Colts Drama + "Stick a Fork in 'Em" (with Zak Keefer and Bridget Condon)

00:00:00
Speaker 1: I don't know how to make sausage. I don't know what goes in the sausage, but I do know how to build a football team because I've been around for fifty two years. Mark, you've been around forty nine now, Yes, do you know how to make sausage? I do not either. I guess that's to judge Jim or say. At this time, Dan has is here from the Chris Wesley podcast studio with Greg Roseenthal and Mark Sessler. Yes, that is the owner the Indianapolist Cults who rocked the football world, to say the least on Monday with the announcement that fifth year head coach Frank Reich was fired, And that was Greg seis mcnews. Anytime a coach is fired in the middle of the year without much of a heads up, it's always big news. But then what took the story from a big story to huge, borderline surreal gallery of the absurd was his replacement, on an interim basis at least, is forty seven year old former Colts center Jeff Saturday, who until this week was an analyst for ESPN. This is some Maverick owner stuff. Whether you think it's good or bad. We could discuss that, and that's what we're about to do on the show. It's all unprecedented, it's all disarming, like the music playing so deep into the start of this show, and I like it, you know, I just like being destabilized. And I like to imagine Mark eating sausage because I think that's the type of meat product that would most revolt him. Why have we already gone there in this show, a show with a trenchant news item to take into. I'm not saying I liked the hire of Jeff Saturday, but I do like the theater of absurd that sort of followed the Frank Reich firing, and I you like, you like Frank Rereich. We're gonna get into all that that that that the press conference kind of took the news which was already outlandish and just update it. Yeah, and I and went bigger and uh a little peek behind the curtain. Right before we taped today, I was on NFL Now for like the one Last Thought segment, and they're like, oh, we gotta spill out some more of this er say, press conference, and then we'll have Steve Uh with Andrew and Dan on to react. And then in your ears like don't don't go too far, don't go too far, And so my comment was like, you know what, I don't agree with the decisions being made, but let's bring on the weird. Let's keep twenty two weird. And there are serious sides of the story and and big questions Mark that you could ask about the Cults process, and we're gonna have Zach Keefer on in a little bit to really dig into what's going on behind the scenes there. But overall, Um, and I know you were a man that embraces chaos. This is chaos in the Midwest. Yeah, because I feel like you know, on our Friday fun show, we we come up with predictions and they can be um very football hardcore predictions. Some of them I can get strange. And if I had told you last Friday that I my sports lock of the week would be that Jeff Saturday, ESPN analysts former Cults Center would be named the Cults Interim coach, you just laughed me off the show and we'd end it because it's that absurd. But it's so far. That's a new thing with our listeners, which I really like. It shows up my mentions all the time. Anything something stupid happens, like McKinney for the Giants who broke his hand into a t V accident in Cabo. It's like, oh, did Mark predict that on the Friday Show. It's a great it's a great way to steer the minds of the viewers. That's what they think. Um. But before we get to Zach, because really we need to figure out what's going on with the Cults, and nobody knows more about that team than Zach Kieffer, let's get a little more sound from Jim Er say, just to give you again if you're not caught up on the story. During Monday Night football, the Cults call press conference and Ursay explains himself. Some would say defended himself. Uh, you know Chris Ballard the g MS there and of course Jeff Saturday as well, who's just caught in the middle of all this. Let's listen from RSA. I'm glad he doesn't have in l experience. I'm glad he hasn't learned the fear that's in this league. That's because it's tough for our coaches. They're afraid. They go to analytics and it gets difficult. I mean, he doesn't have all that he doesn't have that that fear, and there was no other candidate. We were fortunate that he was available, all right, and we are fortunate to say that this man is available because we know he's extremely busy. I saw that he was on the Pat mcavie show. I'm sure the Athletic is hitting him up. He's got all sorts of stuff going on. Let's welcome in the great Zach Kieffer, who covers the NFL and the Colts for the Athletic. He's also a co host of the one Percent Better Cults podcast. Man, I'll tell you what, Zach, it's not. It hasn't been a good season for this team. But in terms of stuff to talk about home run, I'm exhausted, guys, but it's never going around here. And you just I was I was just losing my mind laughing at what you guys were talking about. I mean, what was the weirdest part of last night was that the sausage comment? Was that the reference to the c I A. Was it Michael Jordan's mis shots? Was it the trip to Mars? Was it comparing just Saturday to Don Shula, Tony Dungee and Bruce arians I mean, where do we start. I think I'll start with I was going to actually use from your great column you wrote off the press conference, your paragrapher, you reference those things, but I'll use the first sentence instead, in which you wrote this feels bold at best and reckless at worst. The decision to fire Rank and bring in Saturday an unprecedented gamble in modern NFL history, one that Jim Ursa spent the better part of thirty five minutes Monday fervently defending as only he can in terms of like the surreal meter, like as a jet span, I know, like Rich Simini and everybody on the Jets speed. We'll talk about the Belichick press conference forever when he resigned his HC of the n y J. On the surreal meter, what is it for you one to ten? While you're sitting in that room digesting it. The surreal meter around here is a lot higher than other cities. I will say that, like if you're around your mercy a lot, you hear these things all the time. Like it's not abnormal for him to say in training camp, the goal is to win three Super Bowls in a row, like with this team, and so you're You're kind of used to these rambling press conferences where you get mentions of John Lennon and Bob Dylan and the CIA and whatever it is. So we're used to the unusual. But um, in terms of my career, I've covered this team for nine years now. Nothing will top August when Andrew Luck retired. But this is up there in terms of just a surreal moment. And this was the first time I thought this is important. This is the first time Jim Mercy made you know, some disparaging marks at the at the BIA, and same with Chris Ballard. They were on the defensive. They were a little um angry, a little feisty about this decision, and you know, look, it's They're hiring a guy who was sixteen, was twenty and sixteen as a high school coach to run an NFL team, who was meeting with coaches yesterday he didn't know the name of Like, this is unprecedented, and to question the qualifications of Jeff Saturday without questioning his playing in credentials is completely fair. So was this weird? Yes? Yes, yes it was, Like do you think that he is going to have the full support of his coaching staff, Like how do you think he is able to transition this week and we've seen some of the decisions he's making in terms of play caller and stuff now uh into being all of their bosses, And how do you think that works over the next nine weeks. Yeah, that's a good question. But I think it's like, I think both things can be true at the same time. Like Jeff Saturday is an awesome dude. Like if you guys have ever met him, he's an awesome dude. He was an awesome player. But this is not This doesn't make sense in any world that we live in. And I think whether those coaches would ever admit it or not, they have to be living and to be honest, they're running out of guys to fire, Like they literally are running out of people to fire. They're gonna turn to a thirty year old assistant quarterbacks coach to call plays on Sunday named Parks Fraser, who four years ago was a assistant to Frank Reich, like an assistant, like the guy that would show up at four thirty in the morning to get the place scripts ready, and he was a quality control coach two years ago. Now he's gonna be calling plays for Sam Ellinger, for Jeff Saturday, like this is this has got maybe one win left in it the rest of the season. It's just hard to see this team. It's hard to take this scene seriously right now. Yeah, I mean it feels like a legitimate um November acid trip for everyone who's absorbing the news. I'm certainly sure for you. I guess my question because Jeff Saturday is a savvy guy. He's been in the media, he'd he was a player, He's been around coaches. He understands like the culture of a locker room and what this kind of move