November 3, 2025 • 21 mins
NFL Network Insiders Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport are joined by Bridget Condon and Steve Wyche to react to the Panthers upsetting the Packers, J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings beating the Lions, and to discuss the NFC West's hierarchy heading into Week 10.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome back to the Insiders, Tom pilisero, Ian Rapaport and
joining us now our good friend Bridget Condon. This is
if you're listening on the podcast Park two of the podcast,
there's another like twenty five minutes. Do if you'll find
a part one, but you don't have to do it now.
It doesn't matter what order you listen. We cover separate
topics in both. If you're watching us on the NFL channel,
on fast streaming platforms or on YouTube, you're still in
(00:23):
the right place and welcome in now to Bridget, who
just got back. I assume on a connecting flight from
green Bay, Wisconsin, I saw the upset of the weekend.
I don't think that many people. I didn't see all
the predictions, but I cannot think a lot of people
were taking the Panthers as heavy underdogs in lambeau Field.
But on a day where maybe some of the elements
(00:45):
might have played into it a little bit here, it
was unbelievable to watch that Panthers defense really cause a
lot of problems for green Bay.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Absolutely, it was interesting because it was really windy, and
during our live shots for a game day morning, I
kind of mentioned that one of the coaches was like, hey,
pay attention because the kicking game and the passing game
is going to be impacted. And we saw that the
Packers missed a field goal that was crucial, but this
game felt deflated. I know you guys talked about it
at the top of the show. Tucker Craft out for
(01:15):
the season with the ACL. Once that happened, Tom and Ian,
you could kind of just feel everybody tense in the
stance because at that point we didn't know the severity
of it, but just watching him be helped off the field,
Like the first thing that happened is he stands up
and he tried initially to walk off himself, and you
could tell he couldn't put pressure, so his arms were
(01:35):
over two people. He walked right into the medical tent,
and then probably about five minutes later, you see the
cart coming. And whenever the cart comes, you guys know
it best. Like that's probably long term, if not season ending,
and it's just so disappointing, as just Jordan Love put it,
because he was having a career year, like he was
(01:55):
on set to break all these records for tight ends
for the Packer and it's his birthday today, guys, how
sad is that it's his birthday and just matt Lefloor
said it, like we saw what he did against the
Steelers last week. He was like, we have to continue
to make this passing game go through Tucker Craft. He
(02:15):
called him a man possessed, said that he is somebody
that they need to get involved in the passing game.
And then this happens, and I mean, Luke Musgrave is
going to have to step up big for this team
if they want to continue on this stretch. I mean
they still are five two and one, so they still
are in a good place, but just totally change the game.
(02:36):
Rareshan Gary talked in the locker room. It was kind
of funny. He was asked what goes through your mind
when you see Tucker Craft go down? And he was
like a big f bomb. So, I mean it's serious,
like you don't ever want to see anyone on the
team get hurt. But the way guys were talking about
how hard he works. Twenty four years old, he's already
a team captain. Like there's just so much we could
(02:57):
say about Tucker Craft and totally changes theynamic of this
Packers team now with him out for the season.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Yeah, so you're right. I mean, that's that's certainly something
that hurts. On the other side of it, the Panthers
have been a little bit of a curiosity. It's like
they started the season a little slow. Chewba Hubbard gets hurt.
You know, we're sort of wondering, you know, sort of wondering, like,
all right, it's Bryce Young really going to be the guy,
and like this defense is supposed to be better, Like are.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
They actually better?
Speaker 3 (03:25):
And they've really been impressive, Like they're physical on both
sides of the ball, they are tough, they run the
heck out of the ball. Bryce Young has been good enough,
I would say good enough. Definitely has his moments. You
saw the Panthers up close and you talk to a
ton of people. What sort of reaction did you have
about the staying power of the Carolina Panthers.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Yeah, it's interesting. I don't think anyone expected this when
you just get beat what forty to nine by the
Bills a week ago. Of course Andy Dalden was in
that game playing with a thumb injury. But Bryce Young
is really impressed a lot of people. And I don't
think we're talking enough about Rico Daubtele. They made that
switch this week with making him the running back number one.
(04:08):
I know that they were kind of rotating between him
and Cuba, and when Cuba was out during I think
weeks five and six, Rico had the number one reps
and was phenomenal, and he just he took over as
that number one running back with both of them active
yesterday and went off. And he has been an incredible
addition to this team this season. And I interviewed him
postgame and asked him, like, what do you think you
(04:31):
showed in that position as the number one guy, and
he's like, look, I've always been the number one guy,
but like I never had that opportunity. He obviously was
in Dallas and played behind some great running backs. I
also talked with Quay Walker Packers player this week and
he said that, you know, Rico has always been that guy,
(04:51):
like people have known it in the league. He just
needed an opportunity and now he has that opportunity in Carolina.
And how fun is it to see this Panthers team.
I still think about and I know you guys had
to have seen it the Panthers podcast that like quit
in the beginning of the season because they were too bad.
Thinking about that right, like, did they come back at
this point? No?
