September 7, 2024 • 8 mins
The NFL season is underway, with a solid opening for the returning champions.
The Kansas City Chiefs have edged the visiting Baltimore Ravens 27-20.
Fox Sports commentator Ben Maller joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to discuss.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine
from US Talks ed B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Now going toward the gridiron. That's where the n if
LA's played. It's back for another big seasons.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
First four Yama right to make the match.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
It happened, So time wait to be down?
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Yes, touchdown, I say.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Runners two head out of bounds. It's an interpree pa.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
The game is over.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Kanasas City is live two forty three. It's first out
game Kansas City. With the victory there. Now we go
to old mate Ben Malla, A big hello to you, sir,
out of the USA, out of Fox Sport USA. He's
the man who runs it. Do you or not? And
you get a how are you?
Speaker 3 (00:58):
Hey? Hey Darthy, I've been there long enough. I should
run that place. I've been there since the beginning, so
they should hire you should pay me more money. But
it's great to be on with the RCY. I always
look forward to it.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
And it's the start of the season to be jolly
because this is it for American sports fans. And I mean,
you had your Olympic games, you got well cots, blind
blade blade, this is what everybody looks forward to. You
this is it for American sport. What a white to
start the season.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Huh yeah, Hey, Darcy, this is the one sport that
unites everybody. It's not regimented, and everyone's into the NFL here,
so we we are fired up. It's been a soft
launch so far. There've been a couple of games played.
We've already had one dramatic finish between the Chiefs, the
defending champions, and the Baltimore Ravens. The receiver, the tight
(01:44):
end for the Ravens, couldn't get his feet in bounds.
He had the feet were just out of bounds in
the in line, and so Baltimore lost that game to
Kansas City. And we've had our first injury, our first
big injury, only two games into the year, Darcy. The
Green Bay Packers lost to the Eagles a game played
in Brazil, amongst some controversy there in Brazil, and the
(02:06):
the quarterback for the Packers, just before the end of
the game, Jordan Love, he injured his knee and he's
gonna be out for the next at least three weeks,
probably longer than that. So the Packers, the Green Bay
Packers are in a tough spot and so that's how
it begins. Two games in, one dramatic finish and one
big injury.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Let's talk favorites right across both divisions of the AFC
and the NFC. Wait does that sit. You got a
defending champion and I'm gonna start calling them, much to
the chagrin of everybody. And we'll talk about this as well.
They are now going to be called the Kansas City Swifts.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Yeah, yeah, pretty much. Right, it's all about Taylor Swift's
she's all over the marketing. Well, you got to start
with that. We have not seen the Super Bowl's been
around Darcy since the nineteen sixties and we've never seen
a team win three in a row. And the Chiefs
are the favorite with Patrick Mahomes and Taylor Swift to
win their third straight championship this year. So we'll start
(03:08):
with that. Kansas City the boring pick because you like
to pick somebody new, but they're the top team. They've
improved from last year, even though they won the championship
last year. And then on the other side of the conference,
you've got the forty nine ers who were in the
Super Bowl last year, the Detroit Lions, the Rams are
also there. They lost Aaron Donald. They're a great defensive player.
(03:31):
But as far as the Chiefs and Taylor Swift and
Patrick Mahomes and all that, that's where the competition is.
In that side of the NFL bracket. You've got teams
like Baltimore, who took Kansas City down to the very end.
They're in the mix. And then you look around some
of the other teams that are pretty good this year.
Cincinnati's got their quarterback back, Joe Burrow. He's there. The
(03:52):
Houston Texans were a surprise team last year. They have
a good young quarterback named CJ. Stroud, so they're getting
a lot of attention, a lot of hype for Houston.
