Hour 1: Live From Chicago!

Summary

Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron – Episode Summary: Hour 1: Live From Chicago!

Release Date: November 10, 2024

Hosts:

• Matt Jones
• Myron Medcalf
• Guest: Jason McKee

Location: Soldier Field, Chicago – Bears vs. Patriots Fan Zone

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1. Live Broadcast Setup in Chicago

The episode kicks off with Matt Jones and Myron Medcalf broadcasting live from the vibrant Bears Fan Zone outside Soldier Field in Chicago. The hosts are joined by ESPN analyst Jason McKee, creating an energetic atmosphere filled with fans, face painting, a bouncy house, and live music.

Notable Quote:

• Jason McKee [01:06]: "Welcome everyone. It is COUNTDOWN to Kickoff here on ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance. We are live on the road from Chicago, Soldier Field..."

2. NFL Game Preview: Bears vs. Patriots

The primary focus of the episode centers on the upcoming NFL game between the Chicago Bears and the New England Patriots. The hosts discuss the Bears' recent performance, their two consecutive losses, and the critical need to revive the team's momentum to secure a playoff spot.

Key Points:

• Team Performance: The Bears have lost two straight games, raising concerns about their playoff prospects.
• Player Focus: Emphasis on the quarterback carousel and the importance of offensive line stability.
• Game Strategy: The necessity for the Bears to exhibit physical dominance on both offense and defense to secure a win.

Notable Quotes:

• Myron Medcalf [06:16]: "Anybody going to Cleveland, you know, nobody cares about Cleveland."
• Matt Jones [17:14]: "If you want to expect to win this game or to win a game in the NFL, you got to be physically dominant on either side of the ball..."

3. College Football Recap

The hosts provide a comprehensive review of recent college football games, highlighting significant outcomes that impact playoff selections.

Key Highlights:

• Alabama vs. LSU: Alabama dominates with a 42-13 victory, maintaining their playoff relevance despite early-season doubts.
• Ole Miss vs. Georgia: Ole Miss secures a crucial win under Lane Kiffin, keeping their playoff hopes alive.
• Indiana Hoosiers: An unexpected standout, Indiana emerges as a formidable team, sparking discussions about playoff expansion benefits.

Notable Quotes:

• Jason McKee [07:25]: "Probably knocks LSU out of the playoffs."
• Myron Medcalf [10:12]: "Could never have imagined that. I think they're the best story in sports right now..."

4. Team and Player Analysis

Chicago Bears:

• Performance Issues: Lack of energy and self-motivation observed in recent games.
• Key Players:
  • Caleb Williams: Viewed as a promising franchise quarterback, showing both physical prowess and mental resilience.
  • DJ Moore: Critiqued for lack of synergy with Williams, affecting on-field performance.

Notable Quotes:

• Matt Jones [17:36]: "He has all the tools. We've seen that. We've seen the all-scheduled throws..."
• Myron Medcalf [19:16]: "Thing they gotta do step up. It starts up front on both sides of the ball..."

San Francisco 49ers:

• Christian McCaffrey's Return: Anticipated to significantly bolster the team's offense, impacting quarterback Brock Purdy's performance and overall game dynamics.

Notable Quotes:

• Myron Medcalf [25:52]: "McCaffrey changes everything. The defense has to continue to play well..."

Philadelphia Eagles:

• Coaching Concerns: Evaluations of Coach Nick Sirianni's impact on the team's recent performances.
• Player Spotlight: Saquon Barkley's standout plays, contributing to the team's offensive efforts.

Notable Quotes:

• Myron Medcalf [33:11]: "Barkley's Owen 10010 against the Cowboys. Does he beat that today?"

Dallas Cowboys:

• Dak Prescott's Injury: Placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, casting doubt on the Cowboys' season outlook.

Notable Quotes:

• Myron Medcalf [40:33]: "They've won 36 regular season games in the three previous years."

5. Fun Segments and Fan Interactions

The live setting allows for interactive and humorous exchanges between hosts and fans. Topics include face painting, drink orders, and playful banter about fan behaviors.

Key Moments:

• Face Painting: Myron expresses his enthusiasm for getting his face painted, leading to a lighthearted discussion about the costs and designs.
• Fan Base Humor: Debate on the most "drunk" NFL fan bases, ranking Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, among others.

Notable Quotes:

• Jason McKee [29:15]: "Can we do this? I don't know. We can do this."
• Myron Medcalf [28:26]: "Oh, definitely. Green Bay is number one."

6. Upcoming Matches and Playoff Implications

The hosts analyze upcoming games, their potential impact on playoff standings, and the broader NFL landscape.

Key Analysis:

• ND Playoffs: Oregon and Indiana Hoosiers seem assured of playoff spots, with Indiana being a surprising frontrunner.
• NFC South Dynamics: The division's unpredictability, focusing on teams like the Falcons, Saints, and Panthers, and their prospects for climbing the rankings.

Notable Quotes:

• Jason McKee [33:35]: "You can lose all three of those games after this. I mean the Eagles have had their moment."
• Myron Medcalf [31:38]: "This has hit in every game. Are you going on 48.7 points?"

7. Veterans Day Tribute

In recognition of Veterans Day, the hosts honor the men and women who serve the country, featuring a shout-out from Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis running back.

Notable Quotes:

• Matt Jones [35:03]: "We thank you and we love you."
• Myron Medcalf [35:14]: "Honoring America's heroes on Veterans Day on ESPN Radio."

8. Closing Remarks and Teasers

As the broadcast wraps up, the hosts tease upcoming segments, including interviews with Herm Edwards and more deep dives into team analyses.

Notable Quotes:

• Jason McKee [46:07]: "What happens next for Georgia and Miami? Where are they ranked? Where are they seated?"
• Myron Medcalf [46:15]: "Thanks for listening to Matt and Myron the podcast..."

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Conclusion:

In this dynamic live episode from Chicago, Matt Jones and Myron Medcalf, alongside guest Jason McKee, deliver an engaging mix of NFL and college football analysis, insightful team and player evaluations, and entertaining interactions with fans. The hosts balance in-depth sports discussions with humor and live event energy, making the episode both informative and enjoyable for listeners.

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Note: Advertisements, promotional content, and non-content segments have been excluded from this summary to focus on the core discussions and analyses presented during the episode.

Transcript

[Matt Jones]

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[Myron Metcalf]

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[Matt Jones]

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[Myron Metcalf]

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[Matt Jones]

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[Myron Metcalf]

And this is Matt and Myron. The Podcast I'm ready to play football. I've been waiting a long time for this moment.

[Jason McKee]

The time is here. The time is now.

[Myron Metcalf]

This is the countdown to Kickoff on ESPN Radio.

[Jason McKee]

Welcome everyone. It is COUNTDOWN to Kickoff here on ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance. We are live on the road from Chicago, Soldier Field, home of Dick Butkus, Walter Payton, sid Luckman. The 85 Bears come here to Feathers Ruffle. They just came to play the 2 and 7 Patriots today here in Chicago. You can give us a shout that is on the Dr. Pepper call in. We are live from the busy Chicago Bears fan zone outside of gate. Well 02 whatever you want to say right out here where later on today this will fill up with folks. There's a bouncy house, there's band.

