2022 Week 8 Preview: Game Picks and Locks of the Week

00:00:00
Speaker 1: The Around the NFL podcast, It's not Billie Jeans Lover. Do you think maybe Halloween se is gonna be a thriller reference? If we're gonna be talking anything off Michael Jackson's landmark album, what's a reminder that we have nothing to do with, um the process of how those are produced or tagged onto our show. Yeah, and I've enjoyed a lot of them are reacting to current events. This one they're reacting to a forty year old album from the Chris Westling podcast, It's Around the NFL. Also very timely. Good job, Grave Digger, I'm Dan Hansas Heroes here, Greg Rosenthal, Mark Sessler. It's week eight on the Sunday night flagship program UM. This past Sunday, we went through and try to figure out who the good teams are boys as we start to spit towards what's around the midpoint of the season. Now, it would be nice of a couple more very good teams showed themselves, maybe even another great team to join the Big three. This would be nice, I would like to say, and maybe starting this week, a team like say the Cowboys or I don't know the Vikings or I don't know hell, the Bucks, are the Packers? Do something? Get us excited? Don't hold your breath. If anything, some of the teams you named, I think are going to head in the other direction. A team like the Packers, a team like the Bucks. It's like I'm a couple of bad appearances away with those teams from essentially saying float off. But the parody. And everyone says they want parody until they get like the ultimate parody season, and then everyone is complaining about it and I super teams like when I was growing New York. He should be happier. But the thing about parody is all of these teams that are stuck in the middle and continue to disappoint, they won't be out of it because, like you see, eight wins will get you into the playoffs and the Southern Divisions like nine eight eight wins might win you the divisions. So this thing will just be drawn out. This is this is another win for It's another win for Greg because in years past, when I would say I don't believe in a Vikings team that's gonna even win nine games and get into the wild card round and get waxed, now that nine win team has a viable chance to probably get out of the NFC, and I find that highly annoying to me as a fan. Here we go another one of those shows. I thought everyone was happy coming into this show. I think the Thursday show, I am happy. I am allowed to be. Why should I be pleased by total it's the middle of the road and play and teams. That's what they want time of my lifeisodes In those opening a couple of minutes, when you hear that certain token and Mark's boys that little like extra like edge to it, you know it's going to be one of those spicies. It's usually when I've had less than two hours of sleep the night before, which is accurate everyone. I like these Thursdays though, because on the other show days there's like a lot of other things going on, and at least for me, and I think it's for you guys do this Thursday show. It's just all ball. We just got this show. We're gonna do football, as we all know. Only that that's great. This is it. I liked your reference to the Southern divisions as well. I haven't heard that before. Well, they're they're struggling this year. Other than you know, those Titans. No one Um no one you know, kicks four field goals and gets the four in two like those types. Why do we have to have division winners into the playoffs in a season like this, I'd say, if you're gonna do this to us, rearrange how certain teams get into the PLAYFFS. That's a hot take. I think that's all right. Let's get into we do have a lot together. We've got trades. We've got trades in addition to our previous show, a lot of good Uh yeah, we got some trades by week teams, we have people, a lot of people streets talking there into the you'r the GM return episode. So check that out on your podcast, would suggest, I would say that would help us clear your cash and then check it out again. Um, if that's how it works. So before we get into the games, and we have two teams on by the Chargers in Chiefs, let's start with the prime time affair and that is the off fore mentioned Green Bay Packers at three and four. How about that? Now they're they're gift for that slow start is to go to Orchard Park to face the Bills, who, in addition to being the best team in football in my opinion, and that of many others are coming off a bye so they're nice and healthy and rested. Not a good sign and also not a good sign. Aaron Rodgers on the Pat McVie show, pointing some fingers and making some statements in the media to get his message across. Let's listen to what Rogers had to say. Uh, because this is something I would like to hear from you boys on guys who are making too many mistakes shouldn't be playing. You know, we gotta gotta start cutting some reps. Yeah, maybe guys who aren't playing, Uh, give them a chance. Okay, so let's start there before we get into the game. It's obviously Rodgers this is a point of contention for Greg and I think Rodgers is an intelligent man. Um, there's nothing that he's doing. This is not accidental that he's saying it on the show. He knows it becomes a huge story. He could have the same exact conversation privately with the coaching staff, and he probably did. I would hope he did. But just the idea that he felt the need to make this statement, I don't know. Kind of so it was a little bit mark of a schism here where where Rogers sometimes feels like he's a kind of above the team a little bit, and he gets he has he believes that he's able to say these things with no fear of retribution. I'm with you with what you just said, and that I have no problem at all with Aaron Rodgers feeling this way, UM wanting the team to use its roster this way. You don't need to go. You go tell the team, You tell your most most of the people he's pointing to, I think our younger wide receivers, younger players who he doesn't feel in sync with. Why are we calling them out on public television? Why not? Why is this not a team thing you're in You're circling the drain here as the Green Bay Packers. You've got a lot to work on. Handle it in in house. That's somebody asked him that question on Wednesday. What like who he was referring to. He's saying, is it that he was asked, is a good leadership to bring this public when you could be doing it privately? When he said, he said, I did it privately, and he's and he said, I don't think it should be a problem for any of these guys to hear criticism, and then he said people in this society have a hard time hearing truth sometimes, which is an ironic statement, um from Aaron Rodgers based on all of the things he said during the pandemic. If anybody, if anybody, prefaces a sentence with people in society, it's like, oh no, yeah, you know where you're going. Uh So, there we go. So there's the drama around the Packers and you get you get it. Um. I believe he had also said, I don't know if it was Rogers who pointed out or someone else connected to the staff that internally it was his highest graded game of the season. That's what That's what bothers me, right, Um. And that more obviously, and it's not hard to connect the dots here. This is not Aaron Rodgers fault. This is the fault of the rest of his team and the front office decision makers and perhaps his coaching staff. But it's not on errand uh So that is the that's the backdrop of this three and four team going up to Buffalo Greggy against the Bills team that's looking to make statement after statement that no one is there equal. This could get ugly in prime time. I think it is more likely to get ugly than it is for Aaron Rodgers is uh pep talk after last week's game that this maybe is exactly what we need, going to Buffalo against this great team and being a big underdog and no one believing us, because that implies like we're gonna try harder. So a two game losing streak to the two New York teams didn't make you try arder in Washington, I don't buy that. And the problem I have with his style of leadership is the lack of accountability. He used the words that other things need to improve in significant ways and that he needs to play a tick better. He literally was separating how other areas of the team need to improve a lot and when someone said, well what about you, and he said, well, I need to play a tick better. And that was a week ago after the second straight loss. This week he's talking about how well he's grading. Meanwhile, he's openly criticizing his head coach, Matt Lafleur for putting negative energy into the atmosphere. And that's not the manifest station that he wants. It's thinking like a loser. And I don't know, man, this team just doesn't look like a good team. They're they're a bad defense and Bak tri by the way, is going to be an injury that Matt Lafleur says they'll be dealing with the rest of the season, which makes me think he might not be playing in this game. I wrote the same thing in my notes, Greg, Aaron Rodgers accountability. Oh, we're all looking at notes Rogers, Greg, and on the same party line on that. It's feel about that. Yeah, just take the kiss to the next level. While you're at it, what are you staring at on your computer screen. I don't like the matchup at all for green Bay, no matter what Aaron Rodgers said, because I think we taught it would focus so much on Josh Allen and the Bill's offense, which is gonna could have a field day against this Green Bay defense. But secondly, it's their defense what's made to me, which is what makes them so complete and special as well they they have I think the league wide, you pair their offense in their defense, there's no one that can touch them. They're holding quarterbacks to a seventy one rating, three sacks of game. I don't like the situation at all. Four Aaron Rodgers the quarterback, and how it will play against the defense that I think could dominate them. They're so discombibulated, so disorganized, and Aaron Rodgers can be frustrated, but technically they're not making it happen on offense at all. They're not trying to throw it deep, which I think this is a tough matchup. Before he only had one completion over ten plus eight yards last year. I mean last week against a team in Washington that gives up a ton of big plays, barely any attempts, and then you think about that versus a Buffalo defense that's known for not giving up big plays, known for getting after the quarterback. I think he's getting rid of the ball too quickly to avoid hits more than Brady. Even last week, I thought Brady was hanging in there trying to make plays at least. And Rodgers hasn't been willing to um the Packers twenty three and scoring entering this game. Nobody would have predicted that. And the desert has Buffalo laying eleven and a half points of wood. That's that's crazy. That never happened before for Aaron Rodgers. I mean, there's no way that's got to be by far the biggest spreaders. They have injury situations too with box tr Elton Jenkins and Alan Lazard, so those are key players for them to Why are they barely using Aaron Jones and this week it's this week might be the toughest match of Aaron Jones has all season because Matt Milano to me is kind of the versatile, speedy running back killer right now, Mlano making a push for All Pro And that's the matchup. And for the record, yes, it was the QB coach of the Packers is Tom Clements and he it was Aaron Rodgers himself who let the media know that it was his highest graded game. So not good Monday night football. I love it. Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns. Nice little Ohio off here just shook get Sunday off. Now I think he's just Mr Ohio and Mr reassigned. Yeah he's our af C North Consigliari. But yeah, here's Cincinnati and their offense again showed that it is putting it together. Now the Falcons be seed by injuries in that game, but whatever, like this is seeing any team right now in two thousand twenty two, starting to separate themselves from the competition and and flex their muscles. When I talk about I'd like to see some great teams UM, or teams that we acknowledge is good become great. Cincinnati is one of those teams, and uh, they should take care of business against the Browns team that is really fading now um as we head towards there by after this game. So the amount of throwing greg that we're seeing from Cincinnati, I love it. And you've been very vocal in your criticism of Zach Taylor, but I like when a coach just leans into their strengths. They've spread out their offense, they're taking advantage that they have three big time receivers. Uh, Joe Burrow operates almost exclusively in shotgun and they are just shredding opponents the last couple of weeks. I love it. I don't know if it's more about the opponent or more about the Bengals, but there haven't been many offenses that can beat up on bad defenses. The Saints have given up more big plays than any team in the NFL over the last month, and that's who they went after. Last week. It was against the thirty second ranked past defense in terms of the Falcons missing their top two corners, who I would argue their best two players. But I love that Taylor is willing to lean into that and I think they're gonna be a pass first team. And maybe we don't find out this week because they play another one of the worst past defenses in the Lake. But who cares? Like I said, like, that's what good teams do, and this I don't just pencil this in for the Bengals. It's in Cleveland. They've lost four straight against the Fanski, so there's something going on with that matchup here. And they're owing two in the division this year at the Bengals, so if they went to owen three, it would be problematic. I like the Bengals in this game, but I don't just pencil it in for him. I think this Brown's defense is is different and lesser than the Browns defenses that Joe Burrow is faced in the past. I just think you talked about the Saints and they're knack for giving up big plays. The Browns in the league and giving up big plays, so you're right, it's hard. This is an a litmus test for whether or not the Bengals are back. But I do say that it can't just be opponent because the Bengals, they're na. They did this all last season when they got hot, and so we're seeing it again. And if you wipe out that Steelers opener and essentially Week two as well. I mean what Burrow has done is top five quarterback play. I mean he's been He is the real deal. We know that. And with their wide receivers did it all last year. They're doing it again now. And I love this situation for Cincinnati. I think they are one of the teams you can look at to say, if they were good, there's a version of them that we might start to see that puts them in that top four or five teams in the league because they're just aren't those other teams. But Cleveland is a sitting duck on They have not played well on defense in the entire season month plus they're getting worse. Burrow is different. There was a great sideline conversation that the NFL films caught last week with Burrow and Jamaar Chase, and Chase is just like, man, you're just putting it on the money right now. Yeah, it's feeling pretty good, and it's just very very ho hum. I think Burrow is my favorite player in the league. Like I've I've started to like watch him in a different level this year where it's just like, man, he's special. I like just not just that he's has that kind of confidence about him U the way he just basically just naturally his ability um to attack teams and when he gets hot, it's just like you could just see it. You can see how the entire team lifts around him. And that's what that's the epitome of a franchise quarterback. Um, so good, good on you Bengals fans. That's the guy everybody wants and you got him. To just keep him healthy and you got another twelve fifteen years. Let's hear from the Westling Brothers from the west side of Cincinnati, because we have ourselves a lock of the week. Hey, heroes, last week you sent me a message saying, hey, be a little more concise and taking easier games. Don't take all these hard games. Don't take three point favorites, three point underdogs. Tell them six and a half point favorite every week. Greg, how's that mirror looking? But Westling family, we don't hang onions. We hang pumpkin. And that's why Monday night, Halloween, we're one up to Cleveland in the Bengals trick or treating all night long. There it is. That's how you gotta watch us on NFL network or on YouTube to see the slow, sexy un zipping of the NFL channel on Thursday night, six pm Pacific. N He's got some interference in my ear. Yeah, something was missing. Oh there it is. What's that? Oh? We have a new airing time on Thursdays for the streaming channel. Beautiful NFL Fast channel. What a channel. It is very nice. Um. That was the best Nick Westling appearance of the season so far. Yeah, not just because Septy made the Bengals winning this game sound like it was like an act of courage. Well, you have your own personal issues with Nick now because of the way he came at you there. But I thought it was straight to the point. It had a nice pumpkin, so you had the Halloween uh motif. I love the lock. I love the lock, and I thought about it myself. I didn't go down that road. But that that feels good. That feels good, all right, London Curious, by the way, if the Browns lose this game. If they start selling some pieces at two and six, and maybe their defensive coordinator as well, we'll be sold. And you know, do I have to say it again? If you want to hang in that game, try to have the ball for thirty eight or forty minutes of game time and give it to one of the best running backs on the planet a lot. And if you're not gonna use cream Hunt trade, well, we suggested that on our our trade show trade right. By the way, did you just claim Joe Burrow as your guy because you said he's your favorite player? If he's my favorite Burrow as a guy, But if he's my favorite player, then I think he's he's my guy. Let me write this down. I don't like that at all, because are we trying to I mean, I'm not at all. It's only you guys doing this. But Matt Milano was he accounted for that official Matt Milan was a guy I've talked about. You can't take Mat was a guy. Well he's he's giving Matt Milano safe. You can't have a superstar as a guy. You cannot have Joe Burrow as a guy. Two out of three I say Matt Milano could be your guy. Share I'll talk so little car just a bit personal foul. It's just a bit and I accept, I accept that that's what it is. There's a game in London and uh it features it features teams playing football. Would you like some help? You haven't seen these promos all week? Come on, I know there's a there's a little glitch in the matrix in the notes. Would you like help on who's it is? The Denver Broncos against the Jacksonville's Jaguars Sunday, nine thirty am Eastern and see what we get from the Jaguars. They're more competitive this year obviously. Um they nearly beat the Giants if not for a goal line tackle by Big Blue. But the story around this game has been Russell Wilson and Russell Wilson's availability. He missed the loss of the Jets that they uh what's been labeled as a hamstring tear of some kind. Uh. Here he was explaining to the media last week he explained that, uh, you know, he's a wolverine and that explained his ability to heal quickly. And then uh, this week he explained what he was doing on the long flight over the Pond I don't really get jet leg too often, you know, I don't. I don't really Um, you know, I've traveled enough to to get you know, kind of get my system down. But yeah, for me, I was on the plane first two hours. I was the first two hours. It was eight hours flight here. The first two hours I was watching the film, getting watching all the cut ups and everything else. And then for the next four hours I was doing treatment on the plane. I was walking up and down the aisles. Everybody was knocked out. I was doing high knees and working, working on my legs and everything else, you know, make sure I'm ready to rock. Um. So that was and then the last two hours of the last hour of that I watched I fell asleep for one hour and I watched the film the rest. So yeah, uh. And he is practicing on a limited basis this this week, so Mr Limited, Yes, there you go, justin. Um. There's a lot of criticism Russell Wilson's way right now, Greggy, maybe too much. I saw something from Keishan Johnson at ESPN where he's just bearing him. It's like, alright, enough, Keisha, how about we check out what you did during your career that turned things towards yourself as well. Speaking of mirrors. But your thoughts on the Russell Wilson situation and what this could mean for the Broncos is the season continues to take on a really weird form. Yeah, we we've had our fun I think we're getting to the point where I'm starting to feel bad for him. But it's his play on the field that's the shocking part. The stuff off the field. He's been that guy throughout his career. The fact that they've only scored eight offensive touchdowns over the course of the season is mind boggling. And this is not that tough of a matchup. We thought the Jaguars defense was gonna really be something this year. They've fallen apart a little bit the last couple of weeks. I think there should be yards to get against this defense. Shack Griffin went on injured reserve Trey Herndon struggled last week. Who came in for him. They've been a very healthy team. I've been mentioning Devin Lloyd getting cooked each and every week. That happened again against the Giants. So you could try to match up Melvin Gordon. I guess as you're running back or a tight end against him in coverage. Russell Wilson hopefully took that week and I don't know, took a took a mental breath and can play a little football without being so panicked because he's just playing bad football. That's the main part of all this. I find it more annoying, UM than these stair stepping walking up and down the aisle business thing that he claims to not be susceptible to, uh jet leg Unlike you know, I mean, we just went to London. I'm susceptible to jet Leg. Dan was calling the Steelers the Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pirates on the Tuesday Show after so let's let's chill on that. I you know that I can't imagine that there isn't a bit of a schism on the Broncos in terms of their defense playing the way that they are. They've allowed seven touchdowns all season. They're doing everything possible to give the offensive chance to win these games, and it's not happening because the offense is so disorganized. I wonder if Jacksonville can do anything against this defense. I thought the last week, UM was Trevor Lawrence's best game of the season. Maybe his second best game, second or third best game, wort worst games. No way, he played clean and I disagree. I thought he played a clean game last week against the Giants. I mean they just they were ran on so hard by New York relationship. I just disagree. I thought he might sing with him and he saw it on like that last drive on the second the last throw he had in the game. How many throwers a game does he just miss by seven or eight yards. He's doing that in every game though, So it's like it's not that this was he does. He throws high of targets every game that that came down to the end. I mean he he also aggressively. I thought he converted him fourth and won a big pass. I think Doug Peterson's trusting him to do more. I think it's one yard extra. They beat the Giants and it's a huge win for the Jaguars. So you know that that's that's the way it goes. Sometimes, just to circle back to Wilson, the one thing that Russell Wilson I really want to I want to try to understand him, and it's tough to understand him. Um, but does he even have the requisite self awareness to understand the uneven ground he stands on right now in his locker room the world around him. He just seems so insulated from human being stuff that I wonder if he is he even in the place where there's more urgency in his mind or that do I have to make these changes? Or is he watching the film and not seeing what other people are seeing. I don't know what's going on with that, even watching that interview, I mean, I think you're look're talking about Aaron Rodgers being a bit detached from the rest of the team to some degree, right, it's a different type of detachment with Russell Wilson. It just seems to be uh to clear a balloon up in the sky. I don't understand how he can be in this mind state after what's occurred so far, and I've gotten him this far, I guess is well, how he like relentless positivity without necessarily recognizing the realities of the situation around him has got him this far, And so I guess he's still rolling with it and treated special for eighteen years now too as a human being, right, and even within the sphere of the NFL, like we work here in the NFL network home office is NFL Media Headquarters, and there's a right next to our huddle, our cafeteria, there's a huge photo of Russell Wilson sitting on like a gym like working out, with his hands clenched like staring at the camera with a giant word across his body, integrity. And it's like this, this image that he's built or has been built around him, it's almost like now that the play isn't backing it up, everything feels so out of whack and strange. And yeah, you wonder if the side eyes in that Denver locker room are going on hyper drive, especially when they see him. It's not even close to the level of Aaron Rodgers. I wanna make that clear to like, I hated what Rogers did this week with his teammates and the way he kind of separated himself. Russell Wilson doesn't do any of that completely different. For the most part, He's not harming anyone, which is why that does heels like it's too much. What he does do is in an effort to show that he's Wolverine. He'll say things like I'm high stepping through the plane while everyone else is sleeping and I don't even think he has the awareness that he's throwing people