NFL Cover Zero: NFL Parity, Vrabel revenge, and Mayfield MVP

Summary

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NFL Cover Zero: Parity, Revenge, and the Mayfield MVP Surge

Podcast: KSR, iHeartPodcasts and Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM)
Episode: NFL Cover Zero: NFL Parity, Vrabel revenge, and Mayfield MVP
Date: October 16, 2025
Hosts: Matt Jones & Drew Franklin

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Overview

This midweek episode of NFL Cover Zero dives into the increasingly unpredictable 2025 NFL season. Hosts Matt Jones and Drew Franklin discuss the sudden parity across the league, unexpected team success and flops, coaching drama in Tennessee, a wild locker room fight, Baker Mayfield’s bona fide MVP run, and memorable quotes and moments both on the field and off. If you’re searching for clarity in this bizarre NFL season, you won’t find it—but you’ll get smart, funny banter and unexpected insights.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Monday Night Football Recap – Chicago Bears’ Statement Win

• Chicago Bears defeat Washington Commanders with a last-second field goal, a huge confidence builder for sophomore QB Caleb Williams.
  • “This is the quarterback we've been looking for since the punky QB known as McMahon. And I believe in him.” — Matt Jones (06:44)
• Bears have now won three in a row; Drew highlights both the drama and fun in a Nor’easter-soaked finish.
• Discussion of Troy Aikman's harsh criticism of Caleb Williams during the broadcast.
  • “Did you think is watching it that Troy Aikman was too harsh on Caleb Williams throughout the game?” — Matt Jones (03:41)
  • Drew argues Aikman was unnecessarily critical, especially given Williams’ stats and progress.

Postgame Speech Culture & Locker Room Access

• Discussion about the Ben Johnson locker room speech:
  • “Don’t let anybody tell you takeaways are lucky. They're not lucky. Let's go get more of them.” — Paraphrased, Ben Johnson (06:00)
• Both hosts enjoy the increased access, though question what gets left on the editing room floor.
• Matt and Drew debate the performative nature of these speeches now that cameras are ever-present.

NFL Parity: Who's Actually Any Good?

• Surprising struggles for preseason favorites (Bills, Eagles, Ravens, Lions, Chiefs).
• Genuinely wide open field: teams like Colts (5–1), Bucs, and Seahawks are in strong positions.
  • “If there was ever a year that a random team could sneak up and win a title, isn't this the one?” — Matt Jones (09:00)
• Both hosts attempt their current top five teams—and differ quickly:
  • Matt: Chiefs, Bucs, Lions, Eagles, Bills.
  • Drew: Chiefs, Bucs/Lions, Colts, Bills (leaving Eagles out).
  • “I can't remember a year that this has been harder.” — Matt Jones (12:26)

Chiefs-Lions Postgame Fight Breakdown

• Suspension: Branch is suspended one game for punching JuJu Smith-Schuster after the game.
  • Discussion of escalating tensions, Mahomes’ involvement (or lack thereof), and Dan Campbell’s stern response.
• Matt and Drew agree that, given the national stage, the punishment felt light.
  • “I might have gone two games.” — Matt Jones (16:10)

Titans Coaching Chaos & Vrabel “Revenge Game”

• Brian Callahan fired as Titans head coach; replaced by Mike McCoy. Drew is both frustrated and relieved:
  • “I wanted to watch Vrabel beat him by 50 on Sunday, but these cowards wouldn’t even let Vrabel bend them over and spank him in Nashville.” — Drew Franklin (17:53)
• Scathing comments on Callahan’s record:
  • “Brian Callahan was 4 and 19 against the spread. And they were mostly underdogs.” — Drew Franklin (19:21)
• Drew makes the case for rooting for total collapse and a #1 pick.

NFL Ratings Dominate & “Big Data” Controversy

• NFL viewership at 15-year highs—Bucs-49ers averages 27 million viewers.
• Discussion of new measurement methods (“Big Data”), counting fans in sports bars, etc.
  • “You gotta Watch out. Here comes big data.” — Matt Jones (24:03)
• Consensus: More NFL, more audience, not too much of a good thing.

Baker Mayfield: MVP Campaign & Legendary Confidence

• Rookie Tez Johnson confused for MVP chants—thought they were for him, not Mayfield.
  • “Wouldn't you like to live your life with a level of delusion where you believe after one touchdown, everyone's chanting for you?” — Matt Jones (25:38)
• Mayfield now second in MVP odds, behind Mahomes. Matt argues Mayfield should be the favorite:
  • “I've been saying for three weeks on this show, Baker Mayfield is the mvp.” — Matt Jones (26:17)
  • Drew and Matt: Mayfield, with depleted Bucs, outplays expectations, showing “swagger,” resilience, and leadership.

Quarterback Updates & Old Men Still Slinging

• Dylan Gabriel quote about rough hits:
  • “My mom used to beat my blank when I was a kid. So I don’t think anything will be as bad as that.” — Dylan Gabriel, via Matt Jones (30:25)
• Flacco-Rodgers “Icy Hot Bowl”: Second-oldest QB matchup ever; funny banter about Flacco’s age and Jake Browning’s misfortune.
• Commentary on the awkwardness of WRs publicly critiquing their own QBs.

Jaguars, Travis Hunter, and Multi-Position Hype

• Jags staff working to maximize Travis Hunter’s offensive role, but hosts think distractions and over-focus are holding the team back.
• Debate on challenges of playing both sides of the ball as a pro (mental and physical overload).

Jets Troubles & Quarterback No-Man’s Land

• Jets still winless; Garrett Wilson injured, internal drama rising.
• Disappointed analysis of Justin Fields’ career and why it’s time to move on:
  • “Anytime you start a sentence with ‘he seems like a nice fella,’ whatever comes next is not good.” — Matt Jones (41:38)
• Tyrod Taylor named as a perennial presence and relic for bad teams.

“Victory Bundle Presented by Liberty Mutual” — Week 6 Picks

• Bundled picks for the week:
  1. Jaguars over Rams (in London)
  2. Panthers over Jets
  3. Eagles over Vikings
• “We're going all animals for our victory bundle... Jaguars, the Panthers, and the Eagles.” — Matt Jones (47:10)

Survivor League & TD Picks

• Survivor league locks: Patriots over Titans (Matt), Chiefs over Raiders (Billy).
• Touchdown picks:
  • Cam Scadabo (RB, Billy)
  • Xavier Worthy (WR, Matt)
  • Jalen Hurts (QB, Drew)
• Drew pitches his “Brown’s tight end” fascination for TD picks.

Around the League – Key Previews & Notes

• Bengals-Steelers (Icy Hot Bowl): High stakes for both; old QBs hold the torch.
• Dolphins-Browns: Browns’ defense key, doubt over Miami’s offensive stability.
• Bears-Saints: Bears primed for potential letdown following MNF win.
• Colts-Chargers: Both contending for #1 seed; Chargers to wear “Charger Power” all-yellow uniforms.
• Texans: Unremarkable season; hosts struggle to recall a Texans highlight.
• Commanders-Cowboys: Both desperate for a bounce-back; Eberflus' defense worries in Dallas.
• Falcons-49ers on SNF: 49ers favored, but injuries and Falcons’ unpredictability could factor.
• Monday Night Football Doubleheader:
  • Bucs-Lions: If Baker wins, “crown him” for MVP.
  • Seahawks-Texans: Hosts forget Texans even exist.

Broadcast Nuggets

• Spiro Dedes, “NFC South Boys” group chat: Embracing mundane broadcast assignments.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Matt sees QB hope in Chicago after decades:

  • “This is the quarterback we've been looking for since the punky QB known as McMahon. And I believe in him.” (06:44)

• Drew on Titans firing Callahan:

  • “I wanted to watch Vrabel beat him by 50 on Sunday, but these cowards wouldn’t even let Vrabel bend them over and spank him in Nashville.” (17:53)

• Mayfield’s self-awareness:

  • “I've been doing this exact same thing with the same attitude since Cleveland, but in Cleveland, I was cocky and arrogant, and now I'm a dog. I play with swagger.” — Drew, quoting Mayfield (28:02)

• Tez Johnson’s MVP confusion:

  • “He genuinely thought the crowd, after his first touchdown pass of his career, thought he was the MVP of the league.” — Matt (25:08)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Monday Night Football/Bears Recap: 01:13–07:14
• Parity & NFL Top 5 Debate: 08:03–12:26
• Chiefs-Lions Fight & Suspension: 14:43–17:00
• Titans Coaching Drama: 17:44–21:11
• NFL Ratings/Big Data: 21:11–24:55
• Baker Mayfield MVP Discussion/Tez Johnson Ancedote: 24:55–27:47
• Victory Bundle Picks: 44:13–47:48
• Survivor League Picks: 47:48–49:42
• Other Games Preview (SNF, MNF, etc.): 53:19–64:19
• Texans Forgetfulness: 62:19–64:19

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Tone & Host Chemistry

Matt and Drew mix sharp football analysis with snappy, irreverent banter, often poking fun at each other, the league’s unpredictability, and even their own inability to remember anything about the Texans. They dissect the NFL’s chaotic landscape without taking themselves (or the sport) too seriously, making for an engaging, accessible listen.

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Summary prepared for listeners seeking highlights, context, and the week’s best convos from NFL Cover Zero.

Transcript

[Tristan Redman]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Asma Khalid]

America is changing and so is the world.

[Tristan Redman]

But what's happening in America isn't just a cause of global upheaval. It's also a symptom of disruption that's happening everywhere.