would mean to players in a locker room and what they've already done to that the players in that locker locker room in the last couple of weeks. How does he or what was do you think he was told about the future, because it sounds like it's just walking into a disastrous eight weeks. Why would he want to do it? Um, I guess it's like behind closed doors, you're my guy for head coach, unless like you don't want to do it, Like why would you leave your career and come do something where you're now in the middle of this Maelstrom. I just I'm I don't understand Jeff Saturday's decision to take the job. Mark. Before I answer, I have to mention I got on Twitter last night and I saw your tweet that basically said Jimmercy is driving the gold spaceship into the sun, and I just lost it. I don't know why that was so funny to me. I could hear it in your voice. That's that's kind of where we're at. And one of the most poignant moments of this press conference last night was I asked Jeff Saturday, like, no offense, Jeff, but like, how the hell did this happen? And he said basically, I was as stunned as anybody. When he got the call late Sunday night, he asked Jim or point blank, why are you considering me for this job? Like that's a totally fair question. And we asked Jim Mercy that question fifteen times in fifteen different ways last night, and the only real answer we got was that he likes him, and Jim Mercy mentioned that, look, I mean this is this is a real quote that this team has been one of the winning his team since two thousand. They're in the upper quartile of the top quar tire of the upper quartile, whatever the hell that means. But the problem is the problem is they're they're trying to grab onto the glory days. They're trying to grab onto the Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck days. They do not have that quarterback. This was the worst offensive performance we've seen from the franchise in twenty five years on Sunday in Foxborough. They went over fourteen on third day. But to answer your question, Mark, the players were not on board with the benching of Matt Ryan. They were not. Frank Reich's hands were tied. You can make a very strong case they should be playing in two quarterbacks instead of Sam Ellinger, the other being Nick Foles. Are they trying to lose games? They keep saying they're not. They keep fighting off the question that they're waving the white flag. But every move they have made, these are just mercy moves, has made them a worse team and it's hard to see them winning many more games the rest of the season. I would love to know what these veteran defensive players now. The defense is bringing it. The defensive playing well this season, but nobody knows, and I would love to know what Stefan Gilmore thinks, this is the guy that was with England for a long time, an adult organization. What does he think? What does DeForest Buckner think? I mean, this is it's gonna be a fascinating day in the locker room tomorrow, that's for sure. Yeah, and you had said earlier, what does this team have one winning at the rest of the season. I think that to me, it seems like that's the goal here at this point. It's a hard pivot by Ersay, who has a finite amount of time to build another champion and he sees that's not what this team was gonna be. I want to ask you, what do you think he's trying to lose? Yes? Absolutely, I mean, look at the movie at this point, I believe he is and and and he's sending his buddy Saturday in there to kind of keep more morale up and have a guy that he could hang out with in this capacity. I don't know, Listen, I'm curious about the relationship with you guys in the media, also um with Ersay and with the GM Chris Bower, who by the way, got a vote of confidence yesterday. Here's here's Ballard getting fired up talking about his process and one of several grenades I thought lobbed the way towards Keefer and company. And we've not played as well up front as we need to play. And I think you all know my as y'all have been kicking the ship out of me for years for not drafting Whitehouse. And all of a sudden, now look up and you know we're under performing on the offensive line right now. Um, and that's gotta that's gotta take another that's got to improve, that has to improve, and then the turnovers and then the turnovers during the year that you just look at it. We're turning the ball over and we're turning it over inside our fifty And I just I'm just noticing for the first time, Zach that when he says and the turnout, he's talking over a reporter who is coming in with a follow up question. It looked like, Um, what is the general vibe between what you guys are doing and the team and how does that kind of bake into the overall puzzle of what's going on over there? It's not good. Um, you know, they basically made Frank Greig's falling the sword. On Sunday, it was it was sad more than anything. He came into the press conference room in Foxboro and you could just tell. You could hear it in his voice, you could see it in his face. Frank had known for a couple of weeks that it was about to end, and it did end. And then they moved to Jeff Saturday, which really gets all the attention. We're not talking about Frank Reich anymore. That move did make sense. The offense was going nowhere. He wasn't getting it done. But at the same time, he had six starting quarterbacks in five years. Now. His hands are dirty in that because he pushed for the Carson Wentz trade and that didn't work. But that's not that's an organizational failure, like that's a failure from the top down to everybody. They couldn't get this right. And Chris Ballard his hands is dirty or as well, because at the root of all of this this season, at the root of all of it is this offensive line that can't protect sam Ailar was sacked on nine times, you know, use the Ferris Bueller quote, like nine times on Sunday, the most in five years. And and that was why Matt Ryan wasn't able to be effective now. Matt Ryan through interceptions and fumbled, but nobody could have played behind that offensive line, with the exception of maybe Mahomes and Lamar Jackson. So you know, that's where Ballard's mistakes in the off season have cost this team. And that's sort of the source of tension right now is they thought they could play Matt Pryor at left tackle, and they moved him to right tackle, and they played him at right guard. They've now benched him at three different positions, which I can't remember ever happening with this team. It took him nine games to realize that, and they started Danny Pinter at right guard. I don't need to go on and on about this, but this offensive line is unrecognizable right now, and and that's at the root of all of this. I mean, you think go back to Week one. You've got Frank Reich is head coach, You've got Matt Ryan is your quarterback, and you've got Matt Marcus Brady is your O C. Right now in week ten, it's only November eight. They have Jeff Saturday as a head coach, they have Sam Ellinger is the quarterback, and they have Parks Fraser calling the place, like, what the hell just happened? Right? And I mean at Week one, there was a lot of optimism about the Cults. I didn't remember this, but Steve Weish, our friend, reminded me. He was on the Around the NFL Prediction show and he had Frank Rereich as his Coach of the Year and the Cults making the Super Bowl. And he remembers me jump in and be like, Oh, that's a good pick for Coach of the Year because it just like they're gonna can own it. Yeah, at least they could be expectations and all I I look at that offensive line and I think, yeah, Chris Ballard has a lot of fault. But I think you have to listen to what he said. You're at fault, Zach. You banged on about investing too much in the offensive and um and he felt for that in which that that little joke didn't really make any sense because they're still the most highest paid offensive line in the league and the guys who are making a lot of money aren't doing well, so that that didn't totally make sense. But I do put there's some blood on your hands too. I appreciate that, you know what it made sense to me. It made sense to me when Matt Ryan came here, it did make sense, like on a football level, like he was going to get the ball out quicker, he was going to make the layups. Right. That was the famous comment last year about Carson. They had Jonathan Taylor coming off an dred yard season. I just didn't see a line. That's like you mentioned Greg the highest paid in the league forty two million of the salary cap this year. I didn't see Brandon Smith regressing, Ryan Kelly regressing, and Quentin Nelson hasn't been the same player. So you put all that together and that's really where it all went wrong. But look, my hands are dirty too, right, I I miss blocks. I dropped the football as well. Oh you know it's getting bad when they're taking shots at the media. Well you know, of course, Say was a journalism student. He made that clear to all of us. Um. Secondly, I would imagine if you're sitting in the offices of HBO you