under the bus by that comment, whereas Rogers, you know, he knows exactly what he's doing. There's a lack of precision with Wilson on that comment. Also, you know, I do I want to apologize to Mark. You know where QB index brothers here, maybe I was Roger. I think it's I've reached this point of frustration with Lawrence that I'm watching this game and I'm just like, I just want more, and I feel like he's been put at this pedestal from certain QB evaluators and I just don't see it and I want more. And like last week was a game where I watched it and I said, Wow, that game was there for the taking. The new RPO stuff they're doing. That's I think that why they traded James Robinson. Is Lawrence running and et N running. It's fun like and he's good at that sort of thing, but he to me, he's like a taller tour right now, and I'm just like giving the kid was there for the taking and he missed so many throws that it was just I reached the point where I was like, show me more like what I'm comparing him too was himself, not the other quarterbacks, because you're right, we haven't had like the two or three game stretch where he's tearing it open like Joe Burrow. There's nothing, there's nothing he should be. That's what they drafted him for, that's what we thought he'd become, and he's not there yet because the inconsistencies are there every week with him. It would be great if he did something against the Broncos defense. Can I just as someone on the outside of the QB Index universe unsolicited advice like we were saying with Aaron Rodgers, Greggy, it's okay to have that feeling and to share that criticism behind closed doors, and you could have had the conversation with Mark, but to say it on the podcast undermines what Mark's trying to do to establish himself on the QB Index beat. I mean, I would rather. I think it's makes for good listening. Conflict is just every relationship is different. But there's no one that I would battle with more than Chris about these things. And it wasn't a lack of respect. Certainly, I think it's showing respect when you disagree that's all. I agree with what he is agreeing. Oh yes, really kissing cousins over here. I see the cracks in the neeor. All right, let's take a break and we'll get to the draft. All right, let's get to the draft. Greg, you have the first overall pick. I do, And once again, it's a week where I don't think there's an obvious great first choice. So I'm gonna take the Giants and the Seahawks as my first choice because I want to lock in a good late game and I really want to see that game, and I haven't been able to watch the Giants in a live game. I don't think all year. Weirdly, I wanted him last week. I want this game. In theory, it's Gino's revenge game, but really it's a game between two of the you know for you're like literally the only person that remembers he was on the Giants, including Gino. I mean, how about John Mara doing him dirty when they put him in and Ben McAdoo had the right vision. This guy is better than Eli right now, and he went and played a solid game, and then John Mara comes in and takes him back out of the lineup. Let's get Eli back in for a year and a half. That always well, that always bothered you the way we're on the same pot for everyone, Like, why would the Giants Greg treat Eli Manning with deference? Oh, let me see the point that he after he came in numbers forty? It's why is Greg mad about this? Still? Yeah? Why does it get under skinny two? Six? Okay? Throwing some geno and it's basically like a nuclear bomb in Greg's life. I mean, here, here's another couple of numbers, five and four. That's like the amount of games they want, five and three the amount of games they won those two years. So it's like, anyways, good game, can't you can't wipe out the scoreboard of those two Sundays. The main reason I think, even if I wasn't a Gino, fans like these are two of the most surprising teams in the NFC, and I think we're at the point where one or both of them could be in the playoffs. At this point, the Giants are favored to make the playoffs. Marcus showing me one of his highlighted notes, dan is two biggest surprises In the end, I just simply like we're living in each other's minds at this It's almost like we don't need both of you. I don't like that direction. I don't like we're going I like this matchup for the Seahawks because of Kenneth Walker. The Giants are dead last in the NFL and yards per carry alloud. I think they're dead last in rushing d v o A allowed the way you attack run blitz, I mean blitzing in general is with a good running game. They've shown major cracks the last couple of weeks, giving up big plays in the running game to eat n and I think Kenneth Walker and the Seahawks team can mash on the ground in addition to Gino. And that's why I'm locking this baby up. How about okay? How about that? Alright? I like it's always good whenever your opponent's locking with his I like that you have not been buying into the You wouldn't even vote the Giants as being a good team on Sunday, as I recall. And I'm not saying the Giants are a great team, but like we're saying, count off the teams that are better than good right now, It's it's a it's a very small they've got something special. They believe they're gonna win when they get to the fourth quarter and they make all the plays. Style of play I think allows that to be something they can believe in because they wore down Jacksonville big time last week. They're running the ball as well as anyone in the league. Their quarterback can run for a hundred plus and against the Seattle defense. I think it's an interesting lock, Greig, because I think the Giants can do what they want to do against this defense. I think you're trying to make a statement through your lock, and that's fun. I like it. Kenneth Walker, He's definitely looked great. He iced that game with the seventy four yard run, which showed that he has burst and how he's got the whole thing. You like that. No, DK metcalf most likely in this game, right, Uh, he suffered. He's very fortunate. Um it wasn't a ruptured pateller tendon, which is a terrible injury for any football player, but he he damaged it in some way, so he has been practicing. I would not expect him to be in this game. So that takes away one of Gino's weapons. Gino was good last week, you know, couples up for grabs. I wonder that Eli comp I gave you earlier in the year. I really think there's something. He'll make a couple of throws every game where it's like, I completely believe in the Geno thing right now. I mean, he's just making some incredible I mean, this is his throw is he's having a great season, um, but he is not also above throwing the ball up for grabs. And he's right now been uh living a charmed year in some ways. I just wonder if he comes down to earth a little bit in this game against Wink Martindale, who might have something cooked up for Gino to frazzle him a little bit because he deserves the benefit of the doubt, because who's getting more out of their team, uh than Wink Martindale right now? On that defense? How about um Jane Waldron on the other side of the thing, was we never we never bring him up. And yeah, their defense, we didn't talk about it much, but they tried to transition into a three four defense. They did transition to a three ft defense, very different from what Pete Carroll has done for the last ten eleven years and you saw some growing pains, and now I do think you're seeing improvement as a Seahawks fan. Now that's basically what I am. I'm you're not a Patriots fan anymore. Probably I'm a Patriot. I can be both. He's fan of like twelve other teams too. I'll let you know what. They're definitely top two right now? Was your favorite team the Patriots? Okay, but actually, like the minute New England stops producing Lombardi trophies, Greg's on the fence. I mean I told you that at the time. It wasn't a popular opinion with that's anyone I said. When Tom Brady leaves, it's never gonna feel there isn't There isn't a poster of Greg's face with integrity up in our next to our huddle. Jones Daniel Jones is playing much more common the pocket, but they will be short too offensive lineman here. I like the way Daniel Jones is playing like a just not as skittish, but they are short too offensive linemen and their starting tight end, so they have some injuries. That's funny because they when they went out those alignment last game, it didn't stop what the Giants did or they did it. They also will be without Kadarius Tony, who was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs right before the show transition A transitioning to the three four defense. Le'll transition to a news item right there. Wonderful. He's been doing this for a long time and people should know. Um. I also have my notes here if you want to get a tight shot on this if you can, um, Giant Seahawks good not bad, open parenthetical, surprise closed parenthetical. So that incredible insight you guys had that you shared in your notes. I also had a written down football Insider thank you. We're operating in concert because because I mean, it is quite a note. Surprisingly good. Uh, they because we don't have the Chiefs in this show. Uh, we should mention this is a big trade for them. A third round compensatory pick. So that's at the very end of the draft, at the end of the third round, but it's still a third round pick. They got it in the Ryan Pole Goes to Chicago deal where you now get compensatory picks for developing minority candidates for GM or or coaching jobs, and a sixth round pick. They have him for three more years. Yes, he can't stay healthy. He's been a little bit of a troubling player for the Giants to manage. But he is incredibly dynamic, and it's exciting to think of a player incredibly dynamic in that chief system. It could wind up being a great move to me, he's a much better version of McCall Hardman if he stayed healthy. You tend to trust that Andy Reid and the Chiefs will find a way to make this work better than what it's more than a yeah, like a flyer for the Chiefs, because that's that's a real picks that they gave up. I guess in three years of him too like and it's better certainly than like the last couple of years where it was like up the Chiefs have signed Josh Gordon. Can we please uh? This is is a player with an exciting high ceiling that was selected by a different regime in New York? Can that would be the only thing quickly wore out as welcome? But maybe in the structure of Kansas City and what they've built there. But we know everybody's loving the dable Giants Joe Shane Earra so far, and they didn't seem to like them or feel like they needed him around. So yeah, they who knows them better than the Giants. So we'll see what the Chiefs can do. All right, let's move to the second pick. It would be Mark Sessler. Well, this is easy for me, and I'm glad it's still sitting here. I didn't think it would be. But I'm gonna take Niners at Rams, and I think we've kind of just assumed that the Rams are going to fix the problems. Uh, I'm not so sure about that one, because I think their issues obviously are along the offensive line. You've now have Joe note Boom out of the mix. It does sound like Brian Allen the center will be back, which is which is big for Matthew Stafford because when they faced the Niners last time, that's when they lost them. And you're dealing with Matthew Stafford and a center he had never played with even in practice, and and Stafford having to call protections at the line. That game turns so chaotic, and it was just an other notation in the Niners Rams confrontations where the Niners just have simply dominated the Rams. It's got to annoy Sean McVeigh to such a high level to be dominated by Kyle Shanahan this way. I think this is l a season right here. If you lose this thing, I do because I know, I understand they're in a bad division. I understand they're in a bad division. But if you get dominated by the Niners again, I I wonder if it trades, it changes their complexion on who they might trade for trade deadlinelines or who they might give away um and what they do. I I get that you're still alive, but I would have a tough time believing in a Rams team that cannot get this past this team and I and I don't know if what their problems are, if they're fixable. I just don't know if they're fixable. Yeah, I need to see it. I I don't assume they're gonna fix everything. I don't think they'll turn into sellers or not be as aggressive if they lost this game, they're gonna maybe be more aggressive or just as aggressive, because I just think they're they're all in and that's what they do. And wouldn't surprise me to see them pick up a receiver, maybe Brandon Cooks when Mike Garret follow threw that out on Tuesday's show that like old teams still like them. I'm like, okay, that's specific, and that's about right. They're limited, Brandon Cooks and Rams. Yeah, they're limited in terms of their assets draft assets because they've traded so much in recent years. But they'll find a way and they