[Asma Khalid]

I'm Asma Khalid in Washington, D.C. i'm.

[Tristan Redman]

Tristan Redman in London, and this is the global story.

[Asma Khalid]

Every weekday, we'll bring you a story from this intersection where the world and America meet.

[Tristan Redman]

Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Matt Jones]

NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin is a production of the NFL and iHeart podcast. It is NFL Cover Zero. Matt Jones, Drew Franklin, back with you for a little midweek getting into week six. Seven, Drew, I see that was that Titans gear over there we're going to talk about. You got a new coach. You got some new swagger walking in. How's it going on?

[Drew Franklin]

I'm still proudly wearing my Titans gear, but they were big in the news this week and they have a big game on Sunday that I've got my eyes on.

[Matt Jones]

What is the Patriots? Is that right?

[Drew Franklin]

Variable's coming home.

[Matt Jones]

That's good. Well, we will. We will get to all of that. I want to thank everybody who's been listening here on NFL Cover 0. Our listeners continue to grow every week. Make sure you tell your friends about it or, you know, just people that you meet around the way. We. It's a Wednesday, so one of the things I like to do when we start the midweek show is talk about what happened on Monday Night Football because we didn't get to talk about it two games. I think we got to start with my Chicago Bears. Okay, folks, that I said going into last week, Drew, this is the game that, that this is a big night for Caleb Williams. And he comes through, gets a field goal. They win at the buzzer. Are you now, like, did Caleb make the statement he needed to make?

[Drew Franklin]

I think he did. I said going into it, if you can win that game, that's a big breakthrough primetime win against a team that haunted you last year. Was that three in a row now?

[Matt Jones]

Three in a row.

[Drew Franklin]

One week one. You should be four and one. Four and one right now. But it was a fun game to watch. Neutral observer here, but just a nice dramatic finish. Commanders obviously had it, let it slip and you get the big Phil goal in the middle of the weather. So it was fun to watch. But I know you were excited a.

[Matt Jones]

Nor' easter hit towards the end of the game, which, as I have learned in the last few days, just means Win from the Northeast feels like it shouldn't get its own name, but it does. But they kick the field goal. Jake Moody, who had been sent away by the 49ers, kicks it. I knew he was excited because in the post game interview, he didn't even take his helmet off.

[Drew Franklin]

That was one of my favorite parts of the whole night is, you know, just yapping right through the face.

[Matt Jones]

Max, why didn't he take. Did he not want to be seen?

[Drew Franklin]

Has he never been interviewed at a football game before?

[Matt Jones]

He was like, I'm sorry, helmet on the entire time.

[Drew Franklin]

Moody played hero at the end, but there was a stretch there in the second half where DeAndre Swift was going wherever he wanted to. He was the real star of the.

[Matt Jones]

Night have for the Bears a running back like that. But I think this was huge for Caleb Williams. We talked about that was where the. The Hail Mary was last year. That kind of changed the fortunes of each of those teams. Troy Aikman just was harsh on Caleb all night. Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson both said they went back and watched the the game footage to see how much Troy Aikman had criticized them. And they both were like, what's up, Troy? What do you think you're doing? Did you think is watching it that Troy Aikman was too harsh on Caleb Williams throughout the game?

[Drew Franklin]

I noticed a couple of times. Cause he's on the road on Monday Night Football in his second year. I don't know what.

[Matt Jones]

You're in the rain.

[Drew Franklin]

I don't know what you're expecting of him. I just saw today actually he's on pace for 4,009 passing yards. Yeah, the Bears have never had anyone throw for 4,000 yards. So I don't know Troy, he's kind of on a decent pace.

[Matt Jones]

Why do you think Troy was so harsh to him? I mean, they showed some moment like he threw a pass and it like for those of you watching at home, the. The pass, the receiver caught it right in front of his face, but he dropped it so he like it hit right in front of his face. And Troy was like, you can't throw it there. And in my mind I was like, that's exactly where you throw it right here. He's like, can't throw it there. It did feel like Troy, you think he. Caleb beat him at Warcraft.

[Drew Franklin]

Being grumpy.

[Matt Jones]

He was being grumpy.

[Drew Franklin]

He didn't have a turnover either, did he?

[Matt Jones]

Didn't blame Jaden Daniels when he fumbled. When he fumbled, he was like, it's raining. Things happen.

[Drew Franklin]

And he had a pick. Also, I think it was zero turnovers to two turnovers in that second year QB battle.

[Matt Jones]

Now, do you think it's weird though that Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams got up the next morning to listen to the commentary to see how mean he was to him.

[Drew Franklin]

Now they're both young, new in their positions, they have their doubters, whatever fire you need. Somebody probably tipped him off like, hey, every little harsh on the broadcast and you, you want that.

[Matt Jones]

But the story was that Ben Johnson said he came down to get cereal the next morning and his kid was listening to the Troy Aikman commentary. That doesn't strike me as how old is this kid?

[Drew Franklin]

No, no.

[Matt Jones]

I mean the kid was like two years old. I need to, I need to see how they're disrespecting Caleb, like so I, I didn't know if I bought that. Just to own up. You wanted to see what he said?

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. Well, it doesn't shock me. It does shock me that his child was in there playing with toys saying, come listen to this dad. But the fact that he would take that personally and want to hear it. I saw his postgame speech in the locker room after.

[Matt Jones]

So what was that about?

[Drew Franklin]

He's passionate.

[Matt Jones]

He is, yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

He's yelling, don't blink. And it was about two and a half minutes long. I mean, you, Ben Johnson, new guy, had the playbook with the Lions forever but didn't know a lot about his personality. He showed some passion.

[Matt Jones]

We're getting more of these post game locker room speeches like I remember you used to. You'd hear it like once a year. You'd hear about them Cowboys and now every week we are seeing what the coach is saying. Do you like it?

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. One more thing I just thought of that popped in my head. I think they have like 11 takeaways in the last three weeks. And he's like, don't let anybody tell you takeaways are lucky. They're not lucky. Let's go get more of them. So you are fired up on your turnovers too.

[Matt Jones]

He likes the.

[Drew Franklin]

They're a little lucky. But he didn't.

[Matt Jones]

It is a little.

[Drew Franklin]

I don't want him to know I said that after hearing how he commander.

[Matt Jones]

Stumble at the end was lucky. But do you like these speeches in the locker room?

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, I like all the access we're getting now. Players miked up, been practicing.

[Matt Jones]

Do you think the coaches are now knowing it's going to be there? They're coming in feeling like they have to.

[Drew Franklin]

They got to perform some theatrics Also, it's not lost on me that they cut these up. What are we cutting out? I want to hear that part.

[Matt Jones]

I do too. Well, we don't see the losing ones.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. Maybe some language. Some salty language.

[Matt Jones]

I would like to have seen Mike McDaniels last week. I want. We don't get to see the losing ones, unfortunately. But as a Bears fan, I am very excited. You know, I've been a Bears fan my entire life. I started as a Little Kid in 1985 and since then it just hasn't been good. This is the quarterback we've been looking for since the punky QB known as McMahon. And I believe in him. I believed in him before. Yes, before Monday. But now I'm in. I'm not being delusional, am I? No.

[Drew Franklin]

And he's. It's not just that. It's him. He's got a great young coach, offensive minded. And Swift's got a little age on him, but a lot of pieces around him that he's building chemistry with. You can see it forming right now.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, your guy, your guy. Sorry. Luther Burden got a big catch as well. Yes, you're right. So that was one money game. The other money game, which I didn't watch any of, was the Bills and the Falcons. And the Falcons kind of dominated that game from start to finish. They were up early, held the lead. You know, Josh Allen loses to Michael Pinnicks Jr. Are you worried like the Bills were. Are my super bowl pick. The Bills and the Eagles both are. Have taken losses with to have two losses. Surprisingly, they were the definitive favorites. Are you worried about them?

[Drew Franklin]

I am and I'm shocked they dropped that one having lost one before it. Robinson for the Falcons was just unstoppable. I think he set a. I think he set a record for yards from scrimmage in a single game. He also had a nasty block on Ed Oliver. That's it. We were talking earlier in the our season here on Cover Zero about how running backs can't win mvp, but he's putting up an MVP like performance for them.

[Matt Jones]

So it's Jonathan Taylor.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. He was a star of the game there. But a shocking result. I didn't think there was any way the Bills would lose that one.

[Matt Jones]

I'm kind of shocked by the NFL as a whole and this game showcased it about how wide open things are. I mean, does it. It does not feel like there is any team that is definitively even close to the favorite. Right. I mean you. When you have the Bills and the Eagles losing two straight weeks. And not just losing two straight weeks. The Eagles lose to the Giants, the Bills lose to the Falcons. If there was ever a year that a random team could sneak up and win a title, isn't this the one?

[Drew Franklin]

Definitely. It's kind of twofold of the teams we thought were elite are losing. And then some teams like The Colts are 5 and 1 and then the odds up there with the super bowl favorites now. So a lot of this has just been flipped upside down.

[Matt Jones]

Just look at. If you were to say, okay, when the season started, most people believe there were maybe five teams that could win a title, right? You would go Bills, Ravens, Chiefs. Than maybe Eagles, Lions. Okay, Bills and Eagles, back to back losses. But for both teams, Ravens are one in five. The Lions were kind of not really competitive for much of the game against the Chiefs, and the Chiefs lost their first two games. They've won three straight. It's. I can't remember a year ever that the favorites have struggled as much as they have this year.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, think if we were just talking Ravens, Colts before the year and I said two teams, one will be one.