were wishing that last year's in season Hard Knocks was occurring right now, because I mean that would be something I would be watching the minute it came on. What would Jeff Saturday need to do to. Now, there's obviously a The whole thing with the Rooney rule is has people up in arms, and it should. I mean, this whole thing feels insane. But what would Jeff Saturday need to do to convince this organization or just Jim Mercy that he is gonna be a head coach after this eight game stint? Just lose baby m He follow the follow the owner's orders because clearly the owner is making all the calls. I mean, I don't even think Jeff Saturday has the power to play the quarterback he wants. You're reporting after I noticed this um firing was interesting because you guys seem very clear that URSA has been making all these calls when it came to bringing in Matt Ryan, getting rid of Carson Wentz and in this benching. Yes, yes, that's good to point out. Um. You know, for for a long time, he's been the owner for twenty seven years here, he has fought to be the owner of his father. Wasn't for those you remember bober Say. Bobber Say was a crazy volatile owner who would go down at halftime of games and and demand that the coach fired the quarterback. And he and if he didn't bench the quarterback. He would fire the coach before the game ended, and then he was forty good about it two hours later. So we're talking absolute chaos. So Jimmer said, grew up in the league watching that and decided to be the exact opposite. He would stay out of all this. This is a third consecutive decision where his hands have been very much all over. He demanded that they moved on from Carson Wentz. He told them to bench Matt Ryan, which I don't think Frank Brek wanted to do. I don't think any coach would want to bench Matt Ryan because he's clearly better than Sam Ellinger. And then he hired Jeff's Suturday, and I don't think that's a Chris Ballard move. Why would a GM on Denis want to hire an unproven, untested head coach and Jeff Saturday. So jimr sty has had his say the last couple of weeks, the last couple of years, which is a very un characteristic from him, and that's a bad way to run a franchise. That's metalline, and you gotta wonder, like who's gonna make the next decision? He said that, Jim, that he said Jim. Jim said that Chris Ballard will be back next year, but who's going to make the head coaching higher. Usually that's a GM thing. But he also said Frank was safe six days ago, or at least multiple national reports said Frank Renk is safe last Monday. So we asked that at the very end of the press conference, why should anything you say right now, Jim be taken into account because that was true and it did not go well. He quoted his record, but the problem is the record with Peyton Manning is not coming through the door, and your luck's not coming through the door, and this team is going one direction. It's not up exactly. Really appreciate your time here. We know you're super busy, so um, good luck with everything else. I feel like this is just the beginning of what's gonna be a wild ride through the end of the season and beyond. So you're well eclipped equipped to handle it. So we'll probably check in with you again, but we'll give you a little bit of a break. I know you you need it, you deserve it, a wild ride back into the upper quartile. Yes, thanks for having me. Thank you Zach, and I want to just add one more thing that, um, if you are unaware because you just talked about the end of Sunday Night Show, that we have a lot of new listeners, that Zach wrote an amazing piece on Chris Westling that you could get on The Athletic if you're a subscriber. Now, I do want to just point out the math that Stay was using in terms of the quartile and where where I think he was going with it now. He said, look where the fourth winning is franchise in the league since two thousand, okay, four out of thirty two thirty two teams fourth place. That means we're in the upper quartile of winners. Now the quartile here would be how many teams here, dan uh quartiles eight, it would be a So that's a true statement. They are in this bait, he said, they're film asked me any more questions. By the way, that I'm stopping out at one. Okay, then by the way they found out they fact checked there not the fourth winning, but we'll put that aside. We'll put that aside. So they are in the upper quartile winners, and they he is saying, in the top quartile of that upper quart al now the top quartile of quartile, that would be too that would be too right, So that would also not be correct. He could have just said we're in the top portion of that upper quartile, and I think that's where he was going. They cut the half. He could have just said we're in the top eighth of the league. Maybe that sounds quartile is kind of ad You got to give that well and to use it three times if he didn't need to do that. But like, maybe that's why they hung that that infamous banner back then. Because in world like we are winning extremely important things. I think they should make a new banner like top upper quartile of the top quartesyle. That's good. Uh, get to work on the photo shop on that one. And before we take a break, I just want to ask you guys, like I had to let Zeck go because he was obviously he's getting worked hard by that team right now, But who wants that job? Like, let's say it turns out Jeff Saturday is eight and done. Who wants that job? Who wants a job when the owner clearly is turning into his father and he got his fingers all over the operation and you know, the GM is just gonna do whatever you can do to stay alive, and he probably has no power either. It's like that's a tough gig to walk into when you're trying to advertise like your own company as a great employer or yourself as a great boss, and like you do what he's done over the last week, you're telling, like common NFL fans, that place sounds extremely toxic and totally bizarre. And I and do I want to step into that drama and be the next person yanked around by whatever's happening. There's only a few WHOA, there's only a few coaches that that have options every year. So I'll give you the boring names that everyone everyone wants. But McDaniel's big winner in this, and he can look back and say, see, I was right. It's a good thing. In fact, it's it's funny that that Jeff Saturday a couple of weeks ago, as an analyst, tweeted out like the Raiders stink basically, and so now now you have to go, We'll go find out how how much the Raiders stink with the situation they're facing. And all seriousness too though, like that just tells you that this was not on Jeff Saturday's radar, not phe like, what do you think I'm gonna be a head coach in in thirty days? It's a bizarre story. But remember before we go to break, guys that it's not that complicated. It's not We don't build rockets to go to Mars. We're not nuclear scientists. That is none of our jobs here. It's a very simple jobs that we do here. We cultivate winning cultures, we cultivate toughness. We live by our integrity about the people that we are, and we don't ex act anything more than we expect from ourselves. I feel motivated, I feel power. Yeah, that's the spaceship driving into the night to the sun. All right, let's take a break before we get to one of our favorite long running segments teaser. We'll be right back. Welcome back joining us now. So we had Zach Kiefer, and now we have another friend of the show, NFL Network Zone host and reporter Bridget Condon. Welcome back, Thanks for having me. This music is incredible. Runway there you go. That's why I like. I like what we call behind the glasses known as sausage fingers because it gives you an idea of the person's personality because they always say what they think it sounds like like Kyle Brand as an example, said this sounds like silk stockings on skinn of Max back in a lot about cal Bran and Bridget, you said, this is you on the runway? Yeah, like slow motion walking down. Yeah. Set in the mood for Sunday night? Is this a new Sunday Night football? So you've been waiting all day for the Maybe I kind of like, how are you welcome? I'm great, it's Tuesday. You know, as good as you can be. You just celebrated a birthday. I know I thought that get the invite to the party. But that's cool. Well, I figured the reason why I'm allowed on the show now is because I'm twenty one. Finally, that's good. That's good. I think having Bridge on the show is is to show how much we like you. Um, you're coming on right now. We're gonna talk a little t NF later. Uh, but what we're gonna talk about right now? Hit it? Great? Digger, Yes, oh, Dave, Damna chick on the box. There a long time segment. Bridget, If you just turned twenty one. That means the segment started when you were about thirteen or so. It was early teen years I remember it. Yes, yes, pretty pivotal in my teenage. Yeah, it was formative. I'm sure. Uh stick a forking hum. We are at the time of year now where it's time to figure out which teams we don't need to take seriously