Week 1 Preview

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:38):
Hello, and welcome back to another episode of the On
the Sideline podcast of Jackson and Kyle. I am Jackson
and I'm joined here as always by the man who
was the reigning champion, Kyle. Kyle, how's it going doing great?

Speaker 2 (00:53):
Ready to ready to repeat? Now, that's the most important
thing is once you win, you gotta win again. That's
the most important championship is the next one. That's what
the great Tom Brady would say.

Speaker 1 (01:04):
That's true, Kyle. Yeah, you already look at you already,
You're already talking dynasty. It's like the I don't know,
like the Seahawks after one. It's like, how about how
make him?

Speaker 2 (01:10):
We get Yeah, I'm always looking ahead, man, you know,
not two, not three, not four, not five, not six,
not seven, not eight. Here we go, let's do it.

Speaker 1 (01:21):
I'll do Kyle. Ready for nearly a decade of championships? Uh, Kyle,
I am pumped up to be back. We have We
are finally here. We are finally talking NFL football. Here.
It feels like, I mean, did the season's here? Did
tomorrow is a game? We're doing previews like we did it.
We made it through the off season.

Speaker 2 (01:40):
We made it through the off season. Indeed, Week one
is always the toughest week for me because I mean,
obviously you don't we haven't seen these teams on the field, right, Like,
we haven't seen them on the field, So that makes
it always very difficult, and so that's why these picks
are always feels like we get the most points wrong
on Week one. It feels like our locks are always wrong.

(02:04):
But yeah, I'm very excited for it. Excited to see
some live football. I haven't watched a lot of college
this season, so yeah, this is like my first introduction
back into the sport again after a long off season.

Speaker 1 (02:17):
Yeah. I actually caught a decent amount last week. You
didn't miss much, Kyle.

Speaker 2 (02:21):
Yeah, I'm pretty over college football. I'm not gonna lie
and the whole like everything changed, all these teams changing conferences,
and I'm over the realignment stuff. I think it's I
think it all stinks. I think it's rooined the sport.
That's my Okay.

Speaker 1 (02:35):
Well, before we get to down on ourselves, Kyle, I
will say this incredible Week one. We're taking away too
long already because we have so much to get to,
but incredible Week one slate. I mean, there are so
many fantastic games. Of course, the first game will be
the largest spread out of any of them with the
Cowboys Eagles. Unfortunately, let's start there before we get into

(02:57):
any of the games. We have to talk about this.
We have not talked about Michaeh. Parsons. Oh no, the
banter color is off again. I have to fix that.
Why does this happen? Let's see. Okay, I got it back.
Kyle Micah Parsons is now a member of the green
Bay Packers. I believe it or not. I am not as
crazy but trading for a premier edge rusher as it
seems like the general public is. Can I give my

(03:19):
like two minute why I think this is maybe not
a great move for the green Bay Packers before we
get into anything else. Yes, So essentially my logic is like,
without getting too into the weeds, I don't you know,
for paying a edge rusher forty seven million a year,

(03:40):
very rarely gives you the results that you are hoping
for with that kind of you know, money. I think
that for an edge rusher, even an elite edge rusher,
you're talking probably not even getting you a full win
added to your record. I don't think a lot of
people buy into that, but that's tends to be what
ends up happening. And I feel like you're essentially taking

(04:02):
on a not great contract and giving two first round
picks to do it now. Parsons will be cheap this year,
he won't be quite as expensive the next two years,
and that will be really expensive following two years. So
it could still work, but it feels kind of like
an all in push. So I just won't say I don't.
I completely dislike it, but it feels like the packers
are really good, you know, going for it this year,

(04:23):
and I think it'll end up kind of hurting them
in the long run, which maybe okay, but that's how
I viewed this move.

Speaker 2 (04:29):
Yeah, I think there's like we've been on this fan
this this corner. We are both you know, pass rushes,
probably past elite pass rushers are probably a little overrated
in the grand scheme of things. The quarterback is the
most important part. We all know. We have been on
this side. It seems like for the entire time we've
done this podcast, you more so than me. Even I

(04:52):
do think though, that like there is a world where
I could justify trading for trading a big haul and
also paying a guy like Michah Parsons. I think it's
justifiable when you think you can win a Super Bowl,
and I mean clearly the Packers think they can. So
I mean, just like looking at it last for last

(05:13):
season too, like this team was the fourth best defense
by EPA per play. They were the fourth best drop
back EPA per play team, So they had success last
season already in this sort of system, and you're adding
a guy next to Rashaun Garrio, who's maybe the best
peer pass rusher in the league. He's obviously got some
other fault he's up there in the conversation with the

(05:34):
best of the best. But I still think, like I
still have questions if the Packers can win a Super
Bowl because I don't. I don't think I would pick
them right now as my favorite. And so yeah, I
think it's a very interesting dilemma in how you do
this and how you judge that justify it. But it's
clearly they think they're getting a difference maker on their defense,

(05:55):
and I can justify it a little bit. But you know,
like I think there's the there's been a lot talked
about the Cowboys side of it, and you know, I
think starting from the packer's side of it's a little
more interesting because like, yeah, this team thinks they can
win at all, and unfortunately them winning it all, to
me is still comes down to number ten, not number eleven.

(06:17):
On the other side of the ball.

Speaker 1 (06:19):
Number one now is that his number? Now, yeah, he
changed to one, which is it's I don't know why. Yeah,
love them was such a good number for him. Uh yeah,
But you know, I mean, like the thing about the
Cowboys is like, listen, clearly they're just not a good
organization and like they completely screwed up this whole situation.
But I don't think it's the end of the world
to be getting a couple of first round picks and
not paying Maca Parsons this you know, uh big contract again,

(06:41):
it's you're already paying back this big contract that's got
your You're they're not gonna they're not gonna do what
they need to do with this, Like the Cowboys are
not going to succeed with this plan that they have, right,
it doesn't seem like to even have a plan. So ultimately,
I do not trust the Cowboys to win the trade,
just beause they don't trust the Cowboys. But uh, but yeah,
I don't think just in a vacuum, I don't think
it's crazy trade a player who's about to get paid

(07:02):
a ton of money and get a couple first und
picks back. Like the Jalen Ramsey comparison, Jalen Ramsey, if
you adjust for inflation, was still making less than half
of what Michael Parsons is gonna be making. Like that's
that's the difference here.

Speaker 2 (07:15):
Yeah, I agree with that. I think the issue I
have with the Cowboy situation is like, why do they
make this like some big, like grand scheme of things,
like the player is now burning the bridges and causing
like they did this with Dak the year before before
they eventually paid him and CD Lamb and all that
kind of stuff, and like, I don't know, it just
feels like that that was a I just think the

(07:37):
way they've handled these situations obviously leaves a bad taste
and a lot of their fans' mouth and a lot
of other people's mouths as well that I think has
a lot of issues that stem from this to begin with.
And then I just think that I think in a vacuum, yes,
I think justifying paying I think the numbers came out
to like, if you paid Michael Parsons, Dak Prescott, and
Ceedee Lamb, they're like average annual salaries, it comes out

(07:59):
to like fifty two percent of the salary cap or
something like that, Like, yeah, that's that's a lot. Like so, yeah,
I think that is a extreme number, and I can
justify not wanting to do that. Now, the question is,
is Michael Parsons the one you should have, you know,
put your foot in the ground for, or should it
have been one of the other guys like Dak Prescott

(08:20):
for example. I think there's a lot of conversation to
be had about that. But I do think my biggest
return of my biggest issue with the Dallas Cowboys thing is,
like you know, there was there was rumors of getting
you know, potentially a third receiver like a Romeo Dobbs
in this situation, a Lucas van Ness who's imperfect but
like at a decent defensive end, and it said they
get a Kenny Clark who is a thirty year old

(08:42):
defensive tackle, which makes sense they got to fix their
run defense issues, but he's also just hasn't been very
good in the last few years. Like I just feel
like it was the Cowboys move of getting a name
and not actually someone who's gonna make a difference again,
and yeah, I think the Cowboys definitely take a step
back and then are hoping to hit on these picks.

Speaker 1 (09:02):
Yeah, and they're not a team that uses cast backs
too much, so like the extra cast bas might not
help them out with that either. So again, they're a
weird organization. I don't fully get the plan for Dallas,
so I get the well, I will defend the trade
in the vacuum. It's it's weird, Kyle, because I'm always
I always love trading pass rushers. But it's like the
team that I constantly talk about as about dumb organization

(09:22):
is the one who does it. And so now I
feel like what do I do?

Speaker 2 (09:25):
Yeah, And it's just also one of those things where
like this team has been so built on star power
for how many years we say it year after year
on the podcast, you know, that's just kind of how
they've operated. Like how do you we saw this defense
without Parsons last season and you didn't do a whole
lot of difference with this defense as far as names,

(09:48):
and like, like what is the solution? Then? How do
you fix this. And then I think the other aspect
of this is like we say, you know, we don't
value like elite pass rushers like everybody else. We think
a second ars most important. But I also say, in general,
you can't suck in anything. You know, that's the overall goal.
And I mean, this has got to be bottom three

(10:11):
pass rush group in the league. Like I still I
like Kneeland in the draft, but he didn't show Muster's
rookie year. You know, they got Sam Williams, Dante Fowler,
they drafted the Boston College kid. Like, that's a rough situation,
I think, as you're looking at it now without Parsons too.

Speaker 1 (10:28):
It's tough, Kyle. We could probably do a full sixty
minutes on like a Parson, but we're here to talk
week one here. Finally, the off season is over. Of course,
the biggest story of the off season happens like right
before the season starts, so we had to touch on it,
Kyle for the first time. I'm going to give you
a game to kick off the season because you won
the season, so I will give you the first game.

(10:48):
And you know what, let's just stick with this. This
is I think the biggest game of this week perhaps
Lions Packers at Dumbdale game. Let's just jump into it
right off the bat. Who do you got? The the
favored Green Bay Packers two and a half points? Where
are you going?

Speaker 2 (11:04):
Yeah? Very very interesting game. I agree with you. I
do think one of the things that I think is
going to be interesting about this trade is like, I
think everyone knows Parsons is excellent, and they're right, but
I don't think people watch Parsons a lot down to
down and they are gonna see like this, well already

(11:25):
wasn't a good run defense to begin with, and I
think they're gonna see a lot of problems with that
early on, especially as it sounds like he's dealing with
a back injury as it is. So I got the
Lions in this game because I think even with the
depleted offensive line, I think the Lions rushing attack is
going to cause a big problem here. I think Gibbs
could go off for a big game. I think Montgomery

(11:47):
is gonna do his normal touchdown Voultree stuff and just
be involved too. And I think the Lions are gonna
be able to run it down their throat. So give
me the Lions in this game.

Speaker 1 (11:56):
Yeah, I agree, I also had the Lions. I was
kind of hoping you go with the Green Bay Packers, Like,
I mean, we've seen teams run at Micah Parsons as
a way to kind of take him out of the game. Essentially,
you wear him out by running at him, and then
you know that, you know that's that's the way you
can make that work. I don't know. I find this

(12:16):
to be really fascinating because my first reaction was, I
think a lot of our first reactions the wait, the
Packers are favored in this game. All of a sudden,
the Packers I think are favored to win the division
now after the Persons trade, which felt like kind of
an overreaction. I was curious to I asked the community
who they think would win this game? Sixty percent with
us have the Lions. I do think though, that, like

(12:37):
you know, the Lions are a bit of a wildcard here.
The new look offensive line, We'll see how that goes.
Both coordinators are gone, will take time for this to
fully work out. Whereas I guess I kind of view
these teams as pretty similar. I think their defenses on
paper are pretty similar. I think that the supporting cast
is pretty similar. I think, you know, the Packers don't

(12:57):
have an amaras Saint Brown, but they do have a
bit more depth in the weapons room. And then the
Packers tackles aren't quite as good, but the interior is
better offensive line wise. I think just the two biggest
things there are the Packers have, in my opinion of
coaching staff, I just trust a lot more because I've
seen it before. And then the Lions have a much
better quarterback. So I'm like, I'm I'm curious to see

(13:17):
what's gonna win out here.