[Myron Metcalf]

It's a jump over there.

[Jason McKee]

Veterans, we got some folks here from Kentucky, Vanceburg, Lexington, Wilmore, James, Paul and Jeff in the house. And Myron here as well. Myron, nice to be with you here in Chicago.

[Myron Metcalf]

This is cool, man. This is a cool vibe. I might get in that bounty house before the show is over.

[Jason McKee]

You should get that.

[Myron Metcalf]

Listen, you were mentioning all these great Chicago Bears. Why don't you mention Mitch Trubisky and Justin Field? How come that wasn't on the list.

[Jason McKee]

Of the players that you know there's that they don't make my list.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay.

[Jason McKee]

We've had our share.

[Myron Metcalf]

I didn't know that.

[Jason McKee]

But you know, for me this is kind of a special day. And by the way, you can be a part of it on Countdown to Kickoff Nation. Dr. Pepper, call in line. Eight, eight, eight. Say ESPN. That's 888-729-3776. We're presented by Dr. Pepper. It's not football season without the delicious taste of an Ice cold Dr. Pepper. College football. It's a Pepper thing. I've been a Bears fan my entire life.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Jason McKee]

I'm not going to tell you how many years, but a long time. And I have never been to a Bears game here. I've seen the Bears in six, six different stadiums but not their home stadium. And today for the first Time I'm going to get to do it. I'm really excited. I love the vibes. A little bit of a dreary day, but otherwise awesome.

[Myron Metcalf]

Now, this is one of those bucket list places, right? I mean, this is one of those places if you're a sports fan you want to try to get to at some point in your life. I've never been a Soldier Field, but there's a certain aura that certainly comes with this place.

[Jason McKee]

Well, if you're. If you're in Chicago, stop by the Vizi fan zone. We just walked by earlier. The tailgate, the food smells.

[Myron Metcalf]

Face painting. You can get your face painted over here.

[Jason McKee]

That's right. The food smells are amazing. One of our producers just told me he travels all over the country with college game day and with this show, and he said he will never eat tailgate food at any point. I think that's the strangest thing I've ever heard. I would love to have some of the brats and everything that's out there now.

[Myron Metcalf]

No, the food smells good, but I get it, you know, I mean, you don't necessarily know who's in charge of the tailgate, so I understand being careful.

[Jason McKee]

But, you know, this is only Myron and my second show ever on the road. Normally, for those of you, you know, going a little behind the scenes, I just do it in my living room, which just doesn't necessarily make me feel like I'm on ESPN radio. Like I just roll out of bed, brush my teeth, and then all of a sudden I'm on national radio. But today, it really feels like it. We've got producers. There's a girl that's got a bottle. Bottle of waters on her head. You got other people taking our pictures. It really feels like a massive production today.

[Myron Metcalf]

It's cool, man. Like, there's a truck. The truck. The truck has a restroom. I mean, I do feel kind of Hollywood here. They had hats and T shirts for us. Like, I mean, this feels big time. Like, I do feel like a star a little bit in this.

[Jason McKee]

I mean, let me just say, being on ESPN and being all over the country is awesome, but it doesn't. Like, it doesn't always feel like it, you know, like we're. Like we're there today. It feels like that we're channeling our inner Joe Buck and Troy Aikman here in Chicago.

[Myron Metcalf]

I mean, the paychecks make me feel like I'm on ESPN Radio, but yeah, no, the vibes do. I mean, being here. I mean, I know even when we do it from our living room. But this is like a cool on site environment.

[Jason McKee]

Yes.

[Myron Metcalf]

There's so much happening. And again, Soldier Field is probably top 10 for all sports fans of like, the places you would want to go.

[Jason McKee]

So that's a question. Let's. If we were to rank the five stadiums in the NFL. Yeah. That you have to get to before it's over. I think most people would cross over.

[Myron Metcalf]

People gonna check out of here. You know, something we don't know before.

[Jason McKee]

Well, before you. Before you fall down dead.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay.

[Jason McKee]

Go to like five stadiums. Where would you go? I would think in some order. I would think what. Number one's probably Lambeau. Even though people don't want. I would say Soldier Field is on the list. What else would be on that list? Leave aside how good the team is because like, Arrowhead would be awesome to go to now. But let's say the teams were just your average team. What would be the ones you want to go?

[Myron Metcalf]

Heinz Field. I mean, Pittsburgh. I think you got to go to that venue. I mean, even though it's like new ATT in Dallas, I mean, that's a unique kind of place that I think you're going.

[Jason McKee]

It's like you're going to the moon.

[Myron Metcalf]

It's a spaceship.

[Jason McKee]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

It's like a really different place beyond that. Is. Is Gillette still on that list? I mean, in the post, Brady, like.

[Jason McKee]

Out in the middle of nowhere. I wouldn't put that. You know, this. I think this is one of the four.

[Myron Metcalf]

Oh, definitely.

[Jason McKee]

I think those. I thought those four. Maybe you would throw in maybe just Cleveland because of the fans, but like, it's not like it's a really special environment.

[Myron Metcalf]

Anybody going to Cleveland, you know, nobody cares about Cleveland.

[Jason McKee]

Ain't nobody going to Cleveland. What's wrong with Cleveland?

[Myron Metcalf]

You don't go to Cleveland. You go through Cleveland, you know.

[Jason McKee]

Oh, no, Buffalo. Buffalo.

[Myron Metcalf]

Buffalo's a good buffalo. If you want to snow shovel snow. Buffalo, they make you shovel the snow.

[Jason McKee]

They just say, nobody goes to Cleveland. They go through Cleveland.

[Matt Jones]

They do.

[Jason McKee]

That's really mean.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay. It's just honest. It's not me. It's just honest. I don't know a lot of people that like, hey, man, where you going this weekend? I'm gonna go to Cleveland for three days. Why are you on the run? You know what I mean? You got a case?

[Jason McKee]

Is there a warrant? Are you on the run? Wow. All right, so we are here. We're going to preview all the NFL games. Let's start as we always like to do. With college yesterday, it was kind of a weeding out day in the SEC. Alabama pounds LSU in Death Valley 42 13. One of the worst losses LSU has had at home in its history. Alabama, who most people giving up on, just absolutely steamrolls Brian Kelly. People were yelling at him going into the locker room. Were you surprised by that result?

[Myron Metcalf]

I wasn't surprised at all. We do this every year with Alabama. When Alabama has a loss or too early, people go, this is going to be the year. And every single time, Alabama finds a way to stay relevant. And I'm not surprised. Remember, they debut at 11th, and a lot of people thought they might not even make the top 12 in the initial rankings. And here they are to get another big win with some of the other dominoes that are falling. Alabama's going to be okay, I think in the playoff.

[Jason McKee]

Probably knocks LSU out of the playoffs. Be very, I think, hard for them to make it then. Ole Miss at home. Lane Kiffin finally, finally, finally gets his signature win. I think this is the one he's been waiting on. Beats Georgia in the rain. You had a squirrel on the field, you had fireworks, you had smoke. But Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin gets his big one. Leaves them in contention for the playoffs.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, so I don't know if you saw it, but like the fans stormed the field with 16 seconds left.