will add somebody. That's what this this Rams regime is all about. And they see that the NFC West has been hugely disappointing themselves, included the divisions there, which means there's a path even if you don't get to buy this year. Uh, there's a path to a home game and and in the playoffs and then who knows, you get hot. So they're gonna make a move. It just depends what it is, whether it's adding a lineman, offensive lineman, a pass rusher, or wide receiver, maybe all three. I don't put anything past them. They're hyper aggressive. It does help Van Jefferson is healthy again too, so it sounds like he so he will play. And I think they made a little bit of a change in the game against the Panthers that's worth watching. Stafford was ten for ten under center in that game for a hundred and forty two yards in a touchdown. The second half of that game I thought was the best half They're off fence had all year. And under center is more the old school Rams, it's the Jared Goff Rams play actions, simplify things, make it a little easier on the quarterback and maybe on the offensive line as well. And he played well in that scenario because one thing we've been hesitant to do on this show is criticized Stafford too much because of the situation. But he has one of the worst grades on PFF, one of the worst um numbers from any metrics. When he has a clean pocket, he hasn't just struggled when the offensive line struggled, He's just struggled. And that game against the forty nine is obviously was probably the deer it was. I think there's some for me anyway, the idea that it was then the deer. I do like that. You know Greg planned that line. I totally did not. You think I I built in some accident forgiveness with Stafford because remember how lost they were last November and then or hoisted Lombardi and he's playing at a superstar level in the postseason h or in the Super Bowl. Uh So I'm not ready to bail. I don't think this is a winner, or you're in your screwed situation, but I think it could reshape their season if they could, you know, get one on Kyle and also build on the end of their previous game against Caroline, and because they really did look like the Rams at the end in that Carolina game. Though, I will note that that, like Christian McCaffrey, here we go prime time, the Niners have another week to kind of bake him into the plan. Here a hundred and fifty eight scrimmage yards against that Rams defense with a bad Panthers offense, So I would like to see what um impact he has. Again, I think they're gonna use them in a ton of different ways. You mentioned how the forty Niners owned them, and the forty Niners are coming off a very humbling loss for a team that thought they were going to be all about defense. I know the Chiefs are good on offense, but they made the Chiefs look better on offense than anyone I guess in Week one and in the Cardinals. The forty Niners have won seven out of their last eight against the Rams. Now, the one that they lost was the biggest one the NFC impiship. But even that game took Jimmy Garoppolo with a shoulder that required surgery and a ten point fourth quarter comeback. So they just have the Rams number. It's a fair statement, and I I thought about locking this game up, but that just felt hurtful to uh, to my daughter Ellis. She watches game debut. Everyone should check this out on on Friday afternoons. But they watch it and uh, they don't like it. She doesn't like it when I picked the Rams, but you know you hear about it. I still will. I guess you wouldn't have known I locked them up. I was going to say, that's an interesting Conundram, you put yourself in because she's probably not gonna hear this, right, that's a good point. You also have noted still I'm picking the forty niners, but it just felt mean to go against the homestead. Emmaca has become a pretty big Rams fan too, you know, but you've noted that your wife, Emmaca has never listened to one episode of our podcast, so it would require your daughter pretty We're pretty well covered here, Greggy. We played thirty seconds of the show once in the car and and there's like, no do you think would be her favorite UM cast member on the show if she were to listen to more than thirty seconds? She married me? She married me? You know, I don't think that would be a guaranteed it's great. So you think it's you know, I'm just saying that two other people, like Greg the person and that Mark and he's never listened to the show before and we haven't been in Gregg's house in almost ten years. Well, I'd be able to listen to show because she doesn't about football, and the last thing she wants to do is hear me talk more. Can you imagine living with me? That's why I don't think she'd I think she'd like to have a break from you and more Dana. Mark, maybe not not, honey, I'm going to Japan for another seven months. I'll see you in the summer. I just feel like you guys have a pretty healthy marriage overall. Though now it's healthy. Yeah, it's good. I didn't know that's that was kind of a new revelation from Mark Well that you might not be her favorite person on the podcast. I didn't make a statement. I'm just saying it's an it's out there as a I think that as a bit. Let's move to the third pick. It's the old Zeuser's pick, and I will go with the Arizona Cardinals traveling to Minneapolis, Minneapolis to face the Minnesota Vikings. How dare you who always feels good to hurt your friends in this exercise? The Vikings coming off of by five and one, and you'd say, okay, there you go. Well, Dan, you're looking for great teams. There's five and one team Vikings right now. We're not great. They're pretty good. They've been good at closing games. The schedule overall has been pretty forgiving. I mean, you got here's their wins Green Bay week one, and now we know means lest they got waxed by Philly and prime time barely beat the Lions. That was a game. They were outplayed completely for most of the game. Right, Uh lost to New Orleans by a field goal, and then beat Chicago by seven and beat Miami with a third string quarterback by eight. So he beat New Orleans in London. We were there, You were there, says l What is going on here? I thought? So it was? That was the Will Lutts double join game. What's going on here? We go Arizona Cardinals, now coming off a game where they put up they did right am? I am? I going crazy? I mean I don't. I don't feel the need to, you know, put yeah, the blame on them there. I didn't put the blame on anybody. I'm just that if Johnny from research, Drew Drew Christensen, who's in the back here used to work in the starch, if he happened to be the person that put together this page and happens to be a fan and who was listening, he's dying inside right now. Maybe, But I just did I think you did. I want to say that the NFL media research team is incredible to do an excellent job, and I love their work and I use it constantly in the ramp up to each week's extremely In this case, they got banged a little bit. But that's my problem. I was at the game in London. I shouldn't have stumbled on that, Yeah, this this is something that also could have been handled um in house. First. It's that was more. Yeah, it was kind of like in real time it was all happening. I was spinning. I could see you are reacting to in real time because it didn't make sense in my head even right and I'm staring at that red l and when we did have jet lag coming back for it could have been unlike Russell Wells, like something we could maybe have been false susceptible to. And that was our cards. All right, let's move on. No, So the Cardinals the reason I took this game. The Cardinals had not been my favorite team to watch this year in general. The regime is not uh something that I believe in. And yet the Thursday night game was interesting to me because you had them uh scoring points, you had them getting two big defensive plays to change that game um against Andy Dalton and the Saints. And then I also liked in the second half after those two pick six is at the end of the second quarter changed the game the way every time the same showed signs of life. The Arizona offense said no, no, no no, no, let's chill out. The game's over. It was over then and it's still over. And that was the final score with some lipstick on the pig to make it look that close. So the Cardinals, maybe coming out of their phone, maybe a team that's ready to make a statement against a five and one Minnesota squad that record aside is a little more vulnerable. I like this set up if and I put put a lot on on Cliff and Kyler two sees on this moment to kind of get their season really on track if they can get this win. But they've let us down uh many times in the past when we thought they were in a good spot to make a make a big statement. They also have a couple of offensive line injuries that are very concerning. D Rodney Hudson's been out. We know they lost justin Pew. I noticed beach Ham was out of practice. That that makes me worried, but I think they're making up for it with the design runs for Kyler Murray. It is funny that Kyler Murray told the broadcast crew two weeks ago, you know, I think we want to start running again, like almost like he's the coach. And then he has and it's it's totally transformed their offense. I there's no more Cardinals experience to me than them having finally the offensive output in the kind of game that we were hoping that DeAndre Hopkins had a lot to do with that, but nestled around Kyler Murray shouting at Cliff Kingsbury, Like there is a weirdness to the makeup of this team in so many different ways. That said, I think that the DeAndre Hopkins thing um is a week to week gain for them. I I just I think that the way they used them all over the place last week, and if you get Robbie Anderson up to speed here and at some point you get Hollywood brown Back and Rondale Moore. I I kind of just liked the weapons around Kyler Murray more than the one thing is. And I don't like to do this too much, but if you look at their schedule down the stretch, they played the easier part of their schedule, it is brutal. They're gonna have to be about as organized as possible. Yeah, I don't. I don't love them in this spot. I trust the Vikings more. You're you're right about DeAndre moving around like the h exgen stats route charts Kings like Josh Norris who loves sending those out, Notice how they were using them a lot more um creatively, I was trying to figure out how are the Vikings five and one just like did a little deep dive at all their different numbers and won five games and lost one, And I did I did find something interesting. Every single bit of their profile passing, rushing, no matter what analytics, it is all screams average, middle of the pack, except for one thing. They are number one in the league in field position when they get the ball and number one in the league in opponent's field position when the opponent gets the ball. So they're like the five Bears in field position. Get your tickets, SuDS and field position, and you have justin Jefferson in this landscape. It's gonna lead to a lot of ws. And to that point, Mark, you said, and this isn't uh, this isn't coming at you on your analysis, which is well studied as we know. I've heard this passed around with different teams this week, like, oh, this team has the hardest schedules the season, this team is the easiest schedule. It's like all these teams are basically the same. So I look at the Cardinals schedule and it's like after this week's Seattle, Okay, at Rams, all right, call him against San Francisco. Okay, the Chargers, Okay, I think is not there is no NFL. But I think the Cardinals to me are where I can see it with the Niners. I can see it with Seattle. I have no idea what the Cardinals is gonna be week to week. I think their defense has gotten better and better. That's probably what trajectory. The fact that they are three and four is a good thing because they have been pretty bad for most of the year and if they could find a way to clean some things up again at a very huge middle class of the NFL, uh, that will get them back to the playoffs. Now let's move to Snake. It's time for the Sunday Drive presented by Toyota. Oh it really. You know the a f C East was run by the Patriots for so long, boys, And you know we're talking about Monday Night. Um, when you watch the game on Monday, Yes, Bill, I definitely did. We all did. On Monday Night, the Chicago Bears were up thirty three, fourteen inside the five yard line with a chance to get a forty burger, and you had both Manning brothers on the Mannics saying do it, do it, do it. And it made me think back to last year when the Jets had a rookie quarterback go out of a game with an injury to his knee. And it was a young Jets team, uh, not very talent rich and certainly no experience. In the Patriots ran up to score on the Jets to thirteen in that game at Foxborough. And after the game, Uh, the Jets players are unhappy about it. Richard Seymour and some fa cocta Patriots celebration at halftime uh called the