Updated NFL Power Rankings for All AFC Teams (Ep. 2014)

Summary

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FantasyPros NFL Tailgate: Updated NFL Power Rankings for All AFC Teams

Podcast: FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast
Date: May 8, 2026
Hosts: Joey P. (Joe Pisapia), Andrew Erickson, Derrick Brown

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Episode Overview

In this lively episode, Joey P. bravely unveils his personally crafted, post-draft AFC power rankings—going from 16 (worst) to 1 (best)—and invites co-hosts Andrew Erickson and Derrick Brown to critique, debate, and even roast his choices. The trio engages in passionate, sometimes hilarious debates about the merits and question marks of every AFC team, mixing fantasy insights, off-season evaluation, and real NFL talk.

The conversation dives deep into coaching changes, quarterback controversies, roster makeovers, and where they see regression or surprise breakouts. They highlight key personnel moves, the impact of fresh voices, and which stars and coaches can elevate—or sink—their teams in the crowded AFC.

Note: This summary skips sponsor reads and focuses on substantive football discussion only.

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Key Discussion Points & Team Power Rankings

16. Miami Dolphins

(02:48) Joey P.:

• Complete rebuild mode; no faith in coaching or QB situation.
• "If you have a coaching quarterback, you have a shot in the NFL. I don't know if they have a quarterback and I don't know if they have a coach."
  — Joey P. (03:05)
• Malik Willis is a longshot. Only weapon is Devon Achane, who's a possible holdout.
• Erickson: "Clearly playing for 2027.... Willis has to show out with a very underwhelming group of pass catchers." (04:09)

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15. New York Jets

(04:45) Joey P.:

• Good draft, but old problems persist. No QB/HC trust ("Aaron Glenn is not a good coach.")
• Geno Smith's return doesn’t inspire Joey. “Geno Smith isn’t better. Geno Smith isn’t younger, he’s older.”
• Erickson: Sees some hope; offensive line is “above average,” defense has “eight new starters.” Thinks Geno Smith could be good enough for more than 5.5 wins. (07:10)
• Derrick Brown: Likes the roster, thinks 6 wins is possible (“If their defense could be...say the 18th ranked defense in the NFL, they can win six games this year.” - 08:34)

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14. Las Vegas Raiders

(10:05) Joey P.:

• QB battle: Rookie Fernando Mendoza vs. aging Kirk Cousins. Joey believes Mendoza is taking the job.
• Addition of C Ashton Genti, Brock Bowers a plus, but WR corps unimpressive.
• Derrick Brown: "Hopefully they're better. They added a lot of players in the off season...outside of Genti and Bowers, what do we have at wide receiver like Jalen Nailor?" (10:31)
• Erickson: Likes offensive-minded coach Clint Kubiak's upside but right tackle unaddressed; defense is improved, but RB depth & pass rushers remain concerns. (11:47)

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13. Cleveland Browns

(12:48) Joey P.:

• Strong trenches, but QB situation a “nightmare.” Joey expects Deshaun Watson drama to resurface:
  “We all know at some point the Deshaun Watson stuff is going to come floating back up to the top like every single turd does every time. And every toilet. That’s right. Just won’t flush, baby.” (14:01)
• Erickson: Prefers Jets’ Geno Smith to Watson. Calls Browns’ attachment to Watson “stupid.” Defense risky after losing Jim Schwartz.
• Derrick Brown: If Shadur Sanders starts, upside is significant—potential wild card contender. “Deshaun Watson…He is horrible. He is god awful. He’s one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL.” (15:51)

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12. Tennessee Titans

(17:14) Joey P.:

• Young QB Cam Ward’s “seriousness” praised.
• WR upgrade: Carnell Tate, Wan’Dale Robinson. Robert Saleh as coach = plus for defense.
• Team is "tough out," but likely under .500.
• Derrick Brown: “If their offensive line could be league average and Cam Ward can take a step…can they be second-best team in the South? I absolutely could see it happening.” (19:36)
• Erickson: Higher on Titans—has them 10th. Sees potential “year two jump for Cam Ward,” credits Saleh’s defensive rebuild, says they're “not really a bottom-five AFC team.” (21:53)

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11. Pittsburgh Steelers

(24:47) Joey P.:

• In a “holding pattern,” waiting on Aaron Rodgers' decision (or a Derek Carr move).
• Mike McCarthy is “professional HC,” but if no experienced QB, he’d move them down.
• Erickson: Wonders what Steelers' D looks like minus Tomlin—“Mike McCarthy is not a defensive guru.”
• Derrick Brown: “They could turn into a total dumpster fire.” (28:47)

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10. Jacksonville Jaguars

(29:08) Joey P.:

• Predicts regression: “I think Jags are a team that could regress this year.” Cites lackluster draft, RB turnover, and division competitiveness.
• Derrick Brown: No faith in GM, credits last year’s success to coaching; skeptical about Travis Hunter’s two-way impact. (30:41)
• Erickson: Sees argument for both downside and upside, notes high degree of offensive continuity (“…if you have them ranked really high…, it’s a matter of this team has a lot of continuity, especially on the offensive side.” - 32:49)

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9. Cincinnati Bengals

(34:51) Joey P.:

• Defensive upgrades (Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen), but pessimistic: “Every year the Bengals find a way to disappoint...” (35:16)
• Cites injury, secondary, division, and poor luck as factors.
• Derrick Brown: MASSIVE disagreement: Bengals are his #3 team—Burrow healthy = Super Bowl contender, DL rebuild will “cover up a lot of sins.” (37:09)
• Erickson: Has them 7th, trusts offense/continuity. Cites year-two jumps, faith in Burrow. (39:09)

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8. Indianapolis Colts

(40:07) Joey P.:

• Believes in Shane Steichen, OL, Jonathan Taylor, Tyler Warren; won tie-breaker over Bengals due to coach/consistency.
• Derrick Brown: Unimpressed with Daniel Jones, major injury concerns. “He cannot go past his first read. And dear Lord, if Daniel Jones misses any time…” (46:42)
• Erickson: Big Daniel Jones skeptic post-Achilles—thinks offense due for major regression. (43:26)

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7. Kansas City Chiefs

(47:45) Joey P.:

• Placeholder ranking; Mahomes & Reid keep them afloat, but serious transition. Kelce aging, Rashee Rice off-field issues a concern.
• Derrick Brown: Has them 8th.
• Erickson: Slightly higher (6th), but flags defense was healthiest in NFL last year; expects regression. (49:19)

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6. Baltimore Ravens

(50:44) Joey P.:

• Lamar Jackson = perennial contender. New voice at HC after Harbaugh, some optimism (“sometimes you get a bounce from just a new voice...”).
• Erickson: Points out they're actually lower than consensus (conference odds at +500). Notes improved health, defense should rebound, likes rookie DT Vega Ione, downgrades OL loss of Linderbaum. (52:59)
• Derrick Brown: Believes in bounce-back season; Jesse Minter new DC from Chargers credited with maximizing talent. (54:29)

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5. Los Angeles Chargers

(54:29) Joey P.:

• High on new OC Mike McDaniel with Herbert ("...never had a quarterback close to [that] size and skill set"), Omarion Hampton adds dimension at RB, worried about defense but sees offensive upside.
• All: Consensus top-5 team.
• Erickson: Offense could be #1 in scoring with tackles healthy; notes how injuries torpedoed 2025; wild card is Adam Gase (56:22, jokes about Gase’s “eye condition”).

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4. Houston Texans

(57:10) Joey P.:

• Defensive juggernaut, but “worried about what’s in between the ears with CJ Stroud”—shows concern over his off-season demeanor and forward progress.
• Derrick Brown: Even more worried; if defense regresses to merely top 5-7, upside capped. “I don’t know if we ever see rookie season CJ Stroud. I think he got too much in his own head and he got like...it was basically, I am king of the world.” (59:44)
• Erickson: Has them 5th, but leans Chargers over them; notes defense less "sticky" year-over-year than offense, and expects regression if Stroud doesn’t snap out of late-season funk. (60:24)

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3. New England Patriots

(57:22) Joey P.:

• Ranks NE higher than most, contingent on presumed A.J. Brown addition. “If A.J. Brown is a Patriot… defense is stout, May is talented, the RB duo is dynamic.”
• Addresses Vrabel’s “off-field distractions,” regards it as a non-issue by August.
• Erickson & Brown: Lower on Pats due to expected “regression across every box,” super bowl hangover, and skepticism about Vrabel’s focus post-family drama (62:09). Also cite OL fragility and health luck from '25 as unsustainable.
  • “Every regression box I look for, the Patriots are on. You have to fade this team in 2026.” — Erickson (62:16)
  • “If Morgan Moses takes a step back…you are losing two integral cogs...and then the offensive line is a problem” — Derrick Brown (65:00)

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2. Buffalo Bills

(66:03) Joey P.:

• Believes firing McDermott and sticking with continuity on staff will help. Laments delay in signing a true Diggs replacement, but DJ Moore finally fills that role.
• Sees them as potential AFC champions.
• Derrick Brown & Erickson: Mostly agree, though Erickson gives Bills #1 spot (with caveats—see next section).

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1. Denver Broncos

(67:17) Joey P.:

• “Nick shows up in fourth quarters. He finds a way to win games…defense is so good.” Points to Super Bowl potential with healthy Bo Nix, Jalen Waddle, and depth at RB.
• “No head coach has ever won a Super bowl, has ever gotten to a Super bowl with their second team. That’s a really fascinating tidbit.” (67:16)
• Derrick Brown: Ranks Broncos #1 (“if we take the quarterback out…Broncos entire roster is miles better than the Bills.” - 73:22)
• Erickson: Slightly prefers Bills at #1 due to concern over Bo Nix ankle injuries, but sees either team as worthy: “Taking Josh Allen over Bo Nix, and I don’t think that’s really up for debate...But still, the Broncos defense is so much better than the Bills.” (70:04)
• Notes Denver was 3rd healthiest defense in 2025, so injury luck may regress.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

On Cleveland’s QB Woes

“We all know at some point the Deshaun Watson stuff is going to come floating back up to the top like every single turd does every time. And every toilet. That’s right. Just won’t flush, baby.”
— Joey P. (14:01)

On Derrick Brown’s Bengals Optimism

“If health complies, this defense is going to be much, much, much improved.”
— Derrick Brown (38:02)

On Coaching Importance

“Football is about coaching even more than it is about talent. If you can coach… that's how I learned the hard lesson as a child.”
— Joey P. (45:46)

On the Patriots’ Off-Field Issues

“Every regression box I look for, the Patriots are on. You have to fade this team in 2026.”
— Andrew Erickson (62:16)

“We’re not talking about the history of that. We’re talking about how this affects the man that is leading men in the Patriots building...Just because this falls out of the news cycle doesn’t mean that things with him get better at home…”
— Derrick Brown (64:21)

On Broncos/Bills as AFC’s Best

“If we take the quarterback out…Broncos, their depth chart, their entire roster is miles better than the Bills.”
— Derrick Brown (73:20)

“Taking Josh Allen over Bo Nix, and I don’t think that’s really up for debate…but still, the Broncos defense is so much better than the Bills.”
— Andrew Erickson (70:04)

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Important Timestamps

• 02:48 – Dolphins named AFC's worst team; roster teardown, QB & coach concerns.
• 07:10 – Geno Smith optimism for Jets (Erickson).
• 14:01 – Browns’ QB drama and Watson “won’t flush” metaphor.
• 17:14 – Titans’ new outlook, Cam Ward talk.
• 24:47 – Steelers’ QB limbo, Mike Tomlin legacy debate.
• 29:08 – Jags’ regression case, Travis Hunter debate.
• 34:51 – Bengals at 9 sparks heated panel disagreement.
• 40:07 – Colts vs Bengals, Daniel Jones skepticism, coaching debate.
• 47:45 – Chiefs’ uncharacteristic mid-tier status.
• 52:59 – Ravens’ outlook post-Harbaugh, new DC.
• 54:29 – Chargers’ offensive explosion forecasted under OC Mike McDaniel.
• 57:22 – Patriots/Texans 3/4 debate, Stroud’s struggles, Vrabel’s off-field issues.
• 66:03 – Bills as AFC's top contender; finally find their WR1.
• 67:17 – Broncos crowned #1; "best defense" and Bo Nix magic.