anymore. In fact, I would say on some level, Mark, this is your favorite segment um as a podcast person, right because whenever you could just throw teams into the sun, that makes life better. Well, I mean we have different We approach these teams differently, Greg and I certainly do. And when I see a team sitting out there at two and seven and we're getting deep into November by yeah, my mind is starting to lose, um a grip on why I should spend a second thinking about you? Right, you're thinking, like, that's not going to make my game pass rotation. The problem is they play other good team and then now is the QB and decks on his play every Not only that, when they bring in like the fourth string quarterback in week sixteen, the teams are like almost trying to lose. You gotta watch those guys I have learned that will be my personal Vietnam bridget this. This second, by the way, hasn't existed. I don't think for three or four years that just fement and then so it goes away from four years. Yeah, I think there was a time where we had maybe some props, but the budget has been cut. But what we're gonna be here? I know since you were a team when this was launched, U, each of us will take turns nominating a team, and what a stick of fork and it means they have no chance to make the playoffs. And then you could say, and certainly a person like a Greg for instance, we'll say, well, anybody you know that they win all their games, they can make the most. We've gotten it wrong. We've gotten not always, not usually. But this takes takes a little bit of intestinal fortitude to kind of put yourself out on a limb and be sure of a team that is cooked. So before we get into nominating teams, that has to be an animous. We all have to vote a team forked. Okay, I want to throw three out just to get get warmed up, get some blood on our hands quickly, essay style, and you guys can let me know if there's pushback here, but can we safely fork, for instance, the Carolina Panthers, that that was your team that you covered. My hesitation here is because the fan base already hates me, and I hate me even more. But I'm gonna fork them absolutely. I mean, if you have p J Walker starting, and let me remind you he had a zero passer rating in the first half against the Yeah, it's not me and it's factual. Yeah, he's starting over bigger Mayfield, which there is some I don't know if you guys have delved into his contract, there is something there to be said. They get if he plays less than or they get a sorry fourth rounder if he plays more than snaps fifth rounder. If he plays, Yeah, they're cooking the books a little here on the bench. That's why Donald's off the I R I I would say I wrote in the Power Ran because I feel like this is p J Walker's final start, regardless of outcome. They'll probably if Donald's healthy, just run him out there and hope that takes them home, especially if you're saying it it's advantageous for their future not to play. Make I'm comfortable forking the Panthers although it would be the quickest you know, possible regret that we've ever had doing this, because if when they play Thursday night, let's say they beat the Falcons Thursday night and then the Bucks lose in Germany, which is very falling into your trap. I'm just saying they would only be one game out of first, but I do feel comfortable that they will not win enough to pass Atlanta or Tampa. Over the course. It's interesting to how much a difference a week makes, as they say, because like a week ago, I was like, this team is frisky, walkers looking intriguing, the offense has awoken, like were there much better post Matt rule? And then the Bengals game happened and I was like, you're out of here. Yeah, you're out of my universe. I'm a big Steve Wilkes fan. I have a lot of respect from him, and kind of he seems like he doesn't care what anyone thinks, which I kind of like that. Panthers, I feel like a lot of times have just been worried about the outside perspective. He doesn't care. He's doing it his way. I'm a fan of him, but overall, I don't think I don't think they do it. They always find a way to get your hopes up really high and then take your right back. They need that high pick. Yeah, they need that first round. I would be on the fence given the division they play in, had not I started p J Walker over Davis mills Uh in Fantasy this week and the person So for that reason alone, I also vote there for can we quickly fork the Houston Texans the one win Texans? We don't really need to delve deep here, and he pushed back on that one. The Texans are cooked? Can we fork the Cults? Can we? I know they have three wins? I have one concern about this Cults thing is that, um, they're trying so hard for this to spend out. And we've covered it in our previous segment, but what if like the greatest sports thing ever happens of all time and Jeff Saturday guides them to like a six and two mark or something and they eke out like a wild card. Well, we don't get the guillotine if that happens. I'm just saying, like I kind of have a feeling that everything when the whole universe is saying, oh, this is gonna go so negatively. I don't know. Well, we do make a generous donation, but I will fork them to a charity if we get that, like that is in honor of that city. If we get it, that is true, Greg specifically, it depends whoever you know nominates the team. That's but we don't want to force you into it either. Mark, if you really think that something some funny business can happen, but just know it might come back on you if they get worse. I don't have a big problem forking the Cults for the same reason as the Panthers. The game that I just watched, I was thinking, Okay, maybe you couldn't make an argument for the Cults because their division is so lousy. But they've almost played all of their division games already and they weren't good in that those and they still the Eagles. They still have a game at Cowboys, at Vikings, at Giants. That's a lot. Are you buying my scenario that maybe something magical happen. No, Like I I don't want to speak because I don't want to get them upset with me. But I could side with you just in a sense that it would just be a crazy situation, right, Jeff Saturday, he's gonna go in there and rob rob this locker room. How long does that last? Room? Right? Fairly, I don't know. Maybe after they hire the thirty year old today to call the plays. I want to water back my decision here. I would love for it to happen, if only because we do these Monday Night football recaps, and I happened to look at the schedule the rest of the way, and Joe and Troy are gonna be wondering what happened to great late season games. The Monday night football schedule the rest of the year is rough. It includes two cults games, including a cult Steelers game in week twelve, in a cult Chargers game at least the Charges. Maybe I'll be in the mix in six team makes sense because there's so many of your personal apocalypse unquote safe teams this year that are having a really bad season. I'm guessing they're showing up repeatedly. All right, let's let's now nominate them too. So we got three already forked get using bridges terrible. Okay, I'm like, where's this coming? Um? Okay, I am going to fork the Packers. I know this is contin you're going to nominate the nice having you on Bridget Do I tell you it's just me because I haven't lived this much. So do I tell you why I'm nominating them? Yeah, you're pitching them? Okay, all right, I am pitching the Packers three and six. I know it's controversial. Aaron Rodgers an incredible quarterback. Never bet against him. I'm betting against him. They lost to the Lions. They lost to the Lions, And not only did they lose to the Lions, nine different players got hurt during that game. They just lost for Shawn Gary for the season. Eric Stokes, I don't know what the latest on him, but questionable. Uh Romeo Dabbs with the ankle sprain. Aaron Jones. Of course he's practicing this week. But when Aaron Jones goes down, your threat, your biggest threat on offense, I don't know what else you got. Mike McCarthy, he got choked up yesterday talking about going back to Green Bay. I think the Cowboys are going to destroy them this weekend. From not only okay, so their next three games Cowboys, Titans, Eagles, it's just they could potentially be three and nine. I um got flamed on our Thursday preview show for suggesting that the Packers might only win seven games. Why didn't you tell me that before the show? Well, I'm with you. I'm siding with you now because you almost locked them up against the lines zero. Do you being flamed? Yeah? Greg was like snickering, like his own little research. Actually, I think a little bit. Statement was just surprised because bridgets here, I have to slide over a little bit closer to you, guys that I could feel the heat between you right now. I love what Bridget did because it is bold, and my initial instinct is to push back because it's Aaron Rodgers and way watch these games. I don't think he's that far away. He to me, he's like Tom