Alan (1:54)

Come on, let's get into the football of it all because we need some option, right? Need some fit. Well, all right.

Don Hahn (1:59)

Three, three. Three point play. I got to tell you, I just, I just want to take this one second to just say just how glorious the the sun shines brighter. The It's a warmer day. The flowers smell fresher.

Alan (2:14)

Fridays are better.

Don Hahn (2:15)

Oh, just when you get. When you got three in your pocket.

Alan (2:19)

When you just in your pocket, what is it?

Don Hahn (2:21)

Let me ask the both of you, what is it like to wake up on Friday morning knowing that you've already got three points in your pocket?

Alan (2:28)

I know what it's like.

Don Hahn (2:29)

Three. All right.

Peter (2:30)

I don't know. And I know this is another year where I'M just starting in the toilet, which starts to get. When you're at 0 for 4, it starts to get a little scary. You start to go, am I going to be good?

Don Hahn (2:42)

You know, can I take you aside, Peter? Because what all my friends didn't do when I was repug. I think you would have taken me aside and say, don, you're a fat slob. It's not 1995. The goatee's not working. Clean yourself up, you animal. Yeah, I believe you would have said that to me. I'm going to take you aside right now because when you made that pick, all I heard was, fan, fan, fan, fan, fan.

Caller/Listener (3:08)

Love, love, love, love, love.

Don Hahn (3:10)

Commander's grand. Like you were just caught up. No, and, and that's not.

Peter (3:13)

You're right, you're wrong.

Don Hahn (3:14)

No, I'm not wrong.

Peter (3:16)

No, no, hear me out. I said you're right and you're wrong.

Don Hahn (3:18)

Okay?

Peter (3:18)

You're right that the pick was all fan. You're wrong that that's why I picked it. I picked it to make good show. I would not have picked that game. I picked it to make good show. And what am I gonna do? Pick against them?

Alan (3:31)

So now I'm in.

Don Hahn (3:32)

You know that. No, that explains it because I knew.

Peter (3:38)

I knew it was a huge risk. Now I will say this. I'm pissed off today. I'm pissed off that it's like the. It's like the league collectively said. How about like all of a sudden, in one day, the packers become super bowl contenders and it's happening. Like how often do you make one move? I'm sorry, I paid attention the entire offseason. I heard a lot of the packers should be pretty good. And after the top of the conference, the packers could be there. Guys, I was not hearing. Oh, you know, Jordan loves the same age when so and so. This could be Tinseltown. Here we go. I was not hearing that right at title. We could be back in title town. I did not hear that. And all of a sudden, guys, the, the Micah Parsons thing happens and it's really playing out in two games. This is an absolutely vaunted no. It's a killer dominant defense.

Don Hahn (4:26)

But the one thing they absolutely have to do is get rid of those God awful uniforms. It's the Green Bay Packers. They're playing at Lambeau.

Alan (4:34)

Don't.

Don Hahn (4:35)

Don't mess around with your stupid white on white. That. No, stop it. You're the Green Bay Packers. Show some classic.

Alan (4:40)

Yeah, I'm not.

Don Hahn (4:41)

I'm not a huge fan, but otherwise. But I'M still right in the sense that it was. There was no analytics in that pick. It was all performative or fan and I got sucked in. I would get sucked in on the Thursday where everybody's making the pick and I feel like I want to be involved and I'm leaving.

Peter (5:00)

You have prior to yesterday that told you. Seriously, besides the hype, the packers are a dominant football team.

Don Hahn (5:07)

No, I, I don't. Last week, I don't. I don't know. And this doesn't. I'm not throwing any shade at the Commanders. I don't know. Winning that game the way they did automatically means they're a dominant team. All right.

Peter (5:19)

It's two weeks in a row though that, that is two teams of the remaining four at the end of last season, the NFL that is two that they easily dismantled.

Don Hahn (5:27)

Oh, they're good. There's also a division that produced a 13 win team in Minnesota and they couldn't do anything come playoff time. All right, so let's, let's see. You're right. Let's see if Detroit is still going to be Detroit and we'll see if the Commanders are going to be a 14 win team and we'll be overly impressed right now early in the year there's obviously a spark with the trade that they made and I just wasn't impressed with the Commanders against the Giants. And they certainly play, you know, not, not great offensively, not awful. But I think a lot of that was just the packers might right now be a better team. But I'm not ready to say the packers are this unbeatable. Definitely going to the super bowl based on those performances.

Peter (6:03)

No, me neither. But Alan, I'll say this. We talked a lot yesterday about like what needed to happen in this game or what could happen. First of all, my thought that the Commanders could have a better offensive strategy besides relying on Jaden was wrong. They did not run Bill at all. There was no running game for the Commanders at all, which I thought was disappointing. And number two, I mean you got to have more weapons. I mean their third receiver doesn't catch the ball right. So you get a. So late in the first half. Right. They had an opportunity. I don't know if you guys remember big third down and Daniels throws a strike to Noah Brown for what would have been a big. You can't have drops in those spots. And then also call me crazy Dan Quinn, Mr. 4th down. Why are you kicking 58 yard field goals with Matt Gay? Like what?

Don Hahn (6:43)

So it had the distance.

Alan (6:47)

Yeah, it had. He just he shanked it.

Peter (6:49)

That's not what they do. That's not what your identity.