[Jason McKee]

Right.

[Myron Metcalf]

So then they had to bring everybody back off the field. Can we just make a rule, like in a moment like that, let them storm the field, like, run the clock down and just have fun. Like, it was just weird.

[Jason McKee]

It was premature. Stormulation, like you got. He went out there a little bit early and they weren't able to do it. Kids show, but I mean, it's a phrase.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, yeah.

[Jason McKee]

But they get the win. Georgia is still not out, though. They still play Tennessee and they win that game. I think they still have a chance to get in. You know, they have the hardest schedule. They had to go on the road to Alabama, on the road to Ole Miss, and then they still play Tennessee on the road to Texas. I mean, they've had a. They've had a tough road of it.

[Myron Metcalf]

I'm not sure if you're Kirby smart. You're like, how does Texas get that favorable schedule in their first year at the sec? And they got to go travel on the road to face, but with all.

[Jason McKee]

That, I think if they beat Tennessee, they can still get in. They can. Yeah, they can still get in. And then Miami loses to Georgia.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[Jason McKee]

One of the interesting things to look is on the Tiebreaker Miami, they could be in trouble if SMU had a loss yesterday. That really helped them a lot. But were you surprised to see Cam Ward and them lose at Georgia Tech?

[Myron Metcalf]

I was really surprised. The way it ends, right, Amanda, strip sack. And like to me, Miami is one of those teams where you got to be really concerned about those at large spots because people may or may not realize five conference champions are going to get in. Even if that fifth champions ranked 24th, they're going to knock out the number 12 team in the rankings.

[Jason McKee]

And let me just tell you the thing that everybody needs to process that's going to be hard for everyone's brain. There are probably only two teams that are definitely in the playoff today. One of them is Oregon. I don't think there's any way they're not in.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[Jason McKee]

And the second one is probably your Indiana Hoosier.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, man, what a start.

[Jason McKee]

Indiana is 10 and oh, they still play Ohio State. But even if they lose, yeah, I don't think it matters. Indiana and Kurt, Google me, Sigliti is now going to be in the playoff. Would you ever have imagined that?

[Myron Metcalf]

Could never have imagined that. I mean, I think they're the best story in sports right now, not just college football. And like, this is why you expand the playoff. All of those people who are against the expansion saying, oh, no, it's not going to make the sport better. It's going to water things down. Now you get in Indiana now, now you have a team like army, undefeated, playing for a playoff spot. It's way more fun to have 12 spots.

[Jason McKee]

Well, we are here in Chicago. Last night, before I wanted. Nick, I want to tell you one quick thing. You know, Myron and I haven't traveled a lot together.

[Myron Metcalf]

We haven't.

[Jason McKee]

And we went to a bar last night. I want you. I want you to tell America.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[Jason McKee]

What drink you ordered at a bar. And you need to understand, this wasn't like some foo Foo bar where people are like drinking this guy. It's just a regular bar. Just so you know, I got a Diet Coke I want you to explain to people. I want you to order the drink you ordered last night exactly as you ordered it.

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, my mom is listening, so I don't know if I want to say that on her way to church. Actually, I drank a Diet Coke and I had a Sprite on the side, Mom. So. Yeah, I don't really know.

[Jason McKee]

You had a Diet Coke with a Sprite on the side.

[Myron Metcalf]

With the Sprite on the side. I don't know. My mom was on her way to church. I'm not.

[Jason McKee]

Yeah, so you know what? It.

[Myron Metcalf]

I wasn't even at the bar as a matter of fact, so I don't really know what you're talking about.

[Jason McKee]

All right, let me just say he said the word three fourths of a spritz at one point. That was one of the things he said. He literally divided the drink into fourths, which I didn't know anyone could do. He said three fourths of a sprint. 888 say yes. We are here in Chicago. Mr. Three fourths of a sprint. At the busy Fan Zone. Bears and Patriots. We'll talk to you and get you ready. And the Bears have lost two in a row. Can we keep the season alive today? That's next here on ESPN Radio.

[Myron Metcalf]

Football Sunday on ESPN Radio. It's a showdown between division leaders.

[Jason McKee]

Touchdown.

[Myron Metcalf]

The AFC north leading Pittsburgh Steelers face the Washington Commanders who are sitting high atop the NFC East. The Steelers at the Commanders coverage begins today at noon eastern with kickoff at 1 Eastern on select ESPN radio stations. Matt and Myron the podcast 2022 Heisman.

[Jason McKee]

Trophy winner Caleb Williams, Southern flag.

[Myron Metcalf]

There's only one guy that can throw.

[Jason McKee]

The ball like him. Mahomes do. Unbelievable. He's awesome. He's really, really special. The magic man pulls out the magic wand. Hey, I'm Ryan Reynolds. Recently I asked Mint Mobile's legal team if big wireless companies are allowed to raise prices due to inflation. They said yes. And then when I asked if raising prices technically violates those onerous two year contracts, they said what the are you talking about? You insane Hollywood. So to recap, we're cutting the price of mint unlimited from $30 a month to just $15 a month. Give it a [e-mail] switch.

[Myron Metcalf]

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[Jason McKee]

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[Matt Jones]

Hmm.

[Jason McKee]

That could hurt your gas. The AutoZone Free Fix Finder service can help find the fix for free.

[Myron Metcalf]

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[Jason McKee]

That's right. Printed and on your phone for free.

[Matt Jones]

Get in the zone.

[Myron Metcalf]

But what if the fix is too tough?

[Jason McKee]

We'll recommend a local shop fix finder only at AutoZone.

[Matt Jones]

Get in the zone.

[Jason McKee]

AutoZone restrictions apply. It is Canada kickoff here on ESPN radio. Jason McKee, the Bears ESPN one of the on the Bears crew ESPN analyst is here with us. We are here at the busy fan zone outside of Soldier Field. Jason, I'm a lifelong Bears fans. My first trip to Soldier Field, I'm excited. Somebody out there around the country, you tell them. Why would somebody want to come to a game here in Chicago?

[Matt Jones]

Nothing like it. The ambiance, obviously, we got the best fans in the league. You always want to come to Chicago for the food. So if we're not playing well, at least you can get you some good eats here.

[Jason McKee]

I want you to see this guy right here. This is one of our producers. He told me he travels all around the country and we go to all these tailgates. He won't eat the food people make because he said he doesn't trust it.

[Matt Jones]

What is wrong with him?

[Jason McKee]

You walk around the parking lot, if.

[Matt Jones]

You don't eat the food that people make, you just go right across the street here, you know, go to Lou Malnati's. I mean, any restaurant you want here, Gibson's. Take your pick.

[Jason McKee]

Jason, this. This Bears team, tough loss on the Hail Mary. You're around these guys.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Jason McKee]

Have they gotten over it? Didn't look like they got over it last week, or do you think it just didn't play well last week?

