Joe Rexrode of The Athletic joins the Big Show! New Nashville Stadium deal, Are Titans done w/Tannehill, more

The Titans struck a new stadium deal in the Music City, & @joerexrode joined us to explain what it'll be like, who's paying the tab, and whether fans are happy about it. We also talk Amy Adams Strunk, Ryan Tannehill, and compare the sports cultures of Nashville and Detroit.

Up top, the crew take on the NFL's most mischievous yachtsman, Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder. We also pick every Week 7 game straight up and against the spread, just like always!

Episode Transcript

(00:14):
Welcome to three Out, your nationalNFL podcast featuring three sports media pros Metai
Shelter from five thirty eight, jointby Samantha Bunton of NBC Sports and Michael
Shoddy the thirty thirteen. It's timefor this week's big show. We go
long on big NFL topics. Wealso have a big guest for you,
Joe rex Road of the Athletic.He's going to talk about the new Titan

(00:35):
Stadium deal that was just announced.Very excited to talk to. Joe goes
back old school Michigan sports writing scene, but he's been in Tennessee for a
long time and just blankets that townand does great work for the Athletic.
Before we get to Joe, beforewe get to our big topic, before
we get to picking every single NFLgame straight up and against the spread.

(00:56):
Make sure you are subscribe. Goto three outpod dot com and how you
get podcasts into your ears. Subscribeto our feed there. We also have
a Twitter account at three outpod sameas there you are l three outpod dot
Com guys. Big topic today.Daniel Snyder and an extremely normal thing to

(01:19):
do, sent a letter to allof his thirty one colleagues in NFL Ownership
co members of the NFL Ownership Fraternity, and would like to clear up that
all of the reporting around his variousmisdeeds up to and including hiring private investigators

(01:42):
to follow them around and get thirdon them is totally false. And despite
repeatedly asking ESPN to put in correctionsto their article saying that actually they were
totally wrong and they just printed awhole bunch of faceless lives for no reason,
they're nope, they're not going todo that. So so he's just

(02:05):
going to personally apologize to all ofthem and insist again that all that reporting
is untrue. And there's been alot of reactions, some from owners directly
in the case of Jim Ursy,and obviously the public at large. Um
Samitha, I want to go toyou first on this one. Your reaction
to Big Yacht Summer's potentially biggest,most famous boatsman, Dan Snyder sending a

(02:31):
letter of profession of innocent all theother owners. I mean, I miss
like the yacht stage of this journey. Now I think we're in the like
abandoned castle ruins stage of this journeywhere he's just like pacing around in the

(02:53):
woods on his property with like afireplace poker and like you know, like
he's the America Dracula or something withthe bathrobe and like you know, calling
his private detectives and like, ohyeah, threatening to you know, a
blackmail everybody, which, like Iyou can't just blackmail people. It's not

(03:13):
legal. So yes, I seewhy he wants this retracted. And while
it's all very fascinating, Oh he'sgot dirt on everybody, even Roger Goodell,
oh my goodness, weirdly can't getESPN to protect the story. So
I guess the dirt there wasn't goodenough. Also, I think everybody involved
has to understand that, like youreally can't just like blackmail somebody, right,

(03:36):
It's not legal. So I'm surethey're all afraid of whatever will come
out, because I'm sure there aremany terrible skeletons and the terrible closets of
the terrible billionaires. But like thisguy, you know, when you look
at those ESPN reports and Dan sidersout there being we called the owners hate
each other, and then the ownersare coming back and say, no,
we just all hate you, whichI think it's true at this point and

(03:58):
is not because they are better peoplethan him or they are so appalled by
his misdeeds. It's that he messedwith their wallets, he messed with their
BottomLine, and now he is messingwith their personal privacy. They don't care
about any of the other stuff thathe did. But this is a bridge
too far. So whether you canactually get him out or not, I

(04:20):
don't know. There's a lot ofcomplications to that which are not really about
him blackmailing people, and all aboutother things and how far other owners are
willing to go, and the kindof power Roger Dell has. But I
mean fan Snyder, like, Imean, what a terrific villain. This
is like something out of like ScoobyDoo or something. It's ridiculous. Yeah,

(04:44):
let's be very very candid here.There's no way on God's green earth
that Daniel Snyder is suing ESPN fora couple of reasons. One like your
media partner, Like, let's notliterally bite the hand that feeds us,
guys. You know, Washington doesnot have great ticket sales, nor does

(05:08):
it have great like branding penetration anylonger. Like this isn't the nineties where
starter jackets were everywhere with their logo. No one likes them, even their
fans do not really like them.The NFL landscape is just strewn with people
who, you know, stop beingfans even before they were Washington Football team,

(05:30):
let alone like after numerous like youcould probably ask random NFL fans to
pick the Commander's logo out of thelineup and they probably would not be able
to. That's just that's that's wherethey're at right now. And so the
only money that Dan Snyder is reallymaking is money that comes from media partners
like ESPN. You don't sue thatunless you're just incredibly stupid, which I

(05:57):
don't think. I think Daniel Snyderisn't the smartest, but I also don't
think he's incredibly stupid. Like hegot here for a reason. There's some
acumen there that he might be doingthe big puffed out chest pr thing,
but he's not actually going to gothrough that. And that The second biggest
reason, and probably the more importantone, is discovery. You're not going
to allow everyone at ESPN, whichhas you know, a legal team the

(06:21):
size of you know, debut Iowa. You're not going to allow them to
dig back. You're not going toallow them to look at all of the
things that they've had bits and piecesof and reported on, because ESPN will
have a field day with that.You don't sue the organizations that can you

(06:43):
know, do more damage with moreinformation than what they've already done. And
that's the biggest reason. That iswhy anytime Donald Trump threatens lawsuits, they
rarely come do unless it's to someonewho just can't you know, defend themselves
in ESPPN and which, by theway, again Disney is not part of

(07:04):
that. And that's sort of theother thing here that Daniel Snyder is one
of those people who you know,has lived his life sort of a with
a Napoleon complex very clearly but beinga bully. And I'm sorry, but
the Walt Disney Corporation is one ofthe few corporations on this planet that can

(07:25):
go total toe with the NFL andnot get about everything that the NFL brings
to bear Like the NFL is issuper powerful, super important brand, can't
beat Mickey Mouse, like those mouseears and the Captain America shield and the
ESPN logo and all everything that iswrapped into that is infinitely more powerful and

(07:55):
stalwart and American and all of that. The NFL would literally vote, you
know, thirty one to one toremove Dan Snyder before they allow that to
happen. If that lawsuit ever seesthe light of day, he's done in
that instance. And I think that'swhat this shot across the bottle from Jim

(08:15):
Orsay is portending. Yeah, werun the Sunday Night Football Samantha works for
a disclaimer every single week. Idon't pull this one out often, but
as a regular contributor to five thirtyeight, I am technically a Walt Disney
Company employee, and I can confirmthat they don't sign their name to that

(08:39):
unless things are buttoned up tight onthe back end. This is not you
know, somebody taking shots on Twitteror you know, the fly by Night
bloggy thingy or whatever. This is. This is some serious reporting that has
some real beef behind it, orit wouldn't be on that website. And
it's, like you said, shotacross the bow that Jim Mercy even brings

(09:03):
it up, but he's crossed whatI thought were about seventy two uncrossable lines
up until this point. The factthat we're hearing public rumblings does seem to
be evidence that something is changing.But I'm also on the I'm on the
same position that I'm at with randomNew York government attorneys and city officials declaring

(09:31):
that they intend to put Donald Trumpin jail, Like, you know what,
you have about four of these pressconferences a year, and you have
since twenty fifteen. Call me whenhe's in jail. Stop getting up in
front of the cameras and going weintend to bring X and X and X
lawsuit or the file charges eventually atsome point, and we're gonna get him.