Jets. Uh. This is a perfect time for the celebration. The Jets are homecoming game, and that's why people like Peyton Manning are saying run up the score and the Patriots. And that's why the Jets should remember what happened last year when they face New England because for the first time, even though the Jets, now eight games in a row have been underdogs in Vegas every week, there again an underdog in this game. I'm not saying that Jets are gonna be in position to do what the Bears did last week, because I don't know. That was kind of a weird, little funky game, um, and I don't expect New England to give effort and performance that bad again. But the Jets have such a great opportunity here, even with the injuries, which everyone knows that listened to the show, and I was in some morning uh the timing of it, and I was upset about how the brief halt injury and Vera Tucker kind of to me lowers their ceiling. I still think they absolutely can make another huge um statement internally in their building in terms of moving forward into a new era by beating the Patriots at home. I think will be very disappointing if they don't find a way. They do need Mark, they do need Zach well and to play better. And that's the one thing that I'm I'm holding my breath on because they need him now, especially now you lose a superstar potential type guy and Bruce Hall the way he was starting to come into form. You need the quarterback to give you more. He's giving you nothing less two weeks. Yeah, I mean there's there. You see little things with Zach Wilson, but that we just on our network show. They showed the highlight of him figurating like twice away, right, and he and he seems to walk into a worse situations and I'll throw the ball into another zip code. It's just, uh, it gets a little chaotic from my liking with Zach Wilson. I mean, and really what they were hoping was that you surround Zack Wilson with a Bruce Hall heart of the offense and you have that ground game. I don't know if James Robinson is gonna. I'm not sure James Robinson the hunter precent healthy. Like they talked about having a knee in Jacksonville before. He seemed to indicate that the team almost put that on him because they didn't want to play him because they knew he was gonna and the Jets, you know, get a look at the medicals before that deal. I think Michael Carter is the guy by the way, right, I think I think I think Carter sleear doing. I mean when it comes to the Jet so, I mean, I will I I kind of love their season and they're enjoyable to watch um. But they have benefited by playing Jacoby Brissette, Kenny Picktt early on in his starting days here, Skylar Thompson, Brett Rippion, and and they've done a good job because the second only the second starting quarterback. They also they also beat Aaron Rodgers, So I mean, you've gotta factor that in. I just think this is UM whenever it's Bill Belichick and the Jets, who seems to especially just like the Jets for reasons that UM I think go beyond just the fact that they're a division opponent. He loves stamping the Jets and I don't want to do it again, but this would be a huge, I think, psychological win for the Jets no matter what's going on psychological, it would be such a lift for the entire organization to kind of put the Patriots in their rear view mirror and say we are the team that should be viewed as chasing the Bills. That's not the Patriots, right. This is a chance to really bury the Patriots at three and five. It's a huge playoff race type of game. I think the Jets at five and two are obviously playoff contenders, and it's a home division game against the team that's last place in your division. It's a great spot like that that fifty burger the Patriots put out him a year ago were when when they were in similar spots. The Patriots were two and four going into that game, like people thought the Patriots season was over, and I think there's a feeling in New England it's like that now that the sky is falling. Belichick does tend to bring out his best stuff after a disaster against the Jets and against bad quarterbacks. And right now, I think you look at the last two weeks and Zack Wilson is one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the league. I think that's unquestionable, and it's amazing they're winning these games like this. They all need more from He showed something in his first two starts. I thought he was making most of the right reads. But he's looked pretty lost the last two weeks, especially last week against a great defense. Ultimately, mac Jones has looked lost two and mac Jones is fully expected to start this game. The all the drama UH from a week ago, we think is gonna end because the reporting has been mac Jones will start that he's taking all the practice snaps. But he reportedly took all the practice snaps a week ago too, and they still pulled them. So I never put it past Belichick, who won't confirm it publicly. Beyond that, mac Jones is ready to play this game. But it's a huge, huge game for mac Jones in his career. Yeah, he needs to put put sort of what's happened behind him a little bit because it is very uncomfortable there. You're almost glad it's not in New England. I was gonna say it's perfect because the Patriots in Belichick have no fear going to the metal lands, and you get him out of that really unhealthy environment in New England where and I'm not this is not me taking shots of the Patriots, and it's gonna sound like it, but it's like twenty years builds in entitlement in a franchise and a fan base, and they're expecting every quarterback to be Tom Brady now, and if it's if mac Jones isn't immediately giving them what they want, they're gonna assume the backup, like the sixth round pick in two thousand one should be the guy that plays like that's just like it's still a transition period for that fan base. So to get him kind of out of that world and let him just play on the road against the Jets um And it should be said that the Jets lost two major pieces of their offense, but their defense is still intact, and uh, I expect him to get after mac Jones biggest Patriots Jets game since their playoff tussle. I'd says that everyone else forgets the Fits magic year, and it's understandable, but they had They're a big game, right. I disregard that season as fraudulent, but maybe I think the Jets will get after and Mac Jones does not look comfortable under pressure this year. He hasn't looked like the same quarterback. They're running a lot of vertical routes. For me, I think they kind of used to. They use different plays with Zappy than for him. It's strange. And uh, They're best player on offense might be centered David Andrews, who really runs all those protections and he suffered concussion. Christian Barmour, who's been great. It's like he's out of this game. And the Patriots in general. It sounds strange, but I feel like they go as Trent Brown goes, Like when Trent out his rolland there rolland Trent Brown's coming off one of the worst games of his career. He's been a mess. If Andrews is out, I do like this Jets defense. I thought about challenging you to a lock off for this game, Dann, because I do think the Patriots will win if I had to choose. I don't feel that strong, but I do think the Patriots will win. But I just thought about there's a lot of it could just be ugly in the in the newsroom if that happened, or if you know. Either way, it's like, I don't know if it's worth it just for the entertainment of the show itself, because it's not the game. I feel strongest about what it would be. It would be a fun little side side piece. You're a natural showman, Greg, so I'm surprised that you could essentially not fault for the temptation that over confident in this game, just because the average margin of victory during this current Patriots twelve game streak over the Jets is twenty points. And I wasna I was gonna see how confident you were, and post Tom Brady, I'm not. The Jets are owing four with the minus seventy seven point differential, So Belichick has had their number for years. But maybe this is the start of something new. That was the Sunday Drive presented by Toyota. Let's take a break and continue the draft. All right, we're back Mark, all right, I'm gonna go Steelers at Eagles. Um, First of all, I never buy into this battle for Pennsylvania business. I don't understand that. I don't think that they bought into the battle for Ohio opponents. I don't think that the Eagles and Steelers fans walk around for the next three d buy into the other one either. Yeah, just this way the interesting. I mean, I'll play ball with it. Um, you don't even have to. I'm not refusing to. Yeah, you just ignored I'm refusing to buy into it. But you kind of have by bringing it up. You're right, I've I've fallen for my own tricks. Uh. Eagles I think are just like so interesting to watch and so complete. They just traded for Robert Quinn. That's such the most Eagles thing ever. I mean, they just there's no weakness on this team that I can do. I'm bored. I mean, that's a big move. It is a big move. I kind of surprised after that Monday night game. Thing new in my life. I'm not in the headlines. Nobody's talking about me. I need to get back in it. Literally predicted that as Roman that it undefeated. Don't even need anything really right now, if you think about it. But just a shop. They don't even need a pass there's no such Roseman thing to do. That was literally on yesterday's show hours before the trade, and that's what they did. They take a strength and they just added more because what the hell why not? And I mean, you talk about Kenny Pickett, I think it's just been so there are things about Kenny Pickett that I like. I like his aggressiveness, but he's been a turnover machine. Uh, it's sort of a function of their offense a little bit. But that you're gonna deal with Darius Slay, with James Bradberry, who we talked about, how they terrorized Kirk Cousins and that one Vikings lost. I mean, there's just not a weakness on this Eagles team. I think, if anything, Nick Sirianni has almost gone under the radar as a coach that deserves a lot more credit because it was a year ago when their offense wasn't working out. Point blank mid season just turns them into a ground heavy monster that is unstoppable on the ground. There's so much more balance now. And if you look at the Steelers, they've given up the third nose passing yards in the league. Their defense is a good by name and reputation, only they're not a very good defense right now. And I don't see how if you're Philly with a J. Brown with with what you've got through the air, that you can't take total advantage of the Steelers defense. And I don't like it at all. For Pittsburgh might get t j Wa back, which would be huge, that would be I actually think the Steelers will keep it under the number just because they have every week other than that Bill's game, every Steelers game has come down to the last possession. I know in the Browns game they scored a touchdown on the last play, which was one of those, but that was essentially a one score game too. They they've they're competitive, and I think they'll be competitive. But I think this Quin trade is one of the reasons why the Eagles built back their team to a superpower so quickly. It's strength on strength, Like you mentioned their deep at pass rusher already with Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat and Hassan Dick. It's crazy and yet you add another one because I think the the analytics department, which Nick Sirianni shouted out by name as analytics is getting a lot of grief. You know, in the NFL, Nick Sirian he shouted out by name run by uh their VP, Alec Hallabey, And I think a lot of what these analytics department says, at least for the Eagles, which is clear as load up on huge guys, load up on your lines, get eight linemen on both sides because huge men linemen, especially defensive linemen. Offensive lineman too, is like an undervalued resource somehow in the NFL. Guys that can just play forty snaps A fourth round pick for Quinns, you know, and their their ability to cycle in guys and keep players fresh and and all. This depth is so incredibly important. You need it because this is a gauntlet the season. So it's a great move. And I love when gms don't fall in love. I understand the value of a mid round pick and how um teams believe they could find gold with those picks. But how long is Robert Quinn under a contract? This is it? This is it? So it gets a compensatory picks. It's a potential rental. If it really works out, they can work out a deal to keep him. If he leaves, you get potentially a draft pick, and it's just kind of like a no brainer. And if you're another contender in the league, you're like, damn, the Eagles are doing this. They did that with Gardner Johnson before the season started and when there may not be another contender in the NFC, because you're lucky to be this aggressive in the season where two teams you thought the Bucks and Packers would be major factors are