans. Legitimately concerned. I was
fascinated they lose this matchup, and I think to myself,
where is Eric gonna slot them?
Speaker 2 (14:48):
I'll be honest, at twelve I thought it was going
to be worse.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Yeah, I mean that says something about this group, though,
doesn't it. Mike. I mean you kind of look and
all these teams have a little bit of a question,
a little something holding them back. Maybe it's their record,
maybe it's their quarterback. That's not really the case with
the Texans. They're in great position to win this division.
They just have to win games and stop shooting themselves
in the foot. Look, I got CJ. Stroud through two
bad interceptions, two picks that were on him, and we
(15:14):
haven't said that very often. Doesn't have a lot of
two interception games in a short career, but that one
right there, staring down the linebacker, not able to float
the ball to the second level. You know, we saw
it in other games as well. Here's the safety at
the end of the game. You know, just too many mistakes. Now,
the pressure they're giving up is a problem. But Stroud's
got to take some of this responsibility too, and that
(15:34):
defense has to tighten up. Too many big plays.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
Yeah, they've lost four out of their last six games
at this point, a season low twelve points, three for
thirteen on third down, not going to get it done.
In fact, in the second half they were zero of
six on third down. They had just four first downs
in the second half. You don't expect that from this team.
Expectations much higher. Get an opportunity to get back in
the win column with a matchup against Jacksonville. All right,
(15:59):
the Seattle Seahawks. They're proving some doubters wrong here. I
know it was a strong start, then they hit a
little bit of a lull. Now all of a sudden,
they're beating some good teams, right San Francisco. Well, I
don't know how we feel about San Francisco being a
good team, but they beat them in the Bay Area,
and then they take out a Cardinals team where the
arrow was pointing up. How much of the Seahawks stock
(16:20):
would you be willing to buy at this point of
the season.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Yeah, well, they've certainly won the most important games, right,
the division games. They had to do it on the
road at San Francisco and then coming back with no
hot water in the facility for several days last week
because of the power out it is, they toughed, threw it,
and they found a way. It was a defensive battle.
That's what you'd expect in a Mike McDonald Jonathan gannon game.
But really credit the Seahawks defense, I think for keeping
(16:43):
Kyler Murray and that Cardinals run game under wraps. They
could not get go and that's how they kind of
kickstart their offense. Get James Connor and those guys, Benson
going de Marcarro. But yeah, they couldn't find any rhythm offensively, Defensively,
you know, it was just an impressive effort, and that's
two weeks in a row, big NFC West victory with
their defense kind of leading the way. You shout out
(17:05):
to Jackson Smith and Jig but who got him going offensively?
And Gino made enough big plays. Buddy also threw a
couple of light picks. So it's possible that McDonald's defense
is now they're sort of their best hope at this point.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
The calling card for a team that now hits the
road and matches up against a Jet squad that has
been reeling. Yeah, yeah, I'm talking about another three game
winning streak for the Seahawks.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
They certainly could use that win.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Time for power Moves at number sixteen, it is the
Miami Dolphins, who I think are the best story of
the second half of the season because they got healthy,
they got their quarterback into it, and they are rolling
right now.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
They get Green Bay on Thanksgiving.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
You think the world of the Packers, considering they're a
top ten team on the power rankings.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
This is a different offense.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
This is the team that I thought we were going
to see at the start of the year had they
been healthy. I don't know if there's a sense of
desperation around the squad, like there.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Is right now.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
Yeah, and this is the ultimate test for him too,
Mi President. Right down the stretch they struggle last year,
what did they struggle with? Cold weather games? They're going
up to Green Bay where expecting weather in the thirties,
maybe some snow. This is the opportunity for them to
kind of slay the demon, if you will. Yeah, those
losses to Arizona and Buffalo still sting. Have they won
those totally different picture. They'd be higher on this list
(18:18):
for sure. But Tua has played well since returning. That's
the biggest thing. We went from talking about him retiring
to him being a big reason why the Dolphins are
still in this race. They've gotten their playmakers the ball,
and defensively they have been much much, much better. So
it's impressive to see. Now can they finish this thing off?
Still a long way to go, but you go up
to Green Bay and get a win on Turkey Day,
(18:38):
you're doing all right for yourself.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Yeah, it's a really good point. Eric. I hadn't thought
about it like that because TWOA has been bawling, But
you're right. A couple weeks ago we were like Hey,
should this dude be out there?