(09:54):
Guys like, Okay, great,you let me know when that happens.
Same thing here with Daniel Snyder,where I'm like, there's so many
times and I've been like, thisis it right, we got it,
Like Daniel Snyder, there's no wayhe survives this, right, maybe Jim
Mersey coming out and saying this isthe first time that something's actually happening.
Let's hope, though, I mean, I think it's important to sort of

(10:18):
think about where Dan Snyder is onthis and that he has like basically been
with nothing to loose at this point, so he's not going to go quietly
under any circumstances. Like there's thisguy clue doesn't care right, Like,
this is not a guy who canbe like, you know, shamed back
into his corner, shamed into sellingthe team. If that was going to
happen, it would have happened along time ago. I mean, when

(10:39):
you're out there playing tag with thecoast guard on your yacht, like this
guy thinks he is above the law. He has gotten to a point where
he doesn't have anything to lose byjust continuing to refuse to participate in this
process and refuse to sell the teamuntil he's forced too. So I mean,

(11:01):
look, I because I agree,you know, sawt of your thing,
Like, I don't think he's stupidand not at all, Like you
don't get to where Dan Cider gotby by being dumb. I do think
that people get into situations where theybecome very isolated and they start to be
I guess a person in a situationwho has maybe bad tendency is like Dan
Cider definitely does, and they getmore and more isolated, and then they

(11:24):
get more and more paranoid, andall of this hiring private contectives and everybody's
out to get me and everybody,Hey, Tony's job is like definitely like
resultant of somebody who sort of eitherby choice or by it, you know,
sort of upsetting everybody around them,has isolated themselves to the point where
they're no longer thinking straight. Soit's not so much an issue of stupidity

(11:46):
as it is an issue of likethis guy's clearly like gone around the bend,
as we might say. So that'sprobably something to take into consideration.
But like you said, Tai,you know that the New York um sort
of random attorneys general people who youknow, I using New York husband have
never heard of until they were alldoing Donald Trump, usually right around the

(12:07):
time when they're due for real action. Umh yeah, like right, call
me, call me when somebody elsedoes the watching me first, let me
know. Yeah. And I also, like Shaddy was saying, like this
isn't reciprocal, Like the League Officedoesn't have a giant, you know,

(12:28):
a vault marked Dan Snyder compromise,okay, pal, although that they probably
could. It's right next to thewine cell. Absolutely, yeah, yeah,
Like okay, you're gonna you're gonnaleak all all the dirty laundry.
I can only imagine what sad strangelittle man who hasn't been told no in

(12:52):
thirty years, has hiding in hiscloset. All right, we have lots
more to get to. You haveJoe Road, of one of the very
best sports writers going and been basedin Nashville, has a lot to say
about the Titans deal. We're goingto talk to him shortly, and then
after that we will pick every singleNFL game straight up and against the spread,

(13:13):
just like we do every single weekright here on three and your National
NFL Podcast. Welcome back to threeand out, your National NFL podcast featuring
three sports media pros. It isour midweek big show, and like always,
you got a big guest for you, Joe rex Road, senior writer
and columnist for The Athletic. It'salso the co host of Robbie and Rex
Road on ESPN one or two pointfive. The Game's Joe. How you

(13:35):
do it today? I'm doing great. Thanks for having me, guys.
How are you guys? Absolutely,we're all doing pretty good, accept Samantha,
who is a Cleveland Guardians fan basedin New York City and has had
to endure some extremely miserable things lately. You write, Samantha, Yeah,
it's been a rough twenty four hours. I've been a Yankee stadium twice in

(13:58):
a day. It did not turnout well on either occasion. So you
know there's that I'm in morning nowmoney. I'm sorry. You could be
a Tigers fan. I mean Icould. I could always be worse right
for Tigers. Yeah, it's prettyrough. So, uh, Joe,

(14:22):
obviously we had you on, notjust because you're a fantastic writer you've been
covering the Titans for a long time, and not just because you have Michigan
roots like me and Shaddy both do, but because the Titans are in the
news, big new stadium, domedstadium, lots of money, lots of
questions about exactly where that money iscoming from. I know they're kind of

(14:46):
trying to sell it as a like, uh the public money free or no
cost to Nashville residence type solution,but it wasn't long before we started picking
out holes in that. Can youtell me what's the latest on the reporting
around that and what's the like reception, what's the temperature like of people to
this deal being announced? Yeah?Well, A big, big thing about

(15:11):
this deal that is I haven't seena situation exactly like this, Although I
can't say that I've you know,studied the ins and outs of all these
deals, and I think there aresome now there's some parallels among a lot
of them. But this one's interestingbecause it really it centers around the selling

(15:31):
of it centers around the nineteen ninetysix lease that and this one, this
one to referendum back then and waswas uh, you know, voted in
with ease um you know, thelease with the Titans in the city,
which had this sort of uh vagueyou know, uh, you know,
basically a provision to keep it upwith you know, state of the yard

(15:54):
or what I don't have in frontof me, but basically like keep it
up to top shame and relative tothe rest of the NFL, which an
independent auditor which was hired by theMayor's office and the and the Council Metro
Council of Nashville hand back and saidit would be between one point seven to

(16:15):
five five and one point nine fivebillion to do so. Now, an
earlier, less extensive estimate was morelike a few hundred millions, so they're
they're already. I think that's thebiggest um argument against this, and it's
also the way it's being sold isthat, you know, this deal takes
that money one point, you know, close to two million off of the

(16:37):
plate of taxpayers of Nashville, whichmeans this money can be spent on other
things. That's how Mayor John Cooperis selling I mean the press release was
headlined with that, you know,the old deal and how basically add it
has become right. Um, Butof course now there are council members saying,
Okay, how did you get that? How did you get those numbers?