[Matt Jones]

In five, the other will be one will be five and one, what would.

[Drew Franklin]

The odds be on the Colts being.

[Matt Jones]

The five and one?

[Drew Franklin]

Like, no one would even believe a scenario where that could happen.

[Matt Jones]

And who would have believed that if you had the. The playoffs right now, the one seeds would be Tampa Bay and Indianapolis.

[Drew Franklin]

Exactly.

[Matt Jones]

But that's what you have. I like it, though. I mean, this is the NFL's dream. I mean, I know that because we work for the NFL. So like, I talk to them all the time, all the various people at the NFL like, what's up, Bob? But this is what they want. They want parody. They want it to where every team that's not the Titans or the jets feels like they can win in a given week. And they have that right now.

[Drew Franklin]

I was watching Good Morning Football this morning, and one of the segments was redoing their power rankings. You know, four or five panelists up there. What made it interesting is like their rankings weren't even close to each other. I mean, there were teams that were in some top fives that probably weren't in other top 10.

[Matt Jones]

So who would be in your top five?

[Drew Franklin]

I think somebody had the Seahawks in their top five, which isn't crazy, but it just shows how the parody you're mentioning.

[Matt Jones]

Well, let's just do our top five.

[Drew Franklin]

Okay.

[Matt Jones]

Who would be, who would be your top five right now?

[Drew Franklin]

I can't believe I'm doing This.

[Matt Jones]

I'll do it. Since I put you on the spot. Let me.

[Drew Franklin]

Let me give you my one because I'm ready. I can't believe, but I'm putting the Chiefs back. We got to quit running from it. The Chiefs are still the Chiefs. They get Rashid Rice back this week. We saw what happened when they got Worthy back. They're back to my one.

[Matt Jones]

I actually really like that pick. I think for me today, if you said the game was going to be tomorrow, who would you take? I'm putting the Chiefs. So I was going to go Chiefs won and then I was going to go Bucks 2. For me, I'm going to go Lions 3 because they lost at the Chiefs but otherwise had looked really good. Maybe I'm silly, but I'm then still going to go Eagles 4, Bills 5. I know, though, that I'm leaving out the Colts and I'm leaving out the packers and other teams, but I'm going to go. So I will go Chiefs, Bucks, Lions, Eagles, Bills. But I don't feel great about any of those.

[Drew Franklin]

What are Yours and Chiefs 1. I agree with you on. I'm torn between bucks and Lions 2.

[Matt Jones]

3.

[Drew Franklin]

And that's our Monday Night Football game this week.

[Matt Jones]

So that will look at you.

[Drew Franklin]

That will answer. That will answer itself here in a few days.

[Matt Jones]

I think at 4, you're not going to take the Eagles.

[Drew Franklin]

I'm going Colts. Colts, they've been tested. They keep answering. When they play a bad team, they pummel them. I had Colts ranked dead last. Beginning of the year, it wasn't me being a hater. I really thought the Colts were going to be terrible with Daniel Jones, who didn't think they'd be terrible. I got to give them credit because when they play a bad team, they destroy them. They could be undefeated right now if you don't have that fumble at the goal line. So I have to put them there. And then I'll go Bills. But I'm leaning. I'm. I'm limping into putting.

[Matt Jones]

Those aren't even in your top five. No.

[Drew Franklin]

Which is nuts.

[Matt Jones]

It is interesting, though. That's a hard list because you're right. You're leaving out the Seahawks. I. I left out the Colts. Then you throw in the packers, although they. They've taken a couple losses. It is a. I can't remember a year that this has been harder. Hey, you know, there's so many reasons to love Liberty Mutual Insurance. For instance, there's Limu, Emu and Doug. You gotta love those guys. And then there's the jingle. It's so catchy. Liberty.

[Drew Franklin]

Liberty. Liberty. Liberty.

[Matt Jones]

But the best thing about Liberty Mutual is that they bundle your car and home insurance to save you money. And who doesn't like to save money? Everybody does. I mean everybody. But how they save you money is just so smart. They look at your specific situation and figure out what works for you. Liberty Mutual customize your car and home insurance so you can save money. So think of it this way. When you got a dual threat qb, a smart offensive coordinator, they'll customize their play calling to fit your talents. Well, that's what Liberty Mutual does. It builds a playbook just for you. They're really going above and beyond to save you money. There's no reason to wait.

[Asma Khalid]

Start your [e-mail] America is changing and so is the world.

[Tristan Redman]

But what's happening in America is isn't just a cause of global upheaval. It's also a symptom of disruption that's happening everywhere.

[Asma Khalid]

I'm Asma Khalid in Washington, D.C. i'm.

[Tristan Redman]

Tristan Redman in London, and this is the global story.

[Asma Khalid]

Every weekday we'll bring you a story from this intersection where the world and America meet.

[Tristan Redman]

Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Asma Khalid]

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[Matt Jones]

All right, let's go over some other things. Here. We mention the Chiefs and the Lions. We, we. We taped our podcast the other night and did not get into the fight. What you think of the fight after the end of the game? Branch is suspended for one game. Did you feel like that was fair?

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. Crazy fight, really. The craziest thing is that photo that came out of it where Juju's helmet is often branches fist is just a few inches from locking on that nose that I guess got busted open. But you know, a lot of times you see guys pull on helmets in the wrestling. It's rare you get a fight to that extent where he actually had a fist to face.

[Matt Jones]

Why was he mad? It looked like Mahomes just tried to shake his hand. And then he didn't want to shake it. And then Juju's like, I think, sir, that you should have accepted the congratulatory like, why do you think he was so mad?

[Drew Franklin]

There was a block early in the game where Juju. It's not that in the back or illegal, but he did get him a good pop when he wasn't looking.

[Matt Jones]

You don't think Mahomes had anything to do?

[Drew Franklin]

I don't think so. Juju even said in the post game that I could feel throughout the game Branch mad about the block.

[Matt Jones]

He was getting a little cheap people in the face.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. And he said, I want to keep it between the whistles and the in the horn. I didn't think anything was going to blow over like it did. But it seems to stem with Juju hit him pretty good.

[Matt Jones]

Dan Campbell seemed pretty mad about it. He said, we don't do that. That's not. I like Dan Campbell standing up and saying that. But I don't know. I feel like punch to the face.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, he's on the ground.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Well, I don't know. I might have gone two games.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. And it being. I guess it shouldn't matter the scene, but you're on the big stage, national team playing the Chiefs. You're representing the NFL right there with all the eyes on you.

[Matt Jones]

I mean that matters. I often think the suspensions for these things. It's inherent. It'll be worse if everyone's watching. You know, it just, it's just, it's just natural. Like when everyone's watching. Like when two on that one Thursday night game when he got hurt and we were all sitting there watching. I think the Demar Hamlin thing was on Monday Night Football. I think it's just natural. People tend to gravitate it more if the whole country is watching that moment.

[Billy Gillespie]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

Like if the, you know, Titans were playing the jets and she brought that up earlier and this happens.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. No, no. Not even a word. Yeah. I don't even cover. People in the stadium are not watching at that point.

[Drew Franklin]

Being the Chiefs in that moment, Mahomes being the one, they don't shake his hand. There's a lot to it.

[Matt Jones]

So you're. You're like me now we both have the Chiefs at number one. They're back.

[Drew Franklin]

Yep.

[Matt Jones]

Right back this week.

[Drew Franklin]

Like they're back and they've already said, like we're not going to ease him in. He's big part of our workload. So they're going right to him.

[Matt Jones]

And Travis Kelsey looks like Travis Kelsey again. Xavier Worthy doesn't. I mean, they're three and two. They should be four and one, right? They could be five and oh, I mean, they could have won that game against the Chargers down in, in Brazil. I mean, they are. I think they're. They're back again.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, once we. What we've seen of Worthy since he's been back, I think if Kelsey doesn't run into him, it really could be undefeated. He's a big part of what they do. And even though Rice only played like four games last year, he had good stats last year, so they have high hopes for him.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. All right, I give you the floor again. Your Titans fired Brian Callahan. I know that that was something you thought should happen. Were you happy? No.

[Drew Franklin]

They managed to even mess this up. I wanted to watch Variable beat him by 50 on Sunday, but these cowards wouldn't even let Variable bend them over and spank him in Nashville and stuff him in a locker. Like we all know what's going to happen.

[Matt Jones]

One more embarrassing moment.

[Drew Franklin]

I wanted Variable. We already know that letting Vrabel go was a dumb move. Callahan wasn't the right move. It's not like, you know, can they compete? But I just wanted to see it. I wanted Vrabel to have his moment. He never should have been fired. Vravel's played it nice in the media all week. He said nothing but good things. I can't wait to get to Nashville. But I know between his ears he's thinking, I want to pummel them. And I wanted Callahan to have to sit there and take it. Other than that though, this needed to happen. It was not it.

[Matt Jones]

And who. Who did? Was it Riley? Is that who they picked to the be the McCoy?

[Drew Franklin]

McCoy. McCoy who was hired as an analyst earlier this year.

[Matt Jones]

I always get Mike riley and Mike McCoy confused. First of all, is there a person named Mike Riley?

[Drew Franklin]

How do I know that name?

[Billy Gillespie]

I don't know who that is.

[Drew Franklin]

No.

[Matt Jones]

Wait a minute, hang on just a second. Mike Riley was just called up by my Carolina Hurricanes last night and he had an assist against the Sharks. He's about to use him of Mike McCoy. Oh, you think he's better than he could coach?