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Should we be considering right him as a guy that
maybe would be for the long term better off not playing.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
But he's bawling right now with.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
An over seventy percent completion percentage since his return, and
once again that team continues to win. We got more
to come here though. On NFL Power Rankings, they nine
ers went from Super Bowl contender to maybe not even
making the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
We'll give you the state of.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
San Francisco coming up next, and we're loving up some
of the bottom feeders and the power rankings for the
last few weeks that are now winning some games.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Back here.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
On power rankings, team seventeen through twenty four to the
Atlanta Falcons. Leading off this list, the San Francisco forty
nine ers drop two spots. They fall to eighteen. We'll
talk about them in just a moment. The Rams do
not deliver on Sunday Night football against the Eagles. I
thought they played well, just the Eagles are monsters at
this point of the season.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
At twenty it's the.
Speaker 1 (19:40):
Colts four out of their final five remaining games teams
with three or fewer.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Wins, so maybe there's a run here.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
Cincinnati at twenty one, the Dallas Cowboys, they find away
at twenty two, the Bears five straight losses, another heartbreaker
for them at twenty three, and it's the Saints at
twenty four.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Meanwhile, the Niners. Let's circle up on this squad.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
I thought heading into this past weekend it was a
must win. There is not a whole lot of real
estate in terms of games to be played here. They
get a tough one against the Buffalo Bills this coming
week Sunday Night Football.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
They didn't have Rock Party.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
Injuries have been the story for this team, but Eric, legitimately,
I don't think they make the postseason.
Speaker 3 (20:17):
Yeah, it's feeling more and more every day to me,
at least like the twenty twenty season. Now that twenty
twenty was its own sort of animal, but the forty
nine ers were ravaged by injuries that year. You know,
they kept kind of hanging in there, giving themselves a chance,
but never really making that big burst. And you know,
even with McCaffrey coming back, a rare fumble from him
against the Packers, and you know, Kittle has the big game,
(20:37):
but you know, other things kind of offset that. They
weren't able to stop him on defense. There have just
been so many problems and so many, you know, giveaway losses,
right the Cardinals game earlier in the year. The Rams
have been plenty of those, but this one on Sunday
was just being outclassed. Look, I didn't think Brandon Allen
played that poorly, to be honest, but all the other
aspects of the forty nine ers needed to be a
lot lot better. So I'm with him, Mike. I just
(20:59):
don't see a realistic path. But then again, the NFC
West is pretty loaded, and if all those teams struggled
on the stretch, they're still in it.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
Okay, I'm glad you bring that up, because in terms
of wildcard spot, I don't know if I'm buying a
game and a half back of the Commanders right now,
who's sit in that seven seed, that final wildcard spot.
I think the path for them is to go and
win the division. The problem is they got losses against Seattle.
They got a loss against Arizona as well, you know that.
I just I don't know. Once again, just not a
whole lot of real estate for this squad. All right,
(21:27):
let's move on to teams twenty five through thirty two.
The Browns a twenty five, a win against top ten
team a rick you gottam at twenty five, what gives there?
At twenty six, it's the Jets twenty seven. The Panthers
are twenty seven. They almost beat the two times Super
Bowl champs. At twenty eighth, the Titans beat the twelfth
ranked team on your list, the Houston Texans. At twenty nine,
(21:47):
it's the Patriots, the Giants, I don't even want to
go there. At thirty, At thirty one, Gardner Minshew done
for the year, it's the Raiders. And at number thirty two,
good night Jacksonville. All right, I gotta go rapid fire
because I highlighted the best of the rest. Here some
teams that have performed well for the weekend, and one
of them did lose. But the Browns at twenty five,
the Panthers at twenty seven, and the Titans at twenty eight,
(22:10):
give me the take.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Let's start here with the Browns. Love them up.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
Yeah, they're like the best of the rest, right, And
they were like, but you know, when my college basketball
team would always be twenty sixth in the ranking, they
would be ranked first, just outside the top twenty five.
That's kind of where the Browns are right now, Jamis
has given him some life. Could he be their bridge
quarterback next year if he keeps playing this way? There
are upset potentials, you know, throughout the rest of the season.
So he pulls off one or two more of those,
(22:37):
absolutely gets that opportunity. So it's been fun to watch
a little rebirth here.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Yeah, look, everyone in the NFL love Jamis. I'm just
gonna throw that out there. At twenty seven, the Panthers
they move up a spot. I gotta tell you, I'm
smiling at ear to ear. I am very and I
mentioned this at the top of the show. Happy for
Bryce Young?