Speaker 3 (05:11):
No, no, no no.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
I mean it's like those people like.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
There's when Fireman Ed said he wasn't going to be
a Jets fan anymore. Yeah, it's like it's a bunch
of nonsense.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
Right, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
I mean it's like if you're one of those weird
Twitter accounts, you deactivate your account and then just kind
of pop back up, like they'll be lame.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
You know when we were bad.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
Stay out of here, Yeah, get out of here.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
A lot of people are impressed. The one thing that
my friend who actually covered the Packers for a long
time now she's with the Panthers. She was like, I
didn't want to say this out loud because people would
have told me I was crazy, But I kind of
saw this coming. I think she was the only person
who did. Because the one flaw of this Packers team
you can run the ball against them.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Yeah, there's no doubt I was. It was a wild
day clearly in the NFC North, because you had that
shootout win for the Bears over the Bank, you had
the Packers losing to the Panthers, and then you had
the game I was at, which was Vikings and Lions
and as much as I have tried to be the
voice of reason, and I have tried really hard at
this for months, months about JJ McCarthy and the reality
(06:17):
that this guy has started two NFL games and we
don't know what he is, and I know how they
feel about him internally. Even pregame, everyone's like, we'll see
he He hasn't had a ton of reps JJ McCarthy.
He didn't have to throw for a lot. I think
he there were one hundred and forty three yards in
the game. But the degree of difficulty on the half
dozen of above the line throws that he was asked
(06:38):
to make it was so impressive. Third down late in
the game and they're trying to kill clocks. Some teams
would have just run. It made the lioness Burg the
last month they put it in his hands to throw
the ball to Jalen Naylor. You know that he had
a big play with his legs as well. The one
that I point to in the early going was the
first touchdown, which was after the lines, by the way,
went right down the field. The stadium is rock and
(07:00):
you're like, oh, this is gonna be Lions are going
to roll. The Vikings lead to drive. JJ McCarthy hits
Justin Jefferson, who hadn't scored a touchdown in six games,
tying the longest streak of his career. And when I
saw it and I went up to Justin after the
game and I asked him about this, I'm like, dude,
that's a run play, right, He's like, yeah, man, so
it's a run play. Okay, they're in the red zone
(07:20):
inside the five yard line. But they had worked on
the week that hey, if Justin gets pressed on the outside,
give him a shot to make the play. There are
a lot of young quarterbacks that would have just been like, gosh,
we gotta just hand it off, Like, let's just play
it safe. JJ steps back one step. Everybody's run blocking.
Aaron Jones is coming forward like he's gonna get the handoff.
JJ one step rips it to Justin Jefferson who makes
(07:42):
an unbelievable catch Like that is. I said that to
JJ after the game, like that took some bleeping bleeps,
if you know what I mean, like to make that throw.
It was a really big It was a really big moment.
And I think that you know, Bridget as we talk
about and you've covered plenty of young quarterbacks three your
time as well. It's just another example that everybody needs
to pause, take a deep breath, and know that what
(08:06):
you're seeing from one game to the next, one week
to the other, it might not be the real Dude.
If you feel like you've got the guy, continue to
go out there and give him opportunities, which JJ took
advantage of yesterday. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
I mean we even see that with the Packers too,
Like how many people when they went and got Jordan
Love and we're done with Aaron Rodgers were like, this
is such a silly mistake. They should have gotten him
a receiver, Like he's not the guy whatever, Like just
everybody calmed down. I think the Panthers and David Tepper
also like are learning that too, that so often these
(08:38):
teams want immediate results. And a lot of these owners,
right like come from a business world where, like you
see immediate results.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
It's not always that, right Soluly reverse course immediately in
his world.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Yeah, and you're not always going to see that in
the NFL. And if you make these rash decisions and
we're seeing it, you know today with trade deadline tomorrow,
sometimes it doesn't work out like just staying pay and
like letting things play out. A lot of these teams
can benefit from from watching what the Viking J McCarthey
are doing. I wanted to bring up, guys, if we
(09:09):
have have time real quick. I was interested, and I
know a lot of Packers fans are wondering as well,
just because I was at that game. Like now, with
Tucker Craft out for the season with the ACL, are
you hearing anything about potential like additions at tight end
or anything that they could make real quick one?
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Uh, I would imagine that we'll look at it. They
don't have a ton of picks because they use a
lot of it in the micro Parson's trade. Yeah, but
I want to bring up something really important before we
say goodbye to your Bridget. According to the Awful Announcing
Tweet Carolina Panthers podcast, meow mix versus direction and we'll
(09:45):
return after.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
For something mix come on inviction in your life, Bridget,
thank you very much to talk to you, against you,
Thank you guys or from the insiders. After that, Yes,
(10:14):
let's welcome our Steve Whites back into the conversation. Uh, Steve,
out there in LA we are witnessing a RAMS team
that had all kinds of Matthew Stafford related drama through
the course of the off season. There were trade talks,
there were conversations about potentially moving on. He then doesn't
(10:35):
practice all of training camp because of a back injury.