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Final Top 10 (Joey P.'s Power Rankings)

1. Denver Broncos
2. Buffalo Bills
3. New England Patriots
4. Houston Texans
5. Los Angeles Chargers
6. Baltimore Ravens
7. Kansas City Chiefs
8. Indianapolis Colts
9. Cincinnati Bengals
10. Jacksonville Jaguars

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Tone & Banter

The episode stays true to FantasyPros’ “Tailgate” vibe: plenty of friendly jabs (“let the hounds out”), passionate disagreements (“I want to slap your face with a glove and challenge you…”), and playful ribbing (arguments about beard growth and “raw milk” locker room superstitions). Deep football analysis is mixed with humor and sharp fantasy football context, making it engaging for listeners of all backgrounds.

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Conclusion

This spirited, in-depth ranking show offers both hardcore and casual fans a comprehensive look at the AFC pecking order post-draft—with plenty of debate on QBs, coaches, and what it truly takes to make a leap (or implode) in 2026.

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For further debate, tune in to their upcoming NFC Power Rankings episode!

Transcript

[Joey P. Zepia]

This is an iHeart podcast.

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[Joey P. Zepia]

park it right here everybody. It's time for the Tailgates. Me, Joey P. Joe P. Zepia with my two quote unquote friends, Andrew Erickson and Derrick Brown. I'm a very brave man because today I'm going to throw out my personal AFC power rankings after the draft, after all the off season noise has settled and I'm going to be brave enough to go 16 to 1 here in the AFC and then let these two guys pick it apart. So the Hounds will be released here on the Tailgate today and we encourage you to subscribe to the channel. This is our new channel where we just talk NFL, we have fun, we kind of meander around a little bit. So it's not like the other FP podcast. It's not like the other BP podcast. Tailgate. NFL is its own thing. So subscribe on the YouTube channel. We appreciate you when you do. And of course ring that bell till it goes ding. So you never miss a piece of content on the tailgate because this channel is going to be red hot by the time we get to NFL season. And gentlemen, as I said, we're going to start at the bottom and work our way up here. So I have to imagine, Derek, this is like, this is like Christmas for you, right? You just get to pick apart all of my opinions that I throw out There, Right. You must be feeling pretty good about yourself. This morning. You woke up with a spring in your step.

[Derrick Brown]

I do, man. I feel like I got. You know, I'm really enjoying the small things, the little things in life, like home of my beard right now. It's a great time. I'm loving life right now. I feel like Erickson and I are going to toss haymakers and we'll see if you make it out of round one.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Yeah, Erickson, no beard to comb. Just want to point that out on Andrew Erickson.

[Andrew Erickson]

I can't see my little soul path.

[Derrick Brown]

Let the ref see the low blow out the gate.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Oh, oh, there it is. There it is. One.

[Derrick Brown]

Oh, there.

[Andrew Erickson]

There is a shadow.

[Derrick Brown]

There's something there.

[Andrew Erickson]

I didn't just, like, forget to shave that part.

[Derrick Brown]

The YouTube comments are wrong. He can grow something.

[Joey P. Zepia]

I didn't just forget to shave that part. Well done, Ericson. Well done. All right, let's start at the bottom of the barrel here. And I'm going to start with number 16, the Miami Dolphins.

[Andrew Erickson]

Okay, one for one, Joe.

[Joey P. Zepia]

One for one. There we go. We're all friends after the first one.

[Derrick Brown]

That'll do it for us.

[Joey P. Zepia]

It was a great show today. We hope you enjoyed it like this video. Well, look, I mean, I'm going to. This is going to be a theme throughout, right? If you have coaching quarterback, you have a shot in the NFL. I don't know if they have a quarterback and I don't know if they have a coach. I know they've got a roster that's completely in flux. I know they're a team that has 11 draft picks in the past draft and they've got a ton of work to do. The wide receiver core is a mess. They've got one real weapon here, theoretically in Devon Hn, who could be a holdout and could be a contract situation. And if he comes into camp late, eventually signing whatever deal or they overpay, that's a bad situation because we all know those guys tend to get hurt in season. So to me, this is still just a very big work in progress. I'm not saying the Dolphins can't start to be going in the right direction. The arrow can't be going up. It can. I just don't think they're at it right now. And I do think right now they are probably the worst team in the afc. So I'm going to open it up to you guys. It seems like you agree with me. Go ahead. Who wants to take a shot first?

[Derrick Brown]

I agree with everything you said okay.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Andrew Erickson. Any. Any thoughts, disagreements, concerns? No.

[Andrew Erickson]

Well, these are 2026 power rankings and the Dolphins are clearly playing for 2027 and they're putting Malik Willis in a position where this guy really has to show out to prove that, hey, I can be the quarterback of the future. And he's going to be throwing to a very underwhelming group of pass catchers. They're going to run the ball a ton. Drafted Proctor in the first round with the impression to play him at guard and not tackle, even though he was viewed as like this high end tackle prospect. So, yeah, I think that they should be 16th in the bottom of the AFC because I don't think that they're necessarily trying to win in 2026.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Yeah, and I like to look at the Vegas totals too, to see. I like to do my own and I look at the Vegas totals and I see where the discrepancies are and they have the lowest win total of any team in the fc. So I think that's a good consensus. All right. Moving onward and upward, but not too Far up at 15, the New York Jets. Once again, if you don't have quarterback and coach, you don't have much. Andrew was already coming at me before the show started. Just for clarity here, I just want to throw this out there. Before we even got going, he was coming at me on a couple teams because he already started looking at the show sheet. He didn't want to look at it yesterday, he wanted to come in fresh today and he peaked a little bit and they started coming after me. And yes, the jets did have a good draft, but I will still come back to the same old ineptitude of the Jets. I do believe that they have some talent on this roster. I do believe just like the Dolphins, they might be starting to turn things around. I do not believe from what I saw last year that Aaron Glenn is a head coach in the NFL and I was woefully wrong about that. I actually thought after watching Hard Knocks when he was with the Lions and maybe Aaron Glenn could make a pretty good head coach. I do not think that after watching last year his game plans were a disaster. And personally I just think that Geno Smith, second time around from in New York City. I mean, I was here and I lived through it the first time. It's not going to be better kids. Geno Smith isn't better. Geno Smith isn't younger, he is older. And I just think this is completely again, bottom of the barrel New York Jets. Unfortunately, these two Teams are in the same division, but Andrew Erickson, do you have anything to add here? Because I know you're kind of getting a little chippy here. Before the program started, you were trying to like throw some jabs at me on the Jets.

[Andrew Erickson]

So I just think that the jets offense is going to be underrated this year. I think that they have an above average offensive line. You have two young bookend tackles. I think the interior is okay. But Geno Smith, I don't think that we should be copying pasting what we've seen from the aging Kirk Cousins, the aging Aaron Rodgers. Those guys came off torn Achilles injuries, so they lost all their power and velocity in their throws. I think Geno Smith can still sling the ball. And I remember week one. Who did the Raiders beat? Who did Geno Smith look like? Oh, man, this guy's going to be a star this year. Against the New England Patriots, the reigning AFC champs. The Raiders beat the Patriots on the road and then the entire offensive line fell apart and Brock Bowers got injured and Geno Smith had no opportunities to have any type of success. He was playing through injuries as well. So I think that he can be a little bit better, which is why I have them a little bit higher than some of these other teams that you have ranked higher. Like the Brown, like the other bottom team.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Vegas win total is five and a half. You think they're more than a five and a half win team?

[Andrew Erickson]

I think that the roster is more than five and a half win team. And into your like the major point here is, is the coaching, right? Frank, like Frank Reich again, like we are really going to just like retread again.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Well, that was where I was going next, so I'm glad you did my work for me.

[Andrew Erickson]

Smith fits what he's looking for. He is a bigger, you know, statured quarterback working from the pocket. I mean, look, look, the talent. Defense. Tavande Sweat, Will McDonald, David Bailey, Mika Fitzpatrick, Angela Pons, Demario Davis. Eight new starters on defense. So I think what holds this team back from winning five and a half games is, yeah, Aaron Glenn is not a good coach and he's the reason why they don't win games. Frank Reich's the reason they don't win games. So I think that this could be a team where maybe they cover a lot of spreads but they end up losing all these games because they don't have the right guys calling the shots.

[Joey P. Zepia]

All right, dbro, what do you think of my ranking of the Jets? You think they're the second worst team? In the AFC or no, I think

[Derrick Brown]

they're in the bottom three but I don't have them as the second worst team. I like their roster overall. I think I'll take the over five and a half wins. I mean like we're saying that I'll

[Joey P. Zepia]

take on the under with you. Lock it in, let's go.

[Derrick Brown]

So we saying like oh can the jets go 6 and 11? Like that's not like some like insane.

[Andrew Erickson]

They're going to get that interception regression is coming. This team's going to get more interceptions than last regression. They got d' Angelo Pawns, he's going to have the first pick six in the Aaron Glenn era.

[Derrick Brown]

Yeah, I, I, I, I like the overall like makeup of their offense. Like if their defense could be league average or at least like say like the 18th ranked defense in the NFL, they can win six games this year. So I mean I'm not like caping up for the jets. Like I have 14, but I don't have them as like the second worst team in the, in the AFC.

[Joey P. Zepia]

That's fine, that's fine. All right, well you know we all think they're bottom dwellers regardless. I mean the jets will probably win one more game than they should which will knock him out of the pick that they should make next year for a franchise quarterback because that would be quintessential Jets.

[Andrew Erickson]

That's why they got, that's why they got three first rounders. That's why they got the picks.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Yeah, well, we'll see how that goes. All right, let's go to number 14 on my ranks here in the power rankings. The Las Vegas Raiders still work in progress. They did make some additions there to the offensive line. I love the Linder bound signing. They brought in what's going to be their franchise quarterback and I still will stick to my guns that Fernando Mendoza will be there sooner than later. I think he's got a legitimate shot to start week one because I think Mendoza is just so much better than Kirk Cousins and I don't, I know usually I'm on the money talks, I'm that guy. But I'm just not that because our Fernando Mendoza's Ed Otas. I'm watching him already. He looks crisp, he looks ready to go, he looks focused and I just think he's going to go in, he's going to beat Kirk Cousins. Like he's going to become undeniable for that job. They've still got Ashton Genti, they got Brock Bowers. I don't like the wide receivers and look Max Crosby's back. So again that's why I put I think that quarterback play here, the bottom two teams don't have it. I think the Raiders will and I don't think they're going to be markedly better than the other two teams. I think they'll be one win better than. That's my thought. Dbro, you have different thoughts.