Speaker 2 (22:53):
Is this team? Have they turned the corner?
Speaker 3 (22:55):
Well? Bryce Young is turning the corner right every single week.
It seems like he gets incremental games. And you saw,
you know, Dave canallis kind of soft footed a little bit.
He wasn't gonna throw always support towards Young, but now
he said, look, Young's play has spoken for itself. That
has been the best development the last couple of weeks.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
Absolutely Tennessee Titans checking in at twenty eight and by
the way, I get it, the Panthers did lose the game,
but I'm just saying, just smiling for Bryce Titans.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
Yeah, are we feeling good about the squad?
Speaker 3 (23:23):
Too many turnovers, you know, too many big plays allowed,
but they are explosive. I'll give Will Levis a little
bit of an extension here, but he's gonna have some
competition next year. The turnovers continue. They were a little
bit lucky to win that game, but a big win
for them.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Nonetheless, No, it's a huge win. It's against that defense too.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
I absolutely we beat up on the teams at the
end of the show that are at the bottom of
this list, and finally we could talk about some wins
for some of these squads.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
Eric, you are the best man. Always appreciate you. Good
and hanging out with you.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
On another edition of NFL Power Rankings.
The uncertainty of the NFL season continues to unfold before
our eyes. Welcome to a brand new edition of NFL
Power Rankings. Mike mp Eric get home with you. If
you want to see complete analysis of all thirty two teams,
just head to NFL.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Dot com a complete list of rankings.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Eric, Look, I've been thinking about you the last couple
of days. We've seen some chaos NFC West. I don't
know what to make of the division. I don't know
who goes and wins it. The Houston Texans drop a game.
I cannot wait to find out where they actually sit
in your rankings. The reality is you got a tough job,
but it's your time to try to figure out where
these teams are supposed to be slotted.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
It is my job, right, I mean, they're still in
the playoff picture. But it's hard to rank some of
these teams, especially after Week twelve. We had some funny results,
even some wins, some expected wins ended in unexpected fashion.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Oh yeah, the Kansas City Chiefs, by the way, one
of those teams that figured out a way to get
it done. But boy, oh boy, I was like there
might be a free fall in the rankings.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
According to Eric.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
But let's get right to it. Teams one through eight
in the rankings. No surprise here. The Lions, off to
their best starts since nineteen thirty four. At ten and
one sit at the top spot. Are they the best
team in the NFL? According to Eric and I think
a lot of us, the answer is a resounding yes.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
The Bills at too.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
The Eagles flexing the seventh straight win for them. They
are at three. The Kansas City Chiefs they fall just
one spot, got all they could handle from Carolina. The
Ravens check in at number five with a nice road
win on Monday Night Football against the Chargers. Vikings are six,
needed overtime to survive. The Bears, Packers easily a winner
against the Niners at seven, and.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
The Steelers fun game for everyone because of the snow,
but maybe not fun for them.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Time for the team of the week, the Philadelphia Eagles
sitting at that number three spot here, Eric, I gotta
tell you there is a legit argument right now. I
know the Lions and Buffalo are two teams that you
really like. I don't know if there's a team outside
of maybe Detroit that's playing better over these last few games.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Than Philadelphia.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Absolutely, and that's why I moved them up over the
Chiefs in spite of the Chiefs winning Sunday because it
wasn't that impressive. We'll get to that in a minute,
but Philadelphia was impressive. They really put on a show
Sunday night, flexing on both sides of the ball. Saquon Barklay,
I mean, we debated the value thirteen million dollars per
year plus you know the first the fumble against it
Land early in the year, was it going to be
(02:26):
worth it? I think he's worth it. I think they've
done pretty well for themselves ROI wise, and you know,
you hit for two fifty five on the ground in
a game, you're doing something right. Ninth best rushing game
all time. And that doesn't even begin to mention the
defense and what they've been able to do on that
side of the ball. They targeted big areas of need
(02:46):
another explosive offensive player, improving that secondary, the pass rush.
They've done it all. Vic Fangio and Saquon Barkley have
been two massive additions. That's why they're rising up the
charts right now.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Barkley the fourth running back in the Super Bowl era
to have at least three hundred scrimmage yards in a game.