There are literal conspiracy theories that he's dead and been
replaced by a body double, which if that's the case,
I enjoyed those robo Matthew Stafford is playing at a
pretty high level, and even when they beat up on
a team that's got as many problems as the Saints,
it is still amazing to watch what he's doing at
this stage in his career.
Speaker 5 (10:56):
And Tom, you nailed it because you know, even when
he wasn't going through everything he went through this offseason,
there were some dips, Right, he was a little inconsistent.
He'd rock and roll and he'd have a lull, then
he'd come back and finished strong. Right, he has been
consistently really good. Like you said yesterday, took a part
a Saints team that's easy to take apart. They did
(11:16):
what they were supposed to do. But he gets Pooka
Nakua back. Now Pooka gets a chest injury. Little you know,
a little concerning there. But Sean McVay said this morning,
they think he's gonna get a scan and he's gonna
be okay. But DeVante Adams shows up, Tyler Higbee, the
running game gets going, so that part's good.
Speaker 4 (11:32):
The defense is really good.
Speaker 5 (11:34):
But Stafford, I mean, he's played like a top five
quarterback all see.
Speaker 4 (11:37):
If we haven't talked about him, because that's nothing new.
Speaker 5 (11:39):
We're talking about Drake May, we're talking about other players
well deserved, but Stafford.
Speaker 4 (11:43):
Has just been as consistent as we've seen him in years.
Speaker 5 (11:47):
Because, like I said, normally there's some type of dip,
but this offense is really showing something because of Matthew Stafford.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
You know, we spent a lot of time earlier in
the show talking about, you know how Seattle has kind
of transitioned from you know, Russ to Gino eventually and
now to Sam Darnold. You know, the Rams obviously had
a good team where they had Matthew Stafford, won the
Super Bowl and all that, but like then they transitioned
away from a ton of older, pricey players and just
(12:15):
invested in a ton of like mid round draft picks,
and it is, you know, similar but in a little
bit of a different way than the Seahawks. They have
transitioned to drafting really well and all of those young
guys playing really well, and they are suddenly like looking
like a a juggernaut. You know, it is it is
fascinating to see how they have been, how good they've been,
(12:39):
and how they've kept it rolling. I mean, the people
who saw Matthew Stafford at camp, you know, we're like, hey,
you know, it looks kind of old, looks walking around,
hasn't thrown much like he is throwing as good as
it gets. And this is Yeah, this is a team
that I think is going to be down, be there
for the long haul.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
It's it is amazing. And Steve, I'm curious for your
thoughts on this, but if you look right now at
the NFC standings, there are a total of nine teams
that have either five or six wins. Nobody's got seven
or eight. Everybody has at least two losses. But right now,
even the Bears, who are on a five game winning streak,
(13:16):
would not be in the playoffs. The Lions would be
the seven seed at this point.
Speaker 4 (13:23):
Crazy. Uh, there's if you're looking.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
At this, Steve, right now, and again, the other teams
that would be in Philly at six and two, Tampa
at six and two, Seattle six and two, Green Bay
five to two and one, Rams six and two, than
the forty nine ers A Lions. Who is the favorite
in your mind right now, Steve in the NFC.
Speaker 5 (13:40):
Well, to me, it's Seattle just because not only are
they a really good team, but they're an a sending
team right They're still they're still figuring some things out,
and they're probably the most consistently physical on both sides.
But they showed on that defensive front last night was
absolutely frightening. Leonard Williams of what they did was absolutely frightening.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
And we know the defense for that's a former deadline
acquisition right there.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
Good point, good point right there.
Speaker 5 (14:03):
And so you're you're seeing, you know them kind of
kind of surfaced look like give it a DK metcalf
JSN looks absolutely you know, amazing and ian to your point.
When you think about the Rams though, besides replacing guys
like Aaron Donalds, some older players with younger players, look
how many coaches and that decludes the position coaches they've
had to replenish. So that talks about what Sean McVay
and the Rams are doing. And here's the other thing, guys,
(14:25):
when you look at those teams time the seven guys,
the seven teams are in a playoff position right now
in the NFC. I don't see another team and that
back part of the schedule that's going to rise up
and get in there. You know, injuries and everything can
can unsettle them. But there's really no team that you're like, Okay,
the Falcons are lurking, or the Cardinals are lurking. You know,
(14:46):
maybe the Bears, but there's just really no team you're
looking about.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
The forty nine ers, Steve. You spend a decent amount
of time around them. They get another win yesterday against
the Giants, team that also has its share of injury
issues and whatnot. The forty nine ers right now are
and just double checking their record so I get this correct.
They are six and three, crazy, had their starting quarterback
for two games. They're playing with wide receivers predominantly that
(15:11):
they picked up off the street, you know, through the
course of training camp. Defensively, they don't have a former
Defensive Player of the Year in Nick Bosa, that they
don't have an all Pro linebacker in Fred Warner, all,
which is a credit to the coaching staff. But that's
the one that I do look at Steven just say,
how long exactly can they duct tape this thing together
(15:33):
and keep winning games?