Alan (6:51)

You're trying to get points there though. And I understand that. Like you understand the thinking is to get points there. But yeah, I'm with Don. The, Yesterday's pick wasn't about. It wasn't for me. And I said this. It's not about numbers and matchups and analytics. It was what I saw from Washington against the Giants that made me wonder if this is going to be like a little slow start to the season for the commanders and that they're not catching anybody by surprise anymore. Those are real things and those aren't tangible things. They're things that you, when you watch and you say to yourself, it just doesn't look right yet. Doesn't mean it's not going to and it doesn't mean they're not gonna be a good team. But it doesn't look right yet. And that's, that's kind of the feel that I had last night. So by halftime looked like what you might have expected. Although it did become a bit of a game second half, but you guys.

Peter (7:41)

Got a little, you got a little nervous about a cover there in the fourth quarter. There was a moment when you started.

Don Hahn (7:45)

Going, hold on a little bit.

Alan (7:47)

But you notice it got real quiet. Suddenly got real quiet.

Don Hahn (7:50)

Here's what I, here's what I did because you know, you gotta, gotta get the bed and so do you. But you had your, you had a dog in the fight with your own team playing.

Alan (7:57)

How'd it go watching it just, just you and the baby.

Peter (7:59)

By the way, did you everything about last night beside. Listen, what I should do was treasure the fact that at 46 years old, I sat with my little angelic 8 month old in her commander's outfit and my senior 15 year old dog and the three of us just were on the couch together watching. I should have treasured it. I was miserable. I didn't have one enjoyable second. They were bad from the second the game started. By the end of the game, guys, I was basically scrolling Instagram and just looking up to be like, oh, they're still playing, huh? So, no, sorry. To answer the question, it was not. I did a great job though, I think with the baby. I don't think she was scarred last night. Like I wasn't a miserable wretch with her. You didn't use words. No, I didn't use words. I know. I saved those for the chat. Now, now, here's the thing. Early on I was worried because I saw Pat McAfee tweet and someone else. What's up with the commander's offense? I got news for he was up with the offense. It was called the Green Bay defense. I mean, Daniels was throwing underneath on every down.

Alan (9:00)

He just very disruptive.

Peter (9:02)

He was completely disrupted. But can I tell you guys one positive I walked away from the game with. I saw a lot of people talking about what a, what a disheartening game. And obviously the injury stuff you do worry about. We'll see though. We dealt without a lot, a lot of time without Echler last year. I will tell you, I still walked away feeling that Daniels is a guy who, even when he's completely outmatched mentally, you just see that it doesn't wear on him. Like he, he didn't have it. He knew he didn't. He knew it was not working. But I don't leave the game feeling he's going to be broken. I feel the game, he, he's gonna leave the game motivated and angry and that's all I felt.

Don Hahn (9:40)

But, you know, we're, we're, we're, we're left here, guys, because we can't really put too much value into last year is to now how one team plays against another. We kind of analyze it. Or is that team now going to play against this team the same way? And I think the jets and the Giants are kind of both in that boat where maybe you feel a little worse about the Giants effort against Washington considering what happened. And then you got the Jets. Are they going to be able to follow up that tremendous performance even though they came up with a loss against Pittsburgh and be able to do it at home against Buffalo, a place where they seem to always play well against the Bills and you know, and what, what will the Giants do against the Cowboy team that's been resting since Thursday? And by the way, before I forget, Gary Myers has the show tomorrow, noon to 3 on Saturdays right here on ESPN New York. And you gotta listen because at 12:15 tomorrow he's got Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, on the preview, Giants and Cowboys. So that's a great get by, Gary. So definitely listen to that. That should be really interesting. But they didn't look like a dumpster fire last week. They've got a short, they got a long week. They haven't played since last Thursday. And you've got a Giant team that just looks like it's an absolute mess. So both teams 0 and 1. I feel way better about the Jets. I like the matchup against the Bills, I'm not saying they're going to win, but I like the matchup. They always play competitively against them. You saw some things against the Ravens that maybe if you're a Jet fan that feel like you might be able to do similar to the Bills defense with the Ravens were able to do. So I feel way better about the jets than I do about the Giants going into Week two. Convince me I'm wrong.

Alan (11:17)

I can't. You know, the Ed Oliver injury is a big one. The fact that Buffalo gave up almost 240 yards on the ground in week one. There's a lot of reasons I'm looking at this game and I'm saying this is a big Aaron Glenn capture everybody's attention kind of moment, right. I know it's early in the season and it's early in his coaching career, but there's always one of those moments that you walk away, win or lose, saying, you know what, they got a coach. And I think this is one of those games where, where we could be talking about Aaron Glenn and maybe no longer focusing only on his, his tone in, in press conferences, at the podium and instead looking at the body of work or looking at what the team's starting to look like and saying, you know what, they got something here or he knows what he's doing. Clearly that this is a team responding to the coaching that, the game plan that again with angstrend, he had a lot of people noticing what, what he was doing after one week. A guy's never been a coordinator before in his life. He called a hell of a game against a good Steeler defense. So there's a lot to me about this game that is less about the players on the field and more about the new coaching staff. And if this looks different than we've seen in the past and it's only.

Don Hahn (12:37)

One week, guys, but Detroit doesn't look any good after week one. Maybe that was because of the packers or maybe it was because of they missed their coordinators. So I'm with you. It's. I kind of feel like the Giants don't have a coach, but I guess the audition still continues because he's under contract and they're not going to let him go in the middle of the season. But hey, couple of things. You don't like penalties, losing a fourth quarter lead, that's kind of what define the jets in recent vintage. But it's only one week. So I think if that were to happen again, Alan, where they had commit a bunch of penalties, blow lead in the fourth quarter, you're not going to feel great about it. But no, that's.

