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- [00:00]
A
This is an iHeart podcast.
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B
NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin is a production of the NFL and iHeart podcast. Welcome in to a new episode of NFL Cover Zero, the NFL podcast featuring Matt Jones and Drew Franklin. You're used to hearing Matt Jones right now, but I am. Drew, filling in in the host seat is finally on his way home from South Africa. Our longtime listeners know that he spent the last few weeks over there on a safari and hanging out with people in his fellowship group that travels the world a couple times a year. We did a good job checking in with Matt from I think he was in a hut last week. We've talked to him in Cape Cod when he's been putting his life on the line to go out and get yogurt. But today he is actually on a flight on his way home, an all day travel day. So I am taking over the reins of this midweek edition for Week 5 of the NFL season. Going to preview the Week 5 games, talk a little bit about the biggest news of the week. But I won't be alone because Billy Rutledge, who usually here on this podcast in the third chair, he produces the show but occasionally pops in with stats. He's just sliding on over to chair two. And Billy, it's good to have you here as a co host as we get by with one episode without Matt before we return to our regular routine when he gets back.
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A
Yeah, I'm honored. Who needs a guest? Drew, just bring your producer in to in the second host chair. Wishing Matt a safe travels as he come back from South Africa. I'm hoping he has a bottle of wine for me and a Tate Ratledge jersey. But you know what? Beggars can't be choosers, Drew. So just hoping he can make it back safe and sound.
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B
And that hyena he's been carrying around in his luggage, we know that he won't have a phone. He's still been without that his entire trip. He told that story on this show a couple weeks ago how he lost it on a ferry going across, was it some. Some cape down there in South Africa on his way to see where Nelson Mand, he's made it without a phone so far down there. But Billy, now he has the travel day without the phone. And this is a whole nother animal. This is a different beast because I'm playing in my head a typical travel day for me. Just domestic United States, you know, direct flights and I mean I need my phone. Just I keep my boarding pass, you know, I'm Ubering to the airport, scrolling at the airport bar, checking Twitter. Matt is having to do an international all day travel, no phone. Can you even imagine?
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A
I can't. I mean, I can't imagine being in a foreign country without a phone, let alone an airport. One of the most boring places of all time if you're not having an airport beer. He's a guy that'll read a magazine at a Reds game, so I'm sure he'll be fine for the most part. But if you're like me, Drew, I put the boarding pass on there. I do everything on the phone, so it might be a little difficult to get around, but if anybody's going to do it, it's going to be Matt. But how great was him whispering in the tent? Not trying to wake people up in the bush in South Africa, trying to an NFL show. That was great.
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B
Last week I've been on, I call it glamping trip, where we say tent, but it's a nice tent. Mine wasn't South Africa, but it was out in the wild, miles and miles and miles from civilization. And that is just a level of quiet that we don't experience in our everyday life. And I'm sure that all the people around him were expecting that as they put their head to their pillows that night out there in the middle of Kruger National Park. And then right at around midnight, they probably heard welcome in NFL Cover 0 and Matt doing that show. So we were able to get it done. I'm surprised we got connected and put an episode out. But I know the people around him heard every word that he was saying. Well, half of our conversation, but his side of the whole podcast. Right.
- [03:50]
A
You might expect to hear some hyenas in the background, maybe some exotic birds chirping. But him talking about Jackson Dark in the New York Giants is probably not what they expected. The nine other women that are with him on his fellowship.
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B
So didn't his Reds make the playoffs in the middle of that too? So he probably screamed that a little bit out.
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A
Could be out of the playoffs before he even gets back. So a typical Reds fandom thing. But yeah, they did make the playoffs and haven't had too much success yet.
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B
Back to the traveling without a phone thing. It's just now hitting me. I forgot how long his flight is, but it's hours times hours. Time, hours. It's just an unfathomable amount of time. He said he splurged for first class, so hopefully they have a screen set up where he can watch all his favorite movies. But if not, I'm just thinking about that has. If it were me, I would have podcasts. I would have downloaded maybe some Netflix onto my phone. I have books on my phone, games. If he doesn't have movies. But does he just stare at the back of the seat for 14 hours?
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Whatever it is, it has to the flight path where you can see the airplane go over the water.
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B
Oh, you can only watch that for so long.
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A
He's got to be raw dogging that for at least 14, 15 hours. Do you talk to the people around you, Drew, or is that like you're at the gym? You don't wanna talk to anybody, you're locked in?
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B
Oh, Matt hates flying. He usually has noise canceling headphones on and he's got something going on. I'm sure that's out. Yeah, I guess you could read thethe pamphlet that teaches you how to get youryour mask down. And the flotation device. You could read that over and over. There's usually a menu you could probably memorize the nutrinution facts on, like the ginger ale and the free coffee. But other than that, that sounds like the worst day ever.
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A
Yeah, there's a lot of responsibility. If you're on the emergency exit, make sure you have a flotation device as well. He's gonna be going through all those checks if you don't. So he's just taking it back to, you know, a simpler time. Drew. Maybe he'll connect with the people around him and look out the window for 14 hours.
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B
Yeah, well, he'll be back on Sunday to recap all of the games. He'll be back stateside here. Here within the next 24 hours. I guess for our KSR listeners. He's back on Friday's show this week to the regular routine and then he'll be back, as I said, for our week five Sunday night recap. But today I guess it's just me and you, Billy. We'll go through the normal grind. It's pretty. We. We know ball. You know ball. Even though you don't talk as much as Matt and I do on this. I mean, chime in, you know, what's going on.
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A
Let's do this thing, man.
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B
Yeah, because of match travels, as you mentioned, we had the Hut show last week. We had to do a little earlier so you could get out of there. And we didn't even get to the two primetime week four games. Usually we wouldn't look backwards on this episode, but we got to talk about the Dallas Cowboys and the packers and The Micah reunion. I know it's a little old news, but the fact that it ended in a 40, 40 tie, a Sunday night primetime game, high scoring game that ends in a tie. What'd you think of Billy? And are you one of these people that like you hate soccer and it's just completely unacceptable to have a tie. They should just play it out until their legs fall off.
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A
I'm not somebody that hates soccer, but it does feel un American to end a game in a tie. You know, these overtime rule changes where each team gets a possession, you know, makes it a little bit more fair for each team until you get to the playoffs. And, and unfortunately this just ended in a 4040 tie. I feel like everybody was watch game all because of Micah Parsons who didn't do squat until the overtime period. So that actually worked out for him. But how about Jordan Love just laissez faire, not Karen throwing that ball in the end zone. 1 second left. Luckily they are able to kick a field goal and tie it. But I'm, I'm ready to banish ties. What about you, Drew?
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B
It's not fun ending in a tie. But you might notice today, Billy, you know, every day I wear Titans gear because I'm a Titan normally. Always wear my Titans gear. You know, this year we asked now and my we asked T shirt hasn't gotten here yet. So I'm wearing Cowboys gear today. My second favorite team because I don't. I can't support a loser anymore. I need a team that can at least tie. None of my teams can win. I haven't found a winner yet. You know, Ryder cup didn't win. Kentucky football can't win. Titans can't win. So I'm head to toe. My favorite team that can at least tie. I will say though, one of the players on this team that tied Pickens, George Pickens had a great game. He's a big reason they won two touchdowns, eight catches. Phenomenal. Filling in without CD Lamb. He is a pro athlete and after the game he admitted he did not know you could tie in an NFL game.
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A
George. Come on, George. Even if that happens, you can't admit that to the media afterwards. You just shut up and you don't say anything about it. Say that was a good game, but he didn't know the rule.
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B
Didn't know the rule. He was maybe an mvp. It could be in the MVP conversation of the entire game. Kept the Cowboys in it, as you said. Love and Dak. They were back and forth. I think a lot of that says about Their defenses. Our boy Carrington Valentine from Kentucky got torched by a play, but it was an entertaining game that ends in a tie and a star player there didn't even, didn't even know the rules before. We keep going with some news and things people have asked because I don't believe in people that like two teams. You don't like two teams. That's unacceptable.
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Yeah, you got to like one.
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But I. There are circumstances and as I am rocking my Cowboys gear right now. Explain yourself, but still love the Tennessee Titans. I would like to explain one quickly circumstance that I think is acceptable that I have lived out.
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A
Okay.
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B
I grew up a Cowboys fan. Got it from my father, my aunt. The whole family liked the Cowboys. If you want to talk about picking a front runner, talk to them. It was handed down to me. We all have grown up in families where you like the teams that your people before you like. Yeah. Cowboys fan. Growing up, my whole room was decked out in Cowboys gear. I had like this, this picture that says welcome to Texas Stadium. Drew Franklin, where it's like photoshopped on the, on the scoreboard. It looks like they really did it, the Cowboys. The metal trash can recliner, all Cowboys beds.
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You.
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If I could put that star on it, I had it. I had an 8 by 10 signed by Emmett, an 8 by 10 signed by Michael Irvin and one by Troy Aikman all in a row above my bed. Couldn't have been a bigger Cowboys fan, but I live an hour from Nashville a little bit more and out of the blue they say, hey, we're getting an NFL team. That point I'm still, you know, 13 years old, maybe even a little younger. Cowboys, they're starting to get in a little bit of trouble off the field. And that's a little kid. I'm like, they're doing what that. No, we can't do that. And then literally the Titans pop up in my backyard. So that is how I'm a die hard Titans fan. I adopted them the moment they weren't even the Titans yet. Didn't even have a stadium they're practicing at Vanderbilt. I said, hey, I got like the local team. But I can't undo my childhood. So Billy, that is why at least in the NFL, I'm a Titans fan, but still love the Cowboys and you might see me wearing both. Otherwise you can't just start picking teams and deciding who you're going to like. But that one I feel like is a little bit understood.
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A
Yeah, normally I'm a. You need to have one team and stick with them till the end. But I think that's acceptable. When they create a team out of thin air in your living area, you should have every right to root for that team.
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B
The local radio, the local CBS broadcast. I could go to games now.
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A
I'm sure you had a great time that first season.
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B
No. Well, the first. Yes. Early, early.
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A
That first season was a lot of fun. Right. But do you regret the decision to go from Cowboys?
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B
No, no. Die hard Titans, okay. Cowboys are much better. But I had to get that off my chest because people had no one's accusing me of being a front runner by wearing Titans and Cowboys. But you had to explain that because many people have asked, how did you become a Bucks fan, by the way, while we're on it?