[Drew Franklin]

Better than Brian Callahan. So you.

[Matt Jones]

Wait a minute. You're saying the backup third string defenseman from the Carolina Hurricanes last night, veteran Mike Riley is better than Brian Callahan?

[Drew Franklin]

Brian Callahan was 4 and 19 against the spread. Wow. And they were mostly underdogs.

[Matt Jones]

Like you couldn't even get close 19 against the spread?

[Drew Franklin]

Yes. They just lost to the Raiders and anonymous Raiders coach said that is the worst football team I've seen in 25 years. There have been teams that have not won games. There have been teams that can't tie their sho.

[Matt Jones]

There was an anonymous Raiders coach that said that he say it to. Is this the sources tell cover zero.

[Drew Franklin]

I think it was like a CBS story.

[Matt Jones]

Okay.

[Drew Franklin]

But said they do not have a single player on their roster that makes a difference. Except for Jeffrey Simmons, our big defensive lineman. Worst team in 25 years he's ever seen.

[Matt Jones]

But you won a game.

[Drew Franklin]

It took nine troubles and them tripping over them.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, I would argue that makes the jets worse if. If they. If they haven't won a game. So do you believe in Mike McCoy?

[Drew Franklin]

Well, I had to google him. Former Chargers coach.

[Matt Jones]

Coach the Chargers and played for Carolina Hurricanes.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, I think he's been in the league like 27 years as a journeyman coordinator. We hired him in March just to be like, hey, will you come in here and look at some of this tape? I didn't even have a real coaching position and now he's coaching the team. I mean, whatever. Anything's better than Brian Callahan. I was really ready to go to just let the players coach themselves. He was that bet.

[Matt Jones]

Are you. Would you now like to see them lose every game and get the number one pick or do you feel like we have our quarterback so we might as well have the number two pick.

[Drew Franklin]

I wanted them to lose to Arizona. We've already messed up.

[Billy Gillespie]

Tanking.

[Drew Franklin]

We fired Callahan right before we wanted to see him get his butt whooped on Sunday. Speak this Sunday. Vrabel is going to get that whole stadium is going to cheer the opposing team.

[Matt Jones]

That's kind of.

[Drew Franklin]

Absolutely. Titans fans love Rabel. He's going to get a large applause. And if it had been Callahan and said we would have gotten the booze. I don't know if they'll booze Mike McCoy.

[Matt Jones]

Interesting.

[Drew Franklin]

The timing on this just adds to it.

[Matt Jones]

All right. So Bill, you were telling me that the NFL the viewership numbers. Right. So we're through six weeks of the season, basically through a third of the season. The viewership numbers for the NFL are like crazy, right?

[Billy Gillespie]

Highest viewership at this point of the season in 15 years. NFL games are drawing on average 18.5 million viewers per game. And the Bucs 49ers game last week was the highest. It averaged 27 million viewers on CBS.

[Matt Jones]

27 million viewers are in that Bucs 49ers game. Wow. So they've changed the way they do These ratings now, they did something called big data. No. What are you laughing at? I'm not a conspiracy theorist. Big data, it's not like big pharma, it's big data. And I think the reason they're now including sports bars and they're including, they're trying to include like every way people watch it. So all the numbers in a lot of sports are bumped up a little bit because of what they call big data. But still, it's kind of amazing how much bigger the NFL is than everything else. Right. Like it's, I mean, when you talk about 27 million people watching a game, that is crazy. I mean, there's what, 8,000 watching these playoff baseball games. It's kind of unbelievable.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. I mean they're, they're picking whatever day they want and they're dominating the viewership. Whatever network. They're on Netflix now they're going to other countries. It was London, now it's Mexico City. Ireland. They'll sell out anywhere they want to go.

[Matt Jones]

Madrid, I think next week.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, it really is the way, the way they've separated themselves in the last couple decades from the other leagues. They're winning across the board.

[Matt Jones]

But it also doesn't feel like, and I know we're going to sound like company shills here, but it also doesn't feel like that. It's like people don't think there's too much of it.

[Drew Franklin]

No.

[Matt Jones]

You don't hear anyone. Yeah. You don't hear anybody saying, well, because like, I like hockey, there's too many games. I like basketball, there's too many games, I like baseball, there's too many games. But nobody thinks that about the NFL, right?

[Drew Franklin]

No, I want more of it. And you know, if you're attached to a team, you're never going to. Once a week is all you're going to get. So you're not going to get overloaded of your own team. It's to the point other leagues are changing their schedules because they know if the NFL puts a day, a game on their day, it's over. NFL is getting the attention.

[Matt Jones]

Yes. No, they are, they are changing. I mean they, the NHL debuted their season at 5 o' clock in the afternoon one day so that they wouldn't have to, so they wouldn't have to go against the NFL. Those numbers are nuts. My question for you though is, do you like including the sports bars in the Data. Do you like Big Data?

[Drew Franklin]

I guess it should.

[Matt Jones]

Big Data is a wrestler that's really good on the minor circuit.

[Billy Gillespie]

Okay.

[Matt Jones]

You gotta Watch out. Here comes big data.

[Drew Franklin]

Big data. Cool. Yeah. It needs to be factored in somehow. Because I've wondered, when they're talking about ratings and you're at a sports bar, there's hundreds of people in there.

[Matt Jones]

Do you count them?

[Drew Franklin]

And needs to be factored in. Their. They're probably. They're more excited about what's going on in a lot of cases than the people watching at home.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. One of the teams you mentioned that got such great ratings was the Bucks. Yes. I love this story. So, first of all, for people who don't know Billy is a Bucks fan, the Bucks were had their game last week and Tez Johnson, who's a rookie, caught a touchdown pass. And when the game was over, he said in the locker room that Tampa fans were chanting MVP during the game. And Tess Johnson said he thought they were chanting for him as the mvp and he was very happy. And then he realized it was for Baker Mayfield.

[Drew Franklin]

This was great. He's a rookie.

[Matt Jones]

What do you make of that? He genuinely thought the crowd, after his first touchdown pass of his career, thought he was the MVP of the league. Do you like that level of confidence?

[Drew Franklin]

Yes. This is one of those we're talking about. We're getting the mic'd up now. There's a clip of him sitting on the bench with Sterling shepherd, and he's just so confused while they're chaining mvp, he's like, but I haven't even done anything yet.

[Matt Jones]

I'm a rookie.

[Drew Franklin]

And then Sterling Shepherd's like, wait a minute, you think this is for you? And then he runs and tells the other receivers, but it's hilarious. Like, it was a great touchdown. He's like a 45 yard touchdown pass, but that is pretty much all he's done this season. And he's like, wow, they're cheering for me.

[Billy Gillespie]

It's very genuine. He definitely thought it was him that they were chanting for that.

[Matt Jones]

Sweet. But wouldn't you. Wouldn't you like to live your life with a level of delusion where you would believe after one touchdown, everyone's chanting for you for mvp. Like, there's got to be some, you know, people say, like, you're the center of your own story. That is the definition of being the center of your own story, where you're like, well, everyone's chanting, it has to be for me. Who else could it be?

[Drew Franklin]

7Th round pick, rookie. He has 6 catches this season and he thinks the stadium is chanting mvp.

[Matt Jones]

So what I can get for Ted Johnson MVP right now?

[Drew Franklin]

Let him dream.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. But it was Baker Mayfield. I've been saying for three weeks on this show, Baker Mayfield is the mvp. He is now the second choice in the betting market behind Mahomes. It's Mahomes and then Mayfield. Now, I'm the biggest Mahomes guy in the world, but I would pick Mayfield over Mahomes right now. Wouldn't you?

[Drew Franklin]

I would, too. Got one interception, like 12 or 13 touchdowns. You've got the comebacks.

[Matt Jones]

You.

[Drew Franklin]

You got the swagger.

[Matt Jones]

It's not going to be Lamar. No. And as of now, it's not going to be Josh Allen. I mean, that could change, but for right now, it wouldn't be Josh Allen. So to me, if it's Baker or Mahomes, Mahomes has won a couple, maybe three in the past. I think Baker should be the favorite.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. I would vote for him right now. After last week when he did that with just a depleted roster. He didn't have his running back, his receivers. You got a guy named Tess Johnson coming in there making plays for him.

[Matt Jones]

Where would Daniel Jones be on your.

[Drew Franklin]

He's. He's in.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, he's got to be in the top five.

[Drew Franklin]

I was gonna say. I have him. Top five. Baker, until he cools off. I. It has to be his. I'm thinking like, last week, there's like a third and 14. He gets that 15 yard run. I actually saw Todd Bowles today. He was yelling, get down. You're gonna get yourself killed. And then he gets the first down. I think that was one play before the Tess Johnson touchdown. He's just so fun to watch.

[Matt Jones]

The only reason he's second in the odds is because people think he. He's like, going to not play that well all year, because I think up to now, he would win.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. And people probably wonder if the Bucks will level out a little bit with their record, and Mahomes is only going to keep winning.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Billy Gillespie]

To that point. Baker has more passing yards, touchdowns, and less interceptions than Mahomes. But Patrick's getting Rasheed Rice back, and it's got maybe an easier schedule.

[Matt Jones]

I don't know.

[Drew Franklin]

I liked Baker. Had a good quote this week. He was like, I've been doing this exact same thing with the same attitude since Cleveland, but in Cleveland, I was cocky and arrogant, and now I'm a dog. I play with swagger. Like, this is just what I've always done. Cleveland was just really bad at using and evaluating me and threw me away for Deshaun Watson.