[Derrick Brown]

I love that Fermento Mendoza in shorts against air is really just blowing your socks off.

[Andrew Erickson]

Love that, love that.

[Derrick Brown]

I love that gosh darn G wiz.

[Joey P. Zepia]

He sure does look good I'm sure

[Derrick Brown]

in the versus air practices.

[Joey P. Zepia]

I love it Joey, but I'm just saying looks like he's ready to go to me.

[Derrick Brown]

I mean I'm with you in the sense that like so this is my 15th, 15th ranked team. Like for me it's, it's a lot of moving parts.

[Joey P. Zepia]

It's.

[Derrick Brown]

Hopefully they're better. They added a lot of players in the off season. I think the defense will probably be a lot more improved than maybe the offense because outside of Gentium Bowers, what do we have at wide receiver like Jalen Naylor? Like so I have them as coaches.

[Joey P. Zepia]

I think Clint Kubiak is a really exciting young offensive mind here. Erickson, I don't know if you think I'm just makes a difference here, but I think this is a good scenario for Mendoza to come into. I think the coach is riding high and I think it's about changing the culture there a little bit and I, I think they're going to be able to do that and they're going to play better football. What do you think Andrew?

[Andrew Erickson]

Well, you are putting Kubak in a situation where he's not just doing offense so he's into the head coaching role. So that's a projection. So I think that we're being obviously this is the low range of outcomes. No one will be surprised if week eight if Mendoza really is that guy. We see this team significantly ranked much higher in the power rankings. One thing I'm going to point out again, you guys kind of hit on most of the offensive points with I mean basically it's ride or die with Mendoza and Kubiak. Wide receivers need a little bit of help and right tackle still is an issue for them. They didn't address that in the draft, which was something that I thought was kind of a glaring hole that's still on their roster. I mean the tackles they have projected to start were horrible last year. So maybe they can improve.

[Derrick Brown]

You're not a fan of a DJ Glaze? Is that what you're telling me?

[Joey P. Zepia]

You're not.

[Derrick Brown]

You're not a DJ Glaze truther?

[Andrew Erickson]

Their two tackles ranked first and second

[Joey P. Zepia]

in sacks allowed last year, so it

[Andrew Erickson]

was not a good look for them. And Colton Miller got banged up. So if he gets hurt again, well, okay, now you're running into offensive line issues for a second straight season. Their defense last year, second healthiest defense in terms of adjusted games lost, which is an FTN statistic that I like to track. So I don't know if they're going to have as much defensive injury luck in 2026. So what does defense look like? Yes, they added some pieces. They're getting Max Crosby back. Looked like he was going to be traded. Quay Walker, Nakobe, Dean, Quiddy, pay. Okay, like those teams all got let by. Let go by their other teams because maybe they're not as much needle movers as the NFL have used them. So into your defensive line teams ran all over the Raiders last year. Where are these interior defensive line additions? Non existent. They didn't add anybody really. So I still see some issues with their defense which I could see. Even if the offense does, you know, become average, I could see this defense still being like, still pretty bad in 2026.

[Joey P. Zepia]

All right, let's move on to number 13 on the Joey P. Power rankings. And it's the Cleveland Browns, a team that has an all world player in Miles Garrett. They're good in the trenches, right? They, they are good defensive team, new head coach, unproven. And the quarterback situation, still a nightmare potentially. I think there's upside for Sanders where he could be adequate and because he's young, it really depends on what he's done this off season and what he's going to do in terms of melding with this new offensive regime that's come in here and seeing how much they like him. But we all know at some point the desean Watson stuff is going to come floating back up to the top like every single turd does every time. And every toilet. It always. That's right. Just won't flush, baby. And it's going to come back again. We're going to have to listen to this and we're going to have to hear it and we might even have to see it. And I can smell it already. I could tell you that much. And that's why the Cleveland Browns ultimately will be held back yet again. But I'm gonna put them at 13 because they do find a way to be competitive and they. And they are in that division too, where they show up for the. The one thing about the Browns is they always kind of show up for the most part in those individual games and play tough and sometimes they sneak some victories and every now and then too, some out of conference team will show up into Cleveland and the weather will be tough. You know, some west coast team or something like saying, you know, it's like, hey, look, Cleveland, Brown's upset today. We all know that's capable of happening. So I have the Browns here, Andrew Erickson. Agree, disagree. Move them up, move them down. Where do you have them?

[Andrew Erickson]

So I have them behind the jets because I think that Gino Smith can be better than Deshaun Watson and I think that.

[Joey P. Zepia]

And Shador. Can it be better than Shador too?

[Derrick Brown]

Just Shador, Shador, Shador, Shador.

[Andrew Erickson]

For me, it's, it makes so much sense. Why not play him? Imagine if your franchise quarterback was drafted in the sixth round and you don't have to pay him nearly as much as all these other quarterbacks. You surround him with talent, an improved offensive line. It makes so much sense. But they're. Now we got to go back to Sean Watson for XYZ reason. I, I just, I think that's really stupid and that's why these teams stay bad is they make stupid mistakes. So even if Andrew Barry does another great job of drafting, finding value in the draft, which I think it did again this year, it doesn't matter if they don't figure out the quarterback position and if they go back down to the Sean Watson route, that's bad for the offense overall. He's a sack taking machine. And, and I would say defensively, they lost Jim Schwartz, like they were not going to make him the head coach. And he was like, I'm out. Peace. So yes, Myles Garrett is a one man wrecking machine.

[Joey P. Zepia]

He is.

[Andrew Erickson]

Okay, well, what if he isn't as good as he was last year? Again, defensive player of the year. What if he doesn't break the sack record again? What about the interior defensive line? Again, defensive tackle? Another team that got run over by running backs when they had injuries. Defensive tackle, I think is still another big need for this Browns team and they didn't really address it that much in free agency and in the NFL draft. So those are my reasons why I think that the jets could be better than the Cleveland Browns.

[Joey P. Zepia]

All right, D bro, go ahead, give us your Cleveland Brown stick.

[Derrick Brown]

I'm actually with you, Joey. I've got him at 13, I've got him above the jets and I guys I hate to say this, so if they. I'm gonna give us a caveat here. Desean Watson can't start for any of this to happen. He is horrible. He has got awful. He's one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL.

[Joey P. Zepia]

He hasn't been good in years, plural.

[Derrick Brown]

I will celebrate the day when he retires and he is out of the spotlight and people have to talk about him anymore. I'm. I'm so sick of discussing freaking desean Watson. If Shadur Sanders starts this year, he will actually have weapons around him. He will actually hopefully have an offensive line.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Fannin looks great. Quinch on Judkins looks in promising running back. I mean there's a lot to like

[Derrick Brown]

here potentially with Cleveland, the Browns, if they start Shador Sanders the entire year and he can take a second year leap, this is the team in the AFC that I think could go shooting up the power rankings. Like I won't be surprised if they win nine, 10 games this year if everything comes together. This offense has been overhauled. This defense still has a lot of parts of pieces to be good this year. If, I mean if they can catch lightning in a bottle, this is the team that I think like at the end of the year we could be talking like we got four games left. Holy crap. They're really like in the conversation for a wild card spot. And I know that all sounds crazy,

[Joey P. Zepia]

but it doesn't sound insane. I don't. It sounds crazy, but it's not insane. Because if there is a path where Shador is I would say competent. Right. Doesn't turn the ball over. You run the football effectively. You have Miles Garrett re havoc and maybe just a little bit of like, hey, it's a fresh start here. You know, Stansky's gone, monkey comes in sometimes. You respond well to new voices. We're going to talk more about that and how teams respond to new voices. But we got one more team in the bottom five. But I do think this is a team too that's starting to turn its direction around. I like the head coach higher. I like the offensive coordinator higher. I like that the entire coaching staff is bald like me and Derrick Brown. We're going to be in coaching staff. That's right. Because at number 12 it's the Tennessee Titans who have a young franchise quarterback who is a hard working kid. They brought in Carnell Tate. They drafted him.

[Derrick Brown]

Right.

[Joey P. Zepia]

A guy I think can be a one on the outside. That was a big problem. They didn't have that last year. Calvin Ridley was terrible and Hurt you brought in Wanda Robinson this offseason to be a slot guy, right? You still got two, possibly three capable running backs here and they've got some talent on the defensive side with a head coach and Robert Sala who knows what to do with it. I like Robert Sala a lot as a head coach when he was the head coach of the Jets. Jokes aside about the jets, jets defense was very good. It was the Aaron Rodgers saga that kind of was the death knell to the growth and prosperity of the jets and it just all deteriorated around that. But I am cautiously optimistic about the Titans and I think that they could be one of these teams that's going to be a very rough out potentially still, you know, under.500 team most likely, but one that you don't want to play, especially if they start to believe in themselves a little bit. And I really like Robert Sala. D ro, talk to me about the Titans because I think you just said you have them at 12 as well.

[Derrick Brown]

I have met 12 as well and this is the other team. The two teams that jump out to me in the power rankings are the Tennessee Titans and the Cleveland Browns. That could go screaming up the board again. Another team that added a crap ton of players this offseason and as opposed to like previous Tennessee offseasons where we're like, well there's a whole lot of money being thrown around but what the hell are they doing? I can get on board with a crap ton of what they did, man. Like they still got Jeffrey Simmons in the middle. They added Jermaine Johnson. I mean Salah coax the best, best play out of him out of his entire career. Another year off the Achilles, John Franklin Myers. They added Cordell Flot and basically like half the Giants roster to this team. But not bad parts of the Giants roster. Like if their offensive line could be league average and Cam Ward can take a step this year with better offensive play calling and players around him again, another team like the Houston Texans being in the South. I don't think that they can win the south, but can they be the second best team in the South? Can they hop the Jaguars and the Colts? I, I, I absolutely could see it happening.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Not impossible. I, I look, I like Cam Ward. I, I think Cam Ward is, I have hope.

[Derrick Brown]

I'm not going to say I like

[Joey P. Zepia]

I have, I have hope because a little bit I think he is so serious, Andrew. I think he's a guy that really, you know, in all the draft process stuff last year, you know, we spent so much time watching these players, so much time listening to these players like Cam Ward really is like, hey, you know this is my job. This is. I want to be great at this. And that might help him. I think Excel past some of what might be some limitations, right? Hard work, you know, sometimes covers up some of the ineptitudes that you might have. What are your thoughts on the Titans this year? How far up or down do you have them? From my ranks?

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[Andrew Erickson]

you guys talked about this team, it doesn't sound like a bottom five AFC team to me. So I'm kind of curious why you guys have them ranked. I have them at 10 in the AFC because I agree with all the positives.

[Derrick Brown]

I'm willing to do that.