Brady where if I had to rank him, And this is about where they are in the pf'd say they're in the top twelve quarterbacks of the year. Like they're around twelve each of them. They're not getting killed because of their quarterback play. And there's a lot of good players on their team, and they have a history obviously under Matt Lafleur. And so if there's a team that's gonna rally from three and six they would be it, but you are getting ahead of it with them playing the Cowboys, the Titans, and the Eagles in the next three weeks. Nothing that they've done this season indicates that they can go to and one in those games. And if they don't go to and one in those games, your games behind the Vikings right not gonna win the division. The division is basically gone. In the NFC, third wild card might be a little sketchy where you only need nine wins, so it's not crazy, but I I just haven't seen believe well, that's that's an issue that we have to deal with here. But the Cowboys Titens, Eagles at Bears. Let's say best case scenario there four, they go to and two, so they're five and eight, and then they get home Rams at Dolphin's home, Viking. I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm gonna Dolphins. I'm gonna for them. I'm gonna for I feel I feel like they're done. They do they stink? Are they just really unlucky? They seem very mediocre and they just find ways to lose. Close to tell me about tell me that loss was unlucky against Detroit. I think it was a little unlucky hundred yards. I know, but Greg, look at what every other team is done to Detroit's defense, and I I kind of it's hard to adjust to what's happening in Green Bay. It's hard to adjust to what's happening. The fact that Aaron Rodgers is not playing very well. It's environmental. It's not just that he's lost all his skill, but seems slightly desisted, disinterested, super miffed. There's bad juju on that team, and their schedule is brutal. Like you mentioned, I'm with you. I I will fork the Packers. I feel like an NFC team though, will be the team that makes us sweat and probably those charities excited because that seven spot in the NFC might only require eight or nine wins and one of these teams. The last time we did this, there was one less playoff team that got in. So there is a bigger window for teams to find a way. The Raiders last year like in a in like we did a casual exercise of it. I don't even know. All right, So now that we're all forking them, they're gone. Now they're gonna destroy the unanimate, all right? Uh? I will throw to Mark Sessler for the next nomination. Alright, I'm forking the Raiders. Smell you later, Do I need to explain why? Yeah, well that's our podcast. Well okay, I mean I think they're a giant mess. Uh. They to get shut out in this league right now, which they did against the Saints, and then they get shut out last week in the second half against the Jaguars, just to have games given away that way, when like you should if you're the Raiders, when we like them for a couple of weeks. You have a seventeen nothing lead on the Jacksonville Jaguars, another team learning how to win with the first year head coach, their first year head coach, and you cannot run the ball. You cannot Derek Carr vanishes, the whole team goes into some sort of other dimension and scores no points and Davante Adams has zero yardage in the second half after a great first half. You're not adjusting, the scheme is not being picked up. I don't know if it's Derek Carr or if it's the Raiders or a combination of both. It's their defense. There's nothing alike. And you're in the A s C. Which is gonna be a lot harder to make the playoffs in And are we gonna say they're about to go eight and two or something or eight and one. No, I'm gonna push back on this one a little bit. I gotta I'm looking at their schedule. They got the Colts next. You couldn't ask for a better matchup, so you get your third win there at the Broncos. Not afraid of that. They also got the st Heelers on the schedule and the Rams, who are obviously a mess, and I think they'll come up. Um. So while I'm not huge on the Radar Raiders, I'm right now I'm not gonna officially cast the Volks. I want to see where everybody else is. But I look at their schedule like I still see a path to them being in the playoff race at the end of the same they're uh writers for instance for the Athletic and a lot of people covering the team felt like that was there into their season. I feel like pushing back to because they've played one less game, they only have six losses. Uh, they they need to get wins, but they have you know, they had their bye week already. I'm gonna and they did it last year. That's what's creeping me out a little bit about them, because like they were a veteran team last year that we would have never expected put that in and they got a really lucky and all that luck has gone against them this year. They are owing five now and one score games. They've been in all these games. Could they get a little luckier? I'm gonna I'm not gonna force. Ciliana looked at me like I was crazy, but I said, you know, to to blow three seventeen point leads in the league and set records, you have to have a seventeen point lead first. So there is there's still the bones of a team that could go on a run here. I don't think it's gonna happen, But I also don't feel strong enough to absolutely remember Forkham. Is no chance mentioned that this last year and this magical last year that you're referring to and trying to say it's the same thing. They were five and two there, two and six, and they closed their season against the Niners and Chiefs. Yeah, but are the Chiefs even playing for something there? You know, there's there are different things in and play even I don't know. I'm gonna how about you, Well, it sounds like it's something I'm kind of torn because when your quarterback goes in and s there's a lot that I want to say, you know, if I'm honest, I don't want to say it here. Obviously there's tons of friction, and when the person leading your team is speaking like that, I don't think it ends well for any team. I don't think that. I don't know if I want to fork Hm though, because like you said that, the a f C West is so bizarre to me right now that the Raiders could have won that game Week one against the Chargers. I still think there's a weird thing between the Chargers and the Raiders. I still think Raiders could potentially win their second matchup, and yeah, they could beat the Colts, they could beat the Broncos. I don't know what's going on with the Seahawks. They're way better than we all thought, but I don't know. I think at some point the pieces have to click for this team. I think maybe just because I had so much hope for them going into this season, it's really hard for me to steer away from them. Davante Adams, Derek car we have to see something between them. I think at some point, I don't know, maybe you're gonna have to keep watching the Raiders. Mark. I'm sorry. I mean I enjoyed the vibrant discussion around that, so good, thank you good. How about you? Greg nominated a team? I feel bad because the Jaguars not being a part of the season I think is an under the radar, sad storyline because I just thought they were going to be in the mix. I understand. I just thought they were going to be part of this thing, that the a f C South was going to be so bad that they would be in the mix and be Trevor Lawrence and just be like, oh, this is nice to have the Jaguars back. It's been a while, and they're coming off of a win, and they are another team that's been in a lot of one score games like the Raiders, and and lost most of them, almost all of them until last week against the Raiders. But I look at their schedule and I just don't see a path. It's rough. They're at Kansas City and they have the Ravens after there by, and that right there looks like three and eight. They also have the Titans and the Cowboys, they're they're at the Jets, they have the Titans twice, and there's just been nothing about this team to me that is special. I think they're kind of a mediocre team that's been on the wrong side of variants and they're not that far from being a five and four team. But it doesn't matter that they can't get those wins back, and I don't think they're gonna rally enough with that schedule. They could lose all their games. I'm looking at their schedule now. I mean, maybe they beat the Texans. They've been in the middle. They're like a team where I've been so wrong every game. I think I've picked wrong when it comes to the Jaguars every game. They lost to the Texans already, so you're right, anything could happen there. Travis Anatianna is really um he's really stepped up the last couple of weeks, so that gives them another kind of a real dynamic talent there. And ever, Lawrence did play well last week, so it's like, you know, like they have been in close games. I don't I don't know about this one. The fact that they're playing the Chiefs in the Ravens next there what really scared me off more than