Speaker 2 (13:19):
Yeah, I think there's a ton of interesting elements to this.
The coordinators is the most fascinating thing. We have to
see how this hums, because like Ben Johnson and Aaron
Glenn were as good as it gets, right, So I
definitely think that's going to be an interesting element to
this game. How the play calling works, how the game
script works. I think one of the things I just
keep coming back to though, is like I'm a little

(13:40):
worried about it, Like do I think that they could
shave off a couple of points off their points per
game and like they're like just overall efficiency EPA without
Ben Johnson, Yes, But I also just in the defense too,
But I also just think there's really good players here.
Like I really do believe like the defense is going
to be better this season than last season, just on paper.

(14:02):
Like granted, you don't know, defense is fluky, but I
think DJ Reid and year two Terry On Arnold can
be a lot better than Carlton Davis in year one
Terry on Arnold. I think that they added to their
defensive line, which they needed, especially in the interior. I
think they got really interesting pieces there. And then the
offense just still has really good players to me, like, yeah,

(14:24):
you know, they still have Alman ros Saint Brown, who's
a star. They still have Jamiir Gibbs, who's the star.
Jared Goff is just as efficient as ever. I think
they have good depth there. People are really excited for
this Tesla, not the car the receiver. You know, we'll
see if he's having an impact in this game or
on this team this season. But yeah, I mean it

(14:45):
is one of those things where you know there is
still so much unknown because there it does feel like
the same Lions team at its core, but there is
still so much new that we have to see the
elements of. So I'm definitely interested to see that. My
biggest thing though, is I'm not sure this green Bay
defensive line, particularly the interior, is built to expose the
weakness of the Detroit interior offensive line, and I think

(15:06):
that's where Detroit's gonna be all right in this game.
Could there be games in the future that I have
issues with. I think we see some weaknesses. Yes, I
don't want to see this team play Philadelphia right away,
but I do think against a team like green Bay,
who is gonna be playing Colby Wooden and Devonte Wide
in the middle, why it's not. He came along a
little bit last season, but I still think that's an

(15:27):
area where I think Detroit's gonna survive.

Speaker 1 (15:31):
Yeah, I think it's interesting. I mean a couple points,
you know, to build off of your Lions defense point.
I think people forget the Lion's defense was good to
start the year last year just got so ravaged by injuries.
I would also say a lot of new parts defensively,
A new coordinator Matt Laflor not who I would want
to go against uh to test this out right away.
He can get people out of position with the best
of them. I just think that this is such a

(15:53):
like from a storyline perspective, It's like the Lions finally
I've taken over to the division now are going to
Lambeau trying to see if they can maintain this stranglehold
orbit a Packers leap frog them once again. Like this
is becoming a really fun rivalry and I'm just I'm
excited for it. This should be a primetime game. I mean,
this is this is good stuff.

Speaker 2 (16:13):
It's great stuff. It's a great you know, this division
always just brings great games. It feels like you know,
and yeah, the I mean, and the other aspect is,
like you said, the Packers fans are over the moon
right now. You know, they are just so excited for
this situation. You know, I had one that one friend
that said that they're winning the Super Bowl now you
know there. I had a fantasy draft yesterday. They got

(16:35):
taken round nine of a fifteen round draft. I thought
that was insane. Wait, the defense did Yes, they think
this defense is gonna be awesome, and so yeah, so yeah,
I which is probably gonna be good. So I'm not
going to justify that it was a top five defense
last year statistically and they had Michael Parsons, but Yeah.

Speaker 1 (16:53):
God, there's still a whole.

Speaker 2 (16:54):
Lot of elements to this. I still don't know. And
like I said, which version of Jordan Love are beginning?
They had a big game Week one last season, granted
that was in Brazil, there was a whole lot of
elements that added to that, but he didn't play well
in that game. So can we get a Jordan Love
that's gonna come out guns firing and get this Packers
offense rolling which is probably gonna be relying a lot

(17:15):
on a rookie receiver and Jayden Reid who's playing through
a foot fracture, which isn't something I love, even though
I love Jaden Reid. So I think there's an interesting
element too, where like there's a lot about this Packers
defense against the new Lions offense, I think the Packers'
offense has a lot of questions still to answer for
me too.

Speaker 1 (17:32):
Yeah, I agree. Let's move on, Kyle. We've got We're
eighteen minutes in this show. We've covered one game, so
we have some some work to do. We're gonna keep
us under an hour. Might might be a little bit
of a longer show. Second game, What are you gonna
give me?

Speaker 2 (17:49):
Yeah, there's a couple very interesting candidates. Obviously, there's another
big marquee game. However, I'm gonna go a different direction
here because I mean, the first element of this is
I don't want to pick it right now because it's
also my team, but it's also two teams that I
was also pretty excited about this off season. I'm both
I'm kind of buying into both of these teams a

(18:11):
little bit. So I'm gonna give you the Raiders Patriots
as my first game because I think I think there's
a version of both of these teams that are pretty good.
And I want to hear your thoughts as a unbiased party.

Speaker 1 (18:24):
Well, when you hear me and Raiders unbiased, there's usually
a word that comes to your mind. Yes, I agree
the I mean I have the Raiders. Give me the
Raiders to win this one. Sorry Kyle, but legitimately, this
was my first game, and I just said, like, we
can't start off the show with Raiders Patriots if all
due respect to that, like, let's let's do let's bump
Lions Packers as the number one here. But uh no,

(18:48):
I mean, you're exactly right. These are two teams that
expect to be better. I know there's a lot of
hype with the Patriots. I just think, like, I mean,
these are two teams with so many moving parts. I
don't know what's gonna happen, but I just kind of
feel like the Raiders that should work sooner. I guess
like I'm ultimately gonna trust how can you pass the
ball down to field? And I feel like the Raiders

(19:09):
philosophy of let's run the ball, let's have play action
over the middle. They played a ton of preseason. They
seem ready, Like I just feel like for Week one,
I'm just leaning that way. I like a lot of
the Patriots things. I think by the end of the year,
I think the Patriots will be very good, or at
least good, but like I think it might just take
a little bit more time.

Speaker 2 (19:30):
I think I agree with that. It's definitely an interesting one.
I think the first element to it is Christian Gonzalez.
I don't think it's gonna play like. I think there's
a low chance he plays, honestly, but we're gonna see
how that plays out. He still hasn't practiced this week.
But as you said, this team's gonna play, run the ball, play,
throw it over the middle, and play action, So maybe
this isn't the one, This isn't necessarily the team. I

(19:52):
think it's gonna expose a Christian Gonzales list Patriots defense
as it is. Plus, I think the Patriots do have
corner depth this year, which hel he along with having
two good starters. So a lot of this game is
going to be coming down to I think a lot
of the new faces of the Patriots defense. We have
the interior, which is now Milton Williams, Kyriees Tonga and

(20:14):
Christian Barmore back and healthy. That's the big element. And
then you got the linebackers here where you're you had
Jilani Tavai and Juwan Bentley for a number of years.
You now bring in Robert Spelane and Christian Ellis, which
is a little more athletic I think in the middle.
But how are they going to cover the middle of
the field against this Raiders group, especially Brock Bowers Jacoby
Myers that can work the middle of the field so well.

(20:36):
And you look at the safeties as well. You know,
Jabirol Peppers got surprisingly cut from this team, which I
thought was really interesting and pretty controversial. Del Pettis did
look really good last season towards the end of the year.
But that's a big ass to come in and replace
gaberl Peppers too. So how is that spine of this
defense going to look at team look against a team

(20:56):
that loves to play the middle of the field. That's
my biggest element for the Patriots and this game. And
then we're gonna get to the offense after that. But
there's a lot of interesting elements to this new local
offense as well.

Speaker 1 (21:06):
Yeah, no, I mean you covered. Uh, I mean, listen,
this is your team. Do what the whole thing is
We try and I try and know more about thirty
one teams, uh than ever than whoever's listening. Obviously, I'm
not gonna know more than you're the team you're a
fan of.

Speaker 2 (21:19):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (21:19):
Yeah, I mean it's you know, that's that's totally good stuff.
I was gonna say. Uh, just one stupid point I
thought of is that these are your two like favorite
quarterbacks in the league.

Speaker 2 (21:33):
I do love Gina Smith and I do love Drake May. Yeah,
I mean I like both of these guys a lot.
So I think Gino's really good. I think he's due
for a big season. I think he's gonna be awesome.
He was running for Like people say offensive lines are
bad and love to blame offensive lines for quarterbacks taking
dumb sacks, Gino Smith was running for his life last year.
That was a really bad offensive line situation. Besides Charles Cross.

(21:55):
Respect to Charles Cross, that was a really bad offensive
line situation. I don't think this is like a Tier
one offensive line for me, but it's much much better
than he's gonna What is in This team has an identity,
it feels like, and they're gonna set Gino up, I
think with a lot of opportunities to have time to throw,
with that play action and with that running game because
Ashton Gens is going to be involved a lot because
they drafted him that high. So I'm really excited for

(22:17):
this Gino Smith season. I think when he has time
to set his feet in the row, he's an excellent quarterback.
And I think that he's gonna have a lot of
opportunities here with Bowers and Myers and Amari Cooper.

Speaker 1 (22:28):
Yeah, this is a really exciting game, Kyle. I am
a little bit concerned for the Patriots as well, of
you have a quarterback with you know, young quarterback in
a second year in a new scheme, first game in
a new scheme, how well does Drake May handle actual Like,
you know, there is hype around us. Last year Drake
May was it was good enough for him to make
some good plays in a game that his team was

(22:49):
absolutely going to lose in. Like now he has to
you know, run the offense and do to little things
and and we'll see how well he handles all that.

Speaker 2 (22:57):
Yeah, it's a big element to this game too. I
think the toughest thing for the pay is, like, I
don't want to write off the team after one week
or anything like that. I trust in Josh McDaniels as
an offensive coordinator just because I have several years of
experience of him being good. That being said, I also
think this is a team that's gonna look much better
towards the end of the season than it is at

(23:17):
the start of the season, as a lot of teams
are in general. But this is a team starting Jared
Wilson at left guard, who's a rookie, Will Campbell at
left tackle who's a rookie. Traveon Henderson and Kyle Williams.
Kyle Williams are both projected to be, you know, play
roles in this offense at the bare minimum, and if anything,
Henderson's going to be a much bigger part of this
offense as well. I still like to Mario Douglas, I

(23:39):
like what I've heard about Stefan Diggs in camp, and
I also think between Diggs and what we saw from
Kaisham Boute towards the end of the season, Like, if
there's one concern I have for this Raiders team, it's
definitely the cornerback room with Eric Stokes and with Darian Porter,
who I liked in the draft, but is a rookie
in a fourth round rookie at that you know, could
they go at those corners a little bit with Boots

(24:01):
who showed really good jobs stretching the field last season
and Diggs can still route run with.

Speaker 1 (24:06):
The best of them. Yeah, I agree that that's how
that has to be the pathway to the Patriots a wedding. Kyle,
let's move on, nless you have any more final thoughts
on the Patriots.

Speaker 2 (24:16):
Uh No, I'm excited, that's all.