[Matt Jones]

It's got to frustrate it's got to frustrate Cleveland fans that this is happening. Right? This was the guy you had and not just Cleveland. I mean, the Rams had him, the Panthers had him. But still I think it's got to frustrate Cleveland people the most.

[Drew Franklin]

Right? That was. It went from Baker to well, we should go get Deshaun Watson. So in that move alone is like, what are we doing? And then now he's. We're doing MVP talks while they are on their 42nd quarterback since Tim Couch. It's got to be killing him inside. That was their draft pick.

[Matt Jones]

It has to be. And it has to be very, very. Well. It's just sad.

[Drew Franklin]

I mean, they get the number one pick, they think he's the guy. They're like a crap. Another bus, not our guy. And now he could go in the MVP at another team.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I think he's going to win it. I don't see any reason. Now their schedule, I believe gets. Is it a little bit harder, a little bit easier? I can't remember the division.

[Drew Franklin]

They sell the Saints twice, the Falcons twice and the Panthers twice.

[Matt Jones]

And they haven't played any of those games.

[Drew Franklin]

They played the.

[Matt Jones]

They beat the Falcons, so they have still Saints twice. Well, I mean, he's going to win it. What's. What are the. It's like plus 380 or something, right?

[Drew Franklin]

For.

[Billy Gillespie]

For Baker. I'm not sure the number he's.

[Matt Jones]

I think it's +380. To me, that's a really good bet right now because I. I mean, who are the. Lamar is out. Allen is close to out. Mahomes is Mahomes.

[Drew Franklin]

I. Matt Stafford's having a pretty special year. If they go on a big run, I will note.

[Matt Jones]

I was telling people to bet it when it was like +1200 two weeks ago. Of course I didn't bet it.

[Billy Gillespie]

It's Mahomes +175. Baker and Josh Allen at +300. And then Drake May is tied for.

[Matt Jones]

It's not gonna be third after having a good year. Their schedule is so easy. We went over it last week. Like, their schedule is insanely easy. Now, Dylan Gabriel, did you see his quote?

[Drew Franklin]

What do you say this week?

[Matt Jones]

I want to pull it up because, you know, I don't know. When you were a kid, did you ever. Did. Did. Did your grandmother ever spank you? Specifically your grandma?

[Drew Franklin]

Not my grandma, but yes, I did get spanking because it wasn't grandmother doing.

[Matt Jones]

It because Dylan Gabriel had a. Had a quote. I want to read this him. They asked him what it was like to get hit so much by the Steelers last week. And he said, quote, my mom used to beat my blank when I was a kid. So I don't think anything will be as bad as that. Wow. Now I don't know. First of all, if I'm his mom, I'm like, hey.

[Drew Franklin]

You want another one? Just kidding.

[Matt Jones]

Mom's got to be like, come on.

[Drew Franklin]

Those were out of love.

[Matt Jones]

Yes. This is not the same as TJ Watt.

[Drew Franklin]

He's trying to rip your head off. I was trying to send a message.

[Matt Jones]

I was just giving you a love tag.

[Drew Franklin]

Discipline.

[Matt Jones]

But he didn't say spank. He used stronger words. I don't know. What do you think about that? He's a rookie.

[Drew Franklin]

Still getting used to the microphone.

[Matt Jones]

I've seen his mom. Mom, she. She looks like a sweet person.

[Drew Franklin]

I think we need an apology.

[Matt Jones]

I think he should. I think mom should have to go. Look, it was.

[Drew Franklin]

It was.

[Matt Jones]

It was just meant to be nice.

[Drew Franklin]

He should have done the mime thing on that question in the Cleveland locker room.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. And now she door was named the backup.

[Drew Franklin]

Okay, that's big.

[Matt Jones]

So do you expect me. Dill Gabriel did not look good.

[Drew Franklin]

He's got this. This week they play the Dolphins. If he's ever going to have his hey, give me a chance game. A little bit of a breakout. This is an opportunity. They're at home. Dolphins not good. Their defense is.

[Matt Jones]

If the Browns beat them, does Mike McDaniel get fired?

[Drew Franklin]

Still watching the news wire right now. He's up against it already, I think, even though they're probably Phil go underdog at Cleveland. But yeah, if you can't beat the Browns, are you going to beat.

[Matt Jones]

Now the front. The Browns former quarterback Joe Flacco is taking the Bengals. They're playing Thursday night Football against Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers. It is being called the Icy Hot Bowl. Since both quarterbacks are over 40, it is the second oldest meeting of quarterbacks ever. Both guys say that they would like the game to be called the IC Hot Bowl. So I'm going to go ahead and say it. Do you like seeing two men over the age of 40 years old playing quarterback back? They say sports is a young man's game. Apparently not.

[Drew Franklin]

When you present it that way. I would normally be like, no, I have no interest in that. But I kind of want to see another run of Flacco with some pieces around him.

[Matt Jones]

You know, he got that as that game went on.

[Drew Franklin]

Jamar Chase helped him.

[Matt Jones]

I know, but like, ultimately Jamar Chase is good. So the goal is just to be able to get him the ball.

[Drew Franklin]

That's what I mean. He finally has weapons around him. In Cleveland, he didn't have any weapons.

[Matt Jones]

And in the first half, I mean, he'd only been on the team for four days, so, you know, he probably didn't even know the playbook. He's probably drawn it up in his hand. You go left and then take a right. That's a play, by the way.

[Billy Gillespie]

It's like Thanksgiving.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, you go left.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Draw a thing about it, go left, then take right. They're baffled. He draws that up. And then by the end of the game, he was playing really, really well.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, I saw in a. The Bingo's press conference today. You know, I'm just watching random team press conferences.

[Matt Jones]

Do you do that a lot?

[Drew Franklin]

I did this week.

[Matt Jones]

I've known you a long time. I never knew you as a guy watching random NFL.

[Drew Franklin]

I did this week. I watched a couple of them, but they asked Joe Flacco. They were like, what? You know, you're still figuring this out. You're new. What if Jamar Chase comes up to you? It's like, I know this is the play, but I'm going to do this instead. And Flacco's like, I'm going to say, yeah, man, sure, let's do that. Like, I'm just. He's the star. I'm here to get him the ball. If. If Chase says he's doing something, I'm going with it.

[Matt Jones]

I always wonder. Jamar Chase gave a quote that was like. Like, it's been nice to have someone who can put the ball in my hands. He said something like that, implying that Jake Browning could not put the ball in his hands. I always wonder what it's like when you say something like that. When then you see Jake Brownie, because he's still there. He's still in the locker room.

[Drew Franklin]

Presumably, Jake has his phone number.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, might sit next to it. Do you just go, hey, man, like, have to say that right here?

[Drew Franklin]

Like, Jake's gonna be like, dude, that was pretty close to your hands a few of those times. Like, I'm trying.

[Matt Jones]

I'm doing the best. Okay, well, remember Jake Browning was the guy who did the press conference who. He's like, I'm trying, man. I want to be good. Every night I look in the mirror and I. I tell you to go left and then right.

[Drew Franklin]

Doing my best.

[Matt Jones]

But here comes Joe Flacco, and if you're Jake Browning, it's got to be a humbling Thing. You've been playing football your whole life. You've been the backup on this team for a while. Joe Flacco comes from an AARP meeting and watching Matlock to come on the field and be better than you. That's got to make you a little sad.

[Drew Franklin]

Joe's got the gray hair. Gray. Not great.

[Matt Jones]

Gray hair too.

[Drew Franklin]

He's. I mean, he's just kind of a statue right there. You know, he's taking Tylenol at every turn. He's just old feeling it. And you're Browning. Browning has a little swagger about him. He. He did until losing the last few games.

[Matt Jones]

It looks like he's losing his.

[Drew Franklin]

Got the. Got the model girlfriend that goes viral. He's young. He thinks he's just going to step in and be Burrow 2.0. What if Flacco.

[Matt Jones]

Texas woman.

[Drew Franklin]

Flacco can't do that? Then he's looking at Flacco, who's on Flacco's own Kids are wearing rival teams jerseys with other players on it. And that's the guy you look.

[Matt Jones]

That would be tough if he. Flacco takes. I mean she already likes backup quarterbacks. Flacco is the Flacco and Gardner Minshew. Like that's Cooper Rush. That's. That's her type.

[Drew Franklin]

This has to be one of those moments for Browning where it's like, you know, this. I thought I was gonna. This was my moment. I think I'm learning. Maybe it's time to seek something.

[Matt Jones]

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[Drew Franklin]

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[Matt Jones]

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[Matt Jones]

The Jacksonville Jaguars offense coordinator says they will work during during this off week to give Travis Hunter a greater role on offense for a team that's good and Jacksonville's pretty good. Don't you feel like they worry too much about what Travis Hunt like? Is it. I mean, I feel like we hear specific Travis Hunter things every week. They're good. Why do they do this?

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, I guess they traded to get him and he's your big asset. But you're what, what, four and two?

[Matt Jones]

Four and two.

[Drew Franklin]

Got a lot of good things going for you. Seems they are focusing on that a lot. He's made a few big catches, but then there's some other gains where he's disappointing. It seems like he'd just be like any other who's more disappointed, him or Bronnie. Are you saying this because Bronnie's biggest fan is in the room?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Mario, who's sitting over here shaking his head. Oh, loves bro. Do you see just a little side note in a preseason game wise. Nice. Bronnie was minus 14 plus minus in a game the Lakers led by 20. He was 34 points worse. I know it's a preseason game, but.