anything. And and at some level it's giving from faith to grave Diggers Titans, and maybe I shouldn't. You know, if the if the Titans come way back to the pack, then the Jaguars can can be in the division mix. But I would for them. I'll do it as well, because what you said, they had their chance to be in decent position uh to absorb these next two losses most likely, but they kicked away that opportunity and it's going to be too late. Bridget. They are flying here, the fork is out and it is sharp. I will nominate We're like a er mode right now. We're going to definitely pay for this. I will nominate the defending Super Bowl champions Um controversial. It's it's one of those things. It's kind of like you were saying with the Packers, Mark, let's not forget that they kind of stink um. And it's not the defense's fault, as Jalen Ramsey will point out. But the defense hasn't been great shakes either. I mean they've they've struggled to get to the quarterback, they've struggled to cover um. They have been vulnerable on that side. Of the ball on the offense is a total mess. Uh. You know, would it would it stun you if you learned that Matthew Stafford's elbow really was a thing all season? I wouldn't have stun me. The running game obviously is bad enough that cam Akers is re entering the mix. You you know that the Rams did everything and trying. They were trying please take our first round picks, and they couldn't pull off the trades that they felt they needed to save the season. So now they're just moving forward with what feels like a broken team. So with the schedule, they are three and five with the home against the Cardinals, at Saints at Chiefs home Seahawks over the next four weeks. I just this is me going out on a limb, but I feel like they deserve to be UH put on the board for discussion thoughts. I think whoever loses Sunday between the Rams and Cardinals season is over. I think that is a test class. It's a classic fork off. I love that because both of these teams are kind of in similar positions where their seasons could end right now. And I think the Rams, again, like I said a little bit ago, with UH, I forget who we're talking about. When Jalen Ramsey says it's not our fault. Our offense shouldn't come over and tell us we're gonna need you again with a minute and a half or whatever. They mismanaging the clock. I think there's so much tension, and I really believe that that interferes with what's going on. You can't get people on the same page. And with so many injuries to their offensive line, I just don't see them making a comeback. That's for me. It's the it's I think they have unfixable problems. They're not alone. There are other teams, especially in the NFC, that have some unfixable problems. But the line has been such a poisonous scenario and it's uncorked everything they've tried to do. They've scored under fourteen fourteen points are under and four of their last five games that came against good defenses. But the Rams, we knew it didn't matter what defense you played, you found your way out of it. And they had their bye week. Everyone was selling them as like Sean McVeigh and everyone's gonna go huddle up during the bye week figure all this out, and they came out and laid a massive egg against the Niners and then lost a terrible, winnable game against the Bucks by It's sad. You know, my daughter makes this Rams shrine every Sunday. She's gotta get she's gotta get her act together. Paraphernalia, what do you mean working? It worked last year and so she's sticking with it. It's just it. They don't pass the eye test, like more than the pack The Packers seem to me like they're not that bad, but they just make mistakes. The Rams are just not a good team. Their twenties seven in d v O A uh, they're one of the worst offenses in the league. At no point this season have they looked like anything but one of the worst offenses in the league. They're only one game back, and I tend to think they'll win this week if I had to pick it, and so that they'd be four and five in a muddied NFC, and they got the coaching staff. I have a hard time forking them, even though I have no real faith in them at all. So I'm all right, I hear it, So you don't want to do it, so let me quickly pivot. Then if we're talking about a fork off on Sunday, I am all in on forking the Arizona Cardinals, and ahead of time, anybody that listens to the show knows that I am not a fan of this entire regime and the way things are structured every week is a comedy of errors. How about the Cardinals. Do we need to wait to see them lose to the Rams? Bridge? We we did put you in a tough spot here, Bridget. Not only do you have to come on, I mean, how like we're basically just asking you to be the most negative possible in the most negative show of the season. Sunday decides it. Do you want the Cardinals gone? Now? You you? You don't need to see anymore from the Cardinals. They can win Sunday. I could live with the Rams. I can't live in a world where we still take the Cardinals series. I'm with Dan that even if they win that game, that's a winnable game for the Cardinals. I believe what's going on offensively there is so rotten to the core, and they have a great quarterback. But we've seen what their offense is and there's nothing exceptional about their team or their defense. It's gonna make up for it, whether it's a coach, the defense, and nothing's getting it. We don't give them. I'm watching this show. This is gonna be intriguing. Look, but they like to your point, they've got two games left against the forty niners. Let's say they probably lose both of those. Your three and eight, all right, give him the hard knocks theme. I don't know everybody was plugging it out. I'm surprised, Like I get why, Like during the season it's a it's a heavy lift, but like you don't want to see what's going on behind the scenes with this team on a little bit good. I want to are they going to show us Kylie watching film? Like I think that's all who you want to watch? With the little clock on the side. Did Buddha Baker yelling at everybody that he's tired of losing two to three weeks. He's one of their best players. Their schedule at a point, that's how you get tired of losing not be available. Well, yeah that happened afterwards. Unfortunately, their schedule is one point in their favor because there they have so many division games in at least that's in their control. That the best team they play record wise the rest of the entire season are the New England Patriots and the Chargers. So there's two games against the forty niners. You're not sure, but that there are four and four team you want. I'm just saying that's an easy as schedules go. It's manageable. But I I'm with Dan, I've just seen enough that I don't to take them seriously. This is like a team I wanted to be fun like last year. I liked them a lot, and like this is sort of your your You guys were depressed about one of these teams, barely watched them live because Mark claims the Cardinals every week, I'll do it, I'll do it. I like to be daring with this because it's like, what's so bad if we lose? We have to get to charity. I don't even know if we did. Last time was a bunch of talk, but like that's terrible. It was, yeah we did. No, that's not that. For first of all, if you're listening to this, that is an absolute narrative and absolutely incorrect. Well they are listening to this. Otherwise, what are you saying you went from not knowing what happened because I was sure that we didn't donate. We certainly it was not a team right like Matt like was pushing her like championing like was the Los Angeles Food Bank? As I recall, I don't know what to say. So just send your invoice to Mark Sessler. All right, listen to Johnny Bananas Hawthorne drive Johnny, you listener, you try to think in your mind if you think Greg is donated to anything, just yourself that question. All right, that's rue. I mean I donate, You donate to a lot. That's it's very hot. It's very because because you're bringing it. I mean you, I donate to a lot of stuff, so that you shouldn't tell people that well when you're when you're confronted on it. So come down, Britta, do you have any of the team you don't have to mind? Was the Texans. So we took care of the texts. We took care of the Texans easily. Anybody else the guys want to throw out there. The Cardinals were on my mind, but yeah, we gotta do the Steelers. I think you could. I think you could have put them in the early window. They have some berserker energy, potentially because of Mike Tomlin berserker energy. But the fact that they're in the a f C and we keep eliminating these a f C teams, we we this would already be what five gone, which is how we've gotten into trouble in the past. But I we are very certain who's going to the postseason on November eight. I don't see a path to ten wins, and I'm with Mark. I think that's what it's going to take in the a f C. How about the Lions, I can't fork them. I'm not forking after aund around the end the song to the Cardinals. What about the Broncos? Can