Speaker 1 (24:18):
Yeah. That should should be a fun game. I'm gonna
give you a game. Texans at Rams Rams three point favorites.
Where are you going?

Speaker 2 (24:25):
All right? I'm gonna go with the Rams. This just
kind of feels like a vibes thing for me. Honestly,
I like both of these teams. I like both of
these defenses. I think that there is a case that
the Texans defense could overwhelm them. I think this line
should honestly be closer because I think both of these
teams are going to be pretty good defensively. I think
this game is gonna look more like a rock fight

(24:45):
than a football game. And yeah, I think that the
Rams squeak it out because I still trust them in
the fourth quarter if it's a close game, for Matthew
Stafford to go down and get some points, I like
you to look.

Speaker 1 (24:56):
I don't know, there's vibes. It's a good, good, good thing.
I mean, I think this Texan defense is gonna be
really good this year. Stafford is so good at, you know,
beating those types of defense, the beating smart defenses. He
can do that with the best of them. Again, I
don't know how much I'm trusting Week one Stafford here,
like he was he barely practiced with the injury, Like,

(25:17):
what are we expecting from him? I'm gonna go Houston
as my pick. I do think the concern you have
with Houston is will their offensive line get overwhelmed by
this Rams defensive line, which we saw what they were
able to do against Minnesota in that playoff game, Like
even against Philadelphia they held their own. Like that's the
that's the biggest concern that I have. But I feel

(25:38):
like I just I do like what we have with
the Texans right now. Again, I think sometimes with Week one,
I want the stable team, the team that hasn't changed time.
Like I think my whole take on the Rams, They're
gonna win ten games in the regular season and then
be awesome in the playoffs. And I still feel like
the Texans I'm gonna get a slight edge two right now. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (25:56):
They also kind of did the same thing though last year.
I mean they literally won ten games because they have
a division that they feel like they can win pretty easily.
It is going to be interesting, you know, we have
but you know, a couple of elements to this that
are impactful. It feels like is that a We're getting
a healthy Nico Collins this year, and we're getting a
Christian Kirk who feels like you could slide in as

(26:18):
the number two receiver, and there is some aspect of
that that I think is interesting a lot for Texans
fans especially, so you get excited about those elements. You
want to see how this offense looks. Like you said,
the offensive line, they are justifying the Laramie Tunnel trade
that they have built this offensive line through depth rather

(26:38):
than just one superstar talent. I'm still a little skeptical,
but we'll see how it works. But yeah, I think
you could talk yourself into this receiver group. You could
talk yourself into cedag Stroud making the right plays and
then the defense winning the game. Because they still have
Danil Hunter and Will Anderson, which is a high level
edge duo as it is, and they might have the
best young corner duo in the game Kamari Lassiter and

(27:01):
Derek Stingley Junior. So having those two, having those four
players alone is gonna make a defense good. They also
have good players around the field around them too, so
I think there's a good element. I think there's a
good chance that this Texans defense could be one of
the best in the league, if not the best, too,
which would surprise the people.

Speaker 1 (27:17):
I think, yeah, And I think the Nico Collins thing,
I just feel like you know whoever to the Rams
have depth defensively interseecondary, but I don't know if they
have a guy who could really hang with Nico Collins.
I think that that's too much of a might be
too much, but yeah, we'll see. But the Rams have
the vibes, so who could say.

Speaker 2 (27:35):
Kyle, They have the vibes. And I mean I think
the one element to is like both of these corners
are really good, like I just said for the Texans,
but sometimes like with the route running of Nikua and Adams,
like yeah, good corterns also may just not matter, like
they're gonna find their way open. And if like Stafford,
like that's just the thing that scares me the most

(27:56):
is those two are so good at that. And then
Stafford is you know, as long as because he has
his right arm, I still believe he can make the throws.
Is it always consistent? No, But I still believe in Stafford,
and I think he can get it done. With this
team we've had.

Speaker 1 (28:09):
His left arm would probably still be tough. Like taking
the snap, I think you figure it out because like
you have to get the snap, you have to get
like the right hand place. But I think that's like
you maybe you have to have someone like you have
someone else take the snap and then hand it to
Stafford the way he can have his hand right on it.
Maybe that's what you do.

Speaker 2 (28:25):
You were like, you know, maybe the soft prosthetic that
he could just catch the ball with.

Speaker 1 (28:30):
Okay, yeah, I guess. I don't know if that's allwed
or not.

Speaker 2 (28:33):
I don't know. We'd have to get it on then.
I don't know. Okay, Kyle, give me a game, all right,
Let's go to the other marquee game of the week.

Speaker 1 (28:44):
Two of the.

Speaker 2 (28:46):
No. Two of the biggest AFC challengers. Both are trying
to win a super Bowl. Both have a good chance
of winning the Super Bowl. Let's go Ravens at Bills.

Speaker 1 (28:56):
Yeah, totally a coin flip game. I mean these obviously,
the Ravens, I think, you know, they do have just
so much talent around Lamar. I do think they have
a little bit more talent there obviously. You know, with
what Josh Allen the Bills were able to do last year,
the way the offense was able to explode, they pass
protected so effectively. I don't know, Uh, give me the Ravens.

(29:20):
I feel like I'm more of a you know, I
feel like I just like the situation a little bit
more of Baltimore. I was kind of leaning Buffalo because
they're at home, you know, in Buffalo. But I don't
know how much that matters early September compared to later
on as well. So I don't know. Obviously it matters
some because you have the fans, but but yeah, I'll go.
I'll go Baltimore. Total coin Flip game.

Speaker 2 (29:40):
Though, Total coin Flip Game. Indeed, Yeah, I think I agree,
Like I think I've got Ravens too. I think that
they're it's just an interesting team like this Buffalo team.
You know, they were able to just spring Von Miller
on teams at the very right times in games, it
felt like, and capitalized on it. And you know, they

(30:00):
love to sit in their own defense, which is how
you want to play. The Ravens do all that kind
of stuff. I think the defense has a case that
it could get stops. That being said, like what if
it's just not the same without von Miller out there,
and then Lamar Jackson is just able to keep running
and running and do things. I think there is an
element to that in this game that I am worried about.
I do think the Ravens rushing attack is very talented. Obviously,

(30:24):
with him and Derrick Henry, it's probably the best in
the league. And you have all that stuff going for you.
So yeah, I think the Ravens are still the more
talented team top to bottom. But I mean, we expect
this rematch in the playoffs. I want to see both
of these teams. I want to see how they look
weak one. But I'm not gonna draw a lot of
overreactions from this game whatsoever.

Speaker 1 (30:43):
Yeah, I agree, and let's well, if a team blows
out another team, that would be notable. But if, assuming
this is a close game, I'm not going to freak
out over who gets to win. Could be an important
game though. Four seeding here, Again, these are two teams
to have aspirations to be the one seed, so like
this could matter right off the bat for who gets that.
And yeah, I mean you got to bring out the
fact that these two teams just played each other. The

(31:05):
most recent game the Ravens played was losing to the
Bills in the playoffs. You know, the big reason why
the Bills won that game was because they protected the football.
Ravens had two turnovers. Josh Allen didn't have any uh,
or the Ravens had three turnovers because Mark Andrews fumbled
as well, like and then it was the Mark Andrews drop.
It just felt like, if it's the playoffs, I'm not
sure who I'm taken because of how the Ravens have
done in the playoffs in recent years. But week one,

(31:27):
yeah give me Baltimore.

Speaker 2 (31:29):
Yeah, taking away the big picture element because we obviously
view both of these teams as contenders just from the
week one perspective, What do you think is the most
interesting thing you want to see about these two teams
in Week one that may like change your mind or
change your opinions on them going forward? Is it the
secondaries for both teams? Uh?

Speaker 1 (31:50):
I mean uh, like, I don't know if I think
if either like if the Ravens, I mean maybe probably.
I guess I trust the Ravens secondary is going to
be good. I guess, like, I don't think I'd be
surprised if that isn't Buffalo. Yeah, probably, if Buffalo secondary
can really hold up. But again, Baltimore isn't like a
beat you outside type of team too often, so I

(32:10):
doubt we're gonna have too many big takeaways from this
Other than it'll be a fun game to.

Speaker 2 (32:14):
Watch, it is still interesting. You know, they used Bateman
in Flowers a lot more than they've used receivers in
the past. Last year, I think that is an element
to it. I mean, obviously, Maxwell Harriston is on IR
to start the year, so he won't be out there,
so it's gonna be Trey White and maybe they find
another death piece to slot in there if they need it.

(32:34):
So how do they hold up? I think it's still
going to be an element I'm interested in, and I
am still a little interested in this Raiders Raven secondary.
I really think it struggled out of the gate last
year without our Darius Washington and then he got hurt,
so he's out this year. They bring in Malachi Starks
in the draft, who I like. They bring in Jy R. Alexander,

(32:55):
who at his best has played excellently. I like Nate Wagans,
I like Kyle Hamilton, and obviously I like Marlin Humphrey obviously,
but like, how are those new faces going to integrate
with this team? I still think it's a question mark.
I still think it's gonna be something that is we
have to see. We went in doubt. We trust the Ravens,
especially on defense, but that is still something I want

(33:16):
to see in this game, especially against a guy like
Josh Allen because this is their competition right.

Speaker 1 (33:21):
Also, the MVP discussions lasted for forever. I still feel
like I see like things on Twitter getting popped up
of like can you believe Josh Allen want MVP? Still
like you get that kind of storyline as well. Should
be a fun game, Kyle, Let's move on. I'm gonna
give you a game. I'm gonna give you another or
another important game this time because it's a divisional matchup

(33:42):
Niner Seahawks. Where are you going.

Speaker 2 (33:45):
Niner Seahawks? Interesting game? I do think it's pretty interesting
that this line is what it is. You know, I
need to see the forty nine ers, I think first,
But you know, I think I am going to pick
them because I still of the belief that we're going
to see what this Sam Darnold thing looks like behind
this offensive line. You know, there are still a lot

(34:06):
of Seahawks fans really optimistic about this team, and I
don't blame them. This defense has a chance to be very,
very good. They still have a guy in Jackson Smith
and Jig but who I really like. You know, has
it been frustrating at times watching Kenneth Walker be in
and out of the lineup things like that. Sure, But
at the same time, like, I still think he has talent.
There are talented players on the Seahawks offense and a

(34:28):
very good defense, so there's reasons to be optimistic.

Speaker 1 (34:32):
But it just feels like.

Speaker 2 (34:32):
They're running into a more talented version of themselves right now.
And I think that's just the element that I'm looking at.
I think that the forty nine ers have more talent.
I'm excited to see Ricky Pearsall in year two. That's
a guy. People are really excited about McCaffrey healthy. You know,
you'd like Ayyuk out there as well. But there's still
a whole ton of talent on this offense that I
think is going to be able to make it work.

Speaker 1 (34:54):
Yeah, the kind of serfs go A big part of
their issues have at injuries. They're not fully healthy right now,
but they're at least mostly healthy right now, so that
you know, you that certainly should be good. And I
totally agree with you. Again, we talk about all the
moving parts. This is a completely new look Seahawks team,
especially offensively. Their defense is mostly the same, but their
offense all they do have some new pieces there as well.

(35:17):
But every team has some new pieces the offense. Right,
it's like Darnold new system offensive line where we saw
in that in that playoff game with Minnesota last year
where it really kind of struggled once the pressure was
getting there. You have Nick Bosa, who you you'll have
to deal with like that is the concern. So so yeah,

(35:38):
I'm with you. I have San Francisco as well, But
it could be a good game. I could see Seattle
pulling off the home upset.