(17:00):
And so that's gonna be part ofthe fight ahead for sure, is
like, okay, let's let's breakall that down there. There's a lot
of details that still haven't been uh, you know, been communicated. But
I will say I personally think thatthis. I think that the mayor is
going to have the numbers, andI think the bottom line is, yeah,

(17:22):
they're of course there's public money.I mean the governor, Governor Bill
Lee committed five hundred million under thebasically under the provision that this would be
an enclosed stadium because of the eventsthat then you could have. Right,
So this was announced in March.So he put in five hundred million from
the state, which is that's taxpayermoney from the state. Now it's not

(17:45):
the the Davidson County, which iswhere of course Nashville is. But the
deal does it doesn't touch property taxesfor Davidson County. It doesn't touch like
a countywide or citywide sales tax.It's sales tax at the stadium and in
the mixed use around the stadium topay for it. So I think the
reception largely has been favorable, withsome strong distending voices, and I'm very

(18:11):
interested to see if this actually becomesa fight or not. So speaking of
the enclosed stadium issue, I thinkone of the big reasons to do this
is that it now allows the Titanspotentially to post a Super Bowl once this
facility is open. But there's alot of pressure on the NFL right now

(18:32):
to not award eventst like Super Bowlsto states that are essentially in violation of
the civil rights of their citizens.And you know, we saw this happen
with an All Star Game in MajorLeague Baseball a year ago, where the
league chose to move the game outof Georgia into Colorado because of something like
this. So I'm curious sort ofwhere they're at on that, And you
know, how much obviously a lotcan change in a couple of years if

(18:56):
we don't expect the stadium to bebuilt until or to be open until twenty
six. But you know, isthis something that has been discussed or the
possibility that you're not necessarily getting aSuper Bowl just because you're getting a new
facility. Yeah, no, that'sa great point. And you know then
frankly, you know, I wishI would have asked that question the other
day because you know, and it'swe'll see where things are down the road

(19:19):
when it gets to that. ButI think it's a very fair point to
bring up. And you know,we don't know if the NFL is going
to actually um act on that likeMajor League Baseball did, but um certainly
the Titans as of now are andof course this is all part of selling
you know, the stadium. TheTitans are outwardly almost almost guaranteeing they're getting

(19:45):
a Super Bowl, and not justthat um really that they think that they
would be in rotations, you know, to be regularly, and I would
agree that if they get it.I think because of natural as an event
city, that they would be.I think the weather is you know,
it's it's kind of border line,but usually it's okay. Remember I think
that because of what half with thedraft here that they would be in rotating.

(20:07):
But to your point, does thatactually, you know, does that
become um something that where the NFLcan't just ignore it and it causes them
to avoid states like Tennessee, which, of course, uh, you know,
because it certainly has some some illegalthings going on right now that are

(20:29):
very bothersome. So another sort ofthing that comes up with indoor and closed
stadiums is the issue of artificial turf. So we've come obviously a very long
way since the early days when itwas like, you know, playing on
a miniature golf course. But Ilook, I'm not a turf grass expert.
I don't expect you to be either, But I am curious if they

(20:49):
have said anything or if you haveany insights sort of onto what kind of
technology they're using on the turf thereare we using sort of there's so many
different things that have been brought inin both baseball and football in this regard
that they're saying it's really a betterplaying surface than it used to be.
So is there any information out thereyet on what they're doing to make sure

(21:11):
the playing surface is safe for theparticipants. Yet yeah, I mean they
have this hybrid turf in there.The Titans do in their practice facility,
which you know, of course totheir point, Eric Henry very valuable player
and he feels good on it andthey practice on it, and so you
know, there's also talk about,um, I know that there was some

(21:33):
talk about some of these like palettesof grats have actually not been as safe.
Now I haven't seen a study thatactually says that, but there's at
least rumblings about that. But theybasically the Titans are essentially saying it's not
feasible that the space is very tightaround where the stadium will be built,

(21:53):
so they can't do the like bringingthe huge pallets like they do in like
Arizona. But I'm very interested onthat. In the NFLPA, as you
all know, is you know,is beating the druma on grass versus artificial
and I totally get. I mean, every study tells you it's it's way
less pounding if you're on grass.So I know they're coming up with these

(22:15):
hybrid um and synthetic surfaces that aremore like grass, and maybe by the
time this place opens, you know, they'll they'll have advanced there. But
I don't think that the grass discussionis over and the Titans want to be
over. I know, the retractableroof part is over, like they're you
know, they're not doing that,which I think is a shame as well.
But I think there's still more discussionto be had on the whole grass

(22:37):
thing. Joe. We're coming outof what we called yacht Summer, where
it seems like every week there wasjust a new an interesting news story being
made around the NFL world on ayacht, and recently the Athletic you know
wrote and stuff did sporting and we'vequite a bit recently about Dan Snyder,

(23:03):
who was one of our our friendson yachts this summer. Now there's no
comparison, right, like, likeAmy Adams Strunk is not even in the
same stratosphere is Dan Snyder in somany different ways. So I'm not going
to ask you, like compare protrast, but what are some things the Titans

(23:25):
fans should really get excited about orreally be appreciative of, you know,
with their ownership group, just becauselet's compare, Like it was a major
controversy at the level of like WaltWall coverage when Bud Adams flip someone the
bird, and that feels like sucha quaint time in my NFL life.

(23:49):
Yeah, well that's that's one thingthat if you want to make comparisons,
I think you've talked to anyone whohas been in the Titans organization for you
know, for long enough to makethe comparison, and they would tell you
that Amy Adam Strunk is absolutely abetter owner than her father was. Um.

(24:11):
You know, you can go backto you can go back to you
know, firing Bump Phillips because hecouldn't beat the freaking steel curtain back in
the seventies if you want, um, you know, but Amy I'm Strunk.
If you want to compare her todirect predecessors, you know this,
Uh, this city was absolutely donewith the Titans, largely because you know

(24:33):
they've gone five and twenty seven overtwo seasons, but also just the absentee
ownership. Um, you know,it was it was other kids of Buds
and Tommy Smith was controlling owner,and it was you know, fly in
for a couple hours on a Sundayfrom Texas and then maybe see the next
game, maybe not, and alot just a lot of disconnect with the

(24:59):
community, a lot of people reallyunhappy with ownership. And she came in
in I think February of twenty sixteen, and you know, just really did
some common sense things like don't bea face of the franchise, actually speak
on these But also she made goodhires. You know, she hired John
Robinson. Now, of course,you know, the hire of Mark Malarkey

(25:21):
absolutely violated the Rooney rule, ashe has discussed later, and so the
Titans deserve a lot of criticism forthat amy and'm struck as well, and
just because yeah, like just becausea lot of other people do it.
If you get caught doing it,then you deserve the you know, the
shame that comes with that. Butas far as m hiring John Robinson,

(25:44):
the decision to fire Milarchy later andhire Mike Rabel, building an actual locker
room that looks like a professional team'slocker room, investing in infrastructure, being
around Nashville, actually going out liketailgating with fans, which he's done a
lot available to us, which she'sis pretty good about, you know,
relative to other owners. No,she's been really really excellent um in in

(26:10):
that job. And I think it'sreally the number one thing when you talk
about this franchise becoming competent and respectable. You start with her, Let's go,
you know, from where the buckultimately stops to the most important position
on the field. Is there somewistful eyes not just from obviously fans,

