Hour 1: Football is Back

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: Football is Back (September 4, 2025)

Brief Overview

The trio—Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg—return for an energetic episode marking the beginning of the NFL season. The show’s central theme revolves around the excitement and nervousness of football’s return, how fandom shapes the experience, and what’s at stake for New York’s football teams, especially the Giants, Commanders, Eagles, and Cowboys. There’s also lively discussion about broadcast personalities, viewing habits, NFL Sunday Ticket vs. RedZone, and the sacred personal rituals of watching the big game.

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Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Football Is Back! Office and Fan Shenanigans

• The hosts observe the office buzzing with football jerseys, highlighting local enthusiasm—even when rooting for out-of-market teams like the Dolphins.

• Why Are There Dolphins Fans in NY? The guys debate how fans are born of winning eras (Cowboys, Niners, Lakers, Dolphins with Marino) and the enduring pain when those teams falter.

  • Don (03:14): “The Dolphin fan became a fan because in comes Dan Marino—greatest quarterback who ever lived... And now 40 years later, still waiting.”

• Uniform Hot Takes: Alan and Peter rib on each other’s tastes, especially the “disgusting” Jets green.

  Key Quote:

  • Peter (03:53): “Whenever you see a Dolphins thing, you just go, ‘What happened?’ It’s jarring, right?”

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2. Standing Out in Sports Media

• The trio lampoon media personalities (Field Yates, Cam Newton) for cultivating visual gimmicks to get attention.
  • Alan (06:39): "Take a look around—who generally does the best? ...Every day I’m going, what the hell’s he wearing?"
• They joke about their own on-air personas and discuss why being memorable on TV sometimes comes down to looks or quirks.

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3. Week 1 Matchup: Eagles vs. Cowboys – Giants and Commanders Perspective

• Rooting Interest Debate: Each host debates whom to root for with no skin in the game, but major indirect ramifications for their teams.
• Don’s View (09:03):

  "If you’re a Giant fan, you want to see the Eagles wipe the floor with the Cowboys... If the Cowboys beat the Eagles, that means their ship is righted... now there’s a very good chance you’re starting 0–2 on the season. Give me a Cowboy loss. Make them look bad.”

• Peter and Alan discuss if the Giants or Commanders might actually have a shot, and if the Cowboys’ potential early demise could open the division.
• Consensus: The NFC East is wild—no repeat champion in 21 years (11:43).
• Alan reflects on Giants’ “dream scenario”:

  “The real hope would be splitting these first two [games]. Can you get one of these? The Dallas game being the more likely one.” (17:07)

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4. Brian Daboll and the Giants’ Brutal Start

• Can the Giants survive a meat-grinder opening schedule (at Washington, at Dallas, vs. Kansas City, vs. Chargers)?
• Is it fair to judge Coach Daboll’s job security after such a tough slate?
• Don (20:31): "It’s five games of a 17 game schedule…football fans, we overly simplify everything based on the record. How it looks doesn’t matter. Just win.”
• Peter’s counter (21:27): "That’s part of the stigma with Daboll…they couldn’t close the deal. If you told me they were down 14-0 at the half and come back, lose 21-17, at least they showed fight.”

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5. Football Viewing Rituals: Why Real Fans Watch Alone

• Don laments group viewing:

  • “I want to be by myself. I don’t want to hear your opinion and your filth.” (33:59)

• The trio agree that for big games involving their teams, isolation beats parties. Alan is okay watching with one diehard friend.

• Peter recalls the lure of parties (like DiPietro’s legendary spreads) but admits real fans avoid distractions.

  Memorable Story:

  • Don (36:12): “The only time my father spoke to me [during Giants’ Super Bowl] was when Norwood missed a field goal. And I’m jumping up and down, the fish tank almost fell over, and he says, ‘Watch the fish tank!’”
  • Alan (36:26): “That deserved more than Marvel.”

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6. NFL Sunday Ticket vs. RedZone and New Broadcast Changes

• Don laments YouTube taking over Sunday Ticket; Alan discusses rising costs, making the purchase less justifiable as national games proliferate.
• Don (30:00): “RedZone ruined the ticket for me ... these touchdowns never overlap, it’s amazing. ... The games are all in commercial at the same time!”
• The crew reassures listeners that commercials on RedZone won’t ruin the experience, despite social media panic.

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7. Listener Calls: Division Rivalries and Playoff Picks

• Chauncey (41:11) prefers the Cowboys win so the Giants can beat a team coming off a high; Don and Peter argue the Cowboys must look bad early to give Giants a shot at escaping the NFC East “basement.”

• Griffin (45:25) calls his Super Bowl shot: Bills vs. Packers, highlighting expected improvement from Jordan Love and an ascendant Buffalo. The hosts break down who’s likely to make the playoffs in the NFC, the sneaky depth of competition in the NFC North, and whether Kansas City is “fading” after so many years of dominance.

  Notable Quotes:

  • Don (46:32): “All we’re asking you to be is probably a nine-win team.”
  • Peter (49:35): “If you had to choose right now, Alan, is it Buffalo and Kansas City in the AFC Championship? No—Baltimore.”

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Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:50 – Show kicks off, discussion of football vibes at the station
• 03:07 – The origin of Dolphins fans, Dan Marino nostalgia
• 06:39 – Sports media personalities' visual gimmicks
• 09:00 – Rooting interest in Eagles vs. Cowboys—impact on Giants/Commanders
• 12:15 – NFC East pecking order and wild card aspirations
• 18:25 – Can Brian Daboll survive a tough Giants start?
• 27:45 – What changes with fatherhood and fandom? Alan’s personal view
• 30:00 – NFL Sunday Ticket vs RedZone viewing habits
• 33:40 – Why sports fans hate parties for big games
• 36:12 – Don’s “fish tank” Super Bowl story
• 41:11 – Chauncey’s caller segment: who should Giants fans root for?
• 45:25 – Griffin’s Super Bowl call: Bills vs Packers & playoff breakdown
• 49:35 – Peter backs Baltimore in the AFC

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Notable Quotes

• Don La Greca (03:14):
  “The Dolphin fan became a fan because in comes Dan Marino—greatest quarterback who ever lived. ... Now 40 years later, still waiting.”

• Peter Rosenberg (11:43):
  “21 straight years, never repeat [NFC East] champ—that’s crazy.”

• Alan Hahn (20:03):
  “You’re not gonna feel that way if you go 0-3 and they’re all close and you haven’t beaten the Chargers yet.”

• Don La Greca (33:59):
  “I don’t get people watching big games with other people.”

• Don La Greca (36:12):
  “The only time my father spoke to me was when Norwood missed a field goal. ... He’s like, ‘Watch the fish tank!’”

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Episode Tone & Takeaways

Engaging, irreverent, and full of genuine sports angst, this episode gives a raw look at the mentality of deeply invested fans and sports media insiders. The opening of football season brings excitement but also anxiety, especially in a city used to more heartbreak than glory. The hosts’ authentic voices—honest, passionate, occasionally exasperated—make clear that football is much more than a game for New Yorkers: it’s a weekly ritual, a source of identity, and often, a test of emotional durability.

Perfect for:
Fans prepping for Week 1, New York sports diehards, anyone wondering how true football obsessives process the yearly rollercoaster.

