Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron

Hour 3: Baker Bites Back
Hosts: Myron Medcalf & (filling in for Matt Jones) Lance Meadow
Date: September 28, 2025

Episode Overview

This hour sees Myron Medcalf and guest host Lance Meadow deliver rapid-fire NFL analysis and lively debate across key matchups, quarterback dilemmas, injury updates, and the state of several playoff-hopeful teams. The focus: how the league’s landscape shifts week-to-week, the narrative around Baker Mayfield’s resurgence, rookie QB development, and late-breaking game outcomes including a wild Steelers-Vikings contest in Dublin. The duo’s discussion is sharp, opinionated, and full of anecdotes for hardcore and casual football fans alike.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Steelers vs. Vikings: Dublin Drama & NFL's Thin Margins

• [00:35–06:51]
  • The Steelers survived a late Viking rally, winning 24-21 thanks to six sacks and two interceptions of Carson Wentz.
  • Notable injuries: Calvin Austin (shoulder), Jalen Ramsey (possible hamstring).
  • Lance: "Mike Tomlin deserves credit year in and year out, regardless of whether or not you think the Steelers are going to be a Super Bowl contender, because the quarterback changes, he loses personnel... Yet they don't miss a beat." (03:14)
  • Steelers maintain consistency amid roster churn, while the Vikings are mired in quarterback uncertainty, from JJ McCarthy’s injury to Wentz’s up-and-down play.
  • Myron: "There are a bunch of teams that are a couple plays away from being in a really tough spot, or being in a favorable spot." (04:09)
  • Middle-tier teams like the Vikings face a razor-thin margin for error—amplified by the volatility at quarterback.

The NFL’s Quarterback Carousel & Vikings’ Dilemma

• [07:30–09:40]
  • The Vikings drafted JJ McCarthy in the first round but were forced to turn to Carson Wentz following McCarthy’s injury.
  • Lance: “The problem with today's NFL... you draft a quarterback in the first round, he gets the fifth-year option... the philosophy seems to be we have to get him on the field sooner rather than later, because the clock is ticking.” (07:31)
  • Myron: “I just don't think this league has any patience... At some point you either have it or you don’t.” (08:55)
  • The duo debate roster-building philosophy versus the reality of NFL pressure and job security.

Baker Mayfield’s Resurrection in Tampa

• [11:33–17:16]
  • Analysis shifts to Buccaneers-Eagles, with Baker Mayfield’s play headlining the Bucs’ surprising start.
  • Despite a revolving door of injuries—especially to receivers—Baker is thriving under new OC Liam Coen and continues to spread the ball.
  • Myron: “Most passing touchdowns in this league is Baker Mayfield. Like, he’s just a dude... there aren’t many teams in this league that have a guy that good.” (13:37)
  • The narrative that the “Baker Mayfield tier” is negative gets debunked; his fiery personality is framed as energizing, not problematic.
  • Lance on Baker playing with a chip: “You could tell Baker has a checklist and he’s all of a sudden looking it over multiple times.” (15:35)
    • Referencing Mayfield’s satisfaction beating the Jets—the team whose DC, Steve Wilks, cut him in Carolina—Baker says:
    • Baker Mayfield: “It was... a lot of stuff was personal today.” (15:29, via Lance relaying Baker's quote)
  • Discussion of Eagles’ slight vulnerabilities post-Super Bowl and the Bucs’ ability to win ugly, late in games.

Lions & Browns: Can Defense Alone Win?

• [19:04–20:42]
  • Preview of Lions vs. Browns: Cleveland’s elite defense must contend with Detroit’s versatile, creative offense.
  • Ben Johnson’s exit as Detroit’s OC has not dulled their creativity.
  • Myron: “Defense alone isn’t enough. You got to be able to put up numbers with a Detroit team that... can score with anybody.” (19:04)
  • Lance: “I like the fact... the creativity is still alive and well.” (19:51)

Giants QB Situation: How (and When) to Play the Rookie?