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A
Well, everybody's got their story, right? Some people just that was the only game on back when there was only three channels. That's why they liked the Cowboys so much. I grew up in it. I'm originally from St. Petersburg, Florida. My dad had season tickets to go to the games. Some of my first memories were going to Bucks games, specifically in the 2002 season when they won the Super Bowl. I went to two games that year, both against the Saints and both losses. So they win the super bowl and I go to all the games that they lose. But made me a fan for life. Went through plenty of suffering after that, whether it be Josh Freeman or Jameis Winston, who I absolutely adore now. And then Tom Brady came and saved us and won us a Super Bowl. I moved from Tampa, Florida, St. Petersburg area to Kentucky, Oldham County, Kentucky, when I was a teenager. Talk about a culture shock. But I kept my fandom because Kentucky obviously doesn't have an NFL team. So I've hit all the bases. You know, you go to Cincinnati, you go to Nashville, you go to Indy to watch those games. But always been a Bucks fan and always will be.
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B
Well, we're going to talk a lot about your Bucks as we get on to the NFL new here news here, but there's a little intro on how Billy and I got to like our teams. And yeah, how about we get some news? Start with the big headlines from the week. I'll tie in the first one. Also looking back to Monday's primetime games, Bingles, Broncos blowout, whatever. But in the Dolphins game, Dolphins get a win. But in one of the biggest news pieces of the entire week, Tyree Kill out for the season. You know, Dolphins didn't have promising aspirations this season, but Tyree Kill your vertical, vertical threat. One of the speediest guys in the NFL. One of their biggest, if not their biggest playmaker dislocated his knee and tore multiple ligaments. Gruesome injury on prime time. And that's one of the talks of the league right now is him being out.
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A
Yeah, I had to take him to the hospital. Just hope he's okay. Wishing him the best, you know. Hate to see that from a guy that's so explosive. Probably never returns to the form that we saw him in Kansas City. But a lot of people made comments on him, like laughing and clapping as he was getting escorted off the field. I thought that was a little low brow. You know, you're kind of high at that point, right? I mean, you don't really know what's going on. Yeah. So, I mean, you got to think that guy is just doing everything he can to keep his moat motions and tack and get into the locker room. But I did like Tua's comment on it. I don't know if you saw this after the game. The Dolphins won a much needed win for Miami and Tua went on to say, all glory belongs to God for keeping us safe for the most part.
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B
Yeah, well, kept mostly safe, except your star player you should be throwing, who.
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Is going to absolutely hamper your ability to make the playoffs this year. You know, I already have a tough time watching to a play just because of all the head injuries, but to see Tyreek go down like that was tough.
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B
Yeah. And you know, he had had some frustrations before the injury of how things were going there in Miami and then to lose your season on an ACL like that. Yeah, there's clips of him grinning, but I doubt he was thrilled to blow out a knee.
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It's not like he just wanted to stop playing with the Dolphins. It was so bad. If people were making that opinion, I thought that was crazy.
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B
But also from the same weekend, another star NFL receiver Malik Neighbors torn ACL for the Giants. Another guy was a little bit of frustrated earlier in the season, but the Giants made the big QB change. Got a win. You'd think, you know, maybe Neighbors get some excitement back pairing up with Dart. Future looks bright. And then his torn acl just excruciating injury for him. Second year guy. And the Giants right when they find some swagger losing their star playmaker.
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Visibly frustrated with Russell Wilson for the first few weeks finally gets Jackson dart. You know, Billy, our sports is doing his victory lap for his touchdown early on in the game. And then it just comes crashing down with Malik Neighbors. You know, I love Everything about the Giants, actually. Scatterbo and Dart, it seems like they've got a young core and the fan base is getting behind him. But yeah, that was tough. I mean, that is your superstar and you've got a pretty good defense this year, too. We'll have to wait till next season to see more Neighbors.
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B
It's kind of eerie. But he's their best receiver since Odell Beckham. And listen, these comparisons. Oh yeah, Odell Beckham and Malik Neighbors both went to lsu.
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True.
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Both first round picks. Both were playing against the Chargers when they tore their ACL in MetLife on turf.
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I don't like that both were catching.
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A pass from an Ole Miss quarterback. I know that's getting deep.
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So is that Eli.
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Yeah, Eli Dart playing the Chargers.
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Okay.
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On the MetLife turf. First round pick from LSU and Odell Beckham came out and said like, we got to get rid of turf. Like this is, this is happening too much. And you know, I don't know if they'll get rid of turf, but here we are. We're going over the headlines of the week and it's. I didn't just decide to talk about injuries. Two of the stars, the NFL and more that we'll get to, but these two, especially two huge leg injuries early in the season that are costing those teams.
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A
Yeah, that's tough. And while we're talking about turf, the turf held up in the international game in Dublin and I think a lot of eyeballs were on that. But even like MetLife, these stadiums are going to be a little different than playing on that natural grass. And so that's a tough injury for the Giants. No doubt.
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B
We won't sit here and continue to do the NFL cover. Zero injury report and just oh, sucks for this guy. But there are a couple more that's huge news because another injury report that we don't have official news. But Lamar Jackson, oh yeah, you know, an MVP candidate or he was until one in three start, but he's dealing with a hamstring. They haven't officially said anything about their game coming up, but originally was two to three weeks. Now I saw today in Rap Report said it's more week to week but regardless, looks like there could be some, some Lamar Jackson downtime. Another huge name dealing with an injury right now.
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A
Yeah, and before that injury, he really seemed to be struggling with Kansas City in that matchup last week. So Derek Henry gets the fumbles. Lamar Jackson pulls a hamstring. The Ravens are suddenly one in three and this is a team that was Supposed to be a Super bowl favorite now kind of on the brink here. So do we know who the backup is? Is it Cooper Rush?
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B
Yeah.
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Do we know much about Cooper?
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B
Well I'm a Cowboys guy, secondary Cowboys guy. So I know some Cooper Rush. We'll get into what that means when we break down their game a little later when we go through the game but you know just big injury report this week. Another this one not an injury but a big QB change. That's a headline. We're finally going to get Dylan Gabriel in Cleveland. The Browns are switching from Flacco. Flacco is not hurt, he's just 40 years old. I recently turned 40 years old so I can just say everything hurts. Flacco is dealing with an everything. If he's like me when he walks up to steps he's like why is my right knee throbbing? Or maybe randomly your elbow will just start making a noise and stinging, who knows. But 40 year old Flacco is out. They're turning to the rookie Gabriel Browns with the one and three start. Billy, what do you think about them handing over the keys to the young rookie?
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A
Well, I've kind of come to love Joe Flacco. Not only because people say that he's an elite quarterback and probably not being an elite quarterback even though he won a Super bowl but just the whole thing with his kids being fans of other teams like the wore the opponents jersey. Yeah, they wear the opposing jerseys. Joe know about it all the time. Like, like I think one of them was a big St. Brown fan and they played the Lions last week and he's like oh yeah, he's going to score a lot on you. And he's like okay thanks. You're my, my blood, you're supposed to be supporting me. So I am a Joe guy but you know Dylan was a surprise in the draft. Right. You know Shedeur was rumored to go to Cleveland very early on. I mean many thought he'd be a first round pick. He did eventually go to Cleveland but the fact that they not only took him and Dylan Gabriel, you know it was. There's been a lot of question marks. Now Dylan has been in a couple games, he's thrown like three passes. He's looked okay but you know it's just, it continues the the Browns musical chairs of quarterbacks and Drew, I want to ask you a question. Do you think that Joe Flacco's age or the amount of quarterbacks the Browns have had since 1999 is greater? Which number is greater?
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B
Oh, I've seen The famous jersey where they keep adding the names and it's so long, like, it's. There's, like duct tape hanging that's not even attached to the jerseys anymore. Okay. So I just said Flacco's 40. I know that because we're the same age. I feel like the Browns jersey's got to be in the 40s, though. That things. They've been tracking that thing for 25 years. I'm going over 40.
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A
It's close. 41.
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B
All right. At it. 41. What a great line.
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See, I'll ring the Bell for you. 41 quarterbacks since 1999, and Dylan Gabriel will be 41.
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B
Can you name them all? That. That would be. That would be a chore. I could name the very impressive Kentucky's own Tim Couch Trend.
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A
Yeah, Johnny Menzel's in there.
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B
Some Johnny Menzel. Oh, you got Trent Dilfer, a little. Little Ken Dorsey, Brandon Whedon, Josh McCown. Josh Mc. Yeah. Derek Anderson. How about some Derek Anderson?
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A
Brandon Weedon.
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B
Yeah, there's some names. We do that all day.
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A
Zero reference.
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B
But, you know, Brown's making the change they needed needed to do it. They have a great defense, but averaging 14 points a game. They're like one of the worst offenses. Is similar to what we were saying about Jackson Dart and Russell Wilson a week ago. If nothing else, just gives you some swag and something to look forward to. Like, no one is looking at Joe Flacco saying, this is our future. So just go ahead and give it to the young guy and see what you have.
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A
Yeah. And I'm thinking about Brown spider and first lady. I'm. Hopefully they're on board with this. I wonder what they would think about people rooting for two different teams in the NFL. That's probably blasphemy to the people that get married in the parking lot of a tailgate.
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B
They would not like my reasoning, but I'm. I'm sticking with it.
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A
Yeah.
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B
The other big news from the week, we have a Super bowl halftime performer.
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A
Taylor Swift. Yes.
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B
I. Does not take Billy.
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A
What?
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B
That's the betting favorite. Taylor Swift. It was not her.
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A
What do you mean? Roger Goodell teased it.
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B
I know you know, Taylor, she's. She's got to keep her. Her rights to her stuff. You know, they had that whole, that's all above my pay grade, but, you know, Taylor's music's untouchable. She's. She's her own Super Bowl. But they have the next best thing.
- [21:03]
A
Oh, who do they get?
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B
Are you a Bad Bunny fan? Bad Bunny was announced the halftime show last weekend. I know that's been out, circulated, not breaking news here on NFL Cover Zero, but one thing we do is break down the news. And Billy, again, I'm 40. Little, little past my Bad Bunny era. So tell me all about Bad Bunny, because if he's the super bowl performer, somebody's driving around and just listen to Bad Bunny. I'm sure it's you.