Transcript

[Don Hahn]

When did making plans get this complicated?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's time to streamline with WhatsApp, the.

[Don Hahn]

Secure messaging app that brings the whole group together. Use polls to settle dinner plans. Send event invites and pin messages so no one forgets. Mom 60th and never miss a meme or milestone.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All protected with end to end encryption. It's time for WhatsApp message privately with everyone.

[Commercial Announcer]

Learn [e-mail] Todd, one day you're not.

[Don Hahn]

Gonna play football anymore. And if there's a God up above, it'll be soon. Hahn.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Huge. No, but big. Yeah. And Rosenberg.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

This isn't North Dakota, this is New York.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is Don Hahn and Rosenberg on 880 ESPN and the ESPN New York.

[Don Hahn]

App 302 in the big city. Don Hahn, Rosenberg. That's the show hanging with you today as we are going to take it at 7 o' clock. And then Dan Grasso. Why? I'll tell you why. Mets are off. They owed us one after the app extravaganza yesterday. So we are going to be on full four hours and we've got the first day of football season. I came in today, you know, all the people that we don't really know here, they're all wearing like jerseys because.

[Alan Hahn]

It'S football, by the way. Was that. I saw a couple of those encouraged.

[Don Hahn]

What's that? We didn't get the memo. So.

[Alan Hahn]

But was it a thing?

[Don Hahn]

Like, it's a thing we didn't get.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know why we weren't a part of it.

[Don Hahn]

It's a thing. Joy's got his Dolphin jersey on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's for the people outside the bubble. We're in the bubble here.

[Don Hahn]

Andrew, the guy that looks like Dable's got his giant jersey on because he's Giants fan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How fitting is that.

[Don Hahn]

I've seen a few.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, yeah, I saw, I saw that. I saw Troy, whenever, whenever you see somewhere a Dolphins thing, you just go, what happened?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's jarring, right?

[Alan Hahn]

It's jarring.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, it's good.

[Alan Hahn]

It's upsetting.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a perfect example of that guy. Go ahead on that guy Thursday.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh yeah, but what do you mean, that guy?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, because, you know, you're in New.

[Alan Hahn]

York, your team's not even playing today, all that stuff.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you know, like, come on, you're being that guy.

[Don Hahn]

Well, here's why you're being that guy. All right? And listen, I. Gordon Damer is one of my favorite people in the world.

[Alan Hahn]

He's a Dolphin Guy.

[Don Hahn]

He's a Dolphin guy, but he suffers. He wears it. All right? Everybody becomes a fan for a reason. And, and usually someone was good at some point. Right? And that, that's the point, right, is that you became a Cowboy fan because the Cowboys are going to the super bowl every year. And, and that worked out because then you got to go through the whole Emmett Smith, Michael Irving era. Or maybe you came a 49er fan and you're wearing a bunch of, you're winning a bunch of championships with Montana and Young and. Or maybe became a Laker fan and. But the Dolphin fan became a Dolphin fan because in comes Dan Marino, greatest quarterback who ever lived. Oh, my God, here we go. Bardi's gonna be raining down on me. I'm gonna have to wear a helmet just to protect myself from the Lombardi's. They're gonna rain from the sky. And his second year, he's in the Super Bowl. He lost, but he did the Super Bowl. And now they're still with 40 years later. It's like still waiting.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Can't wait.

[Don Hahn]

Still wait for the people that calculated it as, oh, this is gonna be great.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But Don, even that Dan Marino tumbled. Nobody was becoming a Dolphin fan because they drafted him. Oh, yeah, you became a Dolphin fan because he at a young age took them to a Super Bowl.

[Don Hahn]

That's well, that same. That hit, right. He was drafted, what, 24th out of pit, like, so I don't think it's like, oh, I'm definitely, you know, going to become a. But still the way he came right.

[Alan Hahn]

Out of the box.

[Don Hahn]

They became a fam because they fell in love with Dan Marino. Great quarterback, cool looking uniforms. I always thought the aqua, it's cool. They've got, they've got a color that nobody. Anybody can, Anybody can have orange or, or red or blue. They've got a color. Aqua. That's cool.

[Alan Hahn]

I know.

[Don Hahn]

I like their uniform.

[Alan Hahn]

I do too. I think in terms of like, disgusting. You think it's disgusting because you're a.

[Don Hahn]

Jet fan and you hate the Dolphins.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, the jets are way worse.

[Don Hahn]

Even though you beat him in every big spot.

[Alan Hahn]

Don, it's not even a question.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The jets are one big spot.

[Alan Hahn]

Jets are much worse than the Dolphins.

[Don Hahn]

Go to A.J. dewey. Yeah, well, that's a while ago.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's still a big spot.

[Don Hahn]

I know, but Don, and it bogus.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We all know this.

[Alan Hahn]

How can a Jets fan call Miami gear disgusting? The green and white jets is not good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's green and white.

[Alan Hahn]

It's not good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm sorry, Celtics fan. How's that green and white going for you?

[Alan Hahn]

It's not great either. Well, it's a great counter, but I.

[Don Hahn]

Don'T think he became a fan of the Celtics because of the uniform.

[Alan Hahn]

And I'm not bad math. I'm not bad at.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I mean, I'm a Jets fan because, well, technically, I got a uniform for Christmas that I did not know was coming, and suddenly there I was a Jets.

[Alan Hahn]

You were a Jets fan because of the uniform. But I don't. I don't criticize the Laker jersey because I think the Celtics is so high and mighty. Although I will say I do think the Celtics green and white. I know this sounds really ticky tacky looks better than the jets green and white. I do think it looks better.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But what shade of green is that? Now, is that just a dark shade?

[Alan Hahn]

Just slightly different?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a shamrock green.

[Alan Hahn]

Or it's just the bat.

[Don Hahn]

No, the Celtics are so big. It's Celtic green, by the way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Maybe it's this. That green and white has championship. This green and white has a lonely Lombardi.

[Alan Hahn]

Lone lonely, by the way.

[Don Hahn]

Lombardi. What?

[Alan Hahn]

We got to talk. What did you got when you guys talked to Fortin Ball last week? Is something going? Is he, like, becoming a loan shark? Is he.

[Don Hahn]

There's.

[Alan Hahn]

What's going on?

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's gone all in on the, on the fit.

[Alan Hahn]

Everything's everything. Suede or velvet?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's the Vegas thing. It's his vibe. He's playing it up.

[Alan Hahn]

And by the way, didn't the mustache used to be, like, a gimmick because of, like, Movember or something?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I thought he lost a bet.

[Don Hahn]

It's a survive. I think it's a survivor.

[Alan Hahn]

We gotta. He's gotta own up to it.

[Don Hahn]

He.

[Alan Hahn]

He is a nozzle mustache guy, but he's gotta own it. It can't be that he lost a bet every week.

[Don Hahn]

I can't say it the way Dice said it, but when he talked about Fortin Ball and the way he looks with the vibe, I, I, I, I just keep thinking, like, I can't give the whole thing, but, like, Dice, It's a vibe. We beat up Delsner on the rent. It's a vibe.

[Alan Hahn]

Right? That's what he's giving, though. There's something going on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen, I love Fortin Bar.