we fork them? Oh? I happily would. I kind of would knees on the plane I was ready for. I happily would market. Yes, let's see, let's see. Let's see they have at Titans Wolf, I don't know if Tannehill is playing us. Okay, then they got Home Raiders, winnable at Panthers, very winnable at Ravens, tough Ee Chiefs, tough e cards at I mean, I feel like they can get back to that's a little concerning. I don't know. I can't do it. I'm not gonna do it. At some point, did we forked the Steelers there? I was fine. I'm just saying, yeah, if we forked the Steelers and we've in the a f C for the Steelers, Texans, Jaguars, and Colts, that's not that many for four fields. Fair Like, the Steelers are gonna part ways with their offensive coordinator in about two or three weeks, and the floor is gonna fall out even further from there. A lot of changes are coming and they're not making the playoffs. I think the a f C NFC dynamic is real. If you look at the a f C standings right now. For instance, the Colts are tenth place and they're but they're two and a half game is back of the playoff spot, which would be the Chargers right now, and the Dolphins are at six and three, Whereas in the NFC, like two and a half games gets you all the way back to basically the end of the entire conference. Carolina is within two and a half games of the seven spots. So to me, it's too far for the Steelers to catch up. I'm out on the Steelers, okay, yeah, alright, so they're done? Uh Broncos, Yeah, I'm not. It was not right of me to suggest that you don't donate to things. I know that you do, and you're you're a caring person. So I like it when we find out how Mark really feels during the show, how I really feel on this episode. I just feel like I'm gonna get off here and donate right to all Right, anybody else want to throw a team out there? I want to make sure we're not missing anybody. The Commanders. I'm not with Taylor Heide. I don't see another team right now. What about the Saints? Well, right now, the Saints, as you could check it out on the Monday Night recap with Jordan Rodrigue and Rose withal they know showed on Monday Night. Um, I know the Ravens are a great team, but that was disheartening to say the least, and it makes you think that, uh, even though we were gassing them up a little bit last week and the idea that maybe there's something there, now I'm less confident. I feel like this might be I feel like their only chance now. And this is crazy because I'm not a huge fan of this quarterback. But get Jami's back in there and see if it could juice them up. I don't like they're not going to at least this next week. I tend to agree it might be time to switch back. The autnoissance is happening. I don't think it The quarterback position is particularly relevant to their team because to me, I mean, I don't think either one is going to save them, and I don't think either one is their main problem. They have so many problems, and yet I'm not gonna fork them in this division. I am not convinced the Bucks are gonna get it together, and I still think the Saints and Bucks are the two most likely teams to win this division. They do have a little more. They have a they have a week fifteen tussle with the Feltons. I'm not I don't. I'm not on board necessarily the Saints, but I don't want to work them. I think I think that, and I think their fans have given up. Like I I that doesn't surprise, That doesn't matter, doesn't. I mean, like if they have the Steelers and the Rams, they could be five and six. Yeah, their schedule is favorable. I mean, they're not a good team, but like we're talking about this the worst division we've ever seen one of these teams that we've talked about today, whether we forked them or not, will be awesome in the second half. That's just I mean, no, I mean it's there's no question that that the numbers say more than one will be awesome. Of all the teams we've at least discussed, not necessarily that we forked like. That's how the NFL goes that one or two of these teams will catch absolute fire, even if it's hard to see. Just for my book keeping here, before we close, the saga moved to TNF Did we where did we come down on the Raiders? We did not fork because I meant okay, okay, so all right, all right. Well then with that said, as per tradition, fire up the funeral Dirge and I will now announce the teams whose seasons are over. Start of the fan bases, and please keep listening to this podcast. Right, we don't know anything. We should just do it like disguised voices, so nobody knows which one of us are working how the Green Bay Packers, the Airs on a Car, the juckson Ville Jackuars, the Peetsburgh's Tellers, the Indianapolis Huston Texans and the Carolina Panthers. So that's one tool tree are five six, seven teams are a lot of teams, right, that's almost a quartile of that's almost a cartile. They're all doomed, you see. I feel like we're going to regret. I think I think we went too hard. Well, this is why I I you're you've been effective at like shaming me into always like, well, the numbers say someone's gonna come back, but I just do it for the show. We are you most worried about it? The teams we just packers. SAME's. I mean, they do have the guy who won the end in that game, but here's what we did he did. Here's the thing about that game. Because you said you thought they've been unlucky. I thought that game was there, the yards were there, the points were there, and Rogers just no showed on like four or five big throws in that game. Is that unlucky or is that him getting older? Is it just like a bad day at the office. I had the final fourth throws. I think also like it's the opposite of what's happening like with two of where he may not be the most accurate pastor on the planet deep. But like your receivers Tyreek Hill or making making, you're making up for it. Like Aaron Rodgers not have that those people around him. And that was another huge play. I thought Rodgers put it right on him. He almost had it and got overturned on review. That stuff happens a lot with it. That's why we've forked him, right. I just think they have too many injuries. Point more, thank you, Zach injuries. Yes, as Bridget says, all right, do we take a break and hit TNF. Let's take a break. We feeling good about the seven. Yeah, we can't change it, but we can't change up the voices and we can't start pointing fingers. That's what would happen in the Packers locker room. We need to stick together. As for Bridget, this is a blood oath and because you came on this particular show, you are responsible and we will take equal play. Once old man McFadden comes on and says your team's name, it's Oliver for you, we'll be right back with a t n F P Alright, here we go, we're back. It's time to hit the first game, Greg, can you believe it? Week ten? Whoa hey, now, uh go so fast. It just goes so fast. It goes fast, It goes fast. Bridget and we have we have a nice matchup here between the Atlanta. It was like my word, my pearls clutch. Al right, here we go Falcons at Panthers. As you said, you have covered the Panthers, you like individuals connected to the team. And yet, and yet this same team gave up forty two consecutive points in their most previous game, their previous game, and the Falcons, Falcons we talked about in another absurd Tuesday segment earlier this season. Kind of spicy, right, frisky. Yeah, so you got a spicy Falcons team and a need to have a game against the Panthers team that's running out. P J Walker offer off the worst game of his life, I would presume, and a reminder. This TNF preview is presented by Prime Video, the new exclusive home for Thursday Night Football. Yes, and Steve Wilkes, the coach, like I mentioned before, UM when asked why he wasn't benching p J Walker, he said, if I went off of everybody having bad games, I could bench everyone. I don't really know. I don't know if you realize what he did there when he said that, um himself so, but they are going to have to staff a field, um so. I I just think that the Panthers, like I mentioned before, the details to Baker Mayfield's contract, I think they're going to keep him out to try and not have to give up good In that game, it was a good That was his best game that he played as a Panther. Just such an unfortunate situation that when it was it was total garbage time. But he quickly brought points to them. The fact becomes the tricky thing, and you want to know what's going on behind the scenes there. But like Baker after on that game, obviously he's he gives him a better chance to win. Is that what ownership in front office was? He alluded to a short week. I do think we see see Sam Donald. I'm with you Dan that this most likely be PG Walkers and yeah after this week, because they're not gonna suit up as Donald healthy. I know they had to take him off I r or the season was over. Is he even capable to be starting a game? I mean, we'll get well. Is he capable to be starting? They dominated the Falcons in that game. I know they ended up losing it, and we've talked about the PJ. Walker greatest