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A
Somebody's going to be entertained by this super bowl halftime show. I don't know if it's going to be most people in the United States, but this is an international game. Roger Goodell said that he wants 16 international games in a season coming up. You're playing in Dublin and then in London. If you're the Minnesota Vikings, you just stayed over there. So I get what they're trying to do to welcome in a bigger audience. But, you know, he was good. And Happy Gilmore, too.
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B
And in wrestling, I think it was like the Royal Rumble. Oh, he was in the royal intro.
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A
Well, that's about all I know about Bad Bunny. And I think most people in this country is that it probably is about the knowledge that they have.
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B
Yeah, I know he's. He's a megastar. You know, Grammy nominations. I think he's won a few, mentioned the wrestling, Saturday Night Live. He does it all. But I've. I've just accepted. You know, I remember being young and, like, Nelly came out. My parents were like, who's Nelly? And I'm like, mom, dad, Country Grammar is the greatest song, you know? Listen, yo, you're the young kid and you're trying to teach your parents. I'm accepting that I am going to need someone at the super bowl party to tell me more about that Bunny. I support him getting the gig. I'm not one of these people. Like, it needs to be my crowd. But where's my favorite music? I get it. It's not for me. But I finally reached a point where the super bowl performer. I cannot name a song.
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A
Is it like the Ride or sad?
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B
It's a sad ending for me.
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A
It is a little sad. You're getting old. We all get old, Drew. But remember the Ryder cup that can't lay complaining that none of the players get paid or anything like that? They don't pay for the super bowl halftime show. You think Taylor Swift didn't get that? I guess. She doesn't need any money, though, does she?
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B
I think she has all the money.
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A
Yeah, she's fine.
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B
But I want to come up. I won't be the Guy eating nachos at halftime saying, get Bad Bunny off my tv. Where's. You know, whatever I like. I mean, it's. I'm very excited to see it, but I'm just having to accept that I'm no longer the demographic for something like the halftime super.
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A
No, I'm. I'm sure I'll be gyrating at some point and, you know, all our wives and girlfriends will sit down to watch it, too. They'd rather watch that than the rest of the game anyway.
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B
They call it Latin trap music. Music. I know. It's a lot of. It's Spanish speaking. Yeah, it'll get your hips going. I can't. I can't sing it all. One of the songs, I think, is called Mia maybe with Drake. So maybe I know. Ah, Bad Bunny.
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A
Look at you. You said you're the old guy at the party. It sounds like, you know, a Bad Bunny song. That's more than the average, I think, at this party.
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B
Don't put me in the retirement home yet, kids. I'm. I'm. I'm trying to hang in there and keep up. This one has just thrown me for a loop.
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A
But we're talking cameos on cameos, right? Like if. If the. The main performer isn't English speaking. We're going to get some good guests, I'm sure.
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B
Yeah, it'll be fun. We got a long time before the Super Bowl. That's. You know, Titans could get hot and.
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A
Okay, now we're getting into fantasy land here.
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B
Let's. Let's get into some actual football. That was a long intro for us. Had fun going over the headlines, even though a lot of them were injuries or. Did you have any other headlines before I just gloss over? You know, you bring a lot to the table. That's what I had. Any other exciting news bits? You were telling me something fun about block punts earlier.
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A
Yes, yes, that's what it was. I was trying to remember the headline I did want to bring up. You know, there's been a lot of blocked field goals and block punts in the NFL this year. I mean, my Buccaneers have had three straight games where they've gotten a kick blocked in that regard. And so CBS Sports did an investigation and asked some current coaches and players about special teams and what's going on. And I could not believe the answer to this. Drew. The. A special teams coach anonymously said that they don't have enough time in the day to practice blocking on field goals and punts because all of their emphasis is on the New kickoff. The new kickoff rules.
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B
Yeah.
- [24:55]
A
In a primetime game previously where they didn't hit the ball inside the 20. Apparently to the. According to these special teams coordinators, they are practicing so much on the kickoff that there's not enough time in the day to practice scoring plays or punts. Drew, do you. Can you believe that in the NFL there's not enough time to practice something?
- [25:13]
B
I get that they're having to put an emphasis on these kickoffs because you mentioned it just last Thursday night. Completely changes the game where you don't hit the. Don't get it inside the 20.
- [25:22]
A
Right.
- [25:22]
B
But I don't believe that you just. We couldn't possibly figure out how to block.
- [25:26]
A
Pun.
- [25:27]
B
Block. I mean, there's only so many hours of the day. How could we possibly focus on two things? I don't believe that whatsoever.
- [25:33]
A
That's. That's my thing. I mean, these guys are making millions of dollars to practice twice a day for five days a week, right? You got time to practice field goal blocking and punt blocking. Like, come on.
- [25:45]
B
And the technology we have now, like back in the day at practice, you're drawing stuff up in the dirt. You might be lucky enough to roll a TV out on a cart that's hooked up to a VCR where you can see a few plays. Now we got a camera angle for everything, a next gen stat for everything. You've got a staff member for everything with an iPad that can do more than our brains could ever comprehend. And you're telling me with all that technology, all those resources, all those people, all this money invested in your organization, you can't possibly figure out how to get a couple things into a practice?
- [26:21]
A
Not enough time in the day.
- [26:22]
B
That's insulting, Billy.
- [26:23]
A
There's only three phases to the game. We can only focus on two of them, Drew, because the third one's all messed up with new rules and new kickoffs.
- [26:30]
B
So our average listener right now, they're working a 40 hour job. They might have kids, they might have to get them to practice. They might have two jobs. They gotta cook dinner every night. And we all have busy, busy, busy lives. And we would all love to have. Have the problem of having to figure out a punt block or how to land it inside the 20. Being paid all this money with everything at our disposal. So get out of here with that. Excuse me. Worked.
- [26:52]
A
It's the kickers that are drinking the MJ juice recently. I mean, 65 yarder from the Bucks kicker last week. The Cowboys guy might hit a 70 yarder this year.
- [27:01]
B
Oh, he's amazing. Aubrey. Just a soccer player that was like, I'm bored. Can't really play soccer anymore. I'm getting a little old. Hard to, you know, get out of breath. Can't run for 90 minutes. I guess I'll just go be the best kick.
- [27:13]
A
It used to be a 50 yarder was like news, right? Like, all right, you really got into that one now. I mean, that is the minimum for these guys.
- [27:21]
B
Yeah, well, let's, let's get into our games. We'll start with do a top five games. The slate isn't awesome.
- [27:28]
A
It's kind of an ugly.
- [27:29]
B
We were very blessed for the first four weeks with some just monster matchups of playoff teams and we even had a Super bowl rematch to open the season. This week we're getting, you know, teams are separating. Not a, not any huge marquee games, but we can narrow down to five. We'll run through all of them. But I'll, I'll go kind of chronologically with what we think is exciting. We finally started to get some bye weeks. So Falcons, Bears, Packers, Steelers fans take a couple plays off, keep listening, but we don't have a lot to say about you all. Enjoy your rest. Let's get to our top games and we gotta do a little Thursday night a couple three and one divisional rivals here with 49ers heading to the Rams. Billy, Thursday night football Rams are a big time 6 1/2 point favorite. Rams almost lost last week to the Colts. They were lucky to pull that one off. But otherwise been a good year for the Rams. Had the, the ugly loss to the Eagles before that one. They should have won 49ers same record, but don't feel like they're nearly as dominant and they are just so banged up. But it's our, it's our first game. Billy. Thursday Night Football. Who you like?
- [28:46]
A
Yeah, the other day I think it. Ricky Pierasol couldn't enter the medical tent because Juwan Jennings was already in the medical tent. I mean this, this 49ers team is beat up and Brock Purdy comes back and he could be already out again. He's dealing with some toe issues. Mac Jones could be the guy that comes in. Really all I can think about is the defensive coordinator Sala and his comments with Liam Cohen from the last week. He talked about the sign, legal sign stealing and how Sean McVeigh's coaching tree is really good at legal sign stealing. Well, here we go. Now you play Sean McVay. Liam Cohen said, keep my name out of your Mouth as they met at half field. It was pretty dramatic between Sala and Liam Cohen last week. So that's all I'm thinking about, is how are the Rams going to legally steal the signs of the 49ers this week?
- [29:31]
B
Yeah, we didn't get into that much last week where Cohen and Salah had their big interaction, but I'll admit, knowing that and then picking up the schedule this week and seeing 49ers Rams, you know, I have an actual schedule, Billy. I lifted it up off the table. It's a printed schedule, okay? My brain immediately went, oh, this is like the worst opponent for this story to go. If Solomon wants us to disappear, he does not need McVeigh. Thursday night, prime time. I saw Shanahan was asked this week. I don't know what reporter has the nerve to ask this, but they can come hang out with us anytime. NFL covers zero. But they were like, what? Coaches can beat up Robert Salah? And Shanahan said, I can, but I'm the only one. Something along those lines. So we just got like, Shanahan saying he can beat up his own defensive coordinator, but it has added some juice to an already big divisional game out there in the NFC West.
- [30:21]
A
Well, you know, if you didn't want the story to go away. What Salah said after the game was puzzling, too. He said he was genuinely trying to give Liam Cohen a compliment. He said he regrets his word choice instead of using legal sign stealing in preparation of the game. He could have said film study, but I guess Liam took that personally, brushed him off at midfield. And that's when he said, keep my name out of your mouth. I guess that's a nod to Will Smith, you could say, without the slap. Yeah, but, yeah, a little dramatic. I kind of love the drama between coaches. Give me more of it. And let's bring that reporter on NFL cover zero.
- [30:54]
B
It sounds like I side with Cohen on this. If you say you're stealing signs, that's not really a compliment. I feel like he's trying to twist this to get out of a hole. I mean, you said what you said, man.
- [31:04]
A
Yeah.
- [31:04]
B
Also, Liam's been a little feisty down.
- [31:06]
A
There in Jacksonville, yelling at Trevor Lawrence.
- [31:09]
B
Every week he's yelling at somebody. Duvall, I thought you'd get down there and palm trees are around you, and it's like you're in retirement. But he's. He's worked up, but going after coaches and his own quarterback.
- [31:19]
A
Yeah. And to his credit, maybe we'll talk about this more when we talk About Jacksonville, they're in a good spot. I mean them and Indy are going to be fighting for that division. Certainly not the Titans.
- [31:26]
B
So yeah, any team that plays the Titans twice in one year, of course you're in a good spot.