For what it's worth, I didn't think the Rams played
that bad. I just think Philadelphia was that much better,
which is eye opening because I like the Rams for
a few weeks here and now I'm questioning just because
of the way the division shapes up for him. The Eagles,
by the way, matching up against the Baltimore Ravens this week,
(03:19):
that is going to be one of the best games
of the entire year. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs, you
made reference to it. They drop a spot here. What
am I supposed to make of this football team? Because
it's again another one possession game for him. They figure
out a way to get it done. But when you're
coming off of a loss, your first loss since December
of last year, you would imagine that they would absolutely
put a thumpin on Carolina. Should I be worried right
(03:42):
now if I'm a Chiefs fan?
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (03:44):
I mean.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Look, I was reading a story by Nate Taylor or
The Athletic, and he was describing the postgame scene in
the locker room and Charlotte after a win, right after
a dramatic victory with a new kicker, and they drive
down the field for the game winning score. But the
way Taylor described it, it felt more like a funeral,
more like a sigh of relief than it was joy
in there. So look, I mean, Patrick Mahomes has ways
(04:05):
of doing things as a great scramble at the game
at the end of the game setting up the game
winning score. They had no trouble really moving the ball day.
They did bog down quite a few times. But defensively, Mike,
this is where my concern lies. They've allowed these either
game winning or game tying drives at the ends of games.
We saw the Panthers come down tie it at twenty seven,
(04:26):
the Broncos the week you know before, or two couple
weeks ago, we're about to win the game, Buffalo goes down,
you know, Josh Allen on fourth and two. Even the
Tampa Bay game, letting Baker Mayfield kind of move down
the field there at games in I mean, this has
been a repeated problem here, and you kind of wonder, Look,
the defense had been kind of carrying this team for
a big stretch last year. In this year, are they
(04:47):
able to do it again if the offense can't kind
of pick up the slack. That's why I moved them
down a slot. Still recognize they are able to beat
almost anybody on any given day. I just don't know
about their long term ability and whether they can repeat
this year.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Well, look on Black Friday, they will get an Aidan
O'Connell led Raiders squad, and look, we will talk Panthers
a little bit later.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
I know I'm not alone here.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
I actually is pretty happy for Bryce Young because he
gets benched. There's a lot of negativity around him. Played
pretty well, and I think maybe we're turning the corner
in terms of his career and maybe even that future
in Carolina that looked really grim just a couple of
weeks ago. All Right, take a closer look at the
odds in the AFC North.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
How about this.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Steelers just beat the Ravens a couple weeks ago, and
it's Baltimore in pole position according to Fandle. Then it's
the Steelers, then Cincinnati, followed by the Cleveland Browns. But
let's circle up on this number five team and that's
the Baltimore Ravens. They move up two spots for you, Eric,
When you look at this squad, this was an impressive
win for them. And I think the other aspect of
(05:48):
this is they're going up against the number one scoring
defense in the Chargers. Light them up offensively, most points
that the Chargers have given up so far this season.
This is the Baltimore team that I thought we were
going to get at the start of the year. When
they're at their best, Eric, they can beat anyone.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Yeah, as I wrote, I think they can heat up
as quickly as anybody Lamar in that offense, when they
get cooking, there is no preheat time. They go from
cold to nuclear, and that's what we saw at the
end of the first quarter. They turned it over quickly,
Lamar hitting this long deep pass to kind of get
them spurred a little bit. And then also the fourth
and one from their own sixteen. Boy, I remember how
(06:23):
blue in the face we got talking about Belichick going
four years ago from his own twenty nine. Late in
the game, here are the Ravens kind of rewriting the
rule book, if you will, and getting it without two
best players touching the ball. So they have ways of
confounding people, even the best defenses like the Chargers. Maybe
they were a little exposed against the Bengals, and certainly
on Monday Night against the Ravens. But I'll tell you what,
(06:45):
if they play moderately well on defense, they can overcome
some of these penalties, which are a problem every single week.
They can overcome a slow start on offense because they
have the chance to get nuclear hot all of a sudden,
And that's what makes them so dangerous this year, even
if last year's team was maybe the better model.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Yeah, three for three. By the way, on those fourth
down conversions he highlighted one of them.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Was certainly huge here. And you can story what could
have been an undefeated season for this team if you
think about some of the losses.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Isaiah Likely in Week number.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
One against the Kansas City Chiefs back of the end
zone looked like it was good.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
It obviously wasn't.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
We saw them with a ten point advantage in the
fourth quarter against the Raiders. They lose that one. Jamis
Winston comes in for his first start. He goes and
beats them. You know, the point is, they are these
tight games, but Baltimore at their best as dangerous as anyone.