devolving. Right, And I'll just say my last point in this Greg, as you had mentioned, you think the steel is gonna hang around this game with the exception of the Buffalo game. Well, I think that it's there's three teams Eagles, Chiefs, Uh and Buffalo that are above everyone else. And I don't think the Steelers, like they couldn't hang with Buffalo, They're gonna hang with Philly on the road. I think they're gonna get their doors blown off. I'm laying that wood. Okay, good for you. What about is the rainmaker coming out? He did? He took an l last week. You got a W two. Right. Not only did the Seahawks win, but hopefully people felt the confidences as six and a half point underdogs there that one by seventeen and just went the you know, well the other the other matchup you picked cost people dead, president and one one's good or more families potentially? Sure, yeah, I mean one one. And if I'm just saying, if you great, how about the guy that only did the He's like, I can only pick. Funds are limited. I'm gonna go to win. Or you took the Seahawks to win, then actually one and one is a win. One and one's a win when the drunk on power unless you parlaid them, then you lose. Well, who had no one? Does that go? Grave Digger chimes in, usually we'd have an issue, but no issue. Probably took Greg's advice and is paying for it. Do not do that, will never do that, never ever to have the first overall pick. It truly is. But we say that every week now. It is the fact that I'm taking Ray Leaders Saints, says my next pick. I just like I'm thinking which teams have I watched live? It is a big game for the both of these teams. I think they're both a little better than their records. Any hope that these teams have you know what you mean, you win? No, it's not like but but I like it. Too, That's why I'm taking it. But they're combining the records are four and nine, so it's like that's sort of where we are with the NFL, that that's a good game. Um party Town verse party Town, Oh, along those lines. This blew my mind the stack, Reggy. There's only one game in Week eight with two teams with a winning record, and it's the freaking Giants and the Seahawks a week ago, I think, So okay, that makes more sense that we just think about if somebody had told you that back in the summer. By week there's only one game with two winning teams and it's the Giants and Seahawks. This has been a weird, funky, freaky season for these two teams. I think especially the Raiders are arguably one of the best offenses in the league. I mean, they've scored thirty three a game the last three. They're running the ball fantastic. I think Derek Carr's making great decisions and they're going up against a bad defense. You gotta call the Saints that at this point for all to talk about like losing Sean Payton, their numbers offensively in every respect are considerably better than they were a year ago, like by a lot. They're like top five or six yards per play and points per drive and all this stuff, and their defense is right near the bottom at all those They're not making big plays, they're giving up big plays defensively. They're still without Marshawn Lattimore. I was thinking maybe with the extra of days with the you know they call it the mini buy for the Saints, they'd get healthier. But Michael Thomas still out of practice, Jervis Landry still out of practice, Lattimore is still out of practice, and the defense hasn't shown enough to me that they're like going to keep the Raiders under thirty so they can the offense score over thirty. With Andy Dalton as their quarterback. I think they have a chance. But it's just like that's a lot to ask they have a chance. I mean, I love I know that the Las Vegas the record has them in a dark place right now, but they're one team that I kind of think can get back into this thing. I like this matchup for them. The Saints have the thirty first scoring defense, they have the most giveaways in the NFL on offense, and they they were run on by Eno Benjamin a week ago against Arizona. Josh Jacobs has four d forty one yards and six touchdowns in the last three weeks. Derek Carr isn't a better situation with the way they're playing right now on a run heavy offense. He's thrown one interception since Week two. That's the issue when Derek Carr was throwing picks in that Week one game, But just in general, when you get that with Derek Carr, you're killing chances. But he's making throws and they are able to do like their line had like nine combinations. It's just way too strange of a matchup to lock either one without being called a psycho. So I'm not gonna do that. But I think that I think that the team I believe in more is the Raiders to get back into it in the a f C and be a factor down the stretch. I already flipped my pick for this game. I picked this Saints initially just felt like they're going to get back in this uh and then I looked at that injury report and I was too freaked out. Dennis Allen, you know they've Here's where they missed on Peyton is that they no longer have Dennis Allen as their defensive coordinator. And I just think he was a good coordinator and he's not a good head coach apparently, and he defenses falling apart. It's gonna be the very, uh, a very raiderous thing when Josh Jacobs gets a contract extension uh and then never does this again. Well, just to go from the decline of the fifth year rookie deal to the extension I'm looking forward to. The fantasy heads are already freaking out about him being overdrafted next summer. We we we should mention that's their business. Mark I was saying that they were saying, don't do that. They're trying to give good advice, but who cares about next year's draft talking about that? I have nothing monitored that on Twitter that a lot of Josh Jacobs for sale responses to the next year Do you trade him now? At his peak? And I would say no, I think this is sustainable, uh, Andy Dalton, they believe is sustainable. They announced he's officially the starter over Jamis Winston, who's healthy enough to play. I think that was actually the case last Thursday, but they hadn't told Jamis Winston that or told the media or told their players that, and they stuck with Andy Dalton. They said, they don't want to rock the boat about this. Taysom Hill and Andy Dalton they can make some music together, and we started to see that. And then he's got nine touches in the last two weeks. There, you know, And what you're saying is true. They aren't scoring points. Some of that is they're chasing points because the defense has given up so many points. But finding a way to make Dalton and Hill work in concert, I think. And some of it they're they're giving up points offensively like Andy Dalton did, and then the running backs did for the first three or four games where they just fumbled three times a week. Oh it's me against Uh, it's the Dolphins, it's the Lions. I think I've watched every single Lions game this year live. I'm sorry. It's just like not much out there. And I do find this Dolphins team very compelling, even if the Lions are less compelling. I would say right now, Torn Arms, that has really meant everything to them. When Tron Arms started plays, they protect their quarterback and they look better. And I know they struggled in the final three quarters a week ago, and I don't think this is as easy a matchup as it would have been before the bye. I think they came out of there by with better energy. They played great in terms of their energy on defense a week ago. It wasn't on them. They were flying around. Hutchison had his best game. Josh Pascal, who was a second round pick returned from my R played great. Okuda played great, and so I don't just hand this to the Dolphins. I don't think they're gonna put up thirty five. I think those days, at least against the Lions might be over. I wouldn't hand it to the Dolphins either. I mean if starting with Miami's secondary, which is real banged up. You lost Brandon Jones a week ago at safety Xavian Howard. I don't think it's looked like himself for much of the year Byron Jones, Nick Needham banged up, so you can pass. I mean that we've seen we I think maybe the early part of the season with Detroit's offense was a bit of a aberration. I'm not sure that's really who they are. And when they get the Andrew Swift back, that wouldn't that would matter a lot um. Looks like he's practicing. He practiced last week too and did not play, so I must I I'm assuming we do get him back, and I think that's sort of the heart beating heart of their of their offense. So that's good for Detroit. Anybody absolutely hate to his game against four turnover worthy. He's so lucky in some of these games. He doesn't have three people really is Jimmy. They're the Jimmy G comparisons. I think it was our guest Steve Palazola, who I heard make it first early. There's a lot of Jimmy G to him, and he gets the same offense, but there's a lot of jim and he certainly deserves some rope here um because of the layoff and obviously the nature of the injury. And I know I've mentioned this before, but I just got to do it again because I know the statistically certain players, it all makes sense, like, oh, you know this is working. This is the Miami offense is working. But you take out the week to fourth quarter and these are their points by week fifteen, seventeen, sixteen sixteen. There's some defensive scores in there too. Yeah, there's a couple in there. You'd have to say, though in another universe like Tyreek, Hill's not working out at all and there's a big problem there at the offense. The windows he's throwing into are huge, but they'll probably be huge this week. He does do certain things well, he gets rid of the ball. You'd like him to be more accurate than he wasn't would have point it wasn't a strong game, I'd have to guess, and I haven't looked at it. Maybe grave there you can check it out that both Wattle and Hill on pace to go over like twelve yards receiving um Hill like about eighteen he might be Yeah, I'm sure he's way over that. I was kind of low barring it there. But so the numbers of there when you looked at Oh, these two guys watch out, but they're just not scoring enough points. And I think this is a good matchup um for the Miami Dolphins. But with the Lions. Yeah, did they peek early off pensively probably, but they're healthier now. Is DeAndre Swift in this game? We think? We think so. I do worry about Jared Goff though against this blitz heavy defense, we can do some similar things to what the Patriots did to them. Yeah, let's let's find a way Detroit team of a t L to get off the mad here and get a win, just to kind of pump some vibes into that building at one in five. It has been a very very bad start for them, and I just can't quite frankly, I can't deal with another Sunday night flagship program where we're listening to Dan Campbell in the shots up to us. We could just take him out of the show, but we've established they're the team of a t N. He's good, he's good copy, he's good sound, and we just tapped into his damn phone line and we heard the conversation with Joe Shane of the Gems. So there's a lot of things going on here about Well maybe maybe like since we only had that tap working, you know, it ran out, it only worked on Wednesday, maybe he will make that trade to apply for it. Yeah. I mean it's like, you know, you can only listen to amount of time. I've I've watched the wire, so I'm an expert here, and you know you have to apply for a certain amount of time and then it runs out, and then well if you're operating through the law. We also if you if you're in the van um dressed as like a utility company, um, you could listen. Uh, and then as soon as they start talking about something personally, you gotta click off which and then you go back to your newspaper and you say, we gotta wait, we gotta wait for a few minutes, and then you check back in. There is a code television taught uses update on your Dolphins receiver question. Tyreek Hill leads the league and receiving yards. They've played seven games. Lots of teams only played six games. Tyry Hill leads the league and receiving yards per game on pace for eighteen seventy six. Jalen Waddle fifth in the league and receiving yards per game on pace for fifteen o seven, so over yards and yet they score seventeen points. A game producer, just a good job. He's great. Thank you for in the running games to Initially I would say that would be what was off, but now most they're it's getting rolling. So what's up? Where are they scored more points? I don't have a good ends. Does anybody like what's going on? They a red zone disaster? I wonder if it's good points per driving. Yeah, past protection for the weeks that Armstead was out, but now they're good in the red zone. Had a bunch of quarterbacks obviously that you know that will lead to a little with the offense. But they were still moving the ball in those games, a lot of yards, a lot of field goals, at least in the last month. Mhmm. A bit mysterious, a bit of an unsolved mystery. Robert Stack style, the Dolphins