• [23:02–33:10]
  • Giants start rookie Jackson Dart after an 0-3 start, abandoning their initial plan to sit him behind Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston.
  • Lance: “It just, it comes across as if that process was completely revamped overnight because of the current state record wise of the team.” (24:43)
  • Myron: “If you move up in the draft to get a guy like that, play him, see what you have. You got a veteran behind him, roll with that guy.” (25:14)
  • Debate on whether protecting rookie QBs is valid, or a modern overcorrection:
    • Myron: “When did we start doing that with quarterbacks in this league? ...We throw all those guys into the lion’s den and we say, can you do it or not? But suddenly we have to have a blueprint and a PowerPoint...” (27:31)
    • Lance: “The quarterback is reliant on all of those other facets ... those other positions can maybe operate on an island by themselves.” (29:02)
  • Jackson Dart (on pressure, via presser tape):
    • “I don't really feel pressured. I feel like you know, pressure is given to those who play at a high level and, you know, the best players in the world are the ones that you are kind of involved with that word pressure. So I don't feel it in that standpoint.” (30:22)
    • “Our focus just has to be on each day, each rep individually. How can we be better? How can we hold each other accountable as players, as leaders of the team, and just find a way to just finish games when we need to?” (31:02)

Are Rookie QBs Overprotected?

• [31:52–33:10]
  • The hosts tackle the broader league trend of shielding rookie QBs.
  • Myron: “We didn’t do this with quarterbacks 20 years ago, but now we’re going, well, is everything okay? ...You drafted him in the first round, he better be able to play. If he’s not able to play, that’s your bad evaluation.” (31:52)
  • Lance: “It's more of the timing and flipping the 180 script around after the plan seemed to be, we're going to ride the veterans.” (33:10)

Rapid Picks and Key Matchup Predictions

• Take Your Pick Segment [38:23–43:45]
  • The hosts play rapid-fire pick ’em, previewing notable matchups and offering concise, sometimes opposing predictions. Example picks:
    • Chargers at Giants:
      • Myron: “Chargers win this game.” (38:52)
      • Lance: “Until the Giants offense scores more than 15 to 17 points, it's hard to believe they could stay in things…” (39:12)
    • Eagles at Buccaneers:
      • Myron: “Give me the Eagles. They just find ways to win in these kinds of games and I think they'll do it again.” (40:57)
      • Lance: “I'm gonna go opposite. I like Tampa Bay… I'm not sold on the Eagles. I like the Bucs holding their terms at home.” (41:13)
    • Chiefs over Ravens, Lions over Browns, Patriots over Panthers (Patriots “statement victory”) etc.
  • Banter about “going too slow” on the picks, a recurring Matt Jones bit.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Baker Mayfield’s chip:

  • Lance Meadow: “You could tell Baker has a checklist and he's all of a sudden looking it over multiple times.” (15:35)

• On rookie QBs and development:

  • Myron Metcalf: “You either have it or you don’t in this league. And if I’m Brian Daboll, I want to find that out right away, not ... put in the rookie in this situation.” (27:31)

• Jackson Dart on pressure:

  • “I don’t really feel pressured... the best players in the world are the ones that you are kind of involved with that word pressure. So I don’t feel it in that standpoint.” (30:22)

• On NFL patience:

  • Myron Metcalf: “I just don’t think this league has any patience, though. I don’t think you have time. You don’t have three years to figure out if JJ McCarthy is the guy or not.” (08:55)

Important Timestamps

• 00:35: Steelers-Vikings game, injury updates, key turnover plays
• 03:14: Praising Mike Tomlin’s consistency with the Steelers
• 07:30: Vikings’ QB dilemma and NFL’s lack of patience with rookies
• 13:37: Mayfield’s transformation in Tampa & league-wide perception
• 15:35: Baker Mayfield’s “checklist” and vindication moments
• 17:16: Previewing Bucs-Eagles as a potential NFC Championship preview
• 19:04: Browns-Lions preview: offense vs. defense
• 23:02: Giants’ rookie QB plan with Jackson Dart
• 27:31: Should rookie QBs wait? The NFL’s new overprotective trend
• 30:22: Jackson Dart’s press conference on managing pressure
• 38:23: Rapid-fire picks for Week 4 matchups

Tone & Style

The episode maintains a lively, debate-driven, and deeply knowledgeable style. Both hosts are candid, unafraid to take a stance, engage in good-natured banter, and reference NFL history and trends, making their insights relatable whether you're a stats junkie or game-day fan. The ongoing thread is the relentless unpredictability of the NFL, as captured in Lance’s early reminder:

• “It's cliche to say it's a week-to-week league, but there's so much substance behind that phrase.” (02:39)

Summary

This hour’s conversation is a microcosm of what defines the NFL: fleeting dominance, unforgiving standards for quarterbacks, and the gumption of players like Baker Mayfield who refuse to accept their place in the game’s pecking order. If you missed the segment, you got spirited debates about how to handle rookie passers, real talk on teams that win ugly, and a sharp look at how those narratives play out on the scoreboard every NFL Sunday.