(26:33):
but also maybe within the organization andwhat Arthur Smith's being able to do with
the quarterback position down at Atlanta whilethe Titans are kind of left holding the
bag with Ryan Tannehill, who doesn'tlook like he did under his former offensive
coordinator. So so what do yousee as sort of the future of the
quarterback position? And is it MalikWillis Yeah, good questions. Yeah,

(26:56):
as far as I mean, firstof all, wistfully looking at Arthur Smith,
Absolutely he was. He was reallygood, and he you know,
the better OCA than Todd Downing,and he was terrific with Ryan Tannehill.
But if you want to go justplayer for player and compared to Tannehill and
Mariota, it's still you know,the Titans, and I would I would
agree with them, would take Tannehillimmediately over Mariota. And you know,

(27:19):
one huge difference if you go backto two years ago, and the Titans
had a thirty one point of gameoffense. They had I would argue one
of the best offensive lines in theleague before taila Wan towards Hill, and
even after he got hurt, itwas still very good at A J.
Brown at receiver, at John newSmith at tight end, that Corey Davis

(27:41):
at receiver, that Derrick Hennery havinga two thousand yards season. So Arthur
Smith also missed by Ryan Tannehill,but all those things badly missed by Ryan
Tannhill. I would actually argue RyanTannehill's play this year has been one of
the brightest spots for this team.They're so diminished on offense, especially when
you think back to that two yearsago, and that really falls on the

(28:03):
shoulders of John Robinson. He's madea lot of bad choices up front.
I think he made a terrible choicein trading A. J. Brown I
thought at the time. I haven'tchanged one bit from that. I think
it was a devastating mistake. Soyes, looking at Arthur Smith, but
not like Tannehill is still a goodquarterback here. I mean, I think
he's the best quarterback they've had heresince Steve McNair. We also know what

(28:27):
he did in the playoffs. Hedid not rise to the moment. He
did the opposite of rising to themoment. And I just so, I
don't know how long you know,they have They have another year of course
on his deal along with Derrick Henry, and I really I don't have a
great feel yet for Malik Willis.Milink Willis. There's a reason he went
in the third round. It's ahuge, huge project. He has some

(28:52):
tools that are I think special.He has a massive arm, he's a
he's a tremendous Yeah. I thinkhe's He's been tremendous in terms of in
the locker room and around the team. I think he could be a good
leader. I just don't know reallyif consistent accuracy and just the consistency of

(29:15):
that. Just so far, he'snot close. Will he get there?
He might? UM's it's gonna bereally interesting going into next spring how he
looks. I mean, how muchcan they even you know, they really
put him in him right now?Basically he's the scout team quarterback right Um.
He showed some progress during the preseason, but like if you make me

(29:36):
bet right now, like Malik willsIs gonna be a good starting quarterback in
the NFL or not like I'd haveto bet, know, but without without
feeling great about it, because youcan grow a lot, and I think
a lot of these quarterbacks in theNFL have growing paints in front of everyone
and then people give up on himand then you realize, yeah, Peyton
Manning through thirty one picks in likeyou know, for a year right with

(29:59):
a team. But just right now, it's just still so early to have
a great deal for Bleak Willis.We have this thing. It started as
kind of a coincidence and then abit sort of a running gag, the
tie sports media question at the endof the interview. And Joe, of
course you were with Lanting State Journalfor I think ten years and Detroit Free

(30:22):
Press for almost as long before youwent to the Tennessee and with the athletic
they are in Nashville. Um soDetroit and Nashville. There's been some some
some direct rivalries in terms of hockey, uh, you know, the Red
Wigs fade, the Predators rise up, and soccer. Detroit seemed to be
likely in line for an MLS bituntil Nashville. It's like, hey,

(30:45):
uh, how about how about us? And MLS was like, yes,
please, absolutely. Um So I'mjust curious what the difference is in sports,
sports culture and covering sports because,as you mentioned Nashville, it's a
big event city. There's a lotgoing on, there's a lot to do
besides watch the sports teams, andmaybe hasn't been so much in Detroit.

(31:06):
Yeah, that's a you know,that's a that's a really interesting thing.
Um. If I'm gonna get youin trouble, don't stress. Ye,
no, no, it's fine.Well, look, I mean I love
I love both places. First ofall, I love them both dearly.
We love living here. I loveDetroit. I still get upset when I

(31:26):
hear some things people say about Detroit. And that's a long term thing.
Um. So I'll say this way, Detroit, there's no comparison in terms
of well, especially as a professionalsports city, there's no comparison. You're
talking about the generational fandom that you'vegot four teams and you've got generational fandom,

(31:48):
and I think you've got a lotof passion and here you have obviously
you have one team that moved fromHouston. Uh, and look they've done
a good job of growing that fanbase. But it does not compare.
You know, I would say tothe best NFL cities in terms of support,
it's gonna take time. I dothink there's it's a little different with
the Predators because it's their own teamthat they had from the start. Yea,

(32:13):
look the game day atmosphere in Bridgestone. I would put it up against
most license I really would. Whenthings are rolling and I go back to
you, obviously you have a StanleyCup final run and it's gonna be great,
but it was bonkers, and it'sjust, you know, there's terms
of a place to go to agame, and then the surroundings and what

(32:38):
you have for a pregame and postgame atmosphere. It's hard to beat in
Nashville. So it's a it's avery good, you know again young,
but very good fan base for thepress. But yeah, look when you
talk about anyone's still choosing to bea Lions fan blows my mind. You
know. I stepped away when verysame and is retired. I said,

(33:00):
that's it. I'm gonna make funof them. The rest of my life
has been a wonderful life choice forme. But I still you know,
I mean, I have a sonwho is the same way, like it's
in your heart and I and Istill root for those people to someday get
the payoff. But it's just it'shard to compete with that generational fandom and
the tradition everything like that. Ithink they're great sports cities in different ways.

(33:22):
This is still very much he look, Detroit is too. It's a
great college sports town, great collegesports state. If this is still as
we're seeing this fall with the reemergence of Tennessee, this is still very
much a college football state. Allright, Well, Joe, you have
been a great sport coming on withus today. Where can people follow your
work? Oh well, well thankslov Rammy. Yeah, at the athletic

(33:45):
Athletic dot com and you know,at Joe Rextroad on Twitter you can.
You can get at me there.And you know also ye at the radio
six to ten am Central Um onthe one or two five the game app
if you want to hear you know, I do actually rip the Lions quite
a bit. It's become I sometimessinging grid Iron heroes, you know.