[Matt Jones]

Man, you would think they would get over the embarrassment, right? Everybody's been talking about the Hail Mary. Everybody's been watching it, right? And you've talked about it all week in the media. And you would think that, you know, going into the desert, playing Arizona Cardinals team that hasn't been extremely dominant, you think you have some emotion, some passion, and you go in there, you're going to win that game, right? But the way they came out, what I didn't see was I didn't see energy, right? I didn't see nobody on the sideline when you were going three on out of office, nobody getting mad. You know, no conversations were had about, you know, in terms of trying to get this team motivated. And as a player, you can't rely on the coach motivating you the entire time. You got to be self motivated. And that's one thing that I haven't really seen from the team consistently all year.

[Jason McKee]

This guy's pretty good.

[Myron Metcalf]

He's great.

[Jason McKee]

He's been on the radio.

[Myron Metcalf]

He's incredible. Before I get to my question, I want people to listen, to understand, right? I'm a big dude. This is a former NFL player. It's a different look, okay? Like, this dude looks like an avenger. You know what I mean? Like, you don't want to mess. Stop messing with NFL guys and Former NFL guys, by the way.

[Jason McKee]

What would you have done?

[Myron Metcalf]

You're not going to win that fight.

[Jason McKee]

Like, if you.

[Matt Jones]

That was. Yeah, it's. You know, it's probably the same thing. I don't know.

[Jason McKee]

I don't know.

[Matt Jones]

I'm going to be honest. I can't sit here and try to sugarcoat it.

[Myron Metcalf]

He's on the air. Right? But listen, stop messing. Stop messing with these NFL guys.

[Jason McKee]

You'd have thrown the phone down.

[Myron Metcalf]

You're gonna.

[Matt Jones]

They're gonna try to push your buttons.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Emotions in check. But at certain points, you know, you have that flashback where that. That. That light switch flips and you have that flashback like you're still on the field and that aggressiveness comes out.

[Myron Metcalf]

Y'all, these dudes lift real weights, okay? Y'all just stop messing with these guys. This is one of those games that feels like Jason Ware. Okay? You should beat the Patriots. Right. You're the better team. The Patriots have struggled at the same time. This is exactly how the Patriots beat Cincinnati. This is how they've had wins over teams like the Jets. They kind of sneak in and steal wins from teams. How important is it for the Bears to have the right energy in this game?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I mean, you have to, because this is a Bears team. Right. That you can't just come out and say, just because we're going to show up, we're going to win the game. Right. We haven't put that type of film on tape. We don't have that type of pedigree right now in the locker room. So as a team, you still got to go back, hone in on the details. You got to watch the mistakes you made the last two weeks in Washington and in Arizona, and you got to have somebody step up. You know, we're talking about the quarterback all the time. Right. But regardless of who's in this offensive line carousel, somebody's got to step up and make plays. And it starts up front on both sides of the ball. Right. If you want to expect to win this game or to win a game in the NFL, you got to be physically dominant on either side of the ball, whether that's offensive defense.

[Jason McKee]

So I always believe NFL players, like, with quarterbacks, and even with any player, you kind of know, like, the dudes know, like, whether they say it or not, they know this guy's real, this guy's not. I know you've watched Caleb Williams. He's had his positive moments. He struggled a little bit. Is he the guy? Like, is he going to be the guy?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. I think so. I think, you know, from. From a standpoint of physically, he has all the tools. We've seen that. We've seen the all scheduled throws. We've seen him roll out, make all the plays that you want to see from a franchise quarterback. But I think mentally he has it as well. And I think mentally is the. Is the biggest piece that you gotta have from a franchise quarterback, especially in a big market like Chicago, right? So he's faced a lot of scrutiny, he's faced a lot of criticism and negativity, but he still goes in. He takes the blame, he shoulders the blame. Even though when there's a mistake and it's not his, he takes onus on that mistake and he accepts it. But the thing that I see with Caleb is something that I see in a lot of young quarterbacks, right? A lot of young quarterbacks, especially highly touted young quarterbacks. What do they want to do? They want to make the splash play. They want to show you why I'm the number one pick. They want to show you why I have so much, you know, hype and, you know, all around me. Instead of taking the layups, right, instead of taking the check downs, when you see a guy running infinity wide open, you don't take that check down. You want to try to force the ball in the coverage, right? And we know in this league for young quarterbacks, right, they got to learn to develop, right? So if you're taking that check down, that check down leads to first down. The first down leads the points on the board, and that leads to winning games. So it's just Caleb just learning how to play within the system, understanding that I don't have to make every play like I did at usc and rely on your teammates to make some plays for you.

[Myron Metcalf]

Let's talk about the elephant in the room. DJ Moore and Caleb Williams aren't on the same group chat. Like, you know, they're not reaching out.

[Jason McKee]

To each other saying, like each other.

[Myron Metcalf]

They're not talking about what shows they're binging on the weekend. Yeah, it looks like bad energy between two very important players on that roster. And on the field, the production seems to reflect that. They are not connecting. And it feels like they're both trying to get on the same page. How do you fix that and how important is it for the Bears to address that?

[Matt Jones]

Well, a lot of it is, you know, receivers. And I'm not going to say DJ Moore is a prima donna.

[Myron Metcalf]

Prima donna.

[Matt Jones]

I'm not going to say that.

[Myron Metcalf]

I'm not going to say that I.

[Matt Jones]

Think DJ Moore is a gritty, tough receiver. I think he fits the mold in terms of the type of receiver you need here in Chicago. Yeah. But I think he is frustrated because, one, as a receiver, if you don't want the ball and you're not complaining, if you're not complaining about getting the ball, I'm going to question you.

[Myron Metcalf]

That's fair.

[Matt Jones]

I don't want that type of receiver that doesn't want the ball. You know, dj, it's just getting on the same page. And I think for Shane Waldron as an offensive coordinator, you got to try to find ways to scheme him open. Not just him, but everybody else in this offense. You know what I mean? So it just takes time. And you would think those two guys would be on the same page this late in the season. But, you know, even though they're not, you gotta find ways to get easy completions to DJ to get him going. Because when he gets going, this offense gets going. This offense is going. It can be. It can be dangerous.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[Jason McKee]

Talking to Jason McKee, ESPN bears analysts. For people who hear the music in the background, there's gonna be a band here later, and I think they're doing their sound check, but it's all right. We'll have some cool, sultry sounds in the background during these next two and a half hours. There's face painting right over there, too. You gonna get your face painted, Myron, during the course of the show.

[Myron Metcalf]

And I'm going to the bouncy house. I'm doing it. All right, good.

[Jason McKee]

When they lost, I got to go back to the. I gotta go back to the Hail Mary. So I was sitting in a sports bar and I was excited. I was already pumping my fist. I was like, we've beaten the commanders. This is going to be awesome. And then they threw the short pass that 15 yards, which I think was the underrated part of that success. And I went, no, come on now, don't do this. And then they fail. If you're in the locker room and the teammate. Sorry, his name slipped my mind. The guy that didn't come, Dylan, didn't. Didn't cover the Hail Mary. Oh youh. Stevens, if you're a teammate of his and you come in and then you see the video that he was off taunting the fans, and then you see he didn't cover the man he was supposed to, how do you get over that?