Speaker 5 (15:35):
Well, I mean, this is a thing though they'll they'll
find a way because I think more the bigger potential
trip up is if they transition back to Brock Party.
I like, how is that going to handle? And you
know that's going to happen. That's the guy they paid,
That's the guy that you know. Kyle's not shy about
putting Brock Quarty back and Rock Party is the head
of a player.
Speaker 4 (15:52):
But they have something going there. I look.
Speaker 5 (15:56):
I think next week against the Rams, that's a big
game because they can down here on a Thursday night
as beat up as they have been all season, and.
Speaker 4 (16:05):
Christian mac Jones threw for like three hundred and fifty yards.
Speaker 5 (16:08):
Kendrick Dard goes off in that game, but they forced
a couple of key turned and that's the things that
they're doing. The balls bouncing their way a little bit,
So we'll see how long they can last. I think
the Rams and the Seahawks are the two best teams
in division, but at the forty nine Ers end up
sweeping the Rams and getting that kind of head to
head tiebreaker, that's another thing that can catapult them. That's
(16:31):
why this game next week between these two is significant.
I'll tell you what's going to be interesting slash nightmare
for everyone involved. It's like, you know, Matt Jones has
played great, and I think the team around him has.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
Really been great. But this is Rock Pritty's team. He
is the franchise quarterback. He's got the big contract, and
besides the contract, he has also just earned the right
to be the starting quarterback. If he comes in here
and the team does not do as well, it is
going to be full awkward. And I don't know that
anybody wants that. I mean, surely the forty nine ers
(17:03):
don't want that, but it is going to be full
awkward and nightmare for all involved if that is in
fact the case. And you know, for for Brock to
be you know, without a ton of practice, without full
practice coming in hit the ground running, we're also probably
still being limited by a towing dry. It's an uphill
battle anyway. That's certainly a situation.
Speaker 5 (17:23):
He's done it before, he did his rookie year, and
he did it coming off the elbow, so I don't doubt.
Speaker 4 (17:27):
I don't rock perty at all.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
All Right, Steve, real quick, we have about two minutes
left in show here, and at the risk of people
who are catching this on the NFL channel several hours
after we tape and knowing how fluid things are, give
me one trade that you want to see between now
and the four pm Eastern deadline on Tuesday.
Speaker 5 (17:48):
Boy, I want to see the Niners trade for anti linebacker,
even though they're getting some some play right there. This
is kind of going to your point and looking at
some teams yesterday. I mean there's there's there's a couple
guys out there. I'm blanking because I was thinking about
it yesterday watching some games. But there's some inside linebackers.
(18:10):
I think that could fit into the scheme with Roberts Oh,
Quincy Williams.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
That's what I'm thinking.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Would Thinksy Williams would make a lot of If he's.
Speaker 5 (18:15):
Available, I think go get him. Robert Sala knows him.
He's excelled under Sala. I think that's the player I'd
like to see, you know, make a move him. Logan
Wilson both to makes sense for the forty nine ers yep.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Eating any final trade deadline thoughts before we go.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
We got about twenty four hours to go. I don't
know how many trades will get My guess is a
couple before the deadline. But when trying to figure out
whether there were a lot of trades before the trade deadline,
take into account all the trades, not just the ones
that were done over the last two days, because there
have been more than enough.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
And I would also say when people are wondering why
have there not been more? Obviously, we saw the Jalen
Phillips trade after the Eagles earlier today. That was the
trade we've had in several weeks that wasn't a late
round pick swap, some type of a salary dun for
a player who had no future. Part of that is
just in talking to people around lead, the prices on
some of these trades are just too high. You're talking about,
(19:13):
you know, getting a number two receiver for a third
round pick. That's just not something the teams have a
great appetite for. However, after the Sunday games. Also, by
the way, the trades we saw over the weekend all
involved teams that weren't playing this weekend. So now everybody's
coming back, they're evaluating their medical situation. Let's see what
these final twenty four hours or so bring, whether potentially
(19:35):
either the prices on some of those guys that are
available or the offers begin to change. That's how you're
gonna move things forward here. And also some teams facing
hard reality, whether because of injuries or just the way
the standings look. Some of those teams that were clinging
to hope that they were still in it may have
realized yesterday they are definitively not in it. Does that
(19:58):
change philosophically how they're going to approach things with the
latest trade deadline that we have had. Steve, thank you
very much. We will look forward to chatting with you soon.
Another reminder, Trade Deadline Special four pm Eastern Time on
Tuesday live on NFL Network and NFL Plus. That is
(20:18):
in addition to the seven pm Eastern time regular episode
of The Insiders airing also on NFL Network and NFL
Plus on Tuesday night. So much action or maybe none
to come. The only way you find out is if
you tune in with us. We appreciate everybody, whether you
are finding us on the NFL channel on fast streaming platforms,
(20:40):
on YouTube, on the podcast on NFL Network, across all
those digital platforms. Subscribe, keep coming back, watch and listen.