[Drew Franklin]

I'm just saying I take Travis Hunter there.

[Matt Jones]

You take Travis Hunter over Bronnie?

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, they got solid. Skip Bayless went on some rant. I think Travis Hunter got baptized before the game.

[Matt Jones]

He did?

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Did that make Skip Bayless mad?

[Drew Franklin]

Well, Skip Bayless has like a 30 minute video talking about him getting baptized. I think it's positive. But he like does a who on the baptism or something. I saw it online earlier.

[Matt Jones]

What's there to say?

[Drew Franklin]

I don't know. That's why I'm like, I can't commit. 30 minutes. Skip Ellis. Skip Bayless is ran here, but he felt very strongly about it. Very, very good on Travis Hunter. He had the moment last week where he brought the woman he met on the plane as his guest.

[Matt Jones]

That was nice.

[Drew Franklin]

Seems like a great kid.

[Matt Jones]

What was the baptism was like? Was it the morning of the game?

[Billy Gillespie]

Morning of the team. Bayless called Travis Hunter, checked out mentally.

[Matt Jones]

Because he got baptized.

[Drew Franklin]

I couldn't give it 30 minutes.

[Billy Gillespie]

Deciding to give baptized the morning of a team game.

[Matt Jones]

For me, for me to suggest that there are things more important than the Buck Seahawks game in the regular season. But I don't think that would mean he was mentally checked out. I do, however, think that there's too much Travis Hunter distraction. I mean, he had a big drop at the end of that game against the Seahawks like they were. The Jaguars were driving and it went off his hands. This continues my belief that he should have just picked one side of the ball and played. I think there's way too much focus on getting him involved rather than just winning games.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, and there's the physical angle, which you can control a little bit with his snaps, but he also has to memorize what he has to do at two different positions and that's got to take a lot out of him also, in addition to having to play both ways. So it's too much to ask of an NFL player. It's neat that they're trying it. I enjoy watching it, but I don't think it's going to be best for him long term.

[Matt Jones]

Then ultimately they probably should not have traded up to get him.

[Drew Franklin]

That was a little silly at the time. Even if. Even if he does turn out play both ways.

[Matt Jones]

Although that trade, if the Jaguars stay good, they won't lose as high a pick. You know, the Browns, the Jaguars are bad. The Browns could have gotten like a top five pick. It'll probably be a little bit lower. Speaking of teams that are not great, will the jets win a game?

[Drew Franklin]

I asked that last week and you said yes. But now you got Garrett Wilson's out for a little while over there fighting with his coach. I saw Justin Fields has like some of the worst stats in many years. Their schedule helps them. I'll say they get one. But I think they're going to end up taking the number one pick for my Titans. I.

[Matt Jones]

Justin Fields is just awful. And it's not totally his fault. His offensive line has been bad, but I watched him a lot of years in Chicago and he seems like a nice guy. Fell which by the way, anytime you start a sentence with he seems like a nice fellow, whatever comes next is not good. You know, nobody ever. So it's not like people say about Michael Jordan, he's a nice fella, but then you just go ahead and talk about some good. So when you say he's a nice fellow, that what's next is not going to be good. But I think there's no reason to play Justin Fields. They should put someone young, someone with potentially a future there. Or you just lose every game and say, we're going to get the number one pick in a year where it's not clear who the best quarterback is.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, I think Justin Fields was supposed to be their move. Or like, let's try this young guy and see what he has. Even though it didn't work in Chicago.

[Matt Jones]

How long do you get to be young?

[Drew Franklin]

Maybe a reset.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

What is he, like 25, 26 now?

[Matt Jones]

No, I think he's older than that. Just like backup. 20. How is Tyrod Taylor still there? Tyrod Taylor has been there. Tyrod Taylor has been with the jets for 50 years.

[Billy Gillespie]

Justin Fields is 26. 1999.

[Matt Jones]

Man, I thought he was older than that.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, I mean, it was your. Your future just a couple years ago.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, well, longer than that. This was like four or five years ago. We mean the Bears.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, I thought you were talking about something else.

[Drew Franklin]

No, I'm saying that he was the.

[Matt Jones]

Young because like four or five years.

[Drew Franklin]

Ago was not that long ago.

[Matt Jones]

No, this is. This is a while. This is like four or five years ago I met a woman and. And like, we were talking and I said to her, you know how you'll go be like, oh, when's your last relationship? And I was like. And she was like. I was like, oh, yeah, when's your last race? She goes. She goes, well, I went out on some dates with Tyrod Taylor and I was like, well, you and I probably have a lot in common because, I mean, Tyrod and I very similar. Right.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, if I think about his career history, you both like to travel the United States. He's played about everywhere. You like to see new cities. He likes new cities.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. And she at the time was like 10 years older than him. So Tyrod, he'd be my quarterback, actually, if I was the Jets. Why not? I just don't see any reason to keep throwing Justin Fields out there.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, well, he's wanting to go young. If he's the only backup, I don't think that's going young. He's got to be up there pushing the Flacco Aaron Rodgers range as long as he's been in the league.

[Matt Jones]

I think they are on alert for not winning any games. I'm going to go ahead and say I think they are on alert now. Now we have a new segment. Would you like to know the new segment?

[Drew Franklin]

I'm excited about it.

[Matt Jones]

So we have a new segment. We continue to add advertisers and excitement here to NFL cover zero. This is known as the victory bundle presented by Liberty Mutual. It is time. So this. Every, every show I will get to say this. Are you ready?

[Drew Franklin]

You get to privilege.

[Matt Jones]

It's time for the victory bundle presented by Liberty Mutual. And the victory bundle is you and I will pick three games and we'll pick who wins and we will give you our victory bundle. Now we're trying. We're going to try to pick things where we agree so that we can be like, we can bundle together. Are you ready? So I'm just going to pick three games randomly and then we'll pick the winners. In London, 9:30am Rams, Jaguars, 24 and 2 teams. Maybe the best game London's gotten in a long time. As part of the Liberty Mutual victory bundle, who do we take in London?

[Drew Franklin]

This is a tough one because this is the Jaguars home field at Wembley. Was it 13 straight years they've played there?

[Matt Jones]

Yes.

[Drew Franklin]

But Billy, unless there's been recent news, has there anything on Puka Nakua right now? Because he's. He could be out questionable. So I'm leaning Jacksonville, depending on Puka.

[Billy Gillespie]

Did not practice today.

[Matt Jones]

All right, I'll go with you. The rams are a 3 1/2 point favorite, though, so we'll take it against the spread.

[Drew Franklin]

There we go.

[Matt Jones]

Our victory bundle against the spread is. If you want victory, take the Jags on their home field in there. I think this one's at Wimbley.

[Drew Franklin]

Yep.

[Matt Jones]

I'm going to take the Jags. That's part one of the victory bundle. Now I'm. I can. I like this one a lot. The Panthers and the Jets. Panthers on the road to the Jets. What are you laughing at?

[Drew Franklin]

Just the fact this is a matchup.

[Matt Jones]

Panthers and the Jets. Panthers are only a 1 1/2 point favorite against the Jets. I'm taking the Panthers as part of my victory bundle. Are you with me?

[Drew Franklin]

Absolutely. We just talked about the train wreck. The jets are right now their star receivers out.

[Matt Jones]

Panthers.

[Drew Franklin]

Have they won two in a row? Yeah, they won two in a row.

[Matt Jones]

Yes.

[Drew Franklin]

Keep riding this wave.

[Matt Jones]

All right, so you're. You're going to ride on the. The victory bundle. All right. And then finally I really like. It's the Eagles at the Vikings. The Eagles only a 1 1/2 point favorite and we don't even know for sure who's going to play quarterback for Minnesota. I love the Eagles here. I'm going to take the Eagles on or only get one and a half if you Set this spread two weeks ago. It's going to be six and a half. So give me the Eagles to join.

[Drew Franklin]

I like that here too. I will say though, if their offense doesn't click here in a little bit, I'm going to start selling the Eagles.

[Matt Jones]

But you're going to take them.

[Drew Franklin]

I'm going to give them a little longer but I think they are going to have some, some serious concerns if they don't fix that soon. Their run game isn't half as dominant was a year ago. We got A.J. brown pouting. This could be a long term issue if it doesn't get cleaned up soon.

[Matt Jones]

So we're going all animals for our victory bundle. It is the an animal victory bundle. Give us the Jaguars, the Panthers and the Eagles. That is your victory bundle presented by Liberty Mutual. You can start your quote@liberty mutual.com all right now time for our survivor league and our and well, first of all, our survivor league and our touchdown picks. Now Drew is not in the survivor league because he did not survive. So it's me and you, Billy, it looks like. Do I get to pick first this week on the survivor league? I think I do.

[Billy Gillespie]

Yeah. Go ahead.

[Matt Jones]

So it is the, I have taken the packers, the Broncos, the Ravens and the Lions. So Packers, Broncos, Ravens and Lions. And so to try, I've sitting here looking this week and you know there's a couple of different choices. The biggest spread is Chiefs, Raiders. But I've kind of learned over the years don't pick that game. Right. I did. I mean the Chiefs and the Raiders have won that game surprisingly quite a bit. So if you don't take that one, it becomes a little difficult. I'm going to take the New England Patriots to beat your Titans on the road.

[Drew Franklin]

What a lock.