[Matt Jones]

Well, you've got to address it right. The captains and the leaders on this team, you have to address it right. Tyreek's a young guy, second year on this team. He's made a lot of plays for you. And obviously you see he made that bonehead play. He made another bonehead play. Getting a personal foul early on in the game.

[Jason McKee]

You yell at him, you got it.

[Matt Jones]

You've got to address it. That's unacceptable. That's not our style of play. But here's the thing, right? As a leader, you also can't sit here and say, we're going to place the entire blame of that game on Tyree Stevenson.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, that's fair.

[Matt Jones]

That play won the game. But that play didn't essentially cost you the game. Right. Will cost you the game. Right. A handoff, a fumbled handoff. The Doug Kramer on the goal line.

[Jason McKee]

You hated that call.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I didn't like that. I'm a fullback.

[Jason McKee]

I like it.

[Matt Jones]

I like it. But it didn't make sense. You release your fullback that Friday, then you hand it to Doug Kramer, you put him at fullback, he fumbles the ball on the goal line. There's a lot of things that led to you not winning that game. You talk about the 13 yard completion to set up the Hail mary to Terry McLaurin at the end of the game. I mean, you can't give up that much yardage to put them in place to execute a Hail Mary.

[Jason McKee]

That's a coach thing. Yeah, that's a decision to drop back and give it to him. Tony Romo calling the game, noted it at the moment and said, you can't give him that. All right, Jason, we'll finish with this. Are we going to make the playoffs?

[Matt Jones]

Oh, man. It starts today. You know, one game at a time. One game at a time.

[Jason McKee]

You're not the coach.

[Matt Jones]

Are we going to make the playoffs?

[Myron Metcalf]

I hope so. It depends. I don't know. I'm on the fence.

[Matt Jones]

I'm on the fence. I'm on the fence.

[Jason McKee]

Temple Al of all time, besides you.

[Matt Jones]

Man, you know what? My cousin Aaron McKee played basketball.

[Jason McKee]

It was Mark Makers a NBA final.

[Myron Metcalf]

2000 step over game.

[Jason McKee]

Jason McKe esp and bears anals. Thank you very much. Thanks for having me. Enjoy the game. We appreciate it. We'll come back and deal a little more. Getting the biggest star back. A team is doing it today. Will it help? That's next.

[Myron Metcalf]

Hey, it's Evan Cohen.

[Jason McKee]

Coming up Monday, Dan Orlovski joins us at 7:15am Eastern to react to a.

[Myron Metcalf]

Huge Week 10 in the NFL. Plus, is he ready to concede and.

[Jason McKee]

Admit that he's lost his Bengals?

[Myron Metcalf]

Bet we'll find out on Unsportsmanlike 6am.

[Jason McKee]

Eastern right here on ESPN Radio, ESPN2 and ESPNU.

[Myron Metcalf]

Matt and Myron the Podcast Want to shop Walmart Black Friday Deals First.

[Jason McKee]

Walmart plus members get early access to our hottest deals. Join now and get 50% off a one year annual membership. Shop Black Friday deals first with Walmart plus see [e-mail] this episode is brought to you by Allstate.

[Myron Metcalf]

Some people just know they could save hundreds on car insurance by checking Allstate First. Like you know, to check the date.

[Jason McKee]

Of the big game first before you.

[Myron Metcalf]

Accidentally buy tickets on your 20th wedding anniversary and have to spend the next.

[Jason McKee]

20 years of your marriage making up for it. Yeah, checking first is smart. So check Allstate first for a quote.

[Myron Metcalf]

That could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate Savings.

[Jason McKee]

Vary terms apply. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois. They're not going to catch him. McAFF takes it to the house. I think he's the most complete back in football.

[Myron Metcalf]

It's just a matchup nightmare.

[Jason McKee]

Who's the best running back in the game?

[Myron Metcalf]

I am. Hand off McCaffrey right into the end zone. I'm not going to sit here and.

[Jason McKee]

Give MVP talk, but Christian McCaffrey is one of the best running backs in the entire league. It is countdown to kickoff here on ESPN Radio 888. Matt Jones, Myer Metcalf right outside of Soldier Field. They've let all the Bears fans in. Look at my guy right there. That's a Chicago mustache.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, I like that there.

[Jason McKee]

Like, if I were to, I were to try to pick what I think a Bears fan is, I would see that guy right there.

[Myron Metcalf]

Come.

[Jason McKee]

You want an ESPN hat. I feel like you do the Bears with a mustache like that, 859 or 888, say ESPN.

[Myron Metcalf]

This guy might be more Bears. Like this looks like, you know the SNL skit. Like it looks like those guys. Definitely the Bears, they just opened it up.

[Jason McKee]

They got face painting next to us. You already got your face painted.

[Myron Metcalf]

I can't resist the face painting, man. If you tell, I don't care what it is, I'm gonna get my face painted, man.

[Jason McKee]

So I like you for anything.

[Myron Metcalf]

I just enjoy. Yeah, I couldn't resist, man. Good.

[Jason McKee]

We got bouncy house. They got banned here. Big salute out there to all of our veterans tomorrow, Veterans Day. Thank you for all that you've done, including all the ones that are around us right now. Yeah, everybody and everybody thank a veteran tomorrow and today for, for Veterans Day weekend. Lots of football going on today. There are, I think 11 games. The 49ers and the Bucks are the probably the premier early game. Amazingly to me, the 49ers are a 6 point favorite on ESPN. Bet they activated Christian McCaffrey from. From injured reserve after he set out the first eight games. He will make his debut today against Tampa Bay. How big a difference will that make for San Francisco?

[Myron Metcalf]

It's huge, man, because I think what teams have been doing with Brock Purdy is you feel like if you can kind of pressure him, you're not worried about everything else because you don't have McCaffrey as the X factor now. Even if McCaffrey is 100% again, we don't know how Kyle Shanahan's gonna use him. Is he more of a decoy today? Is he really back to being 100%? But now you gotta think twice. Now you have to account for Christian McCaffrey in ways that you haven't had to. And it just changes everything, I think for Brock Purdy, man. So this team is different. And obviously the Bucks have struggled, obviously without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin giving up a lot of points in these last couple of weeks.

[Jason McKee]

For me, both of these teams, this is a major swing game. Today. 49ers are 4, 4, Bucks are 4 and 5.

[Myron Metcalf]

I think.

[Jason McKee]

I mean, you could still make the playoffs, either team and lose today, but it starts to be a much more difficult task. You know, the 49ers Super bowl loser curse, which I say every single year, which is when you lose the super bowl, you don't. You most time don't make the playoffs the next year. I think it's like the last 17 years. Only twice has the team that lost the playoffs made the championship game. The next year, Bucks started like wildfire. People saying Baker Mayfield could be, you know, play a contender, outside contender for MVP Liam Cohen, getting all the praise as the OC have kind of taken a step back. What do you like today for both of them?

[Myron Metcalf]

I mean, the problem with like Baker Mayfield is he's definitely one of those guys where he can be good depending on what you have around him. He had Mike Evans, he had Chris Godwin. That changes everything. You remove those guys, they're 0:3 in their last three games. But it's easy to look at Baker Mayfield and talk about what he's not doing. That defense has given up 34 points a game the last three games. Like, the defense has been terrible. So if you don't have a defense that's going to help out Baker Mayfield with the injuries they're dealing with, they're in trouble, man. So I don't know how they get back on the right path to the playoffs unless those guys get healthy very fast. Obviously, grabbing Goblins not going to get healthy, but Mike Evans will return at some point, hopefully.