- [31:30]
A
So who you like here, 49ers or Rams?
- [31:33]
B
Rams. It is the NFC. NFC west pre stacked through four weeks though. You got three, three and one teams and the Cardinals are two and two. I expect the Rams to win this though. 49ers are just so banged up and you know, Matt has his big case. He thinks they're going to be just not a good team but ends up having a good record at the end of the year. I think he's spot on with that and. But the Rams get him Thursday night. Puka Nakua has just been unreal phenomenal. 13 catches like 175 yards and a touchdown against the Colts last week. He's. He's leading the NFL just they signed Devonte Adams and you know you lose. Why am I drawing a blank on Cooper Cup? Cooper Cup. Yeah. And you wonder, you know, what will Pukinaku look like with things changing up like that. Just has become the top leading receiver in the NFL.
- [32:21]
A
I think that was his first touchdown last week too.
- [32:24]
B
But a lot of yards.
- [32:24]
A
Long flowing hair as well, I think helps.
- [32:26]
B
Jealous of that hair. Let's move on this game not that exciting from a matchup standpoint. Neither team has a winning record, but I love a good London game. So we'll go to 9:30 on Sunday where the Vikings back to back 9:30am morning games for Viking fans. They're playing in London. They got the Browns. What do you think about how the Vikings just said you will hang around?
- [32:50]
A
Well, I think that they're fine with it since they both count as road games for Minnesota. You know, you really get the short end of the stick when you go overseas and that counts as one of your home games. You've got to win every game in this league to give your best. You give yourself the best chance, Frank, in the playoffs. So I think they're fine with it. You know, we went through the logistics with Matt last week that was super interesting about the thousands of pounds of equipment that they had to ship over, the meals, the passports and things like that. That it's too bad that the international crowd has to watch Carson Wentz for two weeks in a row. But at the same time now they get the Cleveland Browns and Dylan Gabriel starting and can we get into Shadur a little bit and what he did today yeah, yeah.
- [33:29]
B
Of course we touched on Dylan Gabriel a little bit, but we didn't get into how they could have gone with Sanders.
- [33:35]
A
Yeah. And then he was asked about it in the locker room. Dylan Gabriel's the new starter. What do you think? And he was miming to reporters, moving his mouth, but not actually speaking. And on the heels of it coming out that he told the Ravens he didn't want to be behind Lamar Jackson, so don't draft me. And then what Rex Ryan went off about recently where Shador said that he was more than capable than several of the starters in the NFL currently. Drew, did you see the video? Because it's one of the more bizarre things I've seen from an NFL player.
- [34:06]
B
Yeah. And I was sympathetic for Shador when he fell so far on draft day. One of those people. I didn't think he should have been a top pick, but I didn't think he should fall that far either. I felt bad for him, and I thought he was very mature in how he handled it. Thought he seemed pretty mature in camp. I think we're starting to see some cracks. You're a pro. You're in the locker room with TV cameras in front of you asking you a question about the QB room, and you're just, like, pretty much trolling the people talking to you. You can't give a genuine professional answer. Like, I'm going to be ready. Right. If it's my turn. I wish I'd won the job, been side by side with Dylan and camp. You know, he wanted out. But I'm right here, ready to go if they call my number or if they need me. Plenty of stock answers. You can say this was pretty childish.
- [34:52]
A
Easiest thing in football, the canned answers to the media. You just get on the same page at the beginning of the year, and you can not have drama in the locker room. It's a pretty easy thing to do. But when losing, with losing comes people lashing out, people getting emotional, and Shadur Sanders pulling this stunt. You know, the better question is, why would you become a mime? Like, I, you know, these people, they don't ever talk, but, you know, they're dressed in makeup and, you know, like to try to make people's day. Drew, was that ever in the career path for you?
- [35:19]
B
No, I talk way too much. I am disappointed in his miming. He didn't do, like, the.
- [35:24]
A
The wall.
- [35:25]
B
The wall or the. Or the ladder or pull on the rope. If you're gonna go mime, commit to the bit. Maybe you don't have the Costume handy, but he could have added the hand motions. But, you know, he's a guy already facing criticism. He's trying to beat the immature, selfish allegations already. It's kind of like read the room a little bit. You're trying to help your reputation now, drive it farther into the ground.
- [35:46]
A
But if he started pulling the rope or like doing like the fishing line or something like that with reporters, like, I may ask him to leave, like right then and there. Like, you cannot be miming in the locker room. Che dure.
- [35:57]
B
But do you have faith in Dylan Gabriel's Jackson dart moment? It's very similar circumstance where you had the old veteran who was fine, he's doing all right, but he's not going to take you anywhere. So you hand it over to the rookie. Is there any chance that it's just a repeat of a week ago and a rookie gets a big win and it takes over and starts a new era?
- [36:16]
A
No. I'm a little worried about dg. I mean, not only the fact that he's a lefty, but Cedric Tillman just went on injured reserve. They can't figure out what they're doing at the tight end spot. I am worried against a pretty good Vikings defense. The that. What did they play? Cincinnati. And the cornerback broke a record for, you know, a pick six and a fumble recovery. Touchdown. All does it in the first half and sacks as well. So this could be a long day. You know, Minnesota's already adjusted. They've been waiting for Cleveland to come over. So I.
- [36:45]
B
They've already got accents, their teeth have already rotted. They're. They fully committed to the London beans and toast.
- [36:51]
A
I mean it's just part of their natural diet at this point.
- [36:54]
B
Hey, I like a good English breakfast. You got your beans, your toast, your sausage. I think there's like a little tomato, little eg lots of that. We talked about the logistics. What do they do, I think about when a game's over and all the recovery these guys need and the routines they're in. Are they just at like the Marriott lobby taking turns on whatever spas available or whatever gyms in there?
- [37:15]
A
That's a good question. How many cold tubs are available to the NFL players? These are big soccer stadiums, right. So you got to think that some of them have some pretty good interiors, but there's probably some that don't. Right. Like it's not everyone is going to be pristine. But for now I think they're still going. Of the mega stadiums that do have the cold plunge in the sauna and and believe me, I would need it after playing the Browns.
- [37:38]
B
Well, congrats to Vikings fans. I love the 9:30am Sunday game. You just wake up and it's just there. You know, I hate that I don't get to see Jane, Polly and CBS Sunday Morning at that point. But not having to wait for NFL just get out. Let's get started. I would love to have that at least once. Titans, I guess they did it a year or two ago, but congratulations to Vikings fans on getting it two weeks in a row.
- [38:00]
A
Well, Goodell says he wants a season with 16 international games in one year, so that could be on the horizon. But I do like it much more than the double Monday Night Football.
- [38:09]
B
I just, I don't love that either. You know, we're big Roger fans. We work for the company now. We get Rogers emails. You know, we're big Rog guys here at NFL Cover Zero. We fully support the international games. Mainly because I just want to get up right away and start betting on football without having to do chores and other Sunday things next game. How about a little Broncos Eagles? Okay. Eagles, of course, one of the best teams in the NFL. Depending who you ask, you might have them ranked one, I might have them ranked two. But they're undefeated hosting the Broncos who just destroyed the Bengals on Monday Night Football. We glossed over that a little bit, but I think that was said more about the Bengals than it did the Broncos. Regardless, huge win for them. Denver leads the NFL with 15 sacks this season and the Eagles are just absolutely loaded. Which is you think of Denver is. We kept wondering who's going to keep the Eagles from going undefeated. Your Bucks gave them a run for their money last week. Is there any chance Denver can be the team to knock off the defending champs?
- [39:06]
A
Yeah, absolutely. They've got a shot. I think Matt has been pretty negative about Bo Nicks and saying that's going to be a regression year for him. Denver ranks ninth in total offense this year. Meanwhile, the Eagles are 13th, so not too far away. But the Eagles are 31st in passing. I mean, Jalen Hurts had zero passing yards in the second half versus Tampa Bay. It feels like the Eagles forget how to play football for a quarter each game.
- [39:27]
B
They've had some wild finishes in their.
- [39:29]
A
Undefeated like the Rams game. I mean it's just a little confusing what Philadelphia does. They've also run the quarterback sneak 92 times since 2022.
- [39:39]
B
92. We can't do that. That's a lot. We can't do another tush push breakdown. I feel like every NFL show, every day of every week has a tush push conversation. I want to go back to you saying, they don't throw the ball. My guy, A.J. brown, my favorite receiver in the league, former Titan Arthur Juan Brown. I love him. He's unhappy, it seems.
- [39:58]
A
Yeah. What's he doing? Is he just being a diva receiver?
- [40:01]
B
I mean, he's got some diva tendencies. The best receivers are divas. It comes with the territory. But did you see his tweet after the game? I guess this is a Bible verse. I need to brush up on my Bible reading. But he tweeted, if you're not welcome and not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don't make a scene. Now he'll play that off as I'm just putting out a little scripture, doing my weekly Bible study. But doing that right after you had like, what, two catches, I think, last Sunday. Is there trouble with A.J. brown? Jalen hurts Eagles magic there?
- [40:34]
A
Yeah, probably. I mean, you know, last year was Saquon's year, right? And he kind of took a back seat and let saquon run for 2000 yards and let the Eagles win the Super Bowl. Now I think he kind of wants his a little. And now that he's not getting it, you're seeing tweets, you're seeing these cryptic things. The guy had nine targets, so it's not like he was just ignored the entire time. Only two catches, but nine targets. Drew, that's. That's a pretty good day for most receivers in the NFL. But, you know, it makes me think of Terrell Owens doing sit ups in the. In his driveway. Maybe just receivers just have a little bit of diva in them. It needs to come out every now and then. Jamar Chase is yelling at Zach Taylor on the sideline. You know, AJ Was reading books.
- [41:12]
B
Yeah, that was last year. He was reading the Inner X Excellence on the sideline. Been following AJ Very closely since he is rookie year in Nashville. I love him, but, you know, he has a tendency to do a little bit of this kind of stuff or.
- [41:27]
A
Traylon Burks and the expectations that came with replacing AJ but are you. Are you still rooting for AJ or is it like, kind of like watching an ex?