[Don Hahn]

No, I love him.

[Alan Hahn]

Wait.

[Don Hahn]

I love him, but he's.

[Alan Hahn]

And he's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no.

[Don Hahn]

He's a disgrace.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Disgrace. That's strong.

[Don Hahn]

He's a mess.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Strong.

[Don Hahn]

I wouldn't say mess.

[Alan Hahn]

I Wouldn't say mess. It's well put together, but I got him. I need him to own what it is.

[Don Hahn]

Well put together. Mess.

[Alan Hahn]

It's like he's wearing a costume now, though.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

He's going full gimmick.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I, That's. I.

[Don Hahn]

If that's what it is, then I'm good.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, no, by the way, I think if you want to be honest about it, it is very smart. Like, take a look around it. Who generally does the best? As I look up at Field Yates with his hair getting longer by the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Minute, you see what he's doing. We all know Cam Newton. I don't know what points he ever makes. That makes me go, wow, that was a great point.

[Alan Hahn]

But.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I know every day I'm going, what the hell's he wearing?

[Alan Hahn]

Right, exactly right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That had a hole in the top.

[Alan Hahn]

Is the shirt on backwards? Under.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that's unfortunately happening in our business.

[Don Hahn]

You know who's looking good because he's. Because he's committed to the gray is Kurt Warner. Kurt Warner looks great.

[Alan Hahn]

I do like Kurt Warner owning the gray.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I like that.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm not. I'm not that, but you got it.

[Don Hahn]

But Peter's right. There's an oversaturation, especially in football, of talking heads on television. So if you could do anything to stand out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, what do I do? What should I do?

[Don Hahn]

No, you're good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What should I do?

[Don Hahn]

Because I said for football. Big.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But it's big.

[Don Hahn]

As Peter will tell you, you're tall. That's your thing.

[Alan Hahn]

It is good, though.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You don't talk on tv. Everybody I meet, I just met a guy, came out of the subway, just shook my head, started talking to me, and they all say the same thing. I didn't know you're so tall. They all say that.

[Alan Hahn]

It's a good point because you're sitting all the time.

[Don Hahn]

Well, he's also doing a lot of basketball sitting next to Wally Zerbiak, who's taller than he is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, hang on a second. I'm interviewing 6, 11, 7 foot Carl Anthony Towns, and I'm like, practically face to face. Nobody notices that the guy's a seven footer.

[Alan Hahn]

That is funny, right? Why wouldn't you notice that?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm saying, what am I, on a box? Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

But then Bill Peto walks by and it's like, oh, my God, it landed the Giants. No offense to Bill, but, I mean, Bill's like a nice sized guy, but then he's walking around NBA players and Alan Hobbs.

[Alan Hahn]

That was very generous.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, come On.

[Alan Hahn]

No, it's very generous. I think Peter Don just gave Peto normal size.

[Don Hahn]

Normal size.

[Alan Hahn]

You got to take that. I barely get normal sized guy and I tower over Peter. You think?

[Caller/Listener]

Think you tower over like I was wowing yesterday.

[Commercial Announcer]

And then you got the little one in the middle.

[Alan Hahn]

I think. I think I have.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

That was. I want to say this the right way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, boy.

[Alan Hahn]

I think I have a good 2 inches on PETA.

[Don Hahn]

Really looking for you.

[Alan Hahn]

I think I do. What do you think?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Honestly, Anthony, that's going to go. That's. That's going to be in drop mag.

[Don Hahn]

We'd have to ask around. I don't know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's so much I can't tell.

[Don Hahn]

I don't know him that well.

[Alan Hahn]

Should I unsheath?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Throw it on the table. Let's go.

[Alan Hahn]

I know, but I'm serious. Normal size is nice.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you have Dallas and you have Philadelphia. Tonight you have two teams both of you hate.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, yeah. Bad.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I have a theory about tonight's game that makes it so watchable that both of you have a rooting interest, even though you don't want to have one.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, I have a rooting interest for sure.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay. What is it?

[Alan Hahn]

And we said it yesterday, right?

[Don Hahn]

Well, we did you, we, we. We said what we kind of like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What do you want to see?

[Don Hahn]

No, what I. Here's. Here's why it's such an entertaining game for me because I could take value from any. Either thing. But if you're a Giant fan. All right. And which I am walking out of that game tonight. You want to see the Eagles wipe the floor with the Cowboys.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, 41 14. Right.

[Don Hahn]

If the Cowboys are a mess, that's good for the Giants because that's who they'll have in week two. And then they got a good chance of finishing ahead of the Cowboys. Maybe. And then you're talking about maybe having a fun season. If the Cowboys beat the Eagles tonight, that means that their ship is righted. Right. That what happened with the trade of Parsons didn't cripple the room. That they're actually a really good football team. That maybe Jerry knew what he was doing and that maybe the Cowboys with a healthy DAC can be a 10 win team. And now you're talking about having the commanders, the Cowboys and the Eagles, being better than you. And now there's a very good chance you're starting 02 on the season. Give me a Cowboy loss. Make them look bad. I think gives the Giants hope as much as I think that Ceriani is a nozzle and I hate the Philadelphia Eagles and I don't think the Cowboys are that big of a threat. So if I'm not a Giant fan, yeah, let the Cowboys get embarrassed. There's nothing wrong with that and I think I can live with that myself. But from a Giant fan perspective, if you're hoping for a really good season, if you're hoping to finish third in the division, you want the Cowboys to be a mess. If they beat the Eagles, then they're not a mess.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You want the drama to begin from the jump. Right? That's what you want. They have a mini buy. They'll have to sit and stew in it and be called out by media, be mocked, the Stephen A. Stuff, all of it for longer than a week. And then have a home game where you know the fan base, the first mistake they'll start putting like. There's so much happening, there's so much drama always with the Dallas Cowboys, but this year, especially early on, there's a lot, especially with Brian Schottenheimer, what kind of offense they're going to have. There's so much there. So, Peter, are you. Are you in lockstep with Don? Are you looking at this as. I'm not rooting for the Eagles, but I'm rooting against the Cowboys tonight because if they lose, that lets again, your team's probably ranked ahead of them, so I don't imagine affects you. But still, isn't there a part of you that has to feel like, can they become the dumpster fire we think they can be just to get them out of the way?

[Alan Hahn]

I know I. I'm rooting for the I. Rooting? What does rooting mean? It doesn't mean rooting what works for you. If I were to look up and see that the Cowboys drubbed the Eagles on the night of their trophy presentation, especially after Syrian, I'd enjoy that the most. I think I'd enjoy that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know why this works for you? This is why it's different. This works for you because now you look at the division, which, by the way, 21 straight years, never repeat champ, that's.

[Alan Hahn]

I think the commanders are thinking about the division. Why not?

[Don Hahn]

And that's exactly it. You're 100% right, Peter. Because me, I'm looking at it from a Giants perspective. I can't touch the Eagles. All right? The best case scenario, the Giants aren't competing for the division unless, like something really wacky happens. I'm just looking for a fun season where I'm not Going to finish in last place.

[Alan Hahn]

And the dream scenario is they end up nine and eight and you're playing for a wild card.