We appreciate all of you, as always for Steve Wiites
and Ian Rappaport, I am Tom Pelison zero, signing off
(21:01):
from this episode of The Insider Seeing Them Up.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
H
Welcome back to the Insiders, Tom pilisero, Ian Rapaport and
joining us now our good friend Bridget Condon. This is
if you're listening on the podcast Park two of the podcast,
there's another like twenty five minutes. Do if you'll find
a part one, but you don't have to do it now.
It doesn't matter what order you listen. We cover separate
topics in both. If you're watching us on the NFL channel,
on fast streaming platforms or on YouTube, you're still in
(00:23):
the right place and welcome in now to Bridget, who
just got back. I assume on a connecting flight from
green Bay, Wisconsin, I saw the upset of the weekend.
I don't think that many people. I didn't see all
the predictions, but I cannot think a lot of people
were taking the Panthers as heavy underdogs in lambeau Field.
But on a day where maybe some of the elements
(00:45):
might have played into it a little bit here, it
was unbelievable to watch that Panthers defense really cause a
lot of problems for green Bay.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Absolutely, it was interesting because it was really windy, and
during our live shots for a game day morning, I
kind of mentioned that one of the coaches was like, hey,
pay attention because the kicking game and the passing game
is going to be impacted. And we saw that the
Packers missed a field goal that was crucial, but this
game felt deflated. I know you guys talked about it
at the top of the show. Tucker Craft out for
(01:15):
the season with the ACL. Once that happened, Tom and Ian,
you could kind of just feel everybody tense in the
stance because at that point we didn't know the severity
of it, but just watching him be helped off the field,
Like the first thing that happened is he stands up
and he tried initially to walk off himself, and you
could tell he couldn't put pressure, so his arms were
(01:35):
over two people. He walked right into the medical tent,
and then probably about five minutes later, you see the
cart coming. And whenever the cart comes, you guys know
it best. Like that's probably long term, if not season ending,
and it's just so disappointing, as just Jordan Love put it,
because he was having a career year, like he was
(01:55):
on set to break all these records for tight ends
for the Packer and it's his birthday today, guys, how
sad is that it's his birthday and just matt Lefloor
said it, like we saw what he did against the
Steelers last week. He was like, we have to continue
to make this passing game go through Tucker Craft. He
(02:15):
called him a man possessed, said that he is somebody
that they need to get involved in the passing game.
And then this happens, and I mean, Luke Musgrave is
going to have to step up big for this team
if they want to continue on this stretch. I mean
they still are five two and one, so they still
are in a good place, but just totally change the game.
(02:36):
Rareshan Gary talked in the locker room. It was kind
of funny. He was asked what goes through your mind
when you see Tucker Craft go down? And he was
like a big f bomb. So, I mean it's serious,
like you don't ever want to see anyone on the
team get hurt. But the way guys were talking about
how hard he works. Twenty four years old, he's already
a team captain. Like there's just so much we could
(02:57):
say about Tucker Craft and totally changes theynamic of this
Packers team now with him out for the season.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Yeah, so you're right. I mean, that's that's certainly something
that hurts. On the other side of it, the Panthers
have been a little bit of a curiosity. It's like
they started the season a little slow. Chewba Hubbard gets hurt.
You know, we're sort of wondering, you know, sort of wondering, like,
all right, it's Bryce Young really going to be the guy,
and like this defense is supposed to be better, Like are.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
They actually better?
Speaker 3 (03:25):
And they've really been impressive, Like they're physical on both
sides of the ball, they are tough, they run the
heck out of the ball. Bryce Young has been good enough,
I would say good enough. Definitely has his moments. You
saw the Panthers up close and you talk to a
ton of people. What sort of reaction did you have
about the staying power of the Carolina Panthers.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Yeah, it's interesting. I don't think anyone expected this when
you just get beat what forty to nine by the
Bills a week ago. Of course Andy Dalden was in
that game playing with a thumb injury. But Bryce Young
is really impressed a lot of people. And I don't
think we're talking enough about Rico Daubtele. They made that
switch this week with making him the running back number one.
(04:08):
I know that they were kind of rotating between him
and Cuba, and when Cuba was out during I think
weeks five and six, Rico had the number one reps
and was phenomenal, and he just he took over as
that number one running back with both of them active
yesterday and went off. And he has been an incredible
addition to this team this season. And I interviewed him
postgame and asked him, like, what do you think you
(04:31):
showed in that position as the number one guy, and
he's like, look, I've always been the number one guy,
but like I never had that opportunity. He obviously was
in Dallas and played behind some great running backs. I
also talked with Quay Walker Packers player this week and
he said that, you know, Rico has always been that guy,
(04:51):
like people have known it in the league. He just
needed an opportunity and now he has that opportunity in Carolina.
And how fun is it to see this Panthers team.
I still think about and I know you guys had
to have seen it the Panthers podcast that like quit
in the beginning of the season because they were too bad.
Thinking about that right, like, did they come back at
this point? No?