- [41:33]
B
I don't blame him. AJ Actually wanted to stay in Nashville. It's rare to get a superstar come through the Titans and like, be open about, I want to be here, I want to, I want to stay here. He went to Ole Miss, which is very close to Nashville. I believe he's from right outside Memphis, Northern Mississippi, that area. So it's like we've finally have a receiver which the Titans have never had. Always had good running backs. It's like we have a young receiver that we can call our own. He loves it here and then just shipped him away in that draft for nothing. But don't get me started on that. We ask. We all know that the Titans. We ask. Moving on. Let's get to your team.
- [42:09]
A
All right.
- [42:09]
B
Your Bucks. You want to do that one?
- [42:11]
A
Yeah, let's do it.
- [42:12]
B
Big game for your Bucks hosting the Seahawks. Couple three and one teams. Let's see your Bucks could be undefeated. Came tried to come back on the Eagles last week. That was a tough task. Baker Mayfield had an interception in the end zone. Down 8. Still a good showing for them. What do you think about having Seattle this week?
- [42:30]
A
Both of these teams are going to be wearing throwback uniforms.
- [42:33]
B
Oh, I didn't know that.
- [42:34]
A
This could be the best uniform matchup of the year. If we're talking about those throwbacks for Seattle and Tampa Bay.
- [42:41]
B
And it's in Seattle. I said Bucks hosting. I flipped that.
- [42:43]
A
Yeah, in Seattle. Four o' clock game. Kind of makes me think of the redemption arcs for Baker and Darnold, both in the same class. Baker goes one, Darnold goes three. In 2018, they go through multiple teams. I even saw a reporter ask Baker, do you reminisce of the good old days when you and Sam were at Carolina? And he goes, what'd you say? Good old days? No. No. Absolutely not. And so just for these guys to see this resurgence in their career, Sam with Minnesota last year and Baker obviously with Tampa, it's been a lot of fun. Also, two really good Ohio State receivers. I believe Jackson Smith in Jiba was Ohio State receiver. And then Emika Ubuka, who has been really good for Tampa. Both of those guys tearing it up right now. But Seattle sneaky good. You mentioned they're three and one. They've had time to prepare. They played on Thursday night against Arizona. I think I would die for Baker Mayfield at this point.
- [43:35]
B
Oh, it's that kind of love.
- [43:36]
A
It is. But I think this is a game that Seattle might come out the of.
- [43:40]
B
Yeah. You mentioned the receivers. Luke has been awesome for a rookie. And then Smith and Jigba. I think he's second in the NFL and receiving yards this year. Yeah, a couple of. Couple of young stars. Bucky Irving, I think his status is still up in the air. He's. That'd be a tough, tough loss.
- [43:56]
A
Not long term serious, but could miss some time. So that would be Rashad White getting the carries there. But this should be a good game between two good teams that I expect to make some noise in the NFC this year. I've always wanted to go watch a game in Seattle to too. The way that they've got that stadium shape to the makes it a little bit louder. I think that would be cool.
- [44:15]
B
I've seen the stadium empty like it was just when the just in Seattle. Walking by it even just seeing it from afar with no one in it looks awesome. But I would like to see the 12 man 12th man in person. You got me excited about these. These throwbacks. Oh yeah, these are two of the best. Maybe the best. I mentioned this because your Bucks were the Creamsicles just a couple weeks ago and I think Matt asked me like what's another classic? And my answer was the old Seahawks. I didn't like them at the time, but it's one of those as time goes on, you look back on it fondly, bring those back.
- [44:45]
A
Steve Large it or something like that back in the day, way back then. And the Creamsicles, you know, Tampa was so bad in them for so long and now that they've come back and you know, people just forget that they were owing 16 wearing those things back in the day. So it should be a great uniform matchup and a fun 4 o' clock watch.
- [45:00]
B
How excited are you about the Bucks? It's the Eagles and the Lions. Lions are your nfc, you know, favorites. Do you think you can maybe join that mix or maybe knock one of them off if you get to the playoffs, you're on a great pace to get to the playoffs in that division.
- [45:18]
A
Well, they've. What? Yeah.
- [45:19]
B
Do you think you can, you can knock down another door and join that NFC championship conversation?
- [45:23]
A
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, you get to the playoffs, anything can happen, right? And, and they're in such a bad division. They've won the division four years in a row and it looks like they're going to do it again. So they'll have their chance. You know, Tom Brady coming in, winning a Super bowl is great. Then he does one more year and then leaves and you think we're back to irrelevancy. And Baker's resurgence has been incredible. I think at this point I like Baker more than I ever did Tom Brady, which is saying a lot.
- [45:48]
B
They're.
- [45:48]
A
They're pretty beat up. Mike Evans got a hamstring injury. Tristan Worf just came back with Chris Godwin. This is not the healthiest Bucs team as they lost Kancy as Well, but, but absolutely there's nobody in the NFC that really scares me to the point where if Tampa were to play that game, they would have no shot. I mean to win the first three games on game winning drives in the final minute, that's unheard of.
- [46:10]
B
They've been fun.
- [46:12]
A
They have been incredible.
- [46:13]
B
I've been jealous of you.
- [46:14]
A
So if they can stay healthy, I think that they have absolutely as good a chance as anybody. And then it's just a matter of, you know, probably Buffalo in the super bowl, maybe Kansas City if they can draw.
- [46:25]
B
Already picking out who your AFC opponents.
- [46:27]
A
Yeah. I mean the attitude though, I'm already looking ahead. That's right.
- [46:30]
B
I mean you gave the Eagles a run. Oh, let's get our last marquee game in, then we'll do quick hitters on what's left. I say Marquis Chargers losing to the Giants last week brought them down a peg, but they're at the Commanders. Jaden Daniels expected to return to to for Washington this week. Another big matchup. I keep getting backwards on at it's the Chargers. I don't know what schedule I have here. Chargers are at home. What backwards in my notes. Sorry, I apologize. Commanders at LA. Commanders 2 and 2. Chargers 3 and 1. After losing to the Giants last week, what do you think it was that, was that, was that a fluke? Was that just some Jackson Dart magic that took out the Chargers who already have three huge wins on their resume?
- [47:14]
A
You know they lost their right tackle in the draft pick Joe Alt, I believe. And after losing Rashawn Slater at the beginning of the year, there's not another team in the NFL that doesn't have both of their tackles. So that's, that is definitely concerning. But as much as Justin Herbert is throwing the ball, I have to be encouraged. I they are the favorite I think to win that division over Kansas City. I mean even though they have the A1 game lead over Kansas City, I by the way that they've started, I think they'd be the favorite. They are clearly a team to be reckoned with in the, in the AFC and if they can get just a little bit healthier, you know Najee Harris goes down as well. I mean they're getting bit with a little bit of unluckiness here here. But yeah, I think that was a blip. That's a, that's a motivation game if I've ever seen one. Jackson Dart right Neighbors goes down mid game. Scatterbo's running like Mike Allstot back in the day for Tampa Bay. That was, that was just. There's parody in this league and sometimes the worst team is going to get the best of a different team. But I am fully on board with the Chargers and they deserve fans Drew.
- [48:15]
B
They do. I take the Chargers here. Even though Jaden Daniels is back. I don't know how much better the Commanders are going to be getting Jaden Daniels back because I got a shout out my man Marcus Mariota, not really a drop off. In the two games he had to fill in, they went 1 and 1 but their loss to the Falcons still scored nearly 30 points. He played well in both those games and I'm a Pro Football Focus guy. I get into the nerd stats. They said he was in the two games Marcus Mariota filled in. He was the highest rated PFF graded qp. Really it's good to get Daniels back, but how about gray haired Mariota trying to hold it together while he was.
- [48:53]
A
I'm happy for him. You know personally I was working in the city of Nashville when he got drafted. Got to work and meet him a couple times at training camp with the Titans name drop.
- [49:02]
B
Also earlier you called Dylan Gabriel dg. I mean what is all you? How many quarterbacks you know over there?
- [49:07]
A
I don't know Dylan, but I thought that was a natural jump there. I do know Marcus and despite him quitting on the Falcons last year and just going to Hawaii when he felt like it was okay to leave, I do root for him. And he looked pretty good.
- [49:18]
B
Good.
- [49:19]
A
It's just everywhere else for the Commanders at this point. Right. I mean Debo looks good but they can't get their running backs to stay healthy. Hell, Chris Rodriguez may be somebody that's playing for.
- [49:29]
B
He played a lot last week.
- [49:30]
A
Right. So you know McLaren's been in and out. Daniels might have a little bit of a regression year here after all the expectations that got put on him after beating Tampa Bay and the run that they made in the playoffs last year. But I think this is a Chargers one win.
- [49:45]
B
I'm going to join you and go with the Chargers. I still think they're. They're good and that was a fluke last week. Let's run quickly through the rest of the games. If you don't have anything to say, we'll just pass. We went really long on our intro. I'm not trying to do a two hour episode here. I guess I'll just go kind of chronologically. We got Raiders, Colts, Colts. Even though loose to la, you should have won that game. We talked about it last week on the show. You have an 80 yard touchdown that you fumble because the receiver cannot simply just hold on to the football for another split second. He fumbles out of the back of the end zone. Celebrating completely changes that game. On the other end, you got Raiders with three straight losses. Billy, you were telling me this. There's this Ashton Genti fact out there.
- [50:26]
A
Yeah, you wanted me to go quick on these games, I got to give you because Ashton Genty from Boise State was really good when he was in his Michael Myers stance in the backfield where he's just standing straight up.
- [50:37]
B
So he does, you know, normally you get low hands on your knees, but at Boise he would just stand stiff as a board. And you're telling me that there's actual results?
- [50:45]
A
Well, he came into the NFL and they said, you got to stop that.
- [50:48]
B
No one does that.
- [50:49]
A
Yeah, I mean, put your hands on your knees and act like an actual running back. But he actually went back to the Michael Myers stance. And the stat difference between stances is significant. In games without the Michael Myers stance, he averaged 17 touches a game, 49 yards a game and 0.3 touchdowns. But with the Michael Myers stance, Ashton Genti averages 23 touches a game, 155 yards and three touches.
- [51:16]
B
That's nuts. That's absolutely nuts. That should not matter.
- [51:19]
A
So is there any correlation to the man standing up in the backfield and it actually making a difference to the yards that they gain?
- [51:26]
B
I can't argue with the numbers. I mean the man, he's got a routine.
- [51:30]
A
I think they see him standing like that, Michael Myers in the backfield and probably think about it more when they should be thinking about something else.
- [51:36]
B
It's true. It's throwing them off or they're like, well, surely he's not going to run. He's not even set.