Peter (13:12)

I feel rather be outmatched. You might rather be outmatched altogether than.

Alan (13:16)

Blow a game lately.

Don Hahn (13:17)

It's a great point, Peter, because, hey, listen, the Bills are a better team, right? So there's no shame in losing to a good football team. But you want the answer to be, we lost to a better team, not we gave it away. And that and all the good that was wrapped around that Steeler game. The better team didn't win. The jets didn't lose that game because the Steelers were better. The jets lost that game because of the turnover. They lost that game because a couple of bad breaks. You know, it was kind of on them. Because if that was a fight, you probably, or the judges would probably give that game to the jets, but it wasn't. So that's what you don't want to see happen too often, where you're the better team but you don't win. That's eventually going to fall on the shoulders of the coach. But right now, going into week two, you still are evaluating and I kind of like what I see.

Alan (14:08)

That's interesting. It's. So you feel like the Jet that the, the better team didn't win that game. That's what you feel?

Don Hahn (14:15)

Well, the better team that day. I mean, listen, on, on paper, the Steelers are the better team, right? But it was. It's week one. If we're not going to put that much stock into last year, different, you know, different quarterbacks for both teams, different coach for the Jets. But do you really, honestly, if that were a prize fight and you were a judge, who would you have given the decision to? I would have given it to the Jets. I thought they played a better football game than the Steelers. That's fair.

Alan (14:43)

It feels like they won the line of scrimmage, right? They didn't win the turnover game. They won the line of scrimmage. The jets have to win the turnover game if they want to beat the Buffalo Bills and that's what's in their favor. They win the turnover game. And Josh Allen does turn the ball over a lot against the jets. For whatever reason, the most turnovers of any, against any team in his life is against the Jets. So that's a, that's an area if you're going to look the anatomy of an upset is stuff like that. They didn't do it against Pittsburgh. They were the better team at the line of scrimmage, but they turned it over. They had. They, they Are the one. The penalties they had, the mistakes that allowed them, you know, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. But if we're looking forward, that's the part that I'm looking the most at, is can they win the turnover game? And that's the way they could. They could believe there could be an upset to be had on Sunday.

Don Hahn (15:36)

But listen, sometimes. Sometimes you get the turnover, sometimes you don't get them. But all you want to do is, I played my best game and if I lose, all right, the other team.

Alan (15:47)

Was better, you can live with it.

Don Hahn (15:48)

But you don't, don't make the mistakes that they made, you know, and, and the mistake. Well, mistakes they made and when they needed to be better, they weren't right. The turnover on special teams and it cost Gibson his job, but also how dominant they were running the football. That second to last drive, they went three and out, gave the ball back to the Steelers. Now, granted, it took a 60 yard field goal to beat him, but hey, that would have been the time you want to run the football, right? That would have been the time to go on a nice long drive, get rid of the clock and then win the game. Didn't do it. And then when they got the ball back to try to get in the field goal range, which we talk about all the time, guys, seems like anybody can get in a field goal range in the NFL. They couldn't do it. So I don't want to, I don't want to sit there and just and completely throw roses at the performance because when they needed to be really good, they weren't. But that's going to come with a young team, that's going to come with a team that's got a new regime and all that. I think there was way more positive than negative. But let's see. Eventually the scholarship or the honeymoon is going to be over and now you're going to want to actually see wins. But this week I just want to see them continue to move forward and play better. And if the Bills are the better team and they win, you can live with it. Just don't make the mistakes that killed you in the previous regime.

Alan (17:00)

Completely agree. Like that's, that's. That's the story of the game. I mean, that's. I almost like, look, you guys heard me and I was very sort of mad about this season in the jets, right? Yeah, I was, you know, I wasn't as excited as everybody else was about Justin Fields. I thought, he's fine, but I don't know what we're expecting to see out of him. And I was curious to see if they could really play the ground and pound style that feels like very outdated. And after the first week it's like, okay, you got my attention. But I got to admit, like, now my interest is peaked. Now I'm kind of like curious now. I'm. Yeah, I want to see. And it goes beyond the win and loss, like you said, Don. It's, it's. I want to see. Does. Do we have. I say we. You know, like, do you have a coach? Because that, this is the type of game, it's division game, it's a big rival, it's the best team in your division. And, and you're home. Like, these are the things that tell me how prepared will the jets be. They score. By the way, they scored in their first drive.

Don Hahn (18:04)

Yes.

Alan (18:04)

Of the season.

Don Hahn (18:05)

That never happens and they never do that.

Alan (18:08)

So right away, like the first thing I know it was a field, but still you're like, oh, wow, okay, that's different, right? That looked different. They look, they look capable. And I think that's what I want to see now. Okay, you're playing a Bills team that showed you they had to struggle against a run. You can run against them. Your home. How do you handle Josh Allen? What kind of game plan you're going to have defensively? What are you going to do with your offense? Like, I want to see. Does this look like a functioning team? And if it does, you're pulling me back in.

Don Hahn (18:36)

All right, now I need you guys, I need help from you guys. All right? Now, as you got neutral parties, one's a Jet fan, one's a commander's fan. Okay? So you're kind of, you're kind of on the outside looking in. You know how I feel about this team. So I'm already, I've already got my mind completely in the negative. I mean, I'm in the toilet with the Giants. Give me something positive going into this Dallas game. I challenge you guys. Give me something.

Alan (19:03)

I'll give you one.