Speaker 3 (05:11):
No, no, no no.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
I mean it's like those people like.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
There's when Fireman Ed said he wasn't going to be
a Jets fan anymore. Yeah, it's like it's a bunch
of nonsense.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
Right, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
I mean it's like if you're one of those weird
Twitter accounts, you deactivate your account and then just kind
of pop back up, like they'll be lame.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
You know when we were bad.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
Stay out of here, Yeah, get out of here.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
A lot of people are impressed. The one thing that
my friend who actually covered the Packers for a long
time now she's with the Panthers. She was like, I
didn't want to say this out loud because people would
have told me I was crazy, But I kind of
saw this coming. I think she was the only person
who did. Because the one flaw of this Packers team
you can run the ball against them.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Yeah, there's no doubt I was. It was a wild
day clearly in the NFC North, because you had that
shootout win for the Bears over the Bank, you had
the Packers losing to the Panthers, and then you had
the game I was at, which was Vikings and Lions
and as much as I have tried to be the
voice of reason, and I have tried really hard at
this for months, months about JJ McCarthy and the reality
(06:17):
that this guy has started two NFL games and we
don't know what he is, and I know how they
feel about him internally. Even pregame, everyone's like, we'll see
he He hasn't had a ton of reps JJ McCarthy.
He didn't have to throw for a lot. I think
he there were one hundred and forty three yards in
the game. But the degree of difficulty on the half
dozen of above the line throws that he was asked
(06:38):
to make it was so impressive. Third down late in
the game and they're trying to kill clocks. Some teams
would have just run. It made the lioness Burg the
last month they put it in his hands to throw
the ball to Jalen Naylor. You know that he had
a big play with his legs as well. The one
that I point to in the early going was the
first touchdown, which was after the lines, by the way,
went right down the field. The stadium is rock and
(07:00):
you're like, oh, this is gonna be Lions are going
to roll. The Vikings lead to drive. JJ McCarthy hits
Justin Jefferson, who hadn't scored a touchdown in six games,
tying the longest streak of his career. And when I
saw it and I went up to Justin after the
game and I asked him about this, I'm like, dude,
that's a run play, right, He's like, yeah, man, so
it's a run play. Okay, they're in the red zone
(07:20):
inside the five yard line. But they had worked on
the week that hey, if Justin gets pressed on the outside,
give him a shot to make the play. There are
a lot of young quarterbacks that would have just been like, gosh,
we gotta just hand it off, Like, let's just play
it safe. JJ steps back one step. Everybody's run blocking.
Aaron Jones is coming forward like he's gonna get the handoff.
JJ one step rips it to Justin Jefferson who makes
(07:42):
an unbelievable catch Like that is. I said that to
JJ after the game, like that took some bleeping bleeps,
if you know what I mean, like to make that throw.
It was a really big It was a really big moment.
And I think that you know, Bridget as we talk
about and you've covered plenty of young quarterbacks three your
time as well. It's just another example that everybody needs
to pause, take a deep breath, and know that what
(08:06):
you're seeing from one game to the next, one week
to the other, it might not be the real Dude.
If you feel like you've got the guy, continue to
go out there and give him opportunities, which JJ took
advantage of yesterday. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
I mean we even see that with the Packers too,
Like how many people when they went and got Jordan
Love and we're done with Aaron Rodgers were like, this
is such a silly mistake. They should have gotten him
a receiver, Like he's not the guy whatever, Like just
everybody calmed down. I think the Panthers and David Tepper
also like are learning that too, that so often these
(08:38):
teams want immediate results. And a lot of these owners,
right like come from a business world where, like you
see immediate results.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
It's not always that, right Soluly reverse course immediately in
his world.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Yeah, and you're not always going to see that in
the NFL. And if you make these rash decisions and
we're seeing it, you know today with trade deadline tomorrow,
sometimes it doesn't work out like just staying pay and
like letting things play out. A lot of these teams
can benefit from from watching what the Viking J McCarthey
are doing. I wanted to bring up, guys, if we
(09:09):
have have time real quick. I was interested, and I
know a lot of Packers fans are wondering as well,
just because I was at that game. Like now, with
Tucker Craft out for the season with the ACL, are
you hearing anything about potential like additions at tight end
or anything that they could make real quick one?
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Uh, I would imagine that we'll look at it. They
don't have a ton of picks because they use a
lot of it in the micro Parson's trade. Yeah, but
I want to bring up something really important before we
say goodbye to your Bridget. According to the Awful Announcing
Tweet Carolina Panthers podcast, meow mix versus direction and we'll
(09:45):
return after.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
For something mix come on inviction in your life, Bridget,
thank you very much to talk to you, against you,
Thank you guys or from the insiders. After that, Yes,
(10:14):
let's welcome our Steve Whites back into the conversation. Uh, Steve,
out there in LA we are witnessing a RAMS team
that had all kinds of Matthew Stafford related drama through
the course of the off season. There were trade talks,
there were conversations about potentially moving on. He then doesn't
(10:35):
practice all of training camp because of a back injury.