- [51:41]
A
He's not even a ready position. He ain't going to run towards me.
- [51:43]
B
That's going to be a random stat that's hard to top.
- [51:46]
A
I think we should keep keep eyes on that stat to see if it continues and if so, then this will just be a weird oddity of the season.
- [51:53]
B
It's October now. Can he wear the Michael Myers mask under his helmet? Just commit to the bit.
- [51:58]
A
Commit to the bit. He's got to be Michael Myers at his Halloween party this year. No doubt.
- [52:02]
B
I'm committing to the Cowboys bit. Cause we have the Jets. Oh boy, the winless jets. It's the 1, 2, 1, 2 and 1 cowboys. Telling you, I like a team that doesn't lose.
- [52:15]
A
Yeah.
- [52:15]
B
Oh boy. This one obviously was not one of our marquee games, but it is a game. Cowboys are interesting because Dak is having an MVP like season. He has answered all the questions people had about him. He is trying to prove that he's worth the big deal they gave him a couple of years ago. He's leading the NFL. The Cowboys are leading the NFL on offense, but the Cowboys defense is absolutely terrible. They've given up 30 points in three straight games. Dak can't do enough to hang on. We just saw the tie. It was a shootout. The Giants game a couple of weeks ago was a shootout. If. If you want to get your quarterback some confidence pad, some stats, play the Cowboys. It's. Dak has no help on the defensive side of the ball. Billy.
- [52:56]
A
Yeah, and it's really good if you're Attack Prescott, owner in fantasy. I know you guys said that. You aren't. I am a fantasy player. I have Dak, it's been great. But that defense, it's like the little Giants out there. Drew, it is unbelievable how easy it is to score against the Cowboys defense. Savannah Icebox, maybe.
- [53:13]
B
Icebox.
- [53:14]
A
I mean, we can spike.
- [53:16]
B
Don't play with girls. Annexation of Puerto Rico. Brothers, who's your favorite o' Shea brother? We are not speeding through. If you want to get me on Little Giants, that's a whole podcast in itself. It is one of, if not the best sports movie of all time.
- [53:30]
A
It's up there. There's no doubt. I mean, we've already got Happy Gilmore references. Little Giants. We could keep doing this for a living, Drew. But at the same time, I don't have much to say here. Justin Fields is a good fantasy option.
- [53:40]
B
But crazy run last week.
- [53:42]
A
Yeah, he did.
- [53:43]
B
Yeah, he's excited.
- [53:43]
A
Yeah. But hopefully CD comes back. Dallas is going to put some points on the board, but so is their opponent.
- [53:49]
B
Pickens now knows the rules of football.
- [53:51]
A
That's another thing. And then they always cut to Jerry in the owner's box watching every game with his scowl on his face. The guy can't be happy.
- [53:57]
B
I don't know the over under on this, but I'm saying take the over because the Cowboys can't stop anyone and they'll probably score a bunch of points. How about a little Dolphins? Panthers.
- [54:05]
A
Let's do it.
- [54:06]
B
Another. Another riveting game. A couple of one and three team teams. We mentioned Tyreek Hill out for the year. Dolphins dealing with that, Jaylen Waddle is going to have to step up and play well on the other end. You have The Panthers who two weeks ago won by 30 points in a shutout and then last week lost by about 30. So about a 60 point swing between weeks for the Panthers. How do you feel about the Dolphins and Panthers?
- [54:28]
A
Yeah, I really don't know what to think about Carolina and Bryce Young because they ended. Bryce ended the year last year so good. But this year, like you said, it's been bizarre. They lose 30 to 0 or they beat the Falcons 30 to 0 and then lose to the Patriots 42 to 13. I don't know if patience is running thin with Bryce in, in Carolina or what, but the only reason to watch.
- [54:52]
B
This game there is the Darren Waller story for Miami. Former tight end rapper leaves football to rap, going through things beyond football, decides to come back and on Monday Night Football just, just a couple touchdowns for Waller. Hey, just revolving that career. He's not the vertical threat of Hill obviously, but they are finding a weapon for two as they're losing one in this week.
- [55:14]
A
Yeah, and this is, you know, probably a big game for Mike McDaniels. I don't think the guy is able to. I know the owner said that they were going to have patience with him during this slide, but I mean you lose to the Panthers and that probably just escalates things even quicker at this point. So Miami I think had some high aspirations and now that Tyreek's gone and they've been a little bit of a shell of themselves that, you know, hopefully Jalen Waddle can step up. But I'm not too optimistic for the rest of the year. But they'll probably beat Carolina this week.
- [55:43]
B
Let's go to New Orleans where when you add the team's records together, there's one combined win last week. Jackson darts win. We have the 1 in 3 giants at the 04 saints. Got to give the Saints a little moral, moral victory credit though. Last week it was their biggest spread as an underdog since like 1975 and they gave the bill. I don't know if we'll call it a fight, but they hung in there with the Bills. They weren't out of it.
- [56:08]
A
They certainly played football.
- [56:11]
B
They certainly showed up with their pads on and were on the field.
- [56:14]
A
They sure did. Bills were my survivor pick last week, so I had to sweat that out a little bit as the Saints kept it close. I did enjoy going through the Owen 10 quarterbacks throughout NFL history as Spencer Rattler has become the newest name to that. But this is a lot of excitement for Jackson Dart obviously to continue what he's doing doing Scatter boo As we've already mentioned, you know, the Giants have a good defense, and let's see if it. If it transfers. You know, if you're Russell Wilson, though, I don't know what you do. If you're Russell Wilson, you just look for another team. Because it seems like people hate Russell Wilson.
- [56:46]
B
Yeah.
- [56:47]
A
I mean, Jackson darts got so much aura. Jameis Winston is beloved. And then Russell Wilson, you can make an argument as, like, one of the most hated players in the NFL. Would you agree with that for really.
- [56:56]
B
Not even doing anything? Like, he hasn't.
- [56:58]
A
Yeah, he just like, awkward commercial.
- [57:00]
B
He's a bad person. It's just that he's corny. He's guilty being corny. Jackson Dart was very nice about Russell Wilson, talking about how hard it was on Russell taking his job. You know, Jackson's got some of that young swag, you know, trying to be pretty cool, but he had very mature comments about taking Russell Wilson's job. My only takeaway from this game. You mentioned Cam Scatter. Boo. I love him. Everyone loves him. He is like the old Mike Allstot running type that you don't see anymore. But I'm very confused by one thing, Billy.
- [57:28]
A
What's that?
- [57:29]
B
We mentioned earlier, the Giants lost their star player because of the turf. Odell Beckham's like, get rid of the turf. Get rid of the turf. The Giants play on turf. Why after the game, is Cam Scatterbow covered in dirt, his uniforms, like, ripped up? Someone noted, like, that's like a gritty football player. However, we're playing on carpet. Is he faking it? How do you even do that? Does he just roll around in a trough before he runs out there to get that badass look? Because that is a great question. How is he so mangled after a game? Game, when they are playing on carpet, he's just.
- [58:07]
A
He's on the ground every single time he runs a play. I mean, there's no mud to roll. He could be like, the ball's on the other side of the field. They're throwing it to neighbors who's injuring his acl. And Scatter is doing, like, a dive onto a water slide onto the turf, just to get dirty, I guess. You know, there's like this. The black material on these. These turtles, fields, pellets.
- [58:26]
B
They're the worst. They get in your shoes.
- [58:28]
A
Yeah. So maybe that. That's it. But that is a look that I don't see a lot in the NFL when you're playing on turf because it looks like grass stains. The guy has got on right now. That's just how tough he is.
- [58:37]
B
He manages to get tackled and he comes up and he has just that, you know, the big pile of dirt that gets caught in the face mask in the grass and someone has to come pull it out for him. Yeah, he's doing that on turf. I don't understand. I don't know if he keeps a bucket of dirt on the sideline and he's rubbing it all over himself to make it look like he's working hard. We all know he's working hard, but how he plays, it's just amazing that he's getting so gritty and playing so hard that he has found a way to get dirty on their perfectly clean.
- [59:03]
A
Well, as long as you keep Jackson Darts jersey clean. That's the one that you need to keep clean. Scatterbo though, I mean you can expect that thing to be dirty and then I'm sure some people are going to want that jersey swap too. It may be dirty Drew, but he's fine. Let's. Let's get the Arizona State guys.
- [59:17]
B
He's a lot of fun.
- [59:18]
A
Yeah.
- [59:19]
B
A team that's supposed to be fun. The Baltimore Ravens. Wow. I mean, no one saw this happening. 1 and 3. Lamar questionable with a hamstring injury. Derek Henry fumbled three times in three games. They are hosting the Texans this week. I can't believe I'm saying this out loud. Houston also 1 in 3 is the betting favorite. Yeah, this is in the world. How did this happen in just four weeks that Bill's Ravens game when we sat here on week one. But I mean, I mean that what felt like we watched a Super Bowl. If you had told me the Ravens would be 1 and 3 on down the road, I wouldn't believe you.
- [59:59]
A
Yeah, Derek Henry had some fumbling issues. They had. Isaiah likely hasn't been on the field. Mark Andrews hasn't been himself ever since that drop. And even last year he was non existent. And now Lamar hurt. You turned to Cooper Rush, who I think you asked me to give you a bio blast. Let's hear about Cooper.
- [60:14]
B
Former Dallas Cowboy Cooper Rush.
- [60:16]
A
Yeah, well, I don't have much of a bioblast. That's where I was going there. He did play at Central Michigan from 2012 to 2016. Played my Alma mater, Western Kentucky in the Bahamas bowl in which they lost. That's your bio blast, I guess for Cooper Rush. But Cowboys, Giants, Cowboys and Ravens are the teams that he has played in the NFL. And the second team, all max selection in 2015, is now in charge of the Baltimore Ravens, which is hard to believe. Meanwhile, the Texas.
- [60:45]
B
What if I told you he's nine and five as a starter? It's not a bad record for a.
- [60:49]
A
Backup quarterback, especially if you've been in Dallas and New York. Two stops. Houston has their own problems. I mean, C.J. stroud was, you know, patent Caleb Williams on the back saying, you know, keep your head up, rookie, and you'll be there one day acting like a Hall of Famer and a couple of years later he's one in three and the only wins versus the Titans. So I mean, there's gotta be some urgency there for the Texans soon.