(34:07):
And I have my little Lions coffeemug. So we talked for about Lions
too. But yeah, yeah,yeah, I can't help it. Yeah,
yeah, no, uh, yourathletic colleague Chris Burke and I did
the initial Athletic Lions podcast and wecalled it backward down the field. So
you know, I'm not I'm notopposed entirely to making fun of the Lions,

(34:30):
but I still do beat my headagainst that. Well anyway, Joe,
appreciate the time. You have agreat day. Okay, thanks for
having me. Great talking to youall. Thanks absolutely. There he goes
Joe rex Road, senior writer andcolumnist for The Athletic, co host of
Robbie and Rex Road on ESPN oneor two point five the game. We
are three and out your National NFLpodcasting. We come back. We're gonna

(34:52):
pick every single game of the weekseven NFL spread, straight up and against
the spread right here on three andout you're National NFL podcast. All right,
we're back. I'm threeing out yourNational NFL podcast. Great stuff from
Joe as always. Let's go,guys. Let's do it a whole slate

(35:12):
of NFL games straight up and againstthe spread, every single week, just
like we always do. Let's getto it. The Saints getting two points
there, underdogs at the Arizona Cardinals, guys, we've been picking them every
single week to maybe come back andfinally be the Cardinals we expected. I
would love to know where you guysare at at this point. I'm so

(35:36):
sick of picking the Cardinals, andyet I keep feeling like I may have
been forced into that situation and nowwhere we're in another one of those like,
oh, we might have another DoDThursday Night game here, But like,
guys, I just I can't takeNew Orleans in Arizona under the circumstances,
with the quarterback situation that they have. I hate myself for doing this,
but I don't feel that I havea choice. I have to take

(35:57):
the Cardinals. Yes, and thisscreams done Thursday night game? Like can
you score negative points? Can thisbe a zero zero tie? Like?
What more do these two teams needto do besides play each other to prove
to us that they're not worth thehype that we gave them earlier on in

(36:20):
this season. So I'm going topick the Cardinals begrudgingly, but only because
I dislike the Saints slightly more.Yeah, that's where I'm at too.
I'll take the Cardinals here home.I only need to cover two points I
can see this going for a fieldgoal for sure. Falcons six point underdogs
at the Cincinnati Bengals. Guys,the conquering Mighty Atlanta Falcons are. Are

(36:46):
we picking them plus a touchdown totheir side? No, I don't believe
that the Falcons defensive backfield can havemuch stopping power against Jamarch, so I
will go with the Bengals here.But again, I probably Falcons against the
spread because the Falcons have been betterthan we've expected all season long, and

(37:09):
they got that big win last week. So I will go Bengals straight up.
With Falcons against the spreading here.Yeah, I think I'm in the
same place Toyed with just kind ofgoing Bengals straight up because I really don't
trust that Atlantic defense is interesting asthe Falcons have been as much as I
think Arthur Smith has been fantastic forthem, I don't know whether I trust

(37:32):
them to cover that or not.But I also don't necessarily trust Incinnati's defense
to completely shut them down. SoI think I'm gonna go Bengals to win.
Falcons against the spread, Yeah,this number is right about where I
expect it, But I think JamarChase and Joe Burrow had their kind of
get back in the groove game.They were a streaky team last year,

(37:54):
They're a streaky team this year.I think they are going to win,
and I think they are going tocover this one at home. I will
take the Bengals and lay the sixLions plus seven at the Cowboys. This
was where it was at the lookaheadline on Sunday before the Sunday Night football.
Cooper Rush could not do anything againstthe Eagles for most of the game,

(38:15):
and now after all of this werekind of back at the Lions plus
seven going to Dallas. Samantha,what do you think. I feel like
we've been burned by the Lions alot. Yeah, and Dallas got burned
by Cooper Rush. A we cango. So how does that washed out?
I'm certainly taking Dallas to win thisone. Unfortunately, just don't think

(38:37):
Detroit can keep up. And I'mterrified for Dared Goff going up against that
tough Dallas defense. But you know, I think I'm in a way Dallas
as well. I just I don'tthink Detroit can cover that. At this
point, Cooper Rushed sort of kindof melt down a lot. Really good
chance. I think the deck Prescottplays in this game, which I don't

(39:00):
know if it actually changes my pickeither way. When when Bailey Zappy does
to you what Bailey Zappy the Lions, I don't think it matters who your
quarterback is if that defense is justso bad worth noting the Lions. You
know, coming off a bye they'remuch much healthier, guys like Comitski or
coming back likely probably not gonna seeJamison Williams yet. So there's some reasons

(39:23):
to like the Lions, but Idon't think enough and submit the nail on
the head I don't love. Buteven with a really good offensive line,
I don't love the Lions against thatDallas defense. So I think this is
Dallas straight up Lions against the spread. That's about where I'm at. But
look, I'm gonna go with theHomer pick here. I like the Lions
off the bye, um I thinkCowboys. I don't want to go with

(39:46):
Cowboys and lay seven for sure beforethat Pat's game. The Lions are actually
undefeated against the spread as much aswe had close, but no cigar if
you if you were betting the Lions, it was cigar on cigar on cigar
because the lines are keeping it close. I think they are going to keep
it close. Cowboys straight up isalmost certainly the right player. But I'm

(40:07):
gonna be bold, I'm gonna bestupid. I'm gonna take to trait Coults
getting two and a half points atthe Tennessee Titans. I officially have no
idea what to make of this,Shaddy, can you help me out?
I what is up with the Coltsschedule that after this weekend they're done against
both the Jaguars and Titans. Howis that? That's wild? What the

(40:29):
schedule makers decided to do with theAFC South, Like let's get all of
the good games out of the wayso they can just play the Texans later
on? Like? Why worth notingthat the Colts lost to the Titans just
a couple of weeks ago. Sincethen they're undefeated. It was a closer
game than it probably should have been. And I think the Colts have gotten

(40:52):
better. They're they're so they're liketwenty seven question marks in these two sentences.
I'm gonna go Colts here. Idon't love it. I just think
that they're trending up until the righton their way to Samantha super Bowl prediction.
Whereas the Titans still just seem kindof staggered. I still just I
know what Joe rex Road said,I know that they're still high on Tannehill.

(41:15):
I'm not, and I think that, yeah, after the last time
around, the Coals will be moreprepared than they were against Derrek Henry Company
last time. Yeah, so far, I know a season and the third
into this. I'm not super impressedwith how the schedulemakers have handled the seventeen
game season because we're seeing a lotof like weird crap like this, like

(41:38):
you've played all your divisional opponents byweek six before you've even had to buy
This is weird and doesn't make anysense. So it's a little bit anti
climactic, and I wonder how thisone goes if it's played later in the
season. But we already saw thematchup once. I think these teams are
close enough that we agree sort ofon the split if you're just going with
the Lake Murphy's lot picks. ButI also think the Cults are trending the

(41:59):
right way and the Titans are kindof hanging around the middle as they always
are, So I'm going to takethe Colts here. Yeah, once again,
my metrics has this just about aneven game. Colts getting two and
a half on the road speaks exactlyto that. That means it's a pick
them on a neutral field. Andlike you guys said, I'm gonna pick
the team and the top team thatlooks like it's at least kind of figured