[Matt Jones]

So I am going with the Patriots. They will join. That is my pick for the week in the survivor league. I'll take the Patriots. Now, Bill, you've taken the Jaguars, the Cardinals, the Bills and the Colts. Who would you like this week?

[Billy Gillespie]

Well, first of all, I love your pick of the Patriots. That's a home game for them in Tennessee with Frable coming back. I've flipped on this pick a couple times and you mentioned it. I'm taking the Chiefs versus the Raiders. I know there's that stat of I guess Las Vegas now, not Oakland playing Kansas City close in the past. It just seems like Kansas City has hit their stride with Rashid Rice coming back. Give me Kansas City in this.

[Matt Jones]

So we've now hit five straight weeks. You or we have a Chance to hit five weeks. I will take the Patriots on the road against the Titans and you will take the Chiefs at home against the Raiders. We have a chance to go to week six here of the. Of the survivor league. Drew, you. You unfortunately don't get to participate. Now it's time for the touchdowns. Last week I got one with. With Daniel Jones and then no one else did, so drew it first last week. So he's. He will not go this week. So, Billy, you get to go first. Who is your or. No, wait a minute. Yes, you do. You get to go first. Who would you like?

[Billy Gillespie]

I am picking a guy that is taking the league by storm. Give me Cam Scatterbo to score a touchdown against the Broncos. I mean, how many touchdowns did he score in the last game?

[Drew Franklin]

Was it three against Saquon?

[Billy Gillespie]

Against the Eagles? I know Denver maybe have a decent run defense, but Cam is going to do it very well for only a few years.

[Matt Jones]

So you're taking the running back, Scatterbo. Okay. Which means I can take. I'm next. I can take either a quarterback or a wide receiver. I've taken three quarterbacks, so I think I'm going to have to to lay off the quarterback. So I'm going to take a wide receiver. I'm going to take Xavier Worthy against. With your Chiefs against the Raiders, I think he gets a touchdown. So I will go with Xavier Worthy. That means, Drew, you have to pick a quarterback. You have not picked a quarterback all year, so you can have any of them you want. Who would you like.

[Drew Franklin]

Down to Hertz Allen. I'll go with her. They got to get that offense on track and when they're playing their best, they're tush pushing and running. So I'll say Jalen Hurts gets one in Minnesota.

[Matt Jones]

All right, so Billy, who all year has taken weird picks but is still tied for the lead. He Scatter bows it up against the Broncos. I'm going to go with Xavier Worthy with my wide receivers and Drew goes with Jalen Hurts.

[Drew Franklin]

I forgot the rule. Could I have picked a tight end or is it tight ends?

[Matt Jones]

No tight ends, wide receiver.

[Drew Franklin]

Because I got my eyes on Harold Fanning Jr. From Bowling Green in Joe, who's hurt Dylan Gabriel against the Dolphins.

[Matt Jones]

You picked Joe. Why do you want Brown's tight end so much?

[Drew Franklin]

This is the second time I've done it.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, but this is only week five of us picking and you've picked it. You want to pick Brown's tight ends twice?

[Drew Franklin]

I wouldn't know. He's like four to One. I'm just. I'm only owing one on my Browns bets. One loss. And I told you on week one, Harold Fannin is the future of that position. Position in Cleveland. Now in Joku's hurt, you got Dylan Gabriel trying to make a statement against Miami. I'm just saying keep an eye on Harold Fanning Jr. From Bowling Creek.

[Matt Jones]

Hey, you know, there's so many reasons to love Liberty Mutual Insurance. For instance, there's Limu, Emu and Doug. You gotta love those guys. And then there's the jingle. It's so catchy. But the best thing about Liberty Mutual is that they bundle your car and home insurance to save you money. And who doesn't like to save money? Everybody does. I mean, everybody. But how they save you money is just so smart. They look at your specific situation and figure out what works for you. Liberty Mutual customize your car and home insurance so you can save money. So think of it this way. When you got a dual threat qb, a smart offensive coordinator, they'll customize their play calling to fit your talent. Well, that's what Liberty Mutual does. It builds a playbook just for you. They're really going above and beyond to save you money. There's no reason to wait.

[Asma Khalid]

Start your [e-mail] America is changing, and so is the world.

[Tristan Redman]

But what's happening in America isn't just a cause of global upheaval. It's also a symptom of disruption that's happening everywhere.

[Asma Khalid]

I'm Asma Khalid in Washington, D.C. i'm.

[Tristan Redman]

Tristan Redman in London, and this is the Global Story.

[Asma Khalid]

Every weekday, we'll bring you a story from this intersection where the world and America meet.

[Tristan Redman]

Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Matt Jones]

All right, let's run over some other games we haven't mentioned yet. In the Icy Hot bowl, does Aaron Rodgers go to five and one against Joe Flacco?

[Drew Franklin]

I think he does. Saw Rogers has the. It was either the fifth or sixth best quarterback rating of his career right now.

[Matt Jones]

I don't like that. I wanted this to be a miserable failure. Unfortunately.

[Drew Franklin]

I think four out of the five, he won MVP when he had it better.

[Matt Jones]

Unfortunately. Next thing you know, he's going to be like the Surgeon General because of how he's playing right now.

[Drew Franklin]

It helps that he has DK Metcalf, who's also killing it with Pittsburgh.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I mean, both those guys consider washed up. I think they win, too. But I would just say Thursday Night Football, this, this, this feels like a game that could surprise Flacco on the road.

[Drew Franklin]

An old rivalry in the AFC North. It's always as close games if you're the Bengals.

[Matt Jones]

If you can find a way to win this game. Okay, get to 3 and 4 then all of a sudden you've got the jets next week, Bears, Steelers, Patriots, Ravens. Like you can make some movements here, but I think if you, if you look at the Bengals to make the playoffs, I kind of think they need to this one.

[Drew Franklin]

Oh yeah. This is a desperation game because the Steelers would just further their lead. They're already up couple games on you as it is and this is your home. Yeah. You can't if. I mean you're pretty much mathematically. You're not mathematically eliminated, but you're pretty much eliminated if you let Steelers get another one on you in a head to head.

[Matt Jones]

Another battle of terrible Dolphins, Browns.

[Drew Franklin]

I'm gonna, I'm gonna fade the Dolphins. Neither one of these teams I want to say I have confidence in but, but it's. It's in Cleveland you like.

[Matt Jones]

You like Dylan Gabriel here he looks.

[Drew Franklin]

It's more of the Browns defense is the only elite part of any of this. So I'll trust their defense and hopefully Gabriel can find the end zone once or twice.

[Matt Jones]

I'm telling what I'm worried about in Chicago. 1 o' clock bear saints. This feels like a letdown. Go in on Monday night. You go in against the commanders, then you come home against a bad Saints team and you think, well, of course we're going to win this one to go four and two. I would stay away from this game as a game. I kind of am a little worried about the Saints here.

[Drew Franklin]

You don't think four straight wins for Chicago.

[Matt Jones]

No. Saints are plus 200. The Bears lose a game like this every year. Short rest and short rest. I am worried about it. I'm not. I'm going to take. Saints have played well the last few weeks. Even though they've lost. They have.

[Drew Franklin]

I'm going to take the Bears. I think you're. You're just being a fan. You got to keep your guard up as a fan. It's not my team so I can look at it objectively. Say you'll be all right.

[Matt Jones]

I hope you're right. Colts go to the Chargers. You don't have to worry about road atmosphere in LA. Colts could go to 6 and 1. However, if the Chargers win, they would be on pace to be the 1 seed in the AFC. So this is a game that could swing. I don't think people think Colton's Chargers is a huge game for the playoffs, but it might be.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. This game on paper a month ago looks silly and just add to it. I don't know if y' all saw. The Chargers are wearing like all yellow color rush uniforms.

[Matt Jones]

I want to see those.

[Drew Franklin]

I think they're called Charger Power. Just imagine as much yellow power, as much yellow as you could get on your person. That's what they're going for for this game.

[Matt Jones]

I want to see this Charger Power.

[Billy Gillespie]

That is yellow.

[Drew Franklin]

A lot of yellow. A lot of yellow.

[Matt Jones]

Okay. Whoa.

[Drew Franklin]

So they're. They're fired up. They want the yellow going.

[Matt Jones]

Wow.

[Drew Franklin]

They've been disappointing lately. They do win. I know you said they're in good standing in the playoff race, but they, they took some losses they shouldn't have.

[Matt Jones]

Whoa.

[Tristan Redman]

That is.

[Matt Jones]

Yo, it looks like a banana.

[Drew Franklin]

Does look like Herbert's gonna be out there in a banana suit.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, but I kind of like it. Do you think they have hoodies? What?

[Drew Franklin]

Yellow is just not like. It doesn't motivate me. If I'm a football player, I'm not gonna be walking around wearing yellow.

[Matt Jones]

I kind of like it. I think the Chargers, their thing because they're so boring, should just be have the ugliest, brightest colors.

[Drew Franklin]

They're doing like a retro fill, maybe.

[Matt Jones]

What is that retro feel like?

[Drew Franklin]

They're painting it yellow and the old bolt and like they're going back and.

[Matt Jones]

Field is going to be all of.

[Drew Franklin]

It but the end zones, they're. They're going. It's a throwback game. Throwback to win when they're extra yellow. I don't know. I'm just going to have the old logo in the end zone. And they'll probably have Antonio Gates out there flipping a coin. Ladanian Tomlinson, flyover. They're just all the throwback Chargers you can get.