[Andrew Erickson]

I'm willing to push them up and to me like the only glaring projection is the offensive line. I Think it's kind of middle of the road. I think that they need to be better there. So that's the one thing holding me back from being like, oh, this team is like ready to be the 20, 25 New England Patriots. But I think that that's in the range of outcomes. Right? You just have like a legitimate head coach. Right. That's all you need when you're going from Callahan, who we talked about all off season. This guy's so bad. This guy had the worst record against the spread. That tells you everything you know about this team and this coach that he can't win games even when he's getting points. He doesn't cover the spread. And what were the Titans horrible in the first half of the year? Predictably, because Callahan was the coach. But you look at Cam Ward in the second half of the year, he

[Joey P. Zepia]

played pretty well, was not turning ball over. Things started to come up a little bit. They sure did.

[Andrew Erickson]

So I'm confident that with Brian Dabel, we've seen him take younger quarterbacks. Josh Allen, Daniel Jones create Jackson dart. Jackson dart. Jackson dart. They had Carnell, they added Carnell Tate, give him a wide receiver. Third added Wanda Robinson. He was throwing to like rookie fourth round picks last year. Calvin Ridley missed basically the entire season with injury. So. And despite all of that, he showcased in the second half of his rookie year. Hey, I'm Stella Baller. I was the number one overall pick for a reason. This reminds me a lot of the Trevor Lawrence, Urban Meyer year where it's like, dude, just throw this out. This is like straight up garbage that you can't use because of the incompetence of the head coach for the Tennessee Titans last year. Whereas Robert Sala, dude, this guy's going to squeeze everything out of this defense to get every. And they have upgraded personnel. That's why they go to the. They have eight new stars on defense because they're like, we're getting rid of everybody. Robert Sal is bringing all of his ex jets players and we're going to be good. We got ex jets players, you got ex Giants players. So you know, a, a smorgasbord of former New York players. But in Tennessee, in Nashville, I think they can thrive here. So that's why I have the Tennessee Titans as a top 10 AFC team. And I think you guys can move them up again. Move them up.

[Joey P. Zepia]

I love it. Like, again, I'm not going to move them up where they are.

[Derrick Brown]

No.

[Andrew Erickson]

So you rather have the Steelers, right? Yeah.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Much more on that to come in Just a moment. Before we get to that, we're giving away free stuff here on the Tailgate channel. Jamar Chase signed Bengals jersey. How about them apples? That's right. It's for free, courtesy of our [e-mail] so to win, subscribe to the Tailgate YouTube. Okay? Drop your comments below on this or any of our videos. And just like that, you can win a Jamar Chase Autograph jersey from pristineauction.com A great place to to get all your autographed memorabilia for sports. So go check it out today. That's a great giveaway right there. Jamar Chase 1. That's a big boy giveaway, so get in on that, boys and girls. All right, that brings us to number 11 on our list here. Pittsburgh Steelers. That's right. As I tease before the read, I, I do believe that we will eventually, unfortunately get Aaron Rodgers back if for some reason Aaron Rogers move him down

[Derrick Brown]

with Aaron Rodgers.

[Joey P. Zepia]

I'm kind of. I have them in a holding pattern because I think we're down to there's only one other destination where Derek Carr could come out of retirement for, and I think it's the Pittsburgh Steelers situation. And I think it would be a good move for the Saints to just take any draft pick they could get in this rebuild that they're doing because they're showing you they know what to do with these picks. And I like that about the Saints new regime here. And I think that, you know, just looking at the infrastructure that's there and McCarthy being a very professional head coach, this is a guy who's been around the block many times. I just don't see this team disintegrating. I just don't. Now, if Aaron Rodgers doesn't come back and they don't bring in some other quarterback and we end up with Will Howard or Aller or whatever's left here at the quarterback position for them, I might start to move them down. But right now, which I think Aaron Rodgers is in a negotiation, that, that's my opinion, the reason why we haven't heard anything is because I think you know what it's about. It's not about his peace of mind. It's not about his legacy. It's about Green. It's about the dollars. And that's what he's trying to figure out. How much is it worth for me to come back and play one more time for you, Mike McCarthy. And I really don't necessarily like you, but maybe I'll do it if the money's right. Andrew Erickson tell me where I'm telling lies.

[Andrew Erickson]

You're not telling lies. I do think that Aaron Rodgers isn't back because he doesn't want to do OTAs like that. That's part of it too.

[Joey P. Zepia]

More than he has to.

[Andrew Erickson]

Yeah. I'm not sure it's like about the money, although Jacoby Brissette holding out because he's going to be a starter and how much money he's supposed to be getting I think might be have some influence on Rogers as well. But look, that's why they put the, that tender on him because they're like, all right, we gotta start to like get the ball rolling here as we're like starting our off season activities. Who's our quarterback going to be? So I just. Aside from the quarterback thing and Mike McCarthy to your point, I think can get this team to win enough games. They'll probably end up winning 7, 8, 9 games basically no matter what. However, what will the loss of Mike Tomlin do to this defense? Mike McCarthy is not like this like defensive guru. Like he's known for quarterback development. So that's why they're kind of encouraged and why they're taking shots at some of these younger players like a Will Howard, like a Drew Aller who I either. I mean if those guys are starting games, the Steelers are going to lose more games. I, I'm not confident either of those guys delivering.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Patrick Graham has been a DC before with the Raiders back in 2022, 2025, so that's fair.

[Andrew Erickson]

But I feel like he's never had

[Joey P. Zepia]

a job as a DC before too.

[Andrew Erickson]

But Mike Tomlin, what did again, similar to Mike Vrabel and why he was so good against the spread as a coach, just he willed his way to win games that they had no business winning ever. Mostly on the defensive side of the ball. Because Mike Tomlin, since he lost Ben Roethlisberger basically never had a quarterback. And partly just because of that, wasn't necessarily.

[Joey P. Zepia]

There's a lot of people that think that Mike Tomlin inherited a great defense and inherited a quarterback and basically he was living off that as long as he could and he lived off it way longer than anybody thought that he would. There is that there is a group out there that really does believe that now I happen to think, well then

[Derrick Brown]

they're, then they're foolish. That's.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Yes. But to a certain extent there's some truth to it because he did it. It is so much harder in this league to take over a team that doesn't have a quarterback and that doesn't have infrastructure. He was able to do that. Mike McCarthy's job is tougher right now because he's taking over a team. That quarterback is question mark and the infrastructure right now has not. It's nowhere near what it was when Coward turned it over to to Mike Tomlin two decades ago. Dbro,

[Derrick Brown]

I. I put more respect on

[Joey P. Zepia]

Tomlin than I do too. I'm just any of the saying I said it. I'm saying there's people out there. So do you have anything to add on the Steelers, either of you? Andrew, were you done?

[Andrew Erickson]

I just want one last thing to say regarding their offense. Second healthiest offense last year. What was the product? Not good. So if they're going to dealing with

[Joey P. Zepia]

more injuries, they could be drinking that raw milk stuff. They could be doing the red light therapies. They could be doing all kinds of things.

[Andrew Erickson]

When you have like a 45 year old quarterback as your answer, I think that the injuries is definitely a real risk.

[Joey P. Zepia]

That is fair. That is fair.

[Derrick Brown]

Yeah.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Dbro, anything to add on the Steelers of the black and gold?

[Derrick Brown]

I think they could turn into a total dumpster fire.

[Joey P. Zepia]

I agree.

[Derrick Brown]

Injuries and this is the team for long term. This is the team that. That could have se shoes. This is the team in that could

[Joey P. Zepia]

be near the edit the te at the end of that because I. I don't know where you're going for a second but that's good. Well with your accent there,

[Derrick Brown]

go sit

[Joey P. Zepia]

with the Tomlin haters. Deserve it. All right, let's go to the next one here because this is going to be more fun. I feel like this is going to be controversial. At 10 I have the Jacksonville Jaguars. I think, I think last year, not against the was the dead coach bounce. You bring in a new voice and a new thing and everyone's like cool. We're just going ahead and Trevor Lawrence is playing good football and you know, defense is playing much better and we've had some guys show up there. Travis Hn had a fantastic season, but he's gone now. It's him and that worries me. And the draft that they just came away with worries me and I feel like the division around them is also. It could have been a lot tighter too. We also saw the Colts disintegrate when Daniel Jones got hurt too. Everybody forgets the Colts were the one seed 10 weeks into the season last year. Okay. And then they fell apart health wise and then everything else fell apart in that division for them. So I think the Jaguars are a team that could regress this year. And you know, they spent a lot of draft capital on Travis Hunter only to turn around and now it feels like he's going to be basically a defensive back. And like that's fine, that's cool. But I don't think you should have moved head on earth for a defensive back necessarily. Two way player. I get it, but it just seems like they're still trying to figure themselves out in their identity and I don't want to take away anything they had from last year. They won a lot of close games, they played good football, good on the Jags. I just feel like all of a sudden the rest of the AFC might be a little bit tougher, especially with some of the health coming back maybe for teams like the Bengals and teams like the Ravens and things like that. I think there might be just less chairs when the music stops. Dbro, what are your thoughts on the Jags?

[Derrick Brown]

I could see the downside case for them because I think James Gladstone is quickly building a resume as one of the worst GMs in all of football. Like I, I think eventually. And all the Jaguars fans are like they were in the comments of every video we put out about the NFL draft about like, oh yeah, 13 four man. What you got to say about that? I say the GM had nothing to do with that. That's all the head coach, that's all the offense coming together and your DC doing one hell of a job that has nothing to do that is not about Gladstone at all. So I think the further we get into this GM having more like his hands on this roster and the build of this team, I worry that like they could just plummet, but I don't think that's this year. I have them at nine above one other team, which I'm curious if we get to next, but do I see the downside case for Jacksonville? Absolutely. Like if they keep playing the middle and Travis Hunter is not truly a needle mover on either side of the ball and we keep like trying to do this whole like, he plays offense, he plays defense, it's so freaking cool. Except he's not a difference maker on either side. Like, that trade will continue to look worse and worse and worse. And when their blocking tight end is thrust into the lineup, when Britain Strange pulls his calf in week two and everybody's like, see, look at Nick Por, he's awesome. Look at him, he, he just blocks and he can't catch a lot of passes and okay, well it's a lot more on the rest of the offense. I I just, I don't have any faith in the gm man. Like, I, I, I like Liam Cohen. I like what he was able to do.

[Joey P. Zepia]

But the off season, like the, the

[Derrick Brown]

off season, I have them at nine.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Andrew. I've seen people have the Jaguars all the way up at 5 in the AFC.

[Andrew Erickson]

No, no, no.

[Joey P. Zepia]

I saw it yesterday when I was just looking around doing some of my research. I saw some people haven't had five. I think they're high. Based off what? A lot of good weed. A lot. Like, like, I'm not, I'm not again, I mean, just for the record, Andrew Erickson, your thoughts? The Jaguars and how high you might have them.