(42:22):
something out. You're gonna take theColts Packers minus five and a half at
the Washington Commanders, and guys,by the time this episode goes up,
I will have an article up atfive thirty eight titled the Green Bay Packers
can't win with this Aaron Rodgers,and I believe that that is true,
or I wouldn't have signed my nameto it. However, I believe they

(42:43):
can win at the Washington Commanders,and I believe they can cover five and
a half. Samanthay agree. Yeah, you know, we guys like I
never picking the Packers again. Thisis a disaster, Like we're just we're
done with this, right, Butthen you see the Commanders and you think,
oh, but that's the thing.See, there's always a thing and
the Commanders if there was ever athing or the thing, right, So

(43:04):
yeah, yeah, Packers here,it's going to be ugly, gonna be
boring. It's gonna be bad football, but it's going to be the Packers.
I am hopping fully aboard the TaylorHeinekee train. Yeah, I am
boring on my conductor, Calp.I am grabbing a bag of coal on
the way, and maybe not eventhe Tyler Heideck drain like the Bryan Robinson

(43:27):
Junior trade. Like this is justsuch a bad Packers defense. And the
Commanders don't have a lot of thingsgoing for them, but they've got the
ability to run the ball, andnow you've got a quarterback who you know
brings them from levels of pluck heretoo for unknown into pluck territory. And
I think this is going to bea win for them. I think they

(43:47):
have the ability at least to coverthe spread. But I'm gonna go ahead
and pick the Commanders straight up tobeat the Packers. And the Packers are
gonna do some serious come to Jesusmoments, because I said it last week.
If you can't remember that Aaron Jonesis on your roster, you don't
deserve to win football games. Andthat seems to be where the Packers are

(44:08):
at. Yeah. I almost mentionedduring Our Life he Takeaways on Monday morning
that at Twitter. You know,Twitter now has like the personalized trendings.
You have no idea what's actually trendingfor everyone. You just have trending like
within your interests and mine. Whilewe're recording, I noticed that trending was
Heineke and christ Jesus, and Iwas like, you know, I'm not

(44:34):
I'm not touching this. Whatever thisis, I don't want to be there
everybody. Of course, it waspeople talking about Taylor Heinekey coming on to
replace Carson Wentz and yeah, potentialupgrade there at quarterback. Bucks ten and
a half point favorites at the CarolinaPanthers, Shaddy, I am dying to
know you take here. I wantto know what the Bucketeers have done this

(44:58):
season to be ten and a halfpoint favorites. Anybody? Are they going
to score ten and a half points? Like that's just weird to me?
Like the Panthers are terrible, Butwhat is this Buccaneers team that you think
they're that much better? Now?Could they? Could they absolutely win by
that kind of margin? Absolutely?Like the Panthers are terrible, the Buccaneers

(45:19):
defense is more than solid. They'regonna have their way with the Panthers.
They're gonna win this game, butI cannot pick them against the spread here
because that is just you have notbeen that good all season long. This
this very very easily could be likea ten six or like a seventeen ten
ball game, and I just can'tdo it. So buccaneer, straight up

(45:43):
Panthers spread. I don't even liketaking a favorite and ten and a half
points when it's like a good team. And the Buccaneers are really not like
a good team right now. They'relike an okay, slightly above average team,
and they can't score a point.So this is why this line is
battling to me, because it's like, of course, yes, the Buccaneers

(46:05):
are going to beat the Panthers.They are. They're a much better football
team, but they don't win byhuge margins. That's not what they do.
They haven't done that all season long, winning games. Like when you're
scoring like thirteen points a game,how are you gonna win by ten and
a half like this? Really they'regonna shot him out. I mean,
I don't know if it's the Panthers. Maybe this is a twelve. It's
a be hilarious and kind of great, but yeah, I mean, I

(46:29):
don't care how bad the Panthers are. I kind of happens absolutely too much.
I will take the Panthers against theScribe exactly there with you, both
Giants plus three, three point underdogsat the Jacksonville Jaguars. M Samantha,
what's your read on this? Ohgive me the Giants. Give me the
Giants. As soon as you toldme they were underdogs, I got yep,

(46:52):
you know what. I'll take theGiants here. I don't know if
I think they can win, butyou're gonna give me the three. I'll
take this. Yeah, what theJaguars are favored against a five and one
team like, that's that's drunk.That is that is absolute weirdness. Um,

(47:17):
I'm gonna take them. I'm gonnaI'm gonna take the Jaguars, though,
I will take them because the wayin which the Giants have been beating
teams I don't think works against theJaguars. It's not like Danny Dimes has
been fantastic. It's like Danny Densis gonna throw for five hundred yards against
the Jaguars defense, which which manycan like they're not a great past defense,

(47:40):
but in terms of like running theball, ball control, stopping the
run. That's how the Giants havebeen been so good earlier in the season,
and the Jaguars are good in thoseways too, And I just think
overall, I think the matchup isbetter at home for the Jaguars. I
think it's close. Um picking thejag bust away. Yeah, if you

(48:02):
assume the Jaguars are getting a typicalyou know, two two and a half
point home field advantage, and youknow, you look at certain numbers,
this line kind of makes sense.It's about where it should be. But
in reality, again, as youguys said, like what the Giants are
doing is not going to play thatwell against what the Jaguars do well.

(48:22):
Jaguars defense had a little bit ofa rough week last week, but I
still think this matchup favors the Jags. I haven't gonna take them, and
I'm gonna lay the three Browns plussix and a half at the Baltimore Ravens.
Oh Man, I would say thatI'm surprised by this number, but
at this point in the year,I'm not so much Browns six and a

(48:43):
half point underdogs. Are you takingthem at Baltimore? Shoddy? I will
take the Ravens to cover here aswell, because oh, there's some regression
to the mean. I think whenwhen you start talking about the AFC North
and all the crazy things that happened, and all of these games like since
time immoral have been like ten sevenor ten six, or you know,

(49:06):
some crazy combination of the field goalsand safeties that you know no one really
wants to mess with. But theBrowns fell apart in a pretty huge fashion
against Bill Belichick, and the Ravenswere embarrassed as well. And if I
have to pick one team to sortof come back from the embarrassment and like

(49:29):
lay it all on the table tolike re establish themselves as the top team
in the NFL, that's the Ravens. And if I have to pick another
team to sort of like tug histail between its legs and run away,
that's the Browns. And I thinkthat's what happens here. I'm not saying
the Browns don't sort of get itback together, but I would not be
surprised if organizationally they are just like, well, let's pack it in until

(49:49):
we get our quarterback back, becausewe are Dunzo. And I think that's
kind of where they're at is wherethey looked like when you watch that game
against the Patriots, and the Ravenshave a little bit more to f for
right now. Yeah, there's averychance this is one of those twelve to
nine AFC nor Like Chaos Goblo trashbowls that is on the table forever in