Speaker 2 (35:45):
Yeah, and as we said, this is an interesting time
to watch the San Francisco defense. I know, Robert Soli
is coming back and people are just saying that's gonna
be okay. But there's a whole lot of new faces
to this defense that we're not used to. There is
still Fred Warner, there is still Nick Bosa, two stars
at their positions when they're hell the Fred Warner's the
first ballot Hall of Famer all that kind of stuff.
But you know, there's a whole lot of faces that

(36:06):
are new in this secondary. There's you know, the faces
next to Fred Warner at linebacker or new. The faces
next to Nick boson the defensive line are new, so
that is all going to be very interesting to me.
I still just wonder how is Seattle's offensive line going
to hold up in this game? And then how is
Darnold going to handle that behind the offensive line that
isn't necessarily ready to hold up all the time. So

(36:28):
I think those are elements that I'm still looking at.
But I think that if forty nine ers are able
to still find pressure, I think they're gonna win the game.

Speaker 1 (36:35):
Yeah, I agree. Let's move on, Kyle, good me.

Speaker 2 (36:40):
Game all right? Rolling right along here? All right, let's
go with I could have listed this a little better.
I think let's go with the Minnesota Vikings at the
Chicago Bears.

Speaker 1 (36:53):
Kyle, we were in lockstep. My list has been exactly
has been unchanged since we've been new in this so
we which is weird. Good. The lines are kind of
all over the place. But but yeah, I'm I'm going Minnesota.
Minnesota's one and a half point favorites. This is the
Monday night game. And again it's kind of similar to
what I'm saying of like, I'm just gonna trust the

(37:15):
stability right now where you have so much, you know,
new faces with the Chicago Bears, new entire, new interior,
new scheme. You know, how is this all going to work? Now?
The Vikings have a new quarterback? So the JJ McCarthy
aspect of this is completely you know, up in the air,
but it's not. Kile Williams was like great last year.

(37:36):
I don't know what to make of either of these
quarterbacks really, so this is the complete Like if you
told me there's one what's the game that you could
see either team winning in a blowout? This is like
the first overall choice.

Speaker 2 (37:50):
Yeah, yeah, I mean there's there isn't a lot of
interesting elements. You know, how is JJ McCarthy gonna hold
up in his first game? Is obviously the biggest one
he steps in here. I still think they made the
right move, not and Sam Donald going with a young quarterback.
I justify it. But still it's a lot of change
to bringing a new quarterback into the system. So I
still think it's going to work out. And I trust

(38:10):
in Kevin O'Connell. I think he's a great head coach.
I think he's a great offensive game planner. I think
that they have a really, really good offensive line that
got better in the offseason. They have Hawkinson, Adam Thielen
who they brought in justin Jefferson should play. Aaron Jones
is still a good running back. You have Jordan Mason
for depth. There is so much talent in this Minnesota team.
I'm still of the belief that a lot of quarterbacks,

(38:32):
good and bad, could step into this situation and survive.
And that is still my justification for this thing. So
I think McCarthy's gonna be okay. But still it's one
of those things you shrug at because like, there is
still a good chance that it goes wrong too, and
this doesn't work out, let me.

Speaker 1 (38:48):
Throw something else at you. So for the longest time,
Jared Goff struggled against Brian Flora's Right now, it's kind
of a thing. It's like Brian Floor just has Jared
Goff's number. All of a sudden, Jered Goff starts to
beat Brian Flores. Is it possible to the Ben Johnson thing,
not to take credit away from Jared goffam sure he
got better at it as well, But is it possible
that Ben Johnson maybe has Brian Floor as his number

(39:09):
and he can figure something out here. Again, these are
it's interesting staying in the division. Uh, these are coach
that know each other well.

Speaker 2 (39:16):
Yeah, I mean, it's definitely possible. Like I'm not putting
in past. I mean, I trust Ben Johnson as an
offensive play caller to match up with almost any defensive
coordinator in the league, right or maybe even out outsmart
a lot of any defensive coordinator in the league. So
I think he it's definitely possible. But still, you know,
we talked a lot about Caleb last year and there's

(39:38):
a lot of recognition stuff that went unnoticed, and there's
a lot of hit pieces in the offseason blaming the
coaching staff for those situations. But you know, Brian Floor
is gonna throw a lot of tricky stuff at him
and make him guess and make him try and make
it decisions before the snaps that are going to be difficult,
and Caleb Williams has to rise to the occasion so
show that there is development and prove that this was

(40:02):
a year one thing with a bad coaching staff in
a bad situation, because there is talent here. They have
the best offensive play coler in football last season in
their room maybe second behind Kyle Shanahan. You still have
talented receivers. You added receivers in Colson Lovelin and Luther Burden.
You have DeAndre Swift in the backfield, and you got
an awesome offensive line with a lot of resources there too.

(40:23):
So we'll see, we'll see how it all matches up.
But yeah, I think there is a chance, like you said,
I could see out of the team winning this game
by twenty and it wouldn't shock me.

Speaker 1 (40:32):
Yeah, Kyle, this is a big time overreaction Tuesday. This
will be I mean, the you know, Colin Coward is
looking his lips at this game of whatever happens, either
k Williams thinks or he's awesome. Either JJ McCarthy thinks
or he's awesome.

Speaker 2 (40:45):
Yeah, I mean I think I do think if the
Bears blow him out, this is a the Bears are
Super Bowl contenders and swindled the whole league and got
Ben Johnson and now Caleb's unlocked. That is probably gonna
be the biggest overreaction if they went over. Unless JJ
McCarthy throws like multiple pick sixes, I think that's gonna
be the takeaway if they win big.

Speaker 1 (41:05):
But there could still big the oh should never let
Sean Donald go. And then again, if if Cale Williams
is bad, there will be the call Williams of the
bus stuff too. So there's there's gonna be some takes.

Speaker 2 (41:14):
I can't wait. I I I love I love sports media.
Sports media has been buzzing today. We need we need
more content. That's what I what I figured out.

Speaker 1 (41:22):
Yeah, no kidding. Also, we have to interrupt this for
an ad we do no, we don't, well, only show
only show here, only show left, but that doesn't do ads.

Speaker 2 (41:33):
Yeah. Uh, there's no planting tree business done here. We
we're all a bit We're all about our carbon foot
printed making it bigger.

Speaker 1 (41:40):
Well I don't know about that, but let's move on. Uh, Kyle,
I'm gonna give you a game, you know, speaking of
a take, I'm gonna reach on one because I I
think there's some real upset potential Bengals taking on the
Cleveland Browns. The Bengals who always start slow, the defense
has been getting crushed even in the pre season. You
got Joe Flacco and the scrappy Cleveland Browns. Who do

(42:05):
you have winning this one?

Speaker 2 (42:06):
Scrappy? Oh?

Speaker 1 (42:07):
Man?

Speaker 2 (42:09):
I mean I have to take the Bengals. But I
am a little scared now, Like we've seen this team
too many times bite us in the butt, so uh yeah,
I'm a little nervous. Like I'm definitely uneasy about this.
The Bengals have to prove it to us. But I
picked the Bengals to make the playoffs. And you know,
you can't win the regular season. You can't win the

(42:30):
Super Bowl week one, But as the Bengals learned last year,
you could certainly lose it week one because they make
the playoffs if they beat the Patriots week one last year,
who was one of the worst teams in the league
by all metrics. We're anticipating the Browns being the one
of the worst teams in football this season. We have
talked about their quarterbacks over and over and over again

(42:51):
all offseason. We don't think any of them are good?
Is there We like David Njoku, we like Jerry Judy,
Do we like anything else on this offense? Really? There
are a few nice pieces on this defense. Maybe that's
where that scrappy Cleveland Browns thing comes from. I don't know,
but they the Bengals have to prove it to us,
and this should be a game where you get the

(43:12):
easiest Week one slate for the second year in a row.
You can't mess around with this one. You have to
go out there and kick some ass, like let's just
you know, let's not mess around. Let's get t Higgins,
Jamar Chase, Chase Brun involved in this offense. Let's get
them touches early. Let's show that we are the Bengals
and we are gonna score points on everybody, because that
is how you're gonna make the playoffs. This defense isn't

(43:33):
gonna do well. It's not could it do good enough
in this game against Joe Flacco and whatever this Cleveland
Browns offense is. It should, but this defense isn't gonna
be good. Go out here and score thirty five in
this game and set the tone for the season.

Speaker 1 (43:46):
Yeah, and don't come up thirty eight. Yes, I agree,
I mean, I think, but I guess here's the pathway
to the Brown's wedding. It's concerning that I can easily
think of one, which is the Browns do have a offense.
You have to have talent offensive line wise, run the
ball a lot, keep the possessions short, and you know,
making an eight possession game, be effective, Joe Flacco doesn't

(44:07):
turn the ball over, just plays solid football, and then
the Bengals make one one mistake offensively and that's and
also Miles Garrett is going to be going up against
a bad offensive line for sixty minutes. Like this is
the Like like this the Bengals aren't perfect offensively. They
have three amazing players on offense. That's kind of a thing.
So like, you know, I don't think this is impossible.

(44:31):
In fact, Kyle, in my notes, if I was given
this game, I was gonna pick the Cleveland Browns. That's
how much I feel like the Browns could make this happen.

Speaker 2 (44:39):
All right, I should have given it to you. Then, Yeah,
I mean, like I see the case for it, like
when ugly get this defense involved. That being said, like
you haven't mentioned the offensive line. Yeah, it's pretty good.
But at the same time, like Jerome Ford is are
starting running back right now, he's more of a passing
back and that kind of thing, Like you probably want

(44:59):
Quinn Sean Judkins out for this game if you want
to play that game. And I mean he still hasn't
signed a contract, so yeah, like, uh yeah, I think
there's a zero excuse for the Bengals. To me, there's
zero excuses. They they they if if they lose it,
like this will be the one overreaction I have from
week one. If they lose this game, I'm writing them off.

(45:20):
They're not making the playoffs, so you can write them
off for me if they lose this game, because I
can't do it anymore. Like I think heads have to
roll by the end of the season. If they missed
the playoffs because they lost to the Browns in this.

Speaker 1 (45:30):
Game, well, and the whole thing was like, oh, we
gotta be better. We can't keep losing these week one,
you know, week one, So let's let's play in the preseason.
And then their defense just got torch and Joe Burrow
got like beat up every game. Basically, it's like, okay,
well that's not maybe how they were hoping they would
this would go.

Speaker 2 (45:46):
Yeah, how funny would it be if they lose this
one again?

Speaker 1 (45:52):
Yeah, come on, Joe, Joe Flacco, let's make it happen. Kyle,
let's keep things moving. Give me a game, all.

Speaker 2 (45:58):
Right, let's keep it moving here. We are gonna go
with Panthers at Jaguars.

Speaker 1 (46:05):
Kyle, again, we're in Lockstep here once again, this was
the next one on my list. I'm gonna go, Sorry,
Michael in the chat, I am gonna go with the
Jacksonville Jaguars here. I still just think I have too
many question marks defensively for the Panthers, and I do
like Liam Cohen as a play caller. I'm interested in
seeing what happens with this Jaguars offense. I do feel

(46:26):
like this is one of those like similar to the
Raiders Patriots of like the winner this game can definitely
talk themselves into some you know, some good stuff here.
But again, I just feel like for the Panthers, it's all,
you know, the whole restivehn cors young players, even you know,
Bryce young Julian pressed of him towards the end of
last year. He is still a young player. Like, I

(46:47):
just feel like I'm more trusting Jacksonville. But I do
think there is upset potential here.