[Andrew Erickson]

So I also have them at 9, along with DBRO. So a little bit higher than you are, Joe. I think for me, if you have them ranked really high inside that top five, it's a matter of this team has a lot of continuity, especially on the offensive side of the football. So it's what we saw in the second half from Trevor Lawrence. Remember, Trevor Lawrence in fantasy football was basically the number two scoring quarterback besides only Josh Allen in the second half of the season when he really started to take those steps forward in Liam Cohen's offense. So I think that putting them inside the top five is a projection of. Okay, well, this is going to continue. The downside is, well, they didn't up the ante. They, they didn't try to add a ton of offensive playmakers for Trevor Lawrence. They're running back, basically. And when I did the team needs piece too with Jacksonville was like, this team is like basically just running back. What they did last year, obviously they drafted players and the, the draft. I agree as well. Leaves a lot to beat desire. Yep. I would say those are the defensive things that they didn't address. Losing Devin Lloyd, I thought they could have used another edge rusher as well because they weren't really that great in sacks despite having Josh Allen. The, the Georgia. What's his name? The guy in the middle, the pass rusher. His name is escaping me. Yeah, Trevon Walker. So they have those two players but still didn't generate a ton of sack production. So that's where I settled with them at nine. I know I disagree with you, Joe, and we'll get into this. I'm still taking them over the Colts because I just think that it's good process to bet against the quarterback coming off a torn Achilles. Yeah, I like them over the Indianapolis Colts as that AFC south team, but if you're taking shots going back to my Tennessee Titans, I think they're the best bang for your buck when you look at some of the conference winner odds again. Jacksonville right now is 15 to 1 to win the AFC. The Titans are 66 to 1.

[Joey P. Zepia]

I can't wait to hear what you say tomorrow about the guys coming back from Achilles when we talk about the 49ers on the next show. So stay tuned for that, everybody. I can't wait to hear Andrew's thoughts on that one. I can't wait to impact wise. All right, number nine on our list here. Or should I say our. My list. It's my list that I'm sharing.

[Andrew Erickson]

Oh, this. This is all your list?

[Joey P. Zepia]

Yeah. Cincinnati Bengals at 9. You still got Joe Burrow. Wow. Range of outcomes.

[Derrick Brown]

Wow.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Okay, okay.

[Derrick Brown]

Wow. Yeah.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Let's talk about it. Because the off season, they move their number one pick for Dexter Lawrence, which I get. I understand.

[Andrew Erickson]

Best defensive player on their team already.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Hold on.

[Derrick Brown]

I heard. Let him.

[Joey P. Zepia]

It is.

[Derrick Brown]

Let him make his case before we tear it down. Let him at least try to build the house before the wolves tear it down.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Go ahead.

[Derrick Brown]

Go ahead.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Every time I put a brick on you guys, just keep flicking. No, no, it's okay. It's okay, Joey.

[Derrick Brown]

This is.

[Joey P. Zepia]

I brought all these Legos. I want to play. It's a safe space. Go ahead, Joey. I feel like it is, but I'm gonna keep going anyway. Joe Burrow somehow always finds bad luck. I don't know what it is, and I can't quantify this with stats, but it's the same thing. Every year is like, I go in with hope for the Cincinnati Bengals. The defense lets me down. Joe Burrow's health lets me down. The offensive line lets me down. I do believe there's room for the Bengals to move way up here, but I think it's a little foolish when you still look at that secondary to think that, yes, Dexter Lawrence makes a big difference. And yes, I understand he wasn't the only addition there, too. Jonathan Allen was brought into Cassius Howell. Like, I get it. I just still think the secondary isn't great. And I still look at the rest of that division as challenging to them. Potentially, again, not great, but challenging. The Cleveland Browns beat the Bengals twice. It wouldn't shock me, you know that that's just the way the Bengals seem to play football. So I'm just going to put this out there right now. I do believe that there's upside. I love Joe Burrow more than most people. I'm on the council of Joe's. I'm One of the top three. But I'm telling you right now, every year the Bengals find a way to disappoint, and I'm tired of buying into it. And you look at the Vegas win total, it's not necessarily telling you that much of a different story. It's nine and a half. It's not like they're saying they're a 10 and a half win team or anything like that. And the Steelers are an 8 and a half win team according to Vegas. So they're basically saying they're one game better than Pittsburgh. And I kind of agree. That's kind of where they are right now. Go ahead. Tell me why I'm wrong. Go ahead. I'll let you guys race to the finish line. Go ahead. Who wants it first?

[Andrew Erickson]

Kick us off.

[Joey P. Zepia]

So Ericsson wants to wait in the weeds for me.

[Derrick Brown]

I'll just go ahead and toss the first haymaker. I have the Bengals at 3. I have the Bengals at 3a.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Why?

[Andrew Erickson]

Okay.

[Derrick Brown]

Their offense is locked and ready to go. Their offensive line was league average. Played really good down the back half of the season. Chase. Chase Brown was on fire. He's in a contract season. So poised to make some good money if he can have another really good strong season. Joe Burrow, if we, if we keep him healthy and upright. They're a Super bowl contender, like straight up if they get league average play from the defense. Because you have Joe Burrow and Joe, I. I get it like you're tired of getting hurt, but this is one of those times where it's like they added so much to the defensive side of the ball. We can get league average play here. Boy. Mafe, Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, 34 of their starting defensive line is going to be different and massively, massively improved. So pass rush can cover up a lot of the other sins in this defense. Am I going to tell you that I like the linebacker core? No.

[Joey P. Zepia]

But they're young. You like to get better.

[Andrew Erickson]

Yeah.

[Derrick Brown]

Brian Turner was one of the best man coverage corners.

[Andrew Erickson]

Yeah. You were throwing. You were throwing at DJ Turner last year, dude.

[Derrick Brown]

DJ Turner was a shutdown man coverage corner. I could go through the litany of guys he shut down in man coverage. And he also is ready to get paid. So I'm higher on this defense than you are. Like, I got them at three, man.

[Joey P. Zepia]

They're.

[Derrick Brown]

I think they're gonna have. If health complies, this defense is going to be much, much, much improved. And the offense can definitely hold its own. The Bengals are a Super bowl contender this year.

[Andrew Erickson]

Also I like a lot of.

[Joey P. Zepia]

I'm sorry, I just want to say, Debra, I heard a lot of ifs and buts and if it's and butts were candies and nuts, we'd all have a merry Christmas.

[Andrew Erickson]

But you got the Colts that ranked ahead of them. Their quarterback is hurt.

[Derrick Brown]

Yeah, yeah, exactly. You ran with a broken quarterback that

[Joey P. Zepia]

he was a quarterback all the way in week 12. Okay, that's a lot. That's a long.

[Andrew Erickson]

Joe Burrow came back from his injury.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Yes, he did.

[Andrew Erickson]

Joe Burrow came back when he didn't have to.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Go ahead. Tell me why the Bengals are going to be so great this year.

[Derrick Brown]

I want them to be. What do you have a ranked at Erickson.

[Andrew Erickson]

So I have not. I'm as high as Debro, but I think I need. I have them at seven. Okay. So I agree. The defense can be better again getting Dexter Lawrence that's already their best defensive player. I think DJ Turner was underrated as a quarterback last year. Brian Cook safety coming in and something to point out. Al golden as a defensive coordinator last year in the second half of the season the Bengals def. Started to play better. Like because they had so much youth, because they had so many young players getting so many reps. Yeah, the linebackers got eviscerated in coverage. But now they have more practice, they're more repetition. So entering year two, clearly the Bengals are showing okay. We didn't really address linebacker. We're going to roll back the guys we had last year. We're going to throw them into the fire and see how things kind of shake out. So if they can get improved linebacker play, fewer missed tackles. And the other thing too. Talk about the AFC North. Who's the one head coach that's coming back? Is that Taylor? Whether that's a good thing or bad thing, I don't know. But it's continuity between him and the quarterback. And when Joe Burrow has been healthy, they're a Super bowl contender like so.

[Joey P. Zepia]

So. All right.

[Andrew Erickson]

Well, I think. I think you're too low on the Bengals.

[Joey P. Zepia]

On the Bengals upside case, I want to say this. I want to be wrong about.

[Derrick Brown]

You can have them behind the Colts, Joe.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Well, I can. And let's talk about the next team at number eight. All right, hold on.

[Derrick Brown]

Put you with the Tomlin haters now.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Good Lord. Hold the phone. Hold the phone. I like the offensive line holding it. Jonathan Taylor. Jonathan Taylor dominates games. That's fine. You laugh all you want. Tyler Warren is a game wrecking kind of tight end. He's Got huge talent, but you don't have a quarterback. You know what? It's funny because all I heard about how Daniel Jones is crap. Daniel Jones is crap. And look, I'm not saying he's great, but I'm going to go back to when Daniel Jones was healthy with Shane Steichen. They were the number one seed in

[Derrick Brown]

the afc and before, he couldn't beat

[Joey P. Zepia]

the Bengals, couldn't beat the effing jets last year.

[Derrick Brown]

But they got hurt. The wheels were falling off. Joe.

[Joey P. Zepia]

But that's every NFL team. The wheels fell off of the Ravens when Lamar Jackson gets hurt, when Joe Burrow gets hurt, the wheels fall off of the Bengals when every team loses their quarterback. If your argument is no, he was

[Derrick Brown]

starting to play bad.

[Joey P. Zepia]

If your argument he wasn't playing bad, he was. Was playing as good as he was the first six weeks of the season, okay? I'm telling you right now, this notion that like every NFL team, when they lose their quarterback, go south. I like Shane Steichen as a head coach. I like the offensive line. I like Jonathan Taylor. I wish I had a little bit more in the wide receiver core, but because they have the big tight end, I can live with it. And I just feel like the Colts are a team that I. I do think this is very close. I split hairs between them and the Bengals, okay. But at the end of the day, I think that the Bengals didn't show me as much as the Colts showed me last year. If things are healthy, I could see the Bengals being all the way up at three where you have them. I just want to see what Candyland you live in, because I'd like to be there and I like to draw two cards and I'd like to prance around in this beautiful, wonderful place where everybody in the Bengals is always healthy and everything works out their way.

[Andrew Erickson]

So.

[Joey P. Zepia]

So just about why I'm wrong about

[Andrew Erickson]

the call question for you. So you'll take. So let's presume that we get 17 games, Daniel Jones, 17 games, Joe Burrow, they're both healthy. So you're taking Daniel Jones.

[Joey P. Zepia]

I take the Colts collectively, which.

[Andrew Erickson]

I mean, can we bet this?

[Derrick Brown]

Can we bet this? If both these quarterbacks are on the field, the Bengals will win more games than the Colts.

[Joey P. Zepia]

So you think an offensive line in Cincinnati's Bengal and the offensive line with Quentin Nelson on it.

[Derrick Brown]

I think Joe Burrow covers up the sins of the offensive line.

[Andrew Erickson]

I don't think the offensive line can't do that.

[Joey P. Zepia]

I don't know. I think Latu is A nice player. I think the sauce garden, if sauce gardener is motivated, you know, to get back to where he used to first

[Derrick Brown]

round picks, you better hope he is.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Well, I'm just saying, man. Like I, I think, I think the culture selling short a little bit and I like Shane and it's funny because I remember a time where you used to like Shane Steichen and I feel like you. We used to agree on this and now all of a sudden you don't like him anymore.

[Derrick Brown]

I do like Shane Stocking.

[Joey P. Zepia]

I don't like Gardner effing Minshu, bro. He got Gardner Minu and he can't

[Andrew Erickson]

get there with Daniels win games last year with Joe Flacco.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Not against the jets.

[Andrew Erickson]

Still one game.

[Derrick Brown]

Did I.

[Joey P. Zepia]

The Bengals were.

[Derrick Brown]

Did I ever say I didn't like Shane Stichting? No, I don't. I like Shane Stichting. I don't like Daniel Jones and we're not gonna get a healthy version of Daniel Jones this year.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Well, keep talking to me about the, the Colts here. Go ahead, Erickson. Go ahead, Erickson.