(50:09):
every AFC North matchup. But look, the Browns defense has looked so so
bad for the bulk of the season. They don't really have the excuse of
injuries that they had at one point. Their stars are not performing. A
lot of the guys in the secondarylook like they're quitting on plays that the

(50:30):
coaching has been horrendously bad on thatside of the ball. If I'm the
Ravens, I'm furious that I kindof got embarrassed by the Giants a week
ago, and now I have thisBrowns defense which is in full like meltdown
mode that I could take advantage of, as well as Jacoby Brissetque coming off
a really pretty poor performance. SoI will take the Ruins. I will

(50:51):
also lay the favorite. Yeah,I am on the Ravens train here.
The thing with the Giants came was, you know, yeah, the Giants
will playing him close. Ravens reallyhad that in cruise control mode of a
few minutes to go, and thena bad snap went right past Lamar Jackson
and he like ran back, gotit popped up through a great ball.
It just happened to be that hedidn't scan the field fully and completely before

(51:16):
letting it go and missed the safetyback there, and you know, Okay,
there's your first pick of the year, New York Giants. I don't
really think that that was like aLamar implosion or Ravens or whatever. I
think they're gonna be torqued, andI think they've got some frustrations to work
out, and I think they're gonnawork him out on the Browns Jets getting

(51:38):
one and a half at the DenverBroncos. I know why that is the
way it is, But I'm curious, Samantha, where are you going with
that line? Oh, I'll takethe Jets. I'm gonna put on good
shirt again. We're gonna try tomove ourselves to Flourno. If there's anything
that I don't believe in is everythingthat is going on with the Broncos right

(52:01):
now. So I don't care ifthey're on the road, like I don't.
I Yes, the Broncos defense isfine, and I don't care Jets
all the way. Jed, Jets, Jets, Jets, Samantha. Are
we wearing the shirt? Is that? Yeah? That play here? Okay,
Okay, I don't. I don'tlove New York in this one,

(52:24):
just because it's their second straight roadgame and you're just going further west.
I don't love that. I thinkthat's a mistake by the schedule makers again,
but they're young enough to not letthat bother them. And I also
think they're young enough to not getcarried away in like any like mile him

(52:45):
mystique. I just think they're sortof going to roll in there, probably,
if anything, way more attuned toall of the Russell Wilson bashing on
social media. And I don't knowif he's able to score more than ten
points against that Jets defense right now, I can prove wrong. There's gonna
be at some point a moment whereRussell Wilson does Russell Wilson things. It

(53:05):
might take a while, it mighttake like, you know, a change
coaching, I guess, but Idon't think it's this week. I think
the Jets are just too good.So Jets yeah, Jets all the way.
For me. My strength ratings andpower metrics and whatever all else suggests
the Jets are about a touchdown betterthan the Bronchos. And I don't care
what you do, what you say, what the situation is, you take

(53:30):
the better team and the points,even on the road, even as much
as that Bronchos defense, because theBroncos defense against Zach Wilson should scare you
as much as the Jets against thisversion of Russell Wilson. But I will
take the Jets plus the one anda half Texans seven point underdogs at the
Las Vegas Raiders. Shotty, whoyou got? My take for this game

(53:52):
is less about who's gonna win,and I will pick the Raiders straight up
Texans against spread. But I willsay this, coming off a bye,
if the Raiders don't win, fireJosh McDaniel, right now, right now.
If you can't beat the Texans,even though both teams are coming up
a bye. If you can't beatthe Texans coming off your bye week,

(54:15):
you are not supposed to be ahead coach. Nanna Fell, get rid
of them, buyer, Josh Mdaniels. Don't leave them on the tarmac.
After this game. So I knowthey had to buy a week ago,
but like, does anybody else feellike they haven't seen the Raiders play
until here or four weeks? It'sreally weird, right, So, Like
I was like, this has comein. I'm like, I don't know
what to do with this. Ihaven't seen these guys in ages like they

(54:36):
haven't. Oh wow, that's bizarre, Okay, Um, I mean yeah,
I think I am going Raiders herebecause I think they have to win
this game. For the way.There's absolutely no pressure on the Texans to
do the same. But I willtake the Texans against the spretch and I'm
with you, Shoddy. I mean, do we end like the second iteration

(54:57):
or the two and a half twopoint five Josh McDaniels experiment after this,
you can't get a win here againstthe Texans? I think maybe we do.
It would be the funniest, thefunniest thing to see that happened to
this dude. But like week six, weeks seven or whatever, it is

(55:17):
back to back, back to backheadcoaching jobs. Um, look, I'm
right where you guys are at thatthe Raiders are like two or three points
better than the Texans, not sevenI'll take the Raiders to win the game,
but the Texans to cover. Seahawksgetting six six point underdogs at the
LA Chargers, Samantha, what doyou think? Yeah, give me the

(55:40):
Seahawks, right, I'm crazy,that's insane. The Chargers are poorly coached
and disorganized, and they make alot of parable in game decisions in a
way that we used to criticize PeteCarroll and the Seahawks for doing it.
Yeah. No, I'm gonna theSeahawks train for now as long as it

(56:01):
continues to go the way that ithas. So I think this is absolutely
an absurd line. I would you'relooking at this like it's the Chargers.
Well, what is the highest potentialthing that the talent level of the Chargers
could achieve? And then you're settinga line that way. But in reality,
that's just not how things have gonefor them. So no, do

(56:22):
you me the Seahawks. I'm gonnago the other way in this one,
just because the seahawks past defense hasbeen really disappointing. Like if you remember
back when when you just putting upall those big numbers, it was to
catch up two other teams or tokeep up with other teams who are almost

(56:43):
scoring at will against the Seahawks defense. This is not the legion of Boom
era Seahawks defense, and I thinkJustin Herbert explodes against that. I think
this is a very talented offense isat trouble clicking, and this feels like
a get right game for that unitmore than it feels like a return to
form by Geno Smith's sort of game, because the Chargers defense is still kind

(57:04):
of kind of scary. They're notThey're not as good as we thought they
could have been. They you know, they've got some some players to get
healthy. So I think it's it'sI'm gonna pick the Chargers straight up and
against the spread. I don't thinkit gets out of control, but I
think, yeah, I think thisis a game right game for the Chargers
offense. In a big point.Yeah, the Chargers defense is allowing twenty

(57:27):
five point three points per game.That's twenty six in the NFL, Seahawks
twenty seven point two that's thirtieth.So the Seahawks defense has been worse scoring
wise, but only by a coupleof points and only by a few ranking
spots. They're both deep in thebottom third of the league, and then
the Seahawks offense has been like apoint better than the Chargers. Now,
for me, I've had a sortof like mental note like okay, yeah,

(57:52):
tie reminder, week six, seven, eight, justin Herbert's ribs are
going to feel start feeling better andwe're gonna start to see some big offensive
numbers from the Charges again. Andmaybe this is this week, but I
still think, you know, lookingat all my numbers and everything, the
Seahawks are like three points worth thanthe Chargers, not six. And I