play in the history of football, that broke their hearts and they couldn't recover. Now they've had an extra welcome to the middle of the night thinking about it to recover. And that was a game where they physically dominated Atlanta, which not many teams have done. They mostly stopped Atlanta's running game, not totally, but better than most teams. Uh. And they pushed them around when Atlanta tried to pass, and their offense looked awesome in that game. P J. Walker was a little up and down, but guys were getting open. Like for one week, they really made sense, even though they ended up losing the game. I mean the Falcons, if anything, I want to hang my hat on the offensive dv O a fourth when in the run we know they can do that. They're the twenty nine defense and the Panthers are so it's like that that's what happened in that other game. I mean, do I My thing is they so know showed last week um twenty one first downs in the first half to one the Bengals out first down them. I mean, what's going on here? Like that's an absolute disaster and p J Walker, like I was excited for what he was doing and he completely That's also that's this season. Weird stuff happens, and it's a division game on Thursday night, I could see the pants are scoring twenty eight points at home and winning the thing. That's a thing that you can never really count out Panthers at home. I could see them winning two. But I just have a lot more hype on the Falcons, and I think a lot of people do. I was there at training camp and there's something about them that a lot talking to people there, they have pieces and Cordarrell Patterson, he's off difference last week. I think also, what is it like six of nine of their games have been decided by how many points? Four or less? So I think some of those losses could be wins. I think the Panthers have too much going wrong. And how many times have we covered the Panthers over the past couple of seasons where they are in the middle of the pack. Then they get this first rounder that doesn't really maybe a defensive guy, yeah, Brian Burns or someone that makes a big difference. They need the first pick in the draft. They need Bryce you they need a quarterback to turn this around, right, So they could have had justin fields if they wanted, but they chose not to. Well, maybe if they have the I feel like they don't do the sixth or the eighth or the They need the first pick in the draft next year, and I think whether you want. Of course, the coaches saying we're not tanking it, and I'm I don't have any inside knowledge that they're taking it, but I think, why not tak do it in a secret way? Well, that happens all the time, and I want to say this. I'm gonna say two things here. First of all, Greggy, on Sunday, you mentioned that Mariotta was kind of driving your nuts a little bit with his innaccuracy. I'm pulling my hair out watching this game yesterday, and how many throws Mariota misses they win. I mean, we talk about Kyle Pitts. Why doesn't he get used more? Kyle Pitts is open for the game winning touchdown, and it's a seventy three yard touchdown. All Mariota's to do is just put some air under it and let this dynamic young tight end catch it and run to the ends. When he'd blown by the secondary and he aired him aired and overshad by five yards. And that happened over and over in that game. So it's frustrating. And I understand Arthur Smith is not going anywhere because on balance, I think they're building something here, but I cannot. I just struggle to see them running this back with Mariota next year. So Atlanta, I think, is gonna be another team in the market for a quarterback. However, I'm gonna go ahead, you know, Thursday, Thursday night. Dad, he's gonna have a couple of Tito's Dad, he's gonna be relaxing. I haven't done this yet. I don't know if anybody's done this yet, but I'm gonna go ahead and lock up the dirty birds on the road here. There's a fuel goal spread here, which I feels generous to Carolina quite frankly. And I think the Falcons are just a better team. I mean, our record, as brothers are you he it's I think we're undefeated. Um, I think we're like thirteen and two. I mean that's a that's essentially that you're a team in the conference title game with that record. I am locking it up as well because you just get it out of the way. It's just an easy home run. You get it out of the way. What could go wrong or it, you know, brings you total agony for three hours, even if they win, just knowing Mark and it's it's like Island game. And then we have to come back on Friday and I'll I'll mention it. But I think, I'm I think this is a good Actually after the charity thing, you know, he's going to come in with that. I thought I came back around on that and showed my truth cleaned up. At most it was cleaning up. I don't know about true feelings. It's like a toxic waste. Do you think that you donate to charity because you've told me that you do before. I never to We've never talked about the person that does not share when they donate. He's like, I must share something with you girls club today. I don't mean excessively. I don't think this is any of this is true, you know, Bridget, this is this is a chance you could lock up a game on Thursday night. It's pretty you know, just get one to know on the season and then you then your looks like official tabulated standings that a listener compiles, and you'd be in that fabulated stading and forever, and I won't be allowed back on until I getting locks was wrong. No, that's fine. That let's up the stakes. Yeah if you are if you lock it up successfully, return on the show. If if the Panthers somehow pull it off, unless you're picking the Panthers, Um, that's it. It's Bridget's last show. I just think I've been to so many games this year where I thought they were going to go one way and didn't. Interesting, it's just as tough off like I was at the Chargers Jaguars game. I was at the Charger Seahawks game maybe to be I kind of think the Falcon's got the Panthers best shot two weeks ago and they managed to win. Anyways, And so I'm with you guys that I think the Falcons will win this game. But it is you know, it's a division game. You want to join us that I don't. I haven't looked at the whole slate, so I don't know what I'm gonna do, but I don't need to about this. He came off ire he was practicing today their safety. Who will make a huge difference. I don't think he's gonna play Thursday though that he wouldn't if getting locks was wrong, Like Nick Westling would never be allowed on this show, so you can get locks wrong. Um this is this is a tugboat heat check having a big season right now on the pics and I don't even need to see the rest of the schedule. Okay, I don't want to do it though I'm not. I don't like it. When we're all together, Mark, it's a classic tugboat heat check. It is, it's it's right. Put it, put it right in that folder. Alright. That was the t NAF preview presented by Prime Video. The new era of Thursday Night Football is officially here, and it's only on Prime Video. Let's see all right, you have said it all, Bridget Condon. You can follow Bridget on the old Twitter at Bridge and condent with an underscoredge. I can't get the woman to give me it. She hasn't been on since like two thousand and twelve. She has no Are you guys gonna pay the twenty bucks for the blue check? I think I'll have the company pay for me. Stick it to him. Yeah, exactly. That will be that will be expensed at the very least company you. At some point, though, I won't it become it'll almost be embarrassing to have it right because they know that you're paying. I'm a mark. But yeah, I wonder if that is really a thing. What does that mean? Just like I'm a mark, kind of like you pay to go to your friends party. I thought you were throwing that at me. I mean like you're the guy at the poker table that people see as the one that they could take. I would be honestly, I would have no problem if Twitter just imploded tonight and did not exist anymore, and then I could live with that absolute and justice. Bridget, I realized I had not been following you. I just banged you know. I was gonna try and mess did you? Yes? Last night I was like having all this anxiety about coming on the show. I'm like, I'm gonna message him and I couldn't even are not open to just to show you, I'm even going to send you my phone number through d M the show that we are. Now. What's this interesting? Though? Mark? The way Bridget's mind work that she wanted to come with that anxiety and find out you know to Dan, but when she realized she could DM me or you, she was like, NA, they don't really matter. Check your d didn't we didn't really register as that relevant and make up. Okay, that's one way to bridget you said it all. Thank you so much, Thank you everybody for listening. Yes, check out the Monday Night football recap with Jordan Roderig, check out our Thursday program coming up, or we preview the rest of week ten. Until then, are you doing justin? Thanks for asking, I'm playing the song don't Oh Tough ending