To number six, we go Sam Donald in overtime, big
drive leads to a game winning field goal. I don't know,
I'm I'm cautiously optimistic. I'm buying on this Viking squad,
(07:40):
and it looks like you are too. With the six
position on your rankings.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Yeah, I mean I dropped him down a spot because
I thought, boy, they shouldn't have led it to get
to overtime. But the best thing that came out of
that game was the fact that it did go to
overtime because Sam Darnald, I thought, had his best series
of the season, six for six ninety yards passing to
set up the game winning field goal. Hard to get
ninety yards passing on a single drive, but Sam did it,
overcoming a couple penalties to do so. Made decisive reads,
(08:07):
accurate throws, looked like he had command. You know, there
have been times where it's been a little shaky this season.
We know Donald's reputation from previous stops in Carolina New York,
but this was arguably one of his best moments of
the year. Again, I don't like the fact that they
blew an eleven point lead with a little over ninety
seconds left, but you know this, this Vikings team has
(08:28):
to feel a lot better about itself. Didn't get a
whole lot from Justin Jefferson It was all Jordan Addison
in this game pretty much. He had career high numbers.
Jefferson had one seven yard catch until about halfway through overtime.
So you know, it's on the one hand, good that
they can win these games without Jefferson going off. They
can have other people, you know, sort of carry the load,
(08:48):
if you will. But seeing Donald convert that drive after
the Bears punted, I think was a big confidence statement
for them, and knowing that at some point they're going
to need a drive like that in a huge game.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
No no question about that.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
By the way, I like where you have the vikings
because those teams that you slotted in front of them,
it makes sense to him. The only pushback that I
have for you from a Chicago perspective, they're playing some
of the best ball that they've played this entire season.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Is just not equaling wins for them at this point.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
But I think you're spot on from a Minnesota perspective
the Steelers. I was telling people here in the building
before this game, I go, I'm telling you, I think
the Browns are gonna win this thing.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
It feels like a leftown.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
I wasn't overly impressed by the win against the Ravens
because of how it looked on the field and how.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Baltimore played in this game.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
But is there anything cooler than watching a game in
the snow and seeing some of those high risk slow
motion videos on social media?
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (09:40):
Man, I love it. I absolutely love it. I look,
I live in a winter climate. I'm here in Chicago,
so obviously the snow is sort of my friend, or
I've learned to embrace it. But yes, there is nothing
more cinematic, more exciting than to see a game in
the snow.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Now.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Players may not like it, guys from the southern part
of the country, and the Steelers may not like it
because they didn't perform all that well. It started getting
heavier and they were trailing. They found a way to
get back in the game, but just couldn't hold on
at game's end. So, you know, I'm worried about the
Steelers offense a little bit too hot and cold. I
know they came in with a lot of points scored
on average, but you know that dry, that streak of
(10:16):
twenty two straight quarters with the points ended in this game,
and by games end, you could see they were having
trouble handling the ball, having trouble with communication up front,
didn't hit enough big plays, and they lost a crucial
division game. So yeah, I mean, it's it's hard to
know exactly what we have with the Steelers. Clearly better
than a year ago, Clearly a team that could win
a playoff game, but I think at this point their
(10:39):
limitations are starting to become a little more outsized.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
And they will match up in another divisional matchup in
a game that one team is very desperate, and that
is the Cincinnati Bengals. Still more to get to though.
On NFL Power Rankings, one team in the NFC. They've
been making a ton of headlines most of the season,
but now they're dropping some games.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Or the Commanders pretenders.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Plus a stat about the Chargers that you gotta hear that's.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
Coming up next.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Back here on power Rankings, as we go through Erics
teams nine through sixteen, the Chargers lose a tough one
at home on Monday Night Football. No change, though, still
sitting in the top ten at number nine. At ten,
it's the Broncos snap an eight game road losing streak
to the Raiders. Don't look now, but bo Nix is
really coming on strong here. The Commander's at eleven the Texans.