and their offense, Tampa Bay impression. I was gonna do a snake, but Greg, that was your pick. So we're up to Mark Cla. All right, I'm gonna go on Panthers at Falcons. There's not a lot to pick from at this point, but I I do find obviously what happened with J Walker a week ago makes the Panthers more compelling visually to me. Falcons, I think you can be the Falcons have the thirty second ranked past defense, so maybe p J. Walker, who made some absolutely beautiful throws a week ago, the touchdown to DJ More, the touchdown to Tommy Tremble, Uh, I think that can happen again. And they they're showing faith in him. He's out look at how many guys come in like a P. J. Walker and suddenly outshine the first overall pick and finger mayfield. Sam Donald's not seeing the field. Let's see if you can do it against Atlanta's last ranked past defense, who gave four hundred and eighty three yards a We could go to Joe Burrow and how did they respond on offense? This is what bothers me a little bit with the Falcons, because they're not built to get in if you don't have the lead. What Atlanta wants to do does not work on offense. They had Mariota throw thirteen passes a week ago when they had given up a ton of points out of the gate. He threw fourteen the week before. They just don't trust him through the air. And you gotta be able to team. You gotta be even and run the ball if you're Atlanta, otherwise you're in hot water. On the Sunday Show, they were They were trailed by double digits for fifty game minutes of that game and he's still finished with thirteen passes. And so there's there's this thing going on because we also you have Kyle Pitts and Drake London, the last top ten picks in the last two years. And then you have the way that Arthur Smiths choosing to run the offense, and there's a disconnect there, and I wonder what it's all about. By the way, shout out to all my fellow Kyle Pitts fantasy owners out there, this is the last stand we we We've waited, and we've waited. If they don't put up some points and he doesn't get some targets against the Panthers, we need to move and find something else. Go get Tyler Higbee or something off the waiver wire. A little fantasy nug for you. But I'm just curious, Greggy, why why do we treat Marcus Mariotta as if he's Tim Tebow or Cordell Stewart like they're not. I know he's not a gifted passer of the football, but he's treated as if do not, under any circumstance, let this thing turn into a passing passing off. It's crazy. Last week in that game, they were running on first down the whole time they were trying to come back. The Patriots did it too with Bailey's appy, but I think that's telling that Bailey's Appy and Mariota are getting treated the same. Honestly, it was kind of insane. They weren't playing hurry up. They continued to run the ball. I worry about this matchup for Atlanta because, as I mentioned a week ago that the Falcons lost A. J. Terrell, who's their best player. Doesn't sound like he's gonna play Casey Hayward's now on I R. I would say maybe they're second best player along with Grady Jared of course up front, but they're two best in the secondary certainly, you know, and that we talked about the Panthers, we're gonna be mentioned kind of last and they were this dead team. They win this game and the Bucks lose on Thursday night, which maybe has already happened if you listen to this, they're in first place, so they are no they are in this season if they win this game and just beating the Bucks and Panthers in being three and oh the in the division because remember they beat the Saints earlier too. I mean, they're they're in this thing. I don't think they're like a could be a good team, but they could be a seven and ten team that ties to win this Division or a classic preserker down the stretch. If they played the way it could be that weird Panthers Cam Newton team, remember that where they went seven and they had a terrible start on a rivera. Then they yes, they came surging back seven and nine. They've changed the game. That's the second season with the seventeen games schedule really polarizing, but more football. I did like seeing this Steve Wilkes locker room thing. I mean they celebrated that thing like they won the Super Bowl, and uh, it's been a down season, so good for Steve Wilkes. Ya'm just saying it's been so miserable that you couldn't have this moment of pure joy. Maybe it carries over, maybe not. Just move on after this break? All right, here we go, zeuser is up. Pickings are slim, So let me go grab a late game here. I don't want to watch the Commanders and Sam Ellinger, so let's go with your Tennessee Titans at the Houston Texans. That's available, correct, that is available? It is you'd be stealing it potentially from Graver. I like that. Make him, you know, watch the Colts. Justin and I have a nice working arrangement. Uh, and we will tag team this game. Cool. I'd also be happy to watch hook them Sam Ellinger's first NFL start, That's what I mean. We might need a fourth paradise. That's wonderful, all right, so that let me take care of this game. The Tennessee Titans four and two UM travel to Houston to face the Texans. And yes, we have Davis Mills coming off. Let me start something positive here. Davis Mills was bad for five weeks, went into the bye, and then was professional um against the Raiders in a loss. UM. You have, of course Damian Pierce, who it's gonna give you a hundred plus total yards every game, so you have something cooking. There was Brandon Cook's gonna be on the team as of right now, he is, but we shall see. Uh come Sunday a little late in the week to trade for him. But hey, you know the NFL. Oh, anything can happen. Can I ask you a question? Sure, Christian McCaffrey one of them was he traded for point made Thursday night? There you go, boom. I don't yeah, that was good. I don't think it's the same started chemistry market. I have had this show. But it's good. It's good. I don't know you felt the need to kind of say that makes me know you're worried. Says more about old Greggy. Um. Alright, anyway, so you got the Texans of the Times. I love that the way things are setting up here for Tennessee. I've talked about it. I don't need to belabor it. Uh. They're well coached, they have a great running game, they have a quarterback that's not gonna kill them, and they've been through the Wars. They're gonna win a lot of close games. Like the gi Men. They're the ger Men in the a f C where you're not gonna You're not gonna be totally You're not gonna be totally thrilled when you see them hosting a playoff game in January. But guess what, They're gonna have their eleven wins and away they go. So I think this is another one. I'm a little greg. Maybe you could offer something to me in a way and in the way of an explanation, because Vegas has this game, and I believe one and a half. I've got a great one and a half. I've got a great one. Go ahead, Ryan, Tannehill's status is up in the air, and that is I think for that number. As the week goes on, it seems much more likely that Ryan Tannehill will play. And I think it's gone from one and a half to two and a half. Are they saying on the beat? Uh? He's said of the boot, he's out of the boot. He spoke at the press conference. He hasn't been participating in practice, but that was expected. He said he's getting all the mental reps he can get. I would be very surprised if Tannehill doesn't play, right, but I think it was is like plant do you think he's playing? I think he's playing. Then I'm locking up the Titans. Give me it. Well, I have to let you know something, yes, sir, and this you know Greg, you can see right here. I am also locking up the Titans chemistry and can I say something yes after getting basically bullied into doing it for the first time this year, I'm also locking up the Titans. What could go wrong? Going to be the letdown game? Let me hit you with the fact last year the Titans went into Houston on a six game winning streak and lost to a two and seven Texans team this year, they enter Houston on a four game winning streak up against the Wits team. That what happened last year, right, it's on their minds. It'll form them. They're not if you want to join this chemistry hive in this triple lock chem hive, chem hive, we don't need any of that like talk, that's floor and you guys are Aaron Rodgers right now? Is that what's happening here? But more or less, why are you bringing that just if you're locking it that you didn't even like them against the Commanders with reservations, Get your act together. Never locked with reservations. Derrick Henry has a chance for a fourth straight two hundred US yard rushing and two plus rushing touchdown game against the Texans. You're a Hall of famer when you have any type of nug like that, like Derrick Henry's a Hall of Fame running back. And I think, yes, I reserve the right to back out of this lock. If Ryan Tannehill is scratched, um, I'm gonna put that out there now. But as long as he's playing, they will take care of business. Yeah. I loved their pass special last week. Bud Dupree actually giving them something, uh, coming off an injury, and the Texans feel easy to pick against because they've quietly taken a huge step back on defense. It's hard to think the Texans could take a huge step back in anything, but their defense was frisky. It was like pretty close to average for most of last year, and now Lovey Smith's group is one of the worst defenses. Is anybody surprised? Particularly inspired? Okay, another moment that I took from Tuesday when Gara Folow was on when he said the Texans expected them to be better than they were. That threw me. Actually, that felt like set up for love Smith to be fired like that. Wherever that's coming from, it just started like, okay again on the road. Do you want to hear another weird one? I know it's the Texans, but I found this weird. Come ou Grugier Hill, their linebacker who's like been leading them in tackles, one of their better defensive players. No, no, but and he requested and received his release this week even though he's like played, you know, most of the season for the Texans. That just as a still you could take the Easter be out of the Texans, but there's still some weird stuff going on. That's weird. What's that dude? Who's that dude? Yeah? That line go anywhere. Now, he's like Matthew mcconnie. He's a polarizing Kansas City based sports writer. Uh, talking head type dude anyway, Um, David Culley, Jason Whitlock, Whitlock Um, he had that Kansas City based through back in the day. Yet whenever someone is like getting the last laugh, like, oh so and so is cackling while rolling a blunt somewhere, that is Cully right now, It's like, whatever, you fired me, get my cackle on. He's still getting paid, So you know. It wasn't an endorsement, by the way, it was just remember that was one of his things. Let's move into my other pig, a little sloppy. I gotta have three yearly games with Life is Life Chicago. Basically we can do some postgame fixing training Chicago Bears at Dallas Cowboys. If I'm a Bears fan or if I'm in the locker room, I'm totally bummed. Right now. We had a really promising showing in prime time with our young quarterback, and we embarrassed Bill Belichick, who was going to set the record held by Mr bar himself, George Hollis, and we lay up beating on the Patriots. There was I think Roquan Smith had a great line. He said it was so quiet in that building that you could hear a rat piss. It's a little uncouth the line, but it's a great Actually did hear that? Then it's just factual. So then what are the Bears turn around to do? They trade like one of the most important players on the team, Robert quinn Um to the Eagles. So that's a real letdown I imagine inside that locker room in terms of do you really believe in us? Because we just got our third win in a wide open league and now you just you told us you're playing for tomorrow, not for today. So I don't think the vibes are gonna be hot going into Dallas. I think the Cowboys are a team that listen, you watched that game and you say, oh, great, cowboys got healthy over the lines. If not for that Jamal Williams fumble, they're losing with ten minutes to play in that game, So that they're not unbeatable by any stretch. I think the Cowboys, like I haven't at four in the power rankings, but this is a weird power rankings year. This They're more like a number ten team to me right now in a typical season. So it's not like the Bears have no chance, especially if Fields continues the game confidence greggy. But at the same time, the Quinn thing, I really do think that could have a psychological effect on Chicago. Well, yeah, Roquan Smith was on the that was Crazy podium when the trade happened, so they asked him about it and he couldn't continue. He started, you know, getting emotional when he was talking, and then he left. And this is a guy who's had his own issues with the Bears, who was asking for a trade, but his bawling out and is one of their young best players and then upset that he