- [61:11]
B
Yeah. No. 1 grade the Texans positively by beating the Titans 26 to nothing. That says nothing about the Texans. I don't know if I've mentioned this, but we asked in Nashville. One interesting thing about the Ravens and we gotta get moving on. I saw the power rank rankings on Pro Football Focus. Okay, they dropped the Ravens. They updated every week. They dropped them 21 places from third to 24th.
- [61:33]
A
Wow, that is a. What a fall.
- [61:36]
B
Shows you how bad that defense is. I'm sure there's a little Cooper rush mixed in with that too. But just crazy spot for Baltimore. Also crazy spot for the Bengals. Injury related there without Joe Burrow till probably the whole season. But no one expected them to to these be this bad. They got a couple wins with Joe that you thought could get him a cushion, but since he's been out, they've done nothing. Jamar Chase has been absolutely MIA this season and they don't have a good draw this week. They are at home. But you're getting the Lions, who since losing their opening week game to Green Bay look like one of the best teams in football.
- [62:07]
A
This has to be a double digit spread. I mean, even with Detroit on the road, I gotta think ten and a half. Yeah, that sounds about right. I mean, I'm in. Ross St. Brown. Brown, probably the best receiver in the league this year. Not by passing yards, but I think he's got six touchdowns for Detroit.
- [62:21]
B
Six touchdowns in four games.
- [62:23]
A
So really impressive stuff. Gibbs has become the runner that they expected him to be. They, you know, they reached and drafted him so early and he's been so good. Cincinnati doesn't look like they practice, Drew. Like I feel bad for Jamar Chase out there or Jake Browning who has to survive with that offensive line in front of him. I don't think any corporate quarterback could do well with that offensive line in front of them.
- [62:44]
B
Did you see the clip where they're trying to block a three man rush. Yeah, they can't do it.
- [62:49]
A
It lives in my head.
- [62:50]
B
Four guys on one player. Oh, embarrassing.
- [62:53]
A
Yeah, Lines are going to smash them.
- [62:55]
B
Speaking of getting smashed, the Cardinals are lucky enough to draw the Titans this week.
- [63:00]
A
Here we go. I've been waiting for this.
- [63:01]
B
No, you're not going to get a rant for me. I'm dead inside. I couldn't even wear my Titans gear this week. I love you Titans. If any of you all with the Titans listen to this. I want to be a good voice for the franchise. I'm die hard. I will love the Titans blue until the day I die. But Cam. Cam Ward was right. Owen four going to Arizona. Arizona is a seven and a half point favorite. I have nothing to hang on to for the Titans. Cam Ward through a fun cross body throw again last week, but other than that, I got Brian Callahan telling reporters to shut up. There's stats out there there that show that will Levis much better through four games than Cam Ward. We're to where we're imploding, Billy. I keep saying we can't get lower and then we get lower immediately after that.
- [63:46]
A
And I appreciate his anger, honestly. You know, I get tired of canned answers a lot of times on 04 teams. Oh, well, we'll get back to work. You know, it'll come together. We'll keep doing what we're doing. No, I mean there should be some frustration. This is your livelihood and I think Cam brings that energy. That may be the one position you guys do have for figured out because the rest. Good luck finding another one. And Jeffrey Simmons ain't going to be on that team for much longer, I don't think.
- [64:10]
B
I love Big Jeff. We got, we got to ship him, get some pieces. He's like our one asset we have right now.
- [64:15]
A
But you're right, you know, fighting Paul Kaharski and the media, the, you know, the media scrum or you know, stats about Will Levis actually being just as fine, if not better than Cam Ward. It's. It just piles on, piles on. And now you get Arizona, who doesn't look like they're going to have a running back. I mean, I don't even know who they've got playing at running back at this point with all the injuries. Probably a game most people won't see. Many updates on the red zone forgery. You think that's fair?
- [64:39]
B
They certainly won't see when the Titans have the ball. I will watch every minute of this game. I subscribe to Sunday Ticket so that I Can live this misery every Sunday. I don't think we're going to win. I'm going with Arizona. Arizona has had two close losses to Seattle and San Francisco. You know, they could be a really good team. They're 2 and 2, but just narrowly lost a couple of NFC games last couple of weeks. They're going to get a W now, though. Congratulations.
- [65:06]
A
Tennessee Just keep holding on to that new stadium, Drew, and it'll just be like 1999 overall over again. No expectations.
- [65:13]
B
So I'm going through. I'm going through the pony show of the season tickets for the new stadium. I've already gotten the tour. I've had the meeting, but I'm not committing clearly. I mean, who would commit to that? But they do. They blow your phone up. I have them saved as Titans in my phone. I get all these missed calls from the Titans. I'm like, not right now. Titans. You figure out your own problems before you call me. But a few days ago they said sent an email and it literally says, it's not like directed to me specifically. It's clearly gone out to a lot of people. But it says, we miss you. You are not answering our emails and I want to reply, I miss you too. You aren't winning football games. Please go fix that and then talk to me about the new stadium.
- [65:51]
A
Well, that just happened this week. Somebody responded to one of those automated texts that the Titans send out complaining about firing Mike Vrabel and putting themselves in a rebuilding situation. Situation. They got a text back from the Titans that said, we are 75 sold out on the new stadium. We just converted all of our current members over. So our fan base is very happy.
- [66:11]
B
They're not. And the, the. The nice guy that calls me, I won't say his name. He's great. I've had several conversations with him. If you hear this, it's not you. It's not you at all. It's.
- [66:20]
A
It's me.
- [66:20]
B
It's us. It's.
- [66:21]
A
It's everyone.
- [66:36]
B
A few more games left. Bill's Patriots.
- [66:39]
A
Okay.
- [66:39]
B
Nice little match up here. Yeah, Pat's looking pretty good. My guy Varel up there got him rolling. Drake May might have figured things out. He's looking good. But it is. The Bills had their first turnover of the season last week. Week against the Saints. That's crazy in itself. Penalized 11 times against the Saints. I don't want to say they nearly lost because it was never really in doubt. But they didn't cover in the Saints played a little closer. Is there a chance that there's some cracks in the Bills and it could show up this week. Absolutely.
- [67:07]
A
After that Saints game. This is a primetime matchup. Sunday Night Football. I'm calling this a double revenge game.
- [67:14]
B
Billy Rutledge double revenge game.
- [67:17]
A
Double revenge game. Not only for the Bills, who the Patriots set into irrelevancy for two decades when Tom Brady and Bill Belichick were rolling, the Bills were just non existent for a while. But also Stefan Diggs who returns to play the Buffalo Bills. Congratulations to Cardi B And Stefan Diggs on the pregnancy and the future kid on the way. But Stefan finally started getting things going a little bit in the last game for New England. Like you said, Drake May is playing a little bit better. So I think Diggs is going to play well. But the Bills beat down New England and they cover the spring spread.
- [67:49]
B
Drake's got a little swag. He's doing like the Cam Newton Superman last week. A fun little stat. He's the first player in NFL history under the age of 24 to throw two touchdowns and complete 75% of his passes in three straight games.
- [68:03]
A
That's. That's pretty good. It's starting to come together. I did like Bill Simmons's nickname for Drake May. They gave it Drake maybe.
- [68:11]
B
Okay. I think. I think he may just be made. I think. I think he may be him.
- [68:15]
A
Well after last week, it may be that he is the right guy in New England. Yes.
- [68:20]
B
I would say the Bills win. But the spread seven and a half. I got. Pat's keeping it close. You got. You got variable leading. Leading the paths. What's the. I'm drawing a blank. Stevenson, the young running back. I keep betting.
- [68:33]
A
Andre.
- [68:34]
B
Yeah. I keep betting on him to get a. Anytime touchdown. He and Henderson both. I keep loading up. They're not. They haven't been hitting the one that's been there well. But I've lost a little bit on them. But that's mainly because Drake May has just been dialed in.
- [68:48]
A
Yeah. No. If you know that spreads probably around seven and a half or so, then I think I would pick New England to cover that. These division games are tough and prime time I think makes it even tougher at times to cover a spreads.
- [68:59]
B
And the Bills have to be guessed what they've done been through four weeks.
- [69:03]
A
Sure.
- [69:03]
B
Last game, Monday Night Football. Jaguars. Chiefs.
- [69:06]
A
Jaguars wires Jaguars out of fear.
- [69:11]
B
I'll say for you. Jaguars Myers vs Kansas City Chiefs got Xavier Worthy back and immediately turned into a great offense. Can we just say that Travis Kelsey running into him in Brazil at the Beginning of that game is the reason the Chiefs look bad. You gotta think the offense was based around him a lot this season because the moment he comes back, he completely. He helped him light up the Ravens last week. Huge win.
- [69:36]
A
Yeah.
- [69:37]
B
And you think that's, that's perfect.
- [69:39]
A
Yeah, it could be. Because I mean your two losses this year are against two pretty good playoff teams in the Chargers and Eagles. Right. And then you come back, you beat the Giants, you're able to beat the Ravens. You could put a beat down on the road in Jacksonville and it's like it. Nothing ever happened. Right. You. You're waiting for Rasheed Rice to come back and that's another weapon as well.
- [69:57]
B
Just a couple weeks away.
- [69:58]
A
Right. So, you know, Mahomes goes off throws for four touchdowns last week. I'm sure it's not all Xavier Worthy, but he is a big part of it and Kansas City is just going to of kind get back on track for that. But keep my name out of your mouth, Drew.
- [70:12]
B
All right.
- [70:13]
A
This is Liam Cohen in Jacksonville, ready to go.
- [70:16]
B
I had on a swivel near Liam Cohen because he's going after whoever gets in his way. Worthy had 83 yards receiving and 40 yards rushing. Just shows you how then that win last week shows you how dynamic and how useful he is. Different ways they can get him the ball. I'm not saying the Chiefs are back in the super bowl mix, but I think I might have been a little quick to question the kingdom the last few weeks. You mentioned how good the opponents have been and then they look good last week.
- [70:44]
A
Don't bend the knee to Mahomes.
- [70:46]
B
They're not getting back. They're not getting to the super bowl. But they, they have more life in them than I have been saying the last few weeks.
- [70:52]
A
Wasn't long ago Marcus Mariota was catching his own passes, beating the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs.