What is going on with the squad We will discuss
(11:29):
in just a moment. At number twelve, the Bucks dominate
the Giants. They are at thirteen. Don't look now, but
Seattle all of a sudden making some noise and got
a real chance to go and winning that division because
they took out the Cardinals who sit at fifteen, and
the Miami Dolphins might be the best second half story
in the NFL at sixteen. At number nine, I want
to get your take on this Charger squad because I
(11:49):
like them. And let me preface this by saying, I
think they are a dangerous team once the postseason comes
around because of style of play. But Eric, they've beaten
one team this season with a winning record, and that's
the Denver Broncos.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
So what are the Chargers?
Speaker 3 (12:02):
Yeah, I think you make a good point. You know,
could they go on the road to the AFC South winner?
Presumably Houston win that game. Sure, but as we've seen
when they are stacked against some of the league's heavyweights,
lost of the Chiefs, lost Monday night to the Ravens.
There are a few more games like that. They just
haven't weighed in the same class as those teams. Right,
they take the early ten to Dozhering league kind of
(12:24):
establish their their dominant force up front. Then they start
dropping passes, penalties. They had at least one penalty by
every single starting offensive lineman, just mistakes on defense, blown coverages,
couldn't tackle, bad angles to the ball. All the things
that had made them a good team seemed to come
on glued and for whatever reason, when the talent level rises,
I think that's when you see their challenges kind of
(12:46):
increase a little bit. So, yes, dangerous team style of play.
I think all those things are right. Can we please
get Justin Herberts some better receivers. There are some more receivers,
guys who can hang on to the football. Because until
that happens, till they catch the ball consistently, I am
a little worried about their potential.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
Yeah, at one point in the second half, Quinton Johnson
gets hit in the hand with the football, drops it.
He had so much green grass that might be a
touchdown And maybe we're talking about a different game. Lad mccauckey,
by the way, has emerged as Justin Herbert's go to
wide receiver. Yeap think he's a really, really good player,
but you're right, they need some other pieces that are there.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
And look, JK.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Dobbins going down did not help the cause. Monday night
against the Baltimore Ravens at number eleven, here are look
I teased it. I said that the Commanders are they contenders, pretenders.
They've lost some tough games here the last couple of weeks.
I still like the squad, do you.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
I do.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
I like the fight, but I also realized that, look,
these types of games are the ones we kind of
expected them to lose this season, right, I mean, it
wouldn't have been a shock to suggest that the Cowboys
beat the Commanders, and you know, everything we've seen up
to this point has pretty much belied that. But you're
starting to see the cracks in the armor a little bit.
The offense has not been nearly explosive. I mean, prior
to that long touchdown to Terry McLaurin, they stall, they
(14:00):
didn't have the same kind of juice. You know, Daniels
was having trouble finding his receivers open. He had some
scrambling room, but Brian Robinson in the run game not
exactly humming as well. So issues on that side of
the ball. Obviously some questions on defense, and then the
way the game ended, the Special Team's disaster one of
the worst sort of three or four play stretches that
(14:20):
you'll ever see in a game. But even before that,
I think some of their troubles did come out. So
I love the job they've done, but they're hitting the
wall on both sides of the ball, and that is
a problem heading into the home stretch.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
I have four touchdowns scored in the final three thirty
of the game. What a wild finish and the Commanders
this close to pulling this thing out. I don't know
what to do with the Texans. Legitimately concerned. I was
fascinated they lose this matchup, and I think to myself,
where is Eric gonna slot them?
Speaker 2 (14:48):
I'll be honest, at twelve I thought it was going
to be worse.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Yeah, I mean that says something about this group, though,
doesn't it. Mike. I mean you kind of look and
all these teams have a little bit of a question,
a little something holding them back. Maybe it's their record,
maybe it's their quarterback. That's not really the case with
the Texans. They're in great position to win this division.
They just have to win games and stop shooting themselves
in the foot. Look, I got CJ. Stroud through two
bad interceptions, two picks that were on him, and we
(15:14):
haven't said that very often. Doesn't have a lot of
two interception games in a short career, but that one
right there, staring down the linebacker, not able to float
the ball to the second level. You know, we saw
it in other games as well. Here's the safety at
the end of the game. You know, just too many mistakes. Now,
the pressure they're giving up is a problem. But Stroud's
got to take some of this responsibility too, and that
(15:34):
defense has to tighten up. Too many big plays.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
Yeah, they've lost four out of their last six games
at this point, a season low twelve points, three for
thirteen on third down, not going to get it done.
In fact, in the second half they were zero of
six on third down. They had just four first downs
in the second half. You don't expect that from this team.