[Don Hahn]

Being better than Dallas might be a difference between being a third wild card and not being the third wild card. You have aspirations of winning this division. You hung with them in the championship. It got out of hand in the fourth quarter. But you know, you made your, you made yourself proud and you want to be better than Philadelphia. If Philadelphia loses, I'm sorry. The Command and the Commanders beat the Giants. They're in first place.

[Alan Hahn]

That's an exciting way to zoom in.

[Don Hahn]

Because you're better than the Cowboys. The Commanders can think they're better than the Cowboys. Even if the Cowboys have a great season, the Commanders should be better than Dallas.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, the Cowboys, let's just start with this. The Cowboys are an eight and a half point dog tonight. The Commanders are six and a half point favorite against the Giants. I think the question is, are the Giants better than the Cowboys at this point?

[Don Hahn]

Well, he's the host.

[Alan Hahn]

That's going to be the result.

[Don Hahn]

That's the only thing. That's the only team. Now we'll see the Giants have a chance to play the Commanders and change the narrative on Sunday. But tonight the idea is who's got a better chance of being a dumpster fire this year, the Eagles or the Cowboys? It's the Cowboys. Even if the Eagles were to lose tonight for some reason, they're still going to be okay. They're still going to win their 12, 13 games. They're probably still going to win the division.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Maybe they just had a bad night. Maybe they didn't start yet. Maybe because they didn't watch their, their flag go up the banner go up that they were off. But the Cowboys lose and again look bad. That's a narrative that can carry them through the whole season because they've been a mess this off season. You're hearing that there's problems in the locker room after Parsons gets dealed. You want to see all that come to a head tonight.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So there's also the question marks about a head coach that was hired that did not really move the needle. It was not a typical Dallas Cowboys hire. Somebody that hasn't been a play caller in what, the half a decade and now he's calling place like you don't, like you don't know what you're getting at. A Brian shot him. You have no idea. You don't know what they're going to be. How are they going to play? They do have A lot of listen, Lamb and Pickens is no joke like that. There are weapons they should score on that side of the ball. Offensive line is always a concern. But defensively, are they the same team without Parsons? Can they still be a team? I mean are they have guys they like that can get after the quarterback. But this guy was special. You take special away from any team, it's going to show. So that there's a lot on the line tonight.

[Don Hahn]

So that's a job for the first.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Game, for the first game of the season. There's a lot, a lot, a lot on the line tonight in Dallas.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I understand because I think we're in different, we're in different situations, Peter.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. So you there, you have different rooting interest tonight. Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

You know and, and now the Giants can look and say all right, the commanders, that's tough. Right. But it's still under a touchdown dog. So it's not like they are expected to get embarrassed against Washington.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They. Six and a half.

[Don Hahn]

Right? Six and a half in Washington.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So Dallas is it up to eight and a half now?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Wow.

[Alan Hahn]

Eight and a half.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Think about that because I would put the commanders right there with the Eagles. But Vegas is saying that Dallas is further away from the Eagles than the Giants are from the commanders. I know it's minimal but still.

[Don Hahn]

But a lot of its matchups, the Giants were a mess last year, but.

[Alan Hahn]

Still there's always a problem with the commanders. I looked up at the TV today and I kept seeing every logo was the Washington logo on the picks everyone's.

[Don Hahn]

Picking was a win or loss or.

[Alan Hahn]

I think win loss. But either way that to me shows a lot of people picking it who are football experts who are not experts in both markets. And I am the ultimate expert in both markets. You can't be sure Washington's winning season if I cannot be sure.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Only thing you know to get with confidence is the Giants never win their opener.

[Alan Hahn]

True. But Washington starts. We don't do not start well either.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, we don't.

[Don Hahn]

But I think if you're picking a winner, the team that you should pick are the commanders. You have to. But again you're still talking about six and a half means they expected the to be a one score game.

[Alan Hahn]

They're not going to be one of my picks. I they them covering will not be one of my picks.

[Don Hahn]

Even if the commanders cover and win the game, you know, 2114, you walk away saying yeah, typical commanders, Giants close game. There'll probably be moments where the Giants could have won the game. Yet they cover. So the commanders aren't a bad pick, but it's a game that the Giants could figure that, hey, if it's a one score game, maybe we catch a break and we win the game. And, and if Dallas is a dumpster fire, if we can beat them. Now you're two and oh, that's the two things the Giants never do start well, win in their division. And if they're two and oh, that two wins in their division, getting off to a quick start, heck, you can lose to the Chiefs by a thousand, you're still going to feel good about yourself. But if the Cowboys right their ship and they win tonight and the Giants were to lose to Washington and lose to Dallas, that's typical Giants can't win in the division, can't get started, get creamed by Kansas City. Now you're owing three. Now you're.

[Alan Hahn]

The hope is what Don's presenting would be a really fun thought. The real hope would be splitting these first two. Can you get one of these? The Dallas game being the more likely one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

But at the same time, is Dallas more likely because Washington does. You do always play them close. Maybe the Washington game is the more.

[Don Hahn]

Likely better team, but Washington. Right. Washington is a better team than Dallas.

[Alan Hahn]

Correct. So you're probably assuming you're losing this one.

[Don Hahn]

But maybe we go steal one again because.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, technically I got a uniform for Christmas that I.

[Alan Hahn]

It's interesting. It's like Alan from the past.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Has come to haunt Alan of the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Present minutes ago because I didn't see.

[Don Hahn]

Anybody on the other side of the glass move. So nobody moved where that came from.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The ghost in the machine?

[Alan Hahn]

No, that was. No, I'm seeing confused faces happening.

[Don Hahn]

Confused faces. But it wasn't like I saw somebody.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no. He just came out of nowhere.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Look behind the curtain. Jeremy Fowler said he and Graziano did like a whole, you know, not bold predictions, but sort of things to look, look for. At the start of the season, he had Brian Dable as the head coach who most needs a strong start. Now again, as you guys mentioned at Washington, at Dallas, home against Kansas City on a Monday night and then the Chargers like that, like that's the what One of the toughest starts any team has in the NFL. Is it fair to put that kind of demand on Brian Dable in September?

[Don Hahn]

Again, people, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, all right.

[Don Hahn]

Let's get nuance in here. Get off to a good start. If the Giants lose to the Commanders in overtime and lose on a bad call or Something fluky and they lose a tough game in Dallas. Is that a bad start? Okay, their own too bad start or hey, they lost on the road to two really good football teams then, then you got Kansas City. Sorry, you're not beating Kansas City.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You remember last year, you remember the knock has been the last two years. They could, they couldn't close, right? Well they, they could never get a scoring drive late or they couldn't get a stop late. Especially those defense started falling apart when Wink was there. At the end of that season there was a lot of issues back and forth of closing games and the kicker issue. There were games that were winnable that Dable couldn't win. So if you do the same thing where it's a close game but you're losing overtime or another close game and late, something happens. No, that continues the problem of damn, this guy cannot close games. He becomes Mike McCarthy 2.0.

[Don Hahn]

Okay, but at Washington, at Dallas, not knowing what Dallas is. But there'll be a dog, right? There'll be a four or five point dog in that game. Yeah, they're already a six and a half point dog to Washington. They're going to be a double digit dog against Kansas City. Even though that game's going to be home. Right. If you lose all three of those games by three, is that really a bad start? You were a dog in all of them. You covered in all three. Now the Chargers come in, you beat them, you beat the Saints. You're two and three. You're telling me you're going to be disappointed in the Giants if they hung with three really good teams, beat the Chargers and the, you just change it.