Speaker 2 (46:53):
I think there's upset potential too, you know. I think
that again, the Panthers are a team that have a
good offensive line, even though you know it's not gonna
look good if a quant who's not playing, I think
he's listed as doubtful right now, that's definitely a tough loss.
But it's still a pretty good offensive line. You know,
they have four good starters still even beyond that, so

(47:14):
can they hold up at left tackle? We will see.
But can they run the ball with Chuba Hubbard who
looked really good last season, with Rico Daldo as a backup,
with Trevor et in their first round pick. You know,
can those guys, you know, set the tone on the
ground get something going for this team. I think there's
a possibility to that, and kind of similar to what
we just said with the Browns, they kind of win
that ugly fashion. Bryce Young is asked to play in

(47:36):
play action. We saw what he could do last season
throwing the ball down the field. I think he's got
a chance there to be pretty good. But that being said,
I still worry about this Panthers defense. I want to
see it. There's a lot of new faces here. I
think there are some good players that they brought in,
even if they're not great players. I think the Jaguars
still have an edge on the outside, and I think

(47:56):
that's where you're gonna see Brian Thomas Junior and Travis
Hunter have an impact in the game.

Speaker 1 (48:01):
They have an edge in the outside and the Panthers don't. Yes,
there's no edge there. They need to figure that out.
I've got some young players. We'll see how it goes.
Michael into Chat says, going to Panthers Jags ready to
sweat my tail off? What that'll be fun? I have
fun with that, hopefully, hopefully.

Speaker 2 (48:18):
Yeah. I've gone to a Week one game in Jacksonville
that is that's as tough as it gets. Man, that's brutal.
It's like one twenty in that arena. It's just insane.
They need a roof, Like, just put a roof on
that thing.

Speaker 1 (48:31):
Yeah, they got the pool.

Speaker 2 (48:33):
Yeah yeah, I don't have the money to I don't
have pool money, so sorry guys. Yeah. Yeah, just put
like the the hard Rock Stadium, the hard Rock roof
where it's not a dome, it's just a roof on
it for Miami and then the road team gets the sun.
It's great. That roof is fantastic. Just that's something up
for the fans that's brilliant.

Speaker 1 (48:51):
Where it's like it's like the only non shaded area
is the opponent's sideline, Like that's like ten out of ten.

Speaker 2 (48:58):
Yeah, yeah, it's it's it's nuts like it just it's
it's so good though, But yeah, it was. It was
incredibly hot. Of course, they don't do free waters or
anything like that when it's one hundred and twenty in
the stadium, so you know, people are passing out. That's
what that's what we need.

Speaker 1 (49:13):
He Ran says, Kyle was one hundred percent in the
hot tub in the jag Stadium with two cigars in
one hand. Was that your Kyle.

Speaker 2 (49:20):
I can have the confirm and denies of reports here,
but you're gonna have to You're gonna have to prove it.

Speaker 1 (49:25):
We've got to talk Panthers here. We've got talk Panthers
Jaguars a little bit more. I mean, I mean, the
one thing I will say is excited to see Derek
brown Back. Excited to see these Uh you know, there
are some interesting young players into secondary for Carolina. I
don't think this is a done deal, but yeah, we'll
see how well goes.

Speaker 2 (49:41):
Yeah, a lot of interesting young players and then interesting
ground players for receiver. You know, we saw Brian Thomas
junior year one. Travis Hunter is coming in with a
lot of expectations. I'm excited for both the I'm interested
in both of these teams a little bit like I'm
not ready to write off. Like I said, like before
the season, I was talking with a the people and
I was like, you know, NFL is so weird at

(50:04):
times where things change year to year that anything is possible.
You know. It feels like every year there's three or
four new playoff teams every year, no matter what, and
one of them will come out of left left field.
I feel like preseason right now, the only teams on
one hundred percent feel like I'm ready to write off
are the Saints and the Browns and the Jets maybe

(50:27):
so like in the Jets, yeah, those three teams. Yeah,
twenty nine teams, I think like there are definitely long shots.
I would consider both of these teams longer shots, especially
the Panthers because of their division too. But it's not
an unfathomable thing that these teams could scrap their ways
nine wins. So I want to see it happen.

Speaker 1 (50:48):
Yeah, always tough to win in that dreaded NFC South,
toughest division in football.

Speaker 2 (50:53):
Well, you got a team at the top that's going
to win the division. That's the problem. You know.

Speaker 1 (50:57):
I think the Texans would argue they do with Texas
fans would arguedy do is.

Speaker 2 (51:00):
But Tampa's better than Houston.

Speaker 1 (51:02):
That's what it is. Okay, Well, I hope you're right, Kyle.
Step on another Florida team, but not quite Tampa just yet.
Let's go Miami versus Indianapolis one and a half point
favored Daniel Jones led Indianapolis Colts. Who do you have
winning this one?

Speaker 2 (51:21):
A lot of intrigue in this game, for sure, I
am going to I'm gonna I'm not gonna lock it up.
I'm gonna take the Colts, though. I just have no
idea what to think of this Dolphins team this season,
so I'm gonna take I'm gonna take the Colts. I

(51:41):
think that they're gonna run the ball. I think this
offensive line is still good. I still think there's good
players in this defense, and they just they don't have
a quarterback that's gonna go out there and lose them games. So, like,
Daniel Jones is not perfect, He's not gonna raise the
ceiling of this team or even like, but he's gonna
raise the floor even a little bit to where I
think the Colts can go out and win the game.
So yeah, I'll take them. To win.

Speaker 1 (52:03):
I'm a little surprised that Dolphins are underdogs in this game.
I feel like my concern about the Dolphins is that
like they're you know, they're they can't have like one
of like four injuries to happen, and like those guys
are all injury prone. Uh now I believe Uh let's see,
there was the report that came out during this show
that you know, uh, Tyreek Hill, Devon ay Chan, Jalen

(52:27):
Waddle all should be good to go on Sunday. So
the fact that they're all listening, you know, all talked
about it is like we have to mention that it
is an idea, but the fact that they all should
play is good. Like I just feel like there's too
much top end talent for the Miami Dolphins, But I
talk about the Colts is like they're just like fine
in every single position, and like, you're right, Daniel Jones
won't necessarily lose you the game, but he also isn't

(52:48):
gonna I mean, he'll lose you the game in the
sense that he won't be able to do enough offensively
to win you a game. Like he's not gonna throw
four interceptions probably or beck Nathan Peterman out there or
even bad Anthony Richardson out there, But like, uh, you know,
I don't I trust to a way more than I
trust Daniel Jones. So I'm leaning Miami for this one.

(53:09):
I feel like, again, long term, I have concerns about Miami,
but week one, I feel like they tend to be
good starting off strong.

Speaker 2 (53:15):
Yeah, I mean, there's definitely a case for it. And
this team historically has been good in September, so at
least in the the Mike McDaniel eras, so I see
the case for it. All their guys theoretically are healthy.
You know, we're gonna potentially we're gonna get Darren Waller
snaps too. How about that? Yeah, you know, does that
change your pick it all? I don't know.

Speaker 1 (53:35):
We'll see. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (53:36):
I mean, there's just there's still a ton of speed
on this Minnesota team or a mines Miami team that
I think is really interesting. A chance still there. You know,
it feels like everyone's ready to write off Tyreek Hill
when like bad Tyreek Hill is still like a fringe
thousand yard receiver and dealing with injuries, there's still a
lot of talent there. I think that the offense is

(53:57):
probably being slept on more than it should, even it's
a bad offensive line. I do worry about this defense though,
and we'll see how it looks in Week one, because
I do think, you know, I am a believer in
Tyler Warren is a pass catcher. I do think we're
gonna get a Michael Pittman bounce back season because it
just felt like he had no chemistry with anybody last year,

(54:18):
and I think he could come back and have a
decent year, and with even a guy like Daniel Jones.
And you have Jonathan Taylor, who probably needs more carries
than he got last season, but it's still a pretty
good back too. So I am very interested to see
this Miami defense where yes he's still at Bradley Chubb
and Jalen Phillips Chop Robinson looked good too, but this

(54:39):
secondary looks a whole lot different, and without Jalen Ramsey,
I don't know how much I love it.

Speaker 1 (54:44):
Is this the rare Week one loser leaves time game.

Speaker 2 (54:49):
I don't know if it's a loser leaves town, but
like there's definitely gonna be a lot of conversations if
one of these teams look really bad, like Mike McDaniel
is on the hot seat this season and Shane Sychin
probably is on the hot seat this season because it
didn't go well. And you know, there is the element of, yes,
she was in the organization a lot, but she is
a new owner taking over, and like, is there gonna

(55:13):
be changes if things don't work out? Is she gonna
have more input on things if they if it doesn't
work out. I think a lot of that is a
huge element to this game too. For Indianapolis, where they
have to perform too, they have a lot of pressure
on themselves and that's probably why they went with the
veteran quarterback who at least provides a floor.

Speaker 1 (55:29):
Yeah. Well, see this is another uh you know, uh.
We have some of the chat saying watchable game. I agree,
watchable game. Yeah that's good. Like it's not not like
like I'm not excited for it, but I'm like, yeah,
this will be It'll be on DV and I'll be like, oh, yeah,
this is a good game. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (55:46):
I definitely think this is gonna be one of those
ones that like if you do the multiview, like, it's
probably gonna be one of the ones in the corner.
And yeah, I think that is gonna be a uh.
I think that's a very justifiable excuse. I think it's
I think it should be fun.

Speaker 1 (55:59):
Yeah, I agree, Kyle. Give me a game.

Speaker 2 (56:02):
Here's a game that I don't think it's gonna be fun.
Steelers had Jets.

Speaker 1 (56:06):
Yeah, this is this is ugly. This is gross revenge game. Kyle.
You know how we love our revenge games of Aaron
Rodgers going to the team that he signed to your
contract with. They went completely all in on him. He played,
you know, it didn't work out well. He wasn't horrible,
but it wasn't great. It wasn't great either. Now can
he get his revenge on the team that went all

(56:27):
in to get.

Speaker 2 (56:28):
Him, the team that gave him everything? They better watch out.
They better watch out. He's gonna exact his revenge. He
will prove them wrong. They should have given him more.

Speaker 1 (56:40):
Yeah, Kyle, I'll walk up the Steelers here, Like I
just I don't know. I guess it's also a Justin
Field's revenge game. Like I just feel like Steelers have
a really good defensive line like that. I know that
the Jets offense bunch would be pretty good, but that
feels like it's gonna keep Justin Fields. Give Justin Fields
some trouble here actually of the Steelers defense as a whole,
not just their defensive line.

Speaker 2 (57:00):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (57:00):
And then you know, I think Aaron Rodgers was fine
last year. I think we'll be fine this year. And
I think fine will be good enough to you know,
score more than score at least three points more than
the New York Jets. So give me, give me first
lock of the season, and it's on Aaron Rodgers. So
how about that.

Speaker 2 (57:15):
That's probably the right side of this. I think they
can win this game by a field goal. I agree
with you. This still is defense is fascinating. I think
they got better out of that Jalen Ramsey trade. I'm
not a Minka Fitzpatrick guy as much. I think he's good,
but like I don't think he's as munch of a
game changer as Ramsey is. That's just my opinion.

Speaker 1 (57:35):
Yeah, I'm just a guy on TV on a TV
TV onen'd you get on? We're broadcasting now? Guess I
guess maybe we do have to have ads? Yeah, well
I could, we could use the TV deal. Whoever, I
would I would immediately do ads if there's a TV deal. Yeah, yeah,
Uh yeah, I.