Expectations much higher. Get an opportunity to get back in
the win column with a matchup against Jacksonville. All right,
(15:59):
the Seattle Seahawks. They're proving some doubters wrong here. I
know it was a strong start, then they hit a
little bit of a lull. Now all of a sudden,
they're beating some good teams, right San Francisco. Well, I
don't know how we feel about San Francisco being a
good team, but they beat them in the Bay Area,
and then they take out a Cardinals team where the
arrow was pointing up. How much of the Seahawks stock
(16:20):
would you be willing to buy at this point of
the season.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Yeah, well, they've certainly won the most important games, right,
the division games. They had to do it on the
road at San Francisco and then coming back with no
hot water in the facility for several days last week
because of the power out it is, they toughed, threw it,
and they found a way. It was a defensive battle.
That's what you'd expect in a Mike McDonald Jonathan gannon game.
But really credit the Seahawks defense, I think for keeping
(16:43):
Kyler Murray and that Cardinals run game under wraps. They
could not get go and that's how they kind of
kickstart their offense. Get James Connor and those guys, Benson
going de Marcarro. But yeah, they couldn't find any rhythm offensively, Defensively,
you know, it was just an impressive effort, and that's
two weeks in a row, big NFC West victory with
their defense kind of leading the way. You shout out
(17:05):
to Jackson Smith and Jig but who got him going offensively?
And Gino made enough big plays. Buddy also threw a
couple of light picks. So it's possible that McDonald's defense
is now they're sort of their best hope at this point.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
The calling card for a team that now hits the
road and matches up against a Jet squad that has
been reeling. Yeah, yeah, I'm talking about another three game
winning streak for the Seahawks.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
They certainly could use that win.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Time for power Moves at number sixteen, it is the
Miami Dolphins, who I think are the best story of
the second half of the season because they got healthy,
they got their quarterback into it, and they are rolling
right now.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
They get Green Bay on Thanksgiving.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
You think the world of the Packers, considering they're a
top ten team on the power rankings.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
This is a different offense.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
This is the team that I thought we were going
to see at the start of the year had they
been healthy. I don't know if there's a sense of
desperation around the squad, like there.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Is right now.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
Yeah, and this is the ultimate test for him too,
Mi President. Right down the stretch they struggle last year,
what did they struggle with? Cold weather games? They're going
up to Green Bay where expecting weather in the thirties,
maybe some snow. This is the opportunity for them to
kind of slay the demon, if you will. Yeah, those
losses to Arizona and Buffalo still sting. Have they won
those totally different picture. They'd be higher on this list
(18:18):
for sure. But Tua has played well since returning. That's
the biggest thing. We went from talking about him retiring
to him being a big reason why the Dolphins are
still in this race. They've gotten their playmakers the ball,
and defensively they have been much much, much better. So
it's impressive to see. Now can they finish this thing off?
Still a long way to go, but you go up
to Green Bay and get a win on Turkey Day,
(18:38):
you're doing all right for yourself.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Yeah, it's a really good point. Eric. I hadn't thought
about it like that because TWOA has been bawling, But
you're right. A couple weeks ago we were like Hey,
should this dude be out there?
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Should we be considering right him as a guy that
maybe would be for the long term better off not playing.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
But he's bawling right now with.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
An over seventy percent completion percentage since his return, and
once again that team continues to win. We got more
to come here though. On NFL Power Rankings, they nine
ers went from Super Bowl contender to maybe not even
making the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
We'll give you the state of.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
San Francisco coming up next, and we're loving up some
of the bottom feeders and the power rankings for the
last few weeks that are now winning some games.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Back here.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
On power rankings, team seventeen through twenty four to the
Atlanta Falcons. Leading off this list, the San Francisco forty
nine ers drop two spots. They fall to eighteen. We'll
talk about them in just a moment. The Rams do
not deliver on Sunday Night football against the Eagles. I
thought they played well, just the Eagles are monsters at
this point of the season.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
At twenty it's the.
Speaker 1 (19:40):
Colts four out of their final five remaining games teams
with three or fewer.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Wins, so maybe there's a run here.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
Cincinnati at twenty one, the Dallas Cowboys, they find away
at twenty two, the Bears five straight losses, another heartbreaker
for them at twenty three, and it's the Saints at
twenty four.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Meanwhile, the Niners. Let's circle up on this squad.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
I thought heading into this past weekend it was a
must win. There is not a whole lot of real
estate in terms of games to be played here. They
get a tough one against the Buffalo Bills this coming
week Sunday Night Football.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
They didn't have Rock Party.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
Injuries have been the story for this team, but Eric, legitimately,
I don't think they make the postseason.