[Alan Hahn]

Because if they get to two and three out of the first five, it's good news no matter what. But you're not gonna feel that way. If you go oh and three and they're all close and you haven't beaten the Chargers yet. I don't think you're feeling good.

[Don Hahn]

You're the win saying is, is that Dable's got to get off to a good start. If you're 03 but you're in all three of those games. All right, bad start. But then you beat up on the Chargers and the Saints. Yes, if you do that right, but that's still a star. It's five of five games of a 17 game schedule.

[Alan Hahn]

What if it's what if? Okay, but let's be more realistic. What if that were to happen the first three it happens against the Chargers also and then the only win you get is against the Lonely Saints. How do you feel being one in four? Granted, they were all close, all I'm saying.

[Don Hahn]

So with all the football and everybody's wearing their jerseys and it's a national holiday today because it's about football and everybody's leading with football, and I got four television screens on, with the exception of. Yes, because they're obligated to show a throwback Yankee game every. There's football on every other screen that we. We know football. We love football, though. We're just going to overly simplify everything just based on the record. As much as we dive into it, we dissect it, we watch every play. How it looks doesn't matter. Just win. So the Owen three is Owen whether you lose by 100 each game or lose in overtime. All three. Sorry, that's not Owen three is Owen three.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's not what I said.

[Don Hahn]

No, but.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But when I were talking about close losses, I was reminding you that that's part of the stigma with Dable over the last couple of years is the fact that they couldn't close the deal. If you told me that they were down 14, nothing at the half, and they come back and they lose 21 17. Then it's like, all right, well, you know, they showed fight. They stayed in it. He figured stuff out. He made adjustments. Those are the things that give you that hope. Okay, it's a loss, but that's a good battle.

[Don Hahn]

I'm just saying, if you can't close.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The deal late in the game.

[Don Hahn]

But I think this is what that looks like, too, because let's say Sunday happens and the Giants are tied at 17 with the commanders. It's a great game. Right? And there's 30 seconds left, and Jaden Daniels throws one up for grabs to get in the field goal range. And there's a bogus pass interference call that gets in the field goal range, kicks a field goal. Oh, no, no, they didn't close.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Which tells you, again, we have to see how it looks.

[Don Hahn]

That's all I'm saying. I agree with you, but we always go, what's Dable's record have to be in order for him to save his job? Well, can I see what it looks like first?

[Alan Hahn]

I totally agree with you, but I am making the point that. And I think Alan will agree with me no matter how it looks at some point. W's have to come. Well, I can't look great after a month.

[Don Hahn]

Let me ask. We had four close watch. I agree with you. Can't. And if Dallas ends up being a dumpster fire. We'll look at Dallas a little differently, but if Dallas ends up being a playoff caliber team, you are starting the year in Washington. Who went to the championship game last year at the Dallas Cowboys, a team you haven't beaten in forever, and the defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs come into your building. It's really tough to say totally, you know, yeah, maybe the Dallas game gotta be one and two. But it's not like if you started with the Chargers and the Saints. It's a different story. But I just take exception to what, what the record is instead of, hey, what does it look like? Well, I wanted to get to baseball, but this was a really good start because it's football. As you know, managing maintenance, repair and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Grainger has your back. From professional grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery, they're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Granger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-granger. Click granger.com or just stop by.

[Alan Hahn]

Abercrombie is an official fashion partner of the NFL and I'm CeeDee Lamb, wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys. You know I'm here for Abercrombie's Cowboys gear. That's not a question, but I need a whole wardrobe to go with it. No shades of to the guys, but I'm used to having the best tunnel fits. This season, Abercrombie has me covered. Shop NFL by Abercrombie in the app, online and in store.

[Commercial Announcer]

This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Checking off the boxes on your to do list is a great feeling. And when it comes to checking off coverage, a State Farm agent can help you choose an option that's right for you. Whether you prefer talking in person on the phone or using the award winning app, it's nice knowing you have help finding coverage that best fits your needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Don Hahn]

Game Time is brought to you by Telemore Irish Whiskey because when it's Game time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I like when he holds it.

[Don Hahn]

Only one local in action. The Yankees close out their series with the Astros at 7:40. And of course you got the football season starting tonight with the Eagles playing host to the Kids Cowboys Telemore. The original triple distill, triple blended and triple cast mature and Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Telemore Dew or try the new Telemore Dew honey, during today's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew responsibly.

[Alan Hahn]

Can I ask you something?

[Don Hahn]

Please.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You just did.

[Don Hahn]

So this is the second question.

[Alan Hahn]

So I was, I was on my, my weekly spot with B. Mitch and Finley in D.C. earlier and they said, hey, excited for the football season? What's your level of excitement? And I said, I'll be honest, this year I'm much more excited for the commanders season than I am for just like, you know, John Winthrop, Dave Rothenberg football horniness. My question is, Don, is it because I'm getting older or something and I have a daughter and stuff like that, or is this what it is to have a good team? I don't know. When you have a good team, does being overall excited for football tone down a bit? Because I'm just overall excited to see my team. I don't really care about Dallas, Philly, whatever. My season starts on Sunday. You see what I'm saying? Is it because like I'm getting older or something or is it just. Actually that's what happens when you have a team that's good.

[Don Hahn]

I think it's because you're getting older, but because I think the opposite. Growing up, my interest level in football rose when the Giants. Good. Because I felt like I was really just. I was. I was happy to watch football because my whole thing was because such a sick Giant fan that if the Giants lost, I was done. I didn't read the paper the next day. I didn't turn on the radio. I didn't want to hear about it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I can relate to that.

[Don Hahn]

I was disgusted with it. I wouldn't watch prime time. Done.

[Alan Hahn]

And if I win.

[Don Hahn]

If they win. Oh, it was just. I'm buying every paper. I'm listening to everything. I'm watching pry. I'm watching every game hoping that they're going to talk about, hey, do you see the Giants on Sunday? They look really good. They might be a contender. So I think that you should really just fire it up. I just think you get to a place now, especially with the age your child is, that listen, every, every waking moment you're going to be thinking about, you know, being a dad and then you get that moment when the commanders play where you can kind of just.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. It's hard to Impress a little bit with a seven and a half month old. It's hard to give it every game of the wind, every window, the same energy you once.

[Don Hahn]

I don't know how Dave does it. I got the day. Was talking to Rick today, this morning about say, Rick, you got, you got the YouTube, you're all set. You got it all ready. It's working. Because Dave's gonna sit there and go in his man cave and watch every game like from 1 o' clock until the Sunday night game is over. I don't know, by the way, how you do it.

[Alan Hahn]

On the flip side of that, I'd.

[Don Hahn]

Love to do it. I don't know how he does it.

[Alan Hahn]

On the flip side of that, I think I stupidly missed on the best prices of the ticket because I hesitated because the Commanders have so many national games we don't even play. So if I pay the ticket, if I pay full price for the ticket this year, I'm not truly taking advantage of it until week three. Game, Week one. Of course. Giants. I think it's the national game, isn't it?