Don Hahn (19:04)

I say, you know what? I think they can do this.

Alan (19:07)

I got one. Russell Wilson, never loses to Dallas. Does very well. He's historically just. He's not a guy that goes into a place like Jerry World and is wide eyed and, and a little nervous and all. He, he is full on belief that he could beat them because he's done it most. I think five out of seven games he's played against them, he's won. So you have at least that. You're not going in with some uncertainty. If you had Daniel Jones, you have reason to worry because, you know, you've seen him be overwhelmed. Russ, I don't think does that he's another guy. Like, as much as we want to say he had a bad game, a lot of it was the offensive line, as I think Booger said it. But I just think when you have a guy like him, he has irrational confidence in himself. He still thinks at his age, like he still thinks he's the same guy he was in Seattle. He has a firm belief in himself. And I think you need that walking into a place like that. Because while they also. Dallas might feel. Feel pretty good about how they played in week one, CD Lamb dropped a couple of balls. He's going to be determined not to do that in this game. But what if he does? And what if their defense can't hold up? You know, the home team is going to feel way more pressure than the road team. So all you're trying to do in a game like this is, is tighten the screws and hope the pressure caves in on them. Because I don't think you have a quarterback that's going to play nervous. I think he's going to be fine. And you might need that in a game like this where he's irrationally believing, oh, I'll just come down, we're going to win this game. And he might do it.

Don Hahn (20:42)

Just looking quick at the log. Last time he played in Dallas was in 2017.

Alan (20:48)

So it's been a minute.

Don Hahn (20:49)

That was a different Russell Wilson.

Alan (20:50)

I understand. Look, you asked me, I'll say this. I gave you something.

Peter (20:54)

I'll say this. I'll say this, Don. It's not like playing at home does anything for them. So, like, it being a road game is whatever. MetLife Stadium has been nothing for them.

Don Hahn (21:04)

I don't.

Peter (21:04)

I don't think they're any better off at MetLife these days. Like, they're playing in front of a charged. In fact, you might be more motivated by playing against a charged up Cowboy fan base than you would be in front of a lethargic kind of bored.

Alan (21:18)

New York fan base or half and half crowd. All right, Don, how about. I'll give you this one.

Don Hahn (21:24)

Yeah.

Alan (21:24)

Dak Prescott has won 13 straight games against your team. Nobody's ever won 14 straight against your team.

Caller/Listener (21:30)

Wow.

Peter (21:30)

Look, the man's doing the research, doing the work.

Alan (21:32)

Nobody, Nobody beat you 14 straight.

Don Hahn (21:35)

I think the kids do. So, so I get. You know what? I challenged you guys and you came up with stuff.

Alan (21:43)

Nothing. Any movement It's.

Don Hahn (21:45)

No, no, but you try because. Because here, let me just break down what you said. All right.

Alan (21:50)

Yeah.

Don Hahn (21:51)

Law of averages, like, Dak can't beat him again, right? That, you know, maybe, you know, maybe, Maybe the Cowboys will screw up enough that the Giants can win the game. Right. So not nothing. Not nothing.

Alan (22:04)

No. Good.

Don Hahn (22:05)

Well, because neither of you gave me maybe Peter a little bit with the motivation. Although I think it's a lack of motivation why the Giants have not been good. I just think it's just a lack of coaching and skill in the right position. But nobody really gave me anything. Like, I think the Giants are going to be able to do this well, and that's the issue because going in, it was like, well, they're not going to face a great defense against Dallas, so let's see what they can do. And I think they'll be able to move the ball a little better against Dallas than it did against Washington. But do I think it's going to lead to points? Do I think it's going to lead to a win or being competitive?

Alan (22:38)

I'll give you a tangible one. Tangible one.

Don Hahn (22:40)

Okay.

Alan (22:41)

Okay. So Jaron Bland, we know he's out, right? And Trevon Diggs is on a pitch count because he's just working his way back from an injury off season. Right? He hasn't really played it all off season. He's had no offseason. There's no way he could play every single snap. He can't be out there all the time. Who the hell is guarding Malik Neighbors who's coming off a game where he's embarrassed, pissed off, and he has a lot to prove? All right, you know, you know, they gotta go, they gotta cover him. Who's covering him?

Don Hahn (23:10)

No, that's good.

Alan (23:10)

Guys you've never heard of. I could tell you their names and you just stare at me blankly like, I don't know that guy is. Most Cowboys fans don't know who their guy, who their cornerbacks are right now. So just, just think of it. There's, there's your one tangible piece. You have three guys or four that are going to make make it hell for Dak Prescott, and you have no one to guard the one pissed off player you have on your off.

Don Hahn (23:31)

Okay, now listen, I, I, I like that the way I would counter is, okay, well, hopefully Wilson will have time to find him and the ability to find him.

Alan (23:40)

Well, there's no Michael Parsons going after.

Don Hahn (23:42)

Him, which is very, that is true, but still.

Alan (23:45)

So think about it. Two pieces, their defense, two critical pieces. They gave Bland $75 million. They just gave him a ton of money.

Don Hahn (23:53)

Yeah, and now.

Alan (23:54)

Yes, and now he's not there. So two major pieces of what should have been their defense is now missing. That's got to help.

Don Hahn (24:00)

And listen, Dallas was able to hang in there because of the of Carter getting ejected like so. Listen, I can't get. You're right, they're not unbeatable. They were 7 and 10 last year. Although because of injury, with losing Dak Prescott, it's been a terrible place for them to go and play. I'm just hoping to see the forward, the offense move forward here, but it just. It doesn't feel great.