[Jason McKee]

By the way, let me. Let me also say this to my folks here in Chicago.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[Jason McKee]

Look at that beer line. They literally just opened.

[Myron Metcalf]

They did, yeah.

[Jason McKee]

This may be the drinkiness place. Well, I mean, they walked in here and most everyone immediately went to the beer line.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah. It's impressive. Most drunk. You remember at Lambeau, they're starting at the house. You know what I mean? So, like, Lambo starts at home. Packers F started home and then they come out. You know what I mean?

[Jason McKee]

Let's. Can we do. I think this is okay. 5 Most Drunk Fan bases on game day.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah. I don't know if we can do it or not, but we will. It's definitely Green Bay at one. You know what I mean?

[Jason McKee]

Don't forget the sneaky one. We're gonna be there in three weeks.

[Myron Metcalf]

Oh, Cincinnati. Okay. If you told me drunken and most likely to start a fight, Cincinnati's number.

[Jason McKee]

I'm gonna go Green Bay one. You're right there. Am I wrong?

[Myron Metcalf]

Green Bay is number one.

[Jason McKee]

Green Bay's one. Buffalo is number two.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[Jason McKee]

I think that line right there is just gonna put the Bears number three.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yep.

[Jason McKee]

Cincinnati is number four.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[Jason McKee]

And then I'll say the Pittsburgh Steelers are number five.

[Myron Metcalf]

Pittsburgh might be five. Pittsburgh might be five. Remember, Jacksonville's tricky. Remember, Jacksonville is an interesting place. You know what I mean?

[Jason McKee]

So why do you think Jacksonville is particularly drunk?

[Myron Metcalf]

It's just an interesting place where anything could go down. So they might be a contender where you don't think they are.

[Jason McKee]

888 say ESPN. If you want to nominate your fan base for drunk.

[Myron Metcalf]

Can we do this? I don't know. We can do this.

[Jason McKee]

I feel like we're on the road. What do we care? 888 say ESPN.

[Myron Metcalf]

I like my job, but let me.

[Jason McKee]

Go back for a second to the 49ers. McCaffrey gives you so many weapons because it's not just running the ball. He can get out of the backfield. He's a smart player. He'll open up things in your passing game. Do you think he is exactly what can get the 49ers back to where they were last year, where people expected they might be this year if he's healthy.

[Myron Metcalf]

Right. I mean, that's going to be the biggest thing is like, if you tell me McCaffrey's healthy and he's going to play the rest of the season and he's not going to be to the point where he's in and out of games or not. 100%. Yeah. Because Brock Purdy struggles have been based on McCaffrey not being available and teams knowing that they can just decide to go after him and they'll try to let someone else beat him. So I think McCaffrey changes everything. The defense has to continue to play well, But I think McCaffrey healthy changes the entire NFC playoff picture.

[Jason McKee]

By the way, this Bon Jovi song, it's hard for me not to dance. I mean, you can't go home as objectively a pretty good song.

[Myron Metcalf]

It's an arm. It's a. It's a veteran band. Like, the veterans are the ones in this band ahead of Veterans Day. So that's pretty cool.

[Jason McKee]

I don't know if you can hear that, but it's jamming here. Right here. All right, so the Bucks are in the division that's the weirdest in all of football. Yeah, man. The NFC South Falcons right now sit at 6 and 3. And then the Saints have been the huge disappointment at 2 and 7. The Falcons and Saints play for what I believe is the eighth time this year.

[Myron Metcalf]

It does feel that way today. It does feel that way.

[Jason McKee]

The Falcons, every game I say is hard to predict. I actually got one right last week. I picked the Falcons would beat the Cowboys. If they beat the Saints Today, they'll be 7 and 3. Are the Falcons, like, real? Like, are they an actual. I mean, seven and three, you. That puts them as the second best team, record wise, in the nfc. Do you think they're that on the field?

[Myron Metcalf]

I mean, my life rule is never have confidence in the Falcon. Right. You know what I mean? No matter how well they're playing. But yeah, I think since week four, Kirk Cousins is number two in passing yards. I think he's got just under 1500 passing yards. Since then, he's starting to figure out that offense. And then you look at the Saints and how they've gone downhill. Lost seven in a row to fire Dennis Allen. They traded Marshawn Lattimore. But here's my thing, man. If it's an NFC south matchup, I don't care what the records are. Get this stat, Matt. In the seven NFC south games this season, the average point total has been 58.7 points. The over has hit every single game, right? Every single game.

[Jason McKee]

Every game.

[Myron Metcalf]

Every game they played so far this season. 7.

[Jason McKee]

Myron Metcalf.

[Myron Metcalf]

This is of the week. This is Met Caffeinated takes a new segment that I just invented now that I'm hoping we'll pick up America.

[Jason McKee]

If you're sitting at home right now, the over unders 46 and a half. You are going on record as saying the over is going to hit today.

[Myron Metcalf]

It has hit in every game. Are you going on 48.7 points?

[Jason McKee]

Insane. It's going to hit today. 46 and a half.

[Myron Metcalf]

Listen, I'll call it a lot, but don't come back to me if you. I'm not going to tell you what to do when it comes to gamma, but the over is hit every time and they score a lot of points. I think that's going to happen again in this particular matchup.

[Jason McKee]

I like that shirt. Is that say Williams Odunze 24?

[Myron Metcalf]

Oh, yeah, yeah, I like that.

[Jason McKee]

I would prefer that over what actually happened. They say espn. I'm not me, I'm not. Listen, I'm trying to be nice. I've done a good job. It's all year of not of not doing that. Kirk Cousins.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[Jason McKee]

You've been making fun of him for 15 years.

[Myron Metcalf]

I'm at 15. He been at the league for 15 years.

[Jason McKee]

Pretty good, hasn't he, this year? What else do you want from the guy?

[Myron Metcalf]

He looks great right now. Kirk Cousins, if it's a relationship, the first four dates are amazing. And you call your mom and you go, oh my goodness, I think I met the one. And then date five comes and six and you're like, there's a couple red flags I didn't notice before. That'll happen with Kirk Cousins because he can be good in stretches. His challenge is always, can he do it over the course of a full season? Can he do it in crucial games? You can beat the nfc.

[Jason McKee]

But also note if they win today over the Saints, which they should, and if Tampa Bay loses to San Francisco, they'll have a three game lead in the NFC South. They will basically all but be assert certain to win the NFC South. They will. They have like one of the leading paths to be a two or three seed, host a playoff game. Maybe host two playoff games. Yeah, I just think you got. I think you're sleeping on our dirty birds.

[Myron Metcalf]

Listen man, you win the NFC south, that's like going to the Holiday bowl, right? I mean like, yeah, be careful.

[Jason McKee]

We're probably gonna be calling the Holiday bowl this year.