[Don Hahn]

No, it's one o'.

[Alan Hahn]

Clock.

[Don Hahn]

Giant Commanders.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay. I thought, I thought it was the early game. You're right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you're getting it.

[Alan Hahn]

It doesn't matter. I'm getting it. And then week two, we have the short week, we're at Lambeau week two. So I'm like, it's hard. And then there's a bunch more. It's just hard to fork over the amount these things are. You start thinking, is it worth it? Should I just go to a bar? For the, for the. Wait. So Dave though, he's watching every game, even though his team's local and he wants full every weekend no matter what. Cause I think you can live, I think even working in sports radio, you can live with local TV and Red Zone and ESPN highlights and watch. You really don't need. You can't watch every game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, nevermind. Watch every game. You're not talking about all that.

[Alan Hahn]

I know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, it's New York, New York. You need your local Giants. And then whatever is the big story, which you will have plenty of coverage of that to see.

[Don Hahn]

And I will tell you, listen, don't begrudge it. I had the NFL Sunday Ticket until YouTube took over because I had DirecTV and I just.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Don Hahn]

It just automatically renewed and I always had it. Had it since 97.

[Alan Hahn]

I remember. I know. I've heard forever.

[Don Hahn]

And I've heard you talk about two.

[Alan Hahn]

Things over the years. Marley's Bar In Phoenix. And the fact that you've had the ticket the whole time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He never stops about Marley's Bar.

[Alan Hahn]

No, he can't stop.

[Don Hahn]

He's Thunderdom. At least twice in 11 years, you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Ever been to Dan Marley's Bar.

[Don Hahn]

So Red Zone ruined the ticket for me, right? And this is the one thing that people don't get. Oh, my God. There's gonna be commercials on Red zone. Have you watched Red Zone? Do you pay any attention? You're not watching those highlights in exact real time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay?

[Don Hahn]

Because if that were the case, boy, these touchdowns never overlap. It's amazing how we can always works out. We always go to Detroit just as they're scoring a touchdown.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How do they know?

[Don Hahn]

How do they know?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Scripted.

[Don Hahn]

It's a little bit behind. All right, so believe me, they'll work the commercials in. It'll be fine.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, the commercials, by the way, are about a minute.

[Don Hahn]

The other thing is, if having the Sunday ticket and tell me I'm wrong for anybody, that Sunday ticket, you're watching it. It's amazing how simpatico these games are. They'll be 11 one o' clock games. They're all at the two minute warning at the same time. How. How can that be? There's always one rogue game because there was a long delay or God forbid somebody really got hurt.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

It's always kind of behind. But they all seem to be in commercial at the same time. And the crazy thing, because they're all on national television, it's the same commercial.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Don Hahn]

So I'm flipping around, I'm like, damn, how can they all be in commercial at the same time, by the way? And they'll go to red zone and they're showing me a highlight of a game I know is in commercial so you're not. So they can wedge in these commercials and people.

[Alan Hahn]

For the record, it's being rumored, though, it is being rumored because everyone's going crazy that it's going to be four 15 second ads over the course of seven hours. You're going to be okay.

[Don Hahn]

You're okay. They're ruining the red zone on me.

[Alan Hahn]

By the way, ESPN, a, it's not running it this year. It's still a. It's still an NFL red zone thing. And NFL is going to be handling the red zone moving forward.

[Don Hahn]

Right? The red. The NFL wants the commercials. Not espn, not NFL Network.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Whatever.

[Don Hahn]

They will wedge them in. You're not going to miss anything. It's going to be fine.

[Alan Hahn]

Roll out.

[Don Hahn]

Breathe, breathe with me. Because I just even. It would just Drive me crazy. I'll be watching like flipping to five different games. Like, how can they all be at the 2 minute warning? And if you're watching the red zone, there's plenty of times they're showing highlights from, from like the Friday game because everybody's in break. Everybody called timeout at the same time. They're. Everybody's in review. So pay attention before you complain. For God's sakes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What. Don't react immediately before you get all the facts. Are you new here?

[Alan Hahn]

Let me ask you a question. We're deep in the.

[Don Hahn]

I mean, what is this, like 4 Dick Cabot? Am I.

[Alan Hahn]

You love my panel.

[Don Hahn]

I'm getting panel.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Dick Cavit sitting on his.

[Alan Hahn]

Sitting on his wife's shoulders. So. So week one, I got Giants one o' clock on tv. Week two, I'm at Green Bay Prime Video. All right. Week three, repulsive Raiders game. I need. I need ticket for that. Okay. Week four, repulsive Falcons game. I'll need ticket for that. Then I'm at the Chargers425 FOX.

[Peter Rosenberg]

When are you going to.

[Alan Hahn]

That's that. What does that sound like? It sounds like it, right?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

That could be a national game. Who is it again at Chargers425 on Fox.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I could see that one. Herbert, Daniel, go see who else is playing.

[Alan Hahn]

Chicago. Monday Night football at Dallas. 425 Fox at Kansas City. Monday Night Football, Sunday Night Football against. On Seattle. It's hard for me to fork over this much money. It's just they ask so much for the ticket. We love the ticket. We love Red Zone. It's very. I hate that we don't live in a world where you could buy individual games. There has to be a way to carve this out and make it make more sense.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What you're saying is relatable to people in New York who are Raiders fans.

[Alan Hahn]

This is half our audience, by the way. This is a transient city. It's tons of people in this town like that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But they also have bars in this. In this town. It's all fans. Is that not more fun to do?

[Alan Hahn]

You want to do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I don't like that.

[Don Hahn]

I want to be by myself.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not going to.

[Don Hahn]

I don't get people watching big games with other people.

[Alan Hahn]

You haven't heard this?

[Peter Rosenberg]

You what? I know what I'm doing, okay? You want to sit by yourself alone in your misery.

[Don Hahn]

I don't want to hear your opinion and your filth.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Who needs opinion?

[Don Hahn]

It's just noise, camaraderie. No, I Don't want to talk to you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's watching people celebrate when good things.

[Don Hahn]

No, I don't care what you're doing. Oh, look at how Alan jumps up and down like, I don't care.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's funny.

[Alan Hahn]

You know what?

[Don Hahn]

When they go to commercial, I'm thinking.

[Peter Rosenberg]

About what we're going to do. The next podcast.

[Don Hahn]

I love social. I don't want to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't want to talk so much for that.

[Don Hahn]

I don't care what you think.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't care.

[Don Hahn]

I try. They should go for it on four. I don't care what you think. I got my own opinion, by the way.

[Alan Hahn]

By myself, lockstep with Don. The only place I disagree with Don on this, the only one where we would disagree, is I'm down to watch with, like, a very close friend who cares about the same. So you don't like going and I enjoy Super Bowl. John doesn't even want to a Super bowl party. Like, I. If your team's not playing, you're down for Super Bowl.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, of course.

[Don Hahn]

The biggest game they're gonna of the year. I'm gonna go sit with a bunch of yo yos asking me, I don't know, like, the dip. It's fourth and one. So what do you think of the dip?

[Alan Hahn]

I don't know.

[Don Hahn]

What do you think if I shoved in your face?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nobody's asking you about the dip if.