- [70:56]
B
Man, big show for Marcus Mariota. I remember that. I was watching that game in the iHeart studio because I heart studio. Yeah, I was doing some kind of UK post game show when that play happened. It's live on the radio talking about Kentucky. I remember that. Well, we don't. We can't do Survivor League this week with Matt being out. We can't get his picks. He's on a plane. He doesn't have a phone. I will just say I'm out. So you guys have fun. Billy, do you want to do one out of the kindness of your heart or do you want to put this on pause till next week? Everybody gets a Buy a second. Buy.
- [71:26]
A
Five weeks into the NFL season for us on the Survivor League, I picked the Bills last week. Matt picked the Lions. You picked the Chargers. So you are out. But I would like to do a touchdown parlay if we can still do that.
- [71:38]
B
No one loves touchdown parlays more than me. Tucker Craft. You're never allowed at my house. I never want to see you. Tucker Kraft. I got absolutely hosed on a touchdown parlay last week, Billy. I do. I do. Well, I do one. It's one player from every one o' clock game. Usually nine or 10 players. But when I do that, I understand that's an extreme long shot. I've come close a few times, but every time I bet it, it's not that serious. I always do one with four players that I. That I do.
- [72:06]
A
Take the money maker.
- [72:08]
B
Yeah, I mean, it's hit a couple times. You only need to hit a couple a year. Last week, Tucker Craft. I had three of the four. Tucker Kraft playing the Cowboys. Packers tight end. Just needed him. It was like $10 to win, like 900 or something crazy. Might be a little high, like 6 or 700. Tucker Craft gets stopped on the goal line. They measure, they decide. He was down at the one. I'm losing my mind. He's right there. One more inch. They punched him at the running back later in the game. Big play to Tucker Kraft. He gets tackled at the goal line. Review it again. Determined he was down at the 1 inch. So the touchdown parlays are hitting me at a moment where I'm not well.
- [72:48]
A
Yeah.
- [72:48]
B
This week I'm going to bring you in. Let's do a four man. My usual four man. But you do not. I do too.
- [72:55]
A
I like it. And you know, packers are on a buy, so you can just.
- [72:57]
B
He can't hurt me right now. He's out of the picture. That one stung like if you lose whatever. I lose every weekend. That's fine. Don't get down to the inch line twice on my last leg. That's all ass.
- [73:09]
A
That's like having Saquon and Jalen hurts doing tush pushes all night.
- [73:12]
B
So, Matt, usually we do the mad game. He's not here. He does like you do a tight end. I'll do a receiver. Running back. Still don't really know what we're doing with that, but whatever, it's fun. This one week, me and you were just picking two touchdown scores for our four leg. Yeah, I do like to do different games. So, like, you know, if I do different.
- [73:33]
A
Okay.
- [73:34]
B
Derek Henry. Don't pick another Raven or whoever whoever their plans.
- [73:37]
A
Yeah, that works.
- [73:38]
B
I'll just let you go first. Pick any receiver quarterback if you want to do Jackson dart again. That was your big money maker. I'm com. It's all in your hands. You get two picks first. Let me know your first one now.
- [73:48]
A
Yeah, definitely the high points point of the year for me. Jackson dart scoring last week. I am going to go to a 4 o' clock game. Commanders Chargers give me oh Marion Hampton to score a touchdown. You know with Najee Harris going down a couple weeks ago he had 12 carries for 128 yards and a touchdown against a good giants defensive front against the commanders who are the 24th ranked defense against the run I'm bringing next gen stats give me Omarion Hampton to be my first touchdown scorer. Drew, do you like it?
- [74:20]
B
You don't even know this but I mentioned I hit three out of four last week. One of them was.
- [74:24]
A
Oh come on.
- [74:24]
B
I think he might Even been the first to check the box in my 4legger. So of course I like your Hampton pick. He's already been good to me. Let's keep it riding. Keep, keep riding with him. I'm going to go with a player we named earlier. My big thing on anytime touchdowns is somebody that's really good. That's an address kind of like the team. You know, they're going to throw. They got their, their game plans, they got to run but occasionally it's like, hey, we got to get so and so engaged. Yeah, he's kind of been checked out a little bit. We need him dialed in and there's no one better right now than Arthur Juan Brown. We just said he's doing cryptic tweets over on the sideline. He's calling them Bible verses. But it sure reads like a guy who's not happy with his situation. Eagles are a Super bowl contender. They're defending champs. They can't reach their goal if A.J. brown isn't happy. So I think Mr. Scripture, Mr. Walk away when things aren't going well. Whatever it said, he's getting the ball a lot. They're going to, they're going to try to make him happy. A.J. brown finds the end zone well, definitely comes in spurts.
- [75:25]
A
Right. I mean he had that big second half versus the Rams where he had six catches for 109 yards and a touchdown and then barely does anything this past week. But I like the motivation here. The, the, the receiver diva got to get him involved. It's, it's these guys screaming on the Sideline. Let's make him happy. He's been making a lot of noise, so, yeah, I don't think they go away from him. They're going to need him this year if they don't trade him away. I think that's a. I'm with you, Drew.
- [75:50]
B
That's it. It stinks picking a receiver with the Eagles, though, because I'm going to watch him do five to push touchdowns and Barkley and Hertz are going to do all the scoring, but I'm going to roll the dice with getting Arthur Juan happy because he deserves to be happy, Billy.
- [76:03]
A
That is the risk.
- [76:04]
B
So we got. We got. We got Marianne Hampton with the. With the Chargers and A.J. brown with the Eagles. Let's do two more. Who do you have next?
- [76:11]
A
Going to keep it rolling with a receiver. A.J. brown was close to your heart. I'll. I'll give you one that's close to mine. How about Amika Abuka, the rookie who has just been sensational this year for the Tampa Bay buccaneers? Amika, through four games, has 18 catches for 282 yards and four touchdowns. Had a 77 yarder last week without Mike Evans. Chris Godwin has come back and has gotten a little bit more attention to allow Abuka to continue to do his thing. Thing. He is healthier than he was last week, so that means I think Tampa gets him back into the game plan even more. Give me a Mika Abuka, who I've wanted to pick for the last four weeks as my touchdown score. I've never really gotten it to work out with our game. I think the rookie's gonna have a big game.
- [76:55]
B
I love it. Love that pick. He has been awesome. Figured he'd be pretty good as a rookie coming out of Ohio State, but, you know.
- [77:02]
A
Yeah.
- [77:02]
B
Yeah, right away. What do you have, like two touchdowns against the Falcons in his first game. Had the big one last week against the Eagles. Love this pick. Love this pick. So we got a Hampton, Brown, Buka.
- [77:12]
A
I'm going to go with this one.
- [77:14]
B
So you've done running back, receiver, right? I've done receiver.
- [77:17]
A
You normally go against the Titans. Are you doing that this week?
- [77:22]
B
No, I did that last week with Nico Collins. It didn't work out. I'm going to go running back another player we just mentioned. I'm going to. I'm going to highlight our boy, Cam Scatter. Boo.
- [77:31]
A
Yes.
- [77:32]
B
Okay. Each week, the Giants are just giving him the rock. Just a little bit more. Just a little bit more. And he just keeps getting dirtier and dirtier. I Still don't know how he's getting that dirt on him but he's going to work and this week he's going to get in the end zone for us. I like Cam Scatter Boo. It looks like he's about plus 110. Okay. Wanted a little more juice there but it's still plus odds. I'm taking Cam as my fourth pick. So we got running back, running back, receiver, receiver, receiver.
- [77:59]
A
At 25 carries last week in the game versus the Chargers. Don't think he scored a touchdown because Dart had the one rushing one. But he's been really impressive. Fourth round pick out is Arizona State. We all saw how tough he was in the playoff but now that he's doing it with New York, I got to think that market loves him, is going to embrace continue to embrace him and let's ride. I mean that sounds like a good of a four parlay that I've ever heard.
- [78:22]
B
Yeah. It also fits my. My thing of like a guy that's been scoring that didn't score last week just kind of I want to get him back in the end zone. He had a little streak of scoring games. So. So that's it. I wish I could pull up the odds what it is overall but because some of these are night games like a Buka actually year two. I'm not blaming you but they don't have odds for Hampton or Mika.
- [78:43]
A
Yes, because they know they're sure sure bets. I mean why would they want people to scare because they're so sure.
- [78:48]
B
But I'm definitely betting it. The odds will certainly be long with a bunch of players with plus odds there. Anytime touchdown scored. It's the Drew and Billy four legger. AJ Brown, Amarian Hampton, Cam Scatter, Boo and Amika Buka. I don't see any way it doesn't hit you better if you want. We're not going to sit here and encourage it. You know, use DraftKings if you'd like. We prefer DraftKings. The Crown is yours. This won't be on there. This posted like the KSR parlay but just know that your friends Billy Andrew picked it and we're on it.
- [79:17]
A
And when Matt gets back that'll be our entire first 10 minutes of the show. Is talking about the parlay that hit for us Drew.
- [79:23]
B
If it hits when he gets back we have to tell him his little game of different, you know, running back, whatever that is. We're out until the the Drew Billy parlay. Because you had Jackson dart last week at like +360 for anytime touchdown. This will be crazy odds. Let's make it happen. But it was a fun, fun week filling in for Matt. We'll be excited to get him back. It's been a long three and a half weeks on the KSR Morning Show, NFL Cover 0. All the things he normally does. We've missed having him around, but we know he had fun on his South African show trip. Billy, did you have fun today taking on a larger role? You already do so much for this podcast. It's not like you, you, you're stepping into something brand new. But you did get to do a lot more talking today. Did you enjoy it?
- [80:02]
A
I'm very honored to be in the second chair here along with you, Drew. Normally I get told five minutes before the show starts. The the bit that I'm going to have to do on the show, I got to prepare a little bit and, and talk a little bit more. So I'm having a lot of fun with this show and I hope the listeners are too.
- [80:16]
B
Yeah. Thanks everyone for listening. This was the midweek edition before week five. Appreciate y' all letting us do kind of a makeshift show here with me hosting and Billy sliding over into chair two. As I said, Matt will be back on Sunday as we re recap all these games. Let's hit that four leg parlay. Let's keep everybody healthy so we're not doing a lengthy injury report. And I guess I'll say tighten up. I love you all. We'll get through this. Titans fans, tighten up.
- [80:41]
A
Say thanks for listening.
- [80:43]
B
Foreign with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin is a production of the NFL and iHeart Podcast. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.
- [81:01]
A
This is an I heart podcast.