[Myron Metcalf]

You know what it's like going to the Blockbuster bowl, which isn't even happening anymore. But I just think the NFC south champion part of it this year at least feels like it'll be. The NFC south is really down. So like, if you're the king. Oh, cool, man. Cool jersey. If you're the king of the NFC South, Matt. And Tampa Bay is missing Chris Godwin and Mike Evans and New Orleans just fired their head coach. And now you got to deal with the Panthers, who aren't even starting Bryce Young or they're going between Bryce Young and Andy Dalton. Does that really say a whole lot if that's your division? I got to see Kirk Cousins do it the rest of the way against better teams.

[Jason McKee]

I will say big shout out to people at Chicago. The amount of people who have their bald heads painted is. This is the last one we've seen around. People in Chicago will paint their bald heads.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, that is.

[Jason McKee]

That's very exciting.

[Myron Metcalf]

I also appreciate the look of Chicago fans. The look is kind of like, who are these two knuckleheads? Right? It's a little bit of like, why are we here looking at 10 to.

[Jason McKee]

1 every day or Central Time 9 to do the Cowboys Dak Prescott out for the year. Does that mean we finally get to stop talking about them? Well, we'll at least do it. Next segment here on Sunday mornings with Matt Myron on ESPN Radio.

[Myron Metcalf]

Honoring America's heroes on Veterans Day with Jonathan Taylor.

[Matt Jones]

Jonathan Taylor here, running back from Indianapolis. Cults. And I just want to thank all.

[Jason McKee]

The men and women that dedicate their.

[Matt Jones]

Lives each and every single day to.

[Jason McKee]

Defend this country, defend this land, to make sure that we're all safe and sound at home.

[Myron Metcalf]

We thank you and we love you.

[Jason McKee]

Keep fighting, guys.

[Myron Metcalf]

Honoring America's heroes on Veterans Day on ESPN Radio. Matt and Myron, the podcast.

[Jason McKee]

So you're getting hungry. Really hungry. Head to Jack in a Box and pick up a Smash Jack. It's a juicy, delicious smashed burger topped with cheese, pickles, grilled onions and boss sauce. And it's now available on Sourdough. The Smash Jack Only a Jack in the box. Order one on the Jack app. Today.

[Myron Metcalf]

Blinds.Com is kicking off the savings early with Black Friday megadeals. All month long, a blinds.com design blind expert can help you make the perfect selection on your schedule. We can even handle everything from measure to your whole home install for just one low cost. With over 25 million windows covered, blinds.com is the number one online retailer of custom window coverings get up to 45% off site wide and a free professional measure right [e-mail] rules and restrictions may apply.

[Jason McKee]

Jerry Jones said they'll likely put quarterback.

[Myron Metcalf]

Dak Prescott on IR with a hamstring injury. That move would keep him out at least the next four games. It's an extended period of time here, so I wouldn't dare make a prediction.

[Jason McKee]

When it could be. So we'll see kind of how his rehab goes.

[Matt Jones]

There's no way he's going to play again in 2024. Hamstring injuries and you know this, they're, you know what's.

[Jason McKee]

And you're the kind of quarterback that.

[Matt Jones]

Can use his legs to move around.

[Myron Metcalf]

And mobility in the pocket and outside the pocket to say that they're cooked. That's an understatement.

[Jason McKee]

It is Sunday mornings, Matt Myron on ESPN Radio Countdown to kickoff here in Chicago at the busy Fan Zone. Bears and Patriots right here. Yeah, you can scream, no problem. We are right next to the face painting section. You can listen to Sunday Mornings with Matt Myron. All you got to do is go to the podcast at wherever you get podcast. Go Sunday Mornings with Matt Myron. We've been as high as number four in the country.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[Jason McKee]

Myron Metcalf has walked around with an entourage because he's been so excited. Well, you can subscribe that way. You can listen if you're doing things on Sunday morning, going to church or whatever. Sunday Mornings with Matt Meyer.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, man, check us out. We got a podcast. This is cool, man. The vibe, being here at Soldier Field.

[Jason McKee]

You like being in front of people. Don't like, like, it's, it's, it's exciting.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

I mean, you know, let me ask.

[Jason McKee]

Did you pay to for your face painting?

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay, so I got a face painting here in, in this fan village. She said I didn't have to pay, but then I'm see, I think people are paying. I'm going to pay.

[Jason McKee]

Well, you're space for a chair. You're supposed to donate and you get.

[Myron Metcalf]

I didn't have my wallet at the time, but I'm going to donate.

[Jason McKee]

Okay.

[Myron Metcalf]

But I did, I didn't just get a free face paint without, you know.

[Jason McKee]

That'S the kind donate.

[Myron Metcalf]

No, I'm gonna pay. I'm going to donate, I promise before I leave. Yeah. Okay.

[Jason McKee]

We'll see if you can.

[Myron Metcalf]

No, I will. Great.

[Jason McKee]

Great. Good fan atmosphere here.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[Jason McKee]

It's not the greatest game in the world with the Patriots and but I think it is important For Caleb who? Caleb Williams, who if he didn't win the battle against Jaden Daniels, the game, I think they were very similar in their performances. You don't want to have Drake May come in here on your home field when he's in your rookie class and outperform you.

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, especially since Drake May is talking a little bit. I mean, he said face it off against Caleb Williams, who he's battled in high school, admired him in college, but he said it's motivation to go against a guy in your same draft class. So I think Drake May is kind of the dude who's like, you're not going to forget about me. Yeah, there's Jaden Daniels and Caleb Williams, but he wants to make it clear that he's a factor in his class as well.

[Jason McKee]

Can I ask you a question? Is this a thing? These like the chain, thick chains?

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, like I'm noticing these chains. Like I don't know what it's about.

[Jason McKee]

Is that a Bears thing? Because people don't know at home. They all. A lot of folks have like big, you know, junkyard dog. Is that a thing?

[Myron Metcalf]

That a thing. Junkyard dog day. Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jason McKee]

Because there's a lot of them around here. I haven't seen them. If you come by here in Chicago, I'll give you an ESPN radio hat. Yeah. If I like you. The Cowboys, Dak Prescott out for the year, he's going to have surgery. Obviously you don't risk wish an injury on anyone, but how does this affect the Cowboys not just this year, Their season now is basically over this year, but going forward?

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, I mean, this is one of those things where like it started bad with all the preseason drama. Are you going to pay Dak? Are you going to pay CD Lamb? And then the injury was kind of just the punctuation mark on a really terrible year for the Cowboys. I mean, how it affects them going forward is he'll be healthy when the contract kicks in, the new money kicks in next year. So you're going to start paying them 60 million plus. But I do think before the injury, the question is, can you get to a Super bowl with Dak Prescott? Especially as good as the NFC is still the question. That remains the question. But it looks like it's going to be more difficult than people thought previously. You can't keep Mike McCarthy. You got to find the right coach. But even if you do, it feels like we're going into an era where the Cowboys are going to be more of an afterthought in the NFL. And not the main headline.

[Jason McKee]

Well, I wish.

[Myron Metcalf]

They're not going to be good, man. I mean, they're not.

[Jason McKee]

They haven't been all that great recently, but.