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Don Hahn (24:32)

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Peter (26:43)

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

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Don Hahn (26:52)

Game time is brought to you by Televardu Irish Whiskey. Because when it's game time, fellas.

Alan (27:08)

I like when he holds it. Damn right.

Don Hahn (27:09)

Let's open up a series with the Texas Rangers coverage immediately following us on 880 at 6:30. And the Yankees are in Boston to face the Red Sox at 7:10. So a lot of important baseball. DeGrom.

Alan (27:20)

Right. DeGrom back in. In Citi Field.

Don Hahn (27:23)

Is that tonight?

Alan (27:24)

I think isn't deGrom tonight?

Don Hahn (27:26)

Believe you're right.

Alan (27:27)

Yeah. Isn't it? And one of the kids is pitching tonight too. Right. So it's like a future and past kind of. And here you go. Future and past kind of deal happening tonight. That's an exciting ticket.

Don Hahn (27:39)

DeGrom and Tong tonight at Citi Field and they're going to get eviscerated when they get introduced. Maybe Tong might ease it up just a little bit because why would you abuse the kid? But boy, that team swept in four against Philly and yesterday was just godlike.

Peter (27:54)

They're pure trash.

Don Hahn (27:55)

Tullamore Dew, the original triple distill, triple blended and triple cask matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew or try the new Tullamore Dew. Honey, during tonight's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew responsibly. So should be a lot of fun with the football just because it's early, but still. Oh God, I don't, I don't want to have to deal with, you know, 02 for both of these teams. And it. Let's be bad for both because if the jets are owing to even though it was against two good teams, you're owing to at home. Right. So that, that, that creates a negative narrative.

Alan (28:28)

Yep.

Don Hahn (28:29)

And then the Giants if they lose to Dallas, yeah, both games are on the road but you're only two in the division. And what's been the Giants problems not being able to get off to good starts and being God awful in their division. So boom. Oh, and two in your division.

Alan (28:41)

So like seven straight division games, like they got to stop doing that. Right. You got to get a win eventually.

Don Hahn (28:46)

And don't misunderstand me that I'm like trying to cultivate a conversation about them making the playoffs, either of these two teams, because I don't think that's what it's about. Oh, no, I think you want to be able to move forward, but. But just changing the narrative of continuing to lose divisional games, continuing to look awful offensively or the jets not being able to win at home and not being able to hold leads in the fourth quarter and committing. You just want to change it. And the jets, as I said last week, look like a functioning football team. So you got that going for you. They functioning same old Giants.

Alan (29:21)

Which, which is why 2, 2 losses can look completely different in my opinion. 02 could be completely different from one team to another, if you ask me. Because while you're right, 02 suddenly starts those. We're going to get all the stats, by the way, get ready for it Monday morning. It's the best stats package we'll give you team to start our winter. You know you're going to get all that. But I do think 02 could have a different perspective depending on how big on the. What it looks like. But I do think there's something to that. That's what I want to see against Buffalo is what, what does it look like? Are you, are you competitive with a team that everybody thinks is going to go to the super bowl, maybe even win the Super Bowl? Can you, can you. Can you give them a game? Can you scare them? Can you cover like, like that to me says a lot more, of course, than losing by 14 and looking like you don't belong on the same field. And it's also why with the Giants, you know, like that Week one, that was bad. They've got a long way to go, right. Get your confidence back. 02. But it looks a lot better. Still feels weird because that Week one did not look good.

Don Hahn (30:28)

No, it didn't look good. And also if you were like a real positive Giant fan, you looked at the beginning of the schedule and you say, well, we always play. The commander's tough. And you know, Dallas just traded Parsons and you know, they're, they're coming off under.500 and you know, so you kind of start like, maybe we can get a split. Maybe, maybe if everything breaks right, we can get a couple of wins. Now you don't, if you lose to Dallas, and I don't think anybody expects them to, to beat the Chiefs in prime time, especially if the Chiefs lose to Philadelphia, which I think certainly is on the table. The Chiefs aren't going 03 to start the year and now the Chargers look better. The Chargers are one of those games, right, guys? Oh, they may be able to beat the Chargers west coast team coming to New York playing at 1:00'.

Peter (31:08)

Clock.

Alan (31:08)

Well, that's what you're hoping for, right?

Don Hahn (31:10)

You're hoping for. But the Chargers look like a damn good football team.

Alan (31:13)

Yeah, but what are they going to be by the time you see them? Are they going to be a complacent.

Don Hahn (31:17)

Damn good football team or are they going to be a team that could, and many people believe this could be a legitimate threat to the Chiefs in that, in that division. Right. And maybe a quarterback that's coming to his own with a, with a hardball being there a second year like so. I don't care what it looks like, guys. Owen four is own four. And then, oh, maybe we can beat the Saints in New Orleans. And you know what the Saints are going to be thinking? Oh, maybe we'll be able to beat the Giants that come in our building, for God's sakes.

Alan (31:48)

That is sad.

Don Hahn (31:49)

I mean, I don't know.

Peter (31:50)

And now if you, if you were forced to bet, hey, 40 days till.

Alan (31:53)

The Knicks season starts though. So we got that.

Don Hahn (31:55)

There you go. I am forced to bet. I got my cover.

Peter (31:57)

Well, no, no, but I mean, I mean, I mean if you were forced to bet, someone said, you need to tell me right now, what's the most likely scenario this weekend for the football teams?