Speaker 2 (57:51):
Think I think the Jalen Ramsey is a game changer.
And I'm just a guy on YouTube, so you can
believe what you want. This defense should be really good,
Like there's just not a lot of weaknesses to it.
You look at the linebackers, linebackers good, secondary is very good,
especially with Ramsey in the mix, and you have Kim Hayward, TJ. Watt,
all those guys. You kind of just believe it's all

(58:12):
gonna work. I agree with you. Here's my question, because
this isn't gonna be the game that Jalen Ramsey shows
his impact. I mean the Jets might throw the ball
fifteen times in this game. That's I think that's how
this often is gonna look. I think we're gonna get
a lot of Braylen Allen, Breise Hall justin field running
plays this season, and they're gonna throw up to Garrett
Wilson a few times. Is this Jets defense now getting

(58:35):
slept on a little bit where yes, it's imperfect, but
you're still looking at a team that has a Sauce
Gardner on it and still has some interesting pieces in
the secondary, Like could they just win a few games ugly?
This year. Like, I'm not saying they're gonna win like
nine games, but could they win five games ugly this season?

(58:56):
And the Steelers love to play ugly and maybe that
just plays in the jets favor.

Speaker 1 (59:03):
Maybe that's an interesting, interesting take. I mean, you know,
I think there is a real chance this could be
like year one Dan Campbell's the Lions of like they
lose a lot of games, but it's like this team
is like losing to like great teams by three points,
Like you know, that's I could see. Like I think
like Dan Campbell's Lions in the first year were like
against the spread, they were like amazing. I could see
something like that happening. So maybe there's a concern walking

(59:25):
up against them. But again week one, like I just
don't know if if this is when it happens.

Speaker 2 (59:32):
Yeah, I probably agree with that, But yeah, they have
a they have a young and talented offensive line. They
have two highly rated young running backs, and they have
a running quarterback. Like I just kind of see the
script for this game. That's what the Jets want to do.
They're gonna play this game on the ground. They're gonna
see what these guys can do. And yeah, they're probably

(59:52):
still gonna lose a lot of these games, but they're
they're gonna they're gonna try and make it hard for you.
They're gonna they're gonna hit those guys in the middle
and make it painful.

Speaker 1 (01:00:02):
Yeah. You know a lot of people in the chat
talking about Aaron Rodgers said he was I think pretty good.
He was pretty good last year. I watched every game
he played like he was pretty good. Like he was
not prime Aaron Rodgers, but he was like the probably
the fifteenth best quarterback in football last year according to me,
and like every other matchup you want to look at.
So I don't know, that's that's my take. I think
that the narrative got overblown.

Speaker 2 (01:00:22):
Yeah, the issue was he was paid and treated like
a top five quarterback and performed at a top fifteen quarterback,
not that he was the reason they lost football games.

Speaker 1 (01:00:33):
And like the other stuff, like the you know, bringing
the thing of hacking on, like you know, the Devonte
Adams like all that stuff is fair to criticize. I'm
just saying, like the play itself was not why the
Jets were bad last year.

Speaker 2 (01:00:43):
Yeah, but now he's paid a little more properly and
he's got you know, he doesn't have the keys to
the city essentially, So yeah, how is that gonna look?
And I still like a lot of these pieces on
this Steelers team. You know, they bring in d k Metcalf,
that's gonna be an interesting element to this too. I

(01:01:03):
think he's really good, but he's due for a bounce
back season. Calvin Ansen the third has had moments. Roman
Wolson is a guy they're really excited about. Two, you
have three running backs that all are like, it's not
a bad running back room, even if there's not like
a really exciting guy in it. And then yeah, I
think that they have a case to kind of make
this all work with all these players.

Speaker 1 (01:01:25):
Yeah, let's move on, Kyle. I'm gonna give you a
divisional matchup between a team that won the division last
year and a team team that's won the division for
the past a few years and a team that is
trying to change that maybe not the one you're expecting. Chiefs, Chargers.
Where are you going?

Speaker 2 (01:01:42):
Yeah? Completely justified. Honestly, you could probably talk yourselves into
picking this game sooner too, because it just feels like
these teams always play really good games, and especially the
Chiefs just managed to play a lot of close games.
I am taking the Chiefs. I still you know, the
Chiefs are still the chief I'm interested in seeing how
this offense looks. Obviously, they're not going to have Rashi

(01:02:04):
Rice for this first six weeks, so that changes some
of the elements. But I still think this Chiefs team
is built to throw the ball downfield more and more
this season. I think that's what they want to do.
I think they want to be more aggressive. I think
they want to get Mahomes doing what Mahomes did at
his very best, which is throwing the ball downfield and
using the athleticism they have on the outside. I'm very

(01:02:27):
interesting seeing how that offense looks in that situation because
the Chargers defense did play well last season. They had
good players in the secondary last season, but you know,
how is that all going to look in year two?
Cornerbacks can be fluky and these are not a lot
of big name corners that played at high levels last
year for the Chargers. Can this defense do it again?
And how do they match up with Kansas City? I

(01:02:48):
think is interesting.

Speaker 1 (01:02:50):
Yeah, they always seemingly play good games that the Chiefs win,
right Like it just feels like that's consistently what happens
the you know, like last year there was that crazy
game where there was a dooint at the end, they'll
you know, clinch the division for the Chiefs, you know.
The I guess the one thing I would say is, again,

(01:03:10):
the Chargers like to run the ball. They you know,
obviously drafted Lamar and Hampton to try and be better
at running the ball. Can they kind of just I mean,
the Chiefs actually do a pretty good job of running
at stopping to run historically, but can it the Chargers
just you know, this is this feels like the game
that's like it's gonna both offenses are gonna play well,
but it's gonna end like twenty four to twenty two

(01:03:30):
because like there's gonna be so little possessions.

Speaker 2 (01:03:33):
Yeah yeah, I mean they're two games last year in
the night seventeen ten and nineteen seventeen, so uh huh,
Like we kind of we saw the game script for
this team last season, and that is the element of
the Chiefs too, where if they're gonna look like they
did the last couple of seasons, it's gonna be a
lot of long drives on their end too. So the
clock is gonna run in this game, and I think
both teams would be okay with that and try and

(01:03:54):
win at the end of the games. And that's why
you have two great quarterbacks, because you want them to
win at the end of those games. The Chargers element
that is interesting, Like you said, a Mario and Hampton
steps in. Who knows how much Najee Harris is going
to be involved week one with his eye injury, but
you are going to see the running backs run the
ball even without Ron Rashaun Slater there. They're gonna use

(01:04:14):
that running game, They're gonna play and play action. You
know they're gonna use Lad McConkie a lot too. And
it's it's fascinating because that's another side of the ball
too where I look at the Chiefs and I think
metrics pointed to the Chiefs defense being good last season.
I think largely it was, but I still want to
see this secondary tested this year because I think they

(01:04:35):
caught a lot of breaks last year with who they
played and how they played them and when they matched
up and who got hurt and all that kind of stuff.
And you can't make all the excuses you have to
play who you play. You can't. You can't help that.
But you know, in a year too, could Laden McConkey
be that guy and cause them a ton of problems?

Speaker 1 (01:04:53):
Yeah, well it should be fun again. I can also
see like, isn't there a chance the Chiefs like this
offense just clicks and they're awesome Week one and then
everyone's like, oh no, I am.

Speaker 2 (01:05:05):
I feel like I'm much higher on Xavier Worthy than
the rest of the world right now. I took him
in all three of my fantasy teams. Okay, I've been
talking him up all off season, and like, yes, he
was up and down in the regular season, but it
felt like if you just took away some of the
weird mistakes with like miscommunication or him stepping out of

(01:05:28):
bounds with his second foot and all that rookie mistakes,
Like it just felt like he was due to add
like another two hundred yards in a couple of touchdowns
last year, and then all of a sudden they got
to the playoffs and he was the best player on
the offense besides Patrick Mahomes. And I just feel like
I'm taking crazy pills that people saw what he did
in January in those biggest games and are just like oh,
but he sucked in the regular season. Like he didn't stink.

(01:05:50):
First of all, he was just young, and young players
get better. There's a reason why he played his best
football in January. I really think he could be a
tier top twenty receiver this season, and I think that
he has that talent.

Speaker 1 (01:06:03):
Well we'll see. I mean I've always been kind of
been a believer in like when a guy has a
great regular a good regular season, and like a great postseason,
I'm always like, Okay, it's possibly just happen to have
your best games in the biggest moments. It doesn't always
mean because you got better at the end of the year,
but it might be that way. Dude, you're you are right.
I Mean he was like he was trying to catch
the ball out of bounds whenever possible last year.

Speaker 2 (01:06:25):
Yeah. Yeah, I mean, it's just he had some of
the goofiest plays and it's like it just felt like
rookie mistake after rookie mistake. And that's the thing I
probably justify it the most. Of Like, if it's like
a seventy year receiver who's like good in the regular
season and does like the Julian Edelman thing in the playoffs, like, yeah,
I justify. I think that's a little different than a
rookie having that same moments in January. I think he

(01:06:45):
just was a huge part of this team by the
end of the season.

Speaker 1 (01:06:48):
Yeah, I we'll see you again. I'm excited how this offense,
the line is gonna look Josh Simmons, h will he
be what they need? It should be fun, Kyle, give
me a game, all right?

Speaker 2 (01:06:58):
Moving on here we have I mean, we're gonna go
with your team next closest line on the board. I
think I have to go with it. Let's go Bucks
at Falcons.

Speaker 1 (01:07:07):
Interesting. Yeah, I thought maybe you were gonna lock this
one up given how everything's going. So I'm interesting see
exactly where you're going with all this because you have
to lock up one of the next two picks. But uh, Kyle,
I am going with the Buccaneers to win this game,
surprisingly late in this show. Again, I would have picked
it one before, had I But I thought you were

(01:07:28):
gonna lock it so uh yeah, I mean, I don't know.
One and a half feels it feels disrespectful for me
at least. Granted, the Falcons did sweep the Buccaneers last year,
so I kind of get it, and it is in Atlanta,
but like, I don't know, I just we just talked
with this last week. But but there's a lot of
hype around the Buccaneers team the Falcons. You know, Michael
Pennix hasn't has played like three games of NFL football. Ever,

(01:07:50):
he doesn't play preseason. They didn't play him in preseason. Again,
they just lost their start. You know, both teams are
missing an offensive lineman, a tackle both there, the blindside
protector because the right tackle for the Falcons, the left
tackle for the Bucks. But and you know, the Buccaneers
are missing Chris Godwin, so you have some key misses there.
But I just feel like Todd Bowles playing against a

(01:08:11):
young quarterback, you know, who did look very good when
he came in, but still looks like a rookie, right,
like a good rookie basically. You know, Yeah, I'm kind
of rambling, but like, yeah, give me the box.

Speaker 2 (01:08:23):
I agree. I mean, I think there is a lot
of reasons justify it. Like, yes, they're missing Chris Godwin
and Jalen McMillan, who's on ire to start the season,
but you know, they're still really high on a Mecca
Abuca Tez Johnson. You still have Kitatin in the mix.
You have Bucky r Ving Rashad White out of the
backfield that can both catch the ball. This Tampa offense
should still be pretty good. And if there is a

(01:08:44):
team you're gonna miss your all Pro left tackle against,
it's probably the Falcons and the way we saw this
past rushing of the last season. So I think that's
all justified. That being said, Like, there is still a
ton of talent in this Atlanta team. And you know,
we we mentioned that the Buccaneers defense got a little
tested at times last season, a lot of injuries. We'll

(01:09:05):
see how it looks this year, but we saw what
Drake London looked like at the end of last season
with Michael Pennix by John Robinson obviously is b John Robinson.
He's amazing. You know, there is still a lot to
like here, and like if Pennix can get them the ball,
then maybe this maybe the Falcons team goes up a
level than we expected, because Pennix could change this team

(01:09:26):
if you looked a lot better. This was a trendy
team last season braining Kirk Cousins. If what if Pennix
is just better than Kirk Cousins.