(58:13):
don't I don't think the Chargers getanywhere near three point boost from their home
field advantage. Take the Chargers towin the game, but the Seahawks to
cover Chiefs. The Kansas City Chiefsthree point favorites at the San Francisco forty
nine Ers. A lot of reasonsto theoretically be excited about this, a
lot of great recent history with thismatchup, But Shaddy, I don't get

(58:36):
this line. No, this isChiefs allful the way, And I think
you're giving the forty nine ers alittle bit too much credit while their defense
with this line, because that's adefense that's been statistically pretty good, but
also like really struggle to come upbig in big situations, and every moment
against Patrick Mahomes is a big situation. He tests you to the m degree

(58:58):
and I don't think the forty nineErs are ready for that defensively. And
then I definitely don't think they're readyto play a full sixty minutes against Patrick
Mahomes offensively where they've got a sortof keep pace and know they have to
come in with a top tier gameplan. You know, they have to
do everything perfectly. I just don'tthink that there's a football team at this
point in twenty twenty two. Yeah. I also don't love that forty nine

(59:21):
Ers defense from an x's no standpointof like talent on talent against the Chiefs,
So that's not really what they're builtfor. So I don't like that
either. Also, look, theChiefs defense is a weak point too,
right, but the forty nine Ersdo not win games by like running up
the score ever, so that's notwhat they do. So I just don't

(59:44):
see any way they're going to beable to keep up with Pat Mahomes with
this team structured the way it is. I Chiefs, that line is weird
to me, very very suspiciously small. I tweeted when the look aheadlines came
out on Sunday than they were twoand a half point favorite, was like,
smash that Chiefs button. Oh mygoodness. Sunday Night Football Steelers seven

(01:00:08):
point underdogs at the Miami Dolphins,probably with Twa Tonga vloa back under center
for Miami. Of course, Samanthais a content director for NBC, works
in the booth on Sunday Night football. Cannot tell you who who to pick,
who to bet for this game,but she can tell you how she

(01:00:29):
thinks it's going to go. Samantha, how do you think it's going to
go? I mean, it's hardto say when we don't actually one hundred
percent for sure know who the quarterbackis for either of these teams right now,
so that's weird. I guess we'regoing with Mitchell for the Steelers,
I guess. And I have somequestions for the Dolphins about bringing to a
back in primetime. That seems likean interesting road to go down. But

(01:00:52):
okay, um, yeah, Imean Miami with Tua if he is truly
all right, I just can't seethe Steelers being a keep up in this
game that late, since we don'treally even know who's gonna be on the
field for either teeth. It's I'mhappy for once that I'm not permitted to
make a pick here because then Ican't be wrong based on information I don't
have. Right, Yeah, let'stake this game off the board for three

(01:01:15):
and out as well as you know, Caesar's and everyone else. But I'll
take a pick. I guess forme, take taken who the quarterback is
out of the equation because we're probablygonna end up getting like biscuit and two
I think I think that's what weend up with, just knowing where everyone's
at. And two has been likethrice cleared now yeah, you know,

(01:01:37):
like literally I just hit the popup that he does not remember the hit
and week four like that's a funlittle nuggets and he can't remember what happened
after the hit that he went backin. During all that being said,
the Steelers have one of the worstpast defenses in the entire league, which

(01:01:58):
is sad for them. It's whathappened to them last season. But without
JJ Watt, you're sorry. Withoutt J Watt, you just can't stop
the pass. And so I thinkeven if you end up with some back
quarterback that isn't. I still thinkyou move the ball down the field,
reverse that around. I don't carewho's playing quarterback. The Steelers would built
to run the ball, and theDolphins are one of the best run defenses,
so I think this is a Dolphinsgame no matter what I think the

(01:02:22):
spread, how bad it is forPittsburgh depends on how the quarterback situation lands.
And I like Dolphins both straight upagainst the spread because I think that
quarterback situation. Just reading the Teelersright now goes toward the Dolphins and against
the Steelers. Agree on all countsthere. I think of the Dolphins all

(01:02:44):
day, every day as a teamthat gave up thirty eight to Josh Allen
and only scored three against that Bill'sdefense. Dolphins might not be the Bills,
and two of might not be Allen, but I will take the seventh,
you know, I will lay thatseven all day long. Mayars plus
eight at the quietly resurgent New EnglandPatriots. It's been very good over the

(01:03:07):
last couple of weeks. I don'tknow, eight point underdog Chicago Bears,
Shaddy are you taking them? Whyare we watching Chicago in primetime? Like?
I don't know what um this,So I will take the Patriots,
but I'm going to take the Bearsagainst the spread because this is not the

(01:03:28):
Patriots are going to score like twentyfive thirty thirty five points. This feels
like a like seventeen ten or youknow, seventeen thirteen or twenty thirty.
Like this just feels like a gamewhere like, let's let's slow things down.
Everyone's gonna try to run the ball. Let's not let the Bears get
after our quarterback very much. TheBears run defense is slightly less scary than

(01:03:52):
their past defense. This just feelslike a very boring, very like nineteen
ninety six football game for Bill Belichick. That plays into the Bears hands because
that's why they want to play footballas well. So maybe justin Fields makes
a player two. But the Patriotsare just a much better football team.
They're much more talented. They actuallyhave a better wide receiver corps. That's

(01:04:12):
one of a few times in theseason we'll get to say about the Patriots.
So let's let's shout out from thefreaking rooftops. But yeah, Patries
still win, But I think theBears are able to keep it close.
I need someone to explain to mewhy in week seven we are on our
third tour of duty with the Bearsin primetime. I mean, what we
saw this last year, Like,how did this happen? So I guess

(01:04:35):
this is me versus schedulemakers again thisweek, because that's a yikes. Even
if you don't really consider Thursday nighttrue primetime, which we could debate,
this is the second time we've seenthem in the Bears around Sunday night football
in Week one, then um,now we see them again. But yeah,
I are the Patriots eight points betterthan the Bears? Yeah? So

(01:04:58):
are they actually going to win byeight points? I don't know about that.
Um, so I'm going to takethe Patriots. I feel like the
cautious move here is probably to takethe Bears to cover, and That's what
I'm going to too. Yeah,And I want I want to believe in
Justin Fields. I want to believein this Bears project. That they have
surprised me, you know, surprisedthe world a couple of times already this

(01:05:21):
year. But the Pats have justthey seem like they have returned to the
We are just going to dismantle teamsthat don't belong on the same field as
US Pats, that that Bill Belichickhas been making sport of coaches who are
not as good at coaching as him, and this is this is going to

(01:05:43):
be one of those things for me. Um. I want to take the
Bears to cover here, and Iprobably will, but it's it's Patriots straight
up all day long. And Ican only hope that that Bill is in
a charitable run out the clock moodrather than a makeup point move because he's
a couple of points the last coupleof weeks. All right, guys,
we have been making points twice aweek every week, all year round,

(01:06:06):
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We do it every single week.We get big guests on a mid
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(01:06:29):
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