Don Hahn (32:06)

Oh, the jets cover a spot, both win.

Peter (32:08)

No, no, no, no. Both win, split or both lose. We're all taking both lose.

Don Hahn (32:15)

Yeah, I think that's the, that's the betting odds, right? Because it has to be.

Alan (32:20)

Yeah, because.

Don Hahn (32:22)

What's the. Because I.

Alan (32:23)

But are you believing it though? Like, I'm not, I'm not putting. You're right about it being the easiest bet to make because it feels like the most likely outcome. But I wouldn't put that, I wouldn't make that the most likely outcome by 70 or 80%. No, I still would put that at what, 50?

Don Hahn (32:38)

It'll have the higher percentage though, like.

Alan (32:40)

A probability versus the other. What, two options? Three options.

Peter (32:44)

Well, one involves the Giants beating the Cowboys on the road, which is, I guess it's weird. The jets are the better team, but they're playing a better team. So the Giants, the Giants should have a more winnable game, but the Giants are, have no offense.

Don Hahn (33:00)

And you know, it's interesting, like, this.

Peter (33:01)

Is a get right game. This is a Dallas game. This is if you're Dallas and you're thinking, we're going to show people that the Micah Parsons thing is not ending this season. We're going to go have a season. We're going to compete, and at least for a wild card, if nothing else. I got news for you. This is a game you have to win and win handedly. So that's how they have to be viewing this Sunday.

Don Hahn (33:19)

Well, correct me if I'm wrong, I do it. I just said it earlier in the show that the jets have kind of had their number at MetLife Stadium. The jets always seem to play the Bills competitively because everybody goes Back to that opener. 911. The Bills have covered the last three meetings with the jets. So it just shows you that expectations are usually pretty low and they hang. But from a number standpoint, you. You know, the Bill still could be the smart pick. The game may be competitive, but the Bill still may cover.

Alan (33:47)

Is that five and a half still?

Don Hahn (33:49)

I don't. That's what it was at Giants, too, but I think that moved to six and a half.

Alan (33:55)

It is six and a half for the jets, but the jets is six and a half.

Don Hahn (33:58)

And the Jet. Did the Giants go six and a half too?

Alan (34:02)

Not on cover five, but I'll have to check.

Don Hahn (34:03)

Regular cover five has it in five and a half. But I think they. They lock in on Thursday because I'm. Because I know what I did today, guys. What'd you do?

Alan (34:11)

Still five and a half.

Don Hahn (34:11)

By the way, Dave Rothenberg's podcast. I was outside his podcast earlier today. Very. He has.

Peter (34:20)

Dave Rothenberg is a podcast.

Don Hahn (34:21)

Yes, he does. I didn't know that either until he invited me on it. And it's very good. It's a giant podcast and he told me it was six and a half. So you know him. He's a degenerate. He probably has.

Alan (34:30)

Did you guys have it out, by the way, about, you know, the show beef that's been going on?

Don Hahn (34:35)

I gotta tell you, from a radio standpoint, we basically made out on the podcast. So there was no negativity.

Alan (34:42)

At all. I'm not listening.

Peter (34:43)

Didn't even bring.

Don Hahn (34:44)

No, no, no, you listen.

Alan (34:45)

I'm out.

Don Hahn (34:46)

No, no. Why does he have to. Why does he have to take my little funny exaggeration and now give it a reason for something? I know he wasn't gonna listen anyway because it wasn't like, you know, it wasn't up his alley.

Peter (34:58)

I'll tell you Alan's plan for the weekend. His plans were he was going to wake up Tomorrow morning, read 75 pages in Jordan Rod on his Book, set it down and then pop on Rothenberg's podcast.

Alan (35:08)

Oh, yeah, listen to that for a while in the grass.

Don Hahn (35:11)

Maybe it was like New Hampshire lacrosse podcast. He listened to.

Alan (35:15)

I'll be doing.

Peter (35:15)

Come on, that's not fair.

Alan (35:18)

What I'll be doing the right. Tomorrow is I'll be at LIU homecoming. That's right. The LIU Sharks, who came off this big upset at Eastern Michigan, knocked them off. Big, big win. So we got a lot.

Don Hahn (35:31)

You're going to ignore the, the, the first game when Florida did cover, you know, that's. They were giving 45 points and covered.

Alan (35:40)

You know, you don't count that. We just took the money.

Don Hahn (35:42)

All right. We never, we never revisited that.

Alan (35:44)

You know, you know, done. Done. It was a really big check. It was a really big. You know, you could talk about losses all you want. That was a big win for the program, if you know that's right.

Don Hahn (35:54)

But. But seriously, it was. It was. It was. It was fun. It was good. No, no, we did not have any beef. It was all good. We're talking Giants. We got along great.

Alan (36:02)

Good.

Don Hahn (36:03)

So check it out.

Alan (36:04)

Where's his optimism, by the way? Because he, you know.

Don Hahn (36:06)

No, none. Zero.

Alan (36:07)

Trends. Pessimism.

Don Hahn (36:08)

No.

Alan (36:08)

All right, so he's got no feel for this team at all.

Don Hahn (36:11)

No, he feels it. It's just what he feels. It feels terrible. There's no, there's no positive feeling about it. We basically talked about the history of the rivalry. I mean, there wasn't a lot to. To get into currently, but. All right, let's get back to the busy phones. A lot of people want to talk some football. 1-800-919-3776. Let's start it off with Tommy in the car. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Tommy?