Speaker 1 (01:09:33):
Yeah, well maybe not the hardest Barty Clear, but uh yeah,
I mean uh Gus put up over five hundred yards
against Tampa Bay one of their matchups. But the anyway,
uh Drake London was what scares me in this game
because I just feel like for Tampa Bay, like they
should do an okay job handling. Be John Robinson. He's
be John Robinson. He'll get his yards, He'll get like points.

(01:09:55):
But like, the the thing about Buccaneers secondary is do
they have like a lockdown corner? Jamal Dean will probably
start the game against uh like Drake London, and that
just feels like it could be a disaster way to happen.
Like that's the concern I have is could we just
see a lot that way where Atlanta can move the
ball down the field.

Speaker 2 (01:10:14):
Yeah, and that mismatch can cause problems. And while Zia
McCollum did play good well last season, like Darnell Moodey
is on the bad number two either, he proved that
last year as well, he was very good. So how
do they handle those matchups? I think it's gonna be interesting.
On the outside, I do think they're gonna try and scheme,
some weird things, throw some things that Michael Pennix he
hasn't seen before. That's what Todd Bowles likes to do.

(01:10:35):
And he has then now the pass rush in theory
to be able to pull it off with Hassan Reddick
in the mix if he's back to himself. So we're
gonna see some weird stuff from the Tampa Bay defense,
especially the front seven, how Pennix handles it and can
he get the ball to those outside receivers and what
should be mismatches even though the Tampa Bay it's not

(01:10:56):
a disaster for Tampa Bay. McCollum and Dean are still good,
but it's still feels like a mismatch in Atlanta's favor.

Speaker 1 (01:11:03):
Yeah, uh, Kyle, let's move on it. Should that should
be a fun game. Four games we'll have to talk about.
I'm trying to play some strategic play strategy wise here,
giving you a game that maybe isn't what your lock is.
Let's go Titans Broncos just because, hey, if you have
to lock that up, that's a you know too two
score spread.

Speaker 2 (01:11:22):
Yeah, no, this is this is justified. It's not my
lock though. I am gonna take the Broncos. I really
do like this Broncos team a lot. I'm optimistic about
them this season. I think that I would feel like,
like I've said over and over again this in the
offseason Pods, I think you have to be kind of

(01:11:42):
crazy and and or biased to pick any of the
pick anyone outside the top three in the AFC. The Bills,
the Chiefs, and the Ravens. Those are the best three teams.
If I were to pick a team to be fourth
right now, I would pick the Denver Broncos. I think
they are really good. I think vot Knicks's showed himself
to be really capable in year one. Is he a

(01:12:03):
superstar potential? I don't know about all that, but I
do think he showed he can be very good. I
think that they are going to be pretty better on offense,
especially with some running game in there. They bring in
Evan Ingram, who I think is a tight end that
he's going to love just the way he likes to
throw and where he likes to put the ball. Courtland
Sutton Marvin Minns played pretty well last season two, so

(01:12:26):
I really like what they're doing. I think the offense
is going to be better and this defense is what
this team's built on. They had maybe the best defensive
football last year. They bring in Drake Greenwall, they bring
in Tallano Hufonga to Staples that that forty nine ers
defense per year, And yeah, I think that's going to
be a really good team. They should win. But there
is the element that scares me a little bit, just because,

(01:12:48):
like what if cam Ward is a number one pick
for a reason and he's a star and we've seen
it for a few years now. We've seen some guys hit,
we've seen some guys miss, but like, what if this
is the new Jayden Daniels thing from last season. He's
awesome right away, then all of a sudden, that changes
everything for this Titans team. That's what they're hoping for.
I think they'll even take if he's just pretty good
in year one, but like there is an element that

(01:13:11):
he could be amazing right out of the game.

Speaker 1 (01:13:14):
Yeah, even the Jade Daniels like it wasn't like perfect
week one right like effecting week one. It's probably a
bit too much. I think it's enough to scare you
out away from the lock, which was kind of why
I gave you the game with a seven and a
half point spread. But yeah, I mean there's there's there's
Broncos defense. It's a tough, tough Week one matchup for
Camboard having to go up against this Broncos defense. If
look at least, it's not like a super clever defense.

(01:13:35):
It's kind of just like we're good at our scheme
and like you're not gonna be able to fit through
tight window, which I for young quarterbacks Concient's handle a
little bit better. But like, yeah, you, I mean you expect,
like cam Ward one hundred percent will throw an interception
at some point in this game, right, Like that's just
like it's gonna happen.

Speaker 2 (01:13:50):
Uh, it feels like it's going to happen for sure.
And certain obviously was the defensive player of the Year
last season. He's awesome. You know, Hufonga is a very
opportunistic player. It feels like one of these guys is
going to get their hands on a ball and make
a play. So yeah, I think that would be It
would be crazy not to expect him to make a
few mistakes, right especially against this team week one, So

(01:14:12):
I definitely see it. But that being said, he's got
some decent pieces, Like look, you got Calvin Ridley, who
played well last season. You've got Tyler Lockett, who is
a professional.

Speaker 1 (01:14:22):
He knows what he's doing. You know, you know, he's
your number two pick. Your compliment is he's a professional.
Like that's maybe not like I'm not saying like it's horrible,
but like that's maybe not the best compliment.

Speaker 2 (01:14:35):
Yeah, but this is a bad team, Like this was
a bad team last year. I think they would take
Tyler Lockett just being a professional this season. We know
he's going to get open, he's going to catch the ball,
and he's immediately going to fall to the ground because
he doesn't want to get hit. He's old, So yeah,
it makes sense. Tony Pollard is a capable running back.
They have options here, they have things they can do.
I think Chico kong Ko could be a pretty interesting

(01:14:56):
player this year too.

Speaker 1 (01:14:57):
Okay, the compliment's capable interesting, Like, there's no like good
you've other than Convien Redley. You said this seam won
three games.

Speaker 2 (01:15:05):
What would be your expectations for all these guys?

Speaker 1 (01:15:08):
No, I I agree with what you're saying. It's just
it's funny how you built it up as like, oh,
there's a lot of good stuff here and then you
gave one guy a compliment.

Speaker 2 (01:15:16):
Yeah, better stuff than you expect.

Speaker 1 (01:15:19):
Yes, that I agree with. I think this is I
think I am excited to see Cam Wore play football
this year. I think it might just like, let's not
freak out if he doesn't have a great week one.

Speaker 2 (01:15:27):
Yeah, I agree. Like, look, I could like two eyes,
don't tell Algie Harris that watch out.

Speaker 1 (01:15:35):
I guess not.

Speaker 2 (01:15:37):
Or yeah, I think. Look, it wouldn't shock me if
le Broncos win this game by multiple scores, even like
twenty plus, but like, yeah, they have a very talented
quarterback on the other side, and maybe it works out
right away.

Speaker 1 (01:15:50):
But we'll see. Yeah, we will see. Indeed, Kyle, three
games left to talk about. Give me one of them.
Cowboys Eagles Okay, interesting, wow, Kyle, uh the biggest point
spread not even giving it to me? Uh as the
next game. Now, it's part of this. You don't want
to have to lock up the Eagles here.

Speaker 2 (01:16:12):
Yeah, I don't want to do the eight and a
half point games.

Speaker 1 (01:16:14):
So yeah, I agree.

Speaker 2 (01:16:15):
I was this.

Speaker 1 (01:16:16):
I was gonna give it to you for that reason.
That would be a bit of a tough lot. I'll
say this, I think eight and a half is a
bit of a bit, a bit of aggressive here. Like
I get it the Cowboys defense that they they won't
be able to rush the passer, especially against Philadelphia. They
should still have some like guys who can make plays
in the secondary, whether we love them on a down
to down basis or not, Like you still have to
be careful there. And then I think that the Cowboys

(01:16:39):
offense should still be pretty good, right like, like I
think that you know, some new new pieces with the
Eagles defense. They they did, I mean, they changed almost
half of their starters from last year, so well, it
still should be pretty good because they were so deep
last year. It's still like, we'll see how this all works.
So I think I'm hopeful Dallas can make this a
good game. That being said, this is a travesty for

(01:17:01):
this to be the opening game and this is uh,
you know, I'm definitely obviously picking the Eagles to win.
What are we doing here with this? For Kyle, remind
me this during the Super Bowl when the Super Bowl
comes around, we got to just root for whoever doesn't
play the Cowboys the next year because we need AFC
teams to win. I don't want the Cowboys Why are
the Cowboys always given the first week it's yeah, give

(01:17:22):
me something like there's there's so many good options, like
Eagles Lions perfect, perfect week one matchup we could have
had and except we're doing this thing.

Speaker 2 (01:17:29):
Yeah, it's gonna drive the ratings. It's gonna be that
element of it. Yeah. Yeah. I think this eight and
a half definitely feels like we're trying to say that
the Eagles are very good and the Cowboys are very bad.
This is usually a very bad team kind of line
where I think the Cowboys I don't have them making
the playoffs. I don't think they're very bad either, Like, uh,

(01:17:51):
this is an interesting test for this Eagles defense, which,
like you said, has changed a lot of pieces in
one year they had They had to let some guys go.
They let a lot of guys go, including guys I
didn't think they need to let go, like CJ. Gardner, Johnson,
Darius Slay at those sort of things. But they're believe
in the system. They've drafted really well in the past.
I think Cowie Roseman deserves a lot of credit benefit

(01:18:13):
of the doubt in this situation, so I don't see
any reason to pick against it. For sure. Let me said,
a lot of these young pieces now stepping into starting
roles have a good test, I think against the Cowboys
team when when healthy Dak Prescott has looked good, ceedee
Lamb is still good and they had George Pickens to
the mic mix. I think this is a tough test
for defense in week one for sure.

Speaker 1 (01:18:35):
Yeah. Other thing can know, Kyle. The Philadelphia Eagles, you
know what they did. They do have a bit of
a question mark.

Speaker 2 (01:18:43):
With the.

Speaker 1 (01:18:45):
You know, we talked about the whole Kenyan Green thing there,
which I don't believe he's supposed to start. But will
they be able to block Kenny Clark? Will Kenny Clark
pick over this game?

Speaker 2 (01:18:56):
I don't think so. Didn't Kenny and Green get cut? Oh?

Speaker 1 (01:18:58):
Yeah, I think he's done a practice?

Speaker 2 (01:19:00):
No, yeah, I think they brought it. Who's the other
guy they liked? They really like this Tyler Steen kidd
I think is his name?

Speaker 1 (01:19:06):
Yeah, Tyler, that's right? Yes, Yeah, so we'll see.

Speaker 2 (01:19:12):
I think he'll be okay against Kenny Clark. But you know,
it is another element to change here for this Eagles team.
But yeah, I think that they have a I think
there's still a ton of talent. I expect them to
move the ball a lot on this Cowboys defense, and
that's the adjustment for eighty and a half, is they're
going to score at will. It feels like because even
with Bland back, I still think this Cowboys front is

(01:19:33):
going to have some issues. They're not good against the run,
and they're even worse against the pass now, especially on
the defensive line. So that is a big issue. But
that means said, like, could the Cowboys score with them?
I don't think it's impossible. I think that's the reason
why you justify it being a little closer.