There are literal conspiracy theories that he's dead and been
replaced by a body double, which if that's the case,
I enjoyed those robo Matthew Stafford is playing at a
pretty high level, and even when they beat up on
a team that's got as many problems as the Saints,
it is still amazing to watch what he's doing at
this stage in his career.
Speaker 5 (10:56):
And Tom, you nailed it because you know, even when
he wasn't going through everything he went through this offseason,
there were some dips, Right, he was a little inconsistent.
He'd rock and roll and he'd have a lull, then
he'd come back and finished strong. Right, he has been
consistently really good. Like you said yesterday, took a part
a Saints team that's easy to take apart. They did
(11:16):
what they were supposed to do. But he gets Pooka
Nakua back. Now Pooka gets a chest injury. Little you know,
a little concerning there. But Sean McVay said this morning,
they think he's gonna get a scan and he's gonna
be okay. But DeVante Adams shows up, Tyler Higbee, the
running game gets going, so that part's good.
Speaker 4 (11:32):
The defense is really good.
Speaker 5 (11:34):
But Stafford, I mean, he's played like a top five
quarterback all see.
Speaker 4 (11:37):
If we haven't talked about him, because that's nothing new.
Speaker 5 (11:39):
We're talking about Drake May, we're talking about other players
well deserved, but Stafford.
Speaker 4 (11:43):
Has just been as consistent as we've seen him in years.
Speaker 5 (11:47):
Because, like I said, normally there's some type of dip,
but this offense is really showing something because of Matthew Stafford.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
You know, we spent a lot of time earlier in
the show talking about, you know how Seattle has kind
of transitioned from you know, Russ to Gino eventually and
now to Sam Darnold. You know, the Rams obviously had
a good team where they had Matthew Stafford, won the
Super Bowl and all that, but like then they transitioned
away from a ton of older, pricey players and just
(12:15):
invested in a ton of like mid round draft picks,
and it is, you know, similar but in a little
bit of a different way than the Seahawks. They have
transitioned to drafting really well and all of those young
guys playing really well, and they are suddenly like looking
like a a juggernaut. You know, it is it is
fascinating to see how they have been, how good they've been,
(12:39):
and how they've kept it rolling. I mean, the people
who saw Matthew Stafford at camp, you know, we're like, hey,
you know, it looks kind of old, looks walking around,
hasn't thrown much like he is throwing as good as
it gets. And this is Yeah, this is a team
that I think is going to be down, be there
for the long haul.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
It's it is amazing. And Steve, I'm curious for your
thoughts on this, but if you look right now at
the NFC standings, there are a total of nine teams
that have either five or six wins. Nobody's got seven
or eight. Everybody has at least two losses. But right now,
even the Bears, who are on a five game winning streak,
(13:16):
would not be in the playoffs. The Lions would be
the seven seed at this point.
Speaker 4 (13:23):
Crazy. Uh, there's if you're looking.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
At this, Steve, right now, and again, the other teams
that would be in Philly at six and two, Tampa
at six and two, Seattle six and two, Green Bay
five to two and one, Rams six and two, than
the forty nine ers A Lions. Who is the favorite
in your mind right now, Steve in the NFC.
Speaker 5 (13:40):
Well, to me, it's Seattle just because not only are
they a really good team, but they're an a sending
team right They're still they're still figuring some things out,
and they're probably the most consistently physical on both sides.
But they showed on that defensive front last night was
absolutely frightening. Leonard Williams of what they did was absolutely frightening.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
And we know the defense for that's a former deadline
acquisition right there.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
Good point, good point right there.
Speaker 5 (14:03):
And so you're you're seeing, you know them kind of
kind of surfaced look like give it a DK metcalf
JSN looks absolutely you know, amazing and ian to your point.
When you think about the Rams though, besides replacing guys
like Aaron Donalds, some older players with younger players, look
how many coaches and that decludes the position coaches they've
had to replenish. So that talks about what Sean McVay
and the Rams are doing. And here's the other thing, guys,
(14:25):
when you look at those teams time the seven guys,
the seven teams are in a playoff position right now
in the NFC. I don't see another team and that
back part of the schedule that's going to rise up
and get in there. You know, injuries and everything can
can unsettle them. But there's really no team that you're like, Okay,
the Falcons are lurking, or the Cardinals are lurking. You know,
(14:46):
maybe the Bears, but there's just really no team you're
looking about.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
The forty nine ers, Steve. You spend a decent amount
of time around them. They get another win yesterday against
the Giants, team that also has its share of injury
issues and whatnot. The forty nine ers right now are
and just double checking their record so I get this correct.
They are six and three, crazy, had their starting quarterback
for two games. They're playing with wide receivers predominantly that
(15:11):
they picked up off the street, you know, through the
course of training camp. Defensively, they don't have a former
Defensive Player of the Year in Nick Bosa, that they
don't have an all Pro linebacker in Fred Warner, all,
which is a credit to the coaching staff. But that's
the one that I do look at Steven just say,
how long exactly can they duct tape this thing together
(15:33):
and keep winning games?
Speaker 5 (15:35):
Well, I mean, this is a thing though they'll they'll
find a way because I think more the bigger potential
trip up is if they transition back to Brock Party.