[Myron Metcalf]

But they've won 36 regular season games.

[Jason McKee]

In the three previous years.

[Myron Metcalf]

You know what I mean?

[Jason McKee]

So now would you give Trey Lance a chance to. Maybe, or. It doesn't matter. Listen, it's Dak's job no matter what.

[Myron Metcalf]

If Trey Lance can't earn this job and they're starting Cooper Rush, what does that say about Trey Lands? Like, at the end of the day, if you want an audition to prove the other team that you have a shot in this league, you gotta at least beat out Cooper Rush. And he's not gonna do that. So I don't know what it means to him.

[Jason McKee]

I just looked it up. Mikey had someone do it for me. 15 to $65 is how much a face paint is supposed to cost.

[Myron Metcalf]

15 to what?

[Jason McKee]

15 to 65.

[Myron Metcalf]

I owe $65.

[Jason McKee]

I think you owe 65, man.

[Myron Metcalf]

I didn't know it was 65, man. I didn't know. I'll pay. I'll pay. She said I didn't have to give anything.

[Jason McKee]

I don't know. I feel like it was 15 to 65. Oh.

[Myron Metcalf]

What?

[Jason McKee]

Well, hold on a second. I don't want it back. So I threw. Hang on a second. I threw that. And he wiped it on his face and then wanted to hand it.

[Myron Metcalf]

What are you gonna do with that?

[Jason McKee]

What am I gonna do with your face painted?

[Myron Metcalf]

Listen, if you pay 65 for face painting, you better look like you're in a play called Cats or something, Right? You gotta, like. It's gotta be the whole Ward, the whole makeup thing if you're doing that.

[Jason McKee]

So the Eagles on the other side.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, man.

[Jason McKee]

Playing the Cowboys today, Nick Sirianni. I mean, the Eagles, you know, their record is not bad, but it does feel like the. They're six and two. Yeah, it does feel like the narrative of. Is Nick Sirianni holding this team back? Is Nick Sirianni not a great coach? Is that going to continue?

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, and it should, right? Like, at the end of the day, they keep spending money to make this team better. And the only reason they're not getting better is because of the coach. True, but can you continue that? At the end of the day, you're in a division that's opened up. It doesn't scare anybody. You got Saquon Barkley, who legitimately did the greatest thing I've ever seen on a football field last week with the reversed hurdle. Did you see that, Matt?

[Jason McKee]

Yes.

[Myron Metcalf]

I mean, Odell Beckham's catch was cool. I've never seen anything like what Saquon Barkley did.

[Jason McKee]

The spin.

[Myron Metcalf]

I actually thought it was amazing.

[Jason McKee]

As impressive as the reverse hurdle.

[Myron Metcalf]

This is how bad the Giants are, though, Matt. Saquon Barkley is 010 against the Cowboys. That's how bad the Giants were with Saquon Barkley.

[Jason McKee]

Barkley's Owen 10010 against the Cowboys. Does he beat that today?

[Myron Metcalf]

I think he does. But the interesting thing about the Cowboys is they are 17 and one in their last 18 divisional games at home. They've won 10 in a row at home in their division. But Cooper Rush, man, I think he's going to have challenges. A lot of same challenges that Dak had. And the Cowboys, it's just a lost season, man. There's no way to bet on them right now.

[Jason McKee]

You would not bet on them?

[Myron Metcalf]

No, I'm betting on the Eagles. You have to.

[Jason McKee]

Eagles are a 7 1/2 point favorite. I want to go back to the Cowboys for a second. Do you think when we come back next year, they are, you know, obviously Dax going to be the quarterback, but they're going to have to lose players because they're going to be paying Dax so much. Do you think this is finally the moment that Jerry Jones sort of says, I've got to take it in a different direction. Is Mike McCarthy going to be the coach?

[Myron Metcalf]

Mike McCarthy won't be the coach. No, I think he'll move on to someone else. The question is like, what kind of coach do you want? Do you go get like one of these young players, coaches that have worked for some teams, Kevin O'Connell, guys like that. Do you go to the collegiate ranks? Do you call Belichick? Yeah, I think Jerry Jones, his first call would be to Belichick and feel like, you know what, come build a contender down here. But they just got a lot of limitations, man. They've had a lot of issues this year.

[Jason McKee]

Got Bears fans everywhere. Look, Ace. From what? Pike Central.

[Myron Metcalf]

Where's that?

[Jason McKee]

Pike Central in Kentucky. Look at Pike. Let's see. Kentucky people are everywhere. Pike Central, that's in the mountains. Pikeville, Kentucky. Or as we say in Kentucky, Pikeville.

[Myron Metcalf]

Pike.

[Jason McKee]

The mountains.

[Myron Metcalf]

Pikeville. Like Tupac.

[Jason McKee]

It's pike, but we are so country we say Pike.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay, translate it for me, though. So Tupac, Pikeville.

[Jason McKee]

Is that how P I K e Pikeville.

[Myron Metcalf]

Pikeville.

[Jason McKee]

Pikeville, Kentucky Eagles, 7 1/2 point favorite. Another game a little bit later today. We were talking about. Let me read the Eagles schedule. You got the Cowboys, then you play the Commanders, the Rams and the Ravens back.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, that's tough.

[Jason McKee]

That's one of the reasons today is so important. You got a tough three game stretch coming up.

[Myron Metcalf]

You can lose all three of those games after this. You can lose today. I mean the Eagles have had their moment. So I think certainly you got to get it today and then hope you at least get one win in those next.

[Jason McKee]

By the way, we didn't talk about it earlier. What about Lamar the other night against C?

[Myron Metcalf]

He's playing better football than Patrick Mahomes right now. He's not. I don't want any better quarterback. He's playing the best football in the NFL right now.

[Jason McKee]

Would you have gone for two if you were Cincinnati?

[Myron Metcalf]

You have to.

[Jason McKee]

I think you have to.

[Matt Jones]

You have.

[Jason McKee]

I mean they didn't get it. Yeah, but I, you can't like, you can't get upset when other people do it. You have to go for it right here. Cincinnati, you're on the right like you, you absolutely have to go for it. Didn't work out, but you have to do it. Coming up next, we're going to get a visit from our good friend Herm Edwards. Pike Bull is in the house. It's all here. Ready? We are in Chicago. Busy Fan zone. This is the Busy Chicago Bears Fan Zone Countdown. The kickoff with Matt and Myers.

[Myron Metcalf]

Hi.

[Jason McKee]

This is Evan Cohen. Join us Monday at 6am Eastern.

[Myron Metcalf]

4 unsportsmanlike two of the top four.

[Jason McKee]

Teams in America go down in college football. What happens next for Georgia and Miami? Where are they ranked? Where are they seated?

[Myron Metcalf]

We'll discuss it.

[Jason McKee]

College Football 12 team playoff took major twist this weekend. Monday on Sportsmanlike 6am Eastern on ESPN Radio.

[Myron Metcalf]

Thanks for listening to Matt and Myron the podcast. You can listen to the show live every Sunday morning at 10am Eastern on ESPN radio, the ESPN app and on SiriusXM channel 80. Matt and Myron, the podcast.