Speaker 1 (01:19:47):
Come on, Cowboys, give us a game at least we want.
Don't make forty nothing like the Sunday night opener the
Giants Cowboys a couple of years back. I'll give us
something here, Kyle, two games laught. It's my turn to
give you a game, so I'll give you. Well, go
for a divisional matchup. This is the one that you're
gonna lock up. Giants taken on the balls. Finally gonna

(01:20:10):
talk some balls. Kyle, who are you locking up? I
think I know the answer.

Speaker 2 (01:20:14):
Yeah, I'm going to lock up the balls. I did
prefer to win lock the other game, but this is
a fine lock too. I think they should win this
game by a touchdown. I am interested in this Giants
team a little bit this season. I think the defense
could be very fun to watch. This should be a
really good defensive line, and they added pieces of this secondary.
I still can't get over with the number they got

(01:20:34):
Javon Holland at I think it's a good number and
he's a good player. Obviously, that being said, what we
saw from Jadon Daniels last season. I think Jayden Daniels
is a star. I think he's a top five quarterback
in the league. I am overreacting after one year, but
I don't care. I think he is that good. I
think this offense for Washington should be really good. I
think I have questions about the defense, but as much

(01:20:57):
as I don't think Russell Wilson's a stiff and I
think he's gonna throw it up to guys like Melik
Neighbors and Darius Layton and see what happens. Like, I
don't think they're gonna get torched in this game in
the way they could get torched to another game. So
I think Washington should win this one by a touchdown.
I think the offense should be able to do It's
Jeff this thing and Jayden Dinnias gets off to a
hot start.

Speaker 1 (01:21:17):
One thing I like about Brian Dable is like he
isn't afraid to just say, like, oh, this is working,
let's just keep doing this until it stops working. Like
I sometimes people overthink this. I remember with Buffalo there
was like a game where he was just like passing
every play because he's like, well, I mean the running
game isn't working passing against so why would I do
anything different?

Speaker 2 (01:21:33):
Uh?

Speaker 1 (01:21:34):
We saw it last year with his willing gets to
just throw it to Molike neighbors a bunch, and I
wonder if that's gonna happen again in this game. In fact,
I feel like it's probably gonna happen again, Right, It's
gonna be another one of those Molik neighbors is getting
fifty percent of the targets game.

Speaker 2 (01:21:46):
Yeah, and Russell Wilson does love a good target who's afraid,
not afraid to go up and get some balls. So yeah,
I think that is a that is a strategy that
is probably gonna happen a lot in Giants games this season.

Speaker 1 (01:21:58):
Yeah, I think I think so. But yeah, I mean,
you gotta gotta gotta respect the balls here. I mean,
this is a team that was went away from a
Super Bowl appearance. Uh there. You know, even if we
maybe have some questions about did they fully take the
next step with the caps base and all the stuff
they had, We will see a lot of questions in
that secondary, but maybe it'll be answered. Maybe a lot

(01:22:19):
of more will play great and all of a sudden
like they look great.

Speaker 2 (01:22:23):
We'll see Yeah, I mean, yeah, if if this, if
the Washington defense does look good this season, that changes
the ceiling of this team and me picking them not
to make the playoffs will be a huge, huge miss.
But yeah, I think that that defense does have some
questions they need answers, and we'll see how it looks.

Speaker 1 (01:22:41):
Yeah. Uh, final game, Kyle, I know, didn't go a
ton on the giant balls here, but we can you know, Uh,
there's there's we we did a whole preview on all
these teams. Uh, Cardinals, Saints. I We've gotta spend a
while on this game. I don't know. Uh, definitely a
great Week one matchup. This is a college foot all
type Week one matchup for the Cardinals. We expect who knows,

(01:23:02):
maybe Spencer Ratler will take that year two jump. But
on paper, you know things, we talk about them being
not great pretty much anywhere. The Cardinals a team that
has aspirations to make the playoffs. How you pick them
to make the playoffs? And this feels like a tune
up game perhaps for the Cardinals.

Speaker 2 (01:23:21):
You cannot tell me that America's team is going to
go on the road to New Orleans a week one
and news you can't do it. I think that they
have the huge advantage. They have a match, the advantage
on offense and defense and special teams probably too. Give
me the Cards here. I would lock this one up.
The Cardinals are winning this one by twenty and I
have no fears. So yeah, I think Kyler is going

(01:23:45):
to be due for a big game in this one.
I think he's gonna run all over this old, washed
up New Orleans defense. I think that they're gonna throw
the ball to Marvin Harrison Junior. I think he's due
for a big game. And then yeah, you're looking at
this new little Cardinals defense with some talent against Spencer Rattler.
No chance. Yeah, Cardinals win this one. America's team gets.

Speaker 1 (01:24:05):
Off on the right foot, Okay, yes, Kyle sticking with
the America's team thing for the Cardinals. Yeah, I mean, Kyle,
you said twenty points. So if I give you a
nineteen and a half point spread, are you picking the uh?
Picking the Cardinals? Though?

Speaker 2 (01:24:21):
Absolutely?

Speaker 1 (01:24:22):
Okay, if you want to better point on it.

Speaker 2 (01:24:24):
No, not week one?

Speaker 1 (01:24:25):
Okay, okay, Well, all of a sudden, all of a
sudden once points are involved. Now, not so confident.

Speaker 2 (01:24:30):
Listen, I can't get cocky after one championship. We are
focused on the task at hand, which is winning winning
a second championship. So I can't get cocky right now.
I gotta I gotta stay locked in.

Speaker 1 (01:24:42):
Yes, Kieran says, just accept a ninety minute show. Although
this paper looking at our forty five, Kierram, we're done.
This was the last game we're looking at slightly under
ninety minutes.

Speaker 2 (01:24:53):
Yeah, I think we're Wait, we win a little long,
but we'll be fine. Yeah, we're good.

Speaker 1 (01:24:58):
We did the Bike of Parsons. Things stow to down
a bit, but we you know, and we spent longer
on the games than we usually would have because we're
excited to be back Kyle tomorrow. There is football I'll
be making videos on all of the probably you know, uh,
Cowboys not going so well things, but we'll see maybe
maybe things can turn around. Uh football is back. And
also got to say, big fan of the Brazil game.

(01:25:20):
I like having a game on Friday too, Like like
it's especially a bumber if the first game is kind
of a blowout and you have to wait another few days.
I like getting getting a couple of days, a couple
of games right off the bat.

Speaker 2 (01:25:29):
I had no idea this game was in Brazil this year.
That's so funny.

Speaker 1 (01:25:32):
It's the Friday games in Brazil, the Chiefs Chargers.

Speaker 2 (01:25:35):
What a funny game to put in Brazil too? All right?

Speaker 1 (01:25:38):
Did last what did last year too? Right with the
Uh yeah, and that was a weird thing people keep
all of a sudden. I've heard hear a lot of
people saying, like Jordan Love was awesome week one, Like, no,
he wasn't. That was a weird game where like both
quarterbacks were bad but kept putting up points.

Speaker 2 (01:25:54):
Yep, it was a bad game and both of their
turnovers helped the other teams score points. That was the difference.

Speaker 1 (01:26:00):
And then yeah, there's a couple of like I think
both quarterbacks had like wide open like eighty yard touchdowns
or something like that. That like they barely didn't like it.
That was a very weird game. Uh so hopefully get
more of that.

Speaker 2 (01:26:09):
Yeah, I'm all for a weird game. We'll see how
it goes. I don't know what the weather is like
in Brazil this time around, but yeah, it should be fun.
I'm ready let's get after it. We got tomorrow night,
we got Friday night, and we're gonna have fun.

Speaker 1 (01:26:23):
They should do a game in Brazil like in like December,
because then it would be, uh, it would be like
summer there.

Speaker 2 (01:26:32):
Yeah, I guess so, I mean that'd be really hot. Yeah,
in Brazil.

Speaker 1 (01:26:35):
I don't know, that'd be that'd be fun. Brazil's bid.
You could do it like North Brazil.

Speaker 2 (01:26:40):
I think North is hotter than South, Well is it?

Speaker 1 (01:26:44):
Well not on the south southern hemisphere.

Speaker 2 (01:26:47):
Right, Well, no, northern Brazil is still closer to the equator,
still hotter closer to the equator than is.

Speaker 1 (01:26:54):
Oh right, yeah, so you need Yeah, I'm thinking you're right,
you're right. Yeah, Yeah, that's that bit.

Speaker 2 (01:26:59):
Yeah, yeah, uh yeah, I think that that would be interesting.
I mean we're gonna get games all over the world.
We're definitely getting a Saudi Arabia games.

Speaker 1 (01:27:08):
That's like, it's just if it's on his ads, anything's
on the table.

Speaker 2 (01:27:13):
Yeah, of poor Scott Hanson. It's gonna put up with ESPN.

Speaker 1 (01:27:16):
Yeah, that's that's tough. H Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:27:20):
If I see Pat McAfee there with Scott Hanson one day,
or see a Smith, I might go, I might drive
to Bristol myself and just I'll start something. I'll start
a kerfuffle.

Speaker 1 (01:27:31):
My hottest take I think is I don't hate the
idea of the Super Bowl being not in America. I've
been talking about it being in London. I think is
like super Bowl crowd suck. Now, Like let's just thrown
in London, so you have to see if it works
better there.

Speaker 2 (01:27:46):
I mean yeah, but I think the same. It's gonna
be a bunch of roof schnams that go to any
of those games anyways, like the super Bowl.

Speaker 1 (01:27:53):
That's my point. That's why like whatever, like put it
where you know, have a have an ocean.

Speaker 2 (01:27:57):
Yeah, I just I think, yeah, you're you're getting the
same like unbelievably wealthy people at these games, right, it's
there for like businesses then they give it to their
sponsors and their advertisements. You know, real fans aren't going
to the super Bowl anymore. It's way too expensive. Like
you just see the becast of those things, Like you're
spending a mortgage to go to a super Bowl. Nobody's

(01:28:20):
doing that.

Speaker 1 (01:28:21):
Yeah, unless it's not your mortgage, unless it's only you know,
because you make a lot more. Kyle, let me recomfind
us on Twitter before we head out.

Speaker 2 (01:28:28):
Yeah, make sure to follow us on Twitter. That is
at Jackson Kruger. Make sure to follow me out by
Kyle grown In and make sure to follow the account
page at on the sideline JK. That is that on
the sideline JK.

Speaker 1 (01:28:37):
Of course, like audio only podcast anywhere, get your podcast
search on the sideline podcast it should be available there.
That is our show. We will be back midnight Eastern
time afterty games this Sunday. We're going up to two
times a week once again, so everyone be on the
lookout for that. We will be live right after all
those games to break everything down. Should be a fun week. Yeah,

(01:29:00):
any final thoughts ninety minutes in or ready to get
out of here?

Speaker 2 (01:29:02):
No, let's get out of here. The Red Sox are
already losing seven to nothing today, so don't have much
to do tonight.

Speaker 1 (01:29:09):
I guess Raiser. All of a sudden, they're back. We're
like three and a half games out.

Speaker 2 (01:29:13):
Yeah, I think we're gonna make the playoffs. But now
Roman Anthony is probably out for the regular season, so
put a damper on the season. For sure.

Speaker 1 (01:29:20):
It's annoying that the Yankee started winning again.

Speaker 2 (01:29:23):
I mean, they beat bad teams. That's what good. That's
what they do. They beat bad teams. That team's not real,
that team's not good, so I don't care.

Speaker 1 (01:29:31):
Yeah, well we'll see yeah a good uh, thank you
everyone for watching or listening. We will be back here
at this nine minute Joe, Yeah it happened. We got
ninety minutes again. Thank you everybody. We'll see you on Sunday,
Sunday night, I guess technical Monday morning. But until then,
have a good one.

Speaker 2 (01:29:50):
Peace.