Caller/Listener (36:31)

Hey, boys. Happy Friday. Hope you have a great weekend. So it's a hypothetical question. Would you rather have Russell Wilson on the Giants with a better offensive line or Jackson Dart with the current offensive line? Now, the only reason that I asked this question is because I did. I was listening to the morning show, and they were talking about how it is the same exact team. The only thing you did was change quarterbacks. So are we really for Jackson Dart growth? Are we giving Russell a fair shot right now?

Alan (37:14)

I. You guys heard me yesterday. I. I think it would be. It would be a terrible mistake to throw that kid in front of that offensive line and expect him to. To develop properly. And that's why Russ is there. And you saw what he was doing. He looked down at his feet early because he didn't trust what was happening in front of him. So it would the. Would you rather Tommy? I think I'd leave Wilson there. And if you said with a better offensive line, you'd much rather have Russell Wilson with a better offensive line because you really do have a chance to have a decent offense that way.

Don Hahn (37:47)

Yeah, but I. But I think what you're looking at, Tommy, and thank you for the phone call. You don't want to put this kid in harm's way. So it's not even the case of who gives us the best chance to win. Maybe Dart, because of his athleticism and age, can maybe work through this offensive line better than Russell Wilson, who's 36. But that's not what you're thinking as a coach. You're thinking what's best for my quarterback long term. Or at least that's how I'm thinking as a fan of the Giants. Now, listen, Andrew Thomas comes back. He's not coming back this week, but honestly, watching that game, I don't know if Thomas is in. Does it look that much different? They leaked up the middle. There were a lot of issues with that offensive line that I don't think one guy is necessarily going to save. So it's not really evaluating. It's who's going to be the placeholder, how long can he continue to be the placeholder. Then me putting him in front of that off or behind that offensive line and expecting to survive and expecting to develop and learn. The only thing he's going to learn is how to get hit.

Alan (38:44)

Run for his life.

Don Hahn (38:46)

And broken. And I don't know how you feel like broken plays are fun to watch and kind of show your athleticism. I don't know how you learn from broken plays other than learning how to survive.

Alan (38:56)

You learn how to run for your life.

Don Hahn (38:58)

You want to learn how to read defenses. You want to learn how to change plays in the line of scrimmage. Not like using your athleticism to dodge five sacks and then, you know, running for a first down like, all right, that's nice. That's cosmetically cool. But I don't know how much I learned on the play other than survival.

Alan (39:12)

It's the hardest thing for fans to accept right now, is that it's not the best thing. It might be the best thing for you as a fan because at least you have another thing to look at. I have a shiny new toy I could look at, but you understand that, that you could destroy it and you don't want to do that you don't just for your own, just so you feel better. It's the same thing. What we talking about with Jordan yesterday, Jordan Renan is the worst thing that can happen. And if I'm, if I'm Joe Shane, I'm not like. If I don't feel like it's the best thing. I'm not letting Dable go to him. I'm not letting him do it. No, not yet. We cannot just throw the kid out there because we're all afraid of losing our jobs or the fans are booing or the media is calling for it. No, you do it when you believe he's ready. When you're 100% confident that whether it's Russ or this guy, the results won't be any different, then you can go to him. But you can't tell me that you believe he's in that place right now, just two weeks into his NFL career. No way.

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Don Hahn (40:51)

Skills I use now, not just after graduation.

Alan (40:53)

Earn skills in weeks, not years.

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Edu.

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Don Hahn (41:10)

Womp womp.

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Han and Rosenberg Announcer (41:29)

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

Peter (41:32)

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

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

Don Hahn (41:41)

Very, very metal opens. Jacob, what's going on? Dave Mustaine's birthday.

Alan (41:50)

It's all on brown shirt.

Don Hahn (41:51)

That's why our imaging guy is Mike Brownshire. One of the good things I like about Jacob is that he's the one that Picks the music. And he was telling me, now Brownshire's doing it, Jacob. He lessens his value. Only in this instance.

Peter (42:08)

Hold on, hold on. Brownshaw's picking the. The Rejoin music.

Don Hahn (42:12)

Brownshaw picked the one song. I picked the first one.

Peter (42:16)

But, like, on a daily basis, it's still you picking the music. You picked all the Jay Z blueprint stuff for 911 yesterday.

Don Hahn (42:21)

Yeah, that was me yesterday. Here's what you just go ahead. When the next time he tries that, Jacob, you say, I'm good. I don't need any suggestions from you. I got this.

Alan (42:32)

I think I good.

Don Hahn (42:33)

I'm good.

Caller/Listener (42:33)

Got us in enough trouble today.

Don Hahn (42:35)

No, no, that's inaccurate in this case. I think everybody has my back. When I say, you know, Brownshire wants to start messing with the sound of the show. From a musical standpoint, we're all saying. We could all say we're good or we're all set. All set.

Alan (42:51)

We're all set. Thank you, Brownie.

Don Hahn (42:53)

We're all set.

Alan (42:54)

That's. That's. It's as simple as that. And then we just keep it moving.

Don Hahn (42:58)

Now, you see, I. I think because it's Friday, what could go wrong about.

Alan (43:03)

Jake, about Jacob Perry and the many years that I've gotten to work with him? Is he. His. He has an incredible ear for music and when to play it right. He just. He has a knack, and it's. It's fantastic. I don't think he needs assistance, which is why we should step in front because, you know, he's probably being nice. You know, Brown sugar walks in, he's probably like, you know, oh, yeah, sure, I'll. But we need to step in and say, hey, we don't. No suggestion box over here. All right. This guy plays the music, but I, in my real DJs take no requests.