So there's about five or six teams that are all
at the very top in the NFL, and then you've
got a bunch of middle middleweight contenders I call the
mid contenders. Jim Harbaugh, who was a good coach back
(04:15):
in the day for the forty nine ers, he's back
with the Chargers in LA where I'm based, and so
he's back Darcy and his brother's coaching the Ravens, so
they're back together in the NFL. So there's some of
the teams to keep an eye.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
On aside the teams, Bean Mal, what about players to
look out for, players that have popped through that maybe
made a bit of a got a bit of traction
last season, that are looking forward to doing something more
as freshman, or some rookies who do you like to
look off?
Speaker 3 (04:44):
Yeah, so the shiny new object, Darcy, There's a couple
of new quarterbacks that have everyone yappened though. The big
one is the Chicago Bears quarterback. They had the number
one pick Caleb Williams, who was a decorated college football player,
and the Chicago Bears getting a lot of attention. They're
actually a four point favorite over the Tennessee football team
they play tomorrow. Here's an amazing back to Derry, Darcy.
(05:07):
This is gonna surprise you. So if you go back
in the history of the NFL, Caleb Williams as a
rookie favored by four points in his debut, there has
not been a quarterback favored by that many or more
points since Terry Bradshaw over fifty years ago in nineteen
seventy when he made his debut for the Pittsburgh Steelers,
who had had a great defense at that time. So
(05:30):
is a lot of hype around Cable Williams, who was
the number one pick, but there's several other rookie quarterbacks,
including Jaden Daniels, who was also a guy that won
a Heisman, the top award in college football. He's with
the Washington football team now near the Capitol here of
America at Washington DC, and he's getting a lot of attention.
(05:51):
And I also mentioned CJ. Stroud. He's a sophomore second
year player for the Houston Texans and he had one
of the great rookie seasons. This guy was absolutely monster
mashing for Tennessee last year, or for the Texans rather Houston.
So he's back this year and he's getting a lot
of attention. So those are the three young quarterbacks that
(06:12):
are getting the most buzz as we head into the year.
And there's also some quarterbacks that change teams like Kirk
Cousins who had been a very good player when he
was playing in Minnesota, a good regular season player. He's
now on the Atlanta Falcons, so they're expected to be
better this year. And the Pittsburgh Steelers have two new quarterbacks.
(06:33):
They got Russell Wilson, who was supposed to start from
the old Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl,
and Russell Wilson's injured, so he's not gonna start. And
Justin Fields, who was with the Chicago Bears last year,
he's gonna start now for the Atlanta or for the
Steelers against the Falcons in that game that'll be played tomorrow.
(06:54):
So there's a lot of musical chairs that happen every year.
There's a bunch of coaches that have changed as well.
So it's it's a new beginning in the NFL, and
we're excited because it's to go all the way till
in February when they played the Super Bowl.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Years ago, when we first outed broadcasting to get it,
I mean years ago. We're talking decades now. I think
I said I wanted to follow a team, and you
said you need to follow this train, Rake, and you
gave me the Jacksonville Jaguars. Have they got any chance?
Speaker 3 (07:24):
Well, they're not as bad as they were back then. Yeah,
that was a long time ago, Darcy. They were. They
were an embarrassment. They were a laughing stock, just an
absolute outhouse of a football team. So they were embarrassing,
but they're now. They were supposed to be good last
year and they disappointed this year. They're kind of a
middleweight contender. They have talent. They paid their quarterback, mister Lawrence,
(07:49):
a ton of money and he did not have a
great year. Least, it's kind of bizarre they gave him
so much money considering that he did not live up
to the hype. But they're not the worst, and they're
not at the top. They're somewhere in the middle. But
at least that's better than they were when we started
talking all those years back, Darcy, and they you had
to wear a bag over your head because they were
so bad.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
And I knew that, and I keept on following them
through the great Blake Borthel's era wasn't very good, but
at least they won some games under and right, Ben,
great to get this up again. We've got to do
it again soon, mate. You look after yourself, go well,
and next time we talk, you can give me a
scorecard on the jockocracy that's still raining. Thanks for your time,
(08:31):
my friend. All right, Thanks, Darcy, No, I think you
love my friend. Ben Mallard has been a long time.