[Andrew Erickson]

I'm just concerned about what Daniel Jones looks like coming back from his Achilles injury. Yeah, he's younger, but where's his mobility at? We've seen quarterbacks come back from Achilles and not look great. Yes, those guys have been much older. But that's just my concern for me that the Col are so invested in Daniel Jones being exactly what it was last year. They paid him like he's going to be the exact guy that he was last year when their offense, to your point, was cooking. But this offense was on the pace of the 2007 Patriots. Right. So that was going to naturally regress anyway because you just can't keep up that kind of consistency from an offensive production standpoint. And then you're layering a guy coming back from an injury. So to me, it's like the perfect storm of, well, this team's not going to be as good offensively. And the defense, I don't know, like, I don't think that it's this moval needing moval needle moving unit where it's going to really dominate games. Are the Colts going to win games because of their defense? Like, I mean, maybe because of their

[Joey P. Zepia]

defense last year necessarily, the Colts stayed close and the Colts played good football. And the Colts are well coached and they executed and they, and they were able to manage a lot of victories. Now look like every team that has a winning record, sometimes things bounce your way. We saw with the Chiefs a couple years ago where literally Every bounce went their way and every close game.

[Andrew Erickson]

Game. One question for you, Joe, before we get off the Bengals, Bengals, Colts thing, let's say Bengal. So week one, Bengals, Colts is the matchup. Who's favored?

[Joey P. Zepia]

Where is it?

[Andrew Erickson]

Neutral field. Let's just say for the sake of argument, it's a neutral field. Who's the favorite team?

[Joey P. Zepia]

I think the Bengals will be favorite, but I'll tell you why. Because they have the bigger name quarterback and he's the better.

[Andrew Erickson]

They have the better quarterback.

[Joey P. Zepia]

I don't think they've got the better coach. Football, you can have a lot of great talent if you don't have the coach, to you it's a lost cost. Just, just tell the Bills fans all those years of Marv Levy losing in the super bowl, okay, what it's like to have a great team. A team that has hall of Famers and stars everywhere. And then what happens? They run up against a lesser Giants team coached by Bill Parcells and then a lesser Redskins team coached by Mr. Gibbs. And then they have another. Well then the next time they get their doors blown off by Jimmy Johnson, also pretty good coach with some much better talent than them or. Or equal talent. Those Bills teams were littered with talent. That's how I learned the hard lesson as a child that you know what football is about coaching even more than it is about talent. If you can coach. I mean, look at the Indiana run in college football this year. How many five star recruits were there? They went undefeated. Why coaching? Coaching matters.

[Derrick Brown]

Giving Shane a lot of praise here.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Dude, I'm giving him more.

[Derrick Brown]

I'm not giving him a lot.

[Joey P. Zepia]

I'm giving him one rank more than the guy in Cincinnati. Let's move on because we got. No, no, hold on, hold on, hold on. Oh, you want more?

[Derrick Brown]

Let's talk about last year for the Colts. Since you're so high on Daniel Jones before he got hurt.

[Joey P. Zepia]

How am I doing? Jones at 8 you were talking about

[Derrick Brown]

the Colts were just blowing teams doors off with. Daniel Jones is healthy.

[Joey P. Zepia]

So they're never said those words. I said they were the number one seed in week 10 in the AFC. And that my friend, is just a fact.

[Derrick Brown]

And the four games that Daniel Jones was still on the field and healthy before he got lost to injury. They lost three of those four games. Daniel Jones had 342 through three picks versus the Steelers. Okay, fine. He had a good game versus the Falcons, everybody did. Versus the Chiefs, he only threw for 181 yards versus the the Houston Texans, 7.4 yards per attempt.

[Joey P. Zepia]

They.

[Derrick Brown]

They lost three of those four games. Their defense is not a needle mover. They have a quarterback that's got one good leg. He needs his mobility. He cannot go past his first read. And dear Lord, if Daniel Jones misses any damn time. We're talking about Anthony Richardson probably not on this roster, but if he is, Riley Leonard or Seth Hennigan making starts for this damn team.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Joe, like I said, your argument is if Daniel Jones gets hurt and everything that you

[Derrick Brown]

fully healthy. My argument stands because he's not fully healthy.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Dude, he got hurt in week 12.

[Derrick Brown]

And technically he's still hurt because he's not 100.

[Joey P. Zepia]

I understand that, but, like, we're still in freaking May. That's all right. This will be fun. Okay, now we're making the Bengals and

[Andrew Erickson]

Colts to play week one. This has to happen.

[Joey P. Zepia]

All right, let's go to number seven on the list because I can't keep defending the Colts. How. How did I spend this much of my life defending the Colts in a middle tier ranking? I don't know why. How dare you have them in this hill.

[Andrew Erickson]

What? Kind of.

[Joey P. Zepia]

So insulted that you put them in the middle of the pack. I want to. I want to slap your face with a glove and challenge you to be. Oh, my God, I have them in. Imagine if I had them higher than 8. They're literally in the middle of the pack. All right, let's move on. Number seven, Kansas City Chiefs. I don't love this, but it's. It's kind of like a placeholder. They're the middle of the pack. Kansas City Chiefs. We all know it's a great team in a weird retooling transition. There's a lot of new stuff going on there. Starting to shed some of the dead weight of the older guys. You still have Andy Reed. Eventually you get Mahomes back. I don't know what the ghost of Travis Kelce's got left in him, but we'll see. Here's the thing. I just think the Rushy Rice situation too. Like, I'm just waiting for the next bad thing to happen when that, you know, like what? We still got a couple months before the season starts and what other kind of stupid crap he can get himself into. I don't know if you guys have them higher or lower, but I can't move them past the middle of the pack because of Mahomes and Reed, so they're at seven for me. Do you guys agree or disagree?

[Derrick Brown]

I got him at 8, so, I mean, we're. We're right.

[Joey P. Zepia]

How Dare you in the middle of the pack.

[Derrick Brown]

So disrespectful to Justin Fields.

[Andrew Erickson]

I am so I have them so the same range. I have them six. But I could honestly see myself after our conversation about the Bengals about well, Mahomes is also injured so he's coming off a torn ACL injury. So I think that's kind of where you're going to see his the Chiefs kind of I would say too defensively. They added a bunch of pieces in the draft, Delane, Peter woods, ar, Mason Thomas. So I thought they fit some of their needs. Delane was a great defensively.

[Joey P. Zepia]

I love that pick.

[Andrew Erickson]

However, one thing to point about their defense last year was healthy's defense in the NFL last year. So if that regresses, maybe their defense isn't as good. Again, a lot of new pieces. We like Mansour Delaine, but is he going to be Trent McDuffie in year one? Probably not. It's a long term investment in a player versus the actual ready to go. I mean the Rams traded for a known commodity in Trent McDuffie because they're trying to win the Super bowl in 2026. The Chiefs still have long term aspirations and they realize acknowledge well maybe this isn't Mahomes best year coming off a catastrophic knee injury which I think makes a lot of sense.

[Joey P. Zepia]

The only argument I think you can make on the other side for which is again I think a very dangerous one is Patrick Mahomes is the underdog is a very dangerous thing. You and I know that because we've, we've met him as the underdog many times. Right. And, and in this stage in this year, he's kind of like the oh well you're cute, you know, you had your run, now go away. And I think that puts Patrick Mahomes in a very dangerous thing because people are dismissing him and he is an animal. And I think that is something you gotta just take into account and build into your understanding of Patrick Mahomes that whenever you tell him he can't do something or he's not gonna be able to. It's like that Brady thing of like they become super dangerous. It's like a wounded animal. Do not poke the bear. And I do see that as a narrative for him, as a motivator for him, which still keeps them dangerous enough that I had them at seven in my rankings. All right. That is the bottom 10 teams. We've got six left to go if

[Andrew Erickson]

you can believe it.

[Joey P. Zepia]

And I'm still alive. I'm still here. Also still here the sponsor of our show and that's Hard Rock Bet Florida Sportsbook. We talk a lot of football on the show, but the NBA playoffs are here and the lights are brighter, the pressure is higher in every possession can change a series at Hard Rock Bet. And of course, if you don't put your bets in on time, guess what? You can also live bet over at Hard Rock Bet. You could do same game parlays. They got profit boost. They got everything from the first bucket to the final buzzer. You can bet over at hard rock bet. And right now, if you bet 5 bucks, you get 150 in bonus bets if your first bed hits plus your winnings only Hard Rock bet Florida's legal sportsbook. And remember, it's available for you in Arizona, Ohio, New Jersey, Indiana, Tennessee, Virginia, Illinois, Colorado and Michigan. More states on the way. Download the Hard Rock Bet app and get the party started at Hard Rock Bet. Payable and bonus bets. Not a cash offer offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida and Florida offered by Seminole hard Rock Digital LLC in other states must be 21 plus in physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee or Virginia. Play terms and conditions apply. Concern about gambling in Florida, call 1833 play wise in Indiana, if you or someone you know has a gambling problem wants help, call 1-809-with-IT gambling problem call 1-800-GAMBLER in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia. Well, the party's been started here and I guarantee you no matter what happens in these next six ranks, we will still be friends afterwards. Number six, the Baltimore Ravens. Why Lamar Jackson is still an MVP contender And when you have an MVP caliber quarterback, especially coming off a down year, you have a chance. Derrick Henry still had 1500 rushing yards. Look, the Ravens last year, I take a huge li they were my pick to win the afc. I think a lot of people looked at it is like they've got so much continuity. They've got quarterback, they've got head coach. Everything that could go wrong for the Ravens went wrong last year. And I just think law of average is telling you there's a change coming. Also sometimes when you have that same voice over and over again, sometimes just a fresh start for everybody kind of refocuses a group, especially a veteran group like this. So it's definitely a downgrade from Harbaugh. But at the same time I think there's always sometimes you get a little bit of a bounce from just a new voice and maybe the players taking a little bit more accountability of their own selves and performance. I don't know where you guys have the Ravens, but I have them at 6. Erickson, what do you think about that?

[Andrew Erickson]

So you're actually lower than consensus on the Ravens. You look at the conference winner odds, they're tied for the lowest at 5 to 1. So although you have them at 6 and you kind of talked about this is a, you know, still a solid spot for them. New head coach coming in, especially on the defensive side. I think the Ravens had a lot of issues on their defense, mostly related to injuries. Third most injured defense last year. So I think Jesse Mitter coming in, the former Chargers defensive coordinator, he got a lot out of not like the most well known characters.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Great job last year.

[Andrew Erickson]

So I'm expecting a lot from this Ravens defense. I think that the draft getting Vega Ione where they did, they'll help spooce the interior offensive line. Now obviously the big concern and why I had them in my side, my top three, they still really don't have like a center. Like they lost Linderbaum and then they didn't get a center in the draft. So that's a big concern from them. They did draft Zion Young so they did get some edge rush help as well. Added a bunch of more, more playmakers for Lamar Jackson. So I think that there should still be in the top three when you have Lamar Jackson. They didn't get Max Crosby but they got the next best thing.

[Derrick Brown]

I think they're trying Hendricks back big here.

[Andrew Erickson]

So there's a lot of like I think about this based on the odds.