[Don Hahn]

It'S 4th and 1.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Stupid thing.

[Don Hahn]

Fundamentally, people are dumb. And you're gonna be at a party, socializing, and they're gonna go to me, all the people they can talk to me, pacing back and forth. So what do you think of the dip? No, they changed the dip from last year just in case they do or how's the weather? You know, the weather's unusually warm for February, isn't it, Don? No, but I know they're about to kick a 50 yard field goal to win the game. Fire could be coming out of the sky.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't care. Yeah, I'm with him. If my team's in the Super Bowl, I'm skipping the part.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, first of all, I can't relate.

[Alan Hahn]

I can't relate either. So Don's the only one. He's the only one who's experienced. Giants fans had to go through this.

[Don Hahn]

Twice in four years. Super bowl, first Super Bowl, Super Bowl 20, 21. Watched it with my dad in the living room because my dad was smart enough, because I'm his son. We didn't speak to each other the whole game.

[Alan Hahn]

Of course you didn't all right, Super.

[Don Hahn]

Bowl 25, same thing. The only time my father spoke to me was when Norwood missed a field goal. And I'm jumping up and down. The fish tank almost fell over. And he's like, watch the fish tank the next Super Bowl.

[Alan Hahn]

Wait, wait, wait, wait. Hold on. I've been doing the show Don for a long time. I've never heard that. I've never heard that. The only thing his dad said was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I want a cartoon of that.

[Alan Hahn]

I need a cartoon.

[Don Hahn]

As much as you think that, yes, that.

[Alan Hahn]

That deserved more than Marvel.

[Don Hahn]

I've said that on the air, but I guess I haven't said in the last decade.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is this called a Lewis Black? Like, could you imagine that moment? The fish tank, like, just yelling at you?

[Don Hahn]

Third Super Bowl. I'm there. As Peter knows from a story he's heard a lot.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, boy.

[Don Hahn]

At the. In the suite. All right. Pacing back and forth. Didn't socialize. The only thing I saw other than the game was Michael trying to give the cookies to Dan Schneider. And then the second Patriot super bowl in the basement alone. That's how you do it. So if it ever does happen for you, I don't want the first jet Super Bowl. You know, being at the DP at a big party. Disgrace. If the commanders make it. You. Maya. You know what? In a perfect world, that's when Natalie decides to take Maya out for something. And you sit there in your own style, just stare. Don't even shower that day. Don't even get dressed.

[Alan Hahn]

No, I'm.

[Don Hahn]

I am just sit there and you've got.

[Alan Hahn]

As I've gotten older, I'm. I'm capable. Like, even the championship game last year, like, I made wings, you know, I still enjoyed it with my wife. It was just my family, though. I was. The baby came out. I'm able to, like, do things during the game, but I do like being alone. I'm not going to a Red.

[Don Hahn]

I'm not.

[Alan Hahn]

I. There was. There's a Redskins bar on the Upper east side. Commander's Bar. I. I don't go to the Commander's Bar. I don't need to be with other like minded fit. Now I'll say this. When I go to la, like we usually once a year during the football season, I end up in LA on a Sunday and I go to a. There's a bar I like to go to in la, Barney's Beanery, and watch the game. It's a great. It's probably. I think it's the best football bar in la. I will find the other fans that are there because everyone's wearing their stuff and something big happens. I might walk around, hey, good job, good job. Because Don, I'm out of town. It's my only I'm watching it out of town. So I'll go to a bar. But my choice week to week is not to deal with people.

[Don Hahn]

So picture he's high fiving them after a big touchdown and one of the guys goes, so where in New York are you from? That's when Peter just walks away.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm gone. I don't have anything talking.

[Don Hahn]

I'm not gonna socialize with you.

[Alan Hahn]

No, I'm not socialized.

[Don Hahn]

But you get so disagreement that sports.

[Alan Hahn]

But Don Allen is a man who doesn't know what it's like to even root for a good football team for a minute. He can't even he doesn't have serious games to watch.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now you just took away from me the opportunity to go to DiPietro's house where the spread is always off the.

[Alan Hahn]

Charts, even on a regular line.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now I can't do that because so you're really.

[Don Hahn]

That's no if the jets are in the Super Bowl, I think you're good for a while.

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Alan Hahn]

Gatorade is the number one proven electrolyte blend designed to hydrate better than water so you can lose more sweat and raise your game.

[Don Hahn]

Gatorade is it in you?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

Your podcasts holding all football Fans enter the ESPN New York Survivor sweepstakes for a chance to win $5,000. Make your pick each week of the football season and find out how you stack up against your friends and favorite ESPN host. But be careful. One wrong pick and you'll be eliminated. The last one standing will take home the title of the 2nd Annual ESPN New York Survivor Sweepstakes Champion and 5000 Bucks. Enter before Sunday, September 7th at 1:00pm on the ESPN New York app powered by Splash Sports.com we'll have our picks show you how we're going to do it tomorrow. We'll also be able to tell you what we did with our Survivor pool. So Friday tomorrow, big day on the show as football starts tonight. But of course it'll really get going tomorrow where we'll have a second game and then we'll also be able to preview the jets and Giants will be coming up on Sunday. 1-800-919-3776. Let's go back to the busy phones. Go back to Chauncey in Westwood. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Chauncey?

[Caller/Listener]

Hey guys. What's up? Show has got good energy today. You know, football's back. Even as a Giants fan being a hater of both teams tonight, I'm still very excited to watch.

[Don Hahn]

Cool.

[Caller/Listener]

But Don, I would probably disagree with you on you'd say you'd rather pull for Eagles. I think I'd rather pull for the Cowboys because if you think about it like this, if the Giants best interest, the Eagles lose tonight. First off, Banner Knight is spoiled. I've seen the Eagles win enough. I'm done with that. And then I don't think week two Dallas is going to want to go 02. And then especially coming back home and they, you know, psychologically they're like, this is the Giants. We've, we've owned them. So I think the Giants got a better chance of beating them if they're already one.

[Don Hahn]

And oh, and not, no, it's not an insane thought. I would thoroughly.

[Alan Hahn]

Now it's making a face of you like you make him sick. But I don't hate it, but I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It doesn't make sense.

[Don Hahn]

Well, I understand, Chauncey.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The second week of the season, I, I'm not extra motivated. I'm motivated. Like I don't know how it changes my perspective of a game, but I.

[Don Hahn]

Understand the logic of if I beat.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Eagles, am I suddenly going like I don't have to worry about the Giants.

[Don Hahn]

I do. I do find myself sometimes high off, but in Chauncey's defense, sometimes I do find myself rooting for the team. The Giants are playing. Like next week when they're playing. I want to win so that maybe I don't want them on a losing streak. I understand that logic, but my logic, Chauncey, and thank you for the phone call, is I want the Cowboys to be a dumpster fire if they win today in Philadelphia. You can't convince me they're a dumpster fire. They're legit. They bounce back. They just beat the defending super bowl champions in their building. So now I got to worry about the commanders, the Cowboys and the Eagles. Forget it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, you're the worst team. If they show you slippage, that's it. Then you feel like, okay. Cause look, what you're trying to do as the Giants is just climb your way out of the basement. Because you're the worst team right now. After last season, you're the worst team in the division and it was by a mile. So what you're trying to do is climb out of the basement. You gotta do it one team at a time. So this is how you do it. But I don't understand, like, this notion of a team won't be as motivated. It's a division game. They're all gonna matter. That's the thing about the division rivalries. But plus also, they raised the banner before the game. If they lose the game, the banner doesn't come down. It's still there. It really doesn't matter.