Great to be on with you again, Dorothy, Are you
that noise I've always got in my head.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news talks it'd be weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine
from US Talks ed B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Now going toward the gridiron. That's where the n if
LA's played. It's back for another big seasons.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
First four Yama right to make the match.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
It happened, So time wait to be down?
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Yes, touchdown, I say.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Runners two head out of bounds. It's an interpree pa.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
The game is over.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Kanasas City is live two forty three. It's first out
game Kansas City. With the victory there. Now we go
to old mate Ben Malla, A big hello to you, sir,
out of the USA, out of Fox Sport USA. He's
the man who runs it. Do you or not? And
you get a how are you?
Speaker 3 (00:58):
Hey? Hey Darthy, I've been there long enough. I should
run that place. I've been there since the beginning, so
they should hire you should pay me more money. But
it's great to be on with the RCY. I always
look forward to it.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
And it's the start of the season to be jolly
because this is it for American sports fans. And I mean,
you had your Olympic games, you got well cots, blind
blade blade, this is what everybody looks forward to. You
this is it for American sport. What a white to
start the season.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Huh yeah, Hey, Darcy, this is the one sport that
unites everybody. It's not regimented, and everyone's into the NFL here,
so we we are fired up. It's been a soft
launch so far. There've been a couple of games played.
We've already had one dramatic finish between the Chiefs, the
defending champions, and the Baltimore Ravens. The receiver, the tight
(01:44):
end for the Ravens, couldn't get his feet in bounds.
He had the feet were just out of bounds in
the in line, and so Baltimore lost that game to
Kansas City. And we've had our first injury, our first
big injury, only two games into the year, Darcy. The
Green Bay Packers lost to the Eagles a game played
in Brazil, amongst some controversy there in Brazil, and the
(02:06):
the quarterback for the Packers, just before the end of
the game, Jordan Love, he injured his knee and he's
gonna be out for the next at least three weeks,
probably longer than that. So the Packers, the Green Bay
Packers are in a tough spot and so that's how
it begins. Two games in, one dramatic finish and one
big injury.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Let's talk favorites right across both divisions of the AFC
and the NFC. Wait does that sit. You got a
defending champion and I'm gonna start calling them, much to
the chagrin of everybody. And we'll talk about this as well.
They are now going to be called the Kansas City Swifts.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Yeah, yeah, pretty much. Right, it's all about Taylor Swift's
she's all over the marketing. Well, you got to start
with that. We have not seen the Super Bowl's been
around Darcy since the nineteen sixties and we've never seen
a team win three in a row. And the Chiefs
are the favorite with Patrick Mahomes and Taylor Swift to
win their third straight championship this year. So we'll start
(03:08):
with that. Kansas City the boring pick because you like
to pick somebody new, but they're the top team. They've
improved from last year, even though they won the championship
last year. And then on the other side of the conference,
you've got the forty nine ers who were in the
Super Bowl last year, the Detroit Lions, the Rams are
also there. They lost Aaron Donald. They're a great defensive player.
(03:31):
But as far as the Chiefs and Taylor Swift and
Patrick Mahomes and all that, that's where the competition is.
In that side of the NFL bracket. You've got teams
like Baltimore, who took Kansas City down to the very end.
They're in the mix. And then you look around some
of the other teams that are pretty good this year.
Cincinnati's got their quarterback back, Joe Burrow. He's there. The
(03:52):
Houston Texans were a surprise team last year. They have
a good young quarterback named CJ. Stroud, so they're getting
a lot of attention, a lot of hype for Houston.
So there's about five or six teams that are all
at the very top in the NFL, and then you've
got a bunch of middle middleweight contenders I call the
mid contenders. Jim Harbaugh, who was a good coach back
(04:15):
in the day for the forty nine ers, he's back
with the Chargers in LA where I'm based, and so
he's back Darcy and his brother's coaching the Ravens, so
they're back together in the NFL. So there's some of
the teams to keep an eye.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
On aside the teams, Bean Mal, what about players to
look out for, players that have popped through that maybe
made a bit of a got a bit of traction
last season, that are looking forward to doing something more
as freshman, or some rookies who do you like to
look off?