Speaker 3 (20:17):
Yeah, it's feeling more and more every day to me,
at least like the twenty twenty season. Now that twenty
twenty was its own sort of animal, but the forty
nine ers were ravaged by injuries that year. You know,
they kept kind of hanging in there, giving themselves a chance,
but never really making that big burst. And you know,
even with McCaffrey coming back, a rare fumble from him
against the Packers, and you know, Kittle has the big game,
(20:37):
but you know, other things kind of offset that. They
weren't able to stop him on defense. There have just
been so many problems and so many, you know, giveaway losses,
right the Cardinals game earlier in the year. The Rams
have been plenty of those, but this one on Sunday
was just being outclassed. Look, I didn't think Brandon Allen
played that poorly, to be honest, but all the other
aspects of the forty nine ers needed to be a
lot lot better. So I'm with him, Mike. I just
(20:59):
don't see a realistic path. But then again, the NFC
West is pretty loaded, and if all those teams struggled
on the stretch, they're still in it.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
Okay, I'm glad you bring that up, because in terms
of wildcard spot, I don't know if I'm buying a
game and a half back of the Commanders right now,
who's sit in that seven seed, that final wildcard spot.
I think the path for them is to go and
win the division. The problem is they got losses against Seattle.
They got a loss against Arizona as well, you know that.
I just I don't know. Once again, just not a
whole lot of real estate for this squad. All right,
(21:27):
let's move on to teams twenty five through thirty two.
The Browns a twenty five, a win against top ten
team a rick you gottam at twenty five, what gives there?
At twenty six, it's the Jets twenty seven. The Panthers
are twenty seven. They almost beat the two times Super
Bowl champs. At twenty eighth, the Titans beat the twelfth
ranked team on your list, the Houston Texans. At twenty nine,
(21:47):
it's the Patriots, the Giants, I don't even want to
go there. At thirty, At thirty one, Gardner Minshew done
for the year, it's the Raiders. And at number thirty two,
good night Jacksonville. All right, I gotta go rapid fire
because I highlighted the best of the rest. Here some
teams that have performed well for the weekend, and one
of them did lose. But the Browns at twenty five,
the Panthers at twenty seven, and the Titans at twenty eight,
(22:10):
give me the take.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Let's start here with the Browns. Love them up.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
Yeah, they're like the best of the rest, right, And
they were like, but you know, when my college basketball
team would always be twenty sixth in the ranking, they
would be ranked first, just outside the top twenty five.
That's kind of where the Browns are right now, Jamis
has given him some life. Could he be their bridge
quarterback next year if he keeps playing this way? There
are upset potentials, you know, throughout the rest of the season.
So he pulls off one or two more of those,
(22:37):
absolutely gets that opportunity. So it's been fun to watch
a little rebirth here.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Yeah, look, everyone in the NFL love Jamis. I'm just
gonna throw that out there. At twenty seven, the Panthers
they move up a spot. I gotta tell you, I'm
smiling at ear to ear. I am very and I
mentioned this at the top of the show. Happy for
Bryce Young?
Speaker 2 (22:53):
Is this team? Have they turned the corner?
Speaker 3 (22:55):
Well? Bryce Young is turning the corner right every single week.
It seems like he gets incremental games. And you saw,
you know, Dave canallis kind of soft footed a little bit.
He wasn't gonna throw always support towards Young, but now
he said, look, Young's play has spoken for itself. That
has been the best development the last couple of weeks.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
Absolutely Tennessee Titans checking in at twenty eight and by
the way, I get it, the Panthers did lose the game,
but I'm just saying, just smiling for Bryce Titans.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
Yeah, are we feeling good about the squad?
Speaker 3 (23:23):
Too many turnovers, you know, too many big plays allowed,
but they are explosive. I'll give Will Levis a little
bit of an extension here, but he's gonna have some
competition next year. The turnovers continue. They were a little
bit lucky to win that game, but a big win
for them.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Nonetheless, No, it's a huge win. It's against that defense too.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
I absolutely we beat up on the teams at the
end of the show that are at the bottom of
this list, and finally we could talk about some wins
for some of these squads.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
Eric, you are the best man. Always appreciate you. Good
and hanging out with you.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
On another edition of NFL Power Rankings.
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