[Derrick Brown]

Really look at like they're kind of

[Andrew Erickson]

going right back to where they were last year where Ravens are the number one team on paper.

[Derrick Brown]

What does he have left here?

[Andrew Erickson]

But again quarterback play, especially quarterback, much better.

[Derrick Brown]

There is risk here, but I think Jesse mentor so I, I, I think this is a bounce back here for the Ravens.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Okay. All right, number five. I've got the Chargers. I don't like that they lost their defensive coordinator, but I love that they added the offensive coordinator of Mike McDaniel. He has a great offensive mind and Mike McDaniel has never had a quarterback close to the size and skills get skill set now I'm Ericsson Smorgasbord skill set of 1. Justin Herbert, Omarion Hampton I think could be a stud in this offense. Arande Gadson could be really intriguing. Like the tackles getting hurt last year really killed this team and Justin Herbert was a freaking warrior last year. So I don't want anybody to tell me about Justin Herbert. Being soft. That guy got the crappy out of him on a weekly basis and kept coming back for more and help will that team into the playoffs. The defense was very good. I think they'll still be consistent. So I've got the Chargers here. Do you have anything to say about that, boys, or are we good here with the five?

[Derrick Brown]

I have them at five. I have them at five.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Erickson, where do you have them?

[Andrew Erickson]

I have them at 4. I think that all the points about the offense are. I think that's going to carry this team, to be totally honest.

[Joey P. Zepia]

The Jim Harbaugh thing is like, well, they're always going to have a boring offense. They're always going to be good fundamentally. But boring on offense? Not anymore. And I think that makes them really scary. Like, the thing is, I always think, like, at the end, the Chargers are always going to charge her and find a way to undo themselves. But overall, I think they're going to be a menace. Especially with the Chiefs being a little bit weaker than they've been in years.

[Derrick Brown]

I do think with an offensive line

[Andrew Erickson]

might be a shootout team because. Because I think that losing mentor matters a lot because you just look up down the defensive personnel. It's not a bunch of household names in Los Angeles, at least in my opinion.

[Derrick Brown]

No, agreed.

[Andrew Erickson]

Do they give up points? Probably especially more than last year. But their offense could be top five, if not number one in scoring. They were the second most injured team in the AFC last year. This team was so gutted losing. But when you look at the splits with Justin Herbert, when he had his two tackles, healthy man, they were absolutely cooking. And that was with Greg Roman as the offensive coordinator. And now you get Mike McDaniel coming in, like, very excited about this offense.

[Derrick Brown]

The wild card is they do have Adam Gase on the staff here. So if there's anybody that's going to try to sink the ship, as long as.

[Andrew Erickson]

As long as Shane Waldred is far, far away from this offense. Should we go.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Did you see that thing about. Was it Le'Veon Bell talking about.

[Andrew Erickson]

Yeah, he hates Adam Gay so much.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Yeah. But you know what? If I walked into the coach's office and he was doing a line of co game when I was asking, I

[Derrick Brown]

think that was the case.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Would that do? We all knew that that was.

[Derrick Brown]

I saw the dude come out, like, to the presser, like, bro, we all knew already.

[Joey P. Zepia]

He has an eye condition. Yeah, sure.

[Andrew Erickson]

Yeah, yeah.

[Joey P. Zepia]

You know what the eye condition is? He sees cocaine, he snorts cocaine. That's the.

[Derrick Brown]

Yeah, he Rubs the cocaine in his

[Joey P. Zepia]

eyes are going to be controversial. So I'm going to preface them. Do them together.

[Andrew Erickson]

All right,

[Joey P. Zepia]

Relax. All right, so I have the Texans at four and I have the Patriots at three and I'm going to tell you why I have both of these where I have them.

[Andrew Erickson]

Okay.

[Joey P. Zepia]

C.J. stroud did not play great football last year. I'm under the assumption, the working assumption right now, that A.J. brown will be a patriot. And when A.J. brown is a patriot, you've got A.J. brown and Romeo Dobbs. You've got two very capable running backs there to give you a different look. I think that's important. I like that they went offensive tackle with Loma in the first round. I think that, you know, you go back and look at the defense last year, how good they were against the run. They did draft a pass rush or two which I think was very important. Christian Gonzalez is a great player. Like this is a good team, it's a well coached football team and they have a young quarterback that I think is very good. I think Drake May was hurt on top of which also just got killed against the top three defenses. That offensive line just did not hold. But he found a way to win and I respect that. Now if A.J. brown doesn't go there and he goes to the Rams, I will flip flop this because I think AJ Brown is that much of a difference maker for this Patriots team that did not have a real legitimate wide receiver in that room. They had a bunch of jags who would show up and play good football, but they didn't have a guy that could impact and wreck a game. I love the defense of the Texans. I'm a little worried about what's in between the ears here for C.J. stroud. I saw a deer in the headlights quarterback last year and again offensive line issues, I think they address some of it. I love the defense. It's all world. I think d' Amico Ryan's is an outstanding head coach. I think these are very close. But at the end of the day I will take the hopefully AJ Brown Patriots Mike Vrabel combination with Drake May over. What I saw was a quarterback that regressed a lot in C.J. stroud. I think C.J. stroud can get right. I'm not going to write him off like a lot of other people. But I'll tell you what, I've seen some of the off season conditioning of C.J. stroud and color me unimpressed. He looks like guy is not taking things seriously enough for me. That's My take on it, I'll step back and give you guys the floor because I know you disagree with me. Go ahead.

[Derrick Brown]

So I've got the Texans at 7. I'm more worried about CJ Stroud than you are. I think we can hold this team back.

[Joey P. Zepia]

But that defense, Debra, that's pretty loaded. Okay, okay, hold on, hold up.

[Derrick Brown]

Their defense played at a Seahawks level last year. If they regress at all, and I'm not saying that they're going to regress where they're 16th in defense, but if they become a top two defense in the NFL, they slide down to like their top five or top seven or something like that. That's where I feel like the defense has to carry everything for the Texans. And I don't think, well, it almost

[Joey P. Zepia]

carried everything to the Super Bowl.

[Derrick Brown]

I know that. But again, we talk about like CJ Stroud. I don't know if we ever see rookie season CJ Stroud. I think he got too much in his. In his own head and he got like. It was basically, I am king of the world. And ever since then, he doesn't put the work in.

[Joey P. Zepia]

I blame us.

[Derrick Brown]

Like, he's not kind of annoyed back

[Joey P. Zepia]

in that draft and we were right. But like, still, it's. It's. Do.

[Andrew Erickson]

Do you.

[Joey P. Zepia]

What do you make of the David Montgomery edition too, though? Does that take a little bit of pressure?

[Andrew Erickson]

Oh, that'll help.

[Joey P. Zepia]

I think that'll help. A crap.

[Derrick Brown]

They got to run.

[Andrew Erickson]

They got to run the football like they couldn't run football. I mean, when you have Woody Marks and I mean, Joe Mixon didn't play. I think Nick Montgomery has to hold up, though.

[Derrick Brown]

Like, he has to hold up at his age, he has to hold up. That is true. But I.

[Andrew Erickson]

So for me, I have Texans at 5, so I have them behind. I still prefer the Chargers. I think that it's really more about CJ Stroud than the defense. The defense is elite up and down the board. However, what do we know what tends to be more sticky year over year when it comes to NFL offenses and defenses? Offenses are more sticky than defenses. Defenses we know because they rely on turnovers and things like that. And schedule where some of the numbers aren't as easily replicated year over year? I mean, the Texans were winning games last year because their defense, the Texans offense was below average. It was the fifth most injured offense. So that's what concerns me. The Texan office has to be better. C.J. shroud has to be looking more like his rookie year form. If they're going to be a top five unit that they were last year in terms of their overall success. So I can see shroud, and that's kind of why we're a little bit all over the place with his ranking. And honestly, as I kind of just talk about this, I think we're probably move the Bengals above the the Texans because I'm more confident that the Bengals offense will be elite versus the Texans defense being elite year over year. So that's the argument I would make and something that I'll probably change after this. And then for the Patriots, look, I'm just. I want to be as Eric.

[Derrick Brown]

So what do you have ranked? Where do you have them?

[Andrew Erickson]

I have them eight. I have them six.

[Derrick Brown]

I have them six. Hold on, Joey.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Hold on, Joey. I mean, here's the thing. I don't know how you can have them that low based on the fact they're in the division with the Dolphins and the jets still. That I think that's 4W schedule is

[Derrick Brown]

going to be harder.

[Andrew Erickson]

Yeah.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Right there. And they probably split with the Bills. So that's five wins right there. And I agree. Okay, what if it's gonna be harder? That's something you factor in.

[Andrew Erickson]

But I'm not saying the roster is

[Joey P. Zepia]

going to be better too.

[Andrew Erickson]

But if they're number eight, I'm not saying they're not gonna make the play. I mean, they're in the playoff conversation. I. I would rather take the Bills over the Patriots. So I have the Bills ranked higher.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Patriots, obviously. Because we haven't talked about them yet.

[Andrew Erickson]

And then so, yeah, we talked about the schedule. They were also the healthiest team in the NFL last year.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Yes.

[Andrew Erickson]

Like, that's another big thing for the Patriots where every regression box I look for the Patriots are on of you have to fade this team in 2026. So naturally I want to make sure that I'm lower than them versus the consensus where you look at the conference odds, it's 9 to 1 for the Patriots to win the AFC. I don't want any part of that because I just seen the story play out before and you talk about the super bowl losers, super bowl hangover and then just right now the vibes 26 now 26. The vibes for the Patriots are awful. I haven't even talked about Mike Rabel yet. I absolutely hate this with this Mike Rabel situation. I think that it does matter because he's not this offensive defense or exchange, not defensive guru, but he is a leader of men, head coach, the CEO head coach and everything stems down from the CEO and the CEO is not 100% dialed in. Again, that is up to your discretion whether you think he's dialed in or not. The fact that he's taking time away to spend time with his family and not at the NFL draft, that to me is a conflict of, like, he's not as dialed in as he should be. So. And that reflects on the roster. So that concerns me about the Patriots in 2026. Even if they score more points offensively, they get A.J. brown. Yeah, these are great ways to mitigate that regression. But when push comes to shove, when they face adversity in the season, is Mike Vrabo going to be up for the task? That's what I'm concerned about. So that's why I have them at 8.

[Joey P. Zepia]

I think the whole thing about during the draft, I just want to say this was completely performative and nonsense that I'm going to go counseling during the weekend of the draft. It's all performative. It's all for show. And they. They could have done it the week before, they could have done it the week after. They tried to do it the weekend of to prove a point about how seriously we're taking all this. And you know what? Like, bad job by Mike Vrabel, bad job by Diana. Like, all everybody involved in this, the whole thing is just messy and it's gross. But I think at the end of the day, come August 1st, and maybe this is just the cynic in me, nobody's going to give a rat's ass, least of all any of the Patriots players. They're going to get back to business because this is professional football. All right? And I just don't think anyone's gonna care. I really don't. That's professional football.

[Derrick Brown]

But they're all still humans, too. So even though things might not be.

[Joey P. Zepia]

I don't know.