I like, how is that going to handle? And you
know that's going to happen. That's the guy they paid,
That's the guy that you know. Kyle's not shy about
putting Brock Quarty back and Rock Party is the head
of a player.
Speaker 4 (15:52):
But they have something going there. I look.
Speaker 5 (15:56):
I think next week against the Rams, that's a big
game because they can down here on a Thursday night
as beat up as they have been all season, and.
Speaker 4 (16:05):
Christian mac Jones threw for like three hundred and fifty yards.
Speaker 5 (16:08):
Kendrick Dard goes off in that game, but they forced
a couple of key turned and that's the things that
they're doing. The balls bouncing their way a little bit,
So we'll see how long they can last. I think
the Rams and the Seahawks are the two best teams
in division, but at the forty nine Ers end up
sweeping the Rams and getting that kind of head to
head tiebreaker, that's another thing that can catapult them. That's
(16:31):
why this game next week between these two is significant.
I'll tell you what's going to be interesting slash nightmare
for everyone involved. It's like, you know, Matt Jones has
played great, and I think the team around him has.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
Really been great. But this is Rock Pritty's team. He
is the franchise quarterback. He's got the big contract, and
besides the contract, he has also just earned the right
to be the starting quarterback. If he comes in here
and the team does not do as well, it is
going to be full awkward. And I don't know that
anybody wants that. I mean, surely the forty nine ers
(17:03):
don't want that, but it is going to be full
awkward and nightmare for all involved if that is in
fact the case. And you know, for for Brock to
be you know, without a ton of practice, without full
practice coming in hit the ground running, we're also probably
still being limited by a towing dry. It's an uphill
battle anyway. That's certainly a situation.
Speaker 5 (17:23):
He's done it before, he did his rookie year, and
he did it coming off the elbow, so I don't doubt.
Speaker 4 (17:27):
I don't rock perty at all.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
All Right, Steve, real quick, we have about two minutes
left in show here, and at the risk of people
who are catching this on the NFL channel several hours
after we tape and knowing how fluid things are, give
me one trade that you want to see between now
and the four pm Eastern deadline on Tuesday.
Speaker 5 (17:48):
Boy, I want to see the Niners trade for anti linebacker,
even though they're getting some some play right there. This
is kind of going to your point and looking at
some teams yesterday. I mean there's there's there's a couple
guys out there. I'm blanking because I was thinking about
it yesterday watching some games. But there's some inside linebackers.
(18:10):
I think that could fit into the scheme with Roberts Oh,
Quincy Williams.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
That's what I'm thinking.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Would Thinksy Williams would make a lot of If he's.
Speaker 5 (18:15):
Available, I think go get him. Robert Sala knows him.
He's excelled under Sala. I think that's the player I'd
like to see, you know, make a move him. Logan
Wilson both to makes sense for the forty nine ers yep.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Eating any final trade deadline thoughts before we go.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
We got about twenty four hours to go. I don't
know how many trades will get My guess is a
couple before the deadline. But when trying to figure out
whether there were a lot of trades before the trade deadline,
take into account all the trades, not just the ones
that were done over the last two days, because there
have been more than enough.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
And I would also say when people are wondering why
have there not been more? Obviously, we saw the Jalen
Phillips trade after the Eagles earlier today. That was the
trade we've had in several weeks that wasn't a late
round pick swap, some type of a salary dun for
a player who had no future. Part of that is
just in talking to people around lead, the prices on
some of these trades are just too high. You're talking about,
(19:13):
you know, getting a number two receiver for a third
round pick. That's just not something the teams have a
great appetite for. However, after the Sunday games. Also, by
the way, the trades we saw over the weekend all
involved teams that weren't playing this weekend. So now everybody's
coming back, they're evaluating their medical situation. Let's see what
these final twenty four hours or so bring, whether potentially
(19:35):
either the prices on some of those guys that are
available or the offers begin to change. That's how you're
gonna move things forward here. And also some teams facing
hard reality, whether because of injuries or just the way
the standings look. Some of those teams that were clinging
to hope that they were still in it may have
realized yesterday they are definitively not in it. Does that
(19:58):
change philosophically how they're going to approach things with the
latest trade deadline that we have had. Steve, thank you
very much. We will look forward to chatting with you soon.
Another reminder, Trade Deadline Special four pm Eastern Time on
Tuesday live on NFL Network and NFL Plus. That is
(20:18):
in addition to the seven pm Eastern time regular episode
of The Insiders airing also on NFL Network and NFL
Plus on Tuesday night. So much action or maybe none
to come. The only way you find out is if
you tune in with us. We appreciate everybody, whether you
are finding us on the NFL channel on fast streaming platforms,
(20:40):
on YouTube, on the podcast on NFL Network, across all
those digital platforms. Subscribe, keep coming back, watch and listen.
We appreciate all of you, as always for Steve Wiites
and Ian Rappaport, I am Tom Pelison zero, signing off
(21:01):
from this episode of The Insider Seeing Them Up.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
H
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