[Don Hahn]

And also, I don't know what it is. It. Banner raisings are not a thing in football. Not really, because it's usually. Why? Because it won't be televised. They'll probably show it sometime during the game. Like his. This is what they did before the game?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Like when it happens in hockey, baseball or basketball, it's a part. It's like a big deal. It's always a part of the broadcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Introduce the whole team. Everybody lines up and then they show you a little highlight video. Then they. Then the banner either goes up or they just reveal the banner. Like again, they'll reveal.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

And it'll only be a benefit to the people that are in the building. But anybody, any Eagle fan is going to watch it on tv.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Pregame show will have that. Whatever the local pregame show.

[Don Hahn]

I don't know.

[Alan Hahn]

That's a good question, baby.

[Don Hahn]

Maybe.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Like the local network or csn, whatever.

[Don Hahn]

The thing is, most likely during the broadcast after kickoff, maybe coming back from the first commercial break yesterday, earlier today, and you see like a highlight of the raising of the banner or whatever.

[Alan Hahn]

It's definitely not a thing but at the same time, you could show up Philip, because.

[Don Hahn]

Because that. Because it's kind of like the anthem other than the Super Bowl. The anthem's a rumor in the NFL on television. Like, you don't see it. They don't make it a part of anything. They'll play, like, 10 minutes before the game starts. Let's just get it out of the way where it's a part of it. Even though they don't televise it on most of the time in the local broadcast, but, like, in the building, it's like, there's the anthem. Bang. They drop the puck. They tip off football. They do it so early. So pregame stuff is different in the NFL. Just hits a lot different. Griffin in Connecticut's got a Super bowl pick. You're on espn, New York. What is your super bowl pick?

[Caller/Listener]

Hey, guys, way to roll. Everybody is going to go with the Chiefs to make it in the afc. Well, I'm sorry. I think this is the year the Chiefs don't make it.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Caller/Listener]

I think the Buffalo Bills are going to get over the hump and make it to the super bowl and take on the Green Bay Packers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Everybody.

[Caller/Listener]

Micah Parson changes that defense. I believe Jordan Love is going to take a huge step forward. Better take me the Green Bay packers to take on the Buffalo Bills in the Super Bowl.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Get in, boys. Lock it in for Griffin.

[Alan Hahn]

Griffin has made a pay.

[Don Hahn]

We'll write this down. We're going to bring this back. Griff, at some point. Buffalo is not a bad pick. The thing with the packers, everybody's high on the packers now because of the trade for Parsons. Do we forget what division they're in? Like, you still have the Detroit Lions there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Are you getting all Four teams in? Three teams. Three teams.

[Don Hahn]

I think. Listen, I think J.J. mcCarthy is going to have similar stats to what we saw the year before with Darnold. Like, I think that's all coaching. Okay, So I don't think Minnesota is going away. Detroit certainly isn't going away. All right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Chicago, you don't know what they're going to be.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I clearly think that the team in the division.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, but who else in the NFC then? Because, look, nobody in the south is getting a wild card. Correct. All right. Tampa's going to win the division, and no one else is going to do anything in that division.

[Alan Hahn]

I wouldn't think so.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. Okay. So then in the west are the Niners. The Niners anymore.

[Don Hahn]

I don't know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Seattle.

[Alan Hahn]

Seattle's weird.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, Ramsay now. Are you getting a Wild card out of that division.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, you can. Could you potentially Seattle, San Francisco, maybe.

[Alan Hahn]

San Francisco will fully be back to San Francisco.

[Don Hahn]

We're all we're asking you to be is probably a nine win team. So they're capable of that. But I think Lions, Packers, Vikings, and then the East. I think I'm making the playoff.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then the East, Vikings too. You're not going to be Vikings.

[Don Hahn]

Could be.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen to me.

[Don Hahn]

Well, they win 12 games last year. I don't think they're going to miss a beat.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do the math though. You're getting two out of the East. Lock it.

[Alan Hahn]

I would think so.

[Don Hahn]

Division winner.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How are you? So. So the north can't have three.

[Don Hahn]

Can't have three.

[Alan Hahn]

And listen, unless the commanders take the step back, everyone thinks they're going to like a lot of people believe they will. I don't believe that.

[Don Hahn]

I got to tell you. But if they do, I will say.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm locking two in.

[Don Hahn]

I will say.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, if you're locking two in, it's Philly and Washington.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, there were moments where the packers had the Eagles in a little bit of trouble last year. There were moments. All right, so it's not a crazy pick. I like it. We're going to lock it in.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, here's what I don't like about his pick, though.

[Don Hahn]

Interesting.

[Alan Hahn]

He like Griffin, got all hyped to say Buffalo. It's a fun thing to say. You're talking about one possession. Is the one possession going to finally go the way of Buffalo? We know it's going to come down to Buffalo and Kansas City.

[Don Hahn]

I don't know, in the fourth quarter. Listen, I. This is what they do. I look like a fool up until the super bowl where I was saying I think Kansas City could be had. I do think they're fading.

[Alan Hahn]

I think they're fading too.

[Don Hahn]

And with. With Baltimore, I think Cincinnati can bounce back. I don't. And I disagree with Griffin. I don't think everybody's got Kansas City. You think everybody's got Kansas City coming out of the afc?

[Alan Hahn]

No, no, but a lot of people will. But I think. I think most people. Now, Don, you and I were on that. They're fading last year.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, but.

[Alan Hahn]

But they. Were they 16 and 1.

[Don Hahn]

No, 15 and 2.

[Peter Rosenberg]

15.

[Don Hahn]

One.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. Last year.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, they had to play 17 games.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, you mean what was the final record?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I think they lost two games. Insane start.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, but they got. They caught some break.

[Alan Hahn]

They caught breaks.

[Don Hahn]

No, they're going to the playoffs. They're going to win their division and.

[Alan Hahn]

Two, it was 15 and two.

[Don Hahn]

They're going to win the division. I'm. I don't. I think.

[Alan Hahn]

I think they're fading too. But it seems like every moment that they. You think they're fading, they're fading. I know. I hope you're right.

[Don Hahn]

Listen, it took to the last second but I was right and it was fooled.

[Alan Hahn]

You're right, they were. They looked worse in that game. But do you the Baltimore thing's a fun thought. If you had to choose right now, Alan, is it Buffalo and Kansas City in the AFC Championship?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No Baltimore.

[Alan Hahn]

Why?

[Don Hahn]

Wow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

First of all, that's a good team and Lamar Jackson is arguably the best player in overall player in the sport. Maybe Lamar Jackson.

[Alan Hahn]

And every time the playoffs come, some weird goes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But at some point that's got to stop.

[Don Hahn]

Don Hahn and Rosenberg, ESPN New York.

[Alan Hahn]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't want to know how the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN. The ESPN York app and your smart speakers.

[Don Hahn]

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[Caller/Listener]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Don Hahn]

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