[Derrick Brown]

Even though things might not be.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Cheat on his wife, the first player to cheat on their girlfriend, though we're

[Derrick Brown]

not talking about the history of that. We're not talking about the history of that. We're talking about how this affects the man that is leading men in the Patriots building. And there's also. Albert Brer has been out there talking about. Mike Vrabel has not been the same guy since all of this stuff has gone down. If that does.

[Joey P. Zepia]

I know that you expect him to be.

[Derrick Brown]

Just because this falls out of the news cycle doesn't mean that things with him get better at home are things that away from cameras are that it's not still weighing on his psyche. Joe.

[Joey P. Zepia]

I'm not saying it's gonna help. I'm just saying I'm. I'm not gonna make it. The reason for the death knell of a Patriots team, the reason for the death of a Patriots team this year is, to Erickson's point, basically, all the other. Last year.

[Andrew Erickson]

All the other.

[Joey P. Zepia]

All the other reasons. I don't know.

[Derrick Brown]

We hadn't even talked about their offensive line yet. Like, we. Like, let's talk about that. If Morgan Moses takes a step back, this is not even a Will Campbell conversation. And Morgan Moses takes a step back, his father. Time waits for nobody. If Elijah Vera Tucker, because he's been hurt for most of his career, cannot stay healthy, you are losing two integral cogs of the starting line. And then you're saying, okay, now, we had thrust into having start Caleb Lomu. Could that be okay? Maybe it is, maybe it's not, because a lot of rookie offensive linemen do struggle. So then the offensive line is a problem. And then we get to everything else with the Patriots, plus coming off the super bowl loss. So, oh, look, they're not gonna go Super Bowl.

[Joey P. Zepia]

I think they're a playoff team still because they. Do you think the division's so soft?

[Derrick Brown]

Oh, I think they're a playoff team because they have. AFC east is so garbage. Pick up a bunch of cheap wins.

[Joey P. Zepia]

We're doing Power Rangers. You have to keep that in mind. Whereas the Texans play.

[Derrick Brown]

Yeah, but I can't put them at three.

[Joey P. Zepia]

No, but if we're going to laud the Titans, and I'm going to be the biggest fan of the Indianapolis Colts, apparently this year, I'm like, you know, I'm not going.

[Derrick Brown]

Oh, yeah, this is our coach.

[Joey P. Zepia]

This is our team.

[Andrew Erickson]

Are you going to put. You Going to put an AFC finalist banner in the background?

[Joey P. Zepia]

Yeah. And then, I mean, the Jaguars are in this division, too. Like, I look at the AFC south as a far more competitive division, and I just think, agree that matters when you're talking about the Texans, clearly you do, too, because you have the Texans lower than I do, which means there's only two spots left. Number two, the Buffalo Bills. They still got Jackson. He's still the mvp. They fired the head coach. And you know what? They stayed with the continuity from within. So it'll be really interesting to see what's different about them. But the biggest problem and the biggest obvious missing point was that when Stefan Diggs left, they never replaced him. And they tried to get cute, and eventually they realized, enough being cute. Let's Go get DJ Moore, a veteran wide receiver, and let's just stop being. Just stop. Just stop being nonsensical. I think the Bills have a legit shot this year to go to a Super Bowl. I really do. And then obviously, that leaves only one team left for me, which is the Denver Broncos. We could talk crap about Bo Nicks all you want, everybody. Bo Nick shows up in fourth quarters. He shows up in second half. He finds a way to win games. He's got a little bit of that. That weird kind of magic in him. He can make plays with his legs. The defense is so good, they added Jalen Waddle. They've got depth now at the running back position. Look, you can make a lot of arguments that if Bo Nix was healthy, they would be going to the super bowl last year, and that would have been a very interesting super bowl with those two defenses going back or they

[Derrick Brown]

were back in super bowl champion.

[Joey P. Zepia]

I will say this, though. Keep this in mind. No head coach has ever won a Super bowl, has ever gotten to a Super bowl with their second team. There's a one little caveat that Sean Payton has going against him. I think that's a really fascinating little tidbit of information. So no head coach has ever taken a team to the super bowl one and then gone somewhere else and done it again. So that's really interesting when you think about that. Not Bill Parcells, you know, not. Not Jimmy Johnson, not any of the, you know, Vince Lombardi, you know, after he left the Green Bay packers, he went to Washington. He didn't do it right. So it's just saying it's kind of an interesting stat there. So that's my number one, my number two. Broncos one, Bills two. I still put the Broncos ahead because they also have a big home field advantage, too, which I think you can't discount. So I don't know if anybody wants to argue for. Against this or has a different order of them. Erickson, what do you think about these two at the top for afc?

[Derrick Brown]

I have Bills one, Bill. I have Bills two and Broncos one for handholding.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Okay, wait, you have Bills one? I'm sorry.

[Derrick Brown]

No, no, no. I have. I have the Bills, too, and the Broncos like me.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Okay, so you're.

[Andrew Erickson]

This.

[Joey P. Zepia]

I'm just like, what do you have?

[Andrew Erickson]

Yep. So just like, this is what I originally had was Broncos 1 and the Bills, too. But I did actually have a change of heart as I was going through it, and I actually put the Bills number one in the Broncos number two. Part of this does. And so Let me lay out the again, top two teams, please.

[Derrick Brown]

I want to hear the case.

[Andrew Erickson]

So one of the things that I am kind of concerned about is this Bo Nick's ankle injury thing where it's like, oh, no, he had another surgery on. It's like, okay. And the whole, like, discourse with this injury has been really weird with Sean Payton, like, telling reporters that he has his ankle injury. Bonix is like, why are you telling people I have this ankle injury? Why are you telling people I have a history of ankle injury? So that is just one thing I want to kind of like, not totally forget about.

[Joey P. Zepia]

It's like doing bro. It's like, where.

[Andrew Erickson]

Where's Bo Nix's mobility? Where is it? It's because he had all these ankle injuries that are stepping back from high school.

[Joey P. Zepia]

You mean his mobility?

[Andrew Erickson]

That's his. His bobility. And the other thing, too is when it comes to these teams and how they've addressed the offseason, well, what do they both do? They will trade it for number one wide receivers. Right? Making moves as super bowl contenders. Hey, can DJ Moore put us over the top? Can Jaylen Waddle put us over the top? So I like the way that they mostly addressed the off season. They did the best that they could with in terms of their respective drafts. I do think that when you're looking at the offenses overall, who would I rather take? I'm taking Josh Allen and I don't care what his weapons are. Both offensive lines I think are excellent top 10 units. But it's Joe Brady as the head coach. We've seen him Cook in this offense with Josh Allen, with James Cook with a lot of depth at the wide receiver position. They don't have to feature one guy. And that's part of the reason why I think these teams have success is because they're not just featuring one guy. It's. We have a lot of depth. We can beat teams in a lot of different ways. We can run the football, we can throw the football. So. But still think I'm taking Josh Allen over Bo Nix. And I don't think that's really up for debate. So I think their offense is better.

[Derrick Brown]

That's fair.

[Andrew Erickson]

Now the question goes to defense, where last year.

[Derrick Brown]

That's a big question.

[Joey P. Zepia]

That's okay. The Broncos defense is so good that

[Derrick Brown]

that's so much better than the Bills defense.

[Andrew Erickson]

Okay.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Especially in the playoffs.

[Andrew Erickson]

Let me lay out the case, though, for Buffalo closing the gap on Denver. Please do. Added Bradley Chubb going to get a healthy Ed Oliver. Last year they had the fourth most injured defense. So part of the reason why things fell off a cliff last year was their defense. And what did they do? They changed out their head coach. Defensive guy. They hired the Broncos former defensive player. So. Or defensive coach to come in and call their defensive plays. What do they do in the draft? Joe Brady is the head coach. He's an offensive guy. You think, okay, he's going to really want to plant his flag on a bunch of offensive players in the draft. Nope. They just draft defensive players in the first three rounds. Edge rusher cornerback Maxwell Harrison, a first round pick last year, he barely played because he was injured. If those guys come back and are healthy, I think now you're looking at this Bill's defense as a strength of this unit maybe also. So could be. That's why I think they can close the gap. And then when it comes to Denver again losing some defensive coaches to the Buffalo Bills, I think that matters. And I think that when you look at what they did overall, they were the healthiest or, excuse me, third healthiest defense last year. So if they have less injury luck, you could see Buffalo closing the gap into. The defenses are like at least within the same range, the same tier. Well, offensively, Josh Allen and the Bills office is going to be better, in my opinion, than Denver Broncos or the Denver Broncos offense. So that's why for me, it's going to be Buffalo. They also play in a much weaker division as we've outlined with the AC East.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Look, I think you make an outstanding argument. All the arguments you make for Buffalo are outstanding. I just want to point that out there.

[Andrew Erickson]

Thank you.

[Joey P. Zepia]

They're very good. I agree with all the things you said and I can certainly see it bouncing that way. I will continue to have Denver ahead because I believe at the end of the day that that kind of defense that's so good is. Is the one that is. I mean, look, we already saw it on full display last time in the playoffs last year or this, this year, I should say in the playoffs. Right. Josh Allen went in there and despite all of that, he could not pull the rabbit out of his hat. Why? Because I think the coaching, which I think they still win, I, I think Brady's going to be a. An interesting head coach. We've been calling for it for a long time since him to get a shot as a head coach in the NFL, but it's unproven. So I'll go with Sean Payton and all of his experience along with that defense. To me, that's the breaker. Go ahead get the last word in, Debra, and then we'll call it a day here.

[Derrick Brown]

Yeah, I mean, I, I think the most interesting thing for the Bills, for me, that could push them to one, is what do we see out of their offense? How much did McDermott have an effect on what Joe Brady wanted to do with the offense? Like, them being so run heavy. Could they be more pass heavy? Could they be more explosive? Especially with, you know, it's all cute and great to talk about, oh, we don't have a true wide receiver 1 until you need a true wide receiver 1 when the chips are down and you need the guy that, like, look, I know he can get open. You need that. So adding DJ Moore, I'm very curious what the Bills look like on offense. I, I, I stick with the Broncos number one only because if, if we take the quarterback out of this, the, the completely, totally like Broncos, their depth chart, their entire roster is miles better than the Bills.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Like the totality team, with that agreement. Yeah.

[Derrick Brown]

And, and that's why I put them number one. But could Josh Allen and this offense, if it is better this year and more explosive and DJ Moore can be what they had previously with Stefan Diggs. Could they show out this year and the defense come together? Absolutely. Like, they could be number one when it's all said and done, but I can't put them above the Broncos, their whole roster.

[Joey P. Zepia]

Well, this is only half the story because we still have another show. We have the NFC power rankings coming up here at Tailgate. Subscribe to the channel. Drop your comments below. Who's the best team in the afc? That's all you got to do. And you could win yourself a Jamar Chase jersey for free just by doing those two things. And don't forget to like this video. Share it with your friends, too. Tell everybody why Tailgate. NFL is the best channel in the world, and us three are the best hosts in the whole wide world, which, you know. Pretty close.

[Derrick Brown]

Pretty close.

[Joey P. Zepia]

I think this was a great discussion. We, we screamed and yelled, we laughed, we cried, we held hands. And now we're walking away, still friends. So we'll see if the NFC show if we still are. That's the real trick. We got one more to go. That'll do it for us, but fortunately, parking lot's kicking us out. Tailgate's over, everybody. We'll see you next time, kids.

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