Don Hahn (43:34)

In my opinion, all set. Does leave a little wiggle room. That all right? Maybe I'll try again tomorrow. I'm good. Shuts it down.

Alan (43:42)

I'm good. It's over. So I'm all set. Means you can bring it back, but I'm probably not.

Peter (43:46)

You're set for right now, you know.

Don Hahn (43:49)

So I was just curious about that. We clarified that 1-800-919-3776. How about Dave and Elizabeth? You're on ESPN, New York. How you, Dave? How are you? What's going on, fellas?

Caller/Listener (44:00)

Hollywood Hahn, Rosenberg radio. And my man Donnie Pucks.

Don Hahn (44:04)

Oh, yeah.

Caller/Listener (44:04)

Let's shout out my boy Jacob Perry because he's nasty with the music. Got to give him his flowers. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Peter, I'm not going to crush you about tonight's loss. I like your fandom and the way you like your team, so I'm not going to bother you about that.

Peter (44:18)

It wasn't pleasant, so I appreciate it.

Caller/Listener (44:21)

Hey, I'm a Jets fan. Only me and Hollywood, Han with no misery. Trust me. So this is what I want to get across to you guys. Yes. And two and two sevens. Yes. So this is what I want to say as far as, you know, today's pickups. I really love what Leon Rose did getting back Shamet. I love it. These are two quality, solid pickups. I don't know why Ben Simmons rejected Dave.

Alan (44:45)

Dave, it's a football Friday. I'll get into it at some point. The Ben Simmons thing is. Is not what you think, and I'll tell that story another day. But, yeah, it's a football Friday.

Don Hahn (44:56)

You know, what are we doing?

Alan (44:57)

We're Talking about the 14th and 15th roster pieces on a team that's not playing for another month. You see? But that's what's happening in New York. See what's happening?

Don Hahn (45:07)

Yeah.

Alan (45:08)

You know, like, it's almost like, can we just get to basketball? Because this, this. This stuff right now ain't hitting.

Don Hahn (45:13)

Yeah, but there's all tone deaths on the table, too. 109-19-377.

Alan (45:17)

It's always on the table, Doc.

Don Hahn (45:19)

Ferdinand in South Jersey. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, baby? What a great name.

Alan (45:23)

What a Ferdinand.

Caller/Listener (45:24)

Hey, what's up, guys?

Alan (45:25)

So, Ferdinand, do people. Do every. Does everyone refer to you as such or do you have a nickname? Is it like Ferdy? Like, what, like, what are your boys?

Caller/Listener (45:35)

Yeah, Fern is way too long, dude.

Alan (45:37)

Yeah, it's a lot, but it's very elegant.

Caller/Listener (45:40)

So you, like, many people, have my name? Yeah.

Don Hahn (45:42)

Ferd. Yeah, because I. I went to school with a Ferd and he was a Ferdinand. Big Met fan.

Caller/Listener (45:47)

Oh, yeah, yeah, dude. I. I only know a couple people in my family with the name, so that's about it. But anyway, dude, I'm calling because I think that they should put Jackson Dart in. I mean, I'm just tired of watching the Giants lose. It's been how many years of hell?

Don Hahn (46:03)

That's not a good reason, man. And you're tired of it.

Alan (46:06)

Doesn't really mean that's the best thing for you. Know what I mean? Like.

Don Hahn (46:09)

No, I know it's not good, you know.

Caller/Listener (46:13)

Yeah, no, I get it. But I mean, I just. It's Russell Wilson. I can't Take watching it no more, though.

Alan (46:19)

I. Look, listen, you know, I completely understand. I mean, I'm. I've lived through years of. I can't wait till he's no longer my point guard. You know what I mean? Like, I've lived through that.

Caller/Listener (46:29)

Yeah.

Alan (46:29)

And. And you just. But, you know, there's certain situations like this one where if you feel like you have, you know, the. You. The golden child, you've got to make sure. Because we've seen players like this get rushed in and they get their heads beaten in, and now you're like, I don't know. He didn't look that good. I don't think he's that good. And it's not even the kid's fault. But you're already now wondering, is he any good? Like, that's the part you got to be real careful of as a fan. Look, Ferd decided to be honest and say, I'm just sick of his face. That's no way to run a franchise. But.

Don Hahn (47:03)

But wait a minute. You're sick of his. After one game, you're sick of his face?

Alan (47:07)

Well, listen, it was a tough game.

Don Hahn (47:09)

No, it was a tough game. Did you see how many points are on. Who said that it wasn't all his fault?

Alan (47:15)

Right. No, you're right.

Don Hahn (47:17)

I can understand saying Kurt Warner said.

Alan (47:18)

There was worse things happening in front of him.

Don Hahn (47:20)

Yeah. And that's the thing, that now you're going to take a kid that's got no experience. And you know what fans like Ferd are going to do when they're not entertained by Dart? When he struggles, like any kid's going to struggle, they're going to want to throw him away and tank and then try again with another draft pick. Like, I can't make decisions based on your impatience. I can't make decisions based on your quality of viewing. I've got to do what's right by him.

Alan (47:42)

Yep.

Don Hahn (47:43)

And ultimately. And I got something to say when we come back.

Alan (47:45)

Oh, that.

Don Hahn (47:45)

I wonder if this is a way that you save your job as a general manager and a coach besides winning games.

Han and Rosenberg Announcer (47:54)

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

Alan (47:58)

I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know it's good.

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Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.

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