wasn't the one that I think to see a guy that you look up to that's had an incredible career in Robert Quinn, and you must be one of the most respected people in that locker room and better players in locker room traded. You're You're right, I think that does damage. That said, their defense has played better each and every week. Their passing game, even though it's not great has played better in each of the last three weeks. I think has been their best three passing game week. The running game has been good all along. That game on Monday Night made me think the Bears have a shot to be frisky. Maybe they are frisky. Maybe they got to frisky with that because that was right at the moment where you're like, wait a second, alright, Bears, And I think it's a tough matchup because their offensive line has gotten by so far, but they have another injury there, another couple injuries there, and you're playing the Cowboys, so this might not be the week for We'll see. I'm curious. I think it's tough for Matt Eberflus to to lose Robert Quinn. I mean, it's just sort of a weird move because I I came out of Monday night games also thinking like, in this NFC, if Chicago can rebrand themselves on offense the way they have over the last month, and if you're gonna get justin Fields improving as a pastor the way as the last three weeks, you've got something here. Because he's so dangerous and hard to He's the kind of quarterback becau of what he can do on the ground. The defensive coordinators go nuts trying to figure out how to stop him. And it's not just him, it's Khalil Herbert, it's Montgomery. Like that's such a punishing ground game that when you have that, you can do anything. I think it's just for me the right. Also, you look at their defense third ranked past defense right now. Last week, Prescott eighteen from nineteen on throw shorter throws under fifteen yards one through six on fifteen plus yards through the air. I think that Dak, like like Mike McCarthy, zady said that he got better as the game went along, and he did, but it wasn't some sort of like, oh wow, we've got this version of Dak Prescott right now that takes the Cowboys totally over the top. It's okay, we had seen that yet, I to me think that this is a game for the Bears where they do have a chance. And I you gotta get over the Robert Quinn stuff because if this if what you if what they are is what they did against Bill Belichick in the Patriots week ago. The rest of this season is about the most promising stretch the Bears. Fans of experience in a very long time. If that's who they are, If justin Fields just like he's, he's Pollard is just the better. That's what I mean. That's why I care, because it's interesting. Everyone's been still he's not seen the saying Tony Pollard like if and get him, we we get to see him do everything. I love you. Well. They also have a bik having both of them. I think they I think they're nice tandem. I think the conversation sometimes excuse because it's the cowboys, like oh Zeke Kellett, he's terrible now never playing. I think they have something working with both of those guys. But I think Pollard. Yeah, it'll be good for Tony Pollard and fantasy owners that have been stashing him waiting for this very moment. Good for them who the finals. They're not. They're huge, huge favorites. They handled it fine last week. Defense shows up each and every week. There's there's not a lot of reason to think they won't this week. Alright, Mark, the last game falls to you, but we're going to get some help from the great digger commanders at Colts. All right, Uh, you know this should have been the Colts taking Matt Ryan into face Carson Wentz and proved that they made the right decision at quarterback. Instead. We we were weeks into the season and Matt Ryan is history and incomes Sam Elinger, which I just think it was a sen a move about Matt Ryan's guaranteed money. I think it was a move about Jim Mercy wanting to just change things up. The owner, uh ellenor gives you mobility. I guess that's what they keep saying. I mean, he did rush for thirty three touchdowns, uh in four seasons of Texas, so he does have that. And I guess you know the age of Matt Ryan, who at the stone age pony you cannot move in the pocket getting destroyed um was too tough on the eyes for the Colts to deal with. I kind of think that that I believe more in the commanders at this point than I do in the cults, because if the Colts want to be what they were last year when they overcame their terrible start, it starts with Jonathan Arroll. They're thirtieth in rushing right now, and I know he's been out the lineup. Hines has been out of the lineup, but I'm not sure that's the team they are right now. That said one of one of these like when you cannot pass protect, if you want to turn into a run blocking line and try to just unleash Jonathan Taylor with Ellenor at quarterback, I like your chances better than what was going on before, and get him on the move, get him outside the pocket. Let's hear from Matt Ryan, who, like the rest of us, was shocked his benching. I mean, individually and personally disappointed. You know, there's a player, as a competitor, wary out there. I wanted to reco and so, um it's part of the deal in this league. Gotta produce and you gotta go out there and playing. Frustrated that we weren't able to do that in the first seven games. Um forward, you know life, Oh my god, lead Sam production has to be there. So obviously disappointed personally, but um here for the team, we have Matt Ryan, the spilling his guts to the reporters about essentially potentially the end of his career, and then a spirited game of ping pong going on behind him with the other Cults players. It's it's just it's just funny. But I just want to say to that point, I read a really good article in The Ringer. Ben Slack wrote it um. The headline was the simple math behind the Coults decision to turn to Sam Ellinger Elleninger Ellen gurr Uh. And it was he wrote about which something was very interesting and made sense, like how what's going on with the league right now? More and more positive stresses being put on. Hey, we need a quarterback to save plays and if a play breaks down in the passing game, somebody that could turn a seven yard sack loss uh into a twenty yard rush. Uh. The scrambling of a quarterback has never been more effective. And it's and guys like Matt Ryan um or even Carson Wentz to a certain extent before him, or Philip Rivers before him, or Jacoby Brissette before him, and Indy those guys are dead when the pass rush gets there. Ellener gives them a chance to do some different things. And I think that is one of the reasons as well why they made this decision. He won this job in in August. Not that they expected Matt Ryan to play the way he did, but we talked that the preseason matters only so much for young quarterbacks. But it's mattering when you put your proof of concept as a player, as a second year player on paper. He had a fifty five yard rushing touchdown in the preseason where he made a couple of guys miss. He threw a bunch of touchdowns. He was accurate. He was not like get rid of the ball quickly guy. He's a little more hold the ball and make a play guy. Uh, without huge skill set. So maybe in their minds a better version of Taylor, you know, like a similar type of player, but he's he's not the two like I'm gonna make all the right reads quickly, and you wouldn't expect that as a second year players about I think they're just hoping can add a little bit of playmaking. I think their excitement about him is at least genuine to the point where like they just couldn't watch Matt Ryan anymore. But man, that game last week when I went back to watch it, that I hope that's not his last game. It was one of the saddest. And you see, you could have once the pass rush got there, he either takes a sack, he gets hitt and fumbles, or he throws it up for grabs. And those are all looks like a quarterback of veteran pocket quarterback who looks cooked. But then you can say, well, what about last week when they had him throw it the times and he let him to come back win. But there was more so much more bad than good with Matt Ryan. So the moves doesn't It's not that the move doesn't make sense, it's what we know about the backdrop of the move and what was said before the season where you had them on record, the cult saying this isn't just about this year or even next year. We see him at least our starting, starting, starting quarterback for two years and then he's gone in eight weeks. The whole operation is sitting on the hot seat right now. For all the praise and love that we have given to Frank Reich over the years and assumed that quarter the next quarterback they bring in is going to be in a great situation in Indianapolis. And I mean Frank break said it, like what they sold Matt Ryan did not exist on this Colts team. The offensive line, like the fact that he'll be well protected, a great ground game, none of it's been true. And so if anything, switch it up and see what you get with it's desperate, but it's like we already knew what they'd be the rest of the season with Matt Ryan. They're hoping that there's something with Sam Ballard. Ballard gave all that money to that offensive line and the picks, and that's who's struggling. And you know they're big, they're big name players are struggling. Quitn Nelson has not necessarily been the same. Ryan Kelly, who has made a Pro Bowl, has not been the same. And they're going up against the Washington team, which grades out as like winning in the past, rush and getting a ton of pressures a lot. I don't I don't see it because they're not like a good defense. But this isn't necessarily an easy first matchup that easy for Ellinger. Maybe he'll be under pressure if you'll lose this game. As a Cults, it just feels very like, oh, what do we do now? We just lost to the Commanders after making this big move. I have a thought on it. Yes, I think this is one of those we don't have a quarterback of the future. If Sam plays well, he could be our guy. If he plays poorly, we're going to get a high draft pick. And be in the mix for C. J. Stroud or Bryce Young or whoever. It's like Davis Mills Part two. And that's the way an owner thinks. It's not necessarily how you know, the head coach thinks. And that supports the theories of of how involved or say, I'm looking at the week eight announcer assignments and under this game it says Hansas Rosenthal, and oh that's cool, that's good. We would be great. So I guess we're just backups. No, it's actually Brandon Gauden, go godn you come to us with the pronunciation check sometimes. And Greg and I are Mr Scott Allinger, got Smith and Jen Hale. They do a great job. I love Jen Hale. I think she still does sidelines for the Pelicans, who have adopted as one of my NBA teams. Watching some local Pelicans pells, look, are you just loyal to basketball? Ultimately? All right, before we say goodbye, let's check in. Well, it's completely different than basketball. There is. Let's check in on the lock of the week standing ze Sir and Rosenthal at five and two. Uh, And then we have the Grave Digger at four and three, the West Brothers at three and four you know what? And then in tiny little matterin at the bottom, Oh, Sessler is involved too. I'll get my revenge market four and three clowns I always return. I love that you. Um, I mean, it's just an absurd bit. Just find it. I find it to be. It's obviously we're going to do the second we were in first place. They couldn't do that. But since yeah, yeah they could, they'll find something in the first place soon enough. What was that move? I'm not that annoyed by it. Well, that's good, But the for the audio listeners, I think it is disrespectful that you were not in the main grouping there. Thank you should be with the rest of us. No, I think it's it was disrespect and I'll figure out through my own investigations, my own wire tapping, who behind the glass is responsible for this and they will be punished. Uh, this is the bad news for you. The guy probably responsible is like six seven and hewears a wool cap and never smile, So you take him out at the knees six seven, good luck. I also like that the three of you guys, Grave, Digger, Sessler, and Hansas all on the same team. I mean the analytics would say this is a great week for me. That's what you would want is your team teammates to all but you had a terrible lock. So yeah, you're analytics say that we're in a good position there as well. Well that's that's your opinion and I don't share it. Yeah, all right, thank you everybody for listening. We will be back with the Friday Fun Show tomorrow, so make sure you're there. Patrick Claiban rejoining us UH in the fourth chair. Be part of the interactive experience ten am Pacific, one pm Eastern. Happy our time in London and surrounding territories. Until then, Dan hands the signing off four Quiet Storm, the Old Boss, the Grave Digger or Incredible Team behind the Class including six ft seven and the wool Cat. He the call s