[Matt Jones]

You should. You should bring all those people famous Charger, you know, you get Mike McCoy, bring him back.

[Drew Franklin]

Once the Titans are down 30, McCoy can get in a jet and be in San Diego.

[Matt Jones]

That's exactly right. Let's make it. Let's make it a fun yellow day. The Commanders are playing the Cowboys. This is kind of a important bounce back game for both team. Cowboys lost. The Panthers commanders lost at home. This is a big game. This will be a huge audience. Who do you like?

[Drew Franklin]

Commanders? Dax been awesome. Their offense is awesome. But they have a bad loss to the Giants, a tie, and then that loss to the Panthers. Your boy, your Bears guy, Eber Fluss, he's the defensive coordinator.

[Matt Jones]

Why are they.

[Drew Franklin]

People are very happy with him right now.

[Matt Jones]

Bad sign. That's how I knew it was a bad sign. I saw. Who was it? Jerry Jones, I think said, you want to be in the foxhole with Matt Eberfluffle. When someone says they want to be in a foxhole with you, I'm worried about you.

[Drew Franklin]

Billy Gillespie said that to his players.

[Matt Jones]

Foxhole. First of all, people who. The first thing they think of as a foxhole, they're probably. They're probably a little too into war analogies for me, for football. But the moment. I don't want to be in a foxhole with Eber floofs. I was. I was for three years in a football foxhole with eber flu and it was never plet pleasant.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, they have the worst defense in the NFL in like several categories. They're 32nd. Jerry might even call him out a little bit. It's like we're fine. The defense just has to improve, like putting some pressure on him. So I'm gonna take the commanders. They're a wreck. Cowboys are a wreck on that side of the ball.

[Matt Jones]

Falcons go to the 49ers. Sunday Night Football. Kind of an odd game on Sunday night football. Michael Pennix versus Mac Jones. This might be one Sunday where we could type a little early.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. Guess when. Good. Dinner after the show on Sunday night.

[Matt Jones]

I'm just kidding. Who do you like in this one?

[Drew Franklin]

Oh, this will be one of those where I have to see who is not in street clothes for the 49ers. But I lean San Francisco regardless of their health. Just because of Falcons getting a big win a week ago and then having to travel out to San Francisco.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I'm going to take San Francisco. But what did I say? Bet on the Bills last week. But then what did I say? Never pick a Falcons game that I feel that way again. So I'm going to take San Francisco which means Atlanta will win and we.

[Drew Franklin]

Have no idea who will be on that injury report for San Francisco. They could lose four more players before Sunday at the rate they're.

[Billy Gillespie]

I think Kittle is trending on returning.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, what do you mean you think?

[Billy Gillespie]

Like how do you sources to cover 0 say that you have some practice.

[Matt Jones]

Who you been talking to?

[Billy Gillespie]

I can't reveal my sources. That would defeat the purpose.

[Drew Franklin]

I need an in Rapaport tweet from Billy from COVID zero reports Billy Rapaport.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. So you. Are you willing to stake your credibility on George Kittle?

[Billy Gillespie]

Kittle coming back but not Purdy and I haven't heard enough about him yet.

[Matt Jones]

Billy, our sports reports is part of his victory bundle. The George Kittle is retarded. Monday Night Football we got two games again. First game's a great one. Bucks Lions for the fourth straight week the Bucks are playing for playoff seating against the Lions in Detroit. I think the Bucks. The Bucks luck falls here and we get a Detroit victory. What do you bet you?

[Drew Franklin]

I agree the spreads five and a half. I might take the Bucks to cover that. This seems a little high for two teams that played so well. But the Bucks gonna have to take some losses somewhere. And at Detroit seems like the place to do it.

[Matt Jones]

What do you think?

[Billy Gillespie]

Yeah, they're struggling. I mean a Buka is going to miss some time. Mike Evans trending in the right direction.

[Drew Franklin]

But you want to break that scoop.

[Billy Gillespie]

No, I don't. No guarantee.

[Matt Jones]

Billy parlay. Kittle and Evans play injury parlay.

[Drew Franklin]

They both play.

[Billy Gillespie]

That would be a good parlay. But I agree. Road game. Detroit is a formidable foe.

[Drew Franklin]

But if Baker wins this one, I'm ready to crown him in week seven.

[Matt Jones]

You are a formidable foe.

[Billy Gillespie]

I think that fits.

[Drew Franklin]

If Baker.

[Matt Jones]

General Campbell, I will meet you on the battlefield as a formidable foe.

[Drew Franklin]

Bill, are you a foxhole guy in the fox. But really a Baker goes and wins this and doesn't have an interception as like three touchdowns or something. This is going to be an unbelievable season for him. Already is.

[Matt Jones]

There's a 10 o' clock Monday Night Football game.

[Drew Franklin]

At least they're offsetting him a little better.

[Matt Jones]

I like that. Who you got?

[Drew Franklin]

I'm going to go with Seahawks. The Darnold Smith and Jigba connection has been insane this year. He's leading the league. He's been better than Puka Nukua and he's got. I think he's got a pretty big lead on him and receiving yards. So I'm going to trust them to be able to throw on the Texans.

[Matt Jones]

I think I forgot the Texans were a team this year.

[Drew Franklin]

They started really bad.

[Matt Jones]

Like I think about it. We've gone. How many shows has it been since we talked about the Texans?

[Billy Gillespie]

They were on a buy last week.

[Drew Franklin]

Week they are by. They played the Titans which is like a buy before that.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. I just. I. I don't think I've thought about the Texans this year. Give me the Texans highlight this season.

[Drew Franklin]

On long rest Monday night night game or late.

[Matt Jones]

Seriously, give me one thing that's happened with the Texans this year. Okay. But that. Can you think of a moment?

[Billy Gillespie]

CJ Stratford has there been a.

[Matt Jones]

Has there been a headline?

[Drew Franklin]

They lost their first two games, so people were questioning them. Then maybe three games.

[Matt Jones]

I can't think of one thing that's happened with the Texans.

[Billy Gillespie]

Yeah, they lost their first three games and then beat the Titans and the Ravens before they're by.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, I'd say shutting out the Titans.

[Matt Jones]

Wow. So they played both of your two teams, which is why you two know.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

I don't know. I don't think I know anything about them. Well, the Seahawks are going to win, Drew.

[Drew Franklin]

At home, I'm really racking my brain for, like, a Texans memory from the first six weeks. Well, I mean, I watched an entire game that they played.

[Matt Jones]

I don't say this to be rude, but I can't think of a lot of Texan memories from my lifetime. They always play the first playoff game.

[Billy Gillespie]

Saturday at noon against Cincinnati.

[Matt Jones]

You get Cincinnati or the Dolphins. The Texans always play at noon. It's the game. You're like, what channel is it on? And there are announcers that you've never seen before. That's the Texans every single year.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. This year they. I keep focused on the Titans. That's the Texans game. When Cam Ward said, if I'm keeping a buck, we bleep. I won't say it, Billy. So I'm more worried. Other than that, I don't know what they've done.

[Matt Jones]

I do have one final thing. Since we were talking about the Texans. Spiro D To said he's one of the guys who does announcing and always gets assigned an AFC south or NFC south game. He said that he knows his assignment so often that his group chat for his broadcast crew is called NFC South Boys.

[Drew Franklin]

He knows his role. Leaning into it.

[Matt Jones]

I've decided I like him. If you know exactly where you're going to get assigned. I am going to get the Panthers this week. You have to give him credit.

[Drew Franklin]

And just that it's that conference adds to the joke.

[Matt Jones]

That's the name of his group chat.

[Drew Franklin]

Does he have beef with your boy Chris Myers, who also likes.

[Matt Jones]

Well, he might be in the groove Chat.

[Asma Khalid]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

It's just all of them rotating.

[Matt Jones]

I just looked up.

[Drew Franklin]

Are you New Orleans, Houston?

[Matt Jones]

I just looked up. I just looked up Spiro's name on Twitter and the first thing that came up is a tweet that goes, nothing says a new Saint season like Spiro Dietus and Adam Archuleta.

[Drew Franklin]

I like Archuleta. Good Ram.

[Matt Jones]

There you go. Well, thank you, folks, very much for listening. We will be back Sunday night while following the 49ers and Falcons. Enjoy your week and tell your friends. This is NFL Cover Zero. NFL Cover Zero 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 podcasts.

[Asma Khalid]

America is changing and so is the world.

[Tristan Redman]

But what's happening in America isn't just the cause of global upheaval. It's also a symptom of disruption that's happening everywhere.

[Asma Khalid]

I'm Asma Khalid in Washington, D.C. i'm.

[Tristan Redman]

Tristan Redman in London, and this is the Global Story.

[Asma Khalid]

Every weekday we'll bring you a story from this intersection where the world and America meet.

[Tristan Redman]

Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Asma Khalid]

What do you think makes the perfect snack?

[Matt Jones]

Hmm, it's gotta be when I'm really craving it and it's convenient.

[Drew Franklin]

Could you be more specific when it's craving?

[Matt Jones]

Okay, like a freshly baked cookie made with real butter, available right down the street at am pm. Or a savory breakfast sandwich I can grab in just a second at a.m. pM. I'm seeing a pattern here. Well, yeah, we're talking about what I.

[Asma Khalid]

Crave, which is anything from am pm.

[Matt Jones]

What more could you want? Stop by AM PM where the snacks and drinks are perfectly craveable and convenient. That's cravenience. A.m. p.m. Too much. Good stuff.

[Tristan Redman]

This is an iHeart podcast.