Speaker 3 (04:44):
Yeah, so the shiny new object, Darcy, There's a couple
of new quarterbacks that have everyone yappened though. The big
one is the Chicago Bears quarterback. They had the number
one pick Caleb Williams, who was a decorated college football player,
and the Chicago Bears getting a lot of attention. They're
actually a four point favorite over the Tennessee football team
they play tomorrow. Here's an amazing back to Derry, Darcy.
(05:07):
This is gonna surprise you. So if you go back
in the history of the NFL, Caleb Williams as a
rookie favored by four points in his debut, there has
not been a quarterback favored by that many or more
points since Terry Bradshaw over fifty years ago in nineteen
seventy when he made his debut for the Pittsburgh Steelers,
who had had a great defense at that time. So
(05:30):
is a lot of hype around Cable Williams, who was
the number one pick, but there's several other rookie quarterbacks,
including Jaden Daniels, who was also a guy that won
a Heisman, the top award in college football. He's with
the Washington football team now near the Capitol here of
America at Washington DC, and he's getting a lot of attention.
(05:51):
And I also mentioned CJ. Stroud. He's a sophomore second
year player for the Houston Texans and he had one
of the great rookie seasons. This guy was absolutely monster
mashing for Tennessee last year, or for the Texans rather Houston.
So he's back this year and he's getting a lot
of attention. So those are the three young quarterbacks that
(06:12):
are getting the most buzz as we head into the year.
And there's also some quarterbacks that change teams like Kirk
Cousins who had been a very good player when he
was playing in Minnesota, a good regular season player. He's
now on the Atlanta Falcons, so they're expected to be
better this year. And the Pittsburgh Steelers have two new quarterbacks.
(06:33):
They got Russell Wilson, who was supposed to start from
the old Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl,
and Russell Wilson's injured, so he's not gonna start. And
Justin Fields, who was with the Chicago Bears last year,
he's gonna start now for the Atlanta or for the
Steelers against the Falcons in that game that'll be played tomorrow.
(06:54):
So there's a lot of musical chairs that happen every year.
There's a bunch of coaches that have changed as well.
So it's it's a new beginning in the NFL, and
we're excited because it's to go all the way till
in February when they played the Super Bowl.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Years ago, when we first outed broadcasting to get it,
I mean years ago. We're talking decades now. I think
I said I wanted to follow a team, and you
said you need to follow this train, Rake, and you
gave me the Jacksonville Jaguars. Have they got any chance?
Speaker 3 (07:24):
Well, they're not as bad as they were back then. Yeah,
that was a long time ago, Darcy. They were. They
were an embarrassment. They were a laughing stock, just an
absolute outhouse of a football team. So they were embarrassing,
but they're now. They were supposed to be good last
year and they disappointed this year. They're kind of a
middleweight contender. They have talent. They paid their quarterback, mister Lawrence,
(07:49):
a ton of money and he did not have a
great year. Least, it's kind of bizarre they gave him
so much money considering that he did not live up
to the hype. But they're not the worst, and they're
not at the top. They're somewhere in the middle. But
at least that's better than they were when we started
talking all those years back, Darcy, and they you had
to wear a bag over your head because they were
so bad.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
And I knew that, and I keept on following them
through the great Blake Borthel's era wasn't very good, but
at least they won some games under and right, Ben,
great to get this up again. We've got to do
it again soon, mate. You look after yourself, go well,
and next time we talk, you can give me a
scorecard on the jockocracy that's still raining. Thanks for your time,
(08:31):
my friend. All right, Thanks, Darcy, No, I think you
love my friend. Ben Mallard has been a long time.
Great to be on with you again, Dorothy, Are you
that noise